The planetary administration building was massive. Just the wing devoted to the Imperial High Council was over two kilometers in length. But the transportation chair made quick work of delivering its passenger. Within twenty seconds, the chair abruptly slowed and exited out an opening in the tube. The chair came to a halt in an ornate room filled with several dozen beings of various Empire races.
A tall, blue-skinned male approached Richard. At least, Richard thought he was a male. It was always hard to tell with Eorians.
You mean it’s hard for you to tell, quipped Nickelo. I calculate a ninety-nine point nine percent probability the Eorians have no trouble distinguishing the difference.
“Wizard scout,” said the Eorian as he or she gave a bow. “I am Councilwoman Deloris’ chief of staff. Please follow me.”
The Eorian didn’t wait for Richard to answer. He or she just turned and walked towards a wide hallway across the room. Richard followed.
Halfway down the hall, two burly guards dressed in light-blue Conglomerate uniforms stood in front of a double door. They were armed with M63 lightweight plasma assault rifles. Both guards turned and glowered at Richard.
“This is Wizard Scout Shepard,” said the Eorian. “Councilwoman Deloris is expecting him.”
Without waiting for a reply, the Eorian gave Richard a bow, turned, and walked back the way they’d come.
Friendly chap, isn’t he? Richard thought.
Yes, he is, assuming he’s a he, answered Nickelo. He reminds me of you a few years ago. You were ever the social butterfly.
One of the guards held up a small scanner. A yellow light ran up and down Richard’s length.
“He’s clean,” said the guard.
The second guard opened the door and ushered Richard inside. As he passed, the guard whispered, “You’d best not give the councilwoman any trouble. We’ll be right outside.”
Ah, said Nickelo into Richard’s shared space. Another devoted fan of the wizard scout corps.
Can it, Nick, Richard said. I’m going to need some help. I’m not very good at dealing with politicians and their conniving ways.
So I’ve noticed, Nickelo laughed. Then he added a little more seriously, But never fear. I’ve got your back, buddy.
Once inside, Richard was referred by the receptionist to a second receptionist who referred him to the undersecretary for the councilwoman. After a fifteen minute wait in a semi-crowded antechamber, Richard was led to another set of doors flanked by four guards in the light-blue jumpsuits of the Conglomerate. Like their earlier companions, all four were heavily armed. The scowls the four guards gave Richard as he passed by made the first two guards look like his best buddies.
Friendly cusses, aren’t they? said Nickelo. And loaded for wild pactar I might add. I calculate the councilwoman is concerned about her security.
Richard didn’t reply. The door shut behind him. The only other occupant in the room was a slim woman dressed in a light-blue pantsuit. She had the physical appearance of a woman in her late twenties, but Richard wasn’t fooled. From her aura, he guessed her age was in the mid-forties. He’d seen her before. She was Councilwoman Deloris.
The councilwoman looked up from her desk and gave Richard a smile. “Ah. Wizard Scout Shepard, we meet again. How long has it been?”
“Ten months,” Richard said keeping his answer terse.
The last time he’d seen the councilwoman had been when he’d graduated from the Academy. He’d never had any direct dealings with her, but he knew she was no friend of the wizard scout corp. From what his battle computer had told him, the councilwoman had been leading a charge to close the Academy when the Crosioians did the job for her by attacking. Richard trusted her about as much as he trusted a coiled rattlesnake from his home world of Earth.
“Oh, come now, wizard scout,” said Councilwoman Deloris with a friendly smile. “I’m not your enemy. Surely we can be friends.”
Oh, she’s good, said Nickelo. Her smile almost looks genuine. Watch what you say, Rick. Words are her weapons. You’re outgunned bigtime.
Don’t I know it, buddy? Richard said.
Richard had always hated subterfuge and political niceties. He was still a Marine as heart, so he decided to take the direct approach.
“I’m just a soldier, councilwoman,” Richard said. “I obey legal orders from my chain of command. But if I may be frank, I doubt we can be friends. My understanding is you were responsible for a lot of the Commandant’s grief his last few weeks. You made it obvious you’re no friend of wizard scouts. I’m not apt to forget.”
