Desired Results - Ars Scientiaque Magicae - Book Six:

By Jonathan Edward Feinstein

In the exciting conclusion of Ars Scientiaque Magicae, Master Mages Island Twist, Spinnaker, the alien Pulac-pa and all their colleagues must stop the invading Tzali and then must deal with a far worse danger, The Sons and Daughters of Maiyim.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329272200

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Desired Results - Ars Scientiaque Magicae - Book Six:

Desired Results

Ars Scientiaque Magicae Book Six

by

Jonathan Edward Feinstein

Copyright © 2015 by Jonathan E. Feinstein

All Rights Reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Megafilk Press, Jonathan E. Feinstein, 923 Drift Road, Westport, MA 02790

Cover art:      This photograph, entitled Glacier with snow on the banks of the cold ocean, was taken by Gibson DD, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2014. This is a public domain image, not copyrighted and no rights reserved but can be found with many others at www.public-domain-image.com.

ISBN:  978-1-329-27220-0

Stories by Jonathan Edward Feinstein

Gaenor’s Quest

The Red Light of Dawn

The Black Clouds of Noon

The Rainbow of Dusk

The Cold Clear Skies of Midnight

The Maiyim Stories:

The Maiyim Tetralogy

World of Water

Men of the Earth

Island of Fire

Gods of the Air

Three Stories of Maiyim

A Deadly Union

An Interesting Title

A Shattered Family

Ars Nova Magica (and related side stories)

The Maiyim Bourne

The Staff of Aritos

A Promising Career

A Fine Adventure

The Tears of Methis

Freshman Orientation

The Book of Candle

Dry Dock

Ars Scientiaque Magicae

Unexpected Reactions

Hypothetical Notions

Theoretical Bases

   Lift Off!

Required Components

Experimental Proofs

Desired Results

The Terralano Venture

Agree to Disagree

By the Light of the Silvery Moons

There Goes the Neighborhood

Down Time, Ltd.

Down Time

Taking Time

Time Out

Show Time!

Double Time

A Plethora of Deities

Downhill All the Way

In the Sky with Diamonds

The Seed

The Tree

Tempting the Fates

Teasing the Furies

Inspiring the Muses

Dancing with the Sphinx :Waltz

Dancing with the Sphinx :Tango

Dancing with the Sphinx :Foxtrot

Chasing Rainbows (Forthcoming)

The Wayfarers

A Land without Borders

A World without a Name

A Nation without Maps

A Country without Unity

A Continent without Form

An Ocean without Charts

An Empire without Order (Forthcoming)

The Pirates of Pangaea

An Accidental Alliance

The Unscheduled Mission

A Planned Improvisation

The Forced Alternative

Other Stories

Elf Alert!

A Study in Ethnology

Off on a Tangent

Author’s Foreword

I suppose I could say, This is it! The story I’ve been waiting to write for a quarter of a century! I could say that, but it would not be entirely accurate. It has only been a little over twenty-four and a half years. More seriously, when I started the original Maiyim series, starring Silverwind, Oceanvine and their kid sidekick, Candle, I had no plans to write more than the first four books. Hah! Back then my plan was to sell the first book before writing the other three. Good plan, but it did not work out.

As I have explained elsewhere, I did not come up with the idea for a continuation of the first series until I had just finished it. I have to admit that while I did imagine both Ars Nova Magica and Ars Sceintiaque Magicae at the same time, I initially discarded the idea for this final series because the idea of an alien invasion of a futuristic Maiyim just sounded silly. Put that way, I think it still does… but I wrote it anyway and maybe I’m a little biased, but I think it turned out all right.

Somewhere along the way I started writing all the books of this series in the autumn. I am not sure exactly when I started that; probably by the third book Island of Fire. It is going to seem strange not to have another Maiyim novel to write this year, but I think I’ve brought this series to a conclusion.

It’s always a great feeling of accomplishment to finish a series and this even more so, since it has actually been three series with some interconnecting short stories and novels. Counting Lift Off which was really about the Tzali and never mentioned Maiyim, I have written sixteen novels and six novelettes and novellas in this triple series. Yeah. I think that’s enough.

So here, at last, the story that ties it all together. I hope you enjoy it.

