Skodla, Part 2

When Rome was very young, she was always fighting within herself about whether to submit to the Overmind and let it do the thinking for her or remain independent. She found it very discouraging that whenever she had an original thought, it was quickly stolen by uncounted others and claimed as their own. The Vuduri actually had a thing called mind-court where you could try and prove that you thought of something first but Rome was too young to successfully argue a case.

The Overmind commanded that she set the kitten down but she was so wrapped up in the sensation that she did not obey. She felt all the other minds entering hers and trying to steal the sensation. But a remarkable thing happened. The other minds could not take it. The pure sensory input and emotional reaction was hers and hers alone. As soon as the other minds swiped the feelings, they became empty, only a hollow recollection rather than the sensation itself.

Thus Rome learned that a sensation was a sensation and something that others could not steal, no matter how hard they tried. No need to defend it in mind-court. Let them take it. It meant nothing to anyone else. The sensation was personal and private and Rome found that she loved it.

Cradling the tiny cat in her arms, instinctively, Rome scratched the kitten gently under the chin and it rolled over to give her better access. Rome was totally absorbed in the moment. She did not realize that her mother was standing there observing her. Within her mind, the Overmind was telling her to set the cat down. Rome refused. She decided to confront her mother. She knew she had to ask permission to keep it. But at what cost?

Tomorrow, the "price" Rome had to pay.