“Hold on.” Jay waited and after a few minutes he heard, “The Commander has authorized me to download the system into your vessels. When we arrive at our location, you’ll need to come over and dock with me and he will give you the insert you need to put into the console of the computer you choose to have it. Please be aware that there is a learning curve and you may want to delay using it until you have time for your computers to adjust to it.”
“Would he rather wait to give it to us until after this mission?”
Jay suddenly heard Michael, “No, I think we’re going to be waiting for a while. Just make sure your computers don’t broadcast on a general level. Focus their thoughts directly at the one they want to communicate with.”
“Commander, are you telepathic?”
“I am.” Michael paused and said, “I do not listen to other’s thoughts unless it’s a matter of life and death. I did not look in your mind when you came to my office.”
“I guess it didn’t take a mind reader to figure out what I was thinking?”
“No, I really didn’t need to look into your mind; your expressions pretty much communicated what you were thinking.”
Josey said, “I can vouch that he doesn’t do it.”
Jan said, “How?”
“When I kissed him on the stage, he asked me why I did it. He could have looked at my thoughts and known.”
Michael smiled, “It’s a hard lesson for telepaths to learn about honoring others privacy. But we do learn it. I expect each of you to do the same and not use your computers to look at others private thoughts.”
Jay lips turned down and he nodded, “I didn’t even think about that.”
“You probably wouldn’t but your computers will know it.” Michael paused and said, “A telepath will know if you’re listening to their thoughts so be aware of that. We’re going out to meet more than a hundred Goran Scouts and they are all telepaths.”
Jan smiled, “Thanks for letting us know, Sir.”
“You’ll get used to it eventually. By the way, part of the technology allows your computers to convert thoughts to electrical impulses where you can hear them over your wall speakers.”
“OUTSTANDING!!”
Josey laughed, “Jay gets really excited with new technology.”
Michael thought a moment and sighed, “Jay.”
“Yes Sir?”
“I have a Goran that reports to me at Fleet Operations and she hasn’t learned to respect anyone’s privacy. She told me something about you that I probably should share with you.”
“What is that?”
“She says that you and your computer are basically the same person.”
“WHAT?”
“She insists that you think like a computer and your computer thinks like you. I inquired and found out that after Eric died, you moved into his ship.”
Jay paused and said, “I did.”
“And I suspect that you spent every available moment linked to that computer because it was the last thing you had that Eric made.” Everyone was silent and, after a very long moment, Michael said, “Am I right?”
“Yes Sir.”
“The reason I’m telling you this now is that I think that if your computer is telepathic, you might be as well because of how closely the two of you are linked. I didn’t want you suddenly hearing thoughts and not knowing what might be happening to you.”
“Thank you for telling me, Sir. I appreciate your kindness.”
“You deserve it. I’m sorry about my nosey Admin invading your privacy but she pretty much does that with everyone.”
“I understand, Sir.”
“Then, thank you for that, Jay. I promise that I will not invade your privacy or Jan and Josey’s either.”
The four ships came out of the barrier and they saw the giant galaxy spinning around its central black hole off in the distance. Michael said, “Jay why don’t you dock first and I’ll set up your computer with the transfer.”
Jan’s eyes went wide and she looked around. Oh no! She left all her make up behind. She knew there was no avoiding the Commander and she threw herself back in her command chair. Why did she have to take a look before she skipped out? She put her head in her hands and shook it. Ships never docked in enemy space and now she was trapped.
Jay and Josey docked with Michael’s ship and Jan moved her ship slowly until the seal was made. She stood up and walked to the port and saw the green light illuminate. She closed her eyes and pressed the panel opening her portal door. Michael stepped into her ship smiling and stopped dead in his tracks. He stared at her with his mouth open. Jan sighed, “Do I look that ridiculous?”
Michael couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He tried to speak and Jan sighed and closed her eyes. “Jan, I understand why you hide.”
Jan shook her head, “I really don’t think you do.”
“You hide because if anyone saw just how beautiful you are, they would be stunned senseless.” Jan had on a uniform that fit and her long blonde hair hung in a long braid down her back. Her blue eyes were mesmerizing.
“You’re not being honest, Sir.”
“Jan, I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful and that includes Josey and everyone else I’ve ever met. You are absolutely perfect.” Michael shook his head and said, “Let’s go do this, shall we?”
Jan led the way through the ship to the bridge and Michael sat down in the command chair, “Is this panel connected to the computer you want set up?”
“Yes Sir.”
Michael said, “What is your name?”
“Langley, Commander.”
“I’m going to insert this data-block into your panel and start the download. If you have any questions while it’s downloading, let me know.” Michael inserted the block and the lights on the panel began flashing. After a few minutes they heard, “I can hear the scouts you mentioned earlier.”
“Do you see the way to shut down your receiver?”
“I do.”
“The important part of your telepathic module is the broadcast shut down mechanism.”
“I see it. Why is it important?”
“Because the Legends, and I suspect some of their tools, are telepathic. You can shut down your broadcast mechanism and listen in without your thoughts being heard.”
“Cool.”
“The third circuit allows you to transmit thoughts you hear electronically so Jan or anyone you want to send them to can hear them over a loud speaker.”
“Just a moment.” They waited and suddenly heard multiple voices coming out of the wall speaker.
Michael said, “As you become familiar with the system, you can focus on just one thought stream and eliminate the others.” Suddenly, one voice was heard over the speaker. Michael looked at Jan, “I’ve never seen a computer adapt this fast to the transfer.”
“Langley is a pretty special computer, Sir.”
Michael stood up and turned toward the port. He smiled and said, “Just like his pilot.” Michael walked off the bridge and left Jan with her mouth open. Jan caught up with him before he exited her ship and said, “Sir, I didn’t think anyone would see me like this.” Michael looked at her in silence. “It’s just after you said you saw I was hiding, it occurred to me that I really didn’t remember what I looked like. I took all the dye and contacts off and then put on a uniform that fit. I don’t remember looking like this.”
Michael smiled, “The butterfly has emerged from the cocoon. How do you see yourself?”
“I see a stranger in the mirror, Sir. I didn’t have time to change back before we were ordered to launch.”
Michael smiled, “Jay became something he wasn’t while he suffered from Eric’s death. I don’t know what drove you into hiding but the world is less beautiful because you do. I apologize for putting you in this position and I won’t reveal your secret to anyone.”