Of A Different Kind

Disclaimer: The Yeerks, their host species and the Animorphs don't belong to me, they belong to K A Applegate/Scholastics. I'm making no money with this. Oh, and I know that SORT OF used Anne McCaffrey's term for people with paranormal powers, but I started writing this with that term BEFORE I read To Ride Pegasus or Pegasus in Flight, so that's NOT where I got the term from. I got it from my head.

A/N: The beginning may not seem to be an Animorphs story, but don't worry, we'll be meeting up with some Animorphish things, and even some Animorphs, original Animorphs. It takes a while to get to that part, but don't worry, after about 50 KB, we'll get to it. Oh, and this is pretty far in the future, I won't tell you how far, you'll figure it out at the end, and there are, well, paranormal people, for lack of a better term, as you will learn in the story.
The term "PT" is used both to describe a talent that comes from the supernatural that can't be explained, such as telepathy and telekinesis, i.e. Her PT was telempathy. It is also a term for a person with such a talent, i.e. She is a PT, since she can use telepathy.

I would also like to thank Tobiasrulz. Without her bugging me about finishing it, I never would have. I'd also like to thank my real-life twin, also known as Andamorph, for being my, well, editor of sorts.
Well, enough of me rambling on. Enjoy!

Rachel looked at the capsules. Ax had decided to fight with his people, but the Animorphs wouldn't fight until later. Years later, decades later, maybe even centuries later. All they had to do was climb into the capsules, and they would freeze, and the Animorphs would stay in stasis until the technology to revive them was great enough.

Rachel looked over to Tobias and smiled at him. With the new nothlit cure, Tobias was now a morphing human, and they had a darling little 7-year-old daughter, named Rya. She'd already shown amazing mental skills; off the charts for her age.

She daintily stepped into the capsule next to Tobias's, and held his hand until he got into his.

"Until we're needed." She whispered to him.

"We shall die, until we live again." He whispered back. There was a hissing sound. That was the last thing either of them remembered.

Chapter 1

Keranya sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear. She stood up and brushed herself off. Everything here seemed so . . . relaxed. Laid back. Nothing like her old home in Kuru. Why, the kids here even had two days off of school a week, and almost 2 1/2 months off in the summer. Back in Kuru, the only time's they'd have off was Anniversary, Victory Day, and Michael Rampart's Birthday! And the amount of unhealthy stuff here . . . well, the only day they'd get candy back in Kuru was on Anniversary and Michael Rampart's Birthday! The only reason Victory Day was observed in Kuru was because it was celebrated everywhere in the world.

If any of Keranya's Teachers or Peers knew where she was, well . . . she didn't know what they'd do. She knew that they'd be amazed and horrified. She'd been there 12 days, and she wasn't a bit more used to it.

"Hey, 'Ranya!" yelled Shiala, breaking Keranya out of her thoughts, "What's up with you?"

"Nothing!" she called back. Although normally she'd never be able to become close to anyone here, them being 'danes and all, she'd used her "suggestions" to make them like her. Sometimes telempathy came in handy. Keranya felt awfully bad doing it, since if she'd been taught anything in life, she'd been told that she shouldn't use her Talents with immutes and mundanes. (A/N: Also known, in "slang", as 'mutes and 'danes, used by the Talented, who are people with certain mind powers, to describe people without such powers. 'Danes are MUCH more common then PTs (which stands for Psychic Talent), and so are 'mutes, but 'mutes are less common then 'danes, having a mental shield that only the strongest telepaths can break through to read thoughts. They are, however, subject to "suggestions" from empaths and strong telepaths can read them. Now, wasn't that a long Author's Note???) However, if she wanted to survive here, she couldn't alienate herself from the others, and she, being a PT, would never had fit in otherwise. PTs never got on very will with 'mutes and 'danes. They were just too different. Keranya just made sure she didn't invade anyone's privacy by going into anyone's head.

"Well, what were you doing on the ground?" asked Shiala.

Keranya, of course, couldn't tell her that she was trying with her telekinesis to pick herself up. She probably shouldn't have done anything when people might be watching, not if she wanted to keep her cover. "I . . . I fell down," responded Keranya. Her answer was true enough; she had fallen.

"Yeah, well, whatever. Did you know that there's supposed to be someone new coming to school tomorrow?"

"What's so big about that? There are plenty of new people.

