THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

positions. “No argument on that point. Sadly, the TecKnati’s ability to communicate better than we do is why we’re sitting in this Sphere.”
    Callan vowed, “One day I will prove that SEOH is a cold-blooded killer and see him sent to a cage worse than this place.” 
    “That’s probably one reason SEOH’s glad to have you in here.”
    “I’m sure.”  Callan glanced up at the sky, always keeping an eye out for change. “Think this Sphere is the only world SEOH’s created?”
    “Quite possibly. According to V’ru, the engineering of an artificial planet such as this one takes an enormous amount of credits that even SEOH’s ANASKO Corporation would hesitate to spend twice. The media vids V’ru allowed me to review showed SEOH bragging about the plants and animals gathered as a result of his space exploration program. He touted the TeKs for donating generously to create a suitable host location for the study of adaptability.”
    “Adapt or die, in our case.”
    “Yes. Most people would assume SEOH meant the ability of his alien plant and animal specimens to adapt to our world, not that we would be doing the adapting.” Mathias lifted the spear and began timed maneuvers that required rapid hand-over-hand defensive and offensive moves. “I think SEOH saw this as the perfect place to put captured MystiKs while justifying the expense of building this Sphere to his board of twelve. He probably convinced them this would be a sort of training area prior to relocating people–MystiKs–to other planets.”
    Callan dodged forward with the speed of a striking snake and snatched the spear from Mathias, flipped it once into an attack pose, then handed the weapon back to a scowling Mathias. Callan grinned, continuing. “I’ve heard that rumor about relocation. You think SEOH’s really going to try to wipe out MystiKs by shipping us off to another planet?”
    “No.” Mathias paused, thinking as he cradled the spear. “I think his primary goal is to remove those of us approaching eighteen–take us out of circulation, especially G’ortians.”
    Callan avoided discussing his G’ortian status since that was yet another reason his family had been disappointed when he refused to accept his role as a leader. More powerful than other MystiKs, G’ortians only came along once every seven generations. Callan had experienced some gifts since birth, such as immediate telepathic ability that usually developed several years later. But his kinetics were a recent revelation and undependable as yet. He pushed the conversation back to SEOH. “I keep trying to figure out SEOH’s end game for putting us in here. What’s your guess?”
    “To prevent us from taking our places as the next level of leaders within our Houses.”
    “Sure, but SEOH’s also putting TeK children in jeopardy every time a MystiK child dies here. Even TeKs will eventually raise an alarm if they lose enough children.”
    “I’ve thought on that quite a bit. I don’t believe the TeKs are losing children.”  Mathias jabbed the spear into the ground and took a breath, wiping a sheen of sweat from above his mouth.
    “Why not? The treaty decrees retribution.”  Not that Callan wanted to see any child die, but without a consequence SEOH would continue capturing MystiKs.
    “I believe this Sphere is their answer to neutralizing us.”
    Callan argued, “But the treaty–”
    “–stated that a TecKnati or a MystiK child would die in response to an intentional death caused by either group.” Mathias drew a couple of breaths. “SEOH probably thought little of that clause at the time it was written. Rumors say he scoffed at the notion that anything supernatural would reach beyond our people to affect the TecKnati, and him in particular.”
    “SEOH was the fool there. Underestimating your opponent is shortsighted and dangerous.” Callan had drummed that into his young warriors.
    “Quite true, but when our MystiK forefathers negotiated the current treaty, the TeKs had never before experienced more than occasional interruptions in their technology caused by MystiK powers that they dismissed as coincidental. SEOH had no reason to believe our leaders could infuse any real power into that one retaliatory clause in the treaty. Not until he paid the price for ignorance and arrogance with his own son’s death. Sending captured MystiKs to this Sphere is evidence that he’s worried now.”
    Callan pondered on that, not liking the direction of his