The Impossible Future: Complete set Frank Kennedy (freenovel24 .TXT) 📖

me in that position again. And truth is, before long I will be better than them. That’s the whole damn point of me.”

Ignatius tapped a button on his chair’s armrest, and a giant flare blasted outward from the ship, descending toward Earth.

“Do you mean like that? Press a button, have command over the fate of millions? Even humanity itself? James, do not allow Perrone’s words to catalyze your ego. ‘Risen gods,’ he called you and your brother. What staggering arrogance. The words of a madman.”

James took offense. “A madman who will open every door I need. And as for Valentin, he’s something else entirely.”

“Such as?”

James didn’t want to focus on his brother. They parted before Valentin’s larynx healed, the admiral insisting Valentin rest until recovered. Hours later, the sting of Valentin’s return remained: The brutal way James killed his brother, stood over a bloody corpse, relished the sight, yet came to realize it was a mere test.

He knew Ignatius was right: Perrone orchestrated everything, dangled the threat of killing Michael, and planned to settle some unspoken score with the Bouchet brothers’ father, Emil. A madman, for sure. But so, so useful.

He blinked away from Ignatius and refocused on the training program. James’s duplicate took a broad stance, his legs angled apart, arms tucked to his sides. The lesson began.

“The way of a peacekeeper,” the trainer said, “is grounded in his ability to maintain harmonic control over every part of his body. Each bone or muscle, each heartbeat, even the pace of blood flow and perspiration, should be regulated toward the peacekeeper’s strategic goals. Such control begins with a disciplined mind capable of seeing each individual movement before it occurs. Using this mental capacity with mission-critical orders enables the peacekeeper to achieve maximum efficiency in combat, rendering the soldier unstoppable.”

Although the teacher was James’s physical doppelganger, his voice was not. It sounded closer to his old Earth’s voice-activated assistants with names such as Siri or Alexa.

“Question,” he interrupted the teacher. “How long does this training require?”

“They designed this primary program for Tier 2 initiates. The typical initiate would be eight years old. Your body, however, is far more advanced. Its current composition and your life experience might conflict with normal protocols.”

“Which means what?”

“Given a consistent regimen of two hours per day, you should advance to the next tier in four months.”

James snickered. He thought of the Jewel, his ace in the hole during his duel with Valentin.

“Not likely,” he said. “And I don’t have that kind of time anyway. What happens after the training?”

“Typically, you will advance to Tier 3, where you will learn kwin-sho. The art of reconfiguring your body to achieve superior effectiveness is the final prerequisite for placement in the Unification Guard. Is that not your ultimate goal?”

“No.” He thought about his actions since crossing the fold. “But I need discipline. So, what do you say we get the ball rolling? Show me what you got.”

The doppelganger offered a side nod.

“Begin by duplicating my stance.”

Simple enough, James thought. He studied his teacher’s frame, the angles, and firmed himself into a similar position.

“Incorrect,” the teacher said. “Your legs are positioned inconsistently. Extend both to 30 degrees. At present, your left is 28 degrees, the right is 27.”

James tried again and received another rebuff.

“You have overextended to 33 and 31 degrees, respectively. Compensate, James.”

The teacher did not like his third attempt either. “You are neither listening to your body nor following my lead. You now hold at 28 and 31. All elements of your stance must find harmony. Reposition your shoulders, pull back your torso three degrees.”

“Look, I’m trying, but it ain’t like I got a measuring tape on me.”

“The mind can control measurements. Reposition now.”

James detected impatience. “OK. Sorry. Here we go again.”

He held the new stance for several seconds as the trainer eyed him in silence. The program glitched for a split second.

“You are still unaligned, but I detect an unexpected anomaly. Your musculature is changing at a steady pace. You have evolved by 9.8 ounces in the past two minutes. This rate is unnatural and will require constant recalibration to the program.”

James smiled, proud of himself. “Didn’t they tell you? I’m going through a growth spurt.”

“Then I will modify the requirements for your initiation. Reposition to this stance to the best of your ability, James.” It waited for him to do so. “Acceptable. Now, hold this position for ten minutes. Regulate your breathing to a minimal flow with your lips closed. Most important, do not blink. Not even once.”

The instructions seemed doable except for the last one. He’d fail, but that was the point. He thought about giving in, allowing the Jewel to help him, but James knew better. He blinked.

“As long as you’re with me,” he told Ignatius, “I’m not complete.”

“About time you figured that out,” Ignatius replied from his command chair. A brilliant gold mushroom formed on the Earth’s surface, spreading across southern Asia. “Do you see, James? That is what happens when you lack discipline and humility.”

James remembered the horrifying scene of desolation that stretched for miles across Alabama the first time he unleashed the Jewel’s explosive potential. Ignatius continued.

“Discipline can be taught with ease, but the exercise of it by the learner is a far more complicated matter. This Chancellor program may offer some superficial benefits, but you are not destined to wear a uniform or be controlled by a chain of command. When the great moments of decision come, you will be tempted to throw such principles aside. No, James, you are far from complete, and I am going nowhere soon.”

  The interchange with Ignatius did not distract James. He followed the teacher’s orders. Much to his surprise, five minutes passed without one blink. Pressure formed, the temptation grew, but he resisted. Then, as the