All That Glitters Ch. 58

"Then you are aware that both the Council and the Order police their own?" Junelliya asked pointedly. "In fact, I believe that you were at the Second Denders Summit when I was summoned to stand before a joint Council of Empath's and Order of Telepath Disciplinary Hearing, to which I willingly agreed to.

"Why do you think I agreed to such, Minister Rushmat, when I am more powerful than all the Councillors that were at the summit? I could easily have said no and walked away...

"The reason is simple, Minister Rushmat. I believe in the purpose of the Council of Empaths and the Order of Telepaths.

"Prior to the Council, humans hated and despised empaths. They did not understand them. Humans often fear what they could not understand. The Council came about because the very planet of Hollander's World lent itself to the propagation of empaths.

"The Council was created to stop the fear and loathing of empaths and to provide them with support within the communities on Hollander's Word. When the empaths of Hollander's World moved off planet again, they brought the Code of Conduct of the Council with them in order that they could fit in with the general population of humanity.

"Telepaths had the same issues and happily latched on to the edicts of the Council, which they modified for their own use when they formed the Order of Telepaths. The purpose of both groups is the same, to provide support within the general community to allow empaths and telepaths to live and work without undue fear in those communities.

"The fear that created the accusation against me this day is the perfect example of why we formed our groups, Minister Rushmat." Junelliya gave the people in the Gathering Center time to realize what she was speaking about.

"Empaths and telepaths should not be feared by the member races of the Greater Community. They should be accepted as citizens with special abilities, as you would any other occupation. They are an asset to your people, as the Asoc is currently discovering among her people." Junelliya ended.

"We have no empaths or telepaths among our peoples," Minister Rushmat spat.

"That is because you have not hired them, Minister," Councillor Petronellaya rose to the argument. "If I recall, your government has pointedly refused to work directly with Empaths or Telepaths within Harradi space, Minister Rushmat."

"Asoc, I would ask that I have access to a lecture hall this evening in order to provide a lecture to all those who will attend on the purpose and laws of the Council of Empaths," Junelliya asked.

"Councillor Petronellaya, Councillor Elliya, GME Clarrisiya, GME Vangeliya, and GME Violletiya, I would ask for your expertise during this instruction. We need to cover the basics and also provide more study information to the participants that they can view on their own time. We only have this evening after all.

"Sharne Erx, can you proved one or two Elders of the Order of Telepaths who can enlighten the leadership of the difference between the Codes of Conduct of the Council and that of the Order?" Junelliya asked of that worthy, who gave her a wave of his tentacles which Junelliya interpreted as fully supporting her request.

"Gentle Beings, how many of you would like to attend this lecture?" Junelliya asked.

All of the Leaders of the Greater Community raised their hands, forcing their staff to attend the lectures along with them. The Asoc openly smiled at Junelliya.

"Asoc, if there is nothing else, myself and those I have named would ask to excuse ourselves so we can prepare for the lecture," Junelliya said with a low curtsy and bow to the Asoc.

"Mr. President, can you spare the two Councillors named by Palda Junelliya?" the Asoc asked, again with tongue in cheek. She was very much enjoying seeing Junelliya turn the Damate in the backs of these fools how had tried to impose their power over her.

"Yes, Asoc, we can spare them. I would ask that one of your aides be provided to Palda Junelliya who can inform your staff of the times and locations for the lecture this evening. I and my First Lady would enjoy being there," the President replied, hearing the near silent groans from his staff. This evening had been one of those few that had been free of obligations until this moment.

"Very well then, Palda Junelliya. We give you permission to withdraw to prepare for this lecture," the Asoc said with a smile. She pointed to one of the aides who stepped forward and bowed to Junelliya. The Piscium family gave a formal bow and left the Great Gathering Center.

**********

"By the Gods, Junelliya! That was brilliant!" Hanalei said as they walked back to their rooms. That got a laugh from the group around them.

