Wizard Omega (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 4)

by Rodney Hartman

  “You were too ill,” said Myers. “You still are. And if you insist on getting worked up like this, I’m going to have to call this impromptu meeting to a close.”

  “I’ll be fine,” said Councilwoman Deluth in a much subdued voice. “It just riles me when a manipulative woman like Diane always seems to get her way.”

  Councilwoman Deluth seemed to take a few seconds to compose her thoughts.

  “Rick,” she said. “I understand you’re being reassigned to the Trecorians for a few months. You must’ve made quite an impression on them.”

  “Well, uh…,” Richard stammered trying to select his words as carefully as possible. “I’m not sure what’s going on. They were trying their best to kill me the last I saw of them. I’m thinking they might take up where they left off if I go there.”

  “Oh, I don’t think you need to worry,” said Councilwoman Deluth in an assuring voice. “Although the Trecorians have remained neutral in our war with the Crosioians, they’ve been our allies on occasion in the past. I suspect they will be again at some point in the future.”

  “Maybe so,” Richard said unconvinced. “But, they even had their children out trying to kill me.”

  “Yes,” said Councilwoman Deluth. “I watched your video report.”

  She turned her head to look at her son. “Gaston, would you care to explain to your brother.”

  The muscles in Myers’ jaw tightened. Richard got the impression his ex-TAC officer wanted to object to the use of the word ‘brother’. However, Myers refrained from giving voice to his objection.

  Looking at Richard, Myers said, “The Trecorians are a militaristic race. When their children are six standard-years old, they begin their military training. Based upon Councilwoman Deloris’ discussion with Duke Bistoria, you got tangled up with a group of cadets on maneuvers. We think the fact you refrained from killing their children was a major factor in their request for your reassignment.”

  Richard wanted to question Myers why Councilwoman Deloris, who was his mother’s political enemy, would be sharing information with him. But since his mother didn’t say anything about it, Richard kept silent on the subject.

  “I was almost forced to kill a couple of those kids,” Richard said. “I’m glad I didn’t have to. But even so, I don’t understand why we should trust this duke.”

  “His name is Duke Bistoria,” said Councilwoman Deluth. “I’ve met him several times. He’s a man of his word. You can trust him.”

  When Richard still looked unconvinced, she added, “Did you know a significant number of Trecorians over the years have volunteered for military duty with the Empire?”

  “No, I didn’t,” Richard said. “Are you sure we can trust them?”

  The memory of a Trecorian round blasting its way through his left shoulder was still fresh in his mind.

  Both Councilwoman Deluth and Myers laughed.

  “Did I say something funny?” Richard asked.

  He didn’t mind getting laughed at by his friends occasionally, but he didn’t like it coming from Myers. Besides, he at least wanted to know the reason why.

  Richard’s ex-TAC officer took it upon himself to explain. “Cadet 215 was, or rather is, a Trecorian. You may remember her.”

  “You mean Liz?” Richard asked. He was shocked. She’d never mentioned it to him. When Richard thought about it, he realized she’d been pretty tightlipped about her family history. He’d convinced himself she was an orphan like himself.

  “I mean Captain Elizabeth Bistos,” said Myers as if enjoying Richard’s confusion. “She’s an up-and-coming-star in the fleet. The Trecorians have a habit of changing their names slightly when they volunteer for military service with the Empire. It has something to do with keeping their family’s lineage straight. Captain Bistos real name is Bistoria.”

  Richard didn’t think fast, but even he could put one plus one together.

  “Are you telling me Liz is related to that duke you guys keep talking about?”

  “None other,” said Councilwoman Deluth with a knowing smile. “Your Liz is one of Duke Bistoria’s daughters. My sources tell me you two were pretty friendly for a while.”

  Richard felt himself turning red. Liz and he had been more than a little friendly.

  “Regardless,” said Myers, “the circumstances have turned out well for the Empire. You’ll be teleporting to Trecor tomorrow evening.”

  “Teleporting?” Richard said. “What about my ship?”

