Okay, Rick, said Nickelo. I’ll be serious. I just picked up the demon with a long-range passive scan. He is making no attempt to hide his presence. I used your active scan to probe the area near him. I detected no other lifeforms. Of course, he could have them hidden with a stealth shield, but the probability is low. I believe he is alone. And, I believe he is inviting you to come to him.
He can invite all he wants, Richard said. I’m not crazy enough to go meet a demon on purpose. He was way too assured of himself the other night. I have a feeling he could have snuffed me out with the snap of his fingers.
Exactly, said Nickelo. Based upon what little data I was able to collect the other night, I think there is a one hundred percent chance if he wanted you dead, you would be dead. Consequently, I would recommend you accept his invitation. We need information. He probably has it. Since most of my algorithms indicate he could destroy you here as easily as there, I believe you may as well go there. You know what they say, ‘if you can’t avoid your doom, then you may as well face it bravely and with honor’.
Actually, Richard said, I didn’t know that’s what they say. And, who is they? I’d be interested to know who said that load of bull.
It was me, said Nickelo. I just made it up. Feel free to use it when you want.
Well, my motto is ‘run away and live to fight another day’, Richard said. And, I don’t care who said it first. I think it is good advice.
You’re welcome to your own opinion, said Nickelo. Do what you want. You’re the wizard scout. I’m just the battle computer.
Richard sorted things out in his mind for a few seconds.
How much time to first light? Richard said.
You still have eighty-seven minutes until sunrise, said Nickelo. It has rained most of the night, but it stopped a few minutes ago. I believe the gnomes will take advantage of the lull to get a little more sleep before they break camp. You could slip out unnoticed through the perimeter if you activated your best stealth shield.
Where’s the butthole at? Richard said.
You mean the elf? said Nickelo. You really don’t like him, do you? I’m not sure where he is. I saw him rise about a half hour ago and head toward the western perimeter. He’s keeping his best stealth shield activated, so I’m unable to track him.
Yeah, Richard complained. If I had a Power reserve as large as his, I could keep my best stealth shield activated most of the time as well.
No, you couldn’t, corrected Nickelo. And he can’t either. He can’t recharge his Power any faster than you can. He just has a larger reserve. Once his reserve gets low, he’s going to have to drop his stealth shield the same as you would. Your Power reserve is smaller, but you’ve been trained to be more efficient. That gives you the advantage in my opinion.
Some advantage, Richard said. But, it is what it is. Plot me a route out of the camp to the east. Once clear, we can circle back around to the west. I’d like to avoid any confrontations with the guards or that elf. I don’t think this is the time to prove efficiency is better than brute force.
Agreed, said Nickelo. I had no doubt you’d make the right decision.
Richard noted the children’s tent. Everything seemed secure. He ran his own passive scan of the area.
Do you think the children will be okay while I’m gone? Richard said. He liked the little kids in spite of himself. He did not want them to get hurt. If they wanted to go back to their pet cockroach, then to their cockroach he was determined to take them.
I have the drone returning to fly cover over the campsite, said Nickelo. The children will probably be a lot safer than we will be if truth be known.
Understood, Richard said as he switched his stealth shield to its highest level. He tried to walk as quietly as he could through the camp. It wasn’t easy since the ground had turned to a sticky mud, but he made the perimeter without being challenged. He sensed the six gnome guards spaced about thirty meters out from the camp in all directions. The route Nickelo plotted on the heads-up display went down a narrow ravine filled with briar bushes and thorn trees. It was a good path. Richard took it while being careful not to let the vines and limbs catch on his equipment. Within five minutes, he was clear of the ravine and circling rapidly around the camp.
Should I switch out the M63 for the M12? Richard said. He was more comfortable with his M63, but the heavier rounds in the M12 had proven effective during several battles.
I’d recommend keeping the M63 for now, Rick, said Nickelo. Like I said, if he wants to kill you, I don’t think having an M12 would stop him.
Richard shrugged and continued running towards his fate. He made good time, and within twenty minutes he was drawing close to his destination. Richard checked the blue dot on his heads-up display. It was still stationary. He wasn’t sure what game the demon was playing, but he reminded himself to be on the watch for any tricks. Despite Nickelo’s assurances to the contrary, Richard felt as if he was walking into a trap. As he slowed to a walk, Richard mentally prepared himself for anything.
Give me a Power reading, Nick.
You have ninety-two percent, said Nickelo. You were higher, but I had to use some for the active scan.
Understood, Nick, Richard said. It was well worth the Power usage, so don’t fret it. How are the kids?
The drone is on station, said Nickelo. The kids are still in their tent. We’ve probably got another thirty or forty minutes before the camp starts waking up.
The kids will be worried if we’re not back before they wake, Richard said. But, there’s nothing we can do about it now. We’re committed.
Richard made his way cautiously towards a small clearing. When he got to the edge, he spied the well-dressed man leaning against a boulder in the center of the clearing. The waist-high boulder had a flat top. It reminded Richard of a table top. Actually, it reminded him more of a sacrificial table.
“Ah, my friend,” said the man in a pleasant voice. “You have arrived. I must say I was initially surprised when I encountered you in the forest. I was expecting someone else.”