"I very much enjoyed watching you verbally spare with your opponents, Atohan," one of the Kumir-Rai said with a smile. "I have never seen anyone cut so deeply without using a Kaldar before." That too got laughter from all around.

Junelliya turned to the Asoc's aide. "You are?"

"I am Sharran Mutt Herrtt, Palda," she replied the young adult.

"We need to get hold of Costann Hallan Mutt Beddan and request a hall large enough for several hundred for this evening. Advise her that the Leadership will be attending this lecture on the Council of Empaths and the Order of Telepaths.

"Advise her that the lecture will be closed to the Leadership and their entourages, the Asoc and her Ministers and their staff, the members of the Beerlen who wish to attend, and those Asocans who have been identified as having been gifted during the incident at the Lost Shall.

Costann Hallan may attend as well, along with one or two of her staff who are providing lectures on the laws of the Greater Community," Junelliya instructed.

"Excellent idea, Junelliya, to include the Asocan law professors and the Beerlen," Petronellaya stated.

Not long after, they were back in the Piscium apartment, with the children under the care of the Asocan Caregivers. Augraf and Ambassador Mayute joined them a few minutes later but not before saying hello to the children who always enjoyed swinging in their tentacles.

"So, we have several standard lectures on the Council we can use. We can break this down into several parts," Elliya said. "I want to provide an overview of the Council and its purpose. Junelliya, I want to use your disciplinary hearing as a confirmation of the fact that even the most powerful of us will bow to the Council of Empaths as required. May I do that?"

"Yes, of course. I did bring it up myself during my grand speech, didn't I?" Junelliya mused.

Petronellaya gave the lectures to Augraf and Mayute, who went over them and compared them to the edicts of the Order. They made strategy on when to have one or the other of them interrupt the lecture by the empaths to point out similarities or differences between the Council and the Order. By supper time, they were ready.

They all entered the Great Dining Hall together and gave a bow to the head table, the Toolend waving a unique pattern of their tentacles that Junelliya was beginning to understand as one a Toolend gave to a much higher authority.

"How go the preparations, Councillor Petronellaya?" the Asoc demanded.

"We are ready, Asoc. Costann Hallan Mutt Beddan has provided us with a hall large enough to seat 1,500. This is to accommodate the Leadership and their staff, including the members of your Government that wish to attend. We also have given permission to include those Asocans who have discovered they have been 'blessed' after the incident at the Lost Shall. We do not know the numbers there," Petronellaya replied.

"At last count, we have 354 who have discovered they are suddenly empathic or telepathic," Minister Shugrand Mutt Herrtt, Minister for the Interior, replied. "I have been told that 152 of them will attend this evening."

"Thank you, Shugrand. How goes the honeymoon?" Junelliya asked.

"We do not do 'honeymoon' like humans do, Palda Junelliya, however, I and my mate are spending much meaningful time together," she said, turning a smile on her mate who, by Asocan tradition, was seated on her left.

The family took their place at a nearby table and sat to eat, but not before the children rushed the head table and hugged and kissed all that they could or who would allow it (which was almost all of the leadership). They returned to their table to be helped up into their highchairs by the Caregivers, who doted over them.

The dining hall staff immediately brought out food appropriate for the Leaders and their staff. Fortunately, many of the other species could eat Asocan food.

A general conversation was kept up between all the leaders and guests.

"Gurn Piscium," the Asoc got the Piscium Family's attention. "Now that Ikekiya and Sharreniya have been named Palda, they will have to learn what it means to be Asocan. To this end, I will provide you with a special Caregiver who has been teaching this to more advanced Shamot. Her wages will be provided by my office. She and your current Caregivers will move to Liramor-23 where I am told there will shortly be a daycare/school for children.

"Director Marsh tells me they now have sufficient numbers of human children on Liramor-23 to justify opening the daycare/school. The three Caregivers currently serving your family will go to work there along with the new Shamotrat (school director/principal). We will be sending Asocan families with Shamot who shall attend the daycare/school on the platform.

