Finish the Science Fiction Story

Cafe Society
101

After receiving the message from his daughter Victor Channing Sr. sent several of his own, while his son worked at arranging for shuttle transport to the surface. There were not so many prying eyes in high orbit, and neither Channing wanted the Echo II examined any more closely than necessary.

Victor Sr. was surprised to find that Comm. Trontiann was already present on Valis 5. Although, as he’d said to his son, he wanted a meeting arranged between them, he hadn’t expected Trontiann to have returned so soon from his private hire expedition. Channing hadn’t asked who it was for, insofar as he trusted anyone other than family he trusted Trontiann, knowing that his aid in ship design had been a tremendous boon to the man. Victor Jr. had not made his shuttle contacts yet, so Trontiann met the two men in a hired vessel, contracted from the port for such services. As they traveled to the surface Victor Sr. spoke first.

“Kal, we’ll talk results later, but first, I didn’t expect to see you in the flesh again so soon. Care to enlighten me?”

Trontiann’s skin darkened in anger, even further than it’s ordinary gunstock brown hue. “Where to begin? My Kaalon was sabotaged en route to the escort duty I’d contracted for. We all got back in one piece, but we lost our hire in non-space. I’ve never left a hire behind before! Some garb-plugging idiot is going to pay for that! And then, when we *do * get here, it’s to find our hire has already arrived before us, but before I could get to them they’ve disappeared into the port. M’Kayla got a call and left on courier business(Trontian had trusted Victor with the information that M’Kayla had a crystal). Three guesses and the first two don’t count as to who her business is with. Everyone’s at your place now, with Vicki, and something peculiar seems to be going on. Vicki commed me, among others, so that we would be on the lookout for you as soon as you got back. She wants you there badly, though, and that girl doesn’t rattle easily. I tell you, I’m never going to have FTU dealings again if I can help it. The Xavvians can be touchy but…”

“Did you say FTU dealings?” Victor Jr blurted out.

“I did. It was a professor named Kenezr who hired me and Granthiaxav, seperately. Sneaky bastard. The hire was outbound from Ceres, a human and a Xavvian, on the run. Based on what little M’kayla has been able to tell me, this all seems to revolve around the human.”

Victor Channing sat back and thought long and hard on the rest of the flight. His daughter was no fool, and since her message had contained such urgency, he figured he’d better hold off on discussing the results of the Echo II shakedown, and give Vicki his full attention. After docking, the Channings and Trontiann made record time to the machine shop/home base residence of the family. Vicki met them in the entranceway.

“Dad, I’m so glad to see you, but please, everything is set up nowthere isn’t much time now until M’Kayla begins her syncing attempt.”

The little group progressed to where Kathy lay, still sedated, on a low pallet. Tobermory was watching her anxiously, and M’Kayla, her mind now as rested as it would be, was seated at her side, nearly ready to begin the three way syncing. Her eyes closed, she began to make a low whistling noise, similar in tone to the recognition code she’d uttered earlier.

102

That should read “Dad, I’m so glad to see you, but please, everything is set up, and there isn’t much time now until M’Kayla begins her syncing attempt.”

103

Meanwile, back in tKani’sav’s temporary office…

Martel jumped out of his chair and enthusiatically gave Robert a Xavvian greeting. Then he asked, “How in Bast did you escape the Floginim?”

“After Security discovered tKlan’aska’s lifeless body, they notified the Laxon who subsequently organized a stakeout of the Professor’s apartment. They probably were hoping to get information from him but we showed up instead. They must’ve had someone follow us to the Floginim chamber; some guys in black showed up just after you took off. One of them gave his life to get me out of there.”

tKani’sav dejectedly interrupted, “Alkani. He was one of my best men.”

“Anyway, the rest of the group spread out and one led me to safety. They kept pairing me off with someone else until I ended up down here.”

tKani’sav cleared his throat. “The two of you are not only here for your safety, you have something to give the Laxon. What was it you found in the Professor’s apartment?”

104

Martel and Robert looked at each other. It was hard to know whom to trust just now, but at least these people had actively extended protection and friendship to them. A tiny nod, and Robert began.

