Solomon's Private File #102
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 18 in this story, in the Spring of 2044.
Solomon's Private File #102 "Conner"
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I'm 18 now, and a legal adult. If that actually means anything for
me. My reason for writing these things has changed. It's not for my
next incarnation. I won't have any. It's not necessary for brain repair
and memory restoration, because the Van beds save those things every
night I sleep on them. This is for the record, but not to be accessed
for a very long time. At least for some parts. I might even remove them
before I go. I know Dad did, for his.
Kam and Rangnorik are committed, and open to us, but not the public,
and we're all happy for them. Regent Rhamcha doesn't know how to react,
and that shows to our perceptions. Funny, in a way. More so when we
told him that Rangnorik isn't human. He said to me, "Just like your
father, you LIKE doing that." I said, "Not exactly. Just like anybody
who can do it. Wouldn't you?" He said, "I refuse to say." We smiled and
hugged with love.
The former President Elect is in office now, and is still recovering
from the shock of the reality of that. It's the same for the Cabinet
members, too. All of them, and their appointed upper level personnel,
were approved by me. It was NOT fun, but at least most of the public
knows they are competent. There was some controversy about that, after
the President announced the approvals. I went on an interview on CNN to
explain it. Don said as an introduction, "The President has announced
that Solomon has approved of some of the new people in his
administration. Solomon, could you explain how that came about?" I
said, "My father had offered to approve politicians for office. It was
a non political evaluation of competence; personal and job specific. It
was fair, and appreciated by some. At times, it was required by some
Party leaders for their people. We had kept that offer open for all
parties, for government appointees and employees, too. The current
President was the first to ask us to approve people he would appoint to
office. We agreed to do it, and he made it a requirement for those
people. That being the case, our approval process was a little
different, because the results weren't going public, and were to be
used to help his people choose among the applicants. It became more
like a job interview than before, and included some psychological
tests. We did not ask anything involving specific political or job
related personal positions, or their opinions of other individuals." He
said, "Would you have wanted to know those things?" I said, "Sometimes
unfulfilled curiosity can be a curse." He chuckled. We went to break.
Back from break, Don said, "You said 'We' did approvals. Do you mean
there were others doing it, and not just yourself?" I said, "It was
just me this time, but all our group are fully capable of doing it. I
intended to indicate that with the use of 'we', which I think you
realized, knowing I wouldn't do that by accident." He grinned and said,
"You've caught me! Now I feel bold enough to say that with my knowledge
of you and your father, I would assume that some of those interviews
evolved into counseling sessions of great productivity, resulting in
significantly improved applicants. Am I right?" I said, "That's
impressive! Don't do that." He laughed. I said, "You know, with my
professional ethics, I can't comment on that." He said, "But you're a
psychologist and teacher. You can't help but to improve people." I
said, "In general, yes. That's my life, actually. Not so much after I
get married, though." He laughed and said, "I can imagine." I said, "I
hope not!" More laughter. He said, "Do you think what you did this
time, should be done all the time?"
I said, "This can't guarantee good government, but it sure couldn't
hurt the chances of it improving, and might actually help a little.
Would probably reduce the number of scandals, which I think is a better
thing than those in your occupation might think." He chuckled, and
said, "I shouldn't comment on that." I said, "The other side of this,
is more significant. Administrations that don't want to do this might
be suspected of actually wanting incompetent and corrupt people in
government." He said, "Strong statement. Has that ever actually
happened?" I said, "On a local and State level, that's happened very
often. So often in fact, it's actually expected in some places. For
example, I don't want to have to count the number of times a position
in government has been sold outright. That's right. For actual real
money, and not just for favors. Similar things have happened on a
federal level in the past, but with decreasing frequency, as the public
eye has become more focused on it. In part, thanks to the good work of
the news media." He said, "That's not exactly what I meant, but I
understand. Thank you, Solomon, for helping us to understand what you
did and why." I said, "You're welcome." We went off air.
He said, "I meant did some not want to go through approval because
they were bound to be not approved?" I said, "How could I know that if
they never came to us? But you suspect just as well as I, it almost
definitely happened. I did have one who did all he could to not be
approved, unconsciously. He didn't want the job, but wasn't even
willing to admit it to himself, much less to the President." He said,
"Oh! That's interesting. I imagine this job is not a pleasant one for
you." I said, "Darn right!" He chuckled.
Mom gave me her report on the rapist judge. She said, "He's actually
going to jail. The latest assault in his gym, just got in under the
statute of limitations cutoff. When his victim heard about all the
others, she agreed to testify. Got medical reports, including DNA, and
laugh, and said, "Actually, no." I said, "We should tell her." She
nodded. By secret appointment, we ported to the DOJ's Office of Legal
Counsel. I said, "So this is the most important government office
people never heard of, and the stepping stone to the Supreme Court.
Hmm, doesn't look that impressive." Mom poked me. The judge laughed.
She said, "It's true, all of it. A lot of work, but very significant."
