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Authors: Kathleen Morgan
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and Raina. "With the assistance of this dual life support and communications device, Rand can both survive and talk with you. We're working on miniaturizing all the components to ease bulkiness on the mission. The prototype should be ready within the next few days."
"How small will you be able to make the device?" Teague walked over to examine the machine more closely. "We need to bring as few extra items across Incendra as possible."
The Bellatorian shrugged. "The biosphere that Rand must reside in cannot be made any smaller, but we hope to reduce his life support and communications device to tiny packs that'll fit onto the sides of his shielding receptacle. That receptacle should be no more than about a fifteen-by-fifteen-millimeter cube, just large enough to enclose his biosphere and fit easily into a carrying pack."
"Why is this shielding receptacle necessary?" Raina demanded.
Teran grinned and gestured toward the glowing green sphere. "Why don't you let Rand explain? His communications device is functional. Rand?"
A soft, mellifluous voice rose out of the dimness where the machine sat. "Would it first be possible, Lord Ardane; to make the acquaintance of my other visitors? I heard a male and a female. Are these the two people I must travel to Incendra with?"
Teran chuckled. "My apologies, Rand. They are indeed your new partners. The female is Raina, the male, the monk, Teague Tremayne."
"Raina. Teague," the disembodied voice said. "I'm very pleased to meet you at last. I look forward to getting to know you and—"
"I've no inclination whatsoever to get to know you better, Volan!" Raina cut him off. "There's little enough about this mission that suits me, but it never has nor ever will be anything more than business. And I certainly have no intention of making friends with either you or Tremayne."
There was a long pause before the machine transmitted the Volan's thoughts again. "I can understand your hesitation in dealing with me. I'm the enemy, after all. Or at least, that's the only way you can view me right now. But a good warrior knows as well that the greater the knowledge of the enemy, the greater the potential advantage."
"True enough," Raina agreed, willing to concede this . . . this machine that much. She was working from too emotional a base here, she reluctantly admitted, and that was never wise when it came to matters of life and death. It was just hard enough dealing with the unsettling presence of Teague Tremayne on this mission, much less a Volan in a box. "We'll have ample time, though, for further acquaintance while on the mission. For the moment, I merely want to know why you need a shielding receptacle."
"For two reasons, Raina," Rand softly replied. "First, to protect my biosphere. It has but a thick, membranous exterior that can be penetrated with a sharp object and willful intent. If that happens, my entity, which dwells within, will die. I'd prefer for that not to happen."
"And the second reason?" Raina prompted.
"To protect my highly sensitized response to Incendra's electromagnetic field and to the crystal's effects until it is necessary for me temporarily to be exposed to the correct stones to determine which is the one needed. Teran tells me I'm the best determinant of the proper crystal in caves lined with myriad forms of crystals."
"And the only reason we seem to need you on this trip," the warrior woman added grimly.
"I don't care to be exposed to unnecessary danger any more than you do, femina," Rand said. "In my current state, I'm extremely vulnerable."
"Then why not give him a body?" Teague demanded, turning to Teran. "He could still be sensitive to the type of stone we need, and perhaps be of some physical use in the bargain."
"A fine idea," the Bellatorian sardonically agreed, "but there seems to be a dearth of volunteers of late willing to give up their bodies."
"Then what about a clone?" the monk persisted. "They are mindless, but this Volan seems to have the mental
"How small will you be able to make the device?" Teague walked over to examine the machine more closely. "We need to bring as few extra items across Incendra as possible."
The Bellatorian shrugged. "The biosphere that Rand must reside in cannot be made any smaller, but we hope to reduce his life support and communications device to tiny packs that'll fit onto the sides of his shielding receptacle. That receptacle should be no more than about a fifteen-by-fifteen-millimeter cube, just large enough to enclose his biosphere and fit easily into a carrying pack."
"Why is this shielding receptacle necessary?" Raina demanded.
Teran grinned and gestured toward the glowing green sphere. "Why don't you let Rand explain? His communications device is functional. Rand?"
A soft, mellifluous voice rose out of the dimness where the machine sat. "Would it first be possible, Lord Ardane; to make the acquaintance of my other visitors? I heard a male and a female. Are these the two people I must travel to Incendra with?"
Teran chuckled. "My apologies, Rand. They are indeed your new partners. The female is Raina, the male, the monk, Teague Tremayne."
"Raina. Teague," the disembodied voice said. "I'm very pleased to meet you at last. I look forward to getting to know you and—"
"I've no inclination whatsoever to get to know you better, Volan!" Raina cut him off. "There's little enough about this mission that suits me, but it never has nor ever will be anything more than business. And I certainly have no intention of making friends with either you or Tremayne."
There was a long pause before the machine transmitted the Volan's thoughts again. "I can understand your hesitation in dealing with me. I'm the enemy, after all. Or at least, that's the only way you can view me right now. But a good warrior knows as well that the greater the knowledge of the enemy, the greater the potential advantage."
"True enough," Raina agreed, willing to concede this . . . this machine that much. She was working from too emotional a base here, she reluctantly admitted, and that was never wise when it came to matters of life and death. It was just hard enough dealing with the unsettling presence of Teague Tremayne on this mission, much less a Volan in a box. "We'll have ample time, though, for further acquaintance while on the mission. For the moment, I merely want to know why you need a shielding receptacle."
"For two reasons, Raina," Rand softly replied. "First, to protect my biosphere. It has but a thick, membranous exterior that can be penetrated with a sharp object and willful intent. If that happens, my entity, which dwells within, will die. I'd prefer for that not to happen."
"And the second reason?" Raina prompted.
"To protect my highly sensitized response to Incendra's electromagnetic field and to the crystal's effects until it is necessary for me temporarily to be exposed to the correct stones to determine which is the one needed. Teran tells me I'm the best determinant of the proper crystal in caves lined with myriad forms of crystals."
"And the only reason we seem to need you on this trip," the warrior woman added grimly.
"I don't care to be exposed to unnecessary danger any more than you do, femina," Rand said. "In my current state, I'm extremely vulnerable."
"Then why not give him a body?" Teague demanded, turning to Teran. "He could still be sensitive to the type of stone we need, and perhaps be of some physical use in the bargain."
"A fine idea," the Bellatorian sardonically agreed, "but there seems to be a dearth of volunteers of late willing to give up their bodies."
"Then what about a clone?" the monk persisted. "They are mindless, but this Volan seems to have the mental
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