"Yeah, well, they didn't tell where he was from. Come to think of it . . ." she cocked her head at Keranya "they didn't tell where you were from, either."

Keranya sighed. You don't care where she was from. It's not weird that they didn't say where she was from, she sent into Shiala's head, planting the suggestion.

"Never mind," said Shiala. "It doesn't matter where you come from," she clarified slowly. "It's so exciting! Someone whom we don't know where they came from. Hey, for all we know, they could come from Kuru! They could be a secret PT!"

Startled by Shiala's exclamation, which was right on the mark for Keranya, she just said, "I very much doubt that."

"Yeah, you're right. You weren't a PT from Kuru, after all."

Keranya swallowed hard. Being around mostly telepaths all her life, Keranya had literally never lied. She'd have been found out immediately. Lying was very foreign to her. She changed the subject. "Have you been following the news?"

"Yeah. The Yeerk war?"

"Yep. The Animorph Alliance forced the Yeerks off the Hork-Bajir homeworld and freed some hundreds of Hork-Bajir."

"Have you ever wished that you were an Animorph?"

"Well . . . no. They live a hard, hard life. Did you know that if you were an Animorph, there's a 1 in 18 chance that you'd already be dead? And that Animorphs' average life span is about 45 years?

"I did know that. But the Animorphs who do survive live to be really old, and fit until they die. Besides, they're worshipped as heroes. I guess I don't really want to be an Animorph. You know what I want to be?"

"What?" asked Keranya, pretty sure that she knew.

"I want to be a PT. They are basically worshipped, too, and they have all these powers and have a long life span."

"PTs have hard lives too."

"Like what?"

"Did you know that they have to go to school 7 days a week? That they have the normal 7 hours of "normal" subjects, and then 2-3 hours of learning to control their abilities? That they have 3 days off from school a year, 2 of them celebrating a day having to do with the founding of the PTC? (A/N: PTC stands for Parapsychic Talents Center.) They get 1 present on the anniversary of the creation of the PTC, and that's it for the year? They don't really even have families; they're in dorms for most of their childhood?"

"Actually, I didn't know. How do you know so much about PTs and PTC?"

"It's always been a . . . well, an interest of mine," she said aloud. To Shiala's head, she sent with telempathic suggestion: It's perfectly normal for her to know so much about it.

"Anyway," said Keranya, changing the subject yet again, "are you ready for that test today?"

"Yeah. I've been studying the original Animorphs and the driving out of the Yeerks by PTs and the Animorphs for what seems like forever."

"Cool. You'll do well on the test. School starts in half an hour, you know.

* * *

Keranya looked at the test, carefully reading it over before answering anything.

Name____________________ Date______________________ Period___________

1. What characteristic of PTs rendered them impossible for the Yeerks to infest?
A. They could annoy the Yeerks.
B. They could take control of the Yeerks instead of the other way around.
C. Whenever the Yeerks infected them, the Yeerk would be forced back out immediately by some unknown force.
D. They could use their power of suggestion on the Yeerks to make them want what the PT wanted.

2. Who was the unofficial leader of the Animorphs?
A. Rachel
B. Cassie
C. Michelle
D. Jack
E. Jake
F. Marco
G. None of the above

3. Marco's mother was a high-ranking Controller until she was discredited. Who was she?

A. Councilor Thirteen
B. Visser 7
C. Visser 1
D. Councilor Nine
E. Visser 3

4. What were the names of the original Animorphs? (Circle all that apply)
A. Cassie H. Rachel
B. Amy I. Tony
C. Nora J. Tobias
D. Jake K. Lucy
E. Marco L. Tara
F. Michael M. Karen
G. Michelle N. Melissa

