“I can see why you would want a drone,” said Dren, “but why that cheap, civilian model? It will only take poor quality videos. Why don’t you get something better? We have some amazing equipment on Veturna.”
Although he was normally a little thin-skinned when it came to criticism, another one of his faults, Richard understood the girl’s curiosity. He did his best to explain.
“Well, Dren,” Richard said as he prepared the drone for launching, “my dimensional pack can summon a lot of items, but it takes Power out of my reserve to energize it. The more technologically advanced the item, the more Power that is required. If I try to summon an item which requires more Power than I have in my reserve, then the summoning fails. My Power reserve is pretty small even when it is full, so I try to only summon low-technology items.”
“Hmm,” said Dren. “Who told you that?”
“Who told me what?” Richard said absent-mindedly as he continued working.
“Who told you more technologically advanced items required more Power?” said Dren. “Your dimensional pack is obviously an advanced teleportation device. My mother specialized in teleportation devices. While I understand the theory based upon her knowledge, I have no memory of ever seeing anything like your dimensional pack. But, I do have a good handle on the science behind it. There’s no scientific reason higher technology should require more energy to teleport than non-technology items.”
“It’s just the way it is,” Richard said getting a little defensive. “I’ve tried to summon advanced stuff, and it fails, or it drains my Power reserve down to unacceptable levels. We’re in a dangerous situation here. I want to keep my Power as close to full as possible. And, Nick is the one who told me the rules, if you must know. Isn’t that right, Nick?”
“I told you the information that was in my databanks,” said Nickelo.
Richard thought his battle computer’s response seemed a little defensive. Some hairs stood up on the back of his neck. It was almost like he’d hit a nerve in his battle computer.
“Nick,” Richard said suspiciously, “what gives? Didn’t you tell me the rules for the dimensional pack was that more advanced technology took more Power to summon?”
“Yes, I did, Rick,” said Nickelo. “That’s the information in my databanks on the dimensional pack.”
“Well,” Richard said. “Is that information correct or not?”
“Based upon our experiences,” said Nickelo, “it appears to be correct. However, Dren is correct as well. In theory, the makeup of the equipment being teleported should have no bearing on the energy requirements. The mass of the object matters, not the material itself. But, the technology limitation has been a valid limitation in the past based upon our experiences.”
Richard’s mind began to shut down a little. The contradictions confused him. He said as much.
“I think what Nick is trying to say,” said Dren, “is that there are rules, but there is not a scientific basis for the rules. Consequently, there must be another reason for the limitations.”
“What reasons?” Richard asked Dren. Between his battle computer and Dren, the little girl seemed better at explaining things.
“How would I know, Rick?” said Dren with a smile and a wink at her brother. “I’m only twelve years old, remember? Still, the limitations you’ve been given must have a purpose to whoever’s running this little experiment.”
“What experiment?” Richard said. “Are you saying we’re lab rats or something?”
“I don’t want to be a lab rat,” said Brachia who had been listening quietly. “I want to be a monkey.”
“Hush,” said Dren. “This is serious.”
“Okay,” said Brachia. “But, I don’t think we’re in an experiment. However, we’re obviously in a controlled situation. Who is ‘the One’ you keep talking about, Rick?”
This is weird, Nick, Richard said privately. Who is this kid? He’s six years old, but he talks like an adult.
He has his father’s memories, Rick, said Nickelo. His father was one of the smartest humans on Veturna, possibly in the whole galaxy. I have a feeling Brachia’s mind is a strange, mixed up place right about now. He’s got all the thoughts of a normal six year old boy. When you combine that with the memories of a middle-aged genius, I’m sure there are some clashes.
Sighing, Richard said, “I don’t know who ‘the One’ is, Brachia. But Nick and I think he is the one responsible for me being issued this advanced equipment. And, I know he’s the one who teleported us here. He did the same thing last year when he sent me on a mission. Last time, I had to help an elf find some kind of seed. This time, ‘the One’ told me to ‘Help the children help her’ and to ‘find what they need’ right before we were teleported. He also set a time limit of thirty days. That’s really all I know.”
“Hmm,” said Brachia as if he were considering Richard’s reply. The little boy seemed so deep in thought that both Dren and Richard remained quiet.
“Nick,” said Brachia. “Who do you think ‘the One’ is?”
“Nick doesn’t know either,” Richard said. “I told you we don’t know.”
“I didn’t ask if he knew,” corrected Brachia. “I asked what he thought. So, Nick, I ask again. Who do you think ‘the One’ is?”
“Based upon current data,” said Nickelo, “there is a seventy-eight percent probability ‘the One’ is a computer. In all likelihood, he is a network of computers. The term, ‘the One’ may be a play on words. In some circles, the tele-network has been referenced as One Network Entity.”
“Exactly,” said Brachia beaming. “He’s a network of computers working together to accomplish some purpose. Rick, Dren, and I, and even you, Nickelo, are undoubtedly variables in some controlled situation working towards some end. Consequently, the computer has been programmed with an algorithm based upon fixed variables, or rules as you call them.”
