Hearts Across Space

Errata III: The Levels of Bonding

From The Bondling Training Manual by Master G’

The following is excerpted from a series of monographs by the then student Sean Castellano later Archon S’ean Castellano, 'Hero of Gemini’ and more titles than any Geminiian in history:


There are three common levels of Bonding with different degrees within each level. The three levels are Simple, Basic and Advanced or Complete. The basic differences between levels are the type of communication and whether the communication is one or two way. One of the other differences is the range of the communication.

 

  • Simple – Communication is one-way and usually only consists of very strong emotions being received by The Bondling. This type of Bond requires a lot of effort and interpersonal knowledge.
    • In rare cases it is The Bond who receives the emotions from his Bondling.
    • In the majority of cases the two Bond and Bondling must be in close proximity.
      • Physical contact improves communication.
    • In very rare cases the communication is thought rather than emotions.
    • Most of the communication is done by reading body language or subtle hand symbols.
  • Basic – Communication is also usually only one way but involves two types of communication. It also doesn’t require as close proximity as a Simple Bond. (Most Arcon Bonds and some Archon Bonds fall into this category)
    • Most Basic Bonds consist of the Bondling being able to send and receive both thoughts and emotions. While the Bond may be only able to send or receive one or the other.
    • Proximity ranges depend upon the strength of the individuals involved. In most cases being in the same room or building is the usual range.
      • Physical contact can greatly enhance the communication between two basic Bonds both in sending and receiving. This applies not only to the content but to the depth of information passed.
    • Content for most Basic Bonds is far deeper than is the case for Simple Bonds.
      • Emotional content can now be broken down into individual feelings.
      • Thoughts can now be broken down from general topics into more specific thought.

 

  • Advanced or Complete – Communication is two ways for both parties, both emotions and thought. The depth is far greater and more complex. Most Archons have this type of Bond although the degrees do differ.
    • The Complete bond is a sharing of information not just thoughts and emotions.
    • This type of Bond allows a far better method of transferring opinions about issues or persons with vocal means.
    • Thought can now be shaded with emotional content to give more or less weight.
    • The limits on the range depend upon the individuals involved
      • Some pairs have had no limits to their awareness of their Bonded Partner. While there may have been limits to their communications. (Ranges are personal and private information and are not released to the public)

 

All Bonded Partners must swear and adhere to a strict code of ethics regarding the use of their gifts. Advanced or Complete Pairs have to swear to a far more restrictive form of the oath as their gifts in concert are very powerful. The ingrained natural ethical behaviour as well as the intense ethical training given bondlings has rarely been broken in the history of Gemini. No Bonded Pair has ever been called to Justice for abusing their Bond. In the rare instances where a Bond was misused whether intentionally or accidentally the Bonded Community took care of the issue efficiently without prejudice and without appeal or rancour. It is for this reason and the overall benefits provide by 'The Bonding Institution" that the average Geminiian gives no more notice to a Bonded Pair as to any other pair of Geminiians. In fact, most Geminiian’s can not understand other species’ abhorrence of Bonded Pairs." 

End of Excerpt.

The strongest Bond on record until the advent of S’ean Castellano and his Bond was the bond between D’avid Castellano and A’ndreas. Not surprising the third was the bond between A’ndreas and Sean Castellano before his Bonding. Up until this Bond was made public years after the events described in this treatise no one had ever come across the type of Bond that A’ndreas and Sean had created. For Sean and A’ndreas although not officially Bonded they had formed an Advanced Bond, which A’ndreas was very careful to conceal from Sean. It has been surmised that the Bond gained its strength from the fact that unlike most Archon Bond Teams A’ndreas on many occasions took D’avids’ place for many family occasions particularly during Barbara’s pregnancy and during some of Sean’s earliest years.

 The person who is bonded to a Bondling is usually referred to as The Bond. In some cases among Advanced Bonds the term is interchangeable.