FOURTEEN

Major Gil Hammons, United States Air Force, sat at his desk. The ordinary paperwork which passed through his hands so that ‘proper channels’ could be maintained laid disregarded. A file with red edges and a large red band slashing across from corner to corner currently occupied the center of his desk. He had just finished reading it again for the second time. It was times like this that he was glad his rank in Air Force intelligence. Somehow, through military bureaucracy, a regular report authorizing a feasibility study had been classified as A2, secret. Because of that, it had been difficult to get his hands on the report.

The initial report was written by Captain R.J. Sanders. Major Hammons thought the man should change his carrier to become a si-fi writer. Some of the Captain’s conclusions stated that if successful, a pilot could direct a missile to the target with only the aid of radar. Another was through mind projection a protective barrier could be raised around an aircraft making it impenetrable. If minds could join together to raise such a field could be raised to protect a land base facility from attack, possibly even nuclear. He knew that General Hastings had believed the report enough to sponsor the initial funding and push it through appropriations. What surprised Major Hammons, in less than two years how far it had moved.

The study was now a project, a secret project exclusively to the Air Force, project Archimedes. A group of doctors and theorists from MIT and Duke University were heading the project and they appeared to be having very minor success. Just enough to keep the unlimited funding moving through channels.

Major Hammons realized that reports could be written in such a fashion as to demonstrate forward movement, even when you were at a stand still. Their goal was to find psychics and try to learn how they were able to do what they did. All of this was predicated upon the fact that if you knew how a process worked, it could be replicated.

If this were true, then what Fran had said could also be true. Evan taught himself how to use more of his mind than the average person. He still refused to call it magic, but there maybe some reality to her story.

What he needed was more information. In order to get more information on the ture status of Archimedes, he would have to go to Boston and talk with the ‘brains’. Never a fun thing to do under any circumstances. To get to Boston he knew he would first have to talk to General Hastings. If he told the General the story about Evan, the first question in the General’s mind would be if there had been a security breech. Single officer, midnight liaisons, even if purely innocent could produce a lot of heat when talking about red file projects. While being inquisitive was always a plus for intelligence officers, it was not necessarily a plus for red file questions, unless you had been read into the file.

No, the only possible course of action was to have a little chat with this magician, Evan Cooper to find out if he was real or just braggadocios. Fran said they were going to Las Vegas, and she didn’t know when they’d be back. That was alright, he had a free weekend. Maybe Fran would enjoy a quick trip to Las Vegas too.

FIFTEEN

On the flight to Las Vegas, Evan fills Judy and Valarie with what David already knew. This was accomplished with some of the transference of his dream, and monologue. Eventually all three understood what they faced, Armageddon speeding down the corridors of time straight for them. They all made the promise to do whatever was necessary to fight to keep the Gate closed, even if that meant their own demise of that of one of the other three.

He explained that the result of the Gate opening would not lead to instant breakdown of society, but begin a gradual destruction that would have a snowball effect on the world. A creeping madness would spread over the populations of the world. Violent crimes, rape, murder, spousal and child abuse would increase dramatically. Wars would break out with apparent provocation, or cause. The breakdown of ethics and morals to a low not seen by society since Sodom and Gomorrah. Confusion and chaos would grow like a cancer on society, until everything was infected and destroyed.

It was David that asked the question they all wondered. If the Gate was opened, could it still be closed later. Evan did not know, but vowed to never stop trying until he succeeded or died. They settled into a deafening silence. Finally Judy broke the silence and got them all to swear to never give up, for Tommy’s sake. They settled back into silence.

For Valarie, the silence was broken by Evan’s soft voice asking if she was asleep?

“No, just thinking,” she responded in a soft voice.

Don’t speak, just think what you want to say. She heard Evan’s voice and turned her head to face him.

“I don’t understand,” but there was excitement in her voice. I can hear you if you just think of your answers. I don’t want anybody else to overhear us.

She did not see his lips move, yet she heard his voice clearly, soft, strong and confident as usual. He can read my mind, she thought excitedly. The implications of that simple idea startled her and angered her.

