All That Glitters Ch. 59

The Wanderer came into being in the military inbound lane and announced itself to Central Control.

"Central Control, this is The Wanderer, Capt. Helene Degault commanding. We are returning from AsocAR with special guests as per Flight Plan LP-2487-1139964. Requesting parking orbit, over."

"Central Control, roger. Your previous parking orbit is still available. As per normal, we remind you to remain in your assigned parking orbit as this is an active mining station and the risk of rocks being jettisoned at all times is pre-eminent, over."

"Wanderer, understood. We have your plot and are moving on it now. Out."

Twenty minutes later, two VIP shuttles landed in the VIP Shuttle Bay and disgorged their passengers, who went immediately to reception.

"Welcome, Martte Garnal," Fiona Marsh greeted her. "It is good to see you once again."

"I am pleased to be here, LoSostoc Wren. I am also pleased to see your PA with you still," Garnal replied, smiling and waving to Grace.

"We have one of your contemporaries on station with us, also attending Malton University," Fiona continued, guiding Garnal to a contingent of Byandi.

"Martte Garnal, may I introduce Mylat Alafka of the Byandi," Fiona indicated the central figure at the front of the Byandi, wearing a yellow sash.

Garnal smiled and stepped forward with her hands out. "We have never met before. I am pleased that I am not the only Martte here on the station."

"As am I," Alafka admitted. "I have no idea how to treat Grace but for you, I understand the procedures."

Garnal barked a laugh and turned to Fiona. "We have brought with us Asocan families that will be working on Liramor-23."

"We are aware. We would normally bring them around to Resource Management to go through their in clearance routine, however, we have something special this morning as the daycare has opened its doors for families to see the facility before it officially opens on Wednesday. If you will all follow me, I will show you the way.

Fiona escorted the entire group to the daycare/school. The families were not sure what to expect when the doors opened but what they saw was completely beyond their imaginations.

The facilities were huge and broken into many parts, some viewable from the others, some not. There were places for smaller children, places for older children and places for Shamot, which pleased the families.

They also recognized three of the humans as Urano, Aylliya, and Clarrisiya, which made the families happy as some of them had gifted children. The facility had its own gym which could be used by all ages. It had a 'smaller' saltwater pool for the Byandi children and was right next door to the new pool area which conveniently held swamp water pools for Asocans!

There was a music room with instruments from all of the races except the Djinaëte. Some of the instruments the Asocans had never seen before or had only seen in images from other races.

They were greeted by Asocan Caregivers that they had already met and were introduced to the Shamotrat Aul Mutt Dim, who spoke to each of the parents about their preferences for their children.

"How many children are you expecting on Liramor-23?" Garnal asked of Urano.

"We are anticipating more than four hundred children of all ages and races," Urano informed them. "That number will take time to build. These Asocans are among the first of the children that will be schooled here. Currently there are only twenty-five children on the platform and most of them are human children."

"Garnal!!" two voices that Garnal recognized called out and suddenly two small children were clinging to her legs. Garnal laughed and stomped around with the children on her feet, as they squealed out their pleasure.

"Alright now, children, Garnal. That's enough," Junelliya called out, getting 'Awes' from the three of them. "Garnal, you will upset the other children if they cannot get an opportunity to ride your feet."

"I see your point, Palda Junelliya," a mollified Garnal replied. "We will save feet riding for your apartment."

That got a cheer from Ikekiya and Zarreniya as they ran around the facility greeting all the new Shamot they had met on Asocar and other children that they had already knew from Liramor-23.

"Hello," said a voice and all turned to see Guinevere Soulange and her mother Elizabeth.

"Hello Guinevere," Clarrisiya greeted her. "Martte Garnal, Mylat Alafka, this is the other young human who is taking courses at the local campus of Malton University, Guinevere Soulange.

"Guinevere is the first ever uniquely Telepathic human. Our other two, Palda Junelliya and Dr. Maya, are both Empathic and Telepathic. Guinevere's mother, Elizabeth Soulange is also Telepathic but not as strong as Guinevere," Clarrisiya informed the group.

"What are you studying?" Garnal asked.