Jonathan E. Feinstein

Westport, MA

June 4, 2015

Prologue: Asteroid 2572-XY37

Teri Baileach-Ferslakach whispered to her co-wife, How long has he been like that? She was a typical Tzali woman of the fleet; about five feet tall and with light brown hair covering her upper body. She was wearing what on the Homeworld would have been a man’s clothes; trousers of a sturdy dark green cloth and a gray shirt with four sleeves to accomodate her double-jointed arms and prehensile middle limbs. On Tzal, a proper woman would never have exposed her middle limbs, although men did as a matter of course. Back home, such behavior in a woman was unspeakably lewd, but here on the fleet, those middle limbs were frequently used for grasping and were essential for survival. Only a fool would trade survival for propriety. The shirt was never worn tucked-in, which allowed her long hairless tail freedom of motion in the back.

Since just after breakfast, Rini Ferslakach replied just as softly. She was dressed similarly, although her trousers were tan and she wore a red shirt. Their husband, Kenek Ferslakach, was standing by a wide viewport staring out into the space outside the Tzali asteroid base. His clothing was of a similar style, but looked as though he had been sleeping in them for a week. Ever since Maiyim came into view, she added.

He’s been doing that a lot lately, Teri observed. Others in the pack have noticed.

Does his single-mindedness and concentration on our objective worry them? Rini asked, trying to spin Kenek’s obsession with the world they were trying to conquer in a positive light.

It worries all of us, Alpha Prime, Teri replied formally.

You don’t often address me by that title, Rini noted.

We normally discuss matters as equal wives of Prime Kenek, Teri pointed out, but at this moment I am talking to my pack leader.

Kenek is your leader too, Rini pointed out.

But I am talking to you, Teri maintained. He is talking to the world of Maiyim, I think.

There was a long pause until Rini broke the silence. It worries me too. He is not in a trance. We could get his attention if we spoke louder, but unless otherwise occupied, he stares at that world whenever it is in view. It won’t be much longer, though.

True, Teri nodded. In another hour, the rotation of this base will cause it to set below our horizon.

That too, Rini nodded, but I meant that we are nearly ready for our final assault on Maiyim. The base on the south polar island is fully manned and armed.

Robander, Teri identified the island. Rather than renaming locations on Maiyim, the Tzali had chosen to use the same names the indigenous people did. It was convenient and less confusing when they managed to intercept and decrypt messages. But we lost our clawhold on the moon, Midbar.

You know we never meant to stay on Midbar as long as we did, Rini reminded her. That was just supposed to be a place from which to stage our raids on the planet, but the Maiyimites have proven more powerful than we might have expected for a people who have not yet developed interstellar travel.

They are capable of interplanetary voyages, however, Teri argued, "and before we arrived some of them were mining asteroids in the outer system. I believe we underestimated them out of snobbery. Having a drive that can move us from star to star does not increase the magnitude of our weapons. It certainly does not increase our strategic and tactical abilities. The people of Maiyim are as intelligent and clever as we are. Yes, we have a more advanced technology on our side and they still cling to the primitive superstition of magic, but there are more of them than there are of us.

Also, Teri continued, While we have the base on Robander, none of our attempts to establish a holding further north have been successful. We do not yet have sufficient strength on Maiyim to do so.

We could destroy the Maiyimites in a day with nuclear weapons, Rini pointed out.

That would also destroy us, Rini argued. We need the world in a liveable condition. We no longer have the resources to move on to another system. We must make Maiyim our home or die.

You are correct, Rini admitted, but our victory is not assured. The Maiyimites have nuclear power too, you know.

But they have not used it against us.

They no more want to foul their world than we do, Rini replied. These people are neither stupid nor foolish, although I imagine they have as many fools among them as we do. The Council of Alphas is pressing us to move ahead with the final assault.

I know, Teri nodded. I argued against it, you may recall. This base will not be in its optimal position for another year. The Council was split on the issue.

The Council met again this morning while you were on patrol, Rini informed her. Somehow a lot of alphas were unable to attend for one reason or another. The vote was in favor of attacking now.

You and Kenek are our Primes, Rini told her. You have the final say.