Richard used two percent of his Power to make a quick active scan of the surrounding area. He sensed nothing other than the man in the clearing.
“You are cautious,” said the man. “That is well. But I assure you, I am alone. Come. Let us talk.”
Stepping into the clearing, Richard said, “Where’s your two buddies? Are they out chasing more defenseless children?”
“Alas,” said the man spreading his hands in mock sorrow, “the two companions of whom you speak are no more. I tried to warn them not to go into town, but they would not listen. The last I saw of them, they were embedded on stakes at the bottom of a deep pit. The townspeople were filling the pit with firewood, pitch, and torches to keep the werewolves company when I bid them farewell.”
The man gave a small laugh before continuing, “I have a feeling my two late companions wished they had listened to me. I wonder how long the townspeople let them burn before they decided to put them out of their misery with a few well-placed silver arrows.”
“For some reason,” Richard said, “my heart doesn’t go out to them.”
Richard took a moment to look closer at the man. He could tell it was the same man, but his face looked fuller, and his hair was much longer. He wore a long-tailed coat along with a silken blouse complemented by frilly cuffs and a stiff collar. The man had on the same riding boots he had previously worn.
“You should be more sympathetic, my friend,” said the man. “My companions failed to listen to my advice. I have noticed bad things often happen to people who do not listen to what I say.”
Careful, Rick, said Nickelo in a cautious whisper. He’s playing word games. You’re not that good at it, so tread softly.
“And you,” said the man with an edge in his voice, “should keep your opinions to yourself. Our young wizard scout is a thinking flesh and blood creature. He does not need advice from random bits of energy hopping from one electronic circuit to another.”
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“You heard Nick?” Richard said surprised. He had thought their conversations were private.
“I did not mean to pry, wizard scout,” said the man with a shrug and a smile. “But, can I help it if he shouts his thoughts to you.”
“Who are you?” Richard said. “And, why did you want to talk to me?”
“Ah,” said the man, “you are one to get straight to the point. I had hoped for a little diversion of titillating conversation. Alas, it is not to be. As to who am I? I could try to explain who I am for the next thousand years, and still you would not understand. As to why I want to talk to you, it’s not so much you as whoever met with the gnome. You rendezvoused with the gnome, therefore, here we are. I actually had a feeling it might be you after we met in the forest, but I did not know for sure. At least, I did not know until you met with the gnome. I am mildly surprised they are taking a chance with you.”
“Thanks for the info,” Richard said with an ungrateful snort. “After all that, I still don’t know anything more than I did five minutes ago.”
With a flash of fire in his eyes, the man said, “Please don’t mistake my civility for kindness, wizard scout. This meeting could be mutually beneficial to each of us. But, I have other options if this one does not work out. I would highly recommend watching your manners. I am not to be trifled with, as many creatures much more powerful than you can attest.”
Careful, Rick, said Nickelo. He’s dangerous.
“Yes, I am dangerous,” said the man. “But I don’t have to be dangerous to you, wizard scout. At least, I don’t have to be dangerous to you at this moment of time. You have nothing to fear from me if you choose wisely.”
“I don’t like being pressured into things, and I don’t like being threatened,” Richard said trying to control his temper. Red alarm bells were going off in his head signaling danger. Even so, he knew when his temper got loose he often didn’t care about the consequences. He mentally tried to push his temper back into the dark cage where he kept it locked up most of the time.
“I don’t know what it is you expect from me,” Richard said as calmly as he could, “but I won’t be forced. I make my own decisions.”
The man laughed long and hard. “Of course you do,” said the man. “You have freewill, right? And tell me, did you choose to come to this planet and play nursemaid to two small children? Did you choose to be thrust into a time bubble last year filled with demons and undead? Did you use your freewill when you helped the elf save my opponent’s precious seed? Oh, wizard scout,” said the man still laughing, “my opponent has played you like a puppet on a string. You have followed his every command with nary a whimper.”
Richard felt his temper tearing at its cage in an attempt to be free. He held it in check as best he could. “I may not be able to control the circumstances where ‘the One’ puts me, but I decide what I do once I’m there. I don’t know what game ‘the One’ and you have going, or why he is your opponent, but I don’t plan on playing. So, go find yourself another game piece.”
“You think ‘the One’ is my opponent?” said the man. “Indeed, you are a poor, pathetic mortal. ‘The One’ is but a minor piece in the game as are you. Neither ‘the One’ nor you nor any other mortal holds much importance in the game. It is so far beyond your ken you will never understand. Still, for a short time, you are a slightly valuable piece in the game. My opponent is betting the fate of three galaxies that you will choose his course of action. I believe he is wrong. I believe when the time comes, you will choose another path; a more sensible and profitable path.”
Richard desperately wanted to discuss the situation with his battle computer, but that course of action was out given that the demon could hear their thoughts. He was on his own for the time being. Unfortunately, word games were not his area of expertise. Although he was a wizard cadet in name, he was still marine recon by heart. He preferred a direct, frontal assault to the political niceties of word games.
“Are you a demon lord?” Richard asked bluntly.
