Unknown Gods

Chapter One

This one is doing quite well, she assured herself. Samiin felt a warm sense of satisfaction as she watched Haine working at her desk. She looked for a year to find someone who could assist her in her work without being overawed by her presence.

Samiin naturally focused her search among the Specials. Her screening had been extensive as she sought a young person who possessed both exceptional intelligence and flexible thinking. The creativity she demanded was difficult to find even among the Specials and would have been impossible to find among the Normals. Her pursuit ended with Haine who possessed an ability to make mental leaps, synthesizing his learning in new and creative ways.

At the moment Haine was absorbed in his work at the desk. Samiin took in the rest of the office she found so soothing. She walked to one of the long windows and looked out at half of the City, savoring the tranquility she felt. It would be one of the last peaceful moments of her life.

Her eyes wandered over the multi-colored rooftops, each one level with the other. The labyrinthian pattern of the streets presented itself as an incomprehensible maze and at the same time as a clear pathway leading to her feet.

A sudden flickering in the sky diverted Samiin’s relaxing vision. Streaks of red, orange and an occasional flash of yellow marred the blue sky. Her inner calm shattered.

Damn, she thought, what do the defenders think they're doing? If this is another attack, they should have anticipated it better than that. If it's not an attack, then too many minds are wandering off the job. In answer to her concern, an alarm sounded. One of the seven Council members had called an emergency meeting.

Dominor, no doubt. Protection is his responsibility and his confidence is obviously being shaken by the increasing attacks. Samiin realized that Haine was staring at her with questions he knew better than to ask.

I'll have to leave you now, Haine. When you finish your work, you may return to your room. You've done well today.

Thank you, Professor. I hope the Council meeting is nothing serious. I'll see you tomorrow?

Of course.

While she cleared her desk, she sorted through her thoughts about Dominor. He assumed his Council seat under difficult circumstances. We had no other choice. Palagrio simply died too early. Dominor still had at least five more years of training, as well as the years of association before being fully prepared to take on his responsibilities. He never had the opportunity to immerse himself in Palagrio’s mental processes so that he could integrate them with his own. Such a loss.

No one could understand why Palagrio died when he did. Samiin believed that trying to figure out his motivation wasted energy. The reality was that the surviving six Councils had shouldered Palagrio’s duties for several years while Dominor's training was speeded up. He filled the seventh seat without the benefit of full training. Unfortunately, in the five years since he had done so, he had yet to live up to the expectations of his position.

Samiin continued her inner monologue. Dominor fears his own power. He denies this emotion which is a big part of the problem. He unconsciously projects those fears into the force field protecting the City. His anxieties attract an increasing number of Outsider attacks to the City as his fear accumulates in the field. We each work diligently to accept and use our individual power for the good of the City. But he just has not attained the flawless relationship with his power that would free him from the fear of anyone else’s. His state of being guides the thousand Special Defenders whose mind fields protect the City. I have to bring all this up with the entire Council. Samiin felt her frustration rising so she stopped her thoughts and cleared her mind to prepare for the meeting. The other Council members would also be shutting off their private thoughts.

Samiin opened her office door by nudging it with an energy beam, an act that had long ago become routine. She stepped into the circular hall along with the other Council members. Their individual ascenders arose in unison to the top floor, carrying the most powerful group in their world. Their supremacy was so complete that few people knew of their existence.

With a soft exhale of air, the ascenders stopped, the doors slipped open and the Council of Seven emerged into their meeting chamber. Samiin always felt comfortable here, from the first day she assumed her position as Minister of Education. That had been nearly ten years ago. Her mentor, like Palagrio, had died rather early, although Samiin had already spent three years studying Vernial’s processes. Her transition to the Council had been a smooth one.

The seven silently approached their places at the round table in the center of the room. They encircled their meeting table, linking hands and beginning the customary transfer of energy from one right hand into the left hand of the next person. Thus energy moved through the Council members, binding them to each other. Once the energy made its rounds, each Council began toning their unique sound that defined their respective colors. They directed their voices into the center of the circle where the perfect tones blended into the vibration of gold light. Each Council sat as the gold light ascended to the ceiling then spread throughout the room. But for Samiin the peace that usually accompanied these rituals was missing.

In the moments while the Ministers were settling themselves into their places, Samiin looked at each of the other six. To her right sat the purple-frocked Shabar, the oldest of the Council at age 122. In another eight years Shabar's replacement as Minister of Culture would begin working directly with her so that when she chose her passing, usually somewhere between the 140th and 150th year, the transition would be smooth. Samiin liked Shabar, trusted her, learned from her. She was forceful and strong in her ideas, but could be persuaded to change her mind. She had, like the rest of the Council, never questioned that her destiny was to serve as one of the seven. Sometimes Shabar's face made Samiin think of the table before them—the same golden color with the grains of age and wisdom seeming to emerge from within. Her eyes were deep brown, solid and demanding of full attention when they fixed on someone.