“Nick,” Richard said, “you haven’t said anything about this before. What’s going on?”
“Nothing’s going on, Rick,” said Nickelo. “I’ve never said anything about it because you’ve never asked. And, I don’t really ‘know’. It’s just what I think. I’ve calculated lots of probabilities about who or what ‘the One’ is. The probability that he is a network of computers is just the highest probability at the moment. That could easily change with additional data.”
“Fine,” Richard said. “We’ll let that pass. What else haven’t you told me?”
“Oh, there are lots of things I haven’t told you,” said Nickelo. “I think at nanosecond speed, and my databanks contain more information than your brain could possibly hold. What is it that you would like to know that I haven’t told you already?”
“Tell me something about ‘the One’ that you think I would be interested in knowing,” Richard said using command voice.
“Fine,” said Nickelo. “You’d probably like to know that ‘the One’ talked to me at the end of our last mission. He said I’d failed. He said I was supposed to guide you, and that you need to learn and to sacrifice. Other than that, I’ve had no contact with ‘the One’ except for what I hear when he talks to you.”
Richard was more than a little irritated. He’d had his suspicions that ‘the One’ was a computer, but it bothered him that Nickelo hadn’t mentioned his theory. Plus, his battle computer had never indicated he’d actually had direct contact with ‘the One’. Richard felt a little betrayed. Richard had a momentary urge to take his helmet off and throw it on the ground, but he controlled himself. He needed his battle helmet if they were going to get back home.
After an awkward silence, Dren said, “Well, maybe we had all better just take a little time to assimilate the information we’ve been given. In the meantime, the whole point of my initial question about limitations of the dimensional pack was that we might be able to bend the rules a little. The current rules are that higher-technology items require more Power for Rick to summon. But, what if we summoned lower-tech items and combined t
hem into a higher-tech item?”
Richard was still irritated, so he did not answer. Finally, Nickelo answered for him.
“Are you talking about building a drone from parts?” said Nickelo. “I suppose the summoning of components for a drone would cost less Power than the summoning of the whole. If Rick spaced the components out, he could recharge his reserve between each summoning. Is that what you’re getting at, Dren?”
“Yes,” said Dren. “That way he wouldn’t have to drain his Power reserve, but yet we could assemble a more advanced item given time. What do you think, Rick?”
“About what?” Richard said. He was still fuming a little about his battle computer withholding information.
“Never mind,” said Dren a little irritably. “Nickelo, pull up the specs for a Masters & Walters RP36 aerial drone. Break the specs down into individual components and feed the specs to Rick.”
A series of images and numbers immediately began scrolling down Richard’s heads-up display.
“Rick,” said Dren who had obviously decided to take charge of the situation. “Put that civilian drone back in your pack. We aren’t going to need it. Then please start summoning the components Nick is giving you. If your Power reserve goes down to an unacceptable level, wait until it recharges before summoning the next item. Brachia and I can assemble the components together. Once we’ve completed the assembly, you’ll have one of the most advanced aerial drones ever put out by Veturna. It has its own Power converter, so it can stay aloft indefinitely if required.”
“I don’t know…” Richard said. His male ego balked a little at being ordered around by a twelve year old girl.
“Rick,” said Dren, “we have to work together if we are going to get back home alive. You know Brachia and I are not normal children. I wish we were, but we’re not. Please don’t let your ego get in the way.”
“Okay,” Richard said. His military background made him too much of a team player to hinder a possible solution for long.
Richard placed the drone he had summoned back in his pack and imagined the first component listed on his heads-up display. Before long he’d summoned several items out of his dimensional pack. When his Power reserve got below seventy-five percent, Richard stopped to let his Power build back up. In between summoning items, they continued walking north. Richard had a feeling they would be a strange sight if anyone could see them. A man and two children walking through the woods carrying two-meter long pieces of a drone and bags of other equipment. It took them all afternoon and most of the evening to summon all the required parts.
That night, they picked a spot for their camp next to a small clearing. While Richard cooked supper, the children assembled the parts into what Richard thought was an impressive looking drone. It was light, but sturdy. Dren and Brachia explained the different types of surveillance equipment installed in the body and wings of the aircraft. Most of it went over his head. He didn’t really care. As long as Nickelo and the children were convinced it could do a good recon of the area, Richard was satisfied.
After a hearty supper, Dren and Brachia went in their tent, and Richard went into his. He wanted to remove his battle suit to get a good night’s sleep, but Nickelo convinced him it wouldn’t be safe. Richard might have taken the risk anyway if he’d only had himself to think about, but he didn’t. He was responsible for the children as well. Finally, he lay down on top of his sleeping bag. Richard let Nickelo take responsibility for guard duty. He no longer felt like arguing, especially when he knew his battle computer was right. His battle computer didn’t sleep anyway. Richard allowed Nickelo to receive the output from his passive scan. He removed his battle helmet, rested his head on his pillow, and started drifting off to sleep. His last thought was how nice it would feel to be out of his whole battle suit.
