“If anyone thinks of anything else, let me know. We’ll talk again over breakfast.” Braden looked at the Golden Warrior, while Treetis with his hair finally starting to settled down, sat next to him. Fea was with Bronwyn, talking. The Rabbits were on their way to the garden. The rest of the companions headed for the galley. Dinner called.
An Unpleasant Surprise
The morning arrived with a beautiful sunrise that Braden and Micah watched from a balcony on the third level of the sail. They stood, arms around each other, enjoying the salt of the ocean air. The Hawkoids flew high above, circling the nearby island. They weren’t looking for anything, just stretching their wings. They loved to fly.
Just as Braden loved to trade. He’d decided that he’d approach this as a trade deal. What did the old man want for information that would help them get Caleb and the others back?
Micah didn’t support Braden going, but knew that it was for the best. She would lose patience quickly as the old man dodged direct questions. She’d resort to violence and that wouldn’t get her the information. It was better that Braden and G-War go it alone. Micah didn’t like it, but accepted it as their best chance.
Over breakfast, no one had anything new. Fea was especially kind toward G-War while Treetis had an annoying habit of pawing at the fabricator when he was hungry, which seemed to be all the time. Braden facilitated the young ‘cat’s behavior by getting him something every time he did his thing. Braden was just trying to be nice, but Treetis was learning the wrong lessons. G-War shooed the younger version of himself away and ate half of what Braden had gotten from the machine.
The Wolfoids seemed fascinated by the exchange. Braden sat close to the fabricator because it only responded to verbal commands. Skirill sometimes had luck making it work, but generally, it was up to the humans to order food for everyone.
Braden and Micah didn’t mind. They would do anything for their friends and usually the smallest things made the most impact. They had all risked their lives, but the little effort was what kept them close.
“That’s enough of us milling around and looking at each other!” Braden declared. “G and I are going ashore to work a deal. That’s it. We’ll be back before you wake up from your morning naps! Holly! Move us close to the shore. Where is our boat?” Braden yelled, giving orders as he expected a ship’s captain would.
The companions casually moved to the main deck, where the boat was tied up at the front of the well deck. The Bots must have removed it during the storm as he didn’t remember it being there when they were getting thrown around. It didn’t matter. He asked Holly for a quick instruction on how everything worked. Holly reiterated at least seven times that under no circumstances was the Hillcat to extend his claws and penetrate the bladders of the small boat, which it relied on to keep it afloat.
When the ship was close, Braden gave Micah one last hug and kiss, and he climbed into their small boat. G-War jumped and was instantly yelled at for using his claws to stop himself from sliding when he hit the wet rubber.
“If you think your paws are wet now, if you sink us, you’ll be just like Treetis, a drowned rat,” Braden cautioned. “Just stand in the bottom there and I’ll get us ashore as quickly as I can.” Using the lever that controlled their speed, Braden guided the boat from the aft end of the ship which Holly had conveniently pointed toward the island.
Braden turned the handle a little one way, then the other, getting the feel of how the boat responded. He twisted the handle and the engine hummed, driving the boat faster and faster until they went airborne over a surging wave. The ‘cat bounced into the air, almost as high as Braden was tall. He came straight back down, landing hard within the boat.
‘Do that again, and I will sink us and drown you,’ G-War growled, unhappy with his human for the entire oceangoing adventure.
“Relax, G! We’re almost there.” Braden throttled back to slow their headlong rush. He’d almost fallen overboard with their little stunt and didn’t want the embarrassment of the boat racing away without him. G-War would never let him live that down.
Braden guided the boat into the small cove where the dark water was clear, but too deep to see the bottom. They cruised across the calm waters and slid the boat ashore. When Braden stepped out and started to pull the boat farther up the sand, away from the tidal pull, G-War spoke.
‘They’re here,’ he said. Braden immediately opened his neural implant. He wanted Holly to be included, for the inevitable challenges the old man would bring.
Braden let the boat drop and turned to face a younger man, well built, standing firm.