Gyrrin was next to Shabar, towering over her by head, neck and shoulder. Gyrrin had the best sense of humor of anyone on the Council. Her eyes often held a look of some of the impish creatures Samiin occasionally met in her own mind experiments. Samiin kept this similarity to herself. Today Gyrrin's slate-blue eyes held no mirth and against her blue tunic her skin seemed paler than usual. Gyrrin had just reached the age of 100, so the search for her Initiate had begun. All communication was under Gyrrin's control.

Next sat Aridnae, solemn in his green attire. He was almost as tall as Gyrrin and was the second oldest at 113. Sometimes the Minister of Health appeared to Samiin to be exceedingly tired. At times she thought Aridnae might be considering leaving as soon as his Initiate completed her fundamental training. Samiin hoped that, after seeing the problems that had resulted from Palagrio's early departure, Aridnae would decide to complete the remaining thirty to forty years of his term. Aridnae oversaw every aspect of the health care of the Normals.

Beside Aridnae stood Dominor, thick bodied and intense in his brilliant orange day clothes. Dominor projected a sense of authority, yet he harbored a repressed uncertainty that convinced Samiin he did not possess the clarity he pretended to. Still, Dominor was always receptive to the Council’s advice, and he seemed to have the continued supremacy of the Council of Seven and its plans for their society as his top priority. While Dominor treated both the Normals and his Specials with benevolence, his youth presented a problem. At 38 Dominor simply had not had enough life experience to gain the kind of insight into his own behavior that was necessary for a Council member. Still, with time and more training, his flaws could be controlled and eliminated. He possessed a quick mind that he readily offered in service to any other Council member. As Council for Defense, Dominor's position often carried with it a sense of immediacy that the others' positions lacked.

To Dominor's right was Cherbim, Council for Spirituality, aptly dressed in white. Cherbim handled her position with sensitivity, allowing the Normals enough information to keep them content in any spiritual quest. At the same time she controlled their explorations so they avoided certain spiritual areas that their limited capacities would be unable to handle. While that kind of control over the Normals constituted the fundamental task of each Council member, the spiritual realm often evoked the need for an especially delicate touch. Cherbim had always seemed content with her position, confident of her ability to balance its subtleties. At age 107 Cherbim's Initiate had only recently been selected. The process took longer than the usual two years and Cherbim confided to Samiin her relief when a Special One was finally chosen. Having an Initiate gave her a sense of continuity, Cherbim said.

To Samiin's left was Taboul, Council of the Interior. His great crop of white hair, accented by his vibrant red tunic, made him seem as tall as Gyrrin. Although only in his mid-seventies, Taboul projected an ease with himself and his Council position. Taboul assumed his seat at age fifty, the time when most Council members did. His mentor trained Taboul well in the skills of maintaining sufficient order in the Normals' daily lives so that the Council’s plans for their future could be carried out. An efficient man, Taboul displayed his impatience if Council meetings ran too long or if an issue was not resolved quickly. At those times the Interior Minister exposed a gruff part of himself. Samiin had, on more than one occasion, reminded Taboul to control his annoyance and free himself of judgments about others' behavior. Taboul always responded well to these reminders and great respect flowed between them.

As Council for Education Samiin’s responsibilities included researching the means by which each individual, both Specials and Normals, could maximize brain and mind capacities. At the same time Samiin guarded the learning of the Normals so that they would not over-extend themselves and collapse into the confusion caused when they lost control over their mental processes. Normals had to be brought along slowly and carefully. Soon, perhaps in a few hundred years, they might arrive at the developmental state of the Specials, at least with regard to mental capabilities. The number of Specials had increased in the past fifty years, so progress was being made. That growth pleased Samiin, whose benevolent attitude toward her charges sometimes made her feel parental toward them.

Dominor cleared his throat. Because he called the meeting, he began. I have learned of a great danger to the City, he stated, his voice a struggle between anxious tenseness and strength.

Taboul, clearly irritated by the interruption in his work as Interior Minister, bored through the Defense Council. We have all noticed an increase in the number of attacks on the City. I have personally seen some weak spots in the defense shield. You, Dominor, are the Council responsible for our defense and you are supposed to take care of the shield yourself.

Please, Taboul, said Samiin. We must avoid personal attacks. I am sure that we are all concerned about the intensifying attacks from the Outside. If Dominor can provide us insight, then we must listen to him.

The others nodded agreement. Under Samiin's gaze, Taboul, with a slight movement of his head, signaled his reluctant consent for Dominor to continue.