Chapter 11 – Recon
____________________________________
They were up early the next morning. After eating and breaking down the camp, they took the drone to the edge of the clearing. Assembled, the drone was a little over two meters long with a four meter wing span. While it was composed of a lightweight combination of composite metal and synthetic material, Nickelo and the children assured Richard the drone was durable enough to fly through a hurricane if the need arose. Richard hoped the need would not arise.
Nickelo used the drone’s remotes to launch it. Within seconds, Richard’s heads-up display began receiving video of the ground below. Richard saw the clearing with the children and him standing in its center. Other than that, he just saw a lot of trees.
“Nick,” Richard said aloud for the children’s benefit, “why don’t you have the drone recon to the north. I don’t need the video feeds right now. Just let me know if you see anything suspicious or unusual.”
“Wilco,” said Nickelo. Then he added, “I live to serve the greatest of all wizard scouts.”
“Don’t be a wise butt, Nick,” Richard said. “I still haven’t forgiven you completely for not telling me you talked to ‘the One’ on your own.”
“I’ve told you I was sorry twenty-seven times already,” said Nickelo. “Won’t you forgive me?”
“Eventually,” Richard said, “but probably not today.”
The morning wore on. Nickelo reported nothing interesting from the drone. After a few hours, Richard noticed the children beginning to drag. They didn’t complain, but he knew they were tired. He was a little tired as well, and his battle suit’s assisters were doing most of the work of carrying his body weight. The children had to do it all on their own.
When they came upon a cheery little stream, Richard said, “I think we can rest here for a little while and eat lunch. How do you two feel about an hour rest break?”
“Fine by me,” said Dren. “My legs are starting to hurt.”
“I’m Omar the Pirate,” said Brachia. “I’m not tired. Can I fly the drone for a little while?”
Richard had noticed the little boy eyeing the drone with a glint in his eyes when they’d launched it from the clearing. While he knew Brachia was smart for a six year old, Richard wasn’t sure the boy’s hand and motor coordination matched his intelligence.
“Uh, maybe next time,” Richard said. He noticed Brachia’s lower lip stick out a little.
“Actually,” Richard said, “on second thought, maybe Nick can use a break from flying the drone for a little while. I’ll bet he’s bored doing all the flying.”
No, I’m not, said Nickelo privately. I’ve got a separate programming thread handling it.
Hush, Richard said.
Richard summoned a handheld controller for the drone. Then he let Brachia try his hand at controlling the drone manually for a few minutes while he heated up a large can of soup for lunch. For a little boy, Richard thought Brachia was pretty good at flying the drone. At least he thought so until Brachia got sidetracked looking at an insect flying nearby.
“Uh, Brachia,” said Nickelo. “You’re flying the drone straight towards the ground.”
Brachia quickly brought his attention back to the controller and leveled the drone back out.
“I’m sorry, Rick,” said Brachia near tears. “I guess I shouldn’t have tried flying it after all. I’m sorry.”
“Nonsense,” Richard said. “It’s fine. I think you did great for a first-time drone pilot.”
Brachia cheered up a little and said, “I’ll do even better next time.”
After they finished lunch, Brachia went down to the stream to play. Dren stayed behind to help Richard do what little cleanup was required.
“It was nice of you to let my brother fly the drone,” said Dren. “Why did you do it? I could be wrong, but I’ve been wondering if you even like children. You’ve been nice enough to us the last couple of days, but it has seemed forced to me. Your kindness to Brachia seemed natural.”
Glancing up, Richard caught the girl looking at him curiously.
For a little girl, Richard said privately, she sure asks mature questions. Is it because of th
at mind transfer thing?
First off, answered Nickelo, it wasn’t a mind transfer. It was a knowledge transfer. There’s a big difference. But as to your question, she’s just naturally smart and mature for her age. If the knowledge transfer works the way she explained, then she has the accumulated knowledge of her adult mother as well.
That’s bound to be strange, Richard said. I mean, knowing what your parent knew.
After a pause, Richard added, I don’t even know who my mother or father is.
Nickelo remained silent.
“I’m a little uncomfortable around children, Dren,” Richard finally admitted. “Which I guess is strange since I grew up in an orphanage. But as far as liking you guys go, you’re starting to grow on me a little.”
“That’s good,” said Dren. “We could be together a long time.”
“Actually,” Richard said, “I hope it won’t come to that. Hopefully, we can complete our mission and return you to your Keka before too long. I’m sure he’s worried about you.”
“Maybe,” said Dren.
“You don’t think he’s worried about you,” Richard said surprised. “He caused quite a stir on the shuttle by demanding that my commander return to rescue you two kids. I thought I told you that’s why I came back.”
“You did,” said Dren, “but that’s not what I meant. I know Keka would worry about us if we were gone a long time. I’m just wondering if we will be.
“It’s been over two days since we were teleported to this place,” Richard said. “I suspect your Keka is plenty worried. I’m sure they’re back on our mothership by now trying to figure out what happened to us.”
Wizard Cadet (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 2) Page 14