"Yes, just like that. Open yourself to the axiom and let it flow through you. Don't control it. Ride the current as it carries you."

"Be like water..." Jerry says, mostly to himself as he takes up a crouch. He's blindfolded in the middle of the room Cascka had claimed as her dojo, balancing on one foot as he works on mixing multiple axiom techniques into one "motion", what Cascka referred to as part of weaving.

Jerry had thought of weaving as different when he first heard the word, but she was the expert in the end, and her technical knowledge of axiom was unsurpassed so far as Jerry could tell.

She'd been studying this particular subject her entire life. Humans had an edge in some respects, being able to find axiom was easy for a human once they tuned into the concept to start with for example. But in many other respects it was hard to top raw experience and study.

Jerry continues to flood reinforcement into his body, leaving him comfortable, relaxed, and stable enough to snipe as he starts to manipulate other energies while maintaining the former. He could do big pretty well. So Cascka was working him hard on subtle, and on multitasking.

Reinforcement and an attack of some kind was the start of multitasking, but a true, and well educated adept should be able to manage self defense, offensive direct attack, and battle space manipulation all at once. For example keeping one's defenses stable to ward off an attack, while returning that attack, and filling the battle space with a thick fog to blind some of the opponents.

The fog begins to change in density, thickening to the point of practically being solid as Jerry mentally adjusts the elements that make for a nice thick pea soup of a New England fog, then runs Axiom through it to practically jump start it into a wall of ice. Another snap of energy, and the delicate ice structure collapses onto the floor where the liquid slides down a drain.

"A beautiful display, I imagine you could make the ice much more solid and thicker besides, perhaps completely immobilizing an opponent. Dousing a flame. What technique did you follow to get that effect flowing so smoothly?"

"A human one. I visualized the atomic composition of the cloud and slowly modified it. I understand how water is structured, and how it changes in different states, so with axiom I can guide the material into the shape I want it to be in. It underlies a lot of our early experience with axiom, even for less educated soldiers. For example when making a shield charm you just have to visualize the atomic structure of some very strong metal, and then put it in a repeating honeycomb pattern mentally and bring on the axiom. Even the dumbest boot knows it's strong... and that shield can take hits from vehicle grade weapons with that kind of reinforcement."

"Scientific visualization... fascinating. Most people approach axiom from either a strictly spiritual or a strictly technical perspective. Humans seem to have a unique capacity to mix both in a variety of intriguing ways. It's not that it hasn't been done before or couldn't be... but for those of a technological mind set, or those of a spiritual mindset, they don't like looking into each other's gardens so to speak. They have their internally developed biases, be they cultural or what have you, and especially with axiom it can be hard to see past those blinders."

"Hmm. Well, I think it's because axiom is a mix of both to humans. It's science and can be understood scientifically, but for all intents and purposes to us, it's magic. It's both esoteric and grounded in the world we live in. Mix in human pop culture that has dreamed of such powers from our earliest days, and we've had a lot of time to come up with ideas on how we could use magic... and considering Axiom responds to thought and intent... well as long as we can figure out how to make it work in Axiom's rules, then we can make it happen. Which is why Franklin Smith is doing a fairly decent imitation of Jesus when the gloves come off out on Vucsa 5, and Vernon Shay is at the center of at least two new Apuk religious sects that promote him as the messiah... and humans as a long lost Apuk colony or something."

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"Isn't there a similar number of religious sects that consider him something of a villain?"

Jerry nods. "For as subtle as he likes to think he is with axiom use, the man doesn't do anything in half measures. Hell, even when it's not quite intentional, or in the heat of the moment. Look what he did to that girl in the tournament who tried to poison him. She's a nasty piece of work, and earned her just deserts but he nuked the site from orbit. She won't be fit for impolite Apuk society for at least a century from what one of my new Apuk officers told me. Polite society? Longer than I want to think about."

"Commander Shay is a good lesson in just what one person can do without axiom... timing is everything, regardless of the tool you're using, and axiom isn't always the tool. He could have killed her with a word, but he destroyed her in a more total way than I think anyone could have even imagined as it happened. On our original note however, I have been very impressed with some of the human media I've seen, is there anything else I can read up on regarding the Terran style of axiom use for lack of a better term? Or perhaps a recommended viewing list?"

"I'll get all the documentation about the human method of axiom use released to you once I get back to my desk. It's somewhat classified, and it's not something we're moving around much even among members of the Undaunted. Not the advanced material. It's only being transmitted by hard copy text, and for long distance collaboration, by teleportation of isolated electronic systems. Shouldn't be too hard to get you read into the program. I bet they'll invite you as a collaborator quickly... and once you're in, the nerds will fall all over themselves to give an expert who just happens to be a beauty all the show and movie recommendations you could want."

"It would be my pleasure commander, both to read of the Undaunted method of axiom use and to collaborate with my compatriots." Cascka smiled warmly, clearly enjoying the offer of trust Jerry was extending to her. "But why would you trust me so readily and so early in our professional association?"

"Well the basics have already been stolen honestly, and it was discarded just as fast, the galaxy at large has too much inertia to really change. Why worry about the humans and their weird hybrid axiom style?" Jerry shrugs. "But as to why I'd trust you. Because I want to be able to trust you Cascka. You're a member of my crew, and while I don't expect you to cut off your mother, or stop talking to her, or not visit when we're on Centris and you have shore leave, your loyalty needs to be to your chosen family, not your birth family."

Cascka nodded, and took a slow, deep breath. "My loyalty is to you Captain, not the ship, not the crew, but to you. You are an honorable, courageous man, I know you will use my powers wisely for the betterment of others. I am Cascka, I was born to be a living weapon of axiom... use me well Captain."

Jerry raised an eyebrow for a moment. "I appreciate that oath Cascka, but know this. I will not wield you. You are not a soldier, nor are you a slave. You are a valued member of my senior staff. As our relationship develops I hope you'll become one of my advisors, my expert that I can turn to with confidence on the matters of axiom and other disciplines you've studied. Your mind. Your multiple doctorates in history, sociology... those are just as valuable to me as your axiom abilities. You're an equal here. Got forth with confidence."

"Hmm. Careful Captain, such strong words would charm anyone, man or woman. Though I question your statement of equality for yourself. Are you not a man apart, even among your own kind where men are plentiful? Your soldiers salute you for example and show deference in the passageways."

"Courtesy I have earned based on my rank and experience... but I'm still just a man. I have been entrusted with the burden of command. Entrusted with their faith in me. But I don't see myself as greater than them. I just have more mileage. Anyone can get where I have."

Cascka's gaze is nearly hypnotic in its intensity as she gazes deeply into Jerry's eyes. "Your humility does you credit Jeremiah Bridger of Earth... but you should not sell yourself short. I'm sure your wives would agree with me."

Her body sways slightly as she slithers a bit closer. As she draws nearer, Jerry can't help but wonder if she's intending to kiss him or rip his throat out with her fangs.

"Yes... a destiny woven in the stars. I can see it all... hear it all... I..." Cascka has a tremor run the length of her body, and most of her goes slack, catching herself by seeming instinct on a nearby table. "Oh goddess my head... I'm sorry Captain, I'm not sure what just came over me."

"Sounds like we should take a longer break, we're about forty minutes into a 90 minute training session after all."

"Yes, I've been steeping an herbal tea for awhile now, this is a perfect time to sip at it a bit and assess what we've covered so far."