Ranma and the Defender of the Light
--------------------
chapt 3: Teyledras (part C)
--------------------
"Ranma. Akane. I still need to speak with both of you. Put your
things away and meet me in the dojo." They headed upstairs, and I went
to the dojo to wait for them.
"First, I need to remove the language spells so you can speak normally."
I did so. "Now we have other things to discuss.... Akane, can you get
that mallet again?"
"Mallet?"
"You pulled it out twice last evening...I had to yell at you before you
clobbered someone with it."
"Oh, _that_ mallet. Here you are." She pulled it out handed it to me.
It was too heavy for me to lift physically. I needed telekinesis to
move it. <But does she use telekinesis?>
"Can you lift it? Swing it at something?"
"Sure, no problem." She strained to pick it up, and seemed unable to do
so. "Okay, maybe not. Of course, I don't use it like this anyway."
She put it back into the fourth dimension, and pulled it out over her
head. From there, gravity pulled it down. She did, however, guide its
path.
"Interesting. What else do you have stored in the fourth dimension?"
"Is that where it goes? Just more of the same. Okay, so this is the
biggest one. I have two about two thirds this size, three about half
this size, and one small one, like so." She held her hands a few inches
apart from each other, indicating a mallet slightly larger than those
used for leatherworking.
"Okay, you can put it away now. Do you have any other special
abilities?"
"Like what?"
"Anything magical. I've seen you glow with power. Can you use that
power for anything?"
"Chi? No, I just give off a battle aura when I'm angry. I don't know
any chi attacks." This was truly interesting. Apparently, she was a
latent mage and had a gift for manipulating fourth-dimensional space. I
had been that way once. My first use of magic was an accidental
teleport. Fortunately, I landed in a universe where magic was accepted,
in the hands of friendly people. I spent the next fifty or so years
there, learning to use my gifts.
"Do you mind if I scan you? This is just a scan for magical abilities
and to ascertain your physical health. I won't enter your mind again."
"Sure, no problem."
I performed the same scan on her that I had on Ranma the other day.
"You, like Ranma, have the mage-gift. Not that was any real doubt about
that.... You're both latent mages. Which means that, while you have
the gift, you can't really use it. It would take a lot of training to
bring your gift to active status, and even then it's not guaranteed....
You each seem to have developed an almost instinctive ability with it,
even though you've remained mostly latent. You, Akane, can manipulate
the fourth dimension to store items there. Ranma possesses magesight."
"Magesight?"
"The ability to see magic. Remember that huge glowing crystal in the
vale?"
"I didn't see any glowing crystal." Ranma, however, nodded.
"That's a heartstone...a Teyledras artifact to store incredible amounts
of magic power. Akane, even had you been with us when we went by it, it
wouldn't have glowed for you. Only those with magesight can see the
power held within it. Magesight isn't really an ability; it's just a
special type of vision. Although, with practice, a mage can learn to
turn it off, or dampen it to still be able to see magical objects, but
not be blinded by things like heartstones."
"I see...."
"Don't worry about it; I just wanted to see what you were capable of
magically.... Since your gifts aren't active you shouldn't have to
worry about accidentally killing yourself--or anyone else--with magic.
"Well _that's_ good to know."
"If your gifts _were_ active you'd have had two options. Either accept
training to learn to control them properly, or have them shut down.
However, we rarely allow the second option."
"Anything else?"
"Actually yes. I'm beginning to expand my organization into this
universe. I need someone to monitor things in this area and alert me if
there is something that needs my attention. Ranma, since I know you're
willing to work with me, I figured I'd offer you the job first. After
all, you did save my life on the day we met."
"What exactly would I have to do?"
"Watch the local and national news. Record weekly reports of what's
going on. Call me directly if there's something I need to deal with
immediately--like an evil mage that wants to rule the world--or even a
small part of it--or an invasion by aliens or demons. Anything like
that. For now, your area of responsibility would be the city of Tokyo.