“I don’t know what you know about Prof. Kenezr and his work, but you must be aware of his passion for printed books?” A brief nod from tKani’sav, and Robert continued.

“I think he once said it’s harder to hack a book than a computer file. Well, after we snuck back into his place Martel here went into contemplation and I started nosing through some books. Kenezr had a lot of them stacked in piles, with places marked. It looked to me as if he had a big project going. Most of them had to do with crystal technology, his musical theories, and so on. Then I looked in on book that was so old and worn the thing was practically falling apart. On top of that it was handwritten, not printed. It seemed to be a sort of science journal. I flipped through a few pages, mostly because it seemed silly to me to have been recorded in such a format. But then, well, then I came back to where Prof. Kenezr had marked a place.” Here Robert stopped, wondering whimsically if he and Martel had
actually read correctly.

Martel picked up the thread of the tale. “Robert was so excited he got me out of my trance to have me read what he had found. I think it explains why he was so interested in crystal research, and in tinkering with them. You might want to go and get the book youself, to make sure we are telling it right.”

tKani’sav was getting a tad impatient, but blowing up would not make things better. “Please, just let me know what it said!” he grated.

Once again the two couriers looked at each other, and both opened their mouths to continue, but it was Martel who finished.

“Whoever wrote that book had discovered that, properly developed and conditioned, and combined with a courier host of the necessary level of talent, that a crystal can become more than just a recording, or simple thought amplification device. It can be used to manipulate feelings and emotions on a vast scale, and over greater distance than the more usual type. Apparently the writer’s intentions for such a device were benign. But…”

Here tKani’sav picked up the line of thought. “…using it as a weapon! Broadcast hatred or despair or revenge to the leaders of rival political factions, or to opposing military commanders, who would then act on those feelings. Why, you could end up with worlds being destroyed!”

Martel now remembered something else Prof, Kenezr had mentioned, during a rather alcoholic student gathering at his residence celebrating the graduation of another courier. Tentatively he announced “I think maybe they already have been.”

105

The wind blasted landscape of Dy’suk was an unforgiving desert… There was naught but towering cliffs rising up into the air and unrelenting sand dunes which stretches as far as the eyes (or many pairs of eyes) could see.

Few dare to venture there and most who do did so with very good reasons.

In a natural cavern set at the edge of a cliff, craved out by the relentless wind, a hood figure sat, sitting cross-legged, with arms folded and fingers folded into a strange symbol.

You can’t escape… the second mind of the creature hissed in defiance. Do what you would, beauty, but she would be mine and what was lost to me would be mine once more…

Even as those rancours thoughts run, the first mind of the creature was forcing those ill verses out from the creature’s mouth - La la shubbrigath! Norgolth le vannssar!

106

M’Kayla’s body slumped as her mind reached out to Kathy’s. She found Kathy’s consciousness and linked to it, surprised at its raw strength.

In a millisecond Kathy knew what M’Kayla was planning to do, and she was horrified at the danger. Like two little girls holding hands as they walked through dark woods, the two females together looked for the rogue crystal.

Figuring it would be faster to check an individual first rather than an entire government, M’Kayla searched for Vorpal.

The others stood around them, Vicki monitoring their vital signs. Her brother was standing guard outside her apartment, and her father was standing helplessly off to the side with Tobe and Kal.

M’Kayla jerked suddenly. Vicki shook her head, motioning that everything was still fine. Then Kathy jerked. Kal held back Tobe from running to her side.

A few more minutes passed, then M’Kayla opened her eyes. “Water,” she whispered. Kal ran to get it for her.

“Did you find anything?” Tobe asked.

“Hush, you fool,” Vicki said. “Give her some time.”

M’Kayla gulped the beaker of water quickly. She was sweating and panting, as if she’d run a maraton.

“Vorpal has the rogue crystal. I managed to modify Kathy’s crystal so she can awaken, but it will make it easier for Vorpal to find us. He also has Kenezr.”

107

“That BITCH!”

Vorpal first collapsed on a sand swept cliff on the desert planet Dy’suk. An instant later he was in his meditation chamber on board the space station. He had created the environment in his mind to focus the strength of the black crystal buried deep in his gut. It was a mental trick used by many mystics.

