Dark Genesis: The Birth of the Psi Corps by J. Gregory Keyes Page B

It should be a wonder when it’s done.” For a moment, a brief regret seemed to flash across his face, then he turned in a slow circle. “This is the metasensory compound.”
    “It looks more like a village.”
    “It is, Mr. Vacit. Some call it Teeptown, as a matter of fact. That’s the square, there-bars, restaurants, a few shops. Those larger buildings on the hill there are the dormitories for the children and singles. Married housing is down that way.”
    “I thought it would be more like a military base.”
    “We try to minimize that feel. Teeps are not ordinary enlistees, as I’m sure you know. Most come from civilian backgrounds, and though they find themselves more comfortable here, with other teeps, than they did out in the `mundane’ world, we want them to have some of the comforts of the lives they’ve left behind. If you know the military, you know the people on military bases are always trying to get off base. Most teeps would rather stay here, though, where they are safe. But given that factor of isolation, we try to make life as-you’ll excuse me, Akimba-`normal’ as possible.”
    Kevin nodded as they walked along. The buildings were mostly new and fresh, unpretentious ceramic brick, a hue removed from natural earth tones, topped with high, pitched roofs. More than anything, the complex resembled some of the self-towns that had sprung up in rural areas over the last few decades—homages to an earlier time. Simulated small towns, as it were. He saw a lot of children, fewer adults, the occasional uniformed cop or functionary.
    “Metasensory has four legs, as it were. First and foremost, its function is education. Teeps are taught how to use their powers and how to control them. The younger we get them, the better.”
    “What about the parents of the children?”
    “It’s something of a boarding school. The parents can visit, the kids can go home on holidays-if they’re deemed able to control their powers. It’s not perfect, but it works. Eventually, most kids end up feeling more at home here than with their parents-I suppose that’s inevitable. Of course, most kids who are teeps have at least one parent who is also a teep, so we have whole families here, too. Many of the children were born here. In fact, we’ll be having our first secondary school graduating class in just three years. An exciting day.”
    “I look forward to it.”
    “Education goes beyond teep abilities, of course. All of the usual courses are offered, but we try to steer people toward careers for which they are best suited. Here, for instance, we have the school of law enforcement, and there the verbal arts college. And, of course we have a military prep academy. “Me Authority no longer draws on government funds-that makes it one of the most popular programs with taxpayers. We hire teeps out to private business, where they monitor deals-on a mutual-consent basis, of course; to the courts, which I know you are familiar with; and to EarthForce, where they mostly serve in Alliance security.”
    “And Senator Crawford oversees all of this.”
    “It was his dream-one of them, anyway. Lee has many dreams. Yes. Very little happens here without his knowing about it-which means you have to be up on it all. And so now you understand the precautions we are lavishing on you.”
    “I hope I’m found worthy. It’s exciting.”
    “Some of our detractors don’t think so,” Tom said.
    “I’ve heard some complain that the senator has too much influence.”
    Tom smiled sardonically.
    “I don’t doubt he is the most powerful man on the planet. I think you’re bright enough that I don’t have to explain why.”
    “If-may I ask you something candid, Mr. Nguyen?”
    “You can certainly ask.”
    “You’ve been his aide for a long time-since the beginning. Why are you-“
    “It’s personal. Very personal. I’ll just say that I think Lee deserves a better aide than L” Tom looked down, seeming embarrassed . “He needs