The Psychic Speed-dial

In Rome's Revolution, much is made about a Vuduri's commitment to the Overmind but is there any way for one Vuduri to "speak" to another, even if it is mentally?

The answer is yes. Every mind-connected Vuduri carries around the psychic equivalent of a "speed-dial" which allows them to communicate directly to another Vuduri. The problem is that you cannot do so until you have done so. I know that seems confusing but here is Rome's explanation to Rei:

     “The Overmind always listens in. You know that. And the Vuduri typically do not have much to say to each other. Most allow the Overmind to think for them. But, if necessary, it is possible to communicate directly with one person. But you need to know them first. You cannot just contact random strangers unless they want to be contacted.”
     “That seems like a Catch-22 to me,” Rei said. “You can’t contact somebody til you know them. How do you know them unless there is contact?”
     “Oh that.” Rome laughed. “It can be mediated by others. You can meet someone in person. You can meet them via view screen. There are many methods. Once you have met them and made contact, you simply think about them to reestablish contact again.”
     “So, it’s kind of like a phonebook you carry around in your head. Like psychic speed-dial, right?”
     Rome laughed again. “Sometimes I do not understand anything you say, but if you are intimating that the number of direct contacts is finite, limited and manageable, then yes.”
     “Obviously, you had direct contact with your mother, right?” Rei asked.
     “Of course. We would check in with each other more or less every day.”
     “Do you miss that?”

Rome goes on to say that once she was Cesdiud (cast out) and was given the freedom to experience her own feelings she realized she missed her mother very much and was, in fact, homesick. Rei started to worry that she might change her mind but Rome was committed to her new life.

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Of course we see the equivalent of the direct communication later in the story when Rome and Rei develop the "cell-phone" in the head.