“Farewell, Jeehana,” said the dragon as she turned and left down a narrow corridor.
Comstar gave a little laugh. “I only caught half of the conversation, but it seems you two got along well.”
“You didn’t hear?”
Comstar laughed again. “I only heard your words. Bright Wing can speak using her voice the same as you or I, but I think she prefers using emotion-speak. I can pick up a few words when she does so, but not enough to carry on a conversation. As far as I know, only Rick has conversed with her thus.”
“By Rick, you mean Brachia’s uncle?”
Comstar nodded. “Yes. Bright Wing calls him her brother. He rescued her from the same black starship that enslaved me. Now, Jeehana, if you don’t mind, I think we should show you where you and Dren will be staying. Then it’ll be time to start your training.”
“My training?” Jeena asked hesitantly. No one had mentioned anything about training to her.
Comstar smiled. “Of course. Did you think you could penetrate the Crosioians’ most secure facility without training? Your mission won’t be easy.”
“I haven’t been told my mission,” Jeena said. “Keka told me I had to wait until the Defiant arrived.”
“Well, we’re here now, fair Jeehana. So, I’d say it is long past time to get to work.”
Chapter 42 – The Secret Comes Out
____________________
Richard roamed around the tunnels for another thirty minutes. His desire to speak with the dwarf armorer, Fenmar, was totally forgotten. Seeing the terrible effects of years of loyal service by his parents to ‘the One’ made Richard hate his nemesis even more. From what his mother had said, all she wanted out of life was to live like a normal family with her husband and child. Richard’s heart ached for both of his parents.
When he finally tired of wandering, he made his way to the command center. Jerad was there along with General Dandridge, Myers, Tam, Telsa, Trinity, Emerald, Chancee, and Matt. His parents were there as well. He avoided eye contact. They seemed to do the same.
“Good,” said Jerad. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.” He smiled. “If your stealth shield wasn’t so good, I could’ve figured out where you were with my passive scan.”
“Sorry,” Richard said. “I had some thinking to do.”
“Well, keep your thinking helmet on,” said Jerad. “We’re going to do something I’ve wanted to do for quite a while now. We just haven’t had enough resources free at the same time to do it.”
Curiosity drove away any remaining thoughts of the scene in the tunnel with his parents. “What do you have up your sleeve? You’ve got all eight wizard scouts here. I’m guessing it’s important.”
General Dandridge walked over to a table with a large map spread out on it. The map displayed the Dragars’ spaceport and the surrounding area. The map of the spaceport was very detailed. It displayed all the information on the spaceport that had been obtained by the wizard scouts over the last twelve months. Someone had even carved miniature wooden replicas of the buildings and spaceships and placed them strategically on the map.
Richard noticed a large mountain about ten kilometers to the north of the spaceport. He knew it was Drepdenor, the home of Emerald’s people. A detailed layout of the mountain’s underground tunnel system was marked out on the map as well.
Pointing to the tunnel system, General Dandridge said, “Thanks to Emerald and the other survivors of Drepdenor, we’ve got a good layout of their tunnel system. What we don’t know is the current location of the Mountain’s Heart.”
“Their blue gem?” Richard asked.
“Yes,” answered Jerad. “From what you and Gaston told us, the Oracle says it has to be destroyed as well as the pyramid. Otherwise, the Dragars will just take it and set up shop on another planet.”
Richard looked at Emerald. “Are your people fine with that? Destroying the gem?”
Emerald took her eyes off the map and stared at Richard a few seconds before answering. “Do we like it? No. Are we willing to destroy the Mountain’s Heart? If it means keeping it out of the Dragars’ hands, then the answer is yes.”
With a glance back at Jerad, Richard said, “All right then. I’m guessing you’re saying it’s time we go in and find the gem.”
“Exactly,” said Jerad. “We’re going in tonight, and we’re taking two full quads of wizard scouts. We’re also taking Emerald, Chancee, and General Fenmar.”
“The armorer?” Richard asked.
