[Cylapse]

the Unblinking Mind

A space yard shuttle cruised down on a majestic flight path, its course laid and set on Iolo III. Aboard were 28 people leaving the orbital station, one of which having come from the starship Xephyr. Its Captain, Jarren Caid, stared out the window near his passenger-class seat as the vessel made a soft landing at the planet's spaceport.

"Attention passengers, you are now free to leave the shuttle, please remember to remain single-file as overhead containers will now be opening at this point. Thank you and enjoy your stay on Iolo III." the shuttle's pilot iterated.

Caid stepped off the shuttle and took up a casual stroll along the spaceport's promenade, relieved that he had no luggage. A slight hunger ensued within as the smell of the nearby restaurants caught his attention. He was decked in common clothes, but a single gold stripe was barely visible at his collar, a method for his new doctor to spot him. As he parsed his way through the crowd, he caught something. The glimpse of a rather tall individual peering from behind the masses. He was looking right at him, too distant for detail, but close enough to notice as the unknown watcher slipped back behind the faces of others. Caid's curiosity compelled him as he took a few steps forward, narrowing his eyes in a quick effort to scan through the Groups of patrons.

"Captain?..." a soft feminine voice called. Jarren turned around and offered an impulsive smile.
"Captain Jarren Caid, Starship Xephyr... Doctor Sullivan?" Caid inquired, and the young brunette nodded in response. "It's a pleasure to meet you." He said, his eyes once more catching the lanky watcher. It was Vega! Instinct consumed him as he shouldered past his new doctor, racing through the crowds and shoving the stubborn and ignorant aside. He was getting closer, but Vega could run for a man of such lumbering size.

"Security!" a voice called, but it meant nothing to Caid as he dived forward to catch his prey... And then it all slowed down... The fierce, ear-splitting sound of a distant discharge, and the growing feeling of warmth. His eyes narrowed in confusion as the face of Vega slowly faded to that of a clean-shaven bald man, perhaps in his mid-thirties. His take on the situation was further stressed as a sharp pain sizzled within his upper shoulder, killing all feeling as they both crashed to the ground.

Above on the balcony, a sniper's eyes widened in disbelief. He missed... He watched, idly reloading as the bystander who had tackled his target absorbed the shot and shook from the pain. The crowds scattered and the nameless bald man rose to his feet, now fully aware of where his would-be assassin was. He had sensed a growing danger and knew when it would strike, but needed a scape goat until he could localize the threat. The 32-year old Psion snarled and threw his hand outward, as if hitting with the ball of his palm. An unseen force manifested and shot forth, ramming the shoulder-mount of the sniper's weapon into his masked mouth and tainting it red. He stumbled and dropped his weapon, lowering the mask to cough up a few of his front teeth.

The Psion closed his eyes and folded his arms, a single tear running from each draped eyelid. His skin faded slightly and his strength was drawn as he poured all of his focus into the attacker. The sniper levitated slightly, though it was unobservable to the common eye. His throat was sealed shut as his arms jerked outward in a puppetted pose, legs together as if prepared for crucification. The rough sounds of flesh ripping echoed through the chamber as the assassin's wrists and neck were split open for public display, a three-way faucet of his life's fluids spilling onto the deck. The Psion turned and walked away, a simple gesture his only act as the sniper seemingly leaped from the balcony, diving down head-first to his final meal on a deserted table.

*********************************************

Ensign Yarovich was led to a small room, where a triad-shaped device was placed against her neck. It was activated by remote, linking to a small readout before Lt Joel Franks. He asked her a series of irrelavent questions to calibrate the device, before preparing his real survey.
"Ensign, did you see or speak with a man named Kyle Vega on the shuttlecraft ride to the planet Xiban I?" he queried, gauging her response.
"No." she replied, calm and simple.
"Miss Yarovich, did you see or speak to Kyle Vega after the shuttlecraft landed on the surface of Xiban I?"
"No." again, without flaw or emotion.