Astrid Vorpal was momentarily helpless and curled into a ball on the floor. “Verless…,” he hissed. But, it was hardly necessary to call for help. Captain Verless was waiting just outside the door. He and Vorpal both knew the attempt to access Kathy’s crystal was dangerous. It was worth a try since Kathy was still unaware of her potential. Vorpal just hadn’t expected a third party intervention.

The Captain placed a hypospray to Vorpal’s neck and revived him. “Looks like we’ll have to do this the old fashioned way,” said Vorpal.

108

tKani’sav sat back abruptly in his tight-fitting chair. "What do you mean by that?’’ he asked Martel.

"Like I said, we were celebrating a graduation, and most of us, including Prof.Kenezr, had been drinking. Terran beer for him, Xavvian kumiss for me, and so on. There was another Renallian there and she had drunk some of the beer. I guess it acts as more of a depressant on you folks, because she started singing a sad song about never being able to go home again. "

Here tKani’sav darkened from a deep purple to nearly black, as the remembered agony of his homeworld’s loss renewed itself. The Renallians had only had the one planet, and now lived in exile, in small groups on the worlds of others. But he shook himself and focused again on what Martel was telling him.

“I was sitting close by Prof. Kenezr and saw that he was crying, as humans do. I leaned over and asked why, and all he said was ‘What will I do? the Renallians, the Xavvian worlds, how many others? It’s all my fault. What will I do?’ Then he looked at me oddly, sort of shook his head and clamped his mouth shut. I figured then it was just the drink talking. The Great Mother knows I had a kumiss-head the next morning!”

Here Robert spoke up “You don’t mean to say that the Prof. Kenezr destroyed those planets!”

“Of course I don’t! That was Astrid Vorpal. We Xavvians are pledged to his destruction. The reward for his head is worth the price of a small moon, or at least was before the revolution broke out on the throneworld.”

tKani’sav, now calmer, interrupted. “I may be able to speak to that. We of the Laxon are an intelligence arm you know. Were either of you aware that Vorpal(he spat the name in disgust) and Kenezr are related by blood? They were even students together at the University.” Robert and Martel looked ill at the thought. “Kenezr has been into this crystal research for many years. Perhaps it is possible that Vorpal pirated some sort of knowledge or device or plans from him?”

Before he could speak further the intercom on his desk chirped at him. "Sir, I hate to interrupt, but was have just received a message, on one of our open channels, that I think you want to hear. All it says is ‘Alkani or the couriers, Your choice. Wayre.’ "

109

Holy Shit! :eek:

I have to tell you… this is really, really good.

110

“On an open channel? Are you sure of that?”

“Yes, sir. Open channel, Standard Galactic Vernacular.”
As tKani’sav pondered this, Robert asked, “Could it be a bluff? A scare tactic?”

"Wayre do not bluff, my young friend, " tKani’sav answered. “They do. And always to the utmost degree. There is never a second warning, either.”

“You can’t be considering giving in?!” queried Martel excitedly, his ears fluffing up.

“Calm down, both of you.” tKani’sav replied as he pulled up a file on his Notepad.* “We just have to stay one step ahead of them. We do still have the couriers, after all. Along with some very important information. Look here.” He pointed to a file named Outsourced Intelligence.

“Tell me what you know about this…”

*An archaic Earth term for any personal information/computing/communication device that has infiltrated GSV. It continues in use to this day.

111

As Robert and Martel perused the Notepad, tKani’sav keyed his intercom. “Is there anyone on our payroll that can be launched quickly?”

After a few seconds, the voice at the other end responded, “There’s Delivas, Tega, Cali…and a Xavvian named Granthiaxav who has been raising hell…something about being sabotaged.”

Ah, yes, the Professor’s hire. Tell that Xavvian that his mission has been changed. Send him to Deca Taegan. Tell him we’ll double his fee if he can set a new Kaalon speed record."

“Yes, Sir!”