5. The full name of the Andalite who gave the Animorphs their morphing abilities was ____________________. 6. The Andalite who joined the Animorphs shortly after they got their powers was named ____________________. 7. What was the Elfangor's relationship with Aximili? __________________ 8. What was Elfangor's relationship with Tobias? ___________________ 9. Who was Aximili's human Shorm? __________ 10. What PT was the first one found by the Yeerks not to be infestable? __________________ 11. What was his specialty Talent? _________________________ 12. Who was the first director of the Animorphs Alliance? ____________________ 13. What shocking fact was found out about that director? _______________________________________________________________________________ 14. Called by the Animorphs the "blue box", what was the real name for the devise used to give a person their Morphing powers? 15. Compare and contrast the lives of an original Animorph to one of the earlier controllers. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Keranya found the test pretty easy. For number 1, she circled C, since she'd been brought up with the fact. No Yeerk could infest a PT, although nobody quite knew why. For 2, she circled E, Jake, and for 3, she circled C, Visser 1. For 4, she concentrated a bit, and circled in order, A, D, E, H, J. She was fairly sure that Melissa and Karen wouldn't be counted as original Animorphs since they hadn't joined until a few years later. 5, she immediately put down Elfangor-Sirinal-Shamtul, although she wasn't sure of the spelling. 6, she thought a minute, biting her eraser, and wrote Aximili-Esgarroth-Istill, again unsure of the spelling, but it would have to do. 7 was Brother and 8 was Father. Those two questions gave away part of 5 and 6 in Keranya's estimation.

For 9, she wrote Tobias. 10 and 11, since she had had those facts drilled into her head since she was 5, was so insanely easy to her that she almost laughed as she wrote down John Sheen, telekinetic.

12 and 13 were just laughably easy to her. Janice Rodner, she was a latent PT, a telepath. For 14, she had to think a little before she wrote down Escafil Device. For 15, she thought long and hard before writing down:

Original Animorphs and early Controllers both had to leave the house late at night and at other odd hours. They couldn't tell their families or friends what was going on. Animorphs, because they couldn't trust anyone, Controllers, because they couldn't control their bodies. Both of them went through a lot of stress and were sometimes on the verge of breakdowns. They, of course, were the only humans on the planet who knew of an alien invasion. The Animorphs, fighting it, the Controllers, victims of it. All in all, neither had a very nice life. She figured that that probably would be enough.

Giving her paper to the teacher, she noted that she was the first one finished the test. She also noted, as she sat back down, that Nicola knew the answers to PT questions, and didn't seem as sure of Animorph questions. Worth looking in to; she'd have to make a point of making friends with Nicola.

Trying to delve into Nicola's mind, she found that Nicole had a mental shield, which immediately put her as a 'mute instead of a 'dane. Interesting. Very interesting . . .

After everyone was done the test, the teacher turned on the HV (Holovision) to show a holovid.

"Watch this," she said, "It shows some very interesting facts that most people don't know."

As the holovid came on, everyone realized that the teacher was right. It showed some very interesting facts.

"When the Animorphs finished ridding the Earth of Yeerks, they agreed to be put into stasis until technology became advanced enough for them to come out. Now, as technology gets better," said the holovid voice, "we may be able to bring them out of their frozen state, and have them come and fight again, as they did in their earlier years. When they come out, they will be about 27."

Everyone was amazed. The original Animorphs? They weren't dead? They might even come and fight? It was too much to take in all at once.

As the bell rang to the next class, everyone was talking. They were thinking so loudly that Keranya was almost in pain. Forget not listening in-- she was having trouble keeping it down to moderation, where she couldn't hear them!

By the end of the day, everyone was buzzing, in his or her mind and mouth, about the holovid. Word was, it just came out yesterday, and we weren't even supposed to know. I heard from some people that they would go through with it really soon, and not tell people until they were all ready. But, hey, they were rumors.

"Hey, Nicola!" yelled Keranya, jogging up behind her. "What's up?"

Nicola turned around, slowly. "Why do you care?"

"What do you mean, what do I care?" asked Keranya. Come to think of it, Nicola did seem kind of antisocial.

"Oh, come on!" she said. "You think that I'd believe that you'd want to be all friendly with me?"

"I just said hi."

"Well, what do you want?"

"I just noticed that you seem awfully interested in PT and the PTC and all. It happens to be an interest of mine, too."

"So you want to talk to me about it? You, probably one of the most popular girls in school, want to talk to me?"

"Hey! I wasn't very popular, before . . ." Keranya's voice drifted off. She'd said too much already. Keranya wasn't about to use telempathic powers on Nicola. She didn't want this to be forced.

Nicola looked very surprised. "Before . . . what?"

Keranya tried to think of something that wasn't a lie. "Before I moved." That much was true-- as soon as her PT came out of latently, she moved to Kuru, and there she was more "popular", among other PTs, in an organization with strict rules and a driving motivation to be smart and to get somewhere. Even latent PTs didn't exactly fit in with 'mutes and 'danes.

"Before you moved . . . here?"