“Not anymore,” said General Dandridge. “King Graphon promoted him to general a few hours ago. General Fenmar will be commanding the Drepdenoris dwarves along with Emerald when we attack the spaceport.”
Richard nodded his head. Fenmar was a good dwarf. After a year of living with the dwarves, Richard had come to like their race almost as much as he liked gnomes.
“That’s probably because you have a piece of dwarf DNA mixed in with yours,” said Nickelo.
“Doubtful,” Richard thought back. “According to your memories, I’ve got a little bit of orc and troll DNA mixed in as well. I can definitely say I’m not too fond of either of those races.”
Turning his attention back to the map, Richard studied the layout of the tunnel system. He tried to think of the most efficient way to perform the recon. They’d need to break into multiple teams to cover more area.
“Teams?” Richard asked. “I assume Myers and I will each be leading a team since we’re the only shifters. Plus, we’re the only ones with modern battle suits and weapons.”
Jerad didn’t reply for a few seconds. Richard thought he saw his friend trade glances with Tam and Telsa. He grew instantly suspicious. Finally, Jerad answered his question.
“We’ll break into three teams. Gaston will lead one team. He’ll take Tam and Telsa. They’ll take the main corridor.”
Jerad pointed to a wide tunnel leading in a straight line to the center of the mountain. He moved his finger down the tunnel until it stopped at a large cavern. “This is the old location of the Mountain’s Heart. Gaston’s team will verify if it’s still there.”
Richard wanted to ask ‘Why Myers?’ He didn’t trust his brother. The man was too interested in acquiring a bottle of DNA gas for the empress. Despite his misgivings, Richard remained silent. The military wasn’t a democracy. Only one person could be in charge. He was thankful it was Jerad instead of him and trusted his friend.
“A second team,” continued Jerad, “will consist of Trinity, Thomas, Janice, Emerald, Chancee, and myself. We’ll lead the recon until we get to this secondary split in the main corridor.” Jerad pointed to the second tunnel and traced its path down a winding set of stairs. “My team will split off here and follow this tunnel down to the dwarves’ treasure chamber. Emerald tells us it’s protected by powerful stealth spells. Since we haven’t detected energy readings from the Mountain’s Heart during our previous recons around the outside of the mountain, we think the gem may have been moved there.”
“Then why don’t we all go there and check it out?” Richard asked. “We’d be safer if we’re all together.”
“Because,” replied Jerad, “you told us this Lord Cancontus might be the demon you fought with your dolgars. If that’s the case, he might be able to cast a stealth spell powerful enough to prevent the gem’s detection. The gem might still be in its original location.”
“We’ve only got one chance at this, Rick,” said Tam. “Jerad and the rest of us have gone over the plan several times. Except for Trinity, none of us wizard scouts have fought vampires. If we’re detected, all hell’s going to break loose. Assuming we get out alive, they’ll probably beef up security so much, we’ll never get back in. You’ve fought in tunnels before. You know they can be death traps.”
Richard did know. He looked down at the map again. He could feel everyone looking at him. Tam’s comment that the others had gone over the plan before with Jerad bothered him. None of his friends had mentioned it to him.
Why? he wondered.
He’d been a marine. He decided to confront the obvious giant pactar in the room. “What about Fenmar and me? You didn’t include us in either of the two teams.”
Jerad pointed at a point on the map. “The two of you will remain here at the entrance as our rear guard.”
“Rear guard?” Richard said. “I’ve got more experience fighting on Portalis than any of you. I should be with one of the recon teams.”
“Speak for yourself,” said Janice. “I’ve spent more time on Portalis than you, so don’t think for one second you’re the only expert on fighting magic users.”
Richard immediately tried to backtrack. “What I meant was that Myers and I have modern battle suits and weapons. From what we’ve been told about vampires, they can shift in the void. You’ll need me on one of the teams if you’re discovered.”
