by Perry Rhodan
The hall of the telepaths... had chosen its victim!
• • •
The drive pulse aggregates of the Titan suddenly came to life. Thora gave the signal for all-out alarm. The crew, which meanwhile had been perfectly drilled, rendered the gigantic spacecraft ready for immediate defensive action within four minutes.
However orders were to avoid a battle where mainly innocent victims would be killed. Therefore flight was the only possibility to foil the attack by the Zalite fleet.
In the next hangar the Ganymede was lifting off on the meanwhile activated gravitational fields and soon shot with unimaginable speed up into the dark skies of Zalit. A few seconds—then the 2400 foot-long space ship had vanished.
Blinding flashes came from the cannons at the edge of the landing field. Dazzling energy beams chased after the fleeing spaceship but glanced off ineffectively from its defense screens. Now the batteries swung around and bombarded the Titan.
Thora observed how the energy rays burst on impact on her protective force fields and then scattered in all directions. Farther away in the background the first destroyers of the Zalite fleet lifted off, intent on attacking the Titan from above.
She switched on the intercom.
"Attention! Calling all hands! Well start in 10 seconds! Top acceleration with all neutralizers running. Transition in 11 minutes!"
Thora didn't know how many of the hostile ships were already aloft above the spaceport, ready to
attack; she only knew that she was leaving Rhodan behind on this world–and she was doing this because he wanted her to. She felt a coward but she had to bring this ship to safety–and she had to spare the life of the enemies.
5 seconds, to go.
She was seized by the most intense dilemma of emotions she had ever experienced. Her right index finger slowly sank lower over the starting button. She would depress it firmly, the Arkonide reactors would release their energies—and the giant vessel would be hurled into the black sky with incredible force—into a sky which in reality was not black but a confusion of glittering stars.
The last second seemed to last longer than any before.
But now it too had passed and then all hell broke loose on the landing field of Tagnor.
The Titan shot up into the night sky and effortlessly broke through the echelons of the waiting destroyers. The protective screens surrounding the Zalite ships were nullified when the energy bell enveloping Rhodan's battleship impinged on them while passing through. Unsteady, like withered leaves, 10, 20 destroyers tumbled out of the sky, down to the ground where they smashed, breaking up in a huge jet of flame. The suction of the mile-wide sphere alone destroyed three energy-cannon emplacements and the underground installations on the landing field.
Thora was unaware of all this. She kept staring at the videoscreens and hardly paid attention to Lt. Tifflor, who silently was sitting in his navigation-seat a few yards away from the Arkonide woman, never once taking his eyes off her.
Tiff had no idea what the true reasons were for Thora's pent-up anger; he assumed her eagerness to be due to her desire to annihilate the foe. It did not occur to him that Rhodan might be responsible for Thora's vile temper.
Then the planet sank away below the Titan, soon to be swallowed up by the deeps of space. As soon as the speed of light was attained the transition took place.
When the Titan returned from hyperspace into the 4th dimension, the Ganymede was standing at a distance of about 0.005 light-seconds from the emerging Titan, so precise were the calculations even though both ships had covered a distance of exactly two light-years in the meantime.
• • •
Pucky materialized in front of the awestruck eyes of the rebels. To his great regret he had no time to bask in the light of their obvious admiration. Rhodan's desperate appeal for help was still too fresh in his memory.
"Adm. Zernif," urged the mouse-beaver, "would you have in your possession a detailed map of the Zarlt's palace? Especially of its underground installations? It's most pressing!"
The leader of the rebels motioned a man to come closer. "When you found the secret passage didn't you make a plan?"
"Of course. Rogal has it."
"Thank you!" twittered Pucky–and vanished.
A very perplexed Zernif and several wide open mouths remained behind.
Pucky knew where Rogal was at the moment, namely in the farthest advanced post of the rebel bide-outs, barely 300 feet before the palace entrance. A corridor connected the two rebel centers.
But Pucky felt too rushed to run this distance—his short legs were most unsuitable for such efforts. He simply concentrated his thoughts on his destination—and jumped.
