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Updated: May 26, 2025
Kweiros nodded. "And he'd never be able to approach his prey. In short, he'd fail to survive. Complete telepathic blankness would have a high survival value. But an ability to detect mental radiation would still be a big help." He waved a hand. "So, a race like this one could evolve. And the author of this tape extrapolated from there.
Jaeger and the boy watched as Kweiros leaned back. The officer's face became vacant, then twisted, seeming to reflect painful mental effort. Slowly, he leaned forward again, touching another switch. Then, he sank back, to concentrate on his thoughts.
Kweiros snapped the communicator off, sat back to drum idly on his desk, then got up and walked over to his master file control board. He glanced at the index, then punched out a sequence on the buttons. There was a subdued hum and a door opened. Kweiros reached into the compartment, to take out several tape reels.
Jaeger looked again at the boy, who was sitting tensely, his hands gripping the arms of his chair, his eyes fastened fearfully on the officer before him. As Jaeger watched, Elwar half rose from his chair, then sank back, his face appearing to mirror Kweiros' efforts. At last, Kweiros sat up. Shakily, he removed his headband and snapped the playback off.
"Yes, sir," he said doubtfully. "You think the boy will develop?" Kweiros nodded. "I'm quite sure of it," he said. "And he's got a big job ahead of him. He may be instrumental in preventing a major disaster." He waved at the tape reels. "I got that little tape out just on an off chance," he added. "Didn't really expect to find anything, but " He flipped his hands out. "Anyway, I pulled it."
It seemed more like an infinite baffle. But there was some reaction. The boy shrank back in terror. "Please, Master," he begged. "Do not place me under enchantment." He held up his hands in a peculiar gesture. "What made you do that?" Kweiros raised a hand slowly, palm out. "I have no intention of harming you." "But I could feel you, trying to cast me under a spell." "You ... felt me?"
"Of course, no mind we are familiar with could act as a telepathically black body, but this author hypothesized a race that could do just that plus. There's a further hypothesis of an ability to detect and localize radiations as such, without bothering to resolve them." "Sounds like just what we have here," Jaeger admitted. "It does, doesn't it?" Kweiros nodded.
Suddenly, his gaze defocused and he looked aside, to stare unseeingly at the floor. "Something's got to be done, sir," he said reluctantly. Kweiros nodded. "Something's got to be done," he agreed. "Of course, there's another side to the picture. If this race develops and learns, they'll be just as valuable to the galaxy as they would otherwise be dangerous." He looked toward the door.
It's just like punching into space itself. No resistance, no reflection, just nothing." "Shield?" "No, sir. Just no indication. Makes me feel as though I were in free space with a dead drive." Kweiros looked for a moment at Jaeger, then sent out a probing thought, searching for some indication of mental activity from the boy. But there was nothing. It wasn't anything like a shield, he thought.
"No, Master, but " Elwar looked toward the door. "And you won't be," he was told reassuringly. "Now you just go ahead on back to your quarters." As the door closed, Kweiros turned to Jaeger. "Think we'll put you on special assignment. For the next few cycles, you'll act as a private tutor. Then you can go back to Main Base with Elwar while they give him his training." Jaeger raised his eyebrows.
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