Cindy Psi: Spy In Training
Chapter 8: Let's Have A PEEP

The next day was, much to Cindy’s relief, a relatively normal day. Mr Parker said Cindy looked a bit tired over breakfast and asked if she’d slept well. She had given a suitably non-committal reply about tossing and turning and thinking over the test results. The rain had stopped, and Jacinta was still very much in gloat mode on the monobus with her desired friends in the top group and so left Cindy alone. Tess was, well, Tess in the morning before class. She was still very keyed up about her sports science workstream, and her obvious excitement had a pleasant diversionary effect on Cindy.

The morning was mainly about administration. Ms Primp spent some time going through what the results would mean, how the children’s workstreams would be implemented and structured, and when people would start moving into new dedicated classes. Some of the classes were general, and Cindy was pleased to note she was with Tess in three of those – Language, Maths and Fundamental Technology. Some of the subjects were specialised, and, sadly, given they were both in humanities-type workstreams, Cindy was in six subjects with Jacinta. Oh well, she thought, she’d just have to do her best to avoid her.

It was at this point that Cindy remembered that she apparently had psychic powers. Maybe she could use this fact to minimise the Jacinta-based torment? It hadn’t worked with her dad, but hey, if this thing was something you got trained in then it would respond to practice, right?

She cleared her mind, and considered the other girls in the class around her …

… It felt like a thin, gauzy veil dropped over the class. Ms Primp’s voice took on a muffled quality and faded into the background. Everything felt a little bit distorted somehow, as if it had an added level of depth. She found if she focused on, for example, Sarah Coburn two seats across she could see a version of her that felt sharper, cleaner – as if she was in higher definition than real life normally allowed. Cindy let her mind surround Sarah and choose where it wanted to go – and all of a sudden she started feeling a kind of slideshow of impressions; Sarah trying to concentrate on Ms Primp, then zoning out and thinking about last night’s Oliver County’s Got Talent stream, then about one particular boy singer who was particularly charismatic …

Cindy felt a flush of warmth at the last thought and it made her feel like an intruder; like she was somehow spying on someone, or reading their diary without permission. She backed off.

But she kept the veil down, and ‘looked’ at the rest of the class. Oh. Jacinta. Did she dare?

What was the worst that could happen? She went in.

It felt like she was getting churned in fast-moving machinery. Jacinta was listening to Ms Primp but at the same time trying to extrapolate from what she was saying ways to gain advantage. Manipulative ways. She was also glancing periodically around the room and taking in what all the other girls were wearing, filing the pros and cons in her ordered mind for use later. She looked Cindy’s way …

There it was again. A fierce dislike. Where did this come from? Cindy didn’t understand it. She tried to focus into the thoughts to get a reason behind them. She wasn’t physically looking at Jacinta, but this didn’t seem to stop her being able to ‘look’ at her thoughts in this way. Again a series of images, although these ones tighter, more sharp, more clinical than Sarah’s. She got an image of Tess in Jacinta’s mind. Was she jealous of their friendship? Was that it? No, that didn’t feel right. Then there was a woman – a very professional, smart-looking woman. That must be her mother.

Then something changed. As Jacinta began thinking about her mother, she looked more pointedly at Cindy, and the strong feeling of dislike became even stronger. What was this about? Cindy tried to focus in even closer.

Don’t do that Cindy.

Cindy only just stopped herself crying out. The thought came into her mind clear as a bell.

Dave?

Yes, it’s me, came the reply. You must stop what you are doing. You are shining like a beacon. You need to be trained.

What do you mean? How am I shining like a beacon? To who?

To anyone with the skill. All will be explained on the training, but for now you need to know that psychic abilities can be sensed by people – and others – who share those abilities. What you are doing in your class can be sensed.

Oh no! Is that how you knew to contact me about it? Cindy was getting scared all over again like last night.

Yes, but don’t get too concerned. I knew because I have been keeping an eye on you. It’s pretty standard when people first learn they have a power for them to flex their psychic muscles a bit, if you like.

So why didn’t you tell me not to when we were speaking in the room?

Because normally it’s not a problem. Came the reply. Normally it’s quite a good thing. But you seem to be producing quite a lot of psionic force for someone who is untrained. And that can be more of a concern.

Would our exchange yesterday have been …

“Cindy?” It was Ms Primp. Cindy gathered her wits as quickly as she could.

“Yes Ms Primp?”

“Perhaps you would give us your view.”

Cindy considered her options quickly. No, nothing on the bigscreen to give a clue. What did she recall from what Ms Primp was saying before she drifted off? Just going through the class lists; Cindy was going to have to come clean.

“I’m sorry Ms Primp, I wasn’t listening for a moment,” Cindy confessed.