This went on for a solid ten minutes, and the Ensign had nothing of any value to say. This left Franks perplexed, as the lie detector previously confirmed that another crewman, named Ensign Kamato, had seen both Yarovich and Vega together on several occasions both on and off the shuttle. His investigation would continue, however he had no choice but to let her go. As she stood to leave, she cast him a stone cold half-smile before making her way out the door, her mind fabricating the intricate workings of a freshly-inspired murder plot.

*********************************************

"The Enemy Mind is bold and unflinching... this what you must learn to become." Shapiro called out, his voice imposing. "Your target is no joke, he is a threat. He will kill you seven times before you hit the ground, if he ever in his life has the chance - make no mistake. Evolution is tit-for-tat, and you must adapt. Every failure brings a clearer focus into view, and in time I will mold each and every one of you into one of my elite... You will be lethal soldiers, wanted by every starship in the Syndicate for your prowess and accuracy. I breed men of iron and steel...Soldiers."

Shapiro was finally back on duty. He leveled a smile as he looked out over the eight new trainees he had before him. He had just completed roll call and offered a standard spill of duty before finally letting himself settle them in.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen, listen good. Before each of you, you will find a Machman class military-issue pistol. For those of you unfamiliar with the Machman, it boasts an efficient power cell and a solid mid-range output rating. It is very effective close-quarters firepower, with the ability to adapt to most environments by sacrificing range for power, or vice versa. To any of you who are familiar with it... What are you waiting for? Impress me." he chuckled lowly.
"Now... Each of you has your targets, so as comfort blankets you little girls, let loose. You have approximately 18 shots at the default setting before the gun will cease to fire, at which point you will be scored. Once all scores are in, the humiliation can begin." He smiled and stepped behind the row of soldiers, watching as crimson-colored beams began to leap at the holographic images being displayed to each crewman's fire-zone. He was finally back on duty.

*********************************************

Kincade took a slow, indulgent seat at the helm controls of the SS Xephyr. A sinful smile crossed his lips as his fingers danced along the console, ever so slightly bringing the ship's orbit down by a few meters. He was finally at the 'big wheel', even if it was a simple orbital pattern hold. As he leaned back to watch the viewscape of the planet, his left finger tapped repeatedly against his leg, the quiet expression of impatience.

Bernadette Larece noticed this behavior and slighted it, choosing to ignore the new helmsmen as her eyes drifted over to the body of Ensign Syra... she simply could not resist this woman. Deep, soft hazel eyes and hair that draped past her shoulders, falling to just above perfect breasts. The Ensign caught on that she was being watched and leaned back, arching her back for display as she let out a quiet yawn. Ooh, what a *****, Larece thought as she admired the view...

A soft hail signaled and Syra responded, transmitting it to the main viewer to replace the planet's image. The aging face of Ferrius Klyne consumed the screen, he was the planet's Administrator.
"This is Lieutenant Larece, go ahead." she beckoned.
"I regret to inform you, Lt." the administrator began, "That there has been a recent incident at the Space Port. A murder has occurred and until the case is resolved, I've ordered that the planetary shield be raised and that no traffic be allowed on or off Iolo III. I apologize if this causes any inconvenience."
"Inconvenience?" she stammered "Klyne, this ship leaves in two hours, if I have to come down there myself to pick up the Captain-" the comm-link terminated, flaring anger to life within the restless woman. She may have been a science officer, but that was no measure of her heart. She was a fighter, a fierce and furious woman with a deeply rooted behavioral problem. And now she was pissed. A serious, leering set of eyes befell Ensign Syra as Larece spoke.
"Get me Shapiro."

*********************************************

His eyes slowly opened to find the face of Doctor Sullivan hovering above him. A numbness persisted within him, but at least the pain was gone.
"Captain...How do you feel?" she began, offering a warm smile. Caid slowly lifted himself up, his vision that of a drunken mole.
"I've been better...But I normally dont make such an *** outta myself." he smiled, catching a glimpse of blue - the color of her eyes.
"I hope that wasn't all some ploy to test my medical proficiency? Or impress me..." her lips parted in a teasing expression. He throated a chuckle.
"Ughh, that poor guy. The Last thing I remember is taking him to the ground. I thought I knew him." Caid offered regretfully.
"I'm glad you didn't think you knew me like that..." My my, this woman liked to flirt, eh? Caid merely smiled.
"Well we haven't played Doctor yet, now have we?" he asked.
"Actually we just did, but you were passed out... typical man." She retorted, causing his jaw to drop. He had just steered the conversation into a wall... Score one for the Captain!

