Rembis nodded his head. “Same here. Eat it is.” Speaking a single word, the gnome reached out and plucked a lump of blackened material from the air. He broke it into three pieces and gave one piece each to Leethor and Master Jathar before beginning to chew on his part. With a less than enthusiastic look on his face, he swallowed. Holding out his lump to Telsa, he said, “Are you sure you don’t want some? It’s uh…delicious, in a horrible sort of way.”
Master Jathar snorted. “Ha! Summoned bread is enough to keep a desperate elf alive, but it is only intended for short-term survival situations. I lost my taste for this stuff a week ago.”
“Tell me about it,” said Leethor, swallowing a bite of his own bread. “Meshoan and I had to live on this for a month once when we were running from some orcs up north.” He glanced around and smiled. “Well, uh, not up north from here, obviously.”
“Obviously,” said Rembis. “But you’re both right about the bread.” The gnome glanced at Telsa and smiled. “I’ve gnawed on lumps of coal that tasted better.”
“I’m sorry about that too,” Telsa said. “I guess we should’ve brought more supplies.” Unlike her companions, she didn’t need to eat. Her battle suit took care of her every need as long as it remained sealed. Since the very air around them was poisonous, and since she couldn’t cast breathing spells like the mages, she’d been bottled up for the past two weeks in her suit.
“Bottled up is such a harsh word,” said Raj in their shared space. “You should be grateful. You have only been in your suit for two weeks. Nickelo told me that Wizard Scout Shepard once spent thirty years sealed in his battle suit during a mission for ‘the One.’”
“Yeah, lucky me,” Telsa said.
Once the elves and the gnome finished their sparse meal and summoned water to wash it down, they all rose and began traveling in the same direction they’d been walking for the last week. Telsa led.
“There are no trails, no sun, and no stars to follow in this black, smoke-filled sky,” she told her battle computer. “If it wasn’t for that sensation of Power ahead, I wouldn’t have the faintest idea where to go. As it is, the Power draws me on like a moth to a flame.”
“You do know that analogy ends up with the moth being burned up by the fire, don’t you?” asked Raj in their shared space.
“Believe me, I know. Unfortunately, that Power source is all we’ve got to go on. You haven’t bothered giving any suggestions.”
“Sorry, Wizard Scout. I have none to give. I make decisions based on data, and that has been plenty sparse during our stay here.”
They walked for another four hours. While there was no trail, the floor of the valley they were in made for easy traveling. By the time the distant volcano erupted, they were well out of range. Just as Telsa was about to call a halt to give her companions another rest, Leethor abruptly stopped, nocked an arrow, and took aim to their right. Telsa swung her M12 in the same direction as she reached out with her passive scan. She neither saw nor sensed anything other than the same lava-filled landscape they’d been seeing for the past two weeks.
“Raj?” Telsa said.
“I am unable to pinpoint the source of whatever has drawn the elf’s interest, Wizard Scout. Your passive scan picked up an energy flow twenty meters to your right, but the disturbance only lasted for thirty-five milliseconds.”
Telsa was half tempted to fire off a burst of plasma rounds just to see if she could spook whatever was there, assuming anything was, but resisted the urge.
“I calculate it was smart to avoid doing that,” said Raj. “You only have your basic load of ammo with no way to resupply.”
“I wasn’t actually going to do it,” Telsa snapped. “I was just thinking about it.”
“If you say so, Wizard Scout.”
“What is it?” asked Rembis.
Both he and Master Jathar had stopped and were looking in the same direction as Leethor and her.
“I am not sure,” Leethor admitted. He pointed at the area to the right with his nocked arrow.
Telsa noticed it was the same place where her passive scan had picked up the disturbance.
Shaking his head, Leethor said, “I sensed something in that spot. It’s gone now, but I swear something was there.”
Rembis pulled a wand from his belt and pointed it at the area as he shouted a single word. The air around Telsa and the others turned noticeably colder. A funnel of sleet and ice shot out the end of the wand, turning a five-meter-wide area on the ground white with frost.