Deca Taegan, an agricultural world on the fringe of Alliance space. The only reason the Laxon would be sending someone all the way out there in such a hurry would be to fetch their secret weapon: an enigmatic alien named Elia M’haal. Her lineage unknown, she was recruited out of a Deca Taegan orphanage and trained in a variety of martial arts disciplines - Terran, Renallian, Xavvian, and a couple of others. Only a select few know of her existance; fewer still know her true capabilities.

112

Even those touchy about rank and status can be appealed to with the lure of financial gain, especially if their financial standing doesn’t match their lineage. So when Granthiaxav received the call(as he preferred to think of it) to rush to Deca Taegan he took it partly as a challenge to indeed set a new flight time record.

The previous mission had been a blow to his pride. Granthiaxav, however self-centered he might be, was a conscientious commander, and that someone had slipped under his guard to damage his vessel and endanger his crew, not just himself, flicked him on the raw. His ship contained a small shrine to the Xavvian Great Mother, and just the ship took off he made a private vow to Her that this time he would not fail. The blood he left as an offering was proof of his sincerity.

His vessel did indeed make record time. As it orbited Deca Taegan
and signaled to the pickup, Elia M’haal, she appeared on the private comm screen of Granthiaxav.

“Honored lady, I have been accorded the privilege of escorting you to Laxis Prime, at the behest of tKani’sav, of the Laxon,”
Granthiaxav began. As has been noted, it was in his nature to be pompous in personal communication. He was surprised to note that the female he addressed was so very young looking. He had rather expected someone older. But with other races and species it could be hard to guess age, so he tried not to show what he felt. And it further surprised him that she answered him in the flawless formal Xavvian dialect he had used, but without the aid of a translating device!

“Honored sir, I am pleased to accept the request of my presence by the Laxon. I will await with greatest anticipation transport to your ship and an introduction to your august self.”

Granthiaxav began to regret that the return voyage must be as speedy as the outbound one had been. This personage knew how to treat him correctly!

113

When Kathy opened her eyes she had not been moved from her pallet on the floor. But a more comfortable pillow was supporting her neck and shoulders, and a low table with cool water and fruit juices was near to hand. M’Kayla sat on the floor beside her, with the rest of the group either elsewhere in the residence, or, in the case of Tobermory, standing well back.

“How long has it been?“ she asked. Surprisingly, she had came awake at once, but her gaze, as she turned her head to look at M’Kayla, was bleak.

“Not as long as I imagine it feels like” the Xavvian courier answered gently. “Can I give you anything to drink?”

“Is that Terran grape juice?” and she pointed at a frosty pitcher, which responded by wobbling a little. Kathy’s head sank back on the pillow and tears began to form in her eyes. “What has he done to me?” she asked no one in particular. M’Kayla moved quickly to pour a glass of juice and handed it to Kathy, who gulped it as if she had come out of a burning desert.

“Kathy, you know what I had to do, to enable you to be awakened. As I have already told the others, the adjustments I made to your crystal will make it easier for Astrid Vorpal to find you now. But easier does not have to mean easy! Before this contact attempt I was going to try and give you a crash course in some elementary disciplines to control your gift.” M’Kayla leaned closer, after glancing at Tobermory, who was doing his best to pretend he wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. “Your power is astonishing! It’s no wonder Kenezr chose you for this crystal. But training, even the basics, can be hard on one. Are you absolutely certain you want to learn about this thing, and not suppress it? Because I can help you do that too!”

Just for a moment Kathy imagined the relief of being back on Ceres. Why had she ever thought it was boring? Just now, watching wheat grow, and grading school assignments sounded wonderful. She could have that back? Then reality set in, as she realized that even if this crystal was suppressed she would probably never be left alone now, no matter what happened. And she was sick and tired of being used, even if it was by someone like Prof. Kenezr.

Kathy Swanson looked directly into the eyes of M’Kayla and said in a voice that didn’t sound like her own “Teach me whatever you can.”

114

Astrid Vorpal sat alone in his cabin, brooding on the setback he had received. His initial plan for contact with Kathy Swanson had been to be persuasive, to play up the angle how she had been used without her knowledge, and invite her to join him. Of course he wouldn’t have told her all of his plans, at least not at first, until she had been drawn so deeply into his schemes that she had no way to retreat.