Jerad cleared his throat. “I know we need you, Rick. Believe me, if we didn’t, I’d be leaving you back here. However, what we need is for you to hold the entrance and act as a reserve force in case we’re discovered. Gaston has his phase rod and a Deloris phase pistol. Plus, as you pointed out, he’s a shifter.” Jerad pointed to the tall blonde woman next to Emerald. “Chancee here has magic arrows and her longsword. The sword’s one Emerald took off one of the vampires when she was young. It’s very powerful magic according to Master Garis. Tam and Telsa have magic-based weapons from the shuttles. Plus, Gaston has given Tam his sword, so they’ll both be armed with magic swords.”
Richard wasn’t convinced.
Apparently, Jerad picked up on the fact. “Janice and Thomas have their phase rods along with their M4 battle suits,” said Jerad. “The rest of us wizard scouts have captured Dragar armor and weapons. We won’t exactly be helpless if we’re detected.”
“But still,” Richard said forgetting his earlier thoughts about only one person being in charge. “I think I should—”
“We’ve told them,” said Emerald in a loud, icy voice.
The dwarf’s words made Richard go cold. “Told them what, Emerald?”
Myers spoke before she could answer. “Emerald and I told Jerad and the others what happened on the wall at Cantonsburg. You can’t be trusted around Power, Shepard.”
Emerald nodded her head in agreement. “You’re a good man, Rick. Nonetheless, you almost got us killed during the battle.”
“You’re addicted to Power, Shepard,” said Myers. “From all indications, the Mountain’s Heart is possibly the most powerful object in this galaxy. Putting you near it would be like asking an alcoholic to guard a keg of Strakos beer.”
Anger burned in Richard. “Me? You’re the one who can’t be trusted. I see it in your eyes every time we mention DNA gas. I wouldn’t trust you any more than I’d trust one of those Dragars.”
Myers’s face turned a bright red.
Jerad slammed his fist on the table. Miniature mockups of buildings and spaceships bounced into the air.
“Enough!” said Jerad.
An accusation that had been in Richard’s throat stayed where it was. In all his years of association with Jerad, he had never heard his friend raise his voice in anger. Even Myers was shocked into silence.
“I’m in charge,” said Jerad. “If you want to be in charge, Rick, then just say the word. You can have at it with my blessing.”
Richard remained silent. His silence wasn’t good enough for his friend.
Jerad locked eyes with Richard. “Is what Emerald and Gaston told us true? Did you give in to the Power when she was forming her Circle? When we were on the Defiant, Terrie told me something similar happened on that black destroyer you all fought when you destroyed the dimensional gate. Is it true?”
Once again, Richard felt the eyes of everyone in the room on him. Regardless, he didn’t permit his eyes to waver from Jerad. “It’s true.” After a pause, he explained further. “I fought it off, though. I used the Power to help Emerald complete her Circle. If I hadn’t—”
Holding up a hand to stop Richard, Jerad nodded his head. “I know. We all know. Nevertheless, we can’t take the chance on letting you near the Mountain’s Heart. It’s too risky. I need you to keep the entrance open for us. General Fenmar will be with you. As you pointed out, you’ve got a modern battle suit and weapons. The general will be equipped with one of the sets of armor along with a war hammer his armorers made using the blue gems you supplied. I need the two of you to keep our line of retreat open if it comes to that.”
Telsa moved next to Richard. She raised her hand up and placed it on his shoulder. “We need you, Rick. If we stir up a hornet’s nest, we need to know we can get out. I…, er…, we’d rather have you there guarding the entrance than a battalion of magic users.”
Telsa’s words soothed Richard’s bruised ego a little. It was hard for anyone to be angry with the small wizard scout. He’d always thought of her as a younger sister. He supposed all the male cadets in his cohort at the Academy had thought of her as such.
“Fine,” Richard said with a nod of his head. “I’ll play rearguard.”
When Jerad seemed to relax, Richard pointed a finger at him. “But by the Creator, at the first sign of trouble, Fenmar and I are coming in to help.”
Jerad grinned. “You won’t need to come far. At the first sign of trouble, we’ll all be running for the entrance like a pack of frightened pactars.”