The danger to the City I’m talking about, Taboul, has nothing to do with increased attacks. Those are being dealt with. What I have learned is that somewhere within our society there is a spy who is working with the Outside to disrupt the City and eventually take control of it.

Disbelieving murmurs arose from the group.

Absurd! Gyrrin shot a look to Dominor on her right.

Impossible. Aridnae echoed his agreement.

Samiin could feel anger surging through Taboul. She rested her hand on his arm to remind him to search the full reaches of his mental capacities before responding. The Council attempted to govern by divine reason, infusing all actions with empathy, compassion and love. Sometimes this was difficult even for these seven who had been schooled from birth for this task. Samiin felt Taboul’s struggle followed by his victory.

Dominor. The Interior Minister's tone rumbled like approaching thunder. What you are saying implies that I have failed in my work of securing the daily lives of the Normals. I would be the first to know if there had been any contact with the Outside. There has been none.

All eyes fixed on the Defense Minister as he responded. Taboul, I am not accusing you in any way. I believe that the traitor is within the ranks of the Specials, not the Normals.

Then we are all accused, responded Shabar in her usual soft voice.

What concrete evidence do you have of this treachery? Health Minister Aridnae punctuated his question with an audible sigh.

I have nothing tangible as yet, replied Dominor, but every day now I hear rumors of discontent among some of the Specials. I’m afraid they are being influenced by the Normals they supervise. One incident a few hours ago especially concerned me. A series of Outsider attacks hit. Some obvious weak spots appeared in the defense shield. Naturally the shield held, but I scanned our defenders to find exactly where the weakness occurred. To my surprise, I found no flaws among the defenders. I could only conclude that the shield had been attacked from within by another energy field. I couldn’t locate the source. I believed this matter to be too urgent to wait for our regular meeting, so I called this one. We must act quickly.

Shabar shook her head as Dominor talked. Speaking carefully and deliberately, without emotion she said, You have absolved yourself, Dominor, and your Special defenders of any possible wrong. But you have thrown the rest of us into suspicion. That is not a constructive approach and, I believe, fails to show that you have the best interests of the Council or, for that matter, of the City in view. The Council cannot be successful in our mission if we allow negative and narrow attitudes to flow among us.

Samiin continued in Shabar’s deliberate tone. I, too, am deeply concerned that we treat issues with honesty and maintain the highest regard for each other. We all have the same mission—to raise the Normals to their highest possible level of development over a period of time that will allow them to progress safely. We are, by birth and by training, generations more advanced in our development than the Normals, or even the Specials. Unfortunately, I believe we on the Council have made a mistake. Dominor, you came into your position under very difficult circumstances. We have all been supportive of you. But I think we allowed you to assume your seat too quickly.

Samiin paused to assess the others’ energy response to her words. Dominor tensed his body and energy field while the others telepathed support to her. She felt a mixture of caution and relief, then continued.

I’m not questioning your destiny to be a part of this body, Dominor. I am saying that there are some gaps in your development that need to be closed so you can function more clearly in your office.

Astonished, Dominor responded, Samiin, I cannot believe what I am hearing.

Please let me finish. You know you hold many fears. Fear of attacks from the Outside, fear of failing to fulfill Palagrio's legacy, fear of being less accomplished than the rest of us. These emotions are being directed into your work and into the defense shield, in turn drawing more fear into the shield, manifesting in attacks. Finally, the more you have tried to bury your anxieties, the more you have projected them outward, so they return to you and to us all the larger. In our training we have all had to deal with controlling our fears and I conclude that you need more work in this area.

Cherbim continued as if she had been speaking. Your accusation that a traitor exists among the Specials, Dominor, is only the manifestation of your projected fears. You must at least consider this as a possibility and even as a probability. I propose that you temporarily relinquish your duties to us and enter into intensive work to clear yourself of your fears. Samiin, have you a trainer who can work with Dominor?

Of course. Samiin looked at the Council for Defense. Dominor seemed to be reflecting on what had been said. She could see that his armor had fractured and he was hurt. Wounding him was not her intent, but that response in him, more than any other single event, convinced her that she was right.

Gently, Samiin said, Dominor, I would like to work with you myself. We will make sure that the Specials know nothing of your training.

The others nodded their agreement. As Dominor's attention locked onto her, Samiin sent him a wave of love-charged energy. She watched it settle over him, his countenance softening slightly. He nodded his consent.

The meeting adjourned.

Samiin departed the chambers, wishing the Council’s action had created the feeling that they had reached a final resolution. But she carried with her a disturbing sense that many more difficulties lay ahead.

Chapter Two

Professor? Haine's tone was unusually cautious.

Yes?

