Wizard Omega (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 4)

by Rodney Hartman

  I was joking, said Nickelo. You still take things too literally sometimes.

  Whatever, Richard said concentrating on the scan results too much to waste time bantering with his battle computer.

  “What is it?” said Chloe sounding alarmed.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” Richard apologized. He’d been concentrating so hard he’d forgotten his test subject was a little girl. “I think you’ve got a lot of potential. I’m just trying to figure out the dynamics of your Power reserve. It is a little different.”

  “Oh,” said Chloe casting down her eyes and concentrating on her shoes again. “So they were right? I’ll never be a good bongo player.”

  “Does that really matter?” Richard asked as he continued to probe the girl’s link. He was really just trying to take the girl’s mind off the scan more than he was truly interested in her answer.

  Richard was jerked out of his concentration by what sounded like a sob. One look at Chloe’s downcast head and jerking shoulders told him the source of the sound.

  Great job, said Nickelo. Mr. Sensitivity strikes again. Will you ever learn to consider other people’s feelings before you open your mouth?

  Richard wanted to tell his battle computer where he could take his advice, but he refrained. Nickelo wasn’t the problem. While Richard could handle fighting off a line of plasma-firing U.H.A.A.V.’s without fear, a crying little girl left him petrified.

  “Uh, I’m sorry,” Richard said. “Really. Whatever I said, I’m sorry.”

  Chloe didn’t say anything. She just shook her head and stood up. Without looking at Richard, she hurriedly walked away until she disappeared through the open double doors.

  Well, that went well, said Nickelo.

  Just be quiet, Nick, Richard said. For once in your life, just be quiet.

  * * *

  When Richard finally made his way back into the main ballroom, he wasn’t in a good mood.

  When will I learn to just mind my own business? Richard thought. Life would be a lot simpler.

  Maybe, said Nickelo intruding on Richard’s thoughts, but maybe not. Take a look at my latest calculations from the data we obtained from the scan on Chloe.

  Richard let his mind absorb the data his battle computer released into their shared space.

  Hmm, Richard finally said. Are you sure?

  Need you ask? said Nickelo sounding indignant. I’m the most advanced prototype computer the Empire has ever produced. I think at nanosecond speed on my slow days. I–

  Fine, Richard said admitting defeat. I’m sorry I questioned you.

  “Wizard Scout Shepard,” said a voice from Richard’s rear.

  Turning, Richard saw a squat, bald man in a tuxedo. His oversized belly made him look like one of the Earth penguins Richard had once seen at a zoo during an outing at the orphanage.

  The man was Councilman Jenkins, the Empire’s current representative on Trecor. Richard hadn’t previously met the man, but he’d seen him from a distance.

  “May I have a word if you don’t mind?” said Councilman Jenkins making it obvious he expected Richard to take the time to talk whether he minded or not.

  “What is it, sir?” Richard said forcing himself to be polite.

  “If you don’t mind,” said the councilman, “perhaps we can find a place a bit more, uh…, private.”

  Richard shrugged his shoulders. “Fine by me.”

  The councilman led Richard through several hallways until they arrived at the door to a small room. The books stored neatly on shelves along the walls identified the room as the palace’s library. The room was empty.

  Councilman Jenkins shut the door behind them. Richard heard a click and noticed the councilman drop something into his pocket.

  Did he just lock the door? Richard thought. Is he kidding?

  Richard made a quick active scan of the walls, floor, and ceiling just to make sure the room wasn’t lined with creallium. It wasn’t. His momentary concern he’d somehow walked into a trap disappeared.

  “I received a high-priority communique this morning from the Imperial High Council,” said the councilman. “They’re extremely disappointed you haven’t been providing them with detailed reports on your progress.”

  Richard stared at the potbellied politician.

  Is he serious, Nick? asked Richard.

  Uh, are you? laughed Nickelo. He’s a politician. Does he look like a comedian?

  “Uh…, sir,” Richard said trying his best to be tactful. “I think we both know your communique came from Councilwoman Deloris and not the council itself.”

