Dadr'Ba (17 page)

They discussed their shared dream, the genesis of their meeting, comparing details until they were both convinced that it was no fluke. They had been there together. P’Ko was astonished that Su’Zi had sought out Mi’Ka for advice and even more astonished to learn that Mi’Ka had diagnosed the event as a temporal entanglement. P’Ko had never heard of TE’s before, but could think of no better explanation. After sharing with each other how they met Mi’Ka, P’Ko described his part-time job and his disguise.

They got on the subject of P’Ko’s pending graduation. P’Ko was excited to share that his application to be a T’Bm Me’K (T’Bm Mechanic) had been approved, but his assignment had been listed as pending.

By this time Su’Zi knew the P’Ko was anything but an ordinary U’Te and though surprised at first, accepted the revelation about P’Ko’s wanting to become a Mi’Nr and work in the mines as a T’Bm Me’K.

Su’Zi had reservations, how readily would the Bo’R clans accept P’Ko? As tactfully as she could, she shared her concern with P’Ko and asked P’Ko what Mi’Ka had said about his choice of professions. P’Ko stated that Mi’Ka’s response to his job choice was strange, her response “good choice, but a difficult path.” Neither of them knew quite know how to interpret Mi’Ka’s statement. Both knew Mi’Ka well enough that she sometimes talked in riddles, and Su’Zi guessed out loud that, when Mi’Ka “see’s” some things they appear to her as riddles, and that she’s only telling it as she sees it.

P’Ko shared that his parents, especially his father had been disappointed and tried to talk him out of it. His ba had hoped to apprentice him. Apprentices being trainees are frequently exempt from the job placement process unless they are in a shortage field. Meaning, for example, that even if sector three didn’t need a U’Te mechanic, P’Ko could apprentice with his ba and work with him until his apprenticeship was complete, only then would he compete for a job placement. The fact that P’Ko was accepted as a T’Bm Me’K meant that there was a shortage.

His parents had learned by experience that once P’Ko had his mind set that it was little use to try to talk him out of it. Instead of trying to talk him out of it, they supported him, telling P’Ko that if being a T’Bm Me’K didn’t work out they’d stand behind him. They were confident that the CA would reassign him to a U’Te mechanic, and he would probably come home. P’Ko was already documented as having gone on many jobs with his ba, which would count favorably to be selected as a U’Te mechanic.

The impact on the family would be severe financially if he were chosen as a T’Bm Me’K and failed. P’Ko’s bio-mods for being a Bo’R would be reclassified as cosmetic, and his family would either have to pay for their removal or pay for their install, either way, the cost would eat up years’ worth of family savings.

P’Ko was determined though and said that he’d put up his meager savings and work to pay back his parents back if it came to that. With that level of determination and commitment, his parent’s anxiety level lessened, they wanted P’Ko to be happy, and told him, that if it came to that payback wouldn’t be necessary. P’Ko continued to insist that he’d pay them back, but at the same time insisting that it wouldn’t be necessary.

Su’Zi explained, based on her experience, that as job openings appear, unless they are immediate critical fills, they are queued to be filled at the next graduation. Job opening announcements are released for applicants and candidate selection is based first on job qualification requirements on seniority.

Being an apprentice complicates things because an apprentice is not entirely qualified and therefore can’t go right into a job. A master must accept the apprentice, and that is probably why his particular job location is pending. P’Ko will probably have to interview for the position; fortunately, the interview process should happen after the bio-mod. Like picking of players for a sports team, where he winds up will depend on how he stacks up against the competition, meaning that he will probably be the very last candidate selected for the last and least desirable position.

P’Ko asked if Su’Zi knew of any of the competition, he might be facing, which she did, mostly those from her sector. They were some of the younger underclassmen when she was in school, but many were already working alongside their mas’ and bas’, like P’Ko has been with his. She knew of no standouts and shared this info, which provided some relief to P’Ko’s anxiety. To which P’Ko said, “wouldn’t be great if we could wind up on the same crew.” To which Su’Zi, realizing all possible implications remained silent.