True, Rini nodded, but we have always led by consensus. We have allowed the Council to have a say in these matters and, while I do not like to admit it, there is a real possibility that by the time we can reach a parking orbit above Maiyim we will no longer have the force to conquer the world. That would mean death to Ferslakach. We must move up the assault. Even now, Wraen is making the preparations. Kenek and I are waiting for her report, so unless she advises to wait…

Since when has Wraen ever wanted us to wait before fighting? Teri asked a little too loudly.

Shh! Rini admonished her co-wife, glancing at Kenek. He did not seem to have heard them. Whispering again, Rini continued, "Wraen may be the most aggressive Tzal I ever met, but appointing her as our military commander was inspired. If she were a member of Ferslakach, she might decide to challenge for the position of Alpha Prime, but she is a zemazt, a loner so she has no desire to lead the pack. Strength without the usual liabilities."

"All of our zeslazti and zemazti are like that, Teri agreed. Loyal to the fleet, and some of our strongest, most respected members, but not in line to be a pack alpha. If only Pulac-pa had not… she stopped suddenly and apologized, I’m sorry."

Rini gave her a sad smile. No need. I was thinking the same thing. We lost so much when he disappeared. We should never have allowed him to go on patrol, like an ordinary scout pilot.

How could you have stopped him? Teri nearly laughed. "Pulac-pa, by his very name, is a zeslazt."

He was also one of our most trusted counsellors, Rini replied, and the commander of our scouts. She paused a moment and added, and our friend. Kenek still wants to mount a mission to capture him back. That botched abduction last year by the Maiyim Strike Force let us know where Pulac-pa is, but Wraen was correct and convinced us both that no one Tzal is indispensable. It would cost us too much to get him back that way, if we could and that is not certain by any means. That place, Olen, is reputed to be nearly as heavily defended as the capitals of Maiyim’s nations.

I don’t understand that, Teri admitted. According to our intelligence, he is living and working at a school. A school for magicians, if we can believe that.

I suspect our translations of the Maiyimite language are not perfect, Rini replied. What they call magic might be what we call science. Perhaps we are wrong to call it superstition and instead should think of it as philosophy. I do not know. Whatever the case, Olen is not a place we want to attack. The location has no military significance that we can detect. Perhaps it is just there to keep us from recapturing those who have surrendered.

That would be very clever of the Maiyimites, Teri admitted. So do you think it is a camp for prisoners of war?

I do not think so, Rini shook her head. While our intelligence indicates our people who have surrendered have all spent some time in Olen, most are now elsewhere, serving the nations of Maiyim in one capacity or another.

You cannot blame them for that, Teri pointed out. It is only natural for a captive Tzal to join the side of his or her captors.

But how do the Maiyimites know that? Rini demanded. Their own people, when captured, must be kept under guard lest they attempt to escape or, worse, return to fighting us. Yet they trust the Tzali who have joined them. It is most confusing. It is also why we must move ahead with our invasion plans now, before we lose too many more of us.

Just then, Wraen entered the room. The leaders of Ferlakach could wear what was essentially civilian clothing, but as a military leader, Wraen was always in uniform. The uniform of a Ferlakach warrior was a short, golden-brown tunic with black trim with one’s rank markings on the shoulders over navy-blue trousers. Rini noted that Wraen always looked taller than she really was, possibly because she moved with the fluid grace of a professional fighter or possibly, because it was impossible not to keep looking down at her polished silver gun belt from which she hung a laser and a more conventional slug-chucker. That belt was not part of the uniform, but no one had ever seen fit to correct Wraen on that. She also stood out in that she kept her hair as short as any man might. Even though Teri, too, was a fighter and kept her hair short for a woman, it was still a few inches long. The hair on Wraen’s head was no longer than two or three week’s growth.

Alpha Primes, she announced in a low, not quite growling voice, Everything is in place. By your command, we shall begin the final assault.

Wraen looked first at Rini, who, after a quick glance at Kenek, nodded her assent grimly. Kenek still did not respond and continued to look out the port at the blue-white disk that was now above them.

Wraen cleared her throat and asked, Prime Kenek?

Kenek turned to face his military commander. They were a study in contrasts. Wraen seemed all sharp in her freshly pressed uniform and her finely developed muscles, while Kenek’s loose clothing made him seem soft. The alpha prime did actually work out regularly and was as fit as any adult Tzal could be, but the clothing hid most of that and the way he held himself in his current mood disguised the rest. Wraen’s hair was short, while Kenek’s was at least an inch and a half longer. It was still a manly way of wearing one’s hair but more in keeping with his one-time occupation as a professor.

