Blackstone

A Hidden Talent

I put my hands on the steering wheel. I didn't have the slightest clue about what to do. I'd seen David and Nicole pilot a beamship, but I didn't actually notice the procedure. It had seemed so easy when they did it.

            "David, I don't even know where to begin. Where's the gas, the brakes?" I said.

            "Always come back to the first principle. Thought creates. We fly a beamship with our minds first and with our bodies second. So take a deep breath, close your eyes, and take hold of the steering wheel." David pointed out.

            I did as he said and closed my eyes. I forced myself to relax, but it was hard. I was only inches away from David. It was hard to describe but there was this electricity that emanated from him, a raw charisma that I found hard to resist. When I was this close to him, it was easy to forget about my mission. I just wanted to rest my head against his broad shoulders, forget about all of my responsibilities and sink into the warm embrace of his touch.

            I forced my fingernails into my hands and reminded myself of my first duty. A Keeper of the Wend must be in control at all times, I thought. Come on Eliza, I said to myself. We can do this.

            I took hold of the steering wheel and forced myself to relax. Then the strangest sensation arrived over me. I felt the consciousness of the beamship stretch out to meet me. It enveloped and enfolded around me so that it was like I was putting on a very snug fitting glove. I became aware of the space surrounding me like I was looking through a second set of eyes that had this amazing 360 degree consciousness.

            "Wow, this is really cool," I said.

            David nodded. "I remember my first time merging with a beamship. You never forget it. All right. Let's see what you can do. Remember, think first. Work with Cassie and not against her."

            I nodded and opened my eyes. I imagined the beam ship moving forward and nudged the steering wheel forward.

            The beamship crept forward, slowly moving through the air in a straight line.

            "Good," David said, "A little bit unimaginative but still good. Let's see what else you can do."

            Over the next hour, David and Cassie guided me through a series of tests and exercises that allowed me to establish a basic level of piloting competence. It was fun and I enjoyed showing off in front of David including taking him by surprise by executing a sudden 180 reverse thrust jump that slammed him into his seat.

            The sun was at high noon and we were flying high over the Savannah, returning to Blackstone, when I saw something displayed on the monitor. I halted the beamship.

            "Cassie what's that I saw down there?" I inquired to the beamship.

            "Displaying now," the beamship said. A holographic image popped up showing a small black and red dragon the size of a small horse hissing at a circling pack of hyenas. The small dragon circled back against a large rock. It cradled its left wing protectively and shrieked at the darting hyenas.

            "Oh, no that dragon's in trouble," I said to David.

            David frowned when he looked at the holographic readout. "This is a young dragon just away from its clan. It must be going through its initiation rites."

            "Well, we've got to help it. It can't hold those hyenas off forever."

            "I've confirmed the baby dragon is approximately 2.5 years old. Its left wing is broken and it will be unable to fly. If we leave it by itself it will most certainly die." Cassie added.