The thought of being on the same crew as P’Ko at first made Su’Zi happy, then as she reflected she became concerned, she would have to deal with ex-boyfriends and friends on the crew that might not take well to P’Ko, some of which treated Up’Lndrs with contempt.

P’Ko is going to be in for a hard time. He will have to prove himself. If they ended up with the same crew, she knew she couldn’t hide her feelings for him, and it would lead to problems. She could find herself in a position of standing up for or defending P’Ko, which could jeopardize or taint his acceptance and her own reputation.

As much as she wanted to be with P’Ko and work on the same crew with him, she couldn’t allow herself to be put into that position.

Being on the same crew could ruin everything, so she hedged her response finally saying it might be better to stay in sector three, closer to home, at least at first. Then after he finishes his apprenticeship move to sector one or five where he might have a chance of doing some prestigious meteorite mining. It occurred to Su’Zi that she may then be able to transfer to his crew, leave behind old boyfriends and acquaintances and start anew. She had stayed in sector two to be near her ma and brother, everyone’s getting along fine now.

Su’Zi has matured and gained confidence, and knows how to get around from sector to sector; they could see each other often. The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea of being in neighboring sectors. She started thinking how she might influence the interview process for P’Ko and how she might obtain a transfer for herself later, maybe Mi’Ka could help, she’d have to ask her.

By this time, it was getting late, so they talked about how they should stay in touch, Su’Zi shared that she didn’t like to use TaC-B’s, she just didn’t trust the CA and would explain more the next time they met.

Su’Zi said that short of meeting in person, meeting in Vr’Chm was best. Like today, they could set up a meeting schedule or perhaps leave signals or messages like what P’Ko wrote in the sand today on the beach, and that there may be a way to make meetings safe in Vr’Chm.

This peaked P’Ko’s curiosity, this sense of mystery and intrigue. They winded up settling on, that it might be after graduation before they can meet in person again. P’Ko sharing that his mentor wanted to do the training all at once and that it would take ten days.

Su’Zi was surprised; her training was biweekly sessions over the course of several months. She asked P’Ko, who was going to be P’Ko’s mentor. As soon as P’Ko replied with Z’Shi’s alias, Su’Zi choked on her tea, she didn’t know who this person was, but her name was clearly D’En, how could Mi’Ka have helped set this up?

Su’Zi suddenly grew exhausted, and she needed to go home. After another hug. This time, not quite as intense as the first, but was psychically trusting, warm and sincere. It helped dispel but not eliminate the dark cloud Su’Zi felt about Z’Shi, and after final promises to meet or leave word on the beach. They each went home.

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As P’Ko made his way home, this much he knew, he could trust Su’Zi, and felt that he would have feelings for her all his life. He felt that she helped fill a void in his life and that he’s known her all his life but couldn’t remember. He was stuck with the “I think I” feeling that’s impossible to nail down.

P’Ko had felt out of place his whole life, his difficult birth, his slowness in learning to speak, his alienation throughout school. Does this have anything to do with who he is? Or was growing up to be? Or is it a coincidence, if not a coincidence is Su’Zi that perfect match? Is Su’Zi that one in a 1 billion chance? That complementary number that when combined with his, creates perfection, a perfect unity?

P’Ko’s mind was working in overdrive evaluating these options, but without more information, he couldn’t decide. For now, he was leaning towards three possible explanations; one being, it’s all a fluke that he and Su’Zi were just two random people and are just strongly infatuated with each other. The other, that he and Su’Zi are soulmates and blessed to have found each other. The last explanation, the one P’Ko resisted but was inexplicably drawn to is; that he and Su’Zi are fated to be together.

P’Ko has heard the stories about fated couples, they’ve existed throughout the mystical history of Dadr’Ba, a history that exists outside of, but parallel to the documented and scientifically sound world they live in, near the outskirts and the shadows of the official religion of Dadr’Ba. Fated couples are doomed to extraordinary hardships and turmoils.