"In any event..." he laughed, rising fully to his feet. "I've gotta find that guy, at least offer an apology."
"Have you forgotten that you've just been shot? You took a neural disruptor bLast in the shoulder. You're damn lucky that they are designed to impact the head or upper neck, or you wouldn't have been back in command for a long time. Perhaps you should lie down." She requested.
"Is that your official standpoint?" he chipped in, somewhat irritated. After all, he was the Captain. The doctor nodded in affirmation.

"Perhaps you should consider her advice..." a voice interrupted, and the bald man walked in. But whereas Caid was bald by choice, this man looked as if no hair could grow, his head smooth and unscarred by nicks or stubble. The same held true with his face. "Besides... it is I who must apologize to you. After all, you took a shot for me." He managed a crooked smile as he stepped over to face the Captain.

"I am Lejus Sinclair." he continued, "You are Jarren Caid, yes?"
"You are a Psion." Caid replied, narrowing his eyes. No wonder he thought it was Vega, this man had probed his mind and toyed with it... What a disturbing thought. And then to think that he was ready to apologize to him... Caid's anger was a lit fuse, and Lejus could sense it.
"Please, Captain..." he stated, extracting another fact from Caid's mind. "There is no need for tension, I am not here to lay any harm upon you..."
"You need to quit that ****, seriously." Caid snapped at him, his eyes in a malicious glare. "I never mentioned my name and I never mentioned my rank... If you're gonna try and rape my God damned mind dont just sit there tellen me about it! Or so help me..."
"I apologize." Lejus offered, taking a slight step back. "It is really a force of habit, I do not purposely invade, but rather, thoughts often hit me in swarms and I must decipher and filter them... Especially those of stronger minds, such as yourself."

Caid rolled his eyes, as flattery would get the Psion nowhere.
"I know you are undergoing studies...I could help you." Lejus said, sensing Caid's attitude.
"You've been warned about that..." Caid snarled, watching his young doctor take a sidestep as the two men stood face to face. Lejus had nothing to say, and merely lowered his eyes.

"Let's roll, Doctor. We've said what we had to say." Caid started for the door, and the Psion interjected.
"Klyne has refused to allow anyone to leave the facility. He has even gone to the lengths of raising the planet's shields. Sadly, Captain, we are not going anywhere."
"We?" Caid tilted his head. "You're damn right 'we' are not going anywhere, but shield or no shield, I sure as hell am. And so is she. C'mon Doc, we're leaving this rock."

Lejus watched in silence as the two left the small med room and tried in vain to make it past the armed security guards. Caid mouthed off to one of them before trying to reach his ship, only to discover that communications were being jammed. He closed his comm-link and balled up his rage, making the slow walk back to Lejus.
"Alright Sinclair, here we are, stuck. You got me shot and you wanna help? Get our asses outta this place."
"I'm afraid its not that simple." Lejus blurted. "The man who shot you was hired to kill me... It takes one to know one, as the Psionics Almanac puts it. And my hunch is that someone on the planet is furious at his failure. There is a lot going on here, Captain. Iolo III is not what you might think. We have an unseen enemy keeping us here, and you are unwittingly involved now, as you helped me to stop his sentinel." Lejus smiled... it was a rather sinister visage. "Our only way out is to play the field for what it has...people. Lots and lots of people. There are at least 400 souls wandering around this Space Port, and the entire thing has been locked down. All we need to do is build off of that. Its either we get out of here, or when they are done with me... I guarantee that they will finish you two off as a matter of cleanliness. And that is no joke."

