Tomorrow's Yet to Come

Chapter Twenty – Seven When Science and Nature Meet

"Good Morning," said Plash Nevenia, the instructor. "Today, we are going to be working with a group of students from the medical program. "These students are part of a new branch of our medical program. They are studying some of the old ways of healing. To often, we rely on the healers to cure things that can be healed in other ways. There are fewer and fewer healers being born every year, so we must find other ways to care for the ill."

Liz sat up, excitedly, hoping that this would provide her with an opportunity to work with either Ava or Maria, or both.

"When the students join us, you will take a few minutes to get to know each other and then we will form groups and begin to work," explained the instructor. "They will be providing you with some of the plant life, and explaining the medicinal uses for these plants. Your job will be to examine the substances, and try and isolate the specific chemicals in the plants to see if they can be synthesized in the lab."

There was a knock at the door, and a group of students filed in, along with another instructor. "Good morning," said the instructor. "This is Jara Kobodi, the natural healing instructor, and wife of the eminent General Kobodi.

"Greetings," said Jara Kobodi. "My students are thrilled to be working on this project," she said. "This is Grenla. She is the best student I have," said Jara Kobodi, pulling a girl to the front of the room. She had short greasy black hair, and protruding eyes. " With whom shall she be working?"

"I thought it best if the students met one another first, and formed groups on their own," said Plash Nevenia.

"Foolishness," said Jara Kobodi, imperiously. "I demand that Grenla be pair up with your best student."

"Very well," said Plash Nevenia, with a sigh. She disliked the autocratic head of the healers. She was rude and arrogant and had very few healing skills of her own. She had secured her position solely because her husband headed the Aberjani. "Let me see," Plash Nevenia looked at Liz. Liz looked at her with pleading eyes, and Plash nodded slightly. "Yes, I think Vorro would be an excellent match for your Grenla.

Jara Kobodi pulled two girls out of the cluster of students and dragged them to the front of the group. "And here we have two of my worst students," she complained. "It disturbs me that they were even admitted to my program. With whom shall they work?"

Without hesitation, Plash Nevenia said, "Lan – Elandria. Step to the front and take these two girls back with you. You shall work together."

Liz bowed her head, and walked to the front of the room to meet her new partners. "I am Elandria," she said. "But you may call me Lan."

"I am Mira, and this is Atara," said Maria. "Please show us where we shall work."

Liz brought her two friends back to her workstation, as she passed Plash Nevenia, she looked up, and the instructor winked at her. When the three girls were seated, Liz began to set up the equipment that she needed.

"So, you two are the worst students?" she whispered. "Maria, I thought you were going to apply yourself this time," she continued with a laugh.

"Shut up," snapped Maria. "That woman is vile. She is absolutely evil, she hates us, and has from day one."

"It's true," said Ava. "And that troll she calls her best student is dumber than Pam Troy, but her father is some sort of big wig, so she kowtows to her constantly. But I though you were working on that special Aberjani project thing?"

"In the afternoons, three days a week, and in the mornings two days a week, so that we can attend our regular classes as well," explained Liz. "But we received notification today that we will also be working with the natural healers, and here we are."

"Any idea of why we're all working together?" asked Ava under her breath.

"According to Plash Nevenia, it's because of the lack of healers being born. They want to stop relying strictly on the healers, and find other ways to cure illnesses. You guys are supposed to provide me with natural substances, and I'm supposed to analyze them and figure out what makes them do what they do, and see if we can develop a man made version."

"I wonder if hey have penicillin here?" mused Maria. "How cool would we be if we discovered that?"

"Maria, there is no way we can discover penicillin," laughed Liz.

"How about if we had some. Could you figure out what it's made from, and duplicate it with crap from around here?" Maria asked.

"Probably, but since we don't have any, I can't do it," said Liz.

Maria reached into the small pouch she carried and pulled out a small bottle, and passed it to Liz.

"Where did you get this," Liz hissed at her.

"Gold's Pharmacy, New York City," said Maria. "I had a small ear infection just before we left, and the doctor put me on penicillin. I packed it when we ran, and it was in the bag I had when we ended up here."