  The councilman glared at Richard. “I don’t think you realize who you’re dealing with. Councilwoman Deloris speaks for the Imperial High Council.”

  Richard gave a little smile. “I’ve a feeling Councilwoman Deluth might disagree.”

  At Richard’s words, Councilman Jenkins gave a tightlipped smile of his own. Red warning lights began to go off in Richard’s mind.

  Nick? Richard thought.

  I don’t know, answered Nickelo. I’m not connected to the tele-network.

  “Ah,” said the councilman. “It’s as I suspected. Wizard scouts aren’t the all-knowing, mystical warriors some of the less educated citizens in the Empire seem to believe.”

  Richard had initially been ambivalent towards the councilman. That was quickly changing. He suddenly felt his ambivalence turning into a definite dislike.

  “I seriously doubt any wizard scout told you they were all-knowing,” Richard said. “What’s your point, sir?”

  If anything, the councilman’s smile widened. “My point is you should be as concerned about Empire affairs as you are with Trecorian politics…, uh… general.”

  The councilman paused with a smirk on his face as if waiting for Richard to react. Richard wanted to wipe the smirk off the fat man’s chubby face, but with a self-control he didn’t know he possessed, Richard resisted the urge.

  Very good, Rick, said Nickelo approvingly. He’s just trying to bait you.

  The councilman waited a good five seconds for Richard to say something. When he didn’t, the councilman’s smirk faded and was replaced by irritation.

  “I was told you were stubborn,” said the councilman, “but no matter. As you would know if you weren’t so involved with Trecorian affairs, Janice Deluth is no longer a member of the Imperial High Council. She resigned last week. Councilwoman Deloris and her allies now hold the majority votes on the council.”

  Richard’s mind began racing. He hated politics and tried to stay out of them. However, even he knew the councilman’s news didn’t bode well for either the Empire or what remained of the wizard scout corps.

  Stay calm, Rick, warned Nickelo.

  I’ll be calm as a cucumber, Nick, Richard answered. He’d never actually seen a real cucumber, but it was one of his battle computer’s sayings. Richard figured it was a good time to throw it back in his face.

  “Does all this have some bearing on me?” Richard asked knowing full well it did. However, he refused to give the councilman the satisfaction of snapping at his bait.

  “What? Are you that obtuse?” said Councilman Jenkins sounding flustered for the first time. “It means when Councilwoman Deloris orders you to do something, you’d best do it without questions. The winds of power in the Empire are changing. If what remains of your precious wizard scout corps doesn’t wish to be blown to the wayside, you’d best get on the right side.”

  “Hmm, really?” said Richard slowly giving way to the anger rising inside him.

  He’d always hated it when people who had no authority over him tried to order him around. Richard was a good soldier, and he obeyed legal orders to the best of his ability. However, pompous, backstabbing diplomats who assumed they had power over him pissed him off to no end.

  “Yes, really,” replied the councilman. “The Imperial High Council didn’t invest all those credits on your starship for nothing. They expect something in return. So, that bedraggled excuse for a
ship’s captain and you had better start obeying orders. Otherwise, you may find yourself in serious trouble.”

  As he spoke, the councilman’s face took on a deep red. Richard noticed a drop of spittle drip down a corner of the fat man’s mouth.

  “And believe me, I don’t make idle threats,” said Councilman Jenkins as he poked Richard in the chest with a pointed index finger. “So watch your step, wizard scout. You don’t impress me.”

  The councilman started to pull his finger back, but his hand didn’t move. With a growing look of concern on his face, the councilman struggle to free his finger. Instead of coming free, the finger continued to sink slowly into Richard’s chest. The more the councilman struggled, the deeper his fingers and hand disappeared into the black and silver of Richard’s dress uniform.

  Between gritted teeth, Richard said, “Never… ever… threaten a wizard scout, councilman. We don’t take threats well; idle or otherwise.”