“Ah. I suspected you might think unkindly of me, Rick,” said Councilwoman Deloris. “You don’t mind if I call you Rick, do you? Titles seem so formal. One gets tired of them after a while.”
Richard shrugged his shoulders.
The councilwoman must have taken that as his approval because she continued, “And, Rick, you must call me Diane.” She paused. “You know, I owe you a debt of gratitude. How could I want to be anything other than your friend?”
Her words took Richard by surprise. “I don’t understand. Gratitude for what?”
“Oh, Rick. You’re too modest for your own good,” said the councilwoman with a chuckle. “For starters, everyone on the council owes the Hero of Velos a debt. From all the reports I’ve read, you pretty much singlehandedly fought off the Crosioian invasion force.”
Richard said nothing. Flowery words didn’t inflate his ego anymore. Years ago they might have, but he was no longer the naive teenager he’d once been. He was an experienced wizard scout now.
The councilwoman waited a few seconds as if expecting Richard to reply. When he didn’t, she said, “All right, maybe that’s overstating it a bit. But I’m a politician. Exaggeration comes by force of habit. Please forgive me if I occasionally inflate the facts a little. However, I do owe you a debt, Rick. After all, you saved my son’s life during the battle at the Academy’s airfield last year. If you hadn’t convinced him to trade his Warcat for your rifle, he would’ve marched off to his death.”
She paused again and turned around to look at the wall behind her. Richard noticed her raise a hand to her eyes. After a moment she turned back around and said, “I don’t think I could have recovered from that.”
For the barest moment, Richard thought he saw the councilwoman drop the facade she used to shield herself from the world around her. For that brief moment, he saw the fear of a mother who’d almost lost the most precious thing in her universe; her child. Then the facade was back in place, and the moment was gone.
“Well, anyway,” said the councilwoman. “I just wanted to thank you.”
Richard wasn’t sure how to respond, so he just remained silent for what he hoped was an appropriate amount of time. Finally he spoke. “Councilwoman, why–”
“Diane…, please,” interrupted Councilwoman Deloris.
“Uh…, okay, er…, Diane,” Richard muttered. “Really. Why am I here? You’ve had almost a year to thank me for the situation with your son. The council authorized hyper-jumps for the Defiant with a fully-funded overhaul to get me here by today. Why?”
The councilwoman started to frown, but she hurriedly changed the expression into a smile. “I’ve been told you were blunt and to the point. I fear your ship’s captain is rubbing his bad habits off on you, but no matter. Please sit, Rick. You’re making me feel uncomfortable standing at parade rest like that.”
The councilwoman pointed to a thickly-padded chair to the left side of her desk. After pulling the chair to the front to keep the desk between them, Richard sat down.
“I’ve been meaning to thank you,” said Councilwoman Deloris, “but I’ve been so busy with the war and all. Not to mention the destruction of the Academy has put a strain on the military. But, you’re right. Thanking you is not the primary reason your trip to Risors was expedited. It seems we’ve had a request from a very important interstellar government for you to be temporarily reassigned to them.”
That got Richard’s attention.
“Who and why?” Richard asked. He’d been denied wizard scout type missions for so long he was leery of any additional out of the ordinary requests. Being assigned to a mercenary outfit was bad enough. He was a regular military soldier. The fact he wasn’t assigned to a standard military outfit left a bad taste in his mouth. His friends were off defending the Empire from the Crosioians while he played tag with Balorian pirates or got sent on wild-goose chases.
“Who?” said the councilwoman. “The Trecorians have made the request. Why? They say it’s because they want you to help train their soldiers.”
“What?” Richard said incredulously. “And the council believes them? The Trecorians were trying to blow holes in me not three days ago. They missed, and I don’t plan on giving them a second chance.”
“Hmm,” said the councilwoman as she pursed her lips and touched the tips of her fingers together. “I’ll let your chain of command discuss that with you. But just so you know, your reassignment has already been approved by the Imperial High Command.”