The sound of a screech was followed by a fluttering of ice-coated wings. The air shimmered above the frost-covered ground, revealing a knee-high creature with purplish skin; a long, narrow face; and two bat-shaped wings. The creature began running toward the top of the hill, hissing as it went. Telsa aimed her rifle at the little monster’s legs. Before she could fire, Master Jathar waved a hand in the air and mumbled several words. A green beam shot out from his left hand, bathing the creature in its light. The creature fell to the ground, frozen stiff.
“Paralysis spell,” said Raj making it sound like he was doing his wizard scout a favor by explaining something so obvious.
Telsa let it slide.
Leethor reached the creature first with sword drawn. He avoided touching the creature, but the tip of his sword hovered a mere handbreadth from the creature’s throat, making it obvious he could kill whatever it was if desired. Rembis and Master Jathar ran up the hill with wands drawn and joined the elf scout. Telsa stayed back long enough to cast an active scan and probe the hillside for additional adversaries. Finding none, she joined her companions. Master Jathar waved a finger at the small creature. A bluish light enveloped its head. The creature bared its teeth and began hissing.
“I think it’s trying to talk,” said Rembis. He turned to Telsa. “Can your battle computer translate? I hate to waste Power on a spell unless needed. There might be others of its kind around.”
“Ah,” said the creature using a highly accented version of Portalis common. “I familiar with your language. Take cold away. I no like cold.”
“Then tell us who you are and why you were spying on us,” Telsa said, taking an instant dislike to the creature. Now that it was helpless, she sensed a distinct feeling of evil from the little monster. The two horns protruding from its forehead along with its red eyes did little to allay her dislike.
The external speaker on Telsa’s battle helmet crackled. “It resembles a type of demon, or devil, if you prefer, from old Earth culture. It was called an imp. According to the information in my databanks, they were more mischievous than harmful.”
“Yes,” said the imp. “I not harmful. I friend. I everyone’s friend.”
“Then why were you spying on us?” Telsa asked. Her dislike for the miniature demon was undeterred by either her battle computer’s explanation or the imp’s claim of friendship.
“I not spying,” said the imp baring wicked looking fangs. “I was only following to see what you doing so I could tell others and get a reward.”
Leethor waved the tip of his sword at the imp. “That’s called spying where I come from. Where are these others that you mentioned?”
The imp’s eyes narrowed. “What others? Did I say others? No others. I alone. No friends, only me.”
“Fine then,” Telsa said. “Rembis, use that wand and freeze the thing in a block of ice so thick it will never get out.”
“No!” screeched the imp. “Not cold. I hate cold. Others not here. They all still at gate.”
Leethor gave the imp a little slap in the side with the flat of his sword. The green glow surrounding the little demon disappeared as the paralysis spell broke. Surprisingly, the imp didn’t run. “Do not lie to us. We just came from the gate. The place was dead as a doornail.”
The bare skin on the imp’s forehead winkled, and it scratched its head with a clawed hand. After a second, the miniature demon hissed. “Ah, you must have been at smaller gate. Demon armies are not there. They are at
big gate. The Dalinfaust gathered them all there, but now the Dalinfaust is back in prison.” The imp hissed a laugh. “I do not think the Dalinfaust having a good time. The armies wait at the large gate anyway.”
Continuing to cover the imp with his wand, Master Jathar glanced at Telsa long enough to make eye contact. “It must be talking about the gate that is located in the Presence of the Lady. The demons almost got out through it. Maybe that’s our way home.”
Turning to the imp, Telsa said, “Take us to the main gate.”
The imp’s eyes grew round, and its wings began fluttering. “No! No!” it said in a voice laden with fear. “Have you not listened? The armies are there. Soul-eaters are there. Freeze me. Tear this body apart piece by piece, but I not take you there. I no be tortured for eternity because you are foolish mortals.”
The imp’s fear was so obvious Telsa momentarily felt sorry for the creature. A wave of evil mixed with fear swept her short-lived sympathy away.
