by Heidi Skarie
“Can a pilot destroy a king?” Michio asked, staring at the figurine of King Zanton.
“If he gets past the king’s guards.”
Michio carefully studied the guards around King Zanton. He was about to move one of his soldiers when he felt an inner nudge to look back to where Samrat Condor made his last two moves. He noticed a fighter pilot the Samrat pilots were converging on. Michio picked the piece up for a closer look and turned it in his hand so he could see the face. His chest tightened.
It was Erling! He studied the board, trying to figure out where Erling would be safe and yet still strategically located. He put the piece back down in a new location and the board twisted and changed shape again. Michio glanced up at Samrat Condor in surprise.
“You can’t move an important piece without affecting the entire game.” Samrat Condor moved another pilot.
Sweat broke out on Michio’s brow. How could he play the game when he didn’t know how it worked? Samrat Condor said there were no rules, but that wasn’t quite true. It resembled life in some ways. There must be a way to set Samrat Condor up whereby the sorcerer wouldn’t realize where the moves were leading until it was too late.
Samrat Condor reached out and moved one of Zanton’s pilots.
“Wait, it’s still my turn!” Michio exclaimed.
“No, it isn’t. Your time ran out.”
A flash of anger sliced through Michio. “I thought you said there weren’t any rules!”
“I said the game is like life and it is. If you wait too long to do something in life, the decision is made for you.”
“So how much time do I have between moves?”
“It depends on how important the last piece was.” Samrat Condor reached out to move another piece, but Michio quickly moved one of his.
As the game continued, Michio gradually learned how the game was played by trial-and-error. He found it hard to remain detached from the outcome of his moves when he could see Borko ships being destroyed in the sky every time one of Samrat Condor’s pieces landed on one of his.
Finally, Michio came up with an idea; he would make Samrat Condor think he was after him while in reality closing a net around his ships. Samrat Condor was too powerful to eliminate, but his fleet wasn’t. On another part of the board, Michio left the figurine of himself open as a decoy, so Samrat Condor would be lured after him.
Michio lost pilot after pilot to Samrat Condor as Raptor starships moved into Jaiparian territory, then he sprung the trap, destroying one of the Raptor starships. The whole board changed shape. Samrat Condor moved one of his starships out of the area.
On Michio’s next move, he destroyed another starship. The board changed shape once again. Michio glanced up at Samrat Condor. The man’s mouth curved into a twisted smile. Michio studied the board and saw the board’s new position left the playing piece of himself completely surrounded by Samrat Condor’s sorcerers.
Michio had been so intent on the air battle that he hadn’t concentrated enough on his own position. He’d been careless. Samrat Condor would never have made such a mistake. The sorcerer always kept the figurine of himself fully protected so no matter how the board twisted and turned, he was still out of harm’s way.
Samrat Condor moved a magician toward the figurine of Michio. Without conscious thought, Michio filled himself with raw power so he could attack the magician. When he realized what he was doing, he let the surge of power flow through him, without directing it.
If he used psychic power to his own end, he was no different from a black magician, even if his intention was good. He moved into the center of his being where he was calm and at peace, letting go of any remaining anger or trepidation.
Samrat Condor set the magician on the board beside Michio and the magician immediately disappeared and reappeared on another place on the board. Samrat Condor looked up, narrowing his eyes as if reevaluating his opponent.
Michio tried to move the playing piece of himself out of the circle of magicians but couldn’t lift it from the board. The desire to use psychic force raged within him. He visualized the Inner Master and sent him an inner message. “I surrender my will to you, Master Bakka; of myself, I can do nothing.”
Samrat Condor placed another magician on the edge of the circle surrounding Michio. The playing piece instantly disappeared, reappearing in a new location on the board. Michio grasped the figurine of himself once more. This time he was able to move one space, but the spells of the remaining sorcerers prevented him from going further than the edge of the circle.
Samrat Condor moved the piece representing himself directly in front of Michio.
“Checkmate! You and planet Borko are my prize.”