As a precaution he landed on the surface, in this case in a park.
All seemed quiet. The red glow of the nearby palace tempted Pucky to act on his own hook but then reason won out–and prudence.
Who knew where he might land if he were to jump at random?
Two additional teleportation attempts brought him to the hideout. Rogal almost fell off the stool on which he had just sat down. The other Zalites. stared at Pucky as if they were seeing a ghost. Despite the serious situation Pucky grinned back and, pleased about the commotion he had created, he displayed his incisor. Then he emitted a loud and dissonant whistle, waddled over to Rogal and chirped:
"I need the map of the palace—I'm especially interested in the layout of the basement. Rhodan is in danger."
Rogal jumped up. He began searching through his pockets but could not find the plan. He looked puzzled. Then he remembered.
"I don't have the map. It's probably still in the old headquarters where we were earlier and..."
He spoke into empty space. Pucky was no longer present. While Rogal was still completing his sentence the little mouse-beaver was already carrying out a search in the old headquarters and found the map in the breast pocket of a uniform jacket draped over the back of a chair. He executed a short leap to visit briefly with Wuriu Sengu and Kitai Ishibashi. The two mutants were very unhappy to be condemned to sit around inactively, unable to be of any help.
"Where have you been all this time?" growled Sengu. "What's the matter with Rhodan?"
"He's been taken prisoner, don't you know?" Pucky countered saucily, then studied the map. A little while later his bared incisor revealed its owner's mood had changed and become more optimistic. "We must come to his aid before it is too late. The Mooffs' suggestive thought streams are superimposed on Marshall's telepathic impulses. I can't receive him any more. This is why I fetched this plan; it will help me calculate properly where to jump. I'm going back alone again to explore the territory. Then I'll return to pick up Wuriu. And, as soon as we know precisely where the prisoners and the Mooffs are holed up, I'll come to fetch Kitai—then we'll attack. Is that clear?"
A little confused, the two Japanese mutants shook their heads. Although they had known Pucky for quite some time already it still impressed them as strange when an oversize Mickey Mouse asked two adult men if they understood something.
Pucky misinterpreted their head shaking.
"I want to know if you get me...!"
Eagerly and still confused the two men nodded their heads in affirmation but Pucky had once more disappeared.
After all, he could read minds...
6/ MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Pucky studied the map very carefully.
He was squatting on his broad hind parts, holding the paper in his front paws, which resembled human hands although they were much smaller and very hairy. Looking at this little fellow one would be hard put to believe that he generally surpassed human beings in talents and intelligence. There was no other mutant besides the little mouse-beaver who simultaneously mastered telepathy, telekinetics and teleportation. Pucky's IQ was comparable to Rhodan's although he had never had the advantage of receiving as thorough a hypno-training as his adored human friend. His greatest strength lay, however, in his inconspicuous outer appearance.
/> An animal—yet superior to man...
Pucky's high voice said in shrill tones:
"It's exactly 758 feet from here to the palace entrance. The last time I could track Marshall's thought-streams I pinpointed his location at some 750 feet away. This indicates clearly that the underground vault is situated in our direction. Thus we know the direction. I'll jump to the Palace, 30 feet below the surface and approximately for a distance of 750 feet. This ought to permit me to materialize at the spot where Marshall, and presumably also Rhodan and Bell, were a few minutes ago."
Wuriu demurred. "Hadn't I better come along? After all I can see through solid walls."
"I'll pick you up shortly." Pucky nodded reassuringly at him—and vanished.
When his eyes could see again, he found himself standing in a corridor not far from an elevator door. All was quiet; not a sound to be heard.
But Pucky did not have to rely on his sense of hearing. His sensitive brain reacted immediately. But Rhodan's and Marshall's brains were strongly overlain by the alien impulses emanating from the Mooffs. Their intensity indicated that he was only a short distance removed from their source. The captives might be hidden behind the next door.