Leethor stepped closer to the imp while keeping his sword pointed at the miniature demon. “You said you have been following us. What have you heard us say?”
The imp grew still before pointing at its chest with a leathery hand. “Me? Nothing. I no hear you say you look for yellow gem. No such gem, but even if you find it, you not able to escape. Only way is through rift, and it too well guarded.”
“Careful,” said Raj in Telsa’s shared space. “I calculate the imp is acting the part of the fool. The information in my databanks indicates imps are intelligent and devious.”
“Understood,” Telsa said. “I was thinking along the same lines.”
“Where is this rift you are talking about?” said Master Jathar.
“And what is it?” asked Rembis.
“Rift?” said the imp looking at the ground and kicking a small stone down the hillside. The imp watched the stone until it stopped against a larger rock. “Uh, I meant if there was a rift, it would be too well guarded for you to get through.”
Telsa pointed the barrel of her M12 at the miniature demon.
It cringed.
“You know what a rifle is, don’t you?”
The imp nodded. “I know. I been through rift. Bat-creatures use rifles. Bats foolish. They think they in charge. Demons hide them from their enemies. One day demons kill bats. One day soon I hope all mortals die.” The imp glanced around and shook its head as if realizing who its audience was. “Uh, except for you, I mean. I your friend. I not drink warm, delicious blood. You can trust me.” The miniature demon bared its teeth.
Whether the imp thought it was a smile, Telsa didn’t know. The one thing she did know was that the creature was full of lies. “I wouldn’t trust you if my life depended on it.”
Frowning, the imp spread its hands. “Maybe it does. Maybe I show new friends yellow gem. Some near rift. Maybe I take you there if you give me some of your blood.”
Telsa was tempted to kick the evil creature, but she refrained. Leethor, on the other hand, was not so well-controlled. The elf scout kicked the imp in the ribs, sending it rolling down the hill to land against a large rock. Leethor was at the little demon’s side with raised sword before it stopped rolling.
“No kill,” said the imp struggling to its feet. “No want your blood. I help you. I take you to rift. You go home. You see. I good friend.”
Telsa exchanged glances with the two elves and Rembis.
They all nodded.
She turned to the little demon. “Very well. Take us to this rift and show us those yellow gems of yours.” She pointed the barrel of her M12 at the creature. “If I even think you’re leading us into a trap, I’ll fill you full of holes and have Rembis here freeze you in a block of ice that will never melt. Do you understand?”
The imp nodded. “I understand. I friend. You see. Follow me. Must hurry. Long way. Soon more demons. Must be careful. Do what I say. Trust me. I friend.”
“I calculate this is not going to end well,” said Raj in their shared space. “Do you want to know the odds?”
“Not particularly,” Telsa replied. “Whatever they are, it’s the only chance we’ve got.”
Raj gave a canned laugh. “I was afraid you would say that, Wizard Scout. I will just say the odds are not good. I calculate we are going to need to rely on your luck.”
Telsa glanced around at the blackened landscape and plumes of volcanic ash. “Somehow I don’t think we’re going to get lucky.”
“Neither do I, Wizard Scout,” admitted Raj. “Neither do I.”
Chapter 24 – Counterplan
__________________
The lab on the Conglomerate dreadnaught Planet Buster was expansive for a starship. A dozen technicians in white lab coats worked at as many tables running experiments and monitoring computer screens. Tia sat at a small workbench in front of a high-security containment unit. She stared at the half-meter tall demon through the unit’s observation window. The orange imp glared back at her, hatred evident in its gaze.
A tingling in the ring on her finger drew Tia out of her thoughts. After two weeks, she was no closer to figuring out how the imp had hidden the two fighters from her scans than she’d been when she started. Turning in her chair, she watched the lab’s door and waited. Despite two weeks of being close to Matthew on a day-to-day basis, she still felt butterflies in her stomach whenever she sensed he was near.
The door slid open. In walked Matthew. When their eyes made contact, a broad smile matching hers spread across his face. A warm feeling passed down the link from his ring to hers. Behind Matthew came a young boy with dark, curly hair.
