Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [89]
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Because of the construction activities, a constant stream of supply shuttles went up to orbit. Kolker boarded the next ship that had room for him. No Ildiran had challenged the green priest when he took the treeling from the Palace.
As the shuttle ascended, Kolker, wearing the reflective medallion that Tery'l had given him, supported the heavy pot in his lap. He held the thin trunk with one hand and rubbed the prismatic medallion with his other, engrossed in the vast universe inside his head. Already he had begun to describe some of his revelations to the verdani, and the trees seemed to know nothing of the possibilities.
He reached a new space station assembled from modular components and scraps of damaged warliners. The Hansa workers were experienced in using manoeuvring units and flexible space-suits, but what the Ildiran labour crews most desperately needed to learn from the humans was organization, initiative, and innovation. Now that the initial breathless wonder had passed, Kolker found that he could function better than before. His work and interactions were more efficient - almost perfect, in fact. These humans should be able to do the same.
Kolker walked gracefully into the central hub, where transparent viewing panes looked out upon the manufacturing units and orbiting assembly docks. Now that he was so much more attuned, he felt every touch of recycled air on his skin, saw the vivid details of the metal walls and floor, and the spangle of stars out in infinite space. He was aware of every person around him, though he couldn't sense specifics about them. Not yet.
In control of all of the stations and line managers, Tabitha looked as satisfied as a cat with a fresh bowl of cream. She had only to snap a command, and an Ildiran worker fulfilled her wishes. Such power might have gone to her head, but she looked focused rather than haughty. Five Hansa engineers also in the chamber were pleased and surprised to see the familiar green priest join them.
A broad tablescreen displayed status reports, wire-frame diagrams, and real-time images of partially constructed warliners that drifted in the expansive assembly yards. Tabitha shifted her attention from one pane to the next. When she looked up and saw him, her face registered surprise. 'Kolker! I thought a green priest would stay landbound.'
'I have something important.' He set the treeling down on her deskscreen, accidentally covering up columns of glowing numbers. 'I need to show you. And Sullivan.'
She was distracted. 'Sullivan's inspecting the ring docks right now. He'll be back in half an hour.'
Kolker gave her a calm and beatific smile. 'What if I could share something with you that would sharpen your senses, let you make decisions faster, understand more? Would you be interested?'
She laughed. That would help.' Tabitha glanced at the tablescreen as an indicator light began to blink, and she snapped a couple of orders to keep the production moving. 'All right, but I don't.have all day. Make it fast.' She called to one of her helpers. 'Barry, check on that alignment girder! It looks off-kilter to me.'
Kolker touched the treeling and held his lens medallion, concentrating on the facets and on the flow of telink. 'It'll only take a second.'
'Is it some green priest thing?'
'More than that.' He turned his hand sideways to brush the outer edge of his palm against Tabitha's forehead. He felt the worldforest mind, felt the soul-threads, and then rode on a wave of into the latent potential that was within Tabitha, within all humans. It was a simple matter for him now. He tweaked. Mental gateways opened, and the universe flooded in.
Tabitha gasped. Her eyes widened in amazement. Kolker withdrew his touch, and she stared around the administrative hub. 'I don't believe this! It's incredible.'
'I told you it would be.'
'All the colours are brighter. I've never heard sounds like this before. So sharp, so clear, and I know what everything is.' She blinked, visibly