  Richard continued using his telekinesis to hold the fat man’s hand inside his chest for a few more seconds. Since he’d only shifted the man’s hand and fingers into the void, it cost very little Power to maintain the shift. Once the fear in the bald man’s eyes grew to a satisfying size, Richard pushed on the councilman’s hand with his telekinesis until the man’s chubby fingers were again in open air. At that point, Richard dropped the Power he’d placed around the councilman’s hand. The hand shifted out of the void and back into the physical dimension.

  “Let me tell you what I think, councilman,” Richard said in a voice so icy it surprised even him. “I think the Conglomerate paid for the upgrades to the Defiant, not the Imperial High Council. The Defiant is a privately-owned starship. Neither Captain Ronald Deloris nor I take our orders from the Conglomerate. And, I take my orders from the Imperial High Command, not the council. I definitely don’t take orders from Councilwoman Deloris or any other individual member of the council.”

  Richard poked the councilman in the chest with his index finger. But unlike during the councilman’s attempt at intimidation, Richard’s hand was not shifted into the void. The councilman winced with pain when Richard’s finger struck home.

  “So, don’t you or the councilwoman ever presume you’ve got any influence over me,” Richard said letting his anger fill every word. “Neither of you have any idea who or what you’re dealing with. If you ever try to threaten me again, one of my dolgar friends is liable to visit you some night while you’re sleeping in your cozy little bed. If they do, the last thing you’ll feel will be their fangs sinking into that piece of flab you call a body as they suck out your life force. Then they’ll drag you down to the center of the planet and leave you with the rest of the refuse where you belong.”

  Richard had more to say, but he forced himself to keep his mouth shut. He knew he’d said way more than he should have.

  That’s for sure, said Nickelo in their shared space. We’ve got to get you enrolled in some anger-management classes.

  Richard chose not to reply to his battle computer. He just turned and made for the library’s door. Richard didn’t give the councilman the satisfaction of seeing him struggle with the lock. He just wrapped himself in Power and shifted into the void as he walked through the ornately-carved woodwork of the door.

  That was a waste of Power, said Nickelo. You could’ve picked the lock with your Power a lot more efficiently.

  I don’t care, Richard thought back. Walking through the door was a hell of a lot more satisfying.

  Chapter 33 – Mother

  _____________________________________

  Well, that could have gone better, said Nickelo.

  The anger was slowly leaving Richard, but he wasn’t quite ready to make his way back to the main ballroom. He knew he still needed to see the duke, but he had something else to do first.

  Find me an empty room, Nick.

  Complying. I’m having Margery download the specs for the palace to me.

  She’s got them? Richard asked. I figured they’d be a Trecorian state secret or something.

  Not hardly, replied Nickelo. If you know where to look, anything paid for with government taxes leaves a paper trail. By the way, since I’m still on the Defiant, I can’t use the battle helmet’s electronic sensors. You’ll need to feed the results of your passive scan to our shared space.

  I’ll do you one better, Richard said as he held out his hand and summoned his battle helmet to him. When it appeared in the air, he caught it and swung it up on his head. Somewhere between the point where he caught it and his head, the battle helmet changed shape to three quarter’s mode.

  What’d you do that for? asked Nickelo. I could’ve used the info from your passive scan to find an empty room. Besides, you’ll look strange trying to dance with a battle helmet stuck on your head, don’t you think?

  I’m not in the mood for jokes, Richard said. I want you to contact Councilwoman Deluth’s battle helmet. Then I want the two of you to set up a holograph communication between us. I need to talk to my mother.

  In rather quick time, Nickelo found a small linen room. The only occupants were two young people trying to get to know each other a whole lot better. They hurriedly left the room when Richard entered. He locked the door behind them.

  Ready, said Nickelo. Margery has the councilwoman on standby.

  Fine, Richard said. Activate the hologram.

  The room shimmered and shifted into two visions overlaid over each other. Richard still saw the contents of the linen room through the sensors of his visor. At the same time, he also saw the holographic image of a dimly lit room with a cushioned chair near a lit fireplace.

