Most of the SEF scientists and technicians had already left for the Royalist base in the Acaran Mountains. One of the techs left behind grew increasingly frustrated. No matter what he did, he couldn't get Jaron's ship to fly. All the systems were active and running under normal parameters, but it wouldn't lift off the ground.
"I don't get it." He threw his hands in the air. "I give up. We're going to need Colonel Sutton to tell us what we're doing wrong."
"Don't get mad, but I called him an hour ago. He's heading back from the base now. ETA forty minutes," another tech spoke up.
"Great. Let's run the diagnostics again, just in case." He shut everything off and rebooted the main computer.
"Be glad Mrs. Sutton isn't coming with him." His co-worker cringed. "How would we explain it to her?"
An hour later, Colonel Sutton strolled onto the bridge. "What's wrong with her?"
"Nothing. She just won't fly." The tech moved from the pilot's seat.
Sutton sat and ran through the flight sequence. Nothing happened.
"You look surprised." The tech allowed himself a moment of relief. It wasn't his fault. That emotion quickly fled when Sutton glared at him.
"You must have damaged the engines with all your poking around." He stood and paced.
"We haven't touched the engine. We're not stupid enough to take it apart when we couldn't be sure to fix it later." The tech pulled up the schematics on the screen. "See."
"Hmpf." Sutton ran his fingers through his hair. "I wonder...meet me back here first thing in the morning."
The demon spread into his new body, controlling the weak mage easily. This is what he'd hoped for with Jaron, but that wizard had been strong, prepared with his defenses. The remnants of Ryce's spirit whimpered in a corner of the shared mind, fully conscious of all he had lost, but not yet aware of how limited his time on Sendek had become.
"Let's see what I missed skulking in the shadows." The demon probed the mage's memories. Living the unbinding of the Dragumon through him. "Too easy."
He replayed the scene again and tried to manipulate the images. The perspective remained limited, but he followed the clues to the mage named Talia. The woman Jaron had protected from him by locking him away whenever she had been present. Now he understood why.
This woman's gifts were rare indeed. The immense power created by the mages moved through her and left her unharmed. Her energy mingled with that of the suns. She actually pulled from them.
"The possibilities are endless!" The demon hopped around the grove. "With her power I could darken the suns. I will finally have my revenge on the dragon lords."
Ryce struggled in his mental prison and the demon sifted through his thoughts.
"There will be no room for you here. You have nothing to offer now that I've claimed your body." He laughed and crushed the last vestiges of Ryce's soul out of existence. "Now I need to find the mage woman with violet eyes."
Landry returned the next morning with Talia. The same tech from the night before waited for them on the bridge.
"I ran all the diagnostics again after you left. There's nothing wrong with the ship."
"You're right. In fact, I think she'll fly now without any problems." Landry started the flight sequence. The slight purr vibrated through the ship as the engines started. "Here's the real test."
The ship lifted off the ground, rotated, and landed under Landry's control.
Talia sighed. "You were right. How is it possible?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure you'll figure it out." He turned to the tech. "Let's keep this a secret between us for now. No need to cause more of a rift between the mages and everyone else."
"That's easy since I don't know what happened." He scratched his head and looked back and forth between them.
"Let's say this ship is picky about who's on her." Landry winked at Talia.
"You mean it wouldn't fly because Mrs. Sutton wasn't on board?" The tech sat in the Nav chair. "Because it's sentient or something else?"
"I'm guessing something else." Landry spun in the chair to address Talia. "Perhaps you can get the SEF in on this before we leave?"
"Of course. I'll send Cahal a message now." She moved to the COM center. "You know, this could be the link we hoped to find on Orek."
"Do we need to go then?" Landry asked.
Talia nodded. "I think we should. There are other questions to answer, and perhaps we can find detailed information on how this works. It'll save time in the long run."
"Can you let me in on it?" The tech looked from one to the other. "You're going to take the ship away soon enough."