Don't lie. "No." she confessed.

"Where?"

How can I answer this and not lie? "The place I was before I moved here."

"The name of it?"

"I'll tell you that, if you come to my apartment with me."

Nicola seemed to consider. "Well . . . why not?"

Keranya grinned. "C'mon, then!"

Keranya, who wasn't living with an adult of any kind, still had her free suite that was given to anyone on file, which every PT was. They were not, however, always identified as PTs on file. Keranya, for one, wasn't.

She led the way to her apartment, and used her wristband to open it. Once in, she shut the doors and used her telekinesis to turn off any recording devices that the apartment manager conveniently "forgot" to take out when she moved here.

"Soooo . . ." Nicola said, nervously, "what did you want?"

"To talk," said Keranya.

"About . . ."

"Why are you so interested in the PTC? Oh, jeez, take a seat. Sorry."

"Well," said Nicola, taking a seat nervously, "I don't really know. I just find them . . . fascinating, you know? Like . . . drawn to them."

Like a latent, realized Keranya. "Have you ever been tested for PT?"

"Me? No. I'd never be a PT. I'm just a little 'dane."

"Actually . . . you know when I said I'd tell you where I just came from?"

"Yes . . ."

"Well, I came from . . . Kuru. I'm not even supposed to be here. I don't know why I'm here."

"Yeah, right," snorted Nicola. "Tell me another one."

"Really. Watch." Keranya concentrated on a book on her shelf, and it lifted into the air. She made it fly over to Nicola. When it got to her, she made it flip pages. "Go to page . . . 78." She said, and then made it flip to just that page. Seeing the look on Nicola's face, she grinned, and shut the book, making it fly back over to the shelf and carefully setting it down.

"You're a kinetic?" she asked shakily.

"Actually, I'm a kinetic, telepath, telempath. A tiny bit precognitive, but not very much." "All four? Can you read my mind?" she asked, with a trace of panic in her voice.

"Oddly enough, no. You seem to have a mental shield. Very strong, in fact, I've never met a mental shield that I couldn't get past. Until now."

"You mean . . ." she said, putting both hands on her head, "I'm a 'mute, not a 'dane?"

"Well . . . probably. Maybe."

"Well, what? I mean, if I have a mental shield, I'm not a 'dane, right?"

"Right. But you have all the characteristics of a latent PT."

"Like what?" she asked, disbelieving. Or not letting herself believe, in case it's not true, thought Keranya.

"Like your very strong mental shield. Like your unusual and unaccounted for fascination of PTs. Like your antisocial attitude among 'danes."

"You seem social enough."

"I'm a telempath. I've been one for a while."

"Oh," said Nicola, seeming dazed. "Don't you have rules against that sort of thing?"

"There are rules and then there are rules. I read nobody's mind and I did nobody harm. If I want to survive here, I can't very well alienate myself, can I? I invaded nobody's privacy."

Nicola thought this over. "And you think that I'm a PT? I've never shown a trace of PT before."

"If you're a latent PT, then you wouldn't have. Except for your mental shield."

"Why did you tell me that you were a PT? Aren't you afraid that I'll tell? What did you mean by my "unaccounted for" fascination with PTs?"

"Of course you always could tell. Anyone could. But you don't seem like the kind of person who'd tell a secret, and, at a certain point, there has to be some trust. And by "unaccounted for", I meant just what I said. Plenty of people have a fascination with PTs, but they have had someone close to them, possibly themselves, saved somehow by PTs. Like living in a town which was saved by kinetics at the brink of disaster. Or having a good friend who was falling off a building or something receive a safe landing thanks to a PT; something like that. Maybe PTs changed something in their life. Those are accounted for fascinations."

"Oh. How would we know for sure if I'm a latent PT of just a 'mute?"

"I . . . I told you, I don't know why I'm here. I don't know how I got here. The last thing that I remember is . . ." her voice trailed off. "Well, anyway, I have no contact with the PTC or any other PTs right now."

"Can't you use your telepathy and just . . . I don't know, think to them?"

"Yes, I ought to be able to p'talk to someone, and that's what scares me the most, because I can't reach them. I can't! I've never not been able to before. Not since I'd gotten my psi, anyway."

"That's weird. Any reason why?"

"Well, my power has been dulled, all of it. Maybe that's why. It must be why. Kuru is pretty far from here, isn't it?"