Only if you let me, Evan said reassuringly. I can’t just walk around reading everyone’s mind. The person has to let me in, so to speak. I don’t understand! Either you can read my mind or you can’t! Okay, I’ll give you the full technical explanation. I can NOT just patently read someone’s mind. I don’t think anyone can truly do that feat. I CAN pick up the specific brain waves of yours or somebody's thoughts that are directed towards me. Thinking creates a rapid electrical circuit through certain neurons and dendrites. This in turn creates specific brain wave patterns which align with my brain waves. That is what I’m picking up and hearing. It’s similar to a radio transmitter and receiver. Now do you understand?

Maybe, but she did feel relief that the sanctity and privacy of her mind was still her’s. Not open for the general public.

What is it that you don’t want anybody else to hear?

The first thing is that what I’m about to show you and teach you must never be revealed to anyone else without our mutual agreement. I’ve already cautioned David and Judy. The reason is simply most people would never understand. Their inability to understand creates fear. That fear would lead to blind reactions of violence and our destruction. Just look at human history for all the examples you need.

I understand and agree, she told Evan immediately.

Good. The second thing is that I have to teach you what it took me sixteen years to learn in as short a period of time as possible. The need is to make you my equal as quickly as possible, so that you can defend yourself from attack and our combined strength will hopefully be enough to keep the gate closed.

From the sound of your voice you feel there’s a problem in doing this, and she thought how strange it was to mention the sound of his voice when there was no sound outside of her mind. If a tree fell in the forest, and there was nobody to hear, did the tree make any noise? Could she really distinguish a tone in his voice, or was she mentally adding the feature?

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

There is a problem. The best that I can figure out, the shortest period of time for me to transfer my knowledge to you, and your ability to absorb and understand id five to six years. There is definitely a danger in doing it this way to shorten the time frame, otherwise it could take fifteen to twenty-five years to learn what I know depending upon how well and fast you can understand and adapt to the principles, theories and the actual practice of magic.

What’s the method you’re proposing? She was startled at how calm she sounded. Just a few days ago all of this would have terrified her. It’s two fold. Magic is a very precise practice. Danger exists in the slightest variation of an incantation or ritual, to get totally different results and or cause the user incredible physical pain. I know this from personal experiences. While the greatest part of magic is the imagination of the user, certain words, or incantations can speed the results, or amplify the results a thousand fold. These words are hard to pronounce and just changing a single letter can produce totally different results. Where you thought you were increasing the impact or range of an ideal could destroy the power or rebound back on the user.

That’s the warning. What is the problem?

There is an incantation that I want to use to increase the power of your mind. Allow you to remember more, and increase the speed between the gaps of your nerve cells so you have faster reaction times. The problem is this, with the increased flow of information into your brain, the conscious level might rebel not processing the information quickly enough. It would be true information overload, with the end result being insanity. You would be driven mad Valarie, resulting in one of two inevitabilities, either your own suicide or my having to kill you.

Could you really kill me?

I’m not certain, but I could not stand and watch you act irrationally, with knowledge that could potentially kill you or many other people. A mind living in a delusional reality that could allow you to strike out at others in a false sense of paranoia. Yes, I probably could kill what you would become.

How would you know if I became insane? What would prevent you from making a mistake? Now the slightest traces of panic were playing at the edges of her mind.

You’d tell me through confusion, disorientation and disruptive brain waves patterns that would not match the ones I’ve come to recognize. I would not do anything unless I was one hundred percent positive there was no other option. I hope you know that.

I think I do. If I agree, when would we do this spell that you’re proposing?

Now, here.

With startling clarity Valarie understood the choice laid before her. She could say no and allow Evan to teach her at a normal pace through conventional methods. Which would cause her to be a hindrance to Evan. She would not truly help to keep the Gate closed, because she would have nothing to offer at this stage in her training. Evan would have to split his attention on keeping the Gate closed and keeping her safe. She would be a liability to Evan for years, not an asset or partner. She’d be his albatross around his neck.

If she did agree she had the possibility of going insane and dying. It made sense if she were a new threat, and if she were insane would she really understand or even care that Evan would have to kill her? If she didn’t go insane, and everything worked right, then she might actually be an asset in this battle for humankind. But he said it would take five to six years before she may be his equal, and they had less than three weeks. What could he transfer to her that would make a difference? She decided to ask just that question.

When I explained the fundamentals of magic, I explained that your willpower was a real force in the total reality of the universe. By force I meant energy. The human body can store tremendous amounts of energy to be expended when the need arises. Like a battery, you may need to recharge faster than normal. If you expend all of your energy at one time, through one very difficult incantation, then you have to take time to recharge. You can act as my backup charger, so my down time is minimal. One of the first things I’ll teach you is how to tap into natural energy lines to keep yourself and me fully charged.