"I am currently doing a general studies as I am not sure what I want to specialize in, though I think it will likely be something to do with Political Science. This just seems to be the place to do that," Guinevere stated.

"Wow, you look even younger than Grace," Alafka mentioned offhand.

"I am two years younger than Grace," Guinevere admitted. I am still completing some of the necessary courses to finish my high school diploma but I have already started courses at the local university."

"And she is doing quite well," said a new voice. "Hello, I am Professor Zilina Smeldt, head of the local university. I heard that some new students were viewing the school."

Introduction were made all around and Zilina informed all that they were welcome to attend the university if they wished to, they would need their transcripts from their own universities or from their equivalent of high school.

"You are so accommodating on the station," Alafka noted.

"Boredom is the bane of people in space. Whatever it takes to stem that is something that we can all promote," Fiona explained.

"What if we want to continue at our own university by correspondence?" asked one of the Asocan adults.

"We have an agreement with the main universities of various races to allow us to monitor you when you do your testing," Zilina notified the group. "That will allow you to complete your programs without having to return to your home worlds for exams.

"So what is the next great step then?" asked someone else.

"The daycare opens on Wednesday," Urano explained. "This will provide a place for all the children regardless of age so that the adults can work without issues. The school proper opens in December, in two more months. It will take that long to set up a proper school curriculum for each of the students regardless of race.

"We would like to have done this sooner, however, getting the respective curricula certified by your respective education systems is the big issue. Fortunately, we have major support from the rulers of your peoples," Urano concluded.

The adults talked for awhile longer while the children ran around the daycare enjoying the new venue.

L-1849 The Piscium Apartment, Lima Deck, Liramor-23, The Piscium System

The following morning Alafka and her people met Garnal and her people with Grace and Guinevere in the Piscium apartment. They got an unexpected call from Mylatinyl. They saw a rather haggard looking Byandi male who asked rather abruptly if he was speaking to Palda Junelliya when Hanalei opened the link.

"You are speaking with Gurn Piscium, Hanalei Anar. Is there a reason you are being so abrupt with me when I do not recall ever having met you before?" Hanalei snapped.

"Forgive me, Gurn Piscium. I am the Director Altynal of Fourth Sky Entertainment Network here on Mylatinyl. I was instructed by the Mylatrin Adriné to start a new crime series based on a detective who is a hidden empath. I was told to seek out Palda Junelliya in relation to the new series.

"While I admire our ruler, I am perturbed by the fact that she is suggesting that we do things such as making deviants into heroes," Altynal finished.

"And what makes you think that I am a deviant, Altynal?" Junelliya asked of him as she stepped into the camera's view.

"Forgive me, Palda Junelliya, I meant no disrespect," Altynal replied.

"Yes you did. You implied that I was the same as your deviant Byandi who are empaths," Junelliya growled at the male. "The truth is that I AM just the same as they are.

"Empaths normally come into their powers when they enter puberty. The sudden realization that they have these powers at the same time as the hormonal flux of becoming an adult can trigger amazing results for us empaths. Some of us, however, realize that being an empath is dangerous and they attempt to suppress their powers.

"Now imagine, Altynal, that all your people see only in black and white and that you suddenly can see in colour when no one else can. How would you explore that when other people cannot help you to do so? What would it do to your psyche knowing that you have such power? Would you wish to explore it? Find out how powerful it can be? Or would you wish to suppress it so that others do not find you out as a deviant?

"What would suppressing your powers do to your psyche knowing that you must be ever so careful not to expose yourself to your friends and family for fear of what they might do to you. A most difficult thing to do when it is part of your very nature. What do you think it would it do to your psyche having to suppress such power?"

Junelliya called up Dr. Maya and split the screen in front of her.

"Hi, Junelliya," Maya said on seeing her.

"Hi, Dr. Maya. The person you can see on the screen is a director of crime dramas on Mylatinyl, the Byandi home world. It has been suggested to him that he make a new series based on a detective with empathic abilities. However, Byandi see empaths as deviants.

"We need him to understand what suppressing our powers can do to an empath and how difficult it is to successfully integrate becoming an empath while hiding the ability.