“Yes, they’re here, nothing to fear, all in good cheer!” he said with a big smile.
“Who are you?” Braden asked, surprised at the switch.
“Why, I’m the Professor, of course. Shall we?” the man pointed to a small table and two chairs that had been set up in the shade of a palm tree, similar to those growing at the Oases in the Great Desert. Braden never knew what they were called until Holly told him.
“I thought the man we met yesterday was the Professor,” Braden said, confused.
“Yes, he was. That was me. I had worked all night and hadn’t had a chance to clean up. I feel like a new man!” the young Professor exclaimed. Braden gritted his teeth. It was never good to argue with a customer who was clearly lying.
Why the bait and switch? Braden thought to himself, trying to get back into the right trading mindset. It didn’t matter who negotiated, as long as they were willing to talk.
G-War looked into the trees, staring at certain spots but not speaking, because he knew the Professor could hear him, even when he spoke only to Braden. The ‘cat didn’t like his thoughts intruded upon, although he couldn’t understand why people were upset when he did it. He was a ‘cat, after all.
“Well, then, shall we?” Braden pointed to the table and started walking that way. The Professor took a keen interest in looking at Braden’s boots. The Free Trader didn’t ask as he didn’t want to be drawn into any conversation that didn’t have Caleb as its main topic.
“I’ll start by repeating myself from yesterday. We are looking for humans that were taken from White Beach a few cycles, I mean years, ago and then more people taken recently. We believe they were taken to the undersea facility that is just off shore from this island. You and I both know that’s not a coincidence, so let’s talk about that and how we can get our people back,” Braden said firmly, jaw set as he studied his opponent.
“What a shame that you think I had anything to do with that. I really have no idea who gets taken or when. My work is far too important to get caught up in the mundane,” the man replied politely.
“What is your work?” Braden wanted to find common ground with the Professor, who seemed interested, although everything that came out of his mouth was questionable. Braden also noted that the Professor had just confirmed he knew about the undersea facility. The gentle thrust and parry of the negotiation had begun.
“I think it best if I show you,” the man said, standing up. He produced a device that looked like the communicator Holly had given Micah. The Professor pressed a button and the window where Holly had been filled with fuzz, blocking Braden’s vision. He closed the window and blinked the image away.
Braden looked at the device and lunged for it, but his muscles didn’t seem to work right. His legs became thick, then his arms were too heavy to hold up. It became harder to breathe. G-War snarled and tried to attack the Professor, but three different nets sprang up from the sand. He tangled into one and a hidden arm dragged the net over the ‘cat, trapping him.
G-War twisted and slashed, hissed and jumped. All to no avail. He didn’t give up. He kept fighting against the net until a powder wafted over, instantly calming him.
‘Braden, I’ve failed you,’ the ‘cat shared over the mindlink before he passed out.
“No one will hear your plea for help, you magnificent fighter, you. Look at all those scars. My! You must have been in s
ome battles. And you too, my young friend, you too.” The Professor looked closely at Braden, happy that the pin in the chair had done its job and effectively delivered the drug that rendered the young man unconscious.
“You will both add nicely to my experiments, help me get past these interminable hold ups. Come now!” he yelled at the woods. “Take them to the den.” The misshapen mob appeared and threw Braden unceremoniously onto a stretcher. G-War received even less consideration as they dumped his unconscious form into a bag.
The Professor pointed to the raft and the man-horse shuffled to it, using a spear to poke holes in all the bladders. He pushed it into the surf where it was dragged backward and disappeared into the depths of the cove.
Skirill was sitting on a branch of the lone tree at the end of the rocky outcropping. He could see the beach and everything that happened, but he stayed silent as he knew the Professor could hear him. He remained unmoving, sitting as close to the trunk as possible, trying to remain unseen. He’d been there since the break of dawn and watched the Professor set up. He hadn’t seen any of the traps being put into place. He’d failed Braden, too, but he didn’t know that was exactly how G-War felt. Skirill hadn’t heard a thing from those on the beach, and that surprised him.