I said, "Glad you got it." Mom said. "We're here to tell you he's going
to prison." She said, "Thank you. I had assumed that, after you were on
it, so it's no surprise now. Actually, I find that I don't much care
about that for myself, but for his other victims." I nodded. She said,
"You knew I would feel this way." I said, "Not knew, but expected, yes.
I'm happy for you. One more thing. After he's sentenced, he WILL
experience a memory consequence. Just once for each victim. He should
understand how they felt. But not from some of his victims, but from
some of my own past lives." She said, "Oh! I should have realized.
Please don't do that if it hurts you!"
Mom said, "We're managing that so to limit our personal involvement.
One more thing. He was trying to plea bargain. I ported in during that
and said, 'You don't take the full charge and sentence for this, I'll
bring all your other crimes of this kind out into the open. Yes, Sol
did time research on you.' He collapsed like an ugly sack of rotten
potatoes." The judge chuckled. I said to Mom, "Well said!" We hugged. I
said to the judge, "If you hear of any other senior government official
abusing his position to abuse others, please let us know. We will NOT
allow that to continue." She said with a tear, "I will. You can be sure
of that! How can I reach you?" I said, "FBI has my contact info. Well,
they have secretaries." She said, "A rumor here, they have more than
that of you." I said, "But not for the public to know. We approve all
their applicants, and for other agencies, too, when desired." She said,
"Good. I like that. There was an incident in the CIA about a highly
respected but unusual inspector, that this office was informed about."
Mom grinned her face almost in half. I poked her, and said, "Give it
away, whydoncha!" They chuckled. I said, "Here's a crystal of what
happened. To read it, put it to your forehead. It only works for you.
Best you read it in private. You might make some strange noises." She
grinned. I said, "A note. No special powers were used, except for a
very little help with the disguises." She nodded. We all hugged each
other, before we left.
I was asked to a meeting with Ivanna, George, and Chad, who said, "We
lost track of one of your implanted siblings. Parental problems. Found
him, a ward of the state. Here's the info." He pushed it at me. I said,
"Recommendations?" George said, "Choices; Removal of psi, impossibly
strong inhibitions, or try to get him here, but needing a lot of help.
He's on the Path to the Dark." I said, "I saw the choices. Wasn't what
I asked for." Silence. I did some exploring and communicating
elsewhere, and said, "Dex will adopt him." They were surprised. Then
Chad said, "If that can happen, that's the best thing. He'll be
surrounded by more powerful siblings, and officially one of them."
George said, "We'll see that Dex is never alone with him, and
protected, being not psionic and vulnerable." I said, "I already told
him that." They looked at me in admiration.
Dex made an appointment to see the people in charge of the situation.
He said, "You have a child who needs a home. I ask that I be able to
give it to him." She said with interest, "We have a lot of children in
need of placement. Did you have one in particular in mind?" He said,
"Conner Hastings." She said, "I know of him. He has some difficulties.
We don't consider him ready for placement. How do you know about him?"
He said, "Solomon told me." She said, "THE Solomon?" He grinned said,
"He wouldn't like it that way, but yes. I work as a foster parent
residence counselor for his school. No, I'm not psionic." She said,
"Oh! This might explain some unusual things! Is Conner psionic?" He
said, "Very much so. If he isn't put into a situation where he can
learn control and ethics, he could become VERY destructive." She said,
"I can well believe it! We've already seen some of it, now that we
understand more of what happened. He DOES need to go to you, but why
isn't Solomon adopting?" He said, "He's a public figure. The curse of
that is something Conner does NOT need at this time." She looked
surprised and then thoughtful, and said, "Wise." He said, "Yes he is."
They grinned at each other.
She said, "I don't mean to embarrass you, but could you offer us some
proof of your association with Solomon?" He said, "Would his presence
count for that? She said, "Yes, absolutely!" I ported in with my museum
isn't it?" Dex laughed, and she said with a grin, "Now we know it's
really you." I sighed, and she laughed. I said, "We need to have him as
soon as possible, before he hurts somebody seriously." She said, "That
dangerous?" I said, "Yes, and more than he is aware of. Most of what
you might have noticed was done unconsciously. If he figures out how to
it with his will, which will happen all too soon, watch out!" She said,
"I think I understand. He's being picked on for being different." I
said, "Made worse by the fact that he can hear everything for about
forty meters around him. They DO talk about him. And he's physically
stronger than most his size." She said, "I can push this through in a
day, but with approval screening, visits are allowed with selected
families, on almost no notice. If I can have more information, we can
work on that now." I said, "But this must remain confidential. For his
safety, and ours. There are a lot of er, crazies out there, who are
gunning for us." She said, "I can imagine. I agree. Strict
confidentiality." We gave her the information. We paid the fee, too,
but with some trouble. I said, "But we don't use money." Dex said, "But
I do. I'll pay. Use this card. He's going to be my son. I should." I
hugged him and said, "Yes, new Dad. An experience we all should have.
We aren't fully human till then." They looked at me strangely, and then
nodded.
I said, "A proposal. Conner doesn't know Dex. Easy to reject on
sight. Anything to feel he has some control over his life." She nodded.