P’Ko forced the thought out of his mind; he knew that here, now, today, this instant, Su’Zi loved him. He felt an unyielding attraction to her, not just focused on her beauty as before, though he still found her to be beautiful and attractive, but a new feeling grew inside him. Is his psychic-self coming alive? His mind refused to release control to his impulse and emotion. He felt a conflict growing inside of himself a sense that a part of himself was damaged and probably responsible for the lack of true happiness he had dealt with all his life.

Gi’Ya
[72]
watched the graduation ceremony on the large display panel from her office in the administrative office structure adjacent the Church. Soon the initiates will be escorted over from the stadium.

There’s plenty of time to walk the short distance to greet them and begin the Ceremony. She tried to remember how many Ceremonies she’s conducted. It has to be close to eight-hundred, the figure made her head swim, that’s a lot. It might actually be eight-hundred exactly, but in the early days, the ceremonies weren’t nearly as organized as they are today. Their ceremonies were conducted on an as needed basis, often with small groups. Which made it almost impossible to put a number to the ceremonies she’s performed.

She could probably come up with a number, but it would take more time accessing and processing the data than she had available right now. Besides, the number would be meaningless, the Church has, if not officially adopted, cooperated with the CA prohibition against backward looking. There’s logic to it; the past is never actually recoverable and what impact would knowing exactly how many ceremonies she’s conducted have on the present, none. Dwelling on the past wastes processing cycles, and power that could be spent on things that are more useful.

As a rule, each class of initiates has included a few interesting characters, and based on the CA’s report and the Church’s records this class is no exception. Gi’Ya scanned the reports; the CA report contained the medical and school records as well as psychiatric evals and notable surveillance summaries. She didn’t trust the CA report, over the years, there are numerous occasions that she’s found discrepancies in the report, various truncations, glaring omissions and deletions and not so frequent fabrications of information and all for no apparent rational purpose.

Gi’Ya supposed it wasn’t much different than the “editing” routinely performed on the records the Church supplies to the CA. The Church’s official report is comprised of the entire genealogy, including retirement records, birth records, church service attendance; notes, on the other hand, may or may not make it into the official report provided to the CA. There is an entire sub-database of information that’s covered under the innocuous title “miscellaneous notes” that only select church officials can access.

For this Initiation/Coming-of-Age Ceremony, Gi’Ya’s attention was alerted to be watchful of a certain individual by her old friend, Mi’Ka. Mi’Ka had sent Gi’Ya a psychic note to be watchful of P’Ko. He’s not dangerous or threatening, not like some of the miscreant, spoiled D’En’s, that take extra effort, pampering, coaching and coaxing to ensure they survive the ceremony.

Gi’Ya manipulated the display and zoomed in on P’Ko sitting near but not among the top third of the class. She glanced down at her tabletop and scanned P’Ko’s CA record. Slow learning to walk and talk, slightly above average academically, but comments indicate he didn’t apply himself very hard, had some conflicts with some upperclassman as a Ko’Ka, and early his To’Ta years, but that passed, lately he seems to have gotten along with his peers. Introverted, average IQ, analytical, little psychic ability, but nearly all the evaluated areas have an abnormally wide probability of error.

Then she spotted within the report P’Ko’s mentor, Z’Shi, using one of her aliases. It’s odd that she’s his mentor, she very rarely mentors men, preferring to mentor women in the art of satisfying a man and the even finer art of satisfying other women or themselves. Z’Shi had gathered a sort of posse of acolytes, some mated some not, but all practitioners of Z’Shi’s art and doing quite well.

Gi’Ya knew Mi’Ka had to have something to do with Z’Shi being P’Ko’s mentor; she would have to ask Mi’Ka about that the next rare occasion they were able to meet in person.

Most unusual was P’Ko’s choice of profession, a T’Bm Me’K, (Tunnel Boring Machine Mechanic) a Mi’Nr’s job. He must be only the second or third U’Te ever to volunteer and could be the only one actually accepted into a Mi’Nr’s profession. Not just a Mi’Nr’s profession but one that is the leading edge of Mi’Nr’s professions, maintaining the T’Bm’s.

This could be a first, in spite of the equal rights to occupation declaration the CA was forced into making centuries ago. So far the CA has successfully discouraged, arranged or pressured possible U’Te candidates against picking a Mi’Nr’s job or selected them for an alternate career choice mandated not to be the same job class as your first choice, and from a job class of your native race.