When the mob and the Professor disappeared into the woods, Skirill waited until he was sure they were gone, and then he launched himself skyward, flying quickly to the ship.
He landed and told them what he’d seen. Without hesitation, the two Wolfoids grabbed their spears and ran full speed to the edge of the deck and jumped into the ocean. They started dog-paddling, but the tide was going out. Soon, with Bronwyn’s help, Chlora and Rhodi showed up to guide them toward the shore.
‘Holly, get us ashore, now!’ Micah called via her neural implant.
‘I think haste will not get you what you want, Master President,’ Holly cautioned. ‘We need more information, otherwise, I fear that all the companions will be captured. The Professor blocked the neural implant and I suspect he blocked the mindlink, somehow, too. The Hawkoid heard nothing from Braden or the Golden Warrior.’
Micah stomped on the deck and spit angrily. She growled as she talked. “Bronwyn, ask the Dolphins to bring the Wolfoids back, please. We will plan, and then we will return. When we go, all of us will go. The Professor will pay for this. I will make him pay,” Micah said through gritted teeth.
Together We Go
Micah stood looking over the railing, seething at the limited information they’d gathered. The Hawkoids had flown into the tops of the trees, but they were unable to get too close to the compound. No one liked the thought that the Professor could not only hear them when they talked over the mindlink, but he could block it as well.
When the Hawkoids found two other outposts hidden beneath the canopy of the jungle, they flew back to the ship before reporting. They didn’t want to be discovered. Micah updated the map that Holly provided by way of the neural implant with the latest information, what they’d seen of the compound the previous daylight, and with all the locations where Holly discovered emissions. After consolidating the information, they realized that they still didn’t know very much. The map had a great deal of empty space.
Holly suggested dropping advanced listening devices, but it would take the ship’s small fabricator a full day to produce them. Micah didn’t want to go in completely blind, but she couldn’t wait. She assumed that the Professor was doing the worst things to her mate.
‘Master President, I also suggest you take the field generator. I believe that will mitigate any of the Professor’s electronics that he may be using. The only way the neural implant can be blocked is with technology, and the only way your mindlink can be blocked is with biotechnology. Both are within the power of the ancients. If we can mitigate their technology, physically, he is no match for you, even the younger version of the Professor, and no, I have no idea what that is all about. I can only surmise that there are two of them, an older man and a younger, cloned version.’
“You want me to carry that big brick?” Micah asked.
‘I would have the King of the Aurochs carry it, personally, but if you want to carry it, who am I to argue?’ Holly replied. Micah tried not to deliver an angry retort, because Holly was right. Since Brandt was going, he could carry it and not even notice he had it. She’d ask him.
The Dolphins swam up the well deck and delivered two dripping Wolfoids, who were not pleased at having returned to the ship.
“I’m sorry, but Holly had a bunch of good points. We can’t go storming in after the Professor, he’s an ancient with ancient technology. Skirill said he easily captured both Braden and G-War. If we go running in there, he’ll take us, too, and then there will be no one left to rescue anyone. It’s up to us to get this right because if we don’t, we lose Caleb, too.”
The Wolfoids hung their heads, shaking with the desire to do something but hamstrung by circumstances and an enemy that was more dangerous than any they’d previously faced. When it came to fighting, their leader who always came up with winning plans, wasn’t there. They had to figure it out on their own.
Pik Ha’ar stood close by, seemingly unfazed by the situation. He looked at the shore, unmoving. Aadi swam close to the Lizard Man. ‘Tell us, Pik, what are you thinking?’
‘Let us sail the ship around the island. I wish to look at it from all angles. Then we go ashore, individually, coming at the compound from each of the cardinal directions. If one of us gets taken down, the others press on. Micah’s concern was that there would be no one left to come rescue us. We split into four groups. Then there will be three who can come. We need to time our movements so we all arrive at the same moment. We cannot use the mindlink,’ Pik said smoothly and calmly.