He met the silver-gray eyes of Wraen with his own golden ones and then instructed her, Go ahead.

Part 1 – Seastar

One

A young woman in her late teens sat serenely in a semi-lotus position while floating in the air about three feet above a pile of soft cushions. There was loud and frenetically syncopated music playing over the public address system. A gold coin, spinning rapidly while orbiting her head, the young woman sat inside a bubble of pale red energy and kept her straight black hair tied back in a long ponytail, proudly wearing the uniform of the Olen Institute for Advanced Magical Studies, commonly known as the Olen School. The school uniform, such as it was, consisted of a blouse printed in a garish Bellinen floral pattern over a cream-colored skirt. Originally, only the women wore that unofficial uniform, but over the centuries, the men who attended adapted it to shirt and slacks. For formal ceremonies, such as commencements, graduates of the Olen School wore academic robes printed in the same bright flower pattern.

Not bad, Apprentice! another woman commended her. She was wearing the same uniform but, unlike the floating apprentice, she was not human. Her short stature, broad musculature and chalk-white skin proclaimed her to be a Granom, one of two other closely related sapient species native to Maiyim.

Thank you, Slipstream, the floater replied. What should I try next?

Once around the campus to see if you can break my record, a man called out as he entered the small gymnasium.

Spin! his wife, Islandtwist, admonished him. You know Mom stopped the flying races outside the track area ever since you slammed into that old beech tree in Freddy’s arboretum.

I wasn’t hurt, Spinnaker protested.

No, but the tree was, Twist shot back. That poor thing was over one hundred years old and you broke nearly half its branches.

But at least I got my ward up in time, Spin shrugged.

When did you do that, Spin? the apprentice asked.

Never you mind, Marliese, Twist told her. You really aren’t up to true flying just yet and to tell the truth, most mages never do achieve that. Floating gently is usually enough for any of us. It really is too dangerous.

That depends, Marliese considered. If you float up high enough first… You know, to get above any possible obstacle, same as a plane does?

You had to put the thought in her head, didn’t you? Twist rounded on Spin. And what, young lady, would keep you from bumping into a plane or a bird for that matter. Planes have built in radar and flight controllers to keep them from running into other flying objects.

Or even tall buildings, Slipstream added. Besides, what if you lose concentration when you’re half a mile up?

I guess I’ll still have some time to catch myself, Marliese replied. Oh, don’t panic! I wasn’t going to actually try it. To tell the truth, I am surprised I’m still floating up here, but seriously, what should I try next? You all are supposed to be helping me get ready for finals, you know.

I wouldn’t worry about your labwork, dear, Twist told her. You may just be finishing your third year classes…

After only one year of study, Spin cut in. You did have a head start on your classmates.

I would rather I hadn’t, Marliese admitted. Being exposed to a Bond of Aritos is no way for anyone to begin training.

I cannot argue against that, dear, Twist agreed, but what I meant was you had quite of bit of private tutoring before Henowa Bai tried to get her claws into you.

Marliese’s face darkened for a moment as it often did when she remembered the private hell that woman had put her through. Then she forced a smile and merely said, Daddy always gave me the best.

Well, as I was saying, Twist told her, You have no worries about lab work. You may only be an apprentice, but you’re already outshining some of the journeymen you’re taking labs with.

So it’s my book learning I’m deficient on? Marliese asked.

Hardly, Twist laughed, although you do need to review in history and I noticed you only had a B grade in your chemistry midterm exam.

Chemistry is hard, Marliese admitted.

Next semester you have physics, Twist reminded her. Marliese groaned. Oh it’s not all that bad. You’ll love the labs. We do more than just calculate the vectors. We demonstrate them with magic.

That may be fun, Marliese nodded.

It will also help you fine tune your ability to use external power sources, Spin told her. You’re picking that up much better than I did, but you need a lot of practice with control.

That’s why apprentices are not allowed to do it without supervision, Marliese quoted something Twist had told her repeatedly.

There are more than a few journeymen who ought not to try it without supervision too, Twist added acidly. We’ll review both subjects later.

I always used to do well in history, Marliese remarked.