Councilwoman Deloris gave Richard a sympathetic look. “Rick, I understand your feelings. Truly I do. But, the Empire has been courting the Trecorians for the last three years; all to no avail. The Empire needs their raw materials for our war effort. This is the first conciliatory overture we’ve gotten from the Trecorians.”
She paused and then in a softer tone said, “May I be honest with you, Rick?”
Watch it, Rick, warned Nickelo. You can bet any time a politician asks if they can be honest with you, that’s the time they’re probably going to be the most dishonest.
Richard just nodded his head yes. The councilwoman took his nod as an affirmative reply to her question.
“I’ve read the report of your action with the Trecorians,” she said. “Very impressive. Outnumbered twelve to one, you destroyed four of their cats and lived to tell about it. On top of that, you did it without killing any of their soldiers. The Trecorians were impressed as well. They’ve offered to begin limited sales of brerellium to the Empire if we reassign you to them for a few months.”
Richard snorted disgustedly.
“Does the Empire get a bonus if I accidentally get a burst of plasma rounds to the back of my head,” Richard asked in as sarcastic a tone as he could muster.
Councilwoman Deloris took Richard’s comment as a joke. She gave a little laugh. “You military types and your coarse sense of humor continually amaze me. The Trecorians’ ambassador gave the council Duke Bistoria’s assurance you would only be involved in training well behind friendly lines. The Imperial High Council believes him.”
From previous briefings, Richard knew Duke Bistoria was the pseudo leader of the Trecorians. “Do you believe him…, Diane?” Richard said emphasizing the councilwoman’s name. “Would you trust the life of your son on the duke’s promise?”
Councilwoman Deloris looked long and hard at Richard. He didn’t flinch. Richard figured he’d called her bluff. He assumed she was even now trying to think of a way to take her words back.
“As it so happens,” said Councilwoman Deloris in a deathly-serious tone, “I am trusting my son’s life on the duke’s promise. My son, Matthew, will be accompanying you on your ship. If there’s any treachery on the part of the Trecorians, my son will pay the price along with you.”
Shocked beyond words, Richard just stared openmouthed at the councilwoman. The list of additional arguments he’d been formulating in his mind disappeared into a puff of smoke. He could think of no arguments suitable against a mother willing to risk the life of her son.
Maybe the honored councilwoman doesn’t like her son very much, suggested Nickelo. Have you thought of that?
Richard brushed his battle computer’s comment aside. He’d heard her son defend his mother the previous years. Richard seriously doubted the boy would be so loyal to his mother if there were any dislike in the relationship.
“You look shocked,” said Councilwoman Deloris. “You needn’t be. I’ve met the duke on several occasions. He’s an honorable man, as are most of the Trecorians; male or female. You’ll probably like them.”
The councilwoman smiled. “The Trecorians have always reminded me a little of the old Spartans back on your home world of Earth. They’re very militaristic. You’ll probably fit right in.”
Richard had read quite a bit on the Trecorians before he’d gone on his mission to planet X3321. He nodded his head in agreement with the councilwoman. Like her, the Trecorians reminded him of the ancient Spartans. However, they weren’t nearly as brutal. Still, they were similar in many ways. For instance, every Trecorian child began military training at an early age.
“It could still be dangerous,” Richard said stalling for time to think. The councilwoman’s declaration was definitely unexpected. He needed time to sort out all the information.
“And, I don’t run the Defiant,” Richard said. “Sergeant Ron’s her captain. He has the final say on who can and can’t be on his ship. He can be a little hardheaded at times.”
A strange look came over Councilwoman Deloris before she got her emotions under control. The look was gone as quickly as it came. Richard couldn’t quite figure it out, but something had definitely been there. His words had hit a sore point in the councilwoman for some reason.
“I’ll handle the Defiant’s captain,” said Councilwoman Deloris. “I have an offer he can’t refuse. Besides, we’re upgrading your Defiant from top to bottom; new avionics, weapons, the latest hyper-drive, and two Zip fighters for those empty wing pods of yours. If my son’s going to be on the Defiant, I want it to have the best protection credits can buy.”
