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Stories from the Verse
Con Version
Chapter 190: Brown 352
Table of Contents
Previous chapter: Takano 142
After work that week Derek experimented with things he knew he could do. After all, he had used telekinesis to manipulate a couple of weapons during the fights in the competition, and when they were digging parakeets out of collapsed buildings he often moved several objects at once. He took his chain and both knives out back and tried to move all three independently simultaneously. Getting them to do exactly what he wanted was a challenge, but he was getting the hang of it slowly.
The chain proved particularly challenging. His problem was that it was easy to move one solid object, but with the chain that would mean grabbing a single link and having the rest dangle from it. If he moved it the right way--a tricky quick snap motion--he could use it effectively as a whip; many of the movements he did with the chain, modeled after Lauren’s use of her kau sin ke, required very specific controlled hand motions that were hard to duplicate. On the other hand, there was some sense to controlling the chain as a whole rather than as a series of connected links, that is, taking hold of multiple links and moving them such that he could shape the chain. When he had it in his hands if he wanted to wrap it around someone’s legs, or neck, or weapon, he had to swing it such that the momentum of its distal end swept it around. Telekinetically, with practice, he could move both ends independently of each other, and also position points in the middle, and so bend the chain around the target. It did not happen as quickly as flinging the chain by hand, but there was some increased precision to it, and he could effectively pull both ends akin to a garrote or moving tripwire if he wished.
He also recognized that to this point almost everything he had attempted to move telekinetically had been small, and that it would be a boon if he could grab a large object, such as an attacker, and move or lift him. He found some loose rocks and worked with these, moving them and trying to build up speed.
He remembered, too, that he had learned to heat and cool targets--he had used it on his food, if memory served, and before that to adjust air temperatures. However, it was a slow process. He knew that Lauren had gotten good enough at it to cause fuel tanks to explode, but even she had to focus on the object for some time before that happened. He tested this on the air around him, and felt some effect, but could not think of any practical use for it. He had hardened clay, softened ground, and weakened sticks, but again did not see immediate practical uses for these.
He practiced with the cryokinetics, cooling items with the mind, and saw a bee lurch up from a stick he was cooling. That was enough for him to lose focus for a second; suddenly the branch burst into flame, and he felt goose bumps up and down his arms and back–but it did not end there. The branch flamed higher, with the flame turning blue, and he breathed out a cold fog as he shivered all over.
Somehow he was transferring his body heat to the branch. If he did not stop it, he might knock himself out, or even verse out. Looking through his mind, he tried to find a way to stop; simply wishing to stop had not done anything. Dropping to his knees, he yelled for Vashti, and she came running and, seeing him shiver, wrapped her arms around him to lend his body what warmth she could.
With a final flare of high blue flame, the branch burned out. He felt the loop in his mind snap, and sagged with relief into his wife’s arms. Lying there, shivering in the sun, he explained through chattering teeth what he thought had happened.
She took him inside, got a cup of hot tea and a blanket for him, and forced him into bed for over an hour until he was finally warm all through again. Feeling normal, he exited the bed, but Vashti checked him out first. She pronounced him ‘fine’ but he said he needed to warm up more, so he pulled her onto his lap and had a session which left them both a bit hot and sweaty.
Afterwards, he considered: Vashti was right. All of these skills were tricks he had decided to find a way to do, and had succeeded. He should think of more. At the same time, as she had also said, these skills were dangerous. He had known that too, but nearly freezing to death on a warm day really drove it home.
He was still teaching the girls, that week getting Vashti through his complete sensory presence skill on Tuesday, followed by simple telekinesis, telekinesis of gasses and then liquids on Thursday.
As to the old stories that have long been here:
