Chapter 10: Candidates
Over the next ten hours they whittled down the list of candidates with speed and efficiency. Wicus frowning in concentration more than once. He, Aaron and Al were acutely aware of the burdensome task, slogging through all the profiles blinking on the panel.
They accomplished it by checking soul markers, comparing programming hallmarks and by discussing the pros and cons of the best contenders.
In the end there were two names and photos left on the display: Josh Taylor and Charlie Anderson. The best choices for primary and secondary soul mates for Emily Wren.
Profiles of both were prominently displayed under each name on the E-N-D which had shrunk until it was about the size of a large flat TV. Wicus could reach inside the display and turn the image around to see it from another angle or rewind any attached live video feed with a flick of his wrist.
Josh Taylor had lost his wife, Julia, to breast cancer. He had medium brown hair and quick brown eyes that took in everything. His 5-foot-10-inch frame was slim and muscular, he was a natural born leader and athlete.
Charlie Anderson was only an inch taller, a good bit leaner and blond with hazel eyes. He had been dating his soul mate for only a few weeks when she was killed in a car accident. Since then the 26-year-old had had three barren romances. None had lasted for very long.
Oddly enough there was no sense of relief when the selection process was complete. No cheering or hoopla. No self-congratulatory pats on the back. The three kept it to themselves for a bit. Perhaps out of respect for what would transpire in the coming months for each man.
Much harder work lay ahead, Wicus mused. His expression grim as hell, not relishing the torment that he’d have to put each through. He wasn’t cruel, hurting a person in any manner was abhorrent to his nature. Yet he understood the rigors of soul transformation were needed if either man was to become Emily’s soul mate. Not to mention the toll it would take on himself being the instrument of such brutish distress, he resigned himself to the task. Once complete, order and routine would be restored to his own life.
"Josh will need to have two of his markers remastered and at least four of his hallmarks reprogrammed," observed Aaron, "but that's far less than any of the others."
"Far less, yes far less indeed," agreed Al, "Although I think Charlie only needs two of his hallmarks done."
"But he needs four of his markers remastered," reminded Wicus.
"Yes, Yes... You are right about that, four markers remastered," confirmed Al, "...markers are tougher to retrofit than hallmarks."
"I'll have to do it when they're asleep," Wicus theorized, speaking more to himself than the others. Unafraid of hard work and a plodder by nature, a plan was already forming in his head.
"That's best.... It’s gonna make for some horrible nightmares... months and months of nightmares...but that's the best time to reach them," advised Aaron.
"Months and months...they'll be waking up shrieking... I hate the shrieking," confessed Al, "Sometimes they look like zombies... It’s awful."
"Wait, am I understanding you right...there's been a large scale retrofitting that you've had to do before... primaries and secondaries were lost?" During his time in this realm, Wicus had never heard of such a calamity.
Two versions of the same face nodded grimly at Wicus.
"It was thousands of years ago...there was a great flood..." started Aaron.
"It was a great flood..." echoed Al, "but secondaries weren't part of the equation back then... We handled primaries."
"You don't mean... I mean are you saying the flood that covered the earth... Noah's ark...the animals two by two...the whole...?" Wicus stammered and stopped speaking abruptly. The warmth in his face had been rising with his level of excitement. Now his skin felt flushed for a different reason.
Aaron’s lips were twitching, the Paragon doing his best to contain a smile, unsuccessfully.
"Good grief," chuckled Aaron, "No, not THAT FLOOD!
"Not that flood. This one killed several dozen unmated souls and hundreds of mated ones in Antarctica.... It was the first time I met Aaron.... Imagine the shock on my face when I saw his....or rather, saw that he had MY face," chuckled Al.
"I'd never retrofitted anyone, didn't even know what to do...until Al showed me," confessed Aaron more solemnly. His gaze turned inward for a moment as if viewing the past.