"You mean you don't know where this is?"

"Not really, no," said Keranya, embarrassed.

"Well, we're far away from Kuru."

"That must be why."

"What are you going to do?"

"For now? Just sit tight, I guess, and wait for my psi to return fully. In the meantime, you are going to become more social, so that if we talk before or after school, or in school, it won't look suspicious." Keranya, of course, would "suggest" to the others to like Nicola more, but Nicola didn't have to know that.

Nicola nodded.

* * *

The schoolyard was in a buzz. The much-rumored-about new kid who they didn't say where he was from was coming to school today. Keranya briefly wondered why his previous home wasn't said, but then, there could be tons of reasons for that. It was beyond her foolish hope that it could be a similar reason to hers. She couldn't actually believe that, could she? While it was true that the universe--or fate?-- always saved her at the bad times; when her parents died when she was 4 and she was an orphan without a home she was identified as a PT and was given a home at Kuru; when she was hurt in an accident her latent kinetic ability emerged and that compensated until she was better a year later; when she was really little, and had just gotten lost at a big show, her parents had happened to be chosen to go onstage right then; well, it didn't necessarily mean that it would help her now. She should take nothing for granted.

He arrived late, a smiling face on as he walked into homeroom. To Keranya's surprise and delight, she could tell right away that he was a PT.

Hi, hi! Can you tell me where I am, why I'm here, and can you please try to get me back to Kuru? she asked excitedly.

He looked in surprise over at her. Keranya? We've been looking all over for you. How did you get here?

The teacher, oblivious to the exchange, said: "Class, this is Mark Lures. He just moved here, as you well know. Mark, would you care to tell us something about yourself?"

"Well . . ." he said, I come from Kuru, I'm a PT, telepath, a bit kinetic, I can read your minds, you're my lab rats for now, do you mind? he sent to Keranya, along with an image of the teacher standing open-mouthed with a comical expression on her mouth and the words "law suit against PTC" across her forehead. Keranya stifled a giggle, earning a stern and confused glance from the teacher, who didn't know the mental joke that Mark sent to Keranya. "Well," he said again, continuing, "My name is Mark Lures, as you know, I'm 14 years old."

"Where are you from? All of us are quite interested in the, um, lack of info on you."

You don't care where he's from, sent Keranya into the teacher's head, since Mark didn't seem to be an empath. As a safety measure, she sent it to all the students' heads, too.

Thanks, Keranya, he sent to her, smiling. She smiled back.

"So, Mark, here's your schedule. The bell will be ringing in just a few moments." She handed him the schedule. As if to confirm what she just said, the bell rang just then. Kids streamed out of the class to go to their first period.

Hey, Keranya? "Keranya!" spoke aloud Mark after telepathically calling to her. She turned around to face him.

"Where's xenobiology? It's my first period class."

"Really? It's mine too. Here, it's this way. Follow me." She led him to Xenobiology class, and took her seat, leaving him at the front of the class. The teacher there, fortunately, was busy getting some sort of alien worm-thing ready for dissection, so he didn't ask any questions and just told Mark to take a seat next to Keranya. Hey, can I see your schedule? asked Keranya. I want to compare it to mine. He gave it to her.

Would have to be. Can you believe that these people get 2 days a week off? Two whole months of the summer off, more in some districts? Jeez.

I know! It's insane. How do they remember what they learned in school over the summer?

"Keranya? Mark? Are you two paying attention?"

"Yes, Mr. Wiles," then said. How did he notice? I'm usually very good at not showing a telepathic conversation.

Keranya looked at the schedules. After that, you have French while I have Grammar. Those rooms are close together-- I'll just show it to you. Next, we obviously both have 8th grade lunch. After that-- Keranya gave a mental grimace-- we have "specials". These people think that music, physical education, computers, study hall, and stuff like that should actually be part of real school! Since we're in the same homeroom, we automatically have the same ones. 5th period is Phys Ed, 6th is Study Hall. I'll show you the rooms. 7th, you have Grammar while I have Spanish. Last period, we both have History. In History class, there's this girl I'll have to show you. I think she's a latent PT.

Mark, who was doing very well pretending that he was listening with rapt attention on the teacher, who was explaining something that any child in Kuru would have learned 4 years ago, turned and looked with surprise at Keranya. What did you say?