As I add more agents, that could shrink to just Nerima."
"That sounds easy enough."
"There may be some danger involved. After all, such beings wouldn't
want you to report their activities to me. That's part of the reason
for the weekly report--miss one, and we assume something's wrong and
come check it out."
"I think I can deal with any danger."
"Don't be too sure.... However, there are also compensations. If you
personally are in danger, even if it doesn't relate to anything you
would normally report, you may call me for help. And, of course, you
would receive a salary." I reached into the fourth dimension for my
mini library and retrieved a standard business-size envelope. The
envelope was stuffed full. "This is the standard contract used for
informational sources. There are two copies here. Read it. Make your
decision. If you accept, sign one copy and mail it in the envelope
provided. Some portions of the contract are negotiable. If you wish to
make changes, _don't_ sign it, write or type the changes on the last
page, and mail it. I will either accept the changes--and send you back
a different contract containing them--or someone will come here to
discuss them with you and create a new one then. If you refuse, give
both copies to Akane and let her make her decision. If both of you
refuse, write 'decline' in big letters on every page and mail it back.
I expect to hear from you in a few days."
Ranma had been flipping through the contract while I talked. "I can
sign it now," he told me.
"Ranma? Read the entire thing first. I went over the basics, but you
need to read it for details. Since you have expressed an interest in
accepting, I'll wait while you do so. If you have any questions, ask
me." I walked over to the wall, conjured three magelights, and began
juggling them. Before long, I added a fourth.
"Erik?" I let the magelights vanish. "This says I can ignore certain
laws?"
"_If_ you are doing so to complete a task for me. Actually, I have yet
to speak with your government. We'd better cross that section out." I
got a pen and did so.
"What about espionage laws?" Akane asked.
"That's a tricky one, and why I usually speak to the governments in
question. What I've asked here is for him to report things that are in
the public domain anyway. In those instances where he is to call me
directly, he'd be telling me things that would be in the public domain
as soon as a news crew can get to the scene. This shouldn't be
considered espionage."
Ranma finished reading the contract. "Okay, I've read it. Now let me
have that pen so I can sign."
"You're sure you want to do this?"
"It says I can cancel at any time. What's to worry about?"
"Read that section again. It says you can cancel after giving
sufficient notice for us to find a replacement. "'Sufficient notice'
means at least one week, possibly two or three. And don't forget the
restrictions on your travel. You are responsible for Tokyo and must
remain _in_ Tokyo, unless you have prior permission to leave."
"Like I said, not a problem. Are you going to let me sign, or what?"
"Here's the pen." He took it and signed.
"Do you need to talk to me for anything else?" Akane asked.
"No, I just need to give Ranma a communicator and explain to him how to
use it."
"Okay, bye then." Akane left.
"A communicator? You mean like those things on Star Trek?"
"Not exactly. I mean one of these." I reached into the fourth
dimension and pulled it out. It was a blue rod, about a foot long, a
couple inches in diameter, with a lens in each end. It had two buttons
on one end, and a black spot on the other.
"_That's_ a communicator?"
"Yes. First, we have to identify it as yours. Put your index finger on
the black sensor and speak your name into this microphone." The
microphone was almost microscopic, on the end with the buttons.
"Saotome Ranma."
"Okay, it's recorded your fingerprint and voiceprint. Should anyone
other than you attempt to use it, it will self-destruct after thirty
seconds, unless you reset it before the countdown is completed. To
reset it, place your index finger on the sensor and speak your name and
the word 'reset' into the mic. Do that please."
"Saotome Ranma. Reset."
"Like that. Now, try it for real."
I picked it up, twisted one of the ends, and set it down. A voice came
from it saying, "This communicator will self-destruct in 30 seconds.
This communicator will self-destruct in 30 seconds. 29. 28. 27.
26--"
"Saotome Ranma. Reset."
