Author's note: All characters are over 18, as established in earlier Chapters or in "Master of Elements" to which this is a sequel.
The Mind Element Chapter 3
"Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labour does the body." Lucius Annaeus Seneca
It was twenty minutes after Matsu Chen's escape from captivity and Colonel Baker was standing in Randall Ness' office. His uniform was soaked so he was dripping water all over the expensive carpet, but Baker had been too furious to bother with changing it before bursting into this private sanctum without invitation. His anger had overridden all fear of Ness.
"I told you that those thugs of yours would let us down; now three of my men - good men, one with a wife and kids - are dead for no reason."
"Yes, I concede you did tell me that," said Ness, remaining calm, "but I would remind you that I told you repeatedly that these women are dangerous and you never accepted it. You should have listened to me - and to her. Miss Chen gave you fair warning to leave and you didn't believe her any more than you did me. So that makes you also responsible for your men's deaths."
This reminded Dan Baker that he had no idea what had just happened. The girl must somehow have known the place was about flood, although how he had no idea. But he didn't want to concede his confusion to Ness, so, holding onto his anger, he added: "Whatever your game is, it's over. That girl you wanted so much must have drowned."
Ness shook his head. "No, it's much worse than that Colonel Baker. She has escaped, and no doubt will find out where she was held and will soon tell her friends. Then we will be besieged. However, all is not lost; in fact I think this event can be turned to my advantage. Matsu Chen was never my main interest and while you were busy losing a prisoner, I have been making progress on my real aim. I have received some most interesting findings from my laboratory on those rings the two women wore."
Baker was finding his employer's calm demeanour in the face of the death of three of his men intensely annoying and was in the mood to tell him so. This job was no longer worth it, regardless of the money.
"I don't give a flying fuck about whatever it is you think you're doing here Ness. I'm done. Me and my remaining men are leaving at once. I'll refund you the advance you paid me, less my expenses to date."
"I don't think so Colonel Baker. Look at this." Randall Ness picked up a curious device from the desk in front of him. In his anger Baker had not even noticed it previously, but he looked now. It was a little like an electric torch, but a diamond ring had been wired onto the front for some reason. Ness switched it on and a bright light shone through the gemstone, which defused it into curious patterns, then he suddenly swung it up to point the beam of light into Dan Baker's face.
"What the hell are you doing," the mercenary said angrily. But he didn't look away.
"Professor Athena Makris has many remarkable powers, and this ring is linked to them. One of those powers, Colonel Baker, is mind control. A little inventive experimentation and it seems that a beam of light projected through this diamond has some remarkable effects. Not as powerful as those Athena could achieve but I've found out they are strong enough. Repeat after me: 'I am your servant'."
"I am you servant", Baker docilely said, realising, to his own surprise, he meant it.
"I am your Master and you will obey me in all things," Ness said.
"You are my Master and I will obey you," echoed Baker.
"You will defend me to the death and would willingly give your life to save mine," added Ness. Colonel Baker, looking shocked and bewildered, agreed that was the case. Randall Ness smiled at him benignly. Mind control was proving just as pleasurable and useful as he had imagined it would be. "Colonel, send your men in to see me, one at a time please. They will be joining you in total devotion to my welfare."
"Yes Master, it shall be as you command," said Dan Baker. Subservience didn't come naturally to him, but he knew he had no choice. He must serve this man and obey his orders. He went to find the first of his men to send in to see their new Master.
Ness sat back with considerable satisfaction. The escape of Matsu was annoying, especially as he would have liked to test whether she could be controlled, but his intelligent and complex mind was thinking through the consequences and seeing ways it could be turned to his advantage. The discovery of the properties of the ring was a huge leap forward, although he suspected it only gave him a fraction of Athena's abilities. She remained vital to finding out more about this powerful new weapon.
*****
The Filipino fisherman Juan Santos was having a curious day. In his mid-sixties he was retired and the fact that he owned a small boat which he took out to sea and sold what he could catch was more in the nature of a hobby than a serious business. This was reflected in his use of rod and line rather than nets and also that he did it because he enjoyed it; for one thing it gave him a few hours of solitude away from his wife.
Today had seemed like a nice day of calm weather ideal for his purpose but it had not turned out quite that way. The first thing that happened was the sea itself began to behave oddly. There seemed to be a strong current where there had never been one before and it was pulling his boat toward the private island of Senor Ness, and Juan certainly didn't want to go there. Randall Ness had bought the entire island about five years ago and one of the first things he had done was to make it known to the locals that visitors were not welcome. Given that Ness was generous with bribes and so had the loyalty of various local politicians and the police, it was best to stay away.
Juan put his engine on and regained some distance between him and the island, but then the current had vanished just as suddenly as it had appeared. Still perplexed, Juan switched his engine off and started preparing his equipment. Before he had got as far as actually commencing fishing, the next peculiar thing happened. A small female hand grasped the side of his boat, followed by another. Given that he was floating at least three miles from the nearest land this was a surprise. His amazement was increased when a very attractive and completely naked girl in her early twenties hauled herself into his boat and lay there looking weary but happy.