I think that she's a latent PT. She has a very strong mental shield, is very antisocial, and has a fascination with PTs. We ought to get her to a testing center immediately. Hey, look forward! You look suspicious!

Yeah. We should do that, he said, looking slowly back at the teacher, who was looking at Mark with his arms crossed. "Sorry," murmured Mark.

The teacher looked amused. Hey, said Keranya, If he "comments" to embarrass you, it'll embarrass me, too!

You're a telempath, right? So-- he stopped, sensing her sudden anger, What?

That would be--

"So, you're admiring our 'Ranya, huh? Aren't you a little young for that?" laughed Mr. Wiles, breaking up their little "conversation". Both Keranya and Mark turned bright red. The rest of the class tittered. Keranya glared at them angrily, sending them a suggestion that they were scared of her and didn't find what Mr. Wiles said funny. It only worked halfway, due to Keranya's embarrassment. Still, it was enough to make them stop due to nervousness.

"Well, try to pay attention, okay? There's a test on this in a few days. Unless both of you already know this stuff front and back?" he asked with his arms crossed.

Should we? asked Mark.

Why not? she replied.

"Yes, I do," they said aloud in unison. More titters from the class, which they could this time effectively ignore since they were getting amusement from the look on their teacher's face.

"Well, then," he said, "how about you two take the test now?"

"Sure," said Keranya.

"Fine," said Mark.

"Separately," said Mr. Wiles, giving them the papers and sending them to different parts of the room.

Could he stop us from conversing? asked Mark.

Do we need to? asked Keranya rhetorically.

They both completed the test quickly. It was easy. As they turned them in, the teacher looked at them suspiciously. He graded them, right then, right there. Each question at a time, out loud. Each question, to his surprise, answered correctly. Including the extra credit.

He slowly marked a large red 102% on the top of each paper. "You really did know it. Sorry," he said. Right then, the bell rang and both Keranya and Mark walked to Algebra I, smiling with triumph.

Want to confuse the hell out of this teacher? asked Mark.

Keranya grinned, rather wickedly. What, exactly, do you propose?

Well . . . he sent a few images into her head. Saying things in unison. Saying just what the teacher had on her mind. Things flying in the air.

Hold it, buddy, she said. Things flying through the air? Wouldn't that be a bit suspicious? And give us away?

Yep. He sent her a image of his face with a VERY evil grin on. She HAD to giggle.

* * *

After the day was over, and they had Nicola come to Mark's apartment, and Mark opened a secured channel to PTC. When the face of Chlyna Jerinkin, the director of training and development of PTs, came up of the screen, Keranya grinned a grin from ear to ear.

"Keranya! We've been looking all over for you! Where have you been? How did you get there? Mark, how did you find her?"

"I don't know. I don't know!" she sobbed. "I was just there once second, then a flash . . . and here the next. I just don't know," she cried, "But then Mark came, on some sort of-- what was it, a study?"

Chlyna's face paled. "Oh my god. The serum . . . we didn't realize that you were that strong. I'm so sorry."

"Serum? What serum?"

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you that. Don't worry, if your powers are dulled they'll come back fully in about a week. Now," she said, abruptly changing the subject, "Who is that?" she asked, staring at Nicola.

"Well . . ." said Keranya, nervously, "I think that she may be a latent PT."

"How did you come to that conclusion?" asked Chlyna.

"Nicola," she started, guiding her towards the screen, "is very anti-social, here, anyway; she has an unaccounted for fascination with PTs, and she has a mental shield hard as rock."

"I see," said director of training and development. "Maybe you should bring her back with you, if only for a brief vacation if she doesn't turn up positive. Can I have your name?"

"Nicola Knapp," she said.

"Alright, Nicola," she said, typing it in, "Your number is GCC4789AA1?"

"Yes, that's right," she said, a bit dazedly.

"Alright, you three, I'll have a shuttle at your location . . . well, near it, anyway . . . to pick you guys up ASAP, as soon as I get permission from Nicola's parents . . . ah, there we go . . . well, expect a shuttle downward 30 minutes, okay? Mark-- I don't think that this phase of your education can quite continue right now."

Mark and Keranya nodded tightly, and the screen blanked.

"I don't appreciate being left out." Nicola, of course.

"Sorry," they said aloud in unison.

I know, I know! Jeez, I've probably been a PT as long as you have, Mark!