“You have no idea what you ask, wizard scout,” said the demon. “If you were in the presence of a demon lord, you would be wallowing on the ground doing all you could to escape your superior’s notice. No, I am not what you would call a demon lord. The demon hierarchy has many nuances, but for your purposes, I suppose you could call me a master demon. Still, I must admit, you have hit upon an area of my vanity and my ambition. I plan to be declared a demon lord by the Dark Council eventually, but I am not one yet. However, if you choose wisely and provide even minor assistance, and if your assistance helps me in gaining advantage in the game, then I may decide to reward you beyond anything you can imagine.”
“You admitted you are a demon,” Richard said not caring that he was treading on dangerous ground. “Why would I help you succeed in your evil intent? I’m not evil.”
The demon smiled. “You are so amusing. This discussion is proving a pleasant diversion after all. You think I am evil? What is evil and what is good? Can you define them? What one creature views as good, another creature may view as evil. Take you for instance, wizard scout. You killed many orcs the other night. You saved the gnome High Priestess. Were your actions good? The gnome undoubtedly thinks so, but what if you went to the camp of the orcs? What if you went to the young son of one of those orcs and told him you had killed his father? Do you believe he would think your actions good or evil?”
Richard did not answer. He did not know how to answer.
“You do not answer,” said the demon. “You see, it is not as simple as simple minds want to make it. Your actions were not good, wizard scout, but neither were they evil. It just matters on a viewer’s perspective.”
“I didn’t come to debate semantics,” Richard said. “I seriously doubt I will do what you want. So, if your intent is to kill me if I don’t do it, then you may as well kill me now and get it over with.”
The demon chuckled. When Richard got red-faced, the demon said, “Oh, do not get angry at my amusement. You do not understand. I do not want you to do anything other than what you were going to try to do anyway. You are already mentally prepared to do what the gnome High Priestess and the Oracle will ask of you. Oh, I have no doubt you will grumble and complain when they ask, but you will eventually do it. I am only asking you to do the same thing they are going to ask of you.”
His mind reeling, Richard said, “I don’t understand. Then why even bother meeting me if I’m going to do whatever it is I’m going to do anyway? It seems like a waste of effort on both our parts.”
“Ah,” said the demon in a condescending tone, “you still do not understand. Your limited mind cannot comprehend the small nuances of the game. My opponent believes you can accomplish the task without assistance. I, on the other hand, believe you will need allies in order to achieve the desired goal. I am willing to offer you help, he is not. As they say on your home world, my opponent is going to throw you to the wolves.”
The demon laughed as if he’d made a joke.
“I’m glad my predicament amuses at least one of us,” Richard said.
“Yes, it does,” said the demon, “at so many levels you cannot begin to appreciate the humor. But, do not hold that against me, wizard scout. I did not put you in this situation. I am merely taking advantage of a game piece my opponent has put into play, minor though it may be.”
Richard was all too aware he was just a wizard cadet. He had no doubt his importance was indeed minor in the grand scheme of things. However, he did not like the demon continually reminding him of the fact.
“Well,” Richard said, “I’m apparently important enough for you to take time out of your busy schedule to try and convince me to do something for you.”
The demon smiled. “You mortals and your obsession with time and space are so amusing. Do you think you are important because you see this smallest bit of me before you? I exist in many points of time and in many places at the same instant. It costs me very little to be here with you. In
actuality, you are providing me an amusing diversion to my existence. But, do not elevate your importance, wizard scout. I believe when the time comes, you will make a choice that will advance my position in the game. But, if you do not, there will be other opportunities. Eventually, these three galaxies will come to our side. It is only a matter of time.”
“May I ask what three galaxies you mean?” Richard said stalling for time. He had an ever growing feeling he’d made a major mistake coming here.
How could I have been so stupid? he wondered.
“You were not stupid for coming here, wizard scout,” said the demon. “Indeed, it was probably the smartest thing you have done in your miniscule of a lifetime. The Oracle and the High Priestess would send you to your doom. Oh, they believe otherwise, but what would that matter to you as your life force is being sucked out of you? But you are in luck. Instead of certain defeat, I am offering you hope of victory.”
“I’ve played enough games to know both sides have advantages and disadvantages,” Richard said. “I have a feeling your opponent is more trustworthy than you.”
“Hmm,” said the demon, “do you now? I believe my opponent would sacrifice you with nary a thought if it was for the ‘good’ of his plan?”
“And you would not?” Richard said.
“I have never claimed otherwise,” said the demon. “I do not profess that I am ‘good’ with one hand while stabbing you in the back with the other. I confess to you now. I would kill you with nary a thought to further my position in the game. However, I promise you this. If the time comes, I will look you in the face and stab you from the front. But you do not need to worry. As I have already said, your success will improve my position. I do not want you to fail. I want you to live and succeed. And when the final battle comes, I want you to choose wisely.”
“Don’t be insulted,” Richard said, “but I doubt I can trust you.”
“Of course, you can’t,” said the demon. “It is for that very reason you can trust me to do what I say.”
Richard’s brain hurt trying to figure that piece of logic out.
Wizard Cadet (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 2) Page 26