Ascendant Sun: A New Novel in the Saga of the Skolian Empire Read Free Page B

KAB boosted the effect. When stimulated by fields from another person's brain, the enlarged KAB sent signals to structures in the Kyle's brain called paras. Like many neural structures, paras turned such signals into thought. But these thoughts were filched. They belonged to someone else. In other words, Kyle operators were psions. Most were empaths, but if their paras were sensitive enough to decipher words, they rated as telepaths.

What gave birth to psiberspace? Quantum theory. Quantum wavefunctions existed for any system— including the brain. If a function with fixed energy varied with time, it could be Fourier-transformed into one with a fixed time that varied with energy. Likewise for position and momentum.

How do you define a thought? Simple. Use the wavefunction for the brain as it forms that thought. So came the what if? : could they transform the spacetime function for a fixed thought into a "thought" function for fixed spacetime coordinates?

Kelric's eccentric, delicate, and reclusive aunt— the Ruby Pharaoh— derived the transform that took functions from spacetime into psiberspace. Just as the wave for an atom existed everywhere in normal space, so the wave for a thought existed everywhere in psiberspace. In other words, as soon as a sender formed a thought, receivers could pick it up. It made possible instant communication across interstellar distances.

Of course, the folks doing all this sending and receiving needed links into psiberspace. Enter Kyle operators. With hardware to boost their abilities, strong Kyles transformed thoughts into psiberspace. But almost none could power the psiberweb. Only Rhon psions were strong enough to carry that load, and the only known Rhon were Kelric's family. It was why he was so close to them; they shared affection with an unusual ability to meld their emotions and thoughts. If the psiberweb had crashed, what did that mean for them?

What happened to the Ruby Dynasty? he typed.

Unknown, the node answered.

Why don't you know?

No one has seen fit to provide me with that information. Its nuances expressed annoyance.

You must have some information.

I'm sorry. I don't. Now its glyphs indicated regret.

Frustrated, he typed, Why did psiberspace implode?

Unknown.

Make a damn guess.

A high probability exists that the Collapse is due to the Radiance War. Then it added, Please do not curse at me.

Sorry. After so many years on Coba, without computers, it felt odd to apologize to a machine. But it had a brain, after all. It deserved courtesy too. He didn't recall ever having a computer chastise him for his language, though.

Then he absorbed its other words. What is the Radiance War?

It was fought by Imperial Space Command and Eubian Space Command.

Kelric shrugged. ISC and ESComm have been fighting for centuries. What makes this any different?

ISC invaded Eube. ESComm invaded Skolia.

He stared at the screen. Do you mean full-scale invasion? Not deep-space ambushes, but attacks on major planetary centers?

Yes.

Gods. Had the entire universe gone war-crazy? Give me all the details you have.

I have already done so. I suggest you go to a relocation office. They can provide more information, as well as humanitarian aid. The Dawn Corps has an office in the government building at Omega Drymorn Lane.

Aid. Yes. He needed help. Even if it had been safe to reveal his identity, he had no access to his family's resources without the web. If those resources even existed anymore. He rubbed his temples, trying to subdue his headache. Then he typed, Thank you for your help.

You are welcome. It was nice to talk to someone. I've been alone here.

I hope you meet more people. Looking at what he had written, Kelric smiled. Although in terms of "intellect," this EI wasn't sophisticated, its emotional traits were advanced from those of his day.

Thank you, it printed. Good luck.

I may need it, he thought. He cleared the screen. A record of their conversation would