Gi’Ya thought back to the protests, the work slowdowns, (forbidden to be called strikes), by mostly U’Te’s (the numerical majority) but supported by the Bo’R’s. Gi’Ya knew of no D’En that publicly supported the movement. The Church slowly, reluctantly, gave a passive endorsement to the equal rights to profession movement, mostly by staying neutral.

Gi’Ya glanced up at the screen on the wall and exploded into action simultaneously zooming back and panning away from P’Ko. He had been staring at her, or rather, at the camera, her heart pounding; she wondered how long P’Ko had been looking her direction. As she recovered her wits, she directed her screen back towards P’Ko, panning not too close and pausing on P’Ko for only for a moment.

This time, P’Ko was looking at, and seemed attentive to, the speaker’s podium. The speaker was finishing, the graduates would soon be standing, going up and getting their personal recognition certificates and new name-profession access badges.

____________________________

The eerie feeling that someone was watching him came over P’Ko, and he looked in the direction the feeling was coming from. At first, he thought that it was Su’Zi, Su’Zi, not liking to go to Nu’Tn; she was probably watching the broadcast from Ol’Tn. As close and emotionally tied to him as she was, she was still uncomfortable going to Nu’Tn.

P’Ko continued to look up in the direction he sensed the attention was coming from, and focused his attention there, trying to feel if it was Su’Zi and send her a psychic message. Almost immediately, he felt a wave of panic and glanced quickly around himself, looking for the threat, but as suddenly as it appeared the feeling passed.

He could tell it wasn’t Su’Zi and tried casting his thoughts to her, he got a warm supporting feeling from Su’Zi. Su’Zi had been watching and waiting for his psychic reach.

P’Ko watched as the last of the speeches concluded and the graduates started to file up, each in turn after the announcement of their name and job and any significant awards. Each graduate proceeded on stage, shook hands with the officials and collected their new name-profession access badge then filed back to their seats.

When P’Ko’s turn came, P’Ko had no significant awards; the announcer only announced his job. A dead calm passed over the crowd, and then slowly, starting with just a few or possibly only one, the applause grew and spread until nearly the whole stadium was applauding. The applause continued, causing a delay in the ceremony and only stopped when P’Ko returned to his seat.

After the last graduate had got back to their place and a final applause. P’Ko, and the rest the graduates filed out of the stadium. A small crowd had formed just outside the stadium as he and the other graduates came out.

He was surprised to spot Su’Zi in the gathering. Upon recognition, she placed her palm upon her chest, then raised her hand to her cheek acting as though she was wiping a tear from her face. She followed with her hand palm out toward him indicating that he didn’t need to nor should respond in the same way.

P’Ko knew this was part of a special salutation between Mi’Nr’s and also a special message to him. He felt flattered and honored to be recognized as a Mi’Nr and to be cared for by Su’Zi.

P’Ko did his best to send the psychic equivalent back to Su’Zi, and he wasn’t sure he got it right. Whether he got it right or not, he didn’t need to feel her psychic response, although he did, her broad smile said it all.

The graduates filed out to an open area just outside the stadium and were greeted by a Church Elder, as a group of soldiers formed a cordon around them. P’Ko couldn’t tell whether the soldiers provided protection, an honor guard, or prisoners guard. They escorted the graduates the short distance to the Church; they followed the Church Elder into the Church accompanied by several Church Ushers that had been waiting for them outside the Church. None of the soldiers entered the Church.

____________________________

Gi’Ya watched as the initiates filed into the ceremony chamber after the last had entered, relieved that Church grounds are off limits to Soldiers.

Gi’Ya doesn’t like soldiers, these autonomous or semi-autonomous robots, exceedingly powerful, durable and deadly. There’s no threat on all of Dadr’Ba that justifies such a creation, programmed for a function or a goal by the CASS and incapable of deviation. A single soldier run amok, unopposed by other soldiers could probably kill everyone aboard Dadr’Ba. Such things have no place here.