Well, I didn’t see that one coming, Nickelo admitted in their shared space. I wonder what her game is? I calculate a ninety-two percent probability there’s more to this than meets the eye.
No, kidding, Richard shot back. Figured that all out by your lonesome, did you?
His battle computer didn’t dignify Richard’s comment with a reply.
“You’re staying quiet, wizard scout,” said Councilwoman Deloris. “From the look on your face, I gather you’re conferring with your battle computer.”
Richard mentally kicked himself. He was going to have to do something about controlling his features when he talked to Nickelo.
“We’re just trying to figure out why you’re doing this,” Richard confessed. “From what I understand, the Conglomerate owns plenty of top-of-the-line starships. Why force your son to go on ours?”
“Ha!” said the councilwoman with what sounded like a genuine laugh. “I’m not forcing my son to do anything. It was his idea. And he can be as stubborn as me at times. As soon as Matthew found out you were coming here, he was adamant he was going to go with you. I’m afraid you’ve been somewhat of a hero to him since the battle at the Academy’s airfield last year.”
“Why don’t you just tell him no” Richard asked. “The Defiant is a combat ship. There’s a war on. Trouble has a way of finding us regardless of what your Trecorian duke might promise.”
Councilwoman Deloris gave a knowing smile. “It’s obvious you don’t have teenagers of your own. The more you tell them ‘No’, the more they’re going to try to do that very thing.”
Richard gave a slight nod of agreement. She’d pretty much summed up his teenage years.
“Beside,” said the councilwoman, “Matthew has too much of his grandfather in him for his own good. My father’s parents tried to control him and force him to run the family business. They succeeded for a few years, but then he rebelled and joined the military when he was forty years old to follow some decrepit wizard scout. I’m not going to make the same mistake with Matthew. If he has to sow some wild oats, I’m going to let him get them out of his system now. Then he can come back in a couple of years and take his proper place in the business.”
“Two years?” Richard exclaimed. “He can’t be with me for two years. I’m a wizard scout. You know that. We’re only sent
on the most dangerous missions. It’s no place for a boy.”
Without speaking, Councilwoman Deloris stood up and walked around the table until she stood in front of Richard. She was a tall woman, and she hovered over Richard. He suspected she used her size to intimidate people. But he was a wizard scout, so it didn’t work as well on him. Still, it was disconcerting having her hovering over him. Richard stood up as well. He was tall himself. He looked the councilwoman directly in her eyes.
“Are you happy with what you’re doing, Rick?” Councilwoman Deloris asked in a quiet voice.
Her question took Richard by surprise. “I don’t understand what you mean,” he finally admitted.
“Oh, come now. It’s a simple question. The Empire’s at war. You’re a wizard scout. Yet for the past year you’ve only been assigned to second-rate missions.”
She paused and looked deeper into Richard’s eyes as if trying to gauge his reaction. “Doesn’t it bother you to know your friends; your fellow wizard scouts; are risking their lives everyday while you’re coasting along on missions better suited to reserve recon units than a highly-trained wizard scout?”
Richard started to protest, but the councilwoman cut him off.
“Yes, yes, I know,” she said holding up a hand to keep him silent. “The Trecorians almost killed you during your last mission. But that was a fluke, wasn’t it? The mission was supposed to be a milk run from my understanding. I suppose we should be grateful the mission didn’t go as planned since it’s opened up trade talks with the Trecorians. However, that wasn’t the original intent of your mission. So I ask you again. Are you happy with what you’re doing?”
The councilwoman’s questions continued to keep Richard off balance. He didn’t think fast, and he was having trouble seeing where she was headed.
Hell, no, I’m not happy, Richard thought. But I’m not going to admit that to you.
In reality, it did bother Richard that his assignments during the past year had been low-grade missions. And, it did bother him that his friends and the others in the dwindling ranks of the wizard scout corps were being pressed into ever more dangerous situations.
Wizard Omega (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 4) Page 12