"I showed him...yes, I did. But it's a nasty business... Nasty indeed....it causes people to have such horrible nightmares. Some reliving the worst moments in their lives-- on a loop. Their own personal hell. They wake up screaming... always those pitiful high pitched screams."
Wicus felt foolish in front of the senior soul minders, mentally chiding himself for being impatient and showing such poor judgment. The flush on his cheeks felt like it deepened. He always tried to do the right thing by others no matter the cost to him or his pride. "I’m sorry for jumping to such conclusions."
His guests were not offended in the least.
Aaron nudged his long-time buddy in the arm and grinned, "He thinks we were retrofitting Noah's crowd."
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha!" crowed Al, "Noah's crowd... Like there were enough souls left to retrofit anyone back then."
Wicus was saved from further embarrassment by the arrival of Waxine.
She floated into the room with Plug directing a cart heaping with succulent and savory dishes. The candelabra was heartily welcomed by the soul minders.
"Perfect timing my dear, we're famished," conceded Aaron.
"What a wonderful sight," gushed Al, his attention temporarily distracted by the food.
"Waxine takes good care of me," Wicus said winking at his companion. He loved a good meal and Waxine had a way of coming up with inventive, yet delectable dishes. She could combine different, even conflicting flavors of meats, grains and vegetables into such delicious menus. Good food was one thing that always made Wicus weak in the knees.
Al beamed at the Luminary. "Thank you for being so considerate," he said, piling food on his plate.
While the three ate, Waxine moved over to the panel and examined the display. "These men are to replace Emily's soul mate?" she observed.
"One of them will," replied Aaron before taking another bite.
"One's a primary, the other's a secondary," added Al helpfully, as he spooned in another mouthful. A content look in his eyes as he chewed.
"Which is which?"
"That all depends on how they handle the retrofitting..."
Plug turned its prongs toward Waxine and bobbed until getting her attention. "Wow, this is a busy day... we have another visitor... I'll be right back..." she said exiting the room.
Wicus barely had time to finish chewing a mouthful of food before she returned. When he saw who followed her into the office, he quickly swallowed. It was Karl, Ozel's assistant. They’d met at the Great Hall.
The young acolyte greeted all three Paragons graciously.
"Good evening soul minders. I've come with important news from the council."
Wicus wiped off his face and mouth with a napkin, his mind was all on business. “They've reached a decision then?"
"Yes, of course...as soon as the nine were all together. They know the seriousness of the situation...They wanted to allow everyone as much time as possible to retrofit the candidates."
Wicus rose from his seat, dropping the napkin by his chair and walked over to where Karl stood. Aaron followed and took a place next to him.
"So retrofitting is approved for all selected candidates?" Aaron asked.
"I think that there was never any question that it wouldn't be. The council wanted to establish some guidelines to make sure that only the best candidates were selected," Karl replied, as he glanced at the two profiles on the large screen.
Now that it was official, Wicus felt a sense of relief. Glancing at Waxine, the two exchanged a look. No need to go rogue, her expression seemed to say.
He curled the corner of
his mouth. Now more confident that things were going to work out.
"Those yours?" Karl asked.
Wicus’ eyes flickered back to the acolyte,"Yes."
"Only two?"
"That's all I need."
"Excellent. Ozel said you’d be organized and efficient...and probably have a list compiled. He said you'd be protective of your souls...not want to inflict more harm than necessary."
"What I am about to do will be painful enough, I've selected the minimum that I need...no more." Wicus scowled briefly at his visitor, bristling over the implied suggestion that anyone would select more candidates than necessary. “Hmmph,” he scoffed before making his expression bland. His old boss was a jackass, he thought sarcastically.
A metallic brow rose over Waxine’s burnished eyes, a knowing expression lit her face as she caught his. Pursing her lips together, she gave him a small smile obviously realizing that he was perturbed.
"You're very judicious in your selection... I'm afraid that others have been less so," Karl replied.
"What are you talking about?" asked Aaron.