"Also, can you recommend some good crime dramas from Hollander's World with empathic detectives that he might be able to adapt for this Byandi series?" Junelliya asked.

"I have just the crime drama that we need. It is very much cerebral and we can include the internal psychological struggle from hiding their ability into it. I can show him textbook cases of why we do what we do on Hollander's World to help new empaths explore their powers and what can happen when they suppress it," Maya ended.

"Alright then, I will give him over to your care, Maya. Keep us up to date please," Junelliya asked, getting an agreement from Maya.

"Well now, that was interesting," Alafka noted.

L-1894 The Piscium Apartment, Lima Deck, Liramor-23, The Piscium System

It was near the end of October and the children had been learning the piano for almost a month now and wanted to show their old friend how they were doing.

"Nanny, can you say us what time is it in Capital City, on Terra?" Zarreniya asked.

"Capital City covers a large area, Zarreniya. Can you narrow this down some?" the Nanny comp asked.

"Where Aunty Aghavni lives," Ikekiya explained.

"I am sorry children, I do not recognize Aunty Aghavni," the Nanny replied.

"Try Professor Aghavni Akopyan, Main Campus of Malton University," Junelliya replied helpfully.

"Yes children, it is 19:00 hrs in her location," the Nanny comp informed them.

"Please call Aunty Aghavni," Ikekiya asked.

"You may call their friend, Nanny," Hanalei called out and the Nanny Comp complied.

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

Aghavni was bored. She was sitting in her apartment playing on the piano but was getting no enjoyment out of it. Her door chimed.

"Come," she called out.

Her friend, Professor Marian Atten, Dean of Music for Malton University, came in.

"I noted earlier that you seemed a little off today so I thought I would stop by," Marian remarked as she plopped down on the chair beside Aghavni's piano.

"For some reason, I am not taking any pleasure from my music, Marian," Aghavni admitted.

"Hhhmmm, that is what I thought was happening," Marian told her. Not being the first time in Aghavni's apartment, Marian got up and started the kettle, eventually bringing tea for both of them.

"It is not unusual for any person to have dead spots in their career when they ask the question 'What am I doing with my life?'," Marian started. "It is something we all go through but musicians more frequently than others. I am surprised that this hasn't happened to you before."

"It has, but I have always found something to cheer me up," Aghavni told her boss. "Actually, this has been going on since the Second Denders Summit when I got introduced to Junelliya and her little ones. Then seeing them again during her audition for her doctorate degree. I was impressed with that woman. It made all that I have been doing over my life seem so simple in comparison."

"Ah, it sounds like your have a little envy going on and perhaps your biological clock is ticking at you, making itself known," Marian smiled.

"Oh, really, Marian," Aghavni smiled back.

"Don't put it down, my dear. Your body's demands can be truly excessive if you are not prepared or aware of them," Marian replied.

Just then, Aghavni's comp bleeped. "You have a call from Zarreniya Piscium. Do you wish to take the call?"

"Zarreniya Piscium? Can you provide more information on this person?" Aghavni asked the comp.

"The person's full name is Palda Zarrenia Henadi Se-Lam Poda-Rai-Latti Piscium," the Comp prompted, "she currently resides on the Liramor-23 Mining Platform.

"OH! Speaking of the children," Aghavni said looking to Marian. "Accept the call," Aghavni instructed her comp. Immediately the images of two little children came up over her wrist.

"Hi, Aunty Aghavni! We have something special to show you!" Zarreniya called out as Ikekiya spun around beside her, their excitement almost palpable.

"Comp, follow," Zarreniya said then moved to her right, the image dutifully following the children until Aghavni saw..."

"OH! MY! You have a piano!" Aghavni nearly screamed.

The children nodded happily and then climbed up on the instrument's bench. "We practice," Zarreniya told her and she and Ikekiya began to play a four hand, simplified version of The Turkish March by Ludwig Beethoven. They made some errors but that would be expected for new piano players.

After the children had played several stanzas Aghavni squealed in delight. She sat back at her piano and came in on the tenth stanza with the children and played along much to their delight. The trio thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

"Oh, children, you don't know how much I needed that!" Aghavni told them. "I am so pleased that you decided to call me and show me how much you have learned."