  “The Defiant,” explained Councilwoman Deluth, “is in the middle of a major overhaul. My sources tell me the Deloris Armaments Corporation is showering the Defiant with every piece of advanced equipment they can make fit. Your Sergeant Ron said it would be another month before the Defiant is flight ready.”

  “A month?” Richard said needlessly repeating his mother’s words.

  “Yes, a month, Shepard,” said Myers. “And the Trecorians have requested your reassignment be given the highest priority. For some reason, the Creator knows why, they want you there ASAP.”

  Mulling the information over in his mind, Richard decided his best course of action was to remain silent. He’d never liked talking to Myers when he was a cadet. Richard found he liked talking to him even less now.

  Keep your temper, Rick, said Nickelo. He’s not your enemy.

  Well, Richard shot back, he sure as hell isn’t my friend.

  No, but he is your brother, said Nickelo. So deal with it.

  “I’m afraid I grow tired, Rick,” said Councilwoman Deluth. “You’re welcome to spend the night here if you’d like. Or…, Gaston can have our hover-limo take you back to the spaceport.”

  Richard took a look at Myers. His ex-TAC officer didn’t seem pleased with the prospect of a guest.

  Well, join the club, Richard thought. Sleeping in the same house as you would be no great thrill for me either.

  “Uh, thanks, uh…, Janice,” Richard said. “But I think I’ll return to the Defiant. If I’m going to be teleporting out tomorrow evening, I’ve got some things to take care of.”

  “As you wish,” said Councilwoman Deluth. “I doubt we’ll get a chance to talk again before you leave. However, perhaps you wouldn’t mind if we chat occasionally via the tele-network. I could have my battle computer, Danny, set something up.”

  “I’d like that,” Richard said honestly.

  “Good, so would I,” said Councilwoman Deluth. Turning to Myers she said, “Gaston, would you see your brother to the door and notify our chauffeur?”

  “Of course, Mother,” said Myers as he rose and walked out into the hallway without waiting for Richard.

  Once Myers was gone, Richard’s mother turned to him.

  “My apologies, Rick,” said Councilwoman Deluth. “The death of his father was a terrible blow to Gaston. They’d been at odds for so long they had trouble showing their affection for each other. But I know Gaston loved his father immensely. He just never got a chance to tell Thomas. I think Gaston resents the fact Thomas and you spent so much time together at the end. Plus, you were there when Thomas was…”

  The councilwoman stopped talking for a moment and turned her head away from Richard. After a few seconds, she turned back around and continued with a steady voice. “You were there when Thomas was killed. I believe Gaston thinks it was his place to fight by his father’s side. He never got the chance.”

  Richard had a feeling he should say something to the effect that he understood. But he didn’t understand, so he decided to remain quiet.

  “It’s time for us to say goodbye, Rick,” said Councilwoman Deluth. “And, I wish you the best of luck.”

  Richard rose from his seat. He took a long look at the councilwoman; his mother. She looked tired.

  Will I ever see her again? he wondered.

  Richard wasn’t sure what to do. He was pretty sure a hug would be inappropriate, so he snapped to attention and gave a salute. “Sir!”

  Councilwoman Deluth smiled.

  “Y
ou remind me of Thomas,” she said in a weak voice. “You did the very first time I saw you. That was so very long ago.”

  Then the councilwoman closed her eyes and went to sleep.

  Richard stood there watching his mother for a few seconds. It was strange. Physically, she looked no older than he. But his senses told him otherwise. She was old; frail. Richard took a lap blanket off the back of the chair where he’d been sitting and gently laid it across his mother’s legs and chest. He hesitantly bent over to kiss the top of his head, but he stopped himself before completing the act. Richard straightened and walked to the archway. He turned back around and took one last look at his sleeping mother. Then he turned the corner into the hallway.

  Myers was not in the hall or by the door. Richard walked outside the house and found Myers standing on the path through the garden. The hover-limo was back in the same spot where it had been when the driver had dropped Richard off.

  Heading for the limo, Richard brushed past Myers. His ex-TAC officer reached out and grabbed his arm stopping him from passing.