That plan was in ashes now. She and whoever had been the third party in his botched syncing attempt would know that his intentions were deadly. So, as he had said to Capt. Verless, things would have to be done the hard way. Kathy would have to be forced into cooperating with him.

How best to do it? She had no family he could use, he ought to know. Could he use his cousin Jacob? Vorpal let his mind range over the vast array of delightfully painful tortures of which he excelled at administering. Properly taped and delivered, perhaps with some small piece of Jacob included as verification, would this work? Perhaps not, he sighed in regret. She just might be angry enough with Kenezr, or tough enough in mind, to resist such a tactic. Maybe it was time to talk to Jacob again.

Prof. Kenezr was in the same bare cell, with only the addition of a small waste facility as an improvement. He received water and two plain meals a day, and had been allowed no vids, no books, no writing materials, no sort of diversion at all. This, more than any other indignity, galled him. He looked up in anger as Vorpal entered his cell.

“Didn’t think I would be seeing you again so soon” he sneered. “You look as bad as I do. What’s the matter, was a little girl school teacher too much for you?” His head rocked back, blood flowing from his nose and mouth, as Astrid calmly and reasonably slugged him in the face.

“That was your first warning cousin. You will LISTEN to what I have to say, or I may go back to my contingency plan and send you back to the Swanson bitch, one chunk at a time.” Vorpal passed Jacob a small piece of toweling to mop up the blood, then took it back and handed it off to Verless, who had accompanied him to the cell. “What I want you to do now, since you know her so well, is to tell me about her mind. I want to know how best to convince her to come to me of her own accord.”

Kenezr stared stonily at Vorpal. He thought that maybe, if he could keep his mouth shut, he could begin making amends to Kathy for the way he had treated her. When Astrid understood that Jacob really did mean to keep silent, he signaled for the two “specialists” that had also come with him and Verless. What followed next was not pleasant, but it was meant to leave Jacob alive, if just barely. But he did not talk.

Frustrated almost beyond endurance Astrid considered giving himself the pleasure of a killing after all. He advanced a final time on Kenezr, who looked up at him with a single, still defiant, bloody eye. But he held off the killing stroke, because suddenly his mind flashed back to what Jacob had said when he’d entered the cell.

“A school teacher you said. Hmmmm. Young children. Ooooooohh, now that might be fun! Captain Verless, how long would it take us to make a quick raid to Ceres, using hyperdrive?”

“Between two and three standard days, sir” the captain replied.

“That long? Well, no matter, I have her general location quartered, and I doubt she’s going anywhere soon. Set course for Ceres at once!”

On hearing this Prof. Kenezr finally lost consciousness, prompting a smile of ugly satisfaction from his cousin.

115

I think we need another recap.

116

Okay. I’ll do one when I get home from work. Hope we can actually finish this one, like we did the last one. Try looking again around 7:00PM CDT(1:00AM GMT)

117

Give me just a little more time, I’m about 2/3 done.

118

Okay, I finally have the next recap done. Sorry it‘s later than I promised. I‘ve ried to be accurate in the presentation fo details of the story so far, but if you authors out there find any errors, let me know at once, pretty please

The action has resolved itself into three main plot threads and locations. I also think that it’s time we started weaving them together, and looking towards a resolution of the tale. I’d love for it to go on indefinitely, but as a Babylon 5 fan I think there is something to be said for a planned story arc. Of course that doesn’t mean we can’t have a sequel someday.

The three plot threads are (1)on Laxis Prime. tkani’sav, Martel, and Robert await the arrival of Granthiaxav and Elia M’hall. They will then(I assume) use the talents of the latter to go after Vorpal and retrieve Kenezr. But write it how you need to.(2) on Valis 5. Kathy has been helped by M’kayla and desires instruction in the use of her crystal powers. she’s tired of being used. Also present are Tobermory(he’s really worried for Kathy), Kal, Trontian, and the Channings. (3) aboard the ship of Astrid Vorpal, en route to Ceres, to kidnap children known to Kathy as “persuaders” for her to link with Vorpal. Isn’t he awful? See entries for Kenezr and Vorpal

Alkani An agent of tKani’sav, he was believed killed in the rescue of Robert from the Floginim.Jeff Olsen(5/22-9:09AM) May not be dead, but held hostage.see tKani’sav

Channing, Victor Michael founder and developer of VMC Corporation(see Valis 5) He lost control of the company partly because of difficulties with unionization.Jack Ketch(5/12-4:39PM). Presumed a widower, as there has been no mention of a wife. He does have two adult, children, Victor Michael Jr, and Vicki, twins.Jeff Olsen(5/15-9:55AM and 5/18-1:21PM) There is a close family relationship between the threeBaker(5/20-11:02PM) Channing slipped from public view after the loss of VMC, has been rumored to have kept a hand in designing ships, and has actually been laying the ground for getting VMC back.Jeff Olsen(5/15-9:55AM)

Channing, Victor Michael adult son of VMC Sr., he has worked closely with his father on engineering and shipe design. His father considers that his son is more talented than he himselfBaker(5/20-11:02PM)

Channing, Vicki Adult daugther of VMC Sr. She is extremely talented at third party organization and business dealingsBaker(5/20-11:02PM)

crystals Their power and technology is still being explored. Numerous references. If crystal frequecies don’t match, the attempt, one by the other to make contact, can be excruciatingly painful, with sedation needed to control the agonyivylass(5/20-11:58AM) A skilled courier can ease the pain, and gain information, with a three way crystal syncing, but this is usually done in a hospital. M’Kayla plans to use the dangerous technique to aid Kathy.ivylass(5/21-7:59AM) The exercise is successful but leaves Kathy easier to locate by Vorpalivylass(5/23-11:45AM) The discovery that Robert and Martel made in the book from Kenezr’s residence is this. A crystal that has been properly conditioned and manipulated, and then installed in a host of the needed level of talent, can use it not just for recording and information gathering, but to manipulate minds and emotions. It could be a fearsome weapon in the wrong hands.Baker(5/22-8:00PM)

Deca Taegan An agricultural world, place where Elia M’hall lives.see M’hall, Elia

Dy’suk a mental picture of a desert planet.Lost Cause(5/22-8:52PM) The environment was created to aid in using the black crystal in Vorpal, focusing it‘s strength. Third party intervention(by M‘kayla) prevented success. Jack Ketch(5/23-5:13)

Echo II Cutting edge spaceship, designed by the Channings. First seen entering non-space as Kathy and Tobermory are leaving non-spaceJeff Olsen(5/14-9:35AM)

Floginim Brotherhood May not be entirely loyal to Prof. Kenezr, apparently there are traitors/informants among them.(This may also have accounted for the assault on Robert and Martel). Fibber McGee(5/20-4:38PM)

Granthiaxav Sent to escort Elia M’hall to Laxis Prime. Mentioned in last recap, he is a proud, rather haughty Xavvian, former executive officer to Tobermory. In need of money? But also conscientious, cares about his crew. Angry about the sabotage to his ship, he makes a vow that he will not fail in his current mission.Baker(5/24-8:24PM)

** Harmonic wave disrupter** a destructive device that, when aimed and fired at a crystal, shatters the crystal from inside the courier carrying it. Effect assumed to be always fatal.ivylass(5/10-9:23PM)

Kal human, male, associate of M’Kayla.Jeff Olsen(5/18-1:21PM)

Kenezr, Prof. Jacob has a liking for old-fashioned bound booksBaker(5/12-5:38AM) Currently in the hands of Astrid Vorpal, he has resisted torture, hoping to begin to try and make up to Kathy his misuse of her.

knaffel, Xavvian Xavvian lifeform, specific type unknown, perhaps similar to a chameleon. Tobermory makes and analogy between the skin of a knaffel and the hull of the Echo II.Baker(5/18-7:37) It’s skin can be used for upholstery.Jeff Olsen(5/21-8:38AM)

Martel Attempts solo thought messaging for the first time,Baker(5/17-11:19PM) after he and Robert are set upon by Flogonim/WayreNoClueBoy(5/17-12:21AM)

M’hall, Elia An extremely secret agent used by tKani’sav, recruited out of an orphanage on Deca Taegan. Parentage unknown. Trained in several martial arts.Jeff Olsen(5/23-10:45PM) Able to speak fluent formal Xavvian, without a translator. Baker(5/24-8:24PM) Unknown if this talent applies to other tongues as well.