Michio felt the raw edge of power once again. He fought against the desire to use it, knowing love was stronger than power, nothing could stand against love. His heart seemed to be surrounded by iron hands that were squeezing it shut. He couldn’t feel love; he couldn’t feel the essence of life flowing through him. A gray fog filled his vision blocking out all else.
He thought of Toemeka and the binding around his heart fell away. Light filled his vision and Spirit flowed through him once more.
“Michio,” Toemeka said telepathically, materializing beside him. “You’re not alone.”
“No!” Michio exclaimed. “Return to your body. You can’t help me!”
“I already have.” Toemeka picked the figurine of herself off the board and placed it alongside him. “You are my heart and Soul.” She reached out and clasped his cold hand with her smaller, warm one. The board configuration changed again. When it stopped moving, Michio saw he and Toemeka were safely away from Samrat Condor and his magicians. A playing piece depicting Master Jadock stood beside them. Samrat Condor’s depleted fleet was no longer part of the battle.
A loud roaring exploded in Michio’s head and he found himself back in a black void, his hand still tightly clasping Toemeka’s. He reentered his body with a sharp jerk and opened his eyes.
Toemeka was no longer with him and in his hand was the austra stone. “Thank you, Toemeka, my love,” he said softly. He was shaken by the psychic game. Samrat Condor almost gained possession of his Soul. If Toemeka hadn’t come, he would’ve been trapped and Condor would’ve won the war
His heart expanded and filled with gratitude for the golden thread linking him and Toemeka.
30
King Zanton’s Revenge
Enraged, King Zanton slammed his fist into the viewport on the command ship. Haklute fighters had flown deeper and deeper into Jaiparian air space, shooting down Winged Warriors. Raptor starships followed and it appeared they’d won when, all at once, a fleet of Jaiparian starships surrounded the starships. The Raptor starships attempted retreat. Two were shot down and the rest ordered their fighters aboard and left Borko territory.
“Why did Samrat Condor send so few starships?” Zanton asked. “He said he’d send a whole fleet.”
“A fleet was headed this way, but the Coalition figured out some way to divert most of the ships,” Seetva said. “We underestimated our enemy.”
“The Raptor starships should stay and fight.”
“They are too badly outnumbered. Ever since General Fenian joined the dogfighting, things have gone against us.”
Zanton stared at her in surprise. “Fenian joined the dogfighting?!”
“His ship was unmarked, of course. But the battle took a distinctive turn when he joined and the fighting was always heaviest, wherever he was. Moreover, we heard radio communications to Cruiser, which is reportedly his call sign. He fights as a leader, encouraging his men and dogfighting with a determination to win that ordinary pilots don’t have. We tried to shoot down his ship, but his pilots protected him.”
“Why would he expose himself to such danger?”
Seetva gave him a crooked smile. “It’s a brilliant move for the combat pilots’ morale.”
“I should’ve killed him when we dueled!” Zanton frowned as an idea came to hi
m. “We might yet be able to turn things to our advantage. Perhaps we can lose the battle and still win the war. Order our fighters to return to their mother ships. Once all their fighters are aboard, the starships are to break formation and fly back to Haklute.”
“What’s your plan? Once our starships break formation our ship will be left undefended. With only three hundred men aboard this ship, we can’t stand against a Jaiparian starship.”
“My plan is to capture General Fenian.”
Seetva slid her tongue over her lower lip. “I’d enjoy another try at breaking him.”
“He’s not your plaything. I’m going to kill him,” Zanton snapped, annoyed with her ongoing interest in Fenian.
Coalition and Borko ships followed the retreating Haklute fighters until all of them were destroyed or aboard their mother ships. The Haklute starships then made a hasty, disorganized retreat for home.
As Erling watched the retreat, he saw the Haklute command ship was left unguarded. Sure King Zanton was on that ship, Erling realized this was his chance to capture him. Erling launched a full-scale attack, sweeping over the command ship with his squadron’s remaining ten ships. The command ship returned fire. Erling transferred most of his ship’s power to the oscillator, so it could take out the command ship’s shields.