  “Let’s get one thing straight,” Myers said through gritted teeth. “I don’t care if we share a few bits of DNA or not. You’re not my brother, and you never will be.”

  “That’s fine by me,” Richard said. His temper rattled the doors of its cage. “I didn’t like you at the Academy, and I’m not too fond of you now.”

  Myers glared at Richard for a couple of seconds. “Just so we understand each other.”

  “I think we do,” Richard said.

  Richard started to move on, but he stopped himself. He hated talking to Myers, but he had a final nagging question he needed answered. Things just didn’t make sense. He’d found they rarely did in his life, but in this case things made even less sense. Richard forced himself to swallow his pride and ask Myers for the information he required.

  “If it’s so important for me to get to Trecor quickly, why the hell was I brought back to Risors? I haven’t been told anything which couldn’t have been said over a secured tele-network link. The Defiant could’ve been on Trecor by now if we hadn’t come all the way here first.”

  Richard noticed Myers start to say something and then stop. The toad-faced man seemed to contemplate his words before answering.

  “You’d have to take that up with Councilwoman Deloris. She’s the one who requested to meet you in person. Mother didn’t even know you were here until after the assassination attempt.”

  Although he couldn’t put his finger on it, Richard had a feeling Myers knew more than he was saying. He noticed Myers had said their mother hadn’t known, but he hadn’t included himself in the statement. However, Richard saw no point in pressing the issue. He turned back towards the hover-limo and the waiting chauffeur. He only made it a couple of steps.

  “Shepard,” said Myers.

  Richard turned back around. Myers had a strange look on his face.

  “I’d recommend taking Councilwoman Deloris’ offer,” said Myers. “You’re wasting your talents with the Empire. You could go a long way in the Conglomerate. You know ‘the One’ is just using you. Wouldn’t you like to fight back?”

  “I find it a little strange you think I have talents,” Richard said heatedly. “I remember you saying the opposite when I was at the Academy.”

  Myers didn’t answer for a few seconds.

  “I was just doing my job,” said Myers. “I’ll admit I’ve never liked you, but my point is still valid. Do you enjoy being a puppet for ‘the One’? Diane…, er…, Councilwoman Deloris, has made you a generous offer. Use your head for once and take her up on it. Once you get back from this Trecor mission, we could work together to find a way to stop ‘the One’. You know as well as I ‘the One’ doesn’t care one iota what damage he does to his tools. ‘The One’ will chew you up and spit you out just like he did the Commandant. Don’t be a fool. You know I’m right.”

  Anger burned deep inside Richard. He didn’t like the tone in Myers’ voice when he mentioned the Commandant’s name. Richard didn’t care if Myers was the Commandant’s son or not. The Commandant deserved respect. Richard didn’t like Myers’ attitude. However, he forced himself to get control of his anger before answering.

  “What I know is that I find it strange you’re working for your mother’s political enemy,” Richard said barely keeping the resentment and suspicion out of his voice. “You should be helping our mother, not Councilwoman Deloris.”

  Anger burned in Myers’ eyes. “You’ve no idea what you’re talking about, Shepard. The Empire is on the ropes. It has been for years. Councilwoman Deloris and the Conglomerate are the Empire’s only hope. You’d do well to hitch your future with them.”

  Myers seemed to try to give Richard a semi-friendly smile, but the hint of anger still in his ex-TAC officer’s eyes ruined the effect.

  “We aren’t enemies, you and I,” said Myers. “If we worked together, I know we could find a way to remove the control ‘the One’ has over people. It’s too late to save the Commandant, but we could save others from the same fate. You could save yourself, Shepard.”

  Don’t listen to him, Rick, cautioned Nickelo. He’s angry at ‘the One’ for a perceived past grievance.

  Richard ignored his battle computer. He didn’t like Myers. He doubted he ever would. But then again, he didn’t like ‘the One’ either. Seeing no point in making another enemy, Richard decided to take the middle ground.

  “I told Councilwoman Deloris I’d think about it,” Richard said. He couldn’t remember if he had or hadn’t, but it seemed like a safe answer.