Pucky made a return leap and fetched Wuriu Sengu first and Kitai Ishibashi next.
The two Japanese mutants had drawn their small but powerful pulse rayguns. Pucky dispensed with any weapon.
"Well, Wuriu, can you see anything?"
Marshall's thought-streams, Pucky ascertained now, had been completely submerged in the whirlpool of the Mooffs' impulses. Even Pucky could feel how powerful the attempt of the jellyfish-telepaths was to subdue the Earthman under their will.
And then, suddenly, Marshall was free from this torture. The third and this time decisive assault on Bell had begun. There was no doubt that the Mooffs would be successful with him.
Marshall at once established contact with Pucky, whose probing thought-approaches he perceived again once the Mooffs had turned their attention away from him.
Where are you, Pucky? They're working Reggie over now. He won't be able to hold out for long. Answer me...
The mouse-beaver was waiting for the seer's report. Wuriu suddenly nodded his head while he stared at the nearest wall. "I can see them," he whispered excitedly. "Hardly 30 feet from here. That door over there!" He pointed to the second door. "They seem to have concentrated on Bell now. What business have those pretty girls participating in this whole affair?"
"What girls?" Pucky wanted to know. He fondly remembered girls: they were much better at gently stroking his fur and softly scratching him all over. Much better than lazy, self-centered men. "There are girls in there?"
"Yes. They are holding down Rhodan, Marshall and Bell," Wuriu reported, astonished. He could not get over this strange sight. "Now Bell is no longer trying to fight back."
"Won't do him any harm to have his brain convolutions cleaned out a bit," Pucky warbled mischievously. In reality he thought quite differently. The Mooffs were in for something! Then he beamed a thought in Marshall's direction: We'll attack in seconds!
Proceed with caution!came Marshall's thought-reply. The Zarlt and his officers have our weapons. The six robots must be put out of action. The Mooffs...
Robots? Wuriu hasn't seen any robots.
They are built like pretty girls. We fell into their trap.
Pucky looked completely perplexed. What a pity that no one could appreciate this funny sight! Then he spoke grimly: "Wuriu! Kitai! You know your job. Kitai will concentrate on the Mooffs and make sure that their emission of suggestions will be interrupted long enough till I can take care of them. Wuriu, you'll be in charge of the Zalites. And I..." and Pucky grinned, flashing his incisor, looking very content, I'll devote myself to the lovely handmaidens."
"Who...?" Wuriu gaped dumbfounded. "The handmaidens?"
"So what!" growled the little mouse-beaver as he stopped in front of the door. "Or has any of you ever witnessed when I couldn't handle six girls at the same time?"
The Japanese mutants fell silent, perplexed. Indeed, they had never witnessed such a sight.
• • •
Bell's mental and physical collapse was nearly complete. The only reason he remained standing upright were the strong arms of the seductive robot girls encircling and supporting his body. The five Zalites stood aside waiting with stoic calm what would happen next. One of the 12 Mooffs seemed to have them under his control, for their powers of resistance were far weaker than those of the Earthmen.
Rhodan and Marshall were entirely free of any hypnotic onslaught. At least 11 Mooffs were concentrating their efforts on poor Bell, who couldn't possibly withstand this assault.
"Unless Pucky gets here soon," Rhodan murmured, "I don't know what might happen."
"They're already outside in the corridor," Marshall whispered back. "In a few seconds..."
Kitai materialized in the hall together with Pucky. The latter however vanished at once. One second later he returned with Wuriu Sengu, whose pulse raygun went immediately into action. The Zalites never knew that they were dying. They had no chance whatsoever to defend themselves.
Kitai was a quite capable suggestor. Measured by the Mooffs' standards he seemed a veritable giant. Before the jellyfish-creatures could register any change and then to adapt to it, they were attacked and shaken by such powerful impulses that they let go immediately of their victim. Bell hung limply in the arms of the robot girls. His eyes were closed but he was alive.