Talia nodded. "We don't know why or how, but the ship needs a mage on board or it won't respond."
"But he's a mage." The tech wrinkled his brow.
"Yes, but there are different kinds of mages. His power is more of a--" She searched for a comparison the tech could relate to, "computer of sorts. He can take other mages power, route it through himself and spit it back out."
Landry rolled his eyes. "That sounds lovely."
"Shh. Jaron called him a conduit or transferor. He can access the power of another mage to use as his own or magnify it for them."
"That still doesn't tell me why the ship wouldn't fly with him on it."
"Oh. Well, I guess the ship needs someone with their own powers?" Talia trailed off. "Sorry, Landry. That didn't come out right."
"No kidding. Way to build up my ego." He laughed. "It doesn't matter. She'll fly now."
The demon spent a day experimenting with his new body's magical talent. Ryce hadn't been as skilled as Jaron, but the demon's extra power would make up for that. He would no longer need to gather and distill the emotions or charismatic power in order to use them to their greatest advantage.
When the demon stretched the powers fully, he discovered the body had weak mind control capabilities. They hadn't been used as often as the emotional manipulation, but they were present all the same. If he combined the two he would be able to change the course of current events.
The demon made his way back to Joharadin to find Jaron's ship gone. He wasn't ready to approach the palace yet. Instead, he visited the SEF main office building.
A security guard stood at the front desk. The demon approached and held out his hand. "I'm Daemon Ryce."
The man hesitated, and then shook the offered hand. "How can I help you?"
Daemon gripped the hand tightly, seeking a connection with the man's mind. As he wormed his way in, Daemon soothed the man with a wave of trusting emotions. Inside the man's head, the demon searched for information about the building, Talia, and Jaron's ship. The low level security guard didn't know much.
"I'll visit her office." Daemon spoke aloud and pressed the areas of the brain to make the man agreeable.
"Of course, Sir. Here's a pass."
Daemon let him go and took the badge. "Thank you for your help."
The demon stepped off the elevator on Talia's floor. Her office was clean, but not empty. It didn't take long to access her computer and learn all he needed about the exploration team to Orek. He scanned the list of candidates before adding his name to the list. The chances of being chosen were slim, especially with Ryce's actions at the council. His best hope was to attend the meeting with the other candidates. Then he could manipulate someone else to bring Talia to him.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Landry stood near a precipice staring into the night sky. A breeze chilled him as he struggled to separate his thoughts from those of a dead mage. It had been a challenge to keep them locked away, but with Talia's support it grew easier every day. She helped him go through every memory and file it away. Safely locking them up until he needed access to them. However, he chose to go through the more personal memories without Talia.
He tossed a stone over the edge of the cliff. The soft swish as it bounced through the brush brought him comfort. Grounded him firmly on his own planet. I'll control these memories. For Talia's sake as well as mine.
> With a sigh, he returned to the cave retreat and his wife. They had spent the past three weeks preparing for the trip to Orek, but for the last week they'd taken a much-needed rest at this hidden refuge. A mini honeymoon of sorts that provided the perfect opportunity for the SEF to make some design changes to the ship. The steel door to the cave had a keypad lock. It slid back with ease.
"No!" A scream shattered the silence.
"Lights on full!" Landry commanded, and the computer complied.
His wife remained asleep but her arms flopped, legs kicked, and sobs punctuated her ragged breathing. She mumbled, but he didn't understand the words.
He covered the distance and squeezed her shoulder. "Hey, you're dreaming."
Talia whimpered, but didn't wake. Her brow creased and a tear slid from her clenched lids. He'd never watched one of her prophetic dreams, but he'd seen them afterward. This had to be one. Obviously distressed, fear radiated off her in waves.
Landry wrapped his arms around her. "Talia, wake up. It's okay, I'm here."
It took another shake before she answered. "What..."
Her body seized. Her eyes opened wide. For a moment she stopped breathing.
"Talia!"