“Yes, I had noticed.” Cindy thought for a moment that she was sensing the mild annoyance radiating from Ms Primp before she realised no, there was nothing psychic about that – if Ms Primp was annoyed with you, you knew it. “You were staring into space so intently I wondered if you could see something there the rest of us couldn’t.” There was a mild chuckle from the other students. “Kindly pay attention.

“So, girls, as I was saying the Planetary Educational Exchange Program could be a great opportunity for you. There are planets and regions known for their specialisation in the galaxy and so a placement on, say, Kerridge might be useful for those students going into engineering-based disciplines with their fine reputation for fostering that kind of scientific creativity. Similarly, Torrode could be a good option for students pursuing Fine Art. Of course, the program relies on someone from the planet you wish to visit wishing to come to Oliver County, but experience has shown that we do get a reasonable amount of interest from inner-galaxy students whose parents would like their children to experience a more rural lifestyle.

“In any case, I won’t endeavour to influence you either way, but many find the PEEP to be a useful head start for their chosen career. By show of hands, let me see how many of you would be interested this year.”

Cindy took her cue and raised her hand. She was one of six in the class. She didn’t fail to notice the reactions of both Jacinta and Tess when she did so.

“Thank you girls,” Ms Primp continued. “We can discuss this further with your parents tomorrow night when they come in for your reviews. Now, let’s talk some more about the disciplines in turn. A Fine Art career path can be one of the most challenging but most fulfilling of them all …”

Later, at recess, Tess came straight up to Cindy. She looked annoyed. “What’s the big idea, putting your hand up for a PEEP?” she asked accusingly.

“Well, you know, it just seemed like something to help get me into a decent specialisation within JA. You’re OK, Sports Science is sought after enough that you can study anywhere and get a good job. JA is so broad I need to be a bit more proactive that’s all.”

“Oh yeah? Ok, so what planet are you going for then?”

“Um, well I hadn’t thought that far ahead.” Well, that was true. Cindy was thinking on her feet even now just to explain why she had volunteered to be away for six months without talking to her best friend about it first.

“Exactly. I don’t buy it. You don’t opt for something like this for a reason like that without thinking through every angle. I know why you’re doing it, and I’ll bet it’s what you were thinking about in class when Ms Primp ticked you off.”

“What’s that then?”

“You’re running away,” Tess asserted, “You’re trying to get away from Jacinta. Well I can tell you, wherever you go, there’s always going to be Jacintas. You’re lucky there’s only one of them here really. You have to face them.”

“No, no, that’s not it, honestly,” Cindy pleaded.

“Yes it is. And I could even understand it, although I think it’s a bit weak and I’m a bit disappointed, but what’s really ticked me off is that you haven’t spoken to me about it.”

Cindy was getting upset by how upset Tess was. “But I only just thought of it!”

“Oh come on, Cindy, you expect me to believe that you just spontaneously decided to leave for six months? Well, do you?”

It was one lie too far. “No,” Cindy admitted. “But I did only think of it yesterday.” That was true at least. After a fashion.

“Ah huh. Well, have fun Cindy. If you get a placement that is. Maybe you’ll make a friend on the planet you eventually decide to go to that you trust enough to share things with.” And with that she stormed off. Cindy watched her go, dismayed.

Darn it! How had all this happened? And so quickly? She’d been having a normal life, with normal challenges, until just 24 short hours ago. And now here she was reading minds, deceiving her father and her best friend, and planning to take off for six months from everyone she knew and loved. Meanwhile some scary-as-all-getout aliens were trying to invade her mind. It was all too much.

She cleared her mind.

Dave.

Nothing.

Dave, she tried again. Again nothing.

She made her way over to a remote corner of the schoolyard and gave it one last try.

Ok, clear – gather – focus …

DAVE!

Cindy? Is that you?!?

Yes. It’s me. I’m not sure about this Dave.

A pause. Cindy felt a slight tickle in her mind. You’ve had an argument with your best friend. Ok. Well, with training you will learn how to handle difficult situations like this where you need to keep your cover. I know that doesn’t help you now.

It’s just all a bit much Dave. I’m deceiving people, I’m getting approached by Turgs, I’m getting in trouble in class …

You’re getting approached by Turgs?!? Dave interrupted.

Yes. Last night.

Another pause. Alright, well I can see how this could all be troubling you. And I won’t go back from what I said in the room – this is not an easy thing I’m asking of you. But remember, it’s the whole galaxy asking it of you. I can offer reassurance that we can equip you with some skills that will help you handle it all better, but there’s no magic fix that makes it easy. I can only ask you to think about what you think is right and act accordingly.

Cindy thought for a moment. She rested her chin on her hands.

Yes, ok. I’m still in. It’s just not easy.

I know. We will try to help.

The connection severed and Cindy sat under a tree in the corner of the playground, lost in thought.

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