Caid's eyes glimmered as he listened to the psion, perhaps this too was one of his tricks... He pondered that thought for a moment, and as Sinclair's own eyes caught the sparkle of amusement, Jarren knew that he had just broadcast that thought loud and clear.
"You yourself were rather displeased when you learned that you couldn't leave, am I correct, Captain? The same holds true for everyone else, I am sure. They only have so many security guards... and they can't stop us all."

*********************************************

A series of bright lights flooded the launch bay, bringing into focus the intrepid hull of the small attack craft 'Camino', the Captain's personal vehicle. Shapiro and his team circled it slowly, running a series of diagnostic scans to ensure that it met a flawless launch.
"Weapon mounts check out, the shield and fusion grids both look intact. I'd bet my *** that this thing could withstand a direct assault and still land unscratched on the surface. The only problem is that shield." He uttered, talking more to himself than the security team. "If we launch a rescue party, it will be within the hour. I want this thing run through all the pre-flight tests and I want it armed to the teeth before it slips out of this bay, understood?" The group nodded. "I'll meet with you all back here in twenty minutes to discuss a strategy." He added, as he opened his communicator and linked up to Lt Larece. He engaged in a hushed conversation with her as he left the crew alone with the Camino.

He emerged on the bridge a short time later, his expression devoid of any emotion. On the screen blinked the image of Ambassador Klyne, having just recently accepted the Xephyr's hail.
"I already warned you once, we will notify you once the investigative procedures are over." An assistant came and whispered into his ear, and Klyne went to disconnect the channel.
"I'm only going to warn you once, Ambassador." Shapiro threatened. "My Captain is down on the surface and come hell or high water, he's leaving unharmed... And right now." Klyne merely sneered, a snide expression upon his lips.
"That would be rather reckless of you, Commander. This is a simple inves-"
"A simple beaurocratic process, yes I'm aware. But as the First Officer of the Syndicate's Flagship, I'm cutting the red tape, Ambassador. One way or the other." He allowed a wink to escape him as he closed the connection.

*********************************************

A small crowd had already began to get restless, inspired by Lejus and his selective suggestions. He slipped through the masses as Caid and Sullivan watched, touching some and whispering to others, witnessing their reactions change and their anger fly...
"What do you think he's telling them?" the Doctor inquired, a lone eyebrow lifted.
"Whatever they want to hear..." Caid replied, his own eyes affixed. "Whatever it takes for each person to go to the level that I did earlier... Whatever angers them or uproots their emotions, that is what he will look for..."
"He called you a psion, were you born of the original blood?" Her gaze found its way to his face as they stood together, backs against the wall.

Caid nodded in acknowledgement. When the Cynapse Syndicate first broke away from Terra, they took with them a large clan of 'the awakened' as they were called, a term designating anyone who was born with an active psi-gene. Many non-psions joined the exodus as well, in support of their cause, as conditions on Terra were not exactly the most admirable. This led to a 'mixed' blood feeling among the Cynapse, as their foundation was based upon Psions, and yet many of them were as telepathically dead as a rock. It made for quite a dilemma, and even a source of internal tension over the past twenty years.

The sound of glass breaking. A riot had begun, and Lejus was loving it. With every ounce of fear and hate he spread, he was feeding off the rebound, an omni-present vibe that compelled him to spread his aura to the public. He cast a stone glance to Caid and his doctor, a simple nod his only action as he slinked back to bathe in the shadows and watch... The instigation had begun.

*********************************************

Yarovich laid back in her bed, her eyes restless as they scanned along a datapad in what appeared to be a very enthralling read. Instead however she was planning her steps, her every calculated move. First she would wait, of course, as no one with half a brain would commit a murder while still in the spotlight... So she would wait, patiently and inhumanly if it so required. One by one, she deleted the specific names from her already cryptic notes. Joel Franks, Dylan Shapiro, Kathy Kamato. She could never again refer to them by these names. Now they would be given new designations. Mark 1, Mark 2, & Mark 3. A thin smile curved at her lips. It quickly faded and she felt a slight headache as some unseen device, embedded deep within her skull, released miniscule amounts of compound Y-679 into her bloodstream. Tonight she would sleep, and tomorrow she would work, but someday soon...she would strike.