Pucky focused first telekinetic energy beams on the two robots who held Rhodan in their tight embrace. He forced their arms apart, slowly, inch by inch until Rhodan managed to free himself. The pretty guards remained standing there, immobilized in a rigid posture. Pucky could of course not keep up this trick indefinitely. There were too many other tasks to be accomplished. He motioned to Wuriu without looking at him.
"Play your beamer on the robots–regardless how darling they look."
Seconds later the two dancing girls had changed into small heaps of molten metal and plastic.
"Brrrr," Pucky shivered, shaking his fur like a wet dog. "Who would've thought that pretty girls look like that on the inside!"
Marshall was set free next and his guards were annihilated.
Then it was Bell's turn.
In his case Pucky had to be very careful that his friend would not slump to the ground like a sack of
potatoes the moment the robots would release their grip on him. But fortunately for Pucky, Bell regained consciousness just in time.
He opened his eyes and grasped the situation with one glance–and managed a distorted grin.
Aha—Pucky, naturally! Whenever Pucky gets wind of some girls you can't hold him back.
For an instant the mouse-beaver was so startled about this monstrous claim that he didn't react. But then
he displayed his incisor and waved to Bell in a generous manner. "I won't contend your right to keep them all to yourself! Thanks for nothing!" With these words Pucky turned to Rhodan. "And now let's eliminate these Mooffs, Lord and Master."
Kitai had meanwhile succeeded in bringing the Mooffs entirely under his power. The strange creatures seemed to be paralysed and squatted motionless inside their containers. They appeared to guess what fate was in store for them.
"Pucky!" Bell roared desperately. "Rescue me from these monsters!"
Slowly the mouse-beaver turned around, regarded the idyll with shiny incisor and bristling fur. He seemed to be highly amused to see Bell held tight in the embrace of two pretty females. "Have you had enough?" he inquired with mock solicitousness. "Just get me out of here—you can keep them if you like. Maybe you can program them for
fur-tickling–or whatever you please." Pucky giggled. It sounded rather silly. "Thanks, no. Not interested in training these lifeless dolls. I know somebody who is better qualified for such a serious task as fur-tickling."
"You don't mean..." Bell began to say jealously but Pucky cut him off: "I mean y
ou, old pal! If I set you free you must promise to spend at least five hours with me and..."
"I promise! I promise! Please, hurry!" The moment Bell was released from the robot girls' steely embrace he staggered over to Kitai, borrowed his pulse raygun and walked back to the two robots, who had remained completely passive. The Zarlt, the master they had obeyed, was dead.
Bell held the gun right directly in front of the phony faces of the dancing girls. "And now I'll finish you off, you... you. He could not find the right word to express his disgust. "You'll never again foster stupid thoughts and desires in honest men, I promise you! Go on, turn around! Get going!" But the two darlings did not react. They remained quiet and motionless as they were. "Well, have it your way! Farewell and say hello from me to the others in robot heaven!"
While the graceful figures dissolved in smoking plastic and molten metal, Bell held his nose, horrified at the stench and moaned:
"And to think that I almost... no! It's inconceivable! What a flop...!" Pucky had watched with interest but then he grew tired of the whole farce. He waddled over to Kitai. "I'll simply lift the Mooffs in their cages up to the ceiling and then let them drop to the ground. The
methane atmosphere will escape from the containers and they'll die a gentle death." Rhodan who had not commented so far, now joined the conversation. "We aren't going to kill them, Pucky. It will be better if Kitai is going to suggest to them firmly that they'll have to serve a new master from now on. They are to remain passive until we'll come and fetch them.
There's plenty of room in the Titan for 12 Mooffs." Bell's eyes looked like two huge watery-blue marbles as he stammered: "Do you... want to... install a zoo... in the Titan, Perry? Why?"
Perry laughed. "Sometimes you really can act dense, Reggie. You know we aren't so much interested in the Mooffs themselves..."
"That's why!"
"...but far more in the unknown strangers who had them brought to Zalit. Maybe time will make them a little more communicative. That's why I'm getting myself a little zoo. Get it?"