The TALONS Files: the chronicles of telepathic agent Ryan Dart

Declan's Complications

20

Ryan woke up the next morning, ate, showered, hurried towards school and thought the word 'Cowbell' at the door of the TALONS level. It automatically opened and Declan was waiting. Ryan wanted to tell Declan about the dream, and what it was about. Yet, Declan instructed him to get breakfast at the cafeteria, and then start with regular schooling.

Ryan was able to learn a lot. Usually, he had problems concentrating. Today, he was like a sponge, soaking up all of the information. He actually felt smart.

After that, Declan took Ryan to a room, one the instructor had not shown Ryan on the tour. Declan had called it the preliminary training room. Basically, It was a simple, small and white room with two red fabric chairs facing each other. Declan sat in one, and Ryan in the other.

"Now Ryan, this is a tuning exercise. This should only take a few hours to learn. It's just like riding a bike, once you learn it, use it all the time. Alright?"

Ryan started, "I keep on thinking about the dream...."
Declan interrupted with a finger in the air, "Not now, we'll talk about that in the debrief room later. For now, I want you to focus."

"On what?" Ryan asked.

"Focus on what gives you peace."

Ryan thought about what gave him peace, he couldn't come up with much. It definitely wasn't school, not church, not even his home. "I'm not sure if I know what gives me peace."

"Try the ocean, picture the waves lapping the shore."

"OK" Ryan, instead of the ocean, pictured Bay Shore Park, which overlooked the waters of Green Bay,

He Imagined he was atop a bluff, watching the boats coming into the docks. The sun flecked clouds appeared soft pink during sunset, as the waves gently rolled in.

"Are you feeling relaxed?"

Ryan sighed, taking in the beautiful scene. "Yes"

"Now, clear your mind. Think of nothing."

Ryan tried. Yet in his vision, bikers, in full leather, motored down the hill, heading towards the sandy beach below the bluff. Ryan shook his head. "I'm having a little trouble."

Declan uttered steadily, "Relax, you're tense. Picture the scene again. Let everything that's wrong in the world fade away. Be one with humanity."

Ryan tried, yet this time he saw Caleb, his face was gleeful. "You're a Psycho!"

"Damn it!" Ryan said.

Declan soothed him. "It's alright, calm yourself, let anger, fear, want and pride disappear. Be one with humanity for peace and prosperity."

Ryan swallowed. "Okay." He pictured the scene again.

"Do you see the ocean?" Declan asked.

Ryan shook his head. "Green Bay."

Declan shrugged "Whatever works. Why do you like Green Bay?"

"We go camping near the shore every summer. I like it."
"Where near the bay?"

"Bay Shore park."

"Ah yes, nice little area." Declan smiled. "Ryan, I want you to hold that image, get lost in it. While you do, I'll ask something."

Ryan pictured Declan along the bluff, with his hand on a wood rail , being at the edge of the cliff. "How did your studying go?" Declan asked, as Ryan watched the boats skim across the small whitecaps of the bay.