M’Kayla cousin to Martel. As a talented courier she can send mental messages over great distances.ivylass(5/12-11:28 AM). Lover and useful personal associate of Comm. Kal Trontiann

non-space the plane of existence that ships using hyperdrive travel in. Ordinarily a ship must use the Sorenson-Patel hyperdrive to exit non-space, but ships can re-enter normal space without it, although the maneuver is difficult and dangerous.(Jack Ketch(5/11-11:18AM)

psychology, Xavvian with predators for ancestors, Xavvians have the capacity to concentrate extremely deeply, blocking out much stimuli, when seeking revenge(‘hunting”)Baker(5/12-5:38 AM) They have a tendency to be high strungivylass(5/21-7:59AM)

Renall Homeworld of the Renallians, now destroyedsee tKani’sav

Sash, blue a Xavvian signal that the person wearing it will provide sanctuary.Jeff Olsen(5/17-10:53AM)

Swanson, Kathy Her fastidiousness about personal cleanliness almost gets her killed.Baker(5/15-11:17PM) She is often hungry now, cause unknown.Baker(5/18-7:37PM) Her feelings for Tobermory may be deepening. Kathy‘s telekinetic powers are increasing, and probably need control.ivylass(5/17-7:06AM) kathy is tempted by the offer of M’kayla to suppress the power of her crystal, but resists, knowing it would still not bring her peace.Baker(5/25-9:52)

Swanson, Mr. and Mrs. Disappeared in non-spaceBaker(5/13-10:24PM) But are they really dead? Kathy has only heard the “voices” in non-space.Baker(5/15-12:18AM) The first name of Mrs. Swanson appears to be Jacine, and the possibility exists that her husband is not the father of Kathy, although Mr. Swanson seemed to accept her as such.Fibber McGee(5/20-4:38PM)

tKani’sav, Sector Chief Head of the information gathering arm of the FTU. Renallian male. Takes in Martel and Robert.Jeff Olsen(5/20-5:42PM) His agents rescued Robert from the Floginim, after Martel had made a separate getaway. In return he expects the pair to tell him what they discovered in the book from Prof. Kenezr’s apartment.Jeff Olsen(5/22-9:09AM) He tells them part of the background of Astrid Vorpal and Jacob Kenezr. While doing this he learns that one of his agents, believed dead in the rescue of Robert, may still be alive, held hostage by the Wayre.Baker(5/23-9:10PM) His skin color, purple, darkens further with deep emotional pain.Baker(5/23-9:10 He employs a Notepad for storing informationNoClueBoy(5/23-9:40PM)

Trontian, Kal Ship captain. Rumored to have had aid in design from Victor Channing.Jeff Olsen(5/12-6:53) Rumors appear to be trueBaker(5/20-11:02PM His skin color is a darker shade of brown. He’s very upset at the sabotage to his ship, and he speaks of Kenezr as a “sneaky bastard.”Baker(5/22-12:00AM)

Valis 5 Homeworld of Kal Trontiann and the headquarters of VMC, a major supplier of space vessels to the AllianceJeff Olsen(5/11-2:50PM)

Vorpal, Astrid Currently plotting to obtain the talents of Kathy Swanson, he has kidnapped Prof Kenezr. A war criminal, who used a crystal stolen from his cousin to destroy several worlds.Fibber McGeee(5/13-5:22) The Xavvians had a high price on his head, for the loss of those worlds.Baker(5/23-9:10PM) A sadist. Frustrated in his attempt to contact Kathy Swanson and perhaps persuade her to join him voluntarily, he tortures Kenezr, to try and obtain information on Kathy’s mind and talents. Badly hurt, Kenezr resists but passes out when Vorpal has the bright idea to go back to Ceres, and kidnap schoolchildren that will be used to persuade Kathy to link with him.Baker(5/26-6:56PM)

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Couple of things, “Kal” & Kal Trontiann are the same person and he is humanoid.

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Oops!:smack: Didn’t notice that one. Sorry about that. Well, his skin can *still * be brown.