You learned it from a distinctly Ellistan point of view, dear, Twist told her. You learned more about the colonization of your island and subsequent treaties with Bellinen than anyone elsewhere would have thought relevant, but barely touched on the history of Emmine, Granom and the Isle of Fire and when you get right down to it, you only learned the good parts of Bellinen’s history.

I have to admit that it sometimes feels like everything I knew was wrong, Marliese admitted."

Not everything, Twist replied. What you learned was important to an Ellistan. You are a citizen of the world now and you need to understand that every nation teaches history differently. They used to say that the winners wrote history. That’s not entirely true, as Spin here has told me repeatedly. History is written by the survivors, which is not the same thing. Sure a victor will describe a war as he saw it, but wars rarely exterminate entire populations. A generation or two later someone from the other side is going to write about it from his or her point of view and suddenly we have an entirely new insight. Don’t worry, you’ll get it in time, I’m sure. You and I will go over that tonight, but for now why don’t you float back down here and I’ll show you some of the basics of amulet spells.

Am I ready for that? Marliese asked.

If I did not think so, I wouldn’t have offered, Twist replied, and speaking of ready, have you thought about what you might use as a mage name? It’s not too early to choose one, you know.

I still have a year or two until graduation, Marliese replied, and it’s not official until then, is it?

No, it isn’t, Twist agreed, but most apprentices have chosen theirs by now.

It took me a long time to come up with a name, Spin reminded her. Names are important, Marliese. There’s no need to rush into changing yours. Take your time and when you find the right one, you’ll know it.

Thanks, Spin, Marliese nodded and she settled herself back down into the cushions and turned her attention back to Twist. Amulets? We discussed those in class a few weeks ago. Isn’t that supposed to be very advanced magic?

Some think so, Islandtwist responded, but I think that is mostly because it was the basis of Oceanvine the Younger’s master’s thesis. Anyone with a journeyman’s degree is allowed to cast such a spell without supervision because it really is not all that complex or dangerous especially when compared to the truly advanced techniques such as translocation and creation.

Speaking of translocation, Marliese changed the subject, could we make this lesson on that instead?

Marliese, dear, you are a very talented young mage, Twist responded. She was trying to be gentle, but a hint of her mother’s steel and ice was in her voice, but you are in no way ready to try spells like that.

Oh, I didn’t mean I wanted to actually translocate something myself, Marliese denied, but Master Looking-glass was discussing it in theory class the other day and even demonstrated the spell by moving a block of wood back and forth across the lecture hall. I’ve been thinking about what I saw and I think there may be a way to block someone using such a spell.

That could have been very useful a few times, Spin pointed out.

Alright, Twist agreed, Why don’t we discuss it as we walk. Someone else has this gym booked for the next hour and I was planning to use one of the picnic tables out on the quad. Ready?

Absolutely! Marliese lifted herself lightly to her feet by telekinesis.

Wish I could join you, Slipstream told them, but I have an adult class of first-years to teach this period.

Why don’t you join us for dinner on the boat? Spin offered.

Love to, Slipstream smiled, Can I bring anything?

"On Maiyim Bourne? Spin laughed. You know she supplies everything we need."

Almost everything, Slipstream corrected him. I’ll bring some flowers, even if I have to steal some from the earl’s gardens.

Not sure his gardener would appreciate that, Twist warned her as they reached the door of the gym. True to her prediction there were four people waiting to use the facility. Judging by how they were dressed, Twist guess they were planning a game of no-hands-ball. The game was one popular among the mages of Olen and similar to the racquet sport, Squash, save that the ball was allowed to touch no object other than the walls of the court. Players had to hit it back and forth using only telekinesis.

Old Donald and I get along just fine, Slipstream replied. I introduced him to some plants from the Isle of Fire and we’ve been buddies ever since. If I request a bouquet the only hard part will be keeping it down to just a few flowers.

See you later, then, Twist told her. Now then, Marliese, what is this new insight you have?

It might not be new, Marliese insisted. It might not even work. Actually there are a number of ways translocation could be blocked, but most either require tech magic or some sort or the abilities of a master mage.

Go on, Twist prompted her.

Okay. Now you can obviously block the spell by placing whatever or whoever you wanted to protect inside a sufficiently powerful null-magic field, right?

The key words there, Spin replied,