“Speak for yourself,” said Tam. “I’m an ex-mercenary. I’ll just be attacking to the rear.”
Everyone laughed. That is, everyone except Richard.
Chapter 43 – Sacrificial Gift
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The black pack lay on the table in front of Richard. Nickelo’s wizard scout continued to stare at it.
“What are you thinking?” Nickelo asked. “I can’t hear your thoughts when you keep them in your private space.”
When his wizard scout remained silent, Nickelo decided to try a different approach.
“They were right, Rick. You can’t be trusted around Power. Don’t ask me why, but it’s the truth. You know that as well as I.”
Finally, his wizard scout replied. “I should be on one of the teams going in the mountain. They’ve got no idea what they’re up against.”
“Like you do?” Nickelo asked. “You’ve never fought vampires before either. Besides, you’ll be in the mountain. You’ll just be at the entrance. You won’t be far if they need you.”
“No, I haven’t fought vampires,” admitted Richard. “However, I’ve tangled with enough creatures that could shift into the void to know the danger. From the little information on vampire’s you’ve got in your databanks, they can self-heal as well.”
“The other battle computers have the same information as me,” Nickelo said. “You can bet your bottom credit they’re jabbering away as we speak, prepping their wizard scouts for any eventualities.”
“They’ll be slaughtered,” said Richard. “They need me.”
“What makes you think you could do any better?” Nickelo asked in an attempt to keep his wizard scout talking. He was puzzled by his friend’s attitude. Based upon previous experiences, it usually meant trouble whenever his wizard scout kept his thoughts to himself. They were a team. They were at their best when working together.
Nickelo watched Richard reach out and begin opening and closing the flap of his dimensional pack. The neurons of his wizard scout’s brain were working overtime, but he was keeping his thoughts in his private space.
“Talk to me, old buddy,” Nickelo said trying to prod his friend into talking. “What makes you think you could do any better?”
Richard stopped fiddling with his pack. “Thanks to Brachia, my battle suit’s able to protect me against attacks from the void. I’ve got another 199 of them in some warehouse on Storage.”
“So?” Nickelo asked. He thought he now understood his wizard scout’s line of thinking. He was surprised. He doubted his friend even understood the probable direction his thoughts were ta
king him.
“If the others were wearing one of those battle suits, they’d stand a chance against those vampires.”
“Perhaps, Rick. However, your battle suits are designed to work only for you. They’re attuned to your frequency. Also, they’re designed to only work with your battle helmet, which is designed to work only with me.”
Nickelo knew that wasn’t exactly true, but he’d learned long ago it was best to allow his wizard scout to figure things out on his own. Of course, he often needed a few helpful hints, but that was why he’d been issued a battle computer.
“Not true,” said Richard as he started opening and closing the flap of his pack again. “My battle suit worked fine with Jonathan when he replaced you during my first mission with the dolgars.”
“Okay. I stand corrected. Apparently, your battle helmets can work when they have another battle computer installed. However, my point about your battle suit only working for you is still valid. It’s attuned to your DNA. Even if you gave your battle suit to one of the other wizard scouts, it would just be an inert lump of material. They wouldn’t be able to activate it in armor mode. They’re a lot better off wearing the confiscated gear from the fighter-shuttles.”
“Unless…,” said Richard, “they had the same DNA as me. Or at least close enough to mine to satisfy whatever algorithm is protecting my equipment. The question is how close would their DNA need to be?”
Nickelo mentally smiled. His wizard scout was learning to sacrifice for the good of others. He was learning to overcome the selfishness of the small bits of orc and troll DNA in his body.
“Maybe you should try a test,” Nickelo suggested.
“Maybe I will,” said Richard.
Without another word, Richard removed his battle suit and put on the uniform he’d been given by King Hamerstine. Once completed, he folded the battle suit and placed his utility belt on top. However, he continued to wear the battle helmet.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Nickelo asked.
“No,” said Richard as he picked up the equipment and headed toward the door. “But sometimes you’ve got to do things you don’t want to do.”
Wizard Rebellion (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 5) Page 35