“Brachia!” Tia said. “I didn’t think you’d be able to come. Dren said Rick had both of you busy inventorying warehouses and working on the teleporter.”
Richard’s ten-year-old adopted nephew broke out in a grin. “Inventorying’s boring. Dren gets into that kind of thing. I don’t. I was able to get the primary teleporter on Storage working an hour ago.” The boy patted the computerized personal assistant, or C-PAST as it was called, attached to the side of his belt. “I figured it needed to be tested, so Omar and I volunteered, and here we are.” Brachia’s eyes turned to the containment unit. “Is that it? I’ve never seen one before. Does it talk?”
Tia shrugged. “It hasn’t said a word since it’s been here. The ship’s computer ran a query on the central computer’s database. If the central computer’s information is correct, the thing can talk. It’s just choosing not to do so.”
Walking up to the observation window, Brachia stared at the orange creature. “I think it’s kinda cute.”
Matthew gave Tia a wink before walking up and placing his hand on the boy genius’s shoulder. “Cute or not, it’s deadly. It’s a demon.” Waving a hand around the lab, he said, “The Planet Buster’s captain has given you free rein of the lab and personnel. Whatever you need is at your disposal. I hope you’re as smart as Uncle Rick thinks you are, because we need answers, and we need them fast.”
Without a hint of a smile, Brachia said, “Oh, I’m that smart. Just give me a few hours.”
When Matthew glanced at her, Tia grinned. “You heard him, Matt. Why don’t we leave Brachia to do whatever he needs to do? In the meantime, I’ve got a conference call with Liz in thirty minutes. I’d like you to be with me when I make it.”
Nodding his head, Matthew said, “I think that would be advisable. If our Conglomerate fleets are to be of any help, we’ve got to stay informed.”
Tia started to tell Brachia goodbye, but the boy had already placed a headset over his ears and was busy moving icons around on a computer display as fast as his fingers could fly. Shrugging her shoulders at Matthew, she headed for the door with the man she knew was her soulmate close on her heels. As soon as the door slid shut behind them, Tia glanced down the long metal-walled corridor both ways. It was empty. Wrapping her arms around Matthew’s neck, she gave him a deep kiss. Neither breathed for several seconds. The sound of steps on the metal deck coming around the far corner cu
t their kiss short.
“I’ve missed you,” said Matthew.
“And I you,” Tia replied. “I don’t ever want to be away from you again.”
“Same here,” said Matthew, “but this war has a nasty habit of getting in the way.” He looked at Tia before gesturing down the left corridor. “I suppose we’d better get to the conference room and make your call before some admin type tries to drag one of us away for some emergency or the other.”
Tia didn’t want to go. She wished they had more free time together. I should be grateful Liz hasn’t ordered me back to fleet headquarters, she thought. If I hadn’t convinced her the imp was important, I’m sure I’d be back there already. In the meantime, I’m going to take advantage of every minute Matt and I can be together while we have the chance.
Five minutes later found Tia and Matthew sitting in an empty conference room, facing a hologram of Admiral of the Combined Fleets Bistos. To Liz’s left sat her husband, Fleet Admiral Donovan.
“It’s good to see you again, Tim,” Tia said in greeting.
“You too, Tia,” replied her brother-in-law with a wide grin.
The frown on Liz’s face wasn’t near as friendly. “Let’s keep this meeting formal, shall we? I’ve got more on my plate than I can handle as it is without wasting time on small talk.”
Tia felt her face growing warm until she noticed the winkles around the corners of her sister’s eyes and the dry look of her skin. She’s getting old, Tia thought. I don’t ever want to be a fleet commander if that’s the price of command. She felt the warmth of anger leave her face.
“Whatever you say, Admiral,” Tia replied, trying to keep any hint of irritation out of her voice. The last thing Liz needs at the moment is a family squabble, she reasoned.
Her sister nodded. “So what have you found out about that demon of yours? Have you gotten it to talk?”
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