  As far as I know, it’s the truth, Richard thought. I am going to think about it. I owe nothing to ‘the One’. I didn’t ask for any of this. I’m loyal to the Empire. But isn’t the Conglomerate part of the Empire?

  “You do that,” said Myers as if giving a warning. “You think about it real hard.”

  Richard bit his tongue on an angry retort before it escaped his lips. Arguing with his brother would accomplish nothing. With an abrupt turn, Richard walked to the hover-limo. The chauffeur held the door open for him.

  “Where to, sir?” asked the chauffeur.

  “To the spaceport,” Richard said. “I need to get back to the Defiant.”

  Chapter 15 – The Defiant Upgrade

  _____________________________________

  It was nearly midnight before Richard made it back to the hangar where the Defiant had been towed. Although it was late, nearly two hundred mechanics, armament’s personnel, and technicians of every imaginable type were busy hauling equipment in and out of the hangar. Even before Richard stepped inside, he heard the unmistakable pounding of plasma welding. The arcs of plasma energy gave an eerie strobe-light effect to the hangar’s interior.

  Capable of comfortably holding a crew of twenty-two, the Defiant was large for an Empire recon ship. However, the size of the Defiant was dwarfed by the size of the hangar. Once he was inside, Richard stopped and gazed in awe at the building’s immenseness and the bustling activity going on around the Defiant.

  Richard was on the verge of using his passive scan to find his crewmates when he heard a familiar voice.

  “I don’t care what standard procedure is,” yelled Sergeant Ron over the noise in the hangar. “You ain’t puttin’ no Type III cable in my ship. It’ll fail when I need it the most.”

  “But–,” said a middle-aged man in an orange jumpsuit who was standing near a hover-cart loaded down with plasma cables.

  “There ain’t no buts,” said Sergeant Ron cutting off the other man’s protests. “You haul that stuff out of here and don’t come back until you’ve got some Type V cable.”

  The middle-aged man’s expression would have been comical except for the fact Richard had a feeling this wasn’t the first time Sergeant Ron and the technician had butted heads. The technician said something to three other men dressed in identical orange jumpsuits standing near the hover-cart. Richard saw them nod their heads and begin dragging the cart a
way.

  “And I don’t want none of that cheap import stuff either,” yelled Sergeant Ron after them. “I want the same quality cable your Deloris good-for-nothing executives use in their space yachts.”

  As the technicians walked past, Richard noticed they all had large Deloris Armaments’ patches on their backs. A smaller Conglomerate insignia was sewn on the left chests of their uniforms.

  “I don’t care how much overtime their paying us for this job,” muttered one of the technicians as they walked past. “That guy is a pain in the ass. He expects everything to be perfect.”

  Richard ignored the technicians and looked back at Sergeant Ron. The Defiant’s captain was just starting to speak to a woman in a black jumpsuit wearing a set of welder’s goggles. Sergeant Ron happened to look up. His eyes latched onto Richard.

  “Rick!” said Sergeant Ron with a tired grin. “I was wondering when you’d drag your tired carcass back here.”

  “Here I are,” Richard said smiling in return. Sergeant Ron was a crazy old coot, but it was hard not to like him.

  “Yeah,” said Sergeant Ron strolling over. “I hear tell you had a little ruckus this morning.” With a laugh he added, “Just can’t stay out of the news, can you?”

  Richard shrugged his shoulders. “One does what one does best.”

  With another smile, Sergeant Ron waved a hand around the hangar. “Like what I’ve done with the place?” Giving Richard a wink, Sergeant Ron laughed, “I sweet talked a few friends into giving us a hand.”

  “So I see,” Richard said. “I guess you heard we’re going to have a passenger?”

  “That’s still up for debate,” said Sergeant Ron. “I’m the captain of the Defiant, not Diane Deloris.”

  “But you’re letting them install all this equipment,” Richard said. “I assumed you agreed to the terms of the deal.”

  “Hmm,” said Sergeant Ron. “I’m betting the good councilwoman probably assumes the same thing. I’m also betting she might be in for a surprise.”