She gasped. Her body convulsed. One shudder almost jerked her out of his arms before she collapsed again. Her eyes rolled back in her head and her body shook. Landry pushed his consciousness into her mind. Images and words sped through their shared space, random and skewed. His brain screamed as it tried to focus. A deep sense of loss invaded every fiber of his being. Fear triggered his flight reflexes. Gasping for air he retreated. His head throbbed.
Talia's shuddering eventually subsided to trembling as the sweat cooled on her forehead. Her eyes fluttered open. She lay listless in his arms.
"What...happened?"
"Not sure." He clutched her to him, rocking back and forth.
Goosebumps broke out on her arms. Her teeth chattered as she shivered. "Did I have a dream?"
"I don't know." He automatically spoke mind to mind. "You had a seizure."
"What's wrong with me?" Her fear permeated both of their thoughts.
"Shhh. We'll figure it out, but I'm never waking you from a dream again."
"I don't remember dreaming."
Talia squeezed his arms tighter around her. "What if the dream concerned Orek? If I can't remember we won't know the danger ahead."
"We're going in blind no matter what. Even Jaron's memories are no longer an accurate picture of what we'll find." Landry lay down beside her. "It's not too late to change your mind."
"It's our only chance of learning how to train these new mages."
"Then we go. Dream or no dream."
She inched closer and he draped an arm around her waist. His other hand absent-mindedly stroked her hair until her breathing fell into an even rhythm.
"Landry?" she whispered.
"Hmm?"
"I'm scared."
His hand paused. "Me too."
"Why are you scared?"
His hand resumed its movement in an attempt to comfort them both. She slid her hand over his chest and around his side.
Did she really want an answer? A brief touch of her emotions, and he knew she did. "You haven't dreamed since the Dragumon. Even though it's part of your magic, I hoped you wouldn't dream again."
She sighed and buried her face in the side of his neck. "Me too."
He shifted until he cradled her beside him. As calm as Talia appeared to everyone else, inside she carried the little girl looking for protection from her nightmares. That hidden need drew him in the first time they met. Even now she clung to him, afraid of the unknown. He gently nudged her mind.
"I'm never going to get used to this." Her thoughts drifted by, not really connected to him, but present all the same.
"Used to dreaming?"
She reached up to hold his face in her hands. "No, needing you."
"I'll always be here," he whispered against her cheek. "Tell me what you want."
"Make me forget everything but you."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
King Stefan greeted Landry and Talia outside the hanger. His brown hair blew in the breeze, and he looked comfortable without the royal robe weighing him down.
"This is quite the honeymoon you're going on." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Right, that's why I'm taking two other men." Landry hugged his cousin and sifted emotions. He sensed the Royalist guards lurking somewhere out of sight. A burden lifted. They would protect Stefan. "Everything ready?"
"Almost. Cooley and Gibbs arrived yesterday."
"They're still willing to go through with this?"
"Yes." Stefan sighed and nodded toward the warehouse. "Everyone is waiting for your inspection. Are you sure this is necessary?"
Talia spoke up, "Yes. I wish I could remember the dream."
"Dream?" Stefan stiffened. "Is the mission in danger?"
"There's no way to be sure." She looked to Landry for support.
"If she dreams again we'll let you know. If we need to turn around, we will."
Stefan nodded and keyed opened the hanger door. Men's voices, computer blips, the occasional fountain of sparks from welders and the smell of hot metal assaulted them. Jaron's ship filled the front of the warehouse. It was easily four times larger than a troop quadcarrier, plus an additional sixty feet of wingspan. The steel grey metal had been polished until it reflected the surroundings. The SEF scientists didn't know the type of metal, but Landry knew from Jaron's memories that it allowed the outer hull to shift and warp with the pressure of high speeds through space.
Another layer of unclassified metallic liquid filled the space between the outer shell and the interior bubble. It protected the star drive and living space from the intense pressure of warp travel. The ship looked huge from the outside, but Landry knew months cooped up inside would make it feel incredibly small.
