01 Taxilas Children

TAXILA'S CHILDREN
"I am aware of the time which you spent with the overseer Jabez. My Adepts were able to
extract all relevant information from him during our journey here. I have received an
exhaustive report from Zayez the All Wise, in which he describes intriguing capabilities,
which are supposedly reserved for the most powerful Adepts. You have invoked the name of
an ancient god - a most perplexing ability for one who has come from beyond the stars, as
you suggest. You have demonstrated a most ungodlike carnality, firstly with the woman Hara
- and more recently, with Maia. You intrigue me, Steve Holt - what are you? God or
charlatan!"
He felt the unrest in the creature's mind - and much more. Even within the psychic web
constructed by his Adepts, he felt momentarily vulnerable. He wrestled for control as the
answering thought came to him.
"I have come from beyond the stars, Rho Arpor, in the way that Taxila once came and
fathered your people. I have come to you through the channel of the Psi, in a way which is
beyond your comprehension. Taxila was also carnal and fathered your ancestors. I am also
carnal and have placed my seed within those whom I have chosen!"
Rho Arpor wrestled for control. He whispered.
"And are you Taxila?"
"It is for you to decide!"
The High Thane rose to his feet and focused the power of his ten Adepts through his
thoughts. He blasted into the mind of the creature which stood before him. Steve felt the
blow, as if he had received a lethal laser shot. His hand clutched the two Pentacles around his
neck and he jerked them up before his face. He slumped down between the six spindly legs of
the Bole. The Bole obeyed the First Law of Robotics and opened fire to discourage the six
guardians of the High Thane who had moved forward to secure the fallen creature. The first
two were killed outright and the other four, severely burned.
In military terms, it was the signal for a general evacuation of the room. In reality, it was a
mad panic exit, where dignity was sacrificed to self preservation. Only Maia and Danyk
remained, as if frozen to their seats. Maia screamed in Danyk's mind.
"The bastard made an unprovoked attack! Help him, Danyk! Help Steve!"
Danyk coupled his thoughts to those of Maia and hoped it would be enough. Steve lay
motionless where he had fallen. Danyk probed into his mind. The conscious centres were
closed, stunned and inoperative because of the mental blast they had received. Danyk probed
further and found something watching and waiting, deep within the subconscious. He
momentarily recoiled from it - it was alien, unexpected - and extremely powerful. He reestablished
a tenuous contact, it was from this that he would have to rebuild Steve's
consciousness. Maia intervened, her thoughts whispered in his.
"Will he survive, Danyk?"
Her brother nodded. She tried to move forward but he stopped her.
"Not with his - box - standing guard."
"The Bole knows me."
"Too risky - it is Steve's protector. It will attack anything that moves."
The last thought was to discourage those who were thinking of moving back into the room
to take control of the situation. Danyk could feel Rho Arpor observing him. He didn't try to
block out the High Thane, or to subdue the thoughts of contempt. They were all watching
him, his father, his mother, Krin - and particularly, Laoni. He noticed that she was hiding
herself behind a powerful mind block - one far greater than was necessary in the situation. He
concentrated on Steve and the latent something deep within his mind. He established contact
and drew back abruptly - it was so powerful! He persisted and led it into the conscious paths.
He had no idea what it was, but he was sure that Steve Holt would never be the man he had
once been!
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