“Holly!” Micah yelled. “Take us on a tour around the island, quick as you can, please.”
“Aye, aye, Captain!” Holly announced over a loudspeaker.
“How can you hear me?” Micah asked, even though she’d talked with him out loud before on the ship.
“There are a number of sensors. This ship was very advanced at the time of the civil war. It was the best that the ancients’ technology could offer, a testament that it could float around the ocean for four-hundred years and still look new when we found it, and that includes the quality of the gardens. While the Rabbits are on board, I’ve disengaged the Development Unit that would usually tend the foliage.”
“Always thoughtful, Holly. Let’s look at the island and see what it will take to seize control. Pik has a plan. Do as he tells you,” Micah ordered.
“I can’t hear Pik Ha’ar when he speaks,” Holly answered.
“Fine,” Micah retorted. Even Holly knew that when she said ‘fine,’ it didn’t mean fine. Braden and Holly had had many long conversations about the nuances in language use between the human females and males, although Braden admitted that he had minimal expertise, most of which was learned the hard way. “I’ll tell you what he says.”
The companions gathered on the port side of the sail, on the open deck outside the galley. Brandt stood on the deck below, watching the shore go by. The Hawkoids flew high above, looking for any sign of Braden and G-War. Pik pointed at various points, then asked the Hawkoids if there was a route inland from there.
They all had clear paths into the interior of the island, they were told. Pik was concerned that the ways seemed too inviting.
‘Strider, Brigitte, and Zeeka. Bounder, Ferrer, and Skirill. Brandt, Treetis, and I. Micah, Aadi, Fea, and Zyena. These are the groups. I will disembark last. Judge the time it takes us to get around the island. First ashore, Strider’s group to the northwest. You’ll skirt the peak and head east.
‘Bounder’s group will land on the north shore and head south to the compound. You will be the closest, which means you’ll have to wait much longer before you move. Do you understand?’ Bounder nodded.
‘Micah, you will land over there, on the eastern shore near the stream. Follow it inland and it
will take you directly to the compound.
‘Brandt will land in the cove as it’s the only place he can disembark. We will head inland, quickly to the compound. I suggest we do not kill any of the misfit mob. They are innocents in all this. The Professor is the problem. We will close on his position and attack as soon as we arrive. Just like we did in the rainforest.’ Pik looked to each face, waiting for them to nod before moving on.
‘I am Pik Ha’ar, Commander of the Lizard Men. We cannot stand by while there are those who would do evil in the way of the ancients. There is a new way now and people like the Overlords and the Professor are not welcome here. They change, or they die. And the Professor? He needs to go. Once we have him, the Golden Warrior will rip the secrets from his mind and then we will end him.
‘Brandt and I will make noise, head up the trail like a herd of water buffalo. The rest of you, quiet as you can. We will storm into the compound first, distract them. The rest of you follow, watch each other, look for anyone who has succumbed to the technology of the ancients. Cover them and keep them safe. The rest of us will converge on the Professors, both old and young. Any questions?’
‘What about me?’ Bronwyn asked in a small voice.
‘You are the key to making it all work. We need your Dolphin friends to take the teams ashore. And we need Rexalita to make sure that no one approaches the ship while we’re gone. We don’t know what other creatures the Professor has. And then when we need help, we will call you. You will be the only one left.’
‘But I can talk with them. They’ll listen to me!’ Bronwyn pleaded.
‘Then you go with Micah,’ Pik readily conceded, hoping that the girl could keep the misshapen mob from hindering them as they went after the Professor.
“You sound just like Braden,” Micah said, slapping the Lizard Man on the shoulder. She didn’t smile. She didn’t have it in her. She encouraged her father to teach the villagers of White Beach how to fish, and he was taken. Then she let Braden go ashore alone to be taken as well. Her father was missing and her partner was captured by a man Bronwyn said was filled with darkness.
Free Trader Box Set - Books 4-6: Battle for the Amazon, Free the North!, Free Trader on the High Seas Page 54