  Councilwoman Deluth sat in the chair. Although her body appeared to be that of a woman in her late twenties, Richard got the impression of extreme fatigue from her. Perhaps it was the weak smile, or maybe it was the way she seemed to struggle to sit upright in her chair.

  “Ah, Richard,” said the councilwoman. “I expected you to contact me last week. I assume you’ve heard.”

  “That you’ve resigned from the council?” Richard said. “Councilman Jenkins just told me. I guess he told me the truth. You have resigned.”

  “Yes, it’s true,” said his mother.

  “But why?” Richard asked. “The Empire needs you now more than ever. Only you can stop Councilwoman Deloris and her cronies.”

  Richard’s mother smiled. “You overvalue my importance, Richard. But it doesn’t matter. I no longer have the strength to fight. It’s time for someone else to take up the battle flag. My time has come and gone.”

  “No,” Richard said. “You’ve got many years ahead of you yet. Don’t give up now. I…, we…, uh…, I mean, I have a lot of things I want to talk to you about.”

  “I’m sorry, Richard,” said the former councilwoman. “I’m much older than Thomas was when he passed. Some of my missions for ‘the One’ lasted more years than I care to remember.”

  “But–” Richard started to argue.

  His mother held up her hand to stop Richard before he got started.

  “There is no but, Richard. However, I promise you, we’ll meet again. In the meantime, Wizard Scout Shatstot has kept me updated on your progress. You’ve done well. I’m proud of you. The Trecorians are valiant fighters. They’d make good allies should the need ever arise. And, I fear it might.”

  “What do you mean?” Richard asked as he struggled to assimilate everything he’d been told during the last couple of hours.

  “It doesn’t matter, Richard,” replied his mother. “Just keep doing what you do best; shaking things up. But I’ll give you a word of warning. Be cautious around Councilman Jenkins. He may look like a fool, but he’s intelligent and deadly. Try not to make an enemy of him. I’d recommend steering clear of the councilman if possible. And for the Creator’s sake, watch what you say to him. He’s definitely one to hold a grudge.”

  Oops! said Nickelo in Richard’s shared space. That advice is a day late and a dollar short.

 
What’s a dollar? Richard asked absentmindedly.

  It’s another word for a credit, said Nickelo. The point is you screwed up.

  You know what, Nick? Richard thought back. At this point, I really don’t care.

  Shifting back to his conversation with his mother, Richard said, “I’m going to see if I can get back to Risors. We can talk more then. I’ll help take care of you. Maybe we can–”

  Again his mother held up her hand to stop Richard.

  “No,” she said. “What you’re doing on Trecor is more important than anything you could do here. Besides, Gaston is here if I need anything.”

  “You need someone besides Myers to–” Richard started to say.

  “Richard, please,” came a weak protest from his mother. The obvious weaknesses of his mother stopped Richard’s rebuttal quicker than any words could.

  “I’ve lived a good life, Richard,” said his mother. “My only regret is we didn’t have more time together. For my sake, I wish you’d try to get along with Gaston. He’s your brother after all. His life hasn’t been easy either. Please try to understand.”

  Richard didn’t say a word. When it came to Myers, he’d make no promises.

  “I grow tired, Richard,” said his mother. “It’s time to say goodbye.”

  A sense of dread told Richard his mother’s goodbye was intended for more than their current conversation.

  “May…, may I call you, Mother?” Richard said surprising even himself.

  His mother smiled. “I’d be honored…, Son.”

  “Goodbye, Mother,” Richard said.

  “Goodbye, Son,” she replied. “May the Creator watch over you; always.”

  Chapter 34 – Unexpected Diviner

  _____________________________________

  By the time Richard finally got back to the main ballroom, he was emotionally spent. All he wanted to do was go back to the Defiant and lie down. As far as he was concerned, the duke could wait. However, when Richard saw Tia and Matthew dancing together and obviously having a good time, he decided to suck it up and stay.