"You must have a very good teacher," Marian mentioned. She was happy for her friend who seemed to have gained a new view on music.

"Uh huh. He be our fwend's daddy. He mister Santos. He teach piano and classic guitar for campus," Ikekiya explained.

"Wait, the campus has a music teacher?" Marian asked, surprised.

"Not really, Marian," Junelliya informed the pair. "They got a piano but had no instructor so hired one of the husbands who joined his wife on station. She just happens to be the new Assistant Director of the station.

"Your campus got a bargain with that man; he is really good and can instruct children as well as adults. Our children love him and they also love his son, Armando," Junelliya ended.

"Oh, love at such a tender age," Marian simpered getting laughter from the other three adults.

"We no love him. We like him. He is nice and teach piano for us," Zarreniya explained.

"And how old is this boy?" Aghavni asked.

"He be six years, but he be small. He sad he so small, so we hewp him feel better," Ikekiya informed them.

"Oh...that is so nice of you two," Aghavni told the children.

"No, it right thing," Zarreniya told her, surprising her 'Aunty' a little.

"Wow, that you understand this at your age is truly amazing, you two. No wonder so many people like you and want to help you," Marian told the children.

"We keep practice, Aunty Aghavni. Want play with you again," Ikekiya stated.

"Deal!" Aghavni almost shouted.

"You two do not understand how much this evening has meant to me, but if you need more playtime with me, I will be happy to join you," Aghavni told the children with some conviction.

"I will be in touch with Zilina tomorrow to find out about this Mr. Santos. Thank you, Junelliya, Hanalei, Ikekiya, and Zarreniya. This has been an extraordinary evening," Marian spoke.

"Well, that was interesting," said Hanalei after they signed off. "I wonder what she meant by needing this evening?"

"She sad, mommy," Ikekiya informed her mommy. "But she happy now. We hewp."

That drew a smile from Hanalei and Junelliya.

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

The next day, while the children were in daycare, Hanalei received a call from Jane Marple of Nanny Comp.

"Good day, Mrs. Anar. This is your children's bi-monthly assessment," Jane began. "I, and my staff, are in awe of your children, Hanalei. We have never seen children like them before. It is amazing what they are capable of at such a young age.

"Your children have discovered logic puzzles and are absolutely fascinated by them. What is more, they have yet to discover one that they cannot accomplish in under ten minutes.

"You have to understand, these are puzzles that most adults would take twenty to thirty minutes to solve if not much, much longer.

"Working alone, the children are able to complete most puzzles, however, if they get into trouble, they will team up and power through a puzzle." Here Jane opened a link that showed the children manipulating a 3-D puzzle that Hanalei was sure she couldn't complete. The children went through the puzzle together and successfully completed the puzzle in under five minutes then they jump around and hugged each other after completing it.

"Just so you know that particular puzzle stumped Ikekiya the first time round but with her sister helping, the went through it supper fast. An adult is rated as genius level if they can complete this one in under ten minutes. We are not sure how to rate them on this as neither of them completed it alone," Jane admitted.

"The children are 'helping' the computer with language issues dealing with the languages of the Greater Community. They always correct the computer when it gets something wrong. The programs will normally tell the children that what they are suggesting is not correct, only to come back later and 'apologize' to them for having said so as the children's version is usually a better fit. The program has learned never to criticize the children, That was a first for us." Jane gave the ladies a wide grin at that.

"The children have also indicated to the program that hand and body signs and movement are often necessary when speaking in other languages and have shown the program these as well. We were very much fascinated by the extra input that the children have provide," Jane explained.

"Are head of the Science Investigation Team has suggested that they pay the children for their efforts as they have done so much for the language matrixes that have been created by her team. We won't say no if they do that but we will want to control how much they will be worked for their pay," Junelliya stated with a giggle.

"Their math abilities are progressing at an exponential rate. We have yet to encounter a basic math problem they cannot complete," Jane informed them.

Hanalei laughed at that and sent the clip of the math encounter on The Wanderer. Jane took the time to go through the three minute piece, her eyes getting wider at each instant of the children's math.