"Countdown halted. Communicator reset by owner. Self-destruct
canceled."
"Now, you need to know how to record a message. To activate the
communicator, tap your finger on the sensor pad. To record a report,
hold the green button down and speak into the mic. This lens will
record a holovideo of whatever it's pointed at. Always start with it
pointed at your face. If your report needs to include visual data,
point it at whatever you need to. When recording a report, always start
with your name, the date of the report, and your area of responsibility.
When giving your area of responsibility, you need to include the
universe designation. The designation of this universe is Takahashi
two. To end the report, release the button. Any questions?"
"No, I've got it."
"Please record a test message now."
"Saotome Ranma. 11:45. October xx, 199-. Tokyo, Japan. Takahashi
two. This is a test."
I contacted the person monitoring the reports. :You just get a test
message from a Saotome Ranma?:
:Tokyo, Takahashi two? Yeah, it's here. Isn't all of Tokyo kindof
large?:
:I hope to reduce that as we get more agents in this universe.:
:Good luck.:
:Thanks. Bye.:
:Bye.:
"Okay, the message is there. To call me directly, you use the red
button instead of the green. There's just one difference: the lens at
the other end projects a hologram of whatever my communicator is
recording. Once that hologram appears, you can begin."
"You want me to try that, too?"
"Not just yet. When communicators are too close, it can cause
interference. I'll call you later today. Speaking of that, should I
call you, your communicator will beep. To answer, tap your finger on
the sensor pad. You don't have to hold a button when you receive a
call, only when you originate one."
"Wait a minute. You're saying that I need to keep this thing with all
the time?"
"It's in the contract. You have to be available twenty-four hours a
day. If you don't want to carry it, get Akane to show you how to store
it in the fourth dimension. You'll still hear the beep. You'll here
the beep even if you leave it behind somewhere, you just won't be able
to answer. That would not be a good idea, trust me."
"I'm sure. Is there anything else?"
"Not unless you have any questions. I need the signed copy of your
contract for my files. Keep the other copy for your reference.
Remember, record a news report every Saturday. I'll be calling you for
a com check later today."
"Okay, I guess that will do it."
"Bye for now." I teleported away.
Later that day, I pulled out my own communicator and added a setting to
it for Ranma's. Then I called him.
"I guess it works."
"Seems to. I'm going to hang up. Call me in five minutes or so."
Five minutes later, my communicator beeped. When I pulled it back out
of the fourth dimension, Ranma's setting was blinking.
"Okay, everything works. Remember your duties. Perform them well.
Call me if you need anything."
"Right, bye."
"Bye." We both hung up.
------------------
Author's notes:
Clan Tale'Sedrin of the Shin'a'in and clan k'Treva of the Teyledras both
exist in Mercedes Lackey's novels. Any personal names used in the fic
that are the same as personal names used in her novels are
unintentional. I have tried to keep this fic true to the societies she
created, but am not using her characters.
Readers of the _Valdemar_ novels may wish to know when this fic takes
place on that timeline. It must be before the Keled'a'in and the
Teyledras were reunited in the _Magewinds_ trilogy. After that, one
would have encountered griffins and kyree in the Vale. Also, since the
shaman of clan Tale'Sedrin felt secure enough to spend time away from
her clan, it most likely takes place before the near destruction of that
clan referred to in the _Vows_and_Honor_ duology. And, of course, it
must be long after the _Magewars_ trilogy. The Teyledras and Shin'a'in
must both exist as peoples. I could place the story anywhere in the
remaining two thousand-year time span.
This is the third and final section. Sorry for breaking up so much.
Apparently Hotmail's compose window will only hold 35K. If anyone knows
how to get around this problem, please email privately.
--
Erik
"What's more dangerous than a mage out to rule the entire world? Why, a
mage at play, of course...."
-Ed Greenwood, "Elminster at the Magefair"
http://www.cs.transy.edu/ejessup/homepage.html
--
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com