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 8
"To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders." Lao Tzu.
To say that Randall Ness was startled when he received a call from Christopher Ward was an understatement, but he agreed to take it; after all, he had little to lose. What he expected was threats, perhaps abuse, and he was prepared to answer in kind, so what happened took Ness entirely by surprise. It seemed Ward wanted to make a deal.
"The principle is very simple, Mr Ness," he said. "I'll trade secrets you will want to know in exchange for you releasing Professor Makris and Miss Kataka, returning the rings you stole from them and Miss Chen and agreeing to leave us in peace in future."
Ness noted that for all the business-like tone Ward was employing, his voice reflected the strain of being polite. This he took as a good sign. The fact that Ward was angry but felt the need to negotiate led him to conclude Ward had given up on the idea of using more direct methods. This suggested to Randall that he held most of the cards here and could drive a hard bargain - if any arrangement was possible at all.
"What secrets are you offering Mr Ward? What you are asking for is most valuable and I would need a great deal in return. For one thing, Athena's ring is the source of my ability to mind control people. I have no intention of relinquishing that."
"It would hardly be a negotiation if I revealed all my hand now, would it?" replied Chris. "But it would include the secrets of mind control. Your current powers are weak and easily broken. I could rectify that and then you would have no need of the ring. But there is much more; things you would certainly desire but have never dreamed possible. If you want to know more you'll have to meet me. I appreciate that you'll have concerns about that and I'm happy to accept any conditions you may have."
"I certainly would have concerns," Randall agreed. "With your powers you could mind control me and then easily dismantle everything I have built ... although ..." Ness paused as an idea occurred to him. "You said you would accept any condition?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll require you to wear a collar of my own design. It has proved most useful in controlling the unruly powers of your associates and I think it will suffice to keep me safe. I have plenty of security to deal with more obvious kind of threats. You can don the collar before entering my premises and I promise it will be removed when you leave."
"Alright," Chris agreed. He was prepared to submit to almost anything for a face to face meeting with Ness. He needed to look his enemy in the eye to get his measure.
Their discussion continued for some time and subsequently emails were exchanged agreeing further details of the arrangements, but none of that really mattered. The die was cast, the meeting was on and that was what counted most to Christopher Ward.
*****
Chris was in California when he phoned Ness, having joined Matsu there, but he had left his wife Brigit in London to guard the Theia stone now he had removed it from its bank vault. He suspected the stone would be important to his plans and Chris would have liked to bring it - and Brigit - with him, but getting it from Greece to the UK had been difficult enough and he didn't fancy trying to smuggle it into the United States. In the eyes of human law it would probably have been regarded as an archaeological artefact he had stolen from Greece; it would have been hard to explain to the authorities it was his by rights as a result of thousands of years of mystic bonding.
On his arrival Matsu had disturbing news for Chris. "Master, someone is using the elemental power of Water," she had told him. "It's weak so far, but I've felt it. Ness' scientists must have worked out how to use the ring they took from me. Earth is not my element, but we must assume they can also manipulate that using Jenny's ring. Perhaps they may be able to unlock more of the secrets of Athena's too. We must act soon before Ness becomes too powerful."
Chris didn't doubt her. Matsu's mastery of the water element was complete; she would know if someone else was accessing that power. "Could you counter anything they do with water?" he asked.
"Of course; my powers greatly exceed theirs. But they have access to three of the five elements now. However, there is also good news - I was immediately able to feel the distance and direction of where the interference was coming from and a little triangulation gave me the location. I've got it up on this laptop; look ... here ... this ranch, not too far from where Ness lives. I've checked and Ness owns it. There is a river about three miles away and I sense underground aquifers. I could destroy the place if you wish, Master?"
"No. If that's where Ness is doing his research then the odds are that's also where Athena and Jenny are. We can't risk harming them, so we'll follow my plan. Still, you've done well; now we know where to look."
Freya, Fay, Marco and Carter joined them from Manilla a couple of days after Chris arrived. After allowing them a short period of rest from their travels, Chris got down to work. The first item of business was to determine who should accompany him to see Randall Ness.
Naturally, Freya and Matsu claimed that honour; to want to accompany their Master into danger and to seek to rescue their sisters was automatic for them, but Chris said no. He argued that he couldn't risk them or Freya's Ring of Air falling into the hands of Ness. That was certainly possible, given both of them were vulnerable to his mind control powers, as Jenny's fate showed. They had protested but Chris had made it an order, leaving them no choice but to obey.