"It should be a rather interesting adventure for them to see how other species' Caregivers work," the Asoc informed. "The new Shamotrat will also instruct the Asocan Shamot, your family, and you, Hanalei, as to what it means to be an Asocan. You will still have access to and hopefully receive excellent training from High Gurn Praatra Mutt Korld. She will continue to teach you the laws and traditions around being a Gurn.

"We will make a proper Asocan Gurn of you, Hanalei," the Asoc stated, getting smiles from the Piscium family and laughter from the Leadership.

When the supper ended, the children were taken back to the Piscium Apartments while the adults headed to the University. They quickly set up and were ready when the participants began to enter.

Junelliya saw a large group of somewhat nervous Asocans enter the hall and realized that they were the Asocans that had been gifted during the event at the Lost Shall. She sent them a pulse of her power and they all turned toward her, blinking their eyes (a sign of surprise in Asocans). Junelliya stepped down to greet them, followed by the other lecturers.

"Welcome to you who have been gifted," Junelliya smiled in greeting, surprised at the number of Shamot in the group as most Asocans were not aware of Junelliya's proficiency with their language. "I am Palda Junelliya Mutt Herlan. As some of you may have surmised from the brief burst of power I sent you, I am a very strong empath. In fact, the strongest known empath in the Greater Community.

"On my cloak, I wear the pin of the Council of Empaths. Every person who becomes a member of the Council is given a pin which indicates they have been accepted into the Council and that they have to abide by the Code of Conduct of the Council. I also wear the armband of the Order of Telepaths as I am a member of both groups," Junelliya showed them all the armband on her right arm.

"This evening, I and my friends will brief you on the Council of Empaths and on the Order of Telepaths. Tomorrow, we will test you and determine which of you can be inducted into either the Council, the Order, or both. Some of you may have to wait a little longer to be accepted as you gain training and understanding in your new gifts, however, we will be able to tell if you will be able to progress further in your development.

"How many here have discovered that they might be telepathic?" she asked, seeing fourteen claws raised. "How many may be both?" six claws remained raised.

"We have with us Elder Augraf and Ambassador Mayute of the Toolend, who are representing the Toolend Order of Telepaths," she said, indicating the two. "We also have Councillor Petronellaya, the head of the Council of Empaths and Councillor Elliya, one of the senior members of the Council, who will explain about the duties of the Council and their members." she told them, again pointing out the two luminaries.

"I am sure that some of you have already met GME Vangeliya and GME Clarrisiya, two of our instructors in the Council." That got several nods and shy smiles and waves from the assembled Asocans, especially the Shamot, as they greeted familiar faces.

"Try not to be nervous with all the political elite here this evening. This lecture is meant to explain our purpose to them but we are directing the lecture to you, who will have to live by the Codes of Conduct, the rules, laws, and traditions of the Council and the Order," Junelliya gave them a smile and sent a burst of peace and calm to them.

"Wait, where are your families?" Clarrisiya asked. She was told by an aide that they were in the room next door as they were not permitted in the brief.

"Oh no, that will not do," Petronellaya stated forcefully. "The introduction of Candidates to the Council is and always will be a family affair. Their families will have to understand the Code they will live by. Bring in the family members and have them stand with their candidates," Petronellaya ordered before heading back to the front of the hall.

The hall quickly filled up and still more people were coming in but the university staff were prepared and opened up the back of the hall to allow for more participants. Finally, the Leadership of the Interspecies Community began to enter with the Sandekk coming in behind everyone at the back of the room as they were just too large to be put in front of others. Junelliya noted eight members of the Imperial Arl at the back, including Elder Shusshhttookkann. She smiled and waved at them.

"Gentle Beings...and Asocans," Petronellaya began, giving voice to the running gag that the Asoc herself had started. "This evening we will provide you with an overview of the Council of Empaths and the Order of Telepaths, their purpose and a little on the laws and traditions of both organizations.

"We do this to provide you, the leaders and government staff of the Interspecies Community with an understanding of both of our organizations and how we help our members and the community at large.