Soldiers have been known to “accidentally” kill people. Striking or crushing them either by reflex; (they’ve been programmed to take defensive action at the first hint of attack or feigned attack) or inadvertently activating a preprogrammed defensive posture with no regard to who or what is around them.

Young Ko’Ka’s and naive To’Ta’s were particularly vulnerable, the initiates here today are old enough to know better than to attempt a tease let alone a taunt of these mindless killing and maiming machines.

The CASS insisted on “supporting” the graduation and ToG ceremony by providing “escorts.” They made it sound in the beginning like it would add to the grandeur and prestige of the moment. However, Gi’Ya had always thought that it had more to do with creating a visual reminder to all that the CA is everywhere and is in control of everything. Gi’Ya knew full well that everything within eye and earshot of these mindless brutes makes its way back to the CASS for analysis and exploitation.

The Church manages to restrict the presence of the soldiers; they are a distraction, and their presence interferes with the psychic aspects of church business. The psychic aspect is the core of retirement and procreation on Dadr’Ba, without which Dadr’Ba itself would die. Therefore, the Church successfully restricts soldiers from access to church grounds or offices.

The initiates filed into the old chapel, which was actually below the street level of the current Ol’Tn. This had been one of the original gathering places of the Touch of God survivors, and where many died.

Over the years, this ceremony has become well-coordinated and controlled. A room like this exists in all the sectors. This social and religious rite of passage must be identical for everyone.

The only ones to escape or avoid the ToG Ceremony, have either died, having no chance at an afterlife passing a part of themselves to their descendants. Or are outlaws or outcasts, they’re the “unclean”, who are who are supposed to be hunted by the CA and eliminated. To the Churches, disappointment many outlaws and outcasts hide out in the back alleys and outskirts of Ol’Tn’s where the CA has little presence. There, unless they make trouble, they are ignored, avoided or reviled, perhaps for the better, a fate worse than death.

Since The Touch of God, the Chosen have built Nu’Tn’s in each of the sectors with modern larger improved quarters and gathering places. Though, in a higher radiation area, the Touch of God survivors and their descendants have the gift of a much higher tolerance for radiation. The preserved the lower chapels, like this one as memorial’s and modified them to serve the critical function of today’s ceremony.

Gi’Ya spotted P’Ko immediately and watched him carefully as he took his seat. P’Ko didn’t seem to pay too much attention to her, being more interested in, as most of the others were, the surroundings.

P’Ko listened attentively, as Gi’Ya gave her introductory speech, he and the others showed no indication they knew what was going to happen. At the appointed moment, Gi’Ya left and went behind the stage and watched on monitors as she got that all clear from the ushers, charged the system and pressed the switch.

The initiates jerked, muscles in contraction, then twisted, and doubled over, many vomited, despite the warning against eating or drinking, and then as the charge dissipated collapsed to the floor in convulsions.

Gi’Ya and the ushers strolled slowly back around the curtains within view of the stage. The sound of retching had stopped, replaced by slowly receding spasms, coughing and choking. Then all was quiet as the initiates entered coma, beginning their journeys, as the acrid smell of stomach contents, filled the room.

The waiting began, it will take several hours, perhaps longer for all the initiates to recover and based on Gi’Ya’s evaluation, she expected one, not P’Ko but this other one near P’Ko, to die. This one, which had low cognitive scores and only average circulatory function, should pass quickly into oblivion.

Gi’Ya noticed that upon shock this one had gone immediately into the eyes wide and fluttering, arched back, stiff armed and legged, posture of pre-death strained-rigor-mortis. Symptoms, indicating a total cognitive break, instead of the cognitive arrhythmia and convulsions that the shock is designed to induce.

Once all of this one’s energy is spent, it will go flaccid and limp, lifeless, voided, an empty container that once held the hope of everlasting life for its parents and grandparents. She could sense its pain, like a massive cognitive muscle cramp, but a thousand times worse. It took an effort to close her mind to this one’s pain, but it should subside soon. As for the other initiates, they are lost in their universes, oblivious to this one’s pain, and each other’s struggles. It will take an hour or more for even the first of them to find their way.