*****
The morning was barely discernible through thick cloud layers shoved south by the still howling wind. Rain flew horizontally in fits. School was by remote, and Keelic spent most of the day in front of the big screen in the central gathering hall linked to his instructors in their homes. The alien sat in the window and watched the instructors with mild interest or stared out the two-story windows at the weather.
After classes they went up to his room. They sat on the bed together, and Keelic closed his eyes. He knew whose thoughts were whose, though he didn’t know how he knew. There was also an area where their thoughts merged and flowed together.
After exploring each other’s memories, Keelic realized that his friend’s memories started when the Alliance ship found him.
"Where are you from?"
The eyestalks waved and Keelic felt emptiness and vague colors. Something in the emptiness wasn’t right. A wisp of emotion, hard edged, snapped out of the void. Keelic jerked away feeling as though he’d been kicked in the chest. Concerned, the alien rose up from where he lay, and looked at Keelic in a yellowy way, wondering what was wrong. Keelic realized that his friend had no idea what had just happened.
"Never mind," said Keelic.
They spent time going over Keelic’s memories, and he found that through the alien he could see his own memories in crisp colorful detail. He imagined changes to see what happened. His thoughts became bright clear images and it gave him an idea.
"Let’s make spaceships and then fight them."
Anny said, "Your father just asked if you are doing your homework or studying for your midterm tests."
"What’d you tell him?"
"The truth."
"Is he coming?"
"Yes."
Keelic scrambled for his console, but his father walked in before he could load his homework.
"I want you to study in the gathering hall. Don’t complain. I will help you if you need it. I’ll be with Sarah in the evening room."
Keelic followed his father down the stairs, the alien walking on the walls for fun.
Feeling bullied, Keelic resolved not to study, and instead played with the alien as he looked at the screen before him, seeing only the visions they both controlled.
Father came to check on Keelic, and paused at the door to the big room. Keelic’s look of concentration was intense as he stared at the screen, but the image was the same one that had been there two hours earlier. The alien’s eyes were retracted and he seemed dormant until Keelic burst out laughing. The being’s breathing fur rippled and Keelic’s eyes went big, starting at something only he could see.
"Dreep! Where’d you get reserves?"
Keelic flopped back on the couch with a frustrated sigh, then playfully pushed the alien off his perch on the cushion. He slid off, then leapt, landing on Keelic, but Keelic was immobile, staring at his father, but Father didn’t seem angry. He walked up to them.
"What were you doing?"
Keelic sat up, realizing that the screen was the same as hours before. He’d have to remember to fix that in the future.
"Keelic?" prompted Father.
"Playing."
"I see that, but how?"
Sensing his father’s curiosity, Keelic said, "We can see the same things. Like a vid, but together."
"Remarkable," said Father. "But you have homework to do."
He turned to the alien, but seemed unsure what to say. Keelic grinned. His friend didn’t have homework.