"In the dark past, Empaths were feared and maligned because of our gifts. We were often ostracized by and driven from the communities we lived in. We were often imprisoned or killed out of fear and misunderstanding of our capabilities.

"On Hollander's World, where the planet lends itself to the propagation of empaths, The Council of Empaths was formed out of the need to protect ourselves from the fear of our neighbours.

"The Council's primary task is to be the interface between empaths and ordinary citizens. Its secondary task is to police our Council Members to ensure that they do not overstep the boundaries we have set on our own behaviour.

"The Council works to provide a place within the community for our members and to provide the community with the support of our member's gifts. As many communities have discovered, empathy is a useful tool. The same is very much true of telepathy.

"To protect ourselves and the community at large, we formed laws and traditions that all member of the Council must adhere to for the protection of other empaths and for the protection of the community at large. Those who abuse these edicts will be punished by the Council. We codified these laws and traditions into a Code of Conduct that all empaths of the Council most adhere to.

"The powers we have can cause serious damage to those who do not know how to defend against them. The issue here is that it is usually the elite of our communities that learn how to do so.

"To protect the ordinary citizen, we impose on all of our members a standard of behaviour that all MUST abide by. The main principal of these standards is based on the authority to act.

"That authority is granted by four different means: the first is Personal Authority, what we call 'invitation'. This is when one person gives another person consent to use their powers on or with them. This usually occurs between members of the Council when we group together in a Congress, between family members of empaths, or between close friends of empaths. Occasionally, ordinary citizens will provide consent when they feel they are being unjustly hounded and seek the support of Council Members for their ongoing situation.

"The second authority is the Legal Guardian. This is usually the parent of a child or another adult who has been designated as a legal guardian by the courts over a person with diminished capacities. Permission may be granted by the Legal Guardian for an empath to read a person with diminished capacities for various reasons. In this situation, it is always ideal to ensure that there are witnesses to the situation and to follow a standard process.

"The third authority is Medical Authority. This is when the subject is unconscious, catatonic, or severely injured, and cannot provide their consent to being read by an empath but, for medical reasons, the subject must be read in order to provide part of the healing process. The authority comes from the patient's medical practitioner who requests assistance from an empath. For empaths, this is a rare occurrence, not so for telepaths who are often requested to aide unconscious victims whose situation is unknown.

"Finally, the fourth authority is the Legal Authority. This is when judicial authority to read a person is authorized by a judge. This usually occurs when criminals or suspects to a crime are being interrogated by the police or other legal authorities.

"Legal authority must be requested of a judge in the same manner as requesting permission to tap a comms unit, a comp, or conduct hidden surveillance.

"Legal Authority to read subjects can also be given in specific situations such as when security is doing crowd control at events such as political rallies where those with ill intent wish to disrupt the event. Buku Rahahm comes to mind in this situation.

"Usually, members of the Council who are acting as security, will briefly read the crowd to identify those with ill intent. They will then direct the local security to isolate the potential threat. This has prevented many potentially serious situations at rallies all around the Union.

"The Council's reputation is now to the point that when people see the typical hair and skin colour of the people of Hollander's World, they immediately begin to suspect that they are empaths. In reality, only eleven percent of the population of Hollander's World has enough empathic power to register as a Full Member of the Council.

"The Council rates its member's powers on a scale of ten in five main criteria: 1) their raw power, 2) their ability to read others, 3) their ability to use their power to influence (or help) others, 4) their experience, and 5) their maturity. The first three criteria, without experience and maturity, are referred to as the Basic Profile.

"Maturity is not just a factor of age, but also of the member's ability to control their powers, though usually the older and more experienced an empath is, the more control they have over their power.

"There are five levels of membership in the Council of Empaths: the first level is the Ordinary Member of the Council or OME, those who display some empathic ability and thus must come under the authority of the Council in order to protect them and non-empaths from the misuse of their powers. They will not usually be invited to attend a Crush unless they rate a two in at least one of the three basic empathic criteria (Raw power, Reading, and Influence) and show an ability to increase their powers.