Read Online My Familiar Stranger by Victoria Danann - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Victoria Danann
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victim, as you say, we’ll figure something out.”
Storm nodded again. Satisfied with that, he went straight to see how Elora was doing and tell her the news that she was about to get some well deserved answers to a whole lot of questions. He held back nothing that he considered pertinent, not even the information that there had been, in his dimension, an Elora Laiken who died young of pneumonia. He did not mention her royal heritage or equestrian hobby because he was interested to learn how closely these details would match up with the Elora Laiken who was now stranded in his world.
On the morning of October 2nd, Elora walked into the Chamber better prepared to face the assembly. Sol gestured toward a chair at one end of the table. Storm took a seat nearby on a lower bench. It was a cloudy day, still too warm for the heat of gas torches, so the light in the room cast a somber feeling.
Sol sat at the opposite end of the table. “Good morning, Ms. Laiken. Engel Storm has requested to be present at this hearing. Is that acceptable to you?”
Elora’s eyes slid to Storm and back to Sol. “Yes.”
“Good. We’ll start by outlining the proceeding so that you know what to expect. First we’ll hear your statement. You are welcome to tell your story in your own words, in your own way, but we request that you be as detailed as possible as that may eliminate the need for additional questions later. We will ask that you wear polygraph electrodes. The graph produced by the result of the test will be projected onto the wall monitor so that everyone present will be aware of the results instantly. Do you agree?”
Elora sat with her back straight and her chin up. “Yes,” she said simply.
“After hearing your statement we will ask you to make yourself available to answer questions posed by the representative members of this body. That will be followed by a closed door session during which we will evaluate the product of this deposition and deliberate. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
“Do you have any questions?”
“Not at this time.”
“Very well. Are you ready to begin?”
“I am.”
The proceeding was to be recorded by airbot, a device invented by Monq and his team of assistants for exclusive use by The Order. It was a tiny, round, audio video recorder about half the size of a pea, automatic and airborne with its own internal computer, powered by a microscopic nuclear cell. Because of its size and insignificant weight, the air propulsion system didn’t require much fuel which meant that it could power itself and record without interruption for up to half a year. Also, because of its size and steel gray color, it was practically invisible. If someone in the general population thought they caught one speeding by out of the corner of an eye, they would dismiss it as a fly, gnat, mosquito or trick of the light.
The airbot’s program would be matched to a particular biological signature, also known as life pattern, and then stay with that person until recalled by the lab. It would automatically seek the best angle for maximum visibility and include people with whom the subject was communicating. Under normal circumstances, the individual being recorded could pause the recording while attending to matters of a highly personal nature by coded vocal command.
Sol nodded to the young, bespeckled man sitting behind the tech table who then came forward and attached wireless electrodes to Elora’s temples. She was glad she pulled her hair up into a ponytail. The young man returned to the table, donned headphones, and turned on some electronic equipment including the big screen. She knew exactly when it came on because all eyes moved upward and focused on the same place at the same time. The young man asked her to state her name.
“I am Elora Laiwynn Laiken, from the Clan of Laiwynn.”
The tech guy nodded at Sol who then said to Elora, “Proceed when ready Ms. Laiken.”
“Is it necessary for me to deliver
Storm nodded again. Satisfied with that, he went straight to see how Elora was doing and tell her the news that she was about to get some well deserved answers to a whole lot of questions. He held back nothing that he considered pertinent, not even the information that there had been, in his dimension, an Elora Laiken who died young of pneumonia. He did not mention her royal heritage or equestrian hobby because he was interested to learn how closely these details would match up with the Elora Laiken who was now stranded in his world.
On the morning of October 2nd, Elora walked into the Chamber better prepared to face the assembly. Sol gestured toward a chair at one end of the table. Storm took a seat nearby on a lower bench. It was a cloudy day, still too warm for the heat of gas torches, so the light in the room cast a somber feeling.
Sol sat at the opposite end of the table. “Good morning, Ms. Laiken. Engel Storm has requested to be present at this hearing. Is that acceptable to you?”
Elora’s eyes slid to Storm and back to Sol. “Yes.”
“Good. We’ll start by outlining the proceeding so that you know what to expect. First we’ll hear your statement. You are welcome to tell your story in your own words, in your own way, but we request that you be as detailed as possible as that may eliminate the need for additional questions later. We will ask that you wear polygraph electrodes. The graph produced by the result of the test will be projected onto the wall monitor so that everyone present will be aware of the results instantly. Do you agree?”
Elora sat with her back straight and her chin up. “Yes,” she said simply.
“After hearing your statement we will ask you to make yourself available to answer questions posed by the representative members of this body. That will be followed by a closed door session during which we will evaluate the product of this deposition and deliberate. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
“Do you have any questions?”
“Not at this time.”
“Very well. Are you ready to begin?”
“I am.”
The proceeding was to be recorded by airbot, a device invented by Monq and his team of assistants for exclusive use by The Order. It was a tiny, round, audio video recorder about half the size of a pea, automatic and airborne with its own internal computer, powered by a microscopic nuclear cell. Because of its size and insignificant weight, the air propulsion system didn’t require much fuel which meant that it could power itself and record without interruption for up to half a year. Also, because of its size and steel gray color, it was practically invisible. If someone in the general population thought they caught one speeding by out of the corner of an eye, they would dismiss it as a fly, gnat, mosquito or trick of the light.
The airbot’s program would be matched to a particular biological signature, also known as life pattern, and then stay with that person until recalled by the lab. It would automatically seek the best angle for maximum visibility and include people with whom the subject was communicating. Under normal circumstances, the individual being recorded could pause the recording while attending to matters of a highly personal nature by coded vocal command.
Sol nodded to the young, bespeckled man sitting behind the tech table who then came forward and attached wireless electrodes to Elora’s temples. She was glad she pulled her hair up into a ponytail. The young man returned to the table, donned headphones, and turned on some electronic equipment including the big screen. She knew exactly when it came on because all eyes moved upward and focused on the same place at the same time. The young man asked her to state her name.
“I am Elora Laiwynn Laiken, from the Clan of Laiwynn.”
The tech guy nodded at Sol who then said to Elora, “Proceed when ready Ms. Laiken.”
“Is it necessary for me to deliver
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