I hope you don’t think I'm taking advantage of our relationship, but I want to ask you a difficult question. I've been hearing some troubling rumors from some of the other Specials.

Samiin riveted her attention on her assistant as he continued. I heard that one of the Council of Seven was removed from his post and sent back into training with you. Some say that it is the Minister for Defense. Many of us are worried. Are the rumors true?

Samiin looked hard at Haine. He had, indeed, been bold in his question. Inquiring about the actions of the Council was strictly forbidden. To protect the deliberations and thoughts of the Council, their matters were conducted under an intense energy field that prohibited any one from engaging in any form of snooping. Each Council member could also block the exchange of any individual thoughts. The Specials were also taught to read others' brainwaves and to prevent their own from being read. At this moment, Samiin chose not to block her inner deliberations, allowing Haine to read as many of them as he could.

Haine’s steady gaze dropped. He had picked up her thought about the boldness of his question. Believe me, Professor, I did hear about the Defense Minister from rumors. Not one of the Council has leaked a single thought. Several Specials have seen him coming into your office at regular times during the past few weeks, and we have heard that the Specials in charge of Defense have been receiving orders from other Council members. Rumors can become fact whether accurate or not. I need the truth, Professor.

I know you do, Samiin responded. That’s one of the reasons I chose you. Be assured, Haine, that we on the Council act as one for the benefit of all who are under our charge. We would do nothing to jeopardize the welfare of the City or anyone in it. In the case of Dominor, the Council’s decision was made to benefit our society. The Minister will return to his seat when he is ready to do so. That is all you need to know. When you hear such rumors, you would do well to remind the other Specials of the Council’s inherent authority. Haine's energy field told Samiin that his need to know the truth had not been fully satisfied but he had accepted her statements.

Haine nodded, his blue-green eyes still on her. Believe me, Professor, I have never questioned either the wisdom or the beneficence of the Council. None of us does. We love you as you love us. Haine paused, before bringing his eyes back to his mentor. He shifted his weight slightly.

Haine, I get the feeling that you want to talk. Let's put the work aside for a while. Let’s sit. Samiin felt Haine's relief coming from both his desire to continue talking with her and at being able to sit down.

They moved to the niche of her office that Samiin had designed for intimate conversation. The window facing north curved into a solid west wall. One chair was positioned with its back to the west with the other directly across, a shared footstool was located inbetween the two chairs. Samiin sat with her back to the west wall so she could gaze to her left at the City below, imagining it to be tranquil and calm.

Samiin finally spoke aloud. You seem curious and concerned at the same time, Haine. Are you still worried about the Defense Minister?

After your reassurances, Professor, they don't worry me any more. But I am curious. About something very different. For a long time I’ve been wondering about how the Normals live. I’d like to know why their development is so restricted. I wonder if we are doing the right things for them. I’ve learned so much about brain function since being with you that I wonder why we can't apply this knowledge to them. I know you have said that they aren’t capable of reaching the levels of Specials, that Normals don't have our mental capacity, but I still wonder.

I’m touched by your concern for the Normals, Haine. What you must realize is that they could not withstand your level of development. Their bodies and brains lack the sophistication necessary to handle the rapid movement of energy required of someone functioning at the level of a Special. Just as the Specials lack the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual sophistication to handle the energy of a Council member.

What do you mean, exactly, Professor?

"As you are well aware, Haine, you were selected as a Special shortly after your birth. You were alert, your eyes quickly attended to energy patterns emitted by those near to you. Your physical development, especially your coordination, was far ahead of an average infant. Your mind gravitated toward complex pictures depicting universal themes and images. Finally, you showed no fear of being approached or held by a Special. Normal infants fear the nearness of a Special and often cry when touched by one.

By these indicators, Haine, we knew you were born a Special and that you could handle the training you have since received. Your brain has been carefully developed to maximize its neural connections and, because of that, you can withstand the resulting intensity of energy. Likewise, your body has been fed only natural substances compatible with its particular developmentmental needs. That was done so your body could fluidly conduct large amounts of high-frequency energy and accommodate the occasional surges of energy that result from high development.

Understanding brightened Haine’s eyes. Like the surge I experienced a few months ago?

Yes. You are young to have had that experience. Fortunately, you were ready for the intense energy movement.

Has an energy surge ever happened to someone who wasn’t ready for it?

"Only once. It happened to a young female Special several hundred years ago. She was believed to be extraordinarily gifted in the spiritual realm, so she was allowed to develop in that area ahead of the other Specials. The energy that moved through her was extremely powerful, much stronger than the energy surge you experienced, Haine. It built slowly in her at first then increased in speed, beginning in her feet and rising through her body. Unfortunately, she became frightened. She tensed and her fear blocked the energy flow. She was alone in her room until the Council who was her