"I thought everything was ready?" Talia pointed to the teams running back and forth.
"It is. Most of the work is on the Dragumon mini ships in the back. This crew is double checking everything up here." Stefan pointed to the ship.
"Perfect. Looks like the rest of the group is here." Landry waved toward three approaching men.
"You're Highness, Colonel Sutton, Mrs. Sutton." Major Terrell greeted them with a salute. "Everything is ready for your inspection."
Terrell had been an asset on more than one mission, and Landry wished he could come on this one.
Stefan nodded. "I'll leave you guys to it."
"Good to see you again, Mr. Gibbs." Landry held out his hand to the older, stockier man standing beside Terrell. He had been chosen for the mission because of his language skills. With his work on the nano linguistic chip he would be able to help with any strange languages on Orek.
"Please, call me Craig."
"Okay." Landry turned and shook the Royalist soldier's hand before walking toward the ship. "Cooley."
Cooley trained in tactical strategies. Although Landry had never worked directly with him, his record was impeccable. In his early thirties, he excelled in all areas of weaponry and hand to hand combat.
"Fill us in Captain." Talia's eyes sparkled as she ran her fingers over the side of the ship.
"We've made all the changes you requested, and there's a surprise for you too." Terrell winked at her.
"Are you flirting with my wife, Terrell?"
"Only in your presence, Sir." He had the audacity to wink at Landry too.
"Good thing you'll be an old man by the time we return." Landry chuckled and reached for his wife's hand. "Let's open the airlock and get on with it."
"Yes, Sir." Terrell pressed the edge of a metal square flush with the side of the ship. A control panel slid opened. "It's programmed to accept each of your retinal prints and a new five digit code. Mrs. Sutton?"
She stepped up and looked into the tiny camera while the sensor scanned her eye. It beeped and the number pad lit up green.
"The code?" She looked at Terrell who smiled and nodded at Landry.
"Five-three-three-eight-two." Landry stood close as his wife punched it in, waiting for the moment of recognition.
She hesitated before hitting the last number, then blew a kiss and pressed the last button.
"Thank you," she murmured.
"What's the deal with the numbers?" Cooley's brow arched.
"Nothing. It's a secret between the two of us." Talia replied.
"Good grief. What have I gotten into?" Cooley shook his head, but Landry noticed the smile he tried to hide.
Craig joined the banter. "They are married. What did you expect?"
The door slid up and a ramp lowered to the ground. They followed Terrell into the airlock. Lockers lined both sides of the space making it cramped for five people. They squeezed in and Craig closed the outer door.
"Can't anyone find a way to by-pass this protocol?" he complained.
"Probably, but it's a good safety measure. Don't you agree Cooley?" Landry waited for the green light on the inner seal.
"It's smart. If the hull gets breeched in space, the double inner seals will protect the living quarters, and slow down anyone trying to board, giving us time to react."
"Who's going to board the ship during flight?" Craig asked.
"Anyone we don't know about. Which is everyone." Talia keyed the inner seals. "Didn't you learn anything from the Dragumon invasion? Two aliens visited our planet. Both mentioned a galaxy full of life."
"Yeah, but space is huge. If they don't know we're coming, how would they find us?"
"Dumb luck. You probably won't cross paths with any other species, but it's better to be safe than sorry." Terrell pushed everyone from the cold grey of the airlock into the main living quarters.
Talia sucked in a breath.
"Do you like it?" Landry enjoyed her reaction. He'd given the SEF specific instructions about the paint colors for the interior of the ship with her in mind. Then he kept her out for the last week. That hadn't been easy.
The stark black and silver were gone. Ceilings and accents now sported a soft cream, diminishing the previous oppressiveness of the room. The floors and walls were a rich green like the forest in summer. They had been lacquered and polished until reflected light filled the room.
Dawn of the Mages (The Magic Wakes Book 2) Page 8