They had all agreed just minutes before, if not verbally, then certainly mentally to do whatever was necessary to maintain the current order and keep the Dark Gate closed. If she was going to wimp out at the very first choice, then she had no rights left as a person. It was necessary and so she would do it.

Okay, let’s do it and get it over with, she told Evan. Her new resolve made her mental voice louder than she had intended.

You’re sure?

No, but I want to do it now. We have to do it now!

Take my hand and hold it as tightly as you possibly can. In a minute my voice is all that you’ll hear. You’ll feel a tingling sensation course through your body. You may feel faint, disoriented, light headed, or even nauseous. Just let the feeling wash over you like water. Never panic. Remain calm and siren. Let the waves of emotions wash over you, relax and remain calm. Everything is fine. We’re together. We’re ready. We are one.

Great, now do it! She felt the urgency that he had to move quickly. That she had to do whatever before she could change her mind. Panic was beginning to play hardball, and she knew it. She grasped his hands in hers, and squeezed as hard as she could. The knuckles turning white with pressure.

It began suddenly. A warm safe feeling like when she was a little girl, and she would cover herself up with her blankets to make her feel like she was in a cocoon that would protect her from every harm in the world. It spread quickly and she relaxed. Now it was Evan’s grip which kept her hand in his. Her eyes closed so slowly, as if she were falling asleep. She heard Evan’s voice. Surround her like her blank made cocoon had surrounded and protected her.

She was keenly aware of the small muscles around her mouth moving, creating a smile. She could feel the texture of the fabric of her dress against her skin. The slight pressure variation at the top of her panties from the elastic, and higher on her torso, the band from the bottom of her bra. The stale odors of cigarette smoke, mingling with the array of colognes and perfumes assailed her nose. Flowers, spices, and musks all competed for attention and to be identified. Through all of this, Evan’s voice sounded in her mind chanting words that were foreign to her. The words became separated from the chanting, singular. The letters of each word stood out, bold and bright. Adding letter to letter to make the nonsensical word that finished would go careening off to ricochet from one nerve to another. She suddenly realized that she was in her own mind. Viewing the neural connections. Thousands upon thousand lights jumped from one place to another. Millions of color lights ran across her vision all at once, creating a kaleidoscope of colorful movement. Some colors burned from synapse to synapse, and moving so fast it was a blur. Others traveled so slow, like sap from a tree saturating each synapse. It was a miraculous sight. She stood in awe of God’s craftsmanship and ingenuity. Her faith was renewed.

The voice droned on. The letters are coming faster and faster. A cacophony of sounds mixed with the blurred lines of color lights shooting by. She felt flooded with information. Drowning in the information droning on and on. She felt like her body was being swept away and she would drown, thirty-four thousand feet up in the air.

Now the blackness came along with the emotions, each trying to assert themself above the other. With strange detachment she felt and identified each emotion as they played over and through her mind. The flood was rising. Confusion was gaining. Hate was there coming in fast and hot, telling her that she should hate Evan for enmeshing her in a nightmare not of her own making. Greed told her to take everything Evan had to offer and run. Run away and use it to her own advantage. Compassion dictated that she had to do whatever she could to help, even if she failed and perished in the effort. Love sang a sweet song of virtues and needs that Evan had towards her and she for him. She loved Evan but did not understand why. Jealousy yelled back that he did not love her, that there was somebody else he loved. Hate joined in the yelling match with jealousy making her want to hurt anyone who stood between her and Evan.

Louder than all the rest was fear, with his entourage of friends, panic, indecision, doubt, dread, anxiety, and mistrust. They leered at her. Laughing at her puny efforts to succeed. Knowing that they would triumph in the end. Still the voice incanting the strange words in her mind continued. Above the droning of the strange words flashing and careening off to the shadows, above the continuous babbling of voice from her emotions she screamed for silence. Then they were.

All sound was gone. All lights and pulses were gone. There were no more emotions competing for her attention. Evans' voice with the strange words was gone. She felt alone, abandoned, stranded in the vastness of black. Slone in her own mind like she had never been before.

Terror suddenly and completely encompassed her mind and her body. There was no way back. She was alone. She was abandoned.