"As you all know... retrofitting works better on some candidates than others...a few soul minders... very few... have chosen to uh.. ahem... adjust more than might be needed," Karl said, looking uncomfortable.
"More than needed, indeed? That's barbaric," uttered Al as he rose from his seat. Rather than join them, he turned his attention to Waxine. "My dear, a word please?" he requested in a soft voice.
The enchanted candelabra put on her best smile and floated over to him. Al walked a few feet away from where the others stood as she glided along by his shoulder.
Wicus wondered what was up? Had he been correct in his earlier assumption that the twins’ visit was due to the Luminary and not the candidates? There was no time right now to pursue the notion, he thought. Duty came first.
He returned his complete attention back to Karl. "Rest assured…I have no plans to retrofit more souls than I need. What has the council decided then?"
"Yes, the guidelines...er,” the acolyte said. His face grew rosy, apparently flustered at not getting to that sooner. “The council has issued limits on which souls can be considered viable candidates... since these are in humans and not pure souls that you're dealing with."
"Okay, let’s have it."
"No more than six soul markers or ten hallmarks can be adjusted in any single soul to make him or her a candidate to replace those that were lost," replied Karl, quoting the council's edict, sounding very much like Ozel.
Wicus’ lip quirked. This one’s really an eager beaver, he thought sarcastically. Momentarily recalling his own time as an acolyte and being less fanatical.
"Wow, that many?"
Wicus turned to Aaron, "I think I’m extremely fortunate with my guys..." Then turned back to Karl, "Rest assured, my candidates are well within those parameters. Tell the council there's only six markers and six hallmarks in total that need to be altered in the two of them put together."
"Ah, that is great news. I will inform the council at once. Since you’re within the permissible guidelines... consider yourself officially authorized to proceed," finished Karl formally.
"Thank you very much."
"I'm sorry to have interrupted your meal," Karl’s blue flamed eyes darted over to the impromptu dinning set-up.
Wicus watched him. Was that envy or hunger in the younger Paragon’s eyes? It occurred to him that Karl and other acolytes had probably been delivering the same news for quite a while.
Council announcements were usually delivered by messenger rather than magical means. The reason was twofold. First, the council would be assured that everyone who needed to hear it, did. And second, could get instant feedback. Both verbal and nonverbal.
He was about to offer Karl a plate when the young Paragon said, “I really have to push on now.”
"No worries."
Wicus glanced over to see that Waxine and Al were still deep in conversation or rather that Al was doing all the talking while she listened. He couldn't tell what they were discussing. Waxine's flames were about two inches higher than normal. Was she surprised or angry? he wondered.
"I'll show you out."
Wicus led Karl out of his office, through the chambers where he resided and back to the entrance of the collapsible hallway between reality and the tangible that would lead the acolyte to the Great Hall.
"You have sufficient training to direct your path?"
“Yes, sir... I’m prepared,” responded Karl, “I have an errand to handle along the way.”
Wicus bid the messenger farewell and watched as the acolyte accessed the corridor. He waited until reasonably certain that the youngster could negotiate the magical walkway then returned to his office to discover that Waxine was alone.
Her burnished gaze was examining the screen.
“Where are Aaron and Al?"
"They left... They asked me to tell you goodbye... They apparently have a few more stops after this one," she grinned.
"More stops?"
"Since they didn't lose anyone... the council has put them to work checking in on all of the soul minders, evaluating their progress...pitching in where they can."
So the visit was about assessing his skills, Wicus thought, earlier doubts returning.
"Is that what Al was talking to you about?"
"Oh that..." she hedged and replied airily, "You don't need to know all of my secrets... I gotta keep some mystery."
Wicus was stunned, "Waxine! Everything about you is a mystery."
He thought, not for the first time, it’s a pity that Luminaries don’t sleep. If she did, perhaps he could see into her dreams like he did mated souls. It was one of his gifts.
As things stood now, Waxine’s thoughts were shielded from his abilities. At least he could evaluate those of the candidates, he mused, eager to get to work.