*********************************************

The harsh fizz of weapons fire erupted on the planet, as frightened civilians tried to brute force their way past security. Some rather bold Groups were even going after the shield tower, firing wildly towards its outer emitters with stolen rifles. Security saw no mercy as they assaulted the citizens and tourists alike, which finally prompted a reaction from Caid, as he saw his opportunity slide across the floor to him, triggered by the death of a trooper. He picked up the weapon and led Sullivan around the corner, now having lost sight of Lejus. Three rapid shots were all it took to cripple a small detachment of officers as Caid and his doctor raced through the bustling complex.

An explosion sounded as one of the guards on the tower let his plasma grenade drop into the waiting hands of a violent group of rioters... Caid turned to see the flying flesh and bone before a gut-wrenching scream guided his particle beams to their targets. He had a slight surge of shared pain as he watched his own shot rip through the chest of a security guard...A side effect of the psi-gene. The shield tower faltered slightly, its foundation shaken up by the grenade's area of cover.

In the Command Room, a panicked Ferrius Klyne was barking orders to his underlings, deploying more and more of his personal guards to help suppress the out of control Space Port. The Last man to stand at his side, Kevin Madison, found himself sliding to the floor and sobbing with his back to the wall, a perfect model for the fetal position. A soft hand pat him on the head and Lejus stepped past him, his silver eyes alive with fire as Klyne turned around to face him.

"Cascade has lost today, Klyne." Lejus said, his words like fire over ice as he picked up Madison's rifle. "And this is my favor to you, as their punishment for failure would have been much worse." he offered, as he released the safety and pulled the trigger. The Ambassador grunted in agony as the beam seared through him like a hot blade, leaving an open wound as it traveled along his chest at the guidance of Lejus Sinclair. He had been making a surgical incision, and as Klyne's body hit the ground, he kneeled beside it and dug his hands deep within...C'mon..., he thought to himself...I know you're in here...

*********************************************

The Camino broke the atmosphere of Iolo III, having sensed that the shield was failing due to unknown events. Shapiro cared not, however, as his intention was set and focused. Regardless of what was happening on that planet, he was leaving the surface with his Captain, preferably alive.
"I'm reading a break in their jamming field..." Cruz offered, and Shapiro nodded in response.
"Hail Caid... I'm bringing weapons to bear and opening fire." No sooner did the words leave his mouth than did his hands respond at the controls... The Camino's fusion cannons ignited and arced against the planet's shields, holding a steady stream of purple against their flaring emissions... A quick couple of seconds passed as the shield collapsed, allowing the attack shuttle to soar through unharmed.

Two soft chirps sounded, and Caid answered his communicator.
"This is the Captain, and am I glad to hear from you..."
"Sorry, sir, we ran into a little delay. We're approaching the surface now, and have locked onto your coordinates."
"You got room on that thing for three, Dylan?" the Captain asked, watching as Lejus appeared from within the rioting crowds. His hands were blood-stained and something smelled foul, but Caid ignored his urge to choke. "We had a little help from an unexpected source, I'll fill you in later. But the sooner the better, Commander." Caid flipped his comm-link closed and eyed the Psion.

"You go playing in the restrooms or something?" Caid chuckled.
"Something like that..." Lejus responded, his right hand in his pocket, clenching some unknown object. A twisted smile captured Caid's lips as he watched people flee the spaceport. There were a lot of bodies, and much of it was his fault...Of course it couldn't be proven, but still, It was weight on his conscience...something he would have to deal with. The survivors would be fine, but the facility would likely be out of commission for the next month or two, something the Council would not be pleased with.

The shuttle made a slow descent and its cabin doors lifted before it was fully on the ground, allowing a wide enough berth for the three new passengers to jump aboard. As it began its lift-off again, Caid glanced once more out the window at the chaos he had helped to cause as his thoughts turned to the Psion who had come aboard. He would likely allow him to stay for a while, dropping him off at the next inhabitable planet. Clearly he was involved in something far more than the naked eye could see, but until Caid learned to extract this information as persistently as Lejus could conceal it, he would just have to wait.