Laser beams bounced off his shield as he drew closer and his squadron started firing at the Haklute command ship to divert some of the laser beams. On his computer monitor, Erling watched the green line that represented the front shield. It held firm, but one of the side shields disappeared.
Moments later, one of his Winged Warriors exploded in a red ball of energy. Erling’s heart wrenched. He felt responsible for all his teammates’ lives. His squadron flew out of range of the laser beams and he assessed the damage to his Coalition ship. His shield had taken a series of hits and wouldn’t hold up to many more.
Speaking into his mic, he said, “On the next pass, Onolyn, destroy the rear shield. Red, destroy the front shield.”
“We’ll get it this time,” Zac said.
As the Coalition squadron made a second pass, they were hammered by fire from the large rail guns. Zac and Onolyn flew into position and fired their oscillator at the command ship’s shields. Erling watched his screen. Before long the green lines representing the front and rear shields of the command ship disappeared. Now the Haklute ship was unprotected! The Coalition squadron missiles hit its hull with a series of explosions.
The warning lights on Erling’s ship came on, indicating his shields were down. Erling soared upward, out of range of the rail gun blasts. Without shields, his ship would explode if hit by a blast.
Erling’s radio crackled, then Zanton’s voice came over the line, “King Zanton to General Fenian.”
“What do you want, Zanton?” Erling snapped.
“We surrender.”
“Prepare to be boarded.”
“Let us return to Haklute in peace.”
“Surrender command of your ship or we’ll destroy it and everyone on it.”
After a long pause, Zanton came back. “We’ll allow your ships to board, only if you land with your men.”
“Don’t worry; I wouldn’t want to miss your humiliation.” The door to the Haklute command ship docking bays opened and Erling flew in with his squadron. Other ships flew in behind them.
Before getting out of the ship, Erling said into his mic. “Zanton, our ships surround you. Tell your men to throw down their weapons.”
King Zanton made an announcement over the intercom of the docking bay and once the weapons were discarded, Erling climbed out of his ship with his gun drawn. “Take me to King Zanton,” Erling said to Haklute crewmen who stood close by his ship.
“Right this way, sir.”
Erling turned to Onolyn. “Stay here. If there’s trouble, order our ships to attack.” The crewman led Erling toward the door. Zac, along with eighteen other pilots, followed close behind. Erling looked around cautiously with his laser gun ready.
Suddenly, King Zanton and his men burst through the door, firing blasters, and killing four of the Erling’s pilots. All around them, Haklute crewmen pulled out concealed weapons and started firing.
Erling returned fire as he sprang behind the nearest ship. “Zanton, order your men to throw down their weapons or we’ll destroy your ship!” Erling yelled.
“You’re bluffing, Fenian. You can’t destroy my ship without killing yourself.”
Erling shouted to Onolyn. “Order our ships to attack!”
Zanton’s soldiers rushed her ship, meeting opposition from Jaiparian pilots. The landing bay door slammed shut, not allowing any more ships to land or leave.
Erling heard a metallic scraping sound and looked up, just as a soldier jumped off the wing of the combat ship above him and came flying toward him. The man landed on top of Erling and they both fell to the floor with the soldier on top. As Erling fought to dislodge the soldier, Zac rushed over and slammed the blunt end of his laser gun into the soldier’s head. Erling shoved the unconscious man off and leapt to his feet.
“Thanks, Zac. Why haven’t our men attacked?”
Before Zac could answer, Erling grabbed his arm and yanked him behind the ship. The place where Zac had just stood was blackened with blaster fire.
“The Coalition combat ship won’t attack with you aboard,” Zac said. He peered around the ship and fired his laser at a Haklute soldier.
“Why not?”
“Because if they attack, the ship could blow up with you aboard.”
Erling fired several more blasts before replying. “I know. So does King Zanton. That’s why he’d be forced to surrender.”