I said, "How about I bring a boy here a little older than Conner, but
not enough to be noticed, a boy who Conner could become like. They meet
first. Pat hugs him. Er, you've heard about our hugs?" She grinned and
said, "Indeed I have! Good idea!" I said, "Then you and Pat introduce
Dex to him, as Pat's foster father. Pat being so nice, Dex must be,
too. Then I port in, making his eyes almost pop out and into a bowl I
might be holding, and I hug all of them, and you, and we port home, to
a welcome he just won't believe. Well, they will be projecting their
love at him." She had a mix of strong emotions. Dex said to me, "You
like doing that to people, don't you." I said, "Not specifically, but
His foster parents agreed to bring Conner right over. I ported out,
and and twelve year old S and Double Adept Kid new Senior Adept Pat
ported in. Dex went into a different room. Conner was escorted in by
his foster mother. He was a blond and blue eyed eleven year old. The
Family Services supervisor said to Conner. "There is someone who wants
to adopt you." He was really surprised, but wary. He said, "Don't I get
a choice?" Pat said with a grin, "Sure. You can call him Dad or Father.
Hi, I'm Pat. We'll be living together." He hugged him with love, and
Conner almost fainted. Pat helped him to sit down. Conner said, "What's
going on?" Pat said, "Know the story of the ugly duckling?" He nodded.
Pat said, "Ready to work toward being a swan?" He said, "Wow!" Pat
said, "We hear that a lot." Conner said, "Solomon says that." Dex came
in and said, "And we say that to him, often. Hello. I'm Dexter. Dex, to
my friends. I work in a foster home for kids who are attending
Solomon's school. I'm adopting you." He reached out to hug, and Conner,
still in a daze, didn't think to resist. He sat down and said, "It's
really true?" Dex said in the air, "Solomon?" I ported in with a bowl,
and said, "Sure is. Hi, I'm Solomon." He was very surprised to see me.
Then Pat said, "Hi, Sol. What's the bowl for?" I said, "In case his
eyes pop out. Keep them off the floor so they won't get stepped on." So
many shocks, made Conner unable to keep from laughing almost
hysterically. I handed the bowl to Pat, and hugged Conner with Ki
enhanced love, putting some restrictions on his motivations and
behaviors, mostly regarding his PK.
Then I hugged his foster mother and said, "You've done a great job
with him. Now it's our turn. May we?" She nodded with tears, and said,
"Yes, Solomon! I know he'll be loved and cared for by the best in the
world." I said, "For his safety and ours, you know this should be our
secret?" She said, "Absolutely!" I said, "His things, may I port them
to his new place?" She said, "Yes." I said, "I left a kind of present
for you at home. No, I'm not going to tell you what it is." Dex said,
"He wants to avoid embarrassment." I said to him, "You didn't have to
announce that." He said with a big grin, "I know." I growled. He
laughed. We hugged. Pat grinned and said to Conner, "We all love each
other. I know you can feel it." Conner nodded in awe. Pat said to him,
"Choice?" For a moment Conner was confused. Then he cried and said,
"Yes!"
The bowl I had brought with me was a gem encrusted gold and silver,
er, good looking thing. That's what I ported to the foster home with a
note explaining it. I said that to our group after porting all of us to
a meeting room in the house. Conner said, "That was very nice. I wasn't
a good person there sometimes." Dex said, "That's to be expected.
You've had some tough times. Acting out was the only thing you could do
to cause something, anything, to happen that showed you, you had some
control over what was happening to you." He looked at Dex and said,
"Wow, that's very smart of you! I understand now. Oh boy am I lucky to
have you as a father!" They cried in each other's arms." Pat and I left
them. I said to him, "Honeymoon time. Give it a week, and then some
testing with rebellion will happen. You know your job." He said, "I do.
Thanks. It's an honor to have such a responsibility so soon." I said in
our hug, "I know you can do it, and that you want to." We kissed.
Conner said from the doorway, "Are you two gay?" I said, "I'm not, and
Pat, just like you, doesn't know yet. Wait! Feelings don't lie. So it's
not a good idea to lie with words around here. We just don't. About the
kiss. We all do it, to everybody. Boy, girl, man, woman, gay or
straight, it doesn't matter. We all love each other. No, you don't have
to, but you might not like the feeling of hurt in those you reject.
Another thing. You can see through clothes. So can we. That means they
don't hide anything, so we don't bother to wear any at home. You don't
have to take your clothes off, but you have to accept that others will.
Understand?" He said, "I think so. It's really strange here!"
Dex laughed, and said, "Absolutely! It took me some time to get used
to this. Oh, right. You assumed. No, I'm not one of them. I don't have
any special abilities. A lot of the students here have regular
parents." Pat said, "But none of them have a parent actually living
with them here. You are SO lucky!" They hugged. Conner said, "I didn't
think of it that way. All this is so new!" I said, "The fun of good
discovery. The other kids here will love experiencing that with you."
They did. We all did. There were some problems sometimes, but we worked
through them. Love might not fix everything, but it sure helps!
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Grant
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