Zenthra was satisfied. His essence was safe in the past. He could not be harmed in the present. His part in the game was proceeding as planned.
Chapter 50 – The Children and Rick
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The light in the tent was dim, but it still drew Richard out of his light sleep. Although awake, Richard kept his eyes closed and tried to enjoy a few more seconds of relaxation. He felt better than he’d felt before he’d went to sleep. However, he knew his selfheal would quickly bring a sense of tiredness back as it sought to bring his body back to baseline. Still, Richard knew he’d needed the rest.
As Richard’s battle computer had explained, his mind needed sleep as much as his body. Even though sleep was basically a wasted effort as far as his body was concerned, his mind would gradually become less efficient without it. Even his selfheal ability could not help his mind.
Deciding all good things must come to an end, Richard opened his eyes. Jerad was hunched over the tent’s field desk with his face close to a miniature, full-length hologram of Trinity.
Where did he get that piece of equipment? Richard wondered. As a cadet, he’d had it drummed into his ears they weren’t allowed unsupervised access to advanced communications equipment for personal use.
Richard studied the disk upon which the hologram of Trinity stood. While he wasn’t an expert in electronics, Richard could tell the holographic projector was expensive. The image of Trinity was crisp in detail with nary a flicker. If Richard hadn’t known better, he would’ve thought he was looking at a half-meter tall fairy dressed in a black, skintight jumpsuit. Richard could make out individual strands of Trinity’s waste-length hair blowing in some soft breeze. Richard thought she looked beautiful. From the hangdog look on Jerad’s face, Richard figured his friend thought so too.
“So, how’d you like the wedding?” Jerad said. “Did you catch the bouquet?”
“Don’t joke,” Trinity said with a dazzling smile. “You’re not that good at it.” Trinity looked at her wrist. “In fact, they’re probably in the middle of the actual ceremony as we speak.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t stay, Trinity,” Jerad said. “Weren’t you invited?”
“Yes,” said Trinity. “All of the wizard scouts were invited along with every tactical officer above the rank of lieutenant. But as soon as the welcoming ceremony was over, all the wizard scouts high-tailed it back to the Blaze. The regular officers didn’t have a choice. They had to stay.”
Richard noticed Trinity’s image glance to his side of the tent. She smiled.
“Good morning, Rick,” said Trinity. “Did we wake you?”
“No,” Richard said as he sat up and swung his legs over the side of his cot. “I was just resting my eyes.”
“Sure you were,” Trinity said smiling.
“Ah…, how is Liz?” Richard said hoping Trinity wouldn’t notice his blush. “I mean, is she doing okay?” He didn’t want to sound too anxious.
“Oh. You mean Acting Fleet Commander Bistos?” Jerad said with a laugh. “She’s made the big leagues according to Trinity.”
Richard listened as Jerad took a minute to explain how Liz had finagled a two-hour appointment commanding a fleet of thirty-two military starships.
“Cool,” Richard said. “I always knew Liz was going places. The Empire would be crazy not to take advantage of her abilities.”
Jerad turned back to the image of Trinity. “How’s she handling being in charge? Can she still get her head through the door?”
“She’s only been in charge for thirty minutes,” laughed Trinity. “The fleet’s in orbit around a peaceful planet. There’s really not much to do other than follow formal protocol. As for the size of her head, it’s quite normal. The last I saw, she was on the command deck getting status reports from the rest of the fleet.”
“So, only junior officers are left on the ships?” Richard said. “I’m not navy, but that doesn’t seem right even to me.”
“Actually,” said Trinity, “there are a lot of higher-ranking officers still on board the ships, but they’re administrative types. Only tactical field officers can command ships.”
“Yeah, I know,” Richard said. “Still, it seems strange Liz was put in that position.”
“Well, from what I heard, there was a lot of squawking from some of the other officers,” said Trinity. “But orders are orders. They came straight from the Imperial High Command via the central computer. The end result is she’s in charge for the next ninety minutes.”
Richard thought of something. “Hey, Trinity, will Liz and you be able to attend our graduation next week?”
Trinity laughed. “Ha. You’re going to be wizard scouts, not admirals. At normal speed, it would take the Blaze three weeks to get back to Velos. Somehow, I don’t think the admiralty would consider your graduation a military emergency. However, if you can pull some strings and get it declared as such, we could go into military override and get back there in about twenty minutes according to Liz.” Trinity smiled and corrected herself. “Uh, I mean Acting Fleet Commander Bistos.”
“I’ll get right on that,” Richard said laughing. “What time is it now? Should I expect you back in time for breakfast?”
“It’s 0215 hours,” said Jerad. “You really didn’t sleep all that long.”
“Oh, well,” Richard said putting his boots on. “I’m guessing you two might want a little time to talk without me hanging over your shoulder. I think I’ll take a walk.”
When neither Jerad nor Trinity tried to dissuade him, Richard knew he’d made the right choice.
“Ah…, I need to call the kids anyway,” Richard said. “I’ll see you around, Trinity.”
“You can bet on it, Rick,” said Trinity with another one of her dazzling smiles.
“Yeah, tell the children I said hi,” said Jerad. “And thanks, Rick. I owe you.”
Richard nodded his head and left the tent to the two lovebirds.
* * *
Choosing a direction at random, Richard found himself walking towards the airfield. He probably could have went back to sleep, but he figure why bother. His mind had gotten the rest it needed. Additional sleep wouldn’t help his body any at this point.
Yawning, Richard sent a thought to his shared space. Are you there, Nick?
Naturally, replied Nickelo. I can multitask with no problem.
Then how about multitasking up a communication link with the kids, Richard said.
You need to summon your battle helmet first, Rick, said Nickelo. We’ll use its holographic projector to establish a communication link with them. Dren has one set up on her end. She’s very anxious to talk to you.
So you told me, Richard said as he concentrated on his battle helmet. He sensed its location in the armory easy enough. Wrapping his helmet with Power, Richard shifted it into the void and pulled with his mind. The battle helmet appeared in the air an arm’s length away. He shifted the battle helmet out of the void and snatched it out of the air with his hand before it could fall. Richard put the battle helmet on and lowered the visor. The airfield immediately came into clear view through his night-vision filter.
I didn’t know a battle helmet had a holographic projector, Richard said. We didn’t get any training on it.
That’s because they normally don’t, said Nickelo. Brachia had one installed on all of your battle helmets last week. He thought it would be easier to communicate that way.
I really wish he’d stop messing around with my equipment, Richard said. But what’s done is done.
So it is, said Nickelo. After a pause, he said, Dren’s not quite ready on her end yet. She’s waiting for her brother.
It was way too early to go back to the tent, so Richard continued walking to take up the time. The night air was cool, and the breeze was in his face coming off the airfield. For no particular reason