“But you could be killed if they fire at the ship.”
“A few well-placed shots would show Zanton we mean business, without blowing up the ship.”
“They won’t take the chance of endangering your life. You’re a hero—their leader. It was obviously a trap. Zanton must have foreseen how your pilots would react.”
“If that’s true, we don’t stand a chance.”
A scream caused them both to turn to where the ships were docked. Soldiers were forcefully removing Onolyn from her ship.
“I have to save her!” Zac exclaimed. He tore back toward the ship.
“Zac! Stop!” Erling yelled. “You can’t help her.” Zac kept running, fighting his way to Onolyn, only to be quickly overpowered.
Suppressing an urge to rush to their aid, Erling scanned the landing bay. Things were bad. His men were outnumbered and rapidly being killed or taken captive. In a few minutes, it would be over.
Erling broke away from the area where most of the fighting was taking place and ran to the doorway that must lead to the main part of the Haklute ship. Halfway there, he felt an intense pain in his back. As a black void swallowed him up, he collapsed on the floor.
Michio was on the bridge of the Jaiparian Command Starship when a frantic message came in from Onolyn. “It was a trap. Our pilots are down. Cruiser— .” The radio communication was abruptly cut off.
“Should we attack the ship?” General Dursky asked.
“No,” Michio said. “Everyone on board could be killed if we attack.”
“We could try to take out the engines.”
“It’s too dangerous. Give Erling and his men a chance to battle it out.”
For the next hour Michio waited tensely, hoping to hear from Erling.
Finally, the radio operator said, “King Zanton contacted our ship. He wants to speak to you.”
“Put him through,” Michio said.
King Zanton appeared on a large screen. “We’ve captured Fenian, your commander-in-chief,” King Zanton said. “I demand you allow our ship to return to Haklute. Once we make it home safely, we’ll let Commander Fenian and the others go.”
“Let me speak to him,” Michio demanded.
“He was knocked unconscious in an explosion.”
“How do we know he’s still alive?”
> “You’ll have to take my word for it.”
Michio sensed he was lying. Either Erling hadn’t been captured or he was dead. Regardless he didn’t want to gamble with Erling’s life. “I’ll accept the agreement.”
“If you double cross us, I’ll kill him.” Zanton’s image clicked off the screen.
“King Zanton will never let Commander Fenian go,” General Dursky said. “I think we should attack the ship and cripple it, then forcefully board to save the Commander and our pilots.”
“Too risky. Besides there’s still a chance King Zanton hasn’t captured Erling.”
“Maybe, but it’s also possible Commander Fenian is already dead.”
General Dursky returned to his regular duties and Michio addressed the radio operator. “Were you able to contact the Coalition starship to find out when Toemeka will return to Jaipar now that the battle is over?”
“Yes, I finally got through. The operator I talked to said Agent Kimes is no longer on the starship. She was sent on a mission and hasn’t returned yet.”
“What?” Michio’s breath caught in his throat. “What mission? Where was she sent?”
“It’s classified.”
“Did you check to see if she’s on a Jaiparian starship or has already returned to Jaipar?”
“I checked that as well. There’s no listing of her anywhere. It’s possible she landed on King Zanton’s ship with Commander Fenian and his squadron.”
Michio leaned back in his chair, shaken. It was possible. If Toemeka knew that Erling and his squadron were landing on King Zanton’s ship, she might’ve joined them, not realizing the danger. Michio had a strong urge to pursue General Dursky’s plan of attacking Zanton’s ship to rescue her, but a more rational side of him knew she was safer if he didn’t do anything rash.
Zac and Onolyn sat on the steel floor of their prison cell along with four other pilots. When they were brought to the detention center, they were asked for name, rank and serial number before being assigned cells. Of the many pilots who landed on Zanton’s ship, only a few dozen were still alive. A terrible unspoken question hung in the air between the pilots, strangling their morale. Where was their Commander-in-Chief Erling Fenian? Was he dead?