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Shades of a Promise
Apr. 3rd, 2004 09:47 pm"We broke camp quickly. Everyone was quiet on the drive back. There's an air of great expectancy hanging over us. The Drs. Reid said something about nanites when I walked past them. Nanotechnology. Now that would be freaky.
Riane came with me. I'm not sure how comfortable I am with her. She really wants me to warn Lexx. I don't know if I'll be able to. Telepathic communication? Is it _really_ that easy? And what about the nondisclosure agreements? I can't tell ANYONE outside the agency about what I've seen and done. How do I get around that?"
Windsong frowned at her notebook. For the second time in two days, she'd written in a different language.
"You are already involved, Wind Song." Riane's transparent hands brushed over the page. "This is Rishan. You are writing in my native language. How you learned it, I do not know."
"Probably from my contact with you, Riane. Stranger things have happened to me when a ghost is involved." Song closed the notebook and walked over to the window of her hotel room. The agency had put all out of town personnel in a five star establishment. Must be nice to have that much clout.
"You are worried about breaking a promise?"
"It's more than a promise, Riane." Song stared out at the city lights. "It's an unbreakable, solemn oath. I violate it, I can be charged as a criminal and incarcerated. The company can make me disappear, never to be seen by my family or friends again. It would be similar to what happened to you when you were captured. No freedom. No place to go. A cell of bars and concrete. I wouldn't have the quiet of stasis."
"Would you be killed?"
"Not physically. My current life would be over. I wouldn't be allowed to continue my studies. I'd be watched the rest of my life, unable to participate in the duties of my society. I'd be lucky to get a job at all." Song turned back towards the ghost. Riane was kneeling on the bed, frowning. "Do you understand the consequences of what you're asking me?"
"If so few humans know of telepathy, how will you be caught?"
"Dr. Takasoma could catch me. He knows about my gift. It was one of the reasons he agreed to let me work with him. This is even presuming I can extend my ability to the living."
"You must try." Song sighed. The dead could be so obsessed. Riane was adamant Song do whatever she could to reach Lexx and warn him about the human scientists.
"I have to think about this, Riane. If I get through to Lexx, I have to be extremely careful about what I say and how I say it. There can be no chance for misunderstanding. We've been lucky. The agency doesn't have feeds tied to their employees. Or equipment hidden to listen in."
"But you aren't using your voice. We're talking through my relay and your ability."
"And that's the only thing that's keeping my neck out of the noose." Song headed for the bathroom. "I'm going to clean up, then I'm going to bed. Feel free to explore. There aren't any other sensitives in this building, nobody should detect you." And I need some time alone. Never was good at weighing these kinds of moral issues. Damn you and your game, Lexx. I hope to the gods you finish quickly and get the heck out of here. I could not live with myself if you were captured. By either side.
Song looked at herself in the ornate bathroom mirror. Well, guess that answers that question, doesn't it? She asked her eyes. You're going to do it and pray no one figures out you were the tip-off. No one deserves the life of a lab rat or a game piece. She closed her eyes, braced her hands on the marble counter and sighed deeply. Administrative work might not be so bad...
Riane came with me. I'm not sure how comfortable I am with her. She really wants me to warn Lexx. I don't know if I'll be able to. Telepathic communication? Is it _really_ that easy? And what about the nondisclosure agreements? I can't tell ANYONE outside the agency about what I've seen and done. How do I get around that?"
Windsong frowned at her notebook. For the second time in two days, she'd written in a different language.
"You are already involved, Wind Song." Riane's transparent hands brushed over the page. "This is Rishan. You are writing in my native language. How you learned it, I do not know."
"Probably from my contact with you, Riane. Stranger things have happened to me when a ghost is involved." Song closed the notebook and walked over to the window of her hotel room. The agency had put all out of town personnel in a five star establishment. Must be nice to have that much clout.
"You are worried about breaking a promise?"
"It's more than a promise, Riane." Song stared out at the city lights. "It's an unbreakable, solemn oath. I violate it, I can be charged as a criminal and incarcerated. The company can make me disappear, never to be seen by my family or friends again. It would be similar to what happened to you when you were captured. No freedom. No place to go. A cell of bars and concrete. I wouldn't have the quiet of stasis."
"Would you be killed?"
"Not physically. My current life would be over. I wouldn't be allowed to continue my studies. I'd be watched the rest of my life, unable to participate in the duties of my society. I'd be lucky to get a job at all." Song turned back towards the ghost. Riane was kneeling on the bed, frowning. "Do you understand the consequences of what you're asking me?"
"If so few humans know of telepathy, how will you be caught?"
"Dr. Takasoma could catch me. He knows about my gift. It was one of the reasons he agreed to let me work with him. This is even presuming I can extend my ability to the living."
"You must try." Song sighed. The dead could be so obsessed. Riane was adamant Song do whatever she could to reach Lexx and warn him about the human scientists.
"I have to think about this, Riane. If I get through to Lexx, I have to be extremely careful about what I say and how I say it. There can be no chance for misunderstanding. We've been lucky. The agency doesn't have feeds tied to their employees. Or equipment hidden to listen in."
"But you aren't using your voice. We're talking through my relay and your ability."
"And that's the only thing that's keeping my neck out of the noose." Song headed for the bathroom. "I'm going to clean up, then I'm going to bed. Feel free to explore. There aren't any other sensitives in this building, nobody should detect you." And I need some time alone. Never was good at weighing these kinds of moral issues. Damn you and your game, Lexx. I hope to the gods you finish quickly and get the heck out of here. I could not live with myself if you were captured. By either side.
Song looked at herself in the ornate bathroom mirror. Well, guess that answers that question, doesn't it? She asked her eyes. You're going to do it and pray no one figures out you were the tip-off. No one deserves the life of a lab rat or a game piece. She closed her eyes, braced her hands on the marble counter and sighed deeply. Administrative work might not be so bad...