This time, neither of them showed any indication that they were p'speaking to each other, and Nicola looked satisfied. Keranya went with Mark into the bedroom, standing by while he got packed.

"Gee, you travel light, don't you?" she asked aloud, mildly amused. He had only a few pieces of clothing, and almost nothing of anything else.

"I have to carry my own baggage," he responded, equally amused, if not more so.

Keranya laughed. "Mild kinesis, huh? I guess I take my strong kinesis for granted a bit too much."

"Every PT has a tendency to take their powers for granted. I mean, how many telepaths stop and think about, say, how they can tell whether someone likes their idea? How many think about how they can get instant communication when they're in trouble?"

"It's not a good habit."

"But it pretty much is granted for a PT. PT doesn't diminish over time or anything, the only time it leaves is artificially, which is what happened to you."

"But we forget about the other people."

"What, 'mutes and 'danes?" he asked with disgust. Not disgust with Keranya; to her amazement, he was disgusted with the 'danes. Disgust, and . . . hatred. Bitter, strong hatred.

"Mark?" You're scaring me, she said, switching to thought.

Am I? he asked. Your parents died from an accident, didn't they? Just a normal accident?

Yes. she said. Then, realizing what he was saying, muttered, "Oh, my god. Oh my god."

Yes, he said. My parents were killed by 'danes. Killed for being something that they couldn't help being. Killed because they . . . the 'danes . . . didn't want them to know their petty thoughts. They were afraid of my parents finding out their secrets. They took bats, beating them to death, telling them to get out of their heads, to stop hearing their thoughts. Well, said Mark, his hatred sharp, the only way they can stop hearing those thoughts is if those thoughts stop.

Keranya gasped. I thought that sort of thing didn't happen anymore!

In most places, they don't. My earlier childhood was in a . . . behind place. Backwards. to explain his statement, he sent her the gist of what he meant.

So you now hate all 'danes. And 'mutes.

Keranya swallowed, and asked the question gnawing at her To understand them and know them . . . in order to kill them?

Mark refused to answer. When Keranya tried to find the answer, he threw up a strong block. Keranya did not force the issue. Anyone who had been through what he had been through would hate the 'danes. She knew that; she knew that if she watched her parents get killed by 'danes because of their Talent, her hate would be just as strong, if not stronger, than his.

Mark finished packing in silence and they walked out to Nicola.

"C'mon," said Mark. "The transport must be here by now."

They walked out of the apartment, and the shuttle was just pulling in. A door opened, and stairs leading up to that door came down.

They walked up, getting inside the schedule. Nicola seemed very nervous, so after the shuttle lifted off, Keranya asked what was bothering her.

"Well . . ." she said nervously, "If I am a PT, a latent one, or not, what will--" she faltered, and tried again, "will I--" faltering again, she glanced at Keranya to see if she understood what she meant. Keranya did.

"Nicola," she said, gently, "If you are a PT, latent or no, you will stay at Kuru. If you are latent, you will attend school for latents, and will be prepared for when your Talent does emerge. If you are a PT already, you will get a personal tutor for 3-6 months, depending on how well you cope. That tutor will do normal lessons, as well as lessons on how to use your newfound powers." Keranya's eyes were compassionate and caring; she could feel Nicola's pain, even though she wasn't in her head in any way.

"Then, I'll, never . . . never go home?"

"Kuru will be home. It may not feel like it now, but it always becomes home. For everyone."

"But my home now. Will I never live there again? Never see my parents?"

"Your parents, of course, will be allowed to visit," said Keranya smoothly. "You will not live with them, but once a PT, isolated among 'danes, comes to others of their kind-- well, I can tell you that it's a wonderful feeling. You feel like you just got home. You feel like you've found the answer to a question you've been asking forever. You feel like you have been looking for something all your life and suddenly, there, you found it. You feel, finally . . . whole."

Nicola realized that Keranya was reciting some sort of passage, something that seemed very important and meaningful to her. Keranya, that is. "I don't need some sort of passage from some propaganda pamphlet."

"Recited from memory through that passage may be, it's very, very true. Besides," she said, with a sardonic smile, "you don't know yet that you even are a PT. You may be despairing when there really is nothing to despair."

Nicola seemed to accept that. That is, she nodded tightly, walked over to a chair, and sat down.

Keranya looked at her for a moment with sympathy then shook her head clear and turned around to find Mark.

And then-- there was a flash of light-- and nothing.