"Cool, let's see," said Liz. "We'll have to analyze it, and then, find comparable ingredients that are indigenous to Antar, and then see if we can duplicate it. This is going to be fun!"

"As members of the Aberjani training squad, you will, of course, swear a loyalty oath to Lord Kivar. Everything you do, from now, until you the day you die will be in the name of Lord Kivar. Do you understand?"

"Yes answered the voices in the room. Michael looked around the dimly lit classroom. There were about twenty Aberjani trainees. The rest of the room was ringed but full fledged Aberjani. At the front of the room, stood General Kobodi, and behind him was a giant picture of Kivar. It was all Michael could do to keep himself from walking up to the front of the room, and tearing it down. He listened with half an ear as Kobodi droned on and on about their loyalty to Kivar, when he felt something pushing at his mind. He hadn't felt anything like it since Tess had died. She had tried mind-warping all of them, but thanks to the destiny book, they knew that platinum would break through the power of the mind warp.

Michael glanced out of the corner of his eye to Max, and saw that he too, was aware of the mind warp. It had to be Kobodi. Whoever was doing the mind warping was extolling the virtues of Kivar. He looked past Max to Kyle who gave him a quick wink, assuring him that everything was okay.

Michael looked to his right and saw that Zan was not looking good. His eyes were blank, and he was chanting Kivar's name, along with the other Aberjani. Michael surreptitiously removed the platinum band that he habitually wore, and reached over and shoved it into Zan's hand. He knew it was a risk, but he also knew that he had more practice than either Max or Kyle at throwing off a mind warp without the aid of platinum.

"Damn it," he whispered to Zan. "Put it on." He elbowed Zan, but he continued to ignore Michael, and focus entirely on Kobodi. Michael reached over and grabbed the ring back from Zan, then shoved it on his hand. He watched as the focus slowly came back into Zan's eyes.

"What the hell was that?" he whispered to Michael.

"I'll explain later," Michael whispered back. "Just keep the ring on, and act like everybody else.

"Ring?" asked Zan. He looked down at his hand, and saw Michael's wedding band on his finger. "Does Maria know about this?" he whispered. Michael just glared at him

"Our lives are nothing without Kivar," said Kobodi. "Lord Kivar fought to free us from the tyranny of the royal family." Pictures of Zan, Ava, Vilondra and Rath filled the room. "They royal family was a blight upon our society. They lived only to suppress our freedom. Only now, thanks to Lord Kivar are we free."

"Long live Lord Kivar," shouted one of the Aberjani that ringed the room.

"Long live Lord Kivar," echoed the trainees.

"Unfortunately, there are still factions on Antar that remain loyal to the tyrannical royal family. We must fight to rid our word of these enemies, lest they insinuate themselves, like a disease, spreading and causing discontent," screamed Kobodi. "You must have constant vigilance. Always be on alert. You never know who may betray you. Your own neighbor may be your worst enemy. As Aberjani, you live only to eradicate this blight upon our society. Long live Lord Kivar!"

"Long live Lord Kivar. Long live Lord Kivar!" echoed across the training room. Suddenly the lights came on in a blinding flash and began to strobe. A loud high-pitched whistle filled the air, drowning out the chants from the Aberjani. As quickly as it began, it ended, and the room was filled with silence. Michael looked around and saw that approximately half of the trainees were collapsed on the floor clutching their ears.

"Remove the failures," said Kobodi imperiously. The Aberjani moved in and began to drag the prone bodies out of the room. "Congratulations," he said. "You have passed the first test, and are on your way to becoming members of the Aberjani. They," he spat contemptuously at one of the trainees still on the floor, "Are worthless. They are weak. As Aberjani, you may have to endure unspeakable torture. You must have the strength and mental fortitude to overcome any and all physical torture. That will be all for today, you are dismissed."

Kobodi strode from the room, followed by the Aberjani. Silence filled the room for several minutes. Slowly, one by one, the remaining trainees left, until only Max, Zan, Michael and Kyle remained.

"Not here," said Michael, when Zan opened his mouth to speak. "Later, in the marketplace." Zan nodded, and the four of them left the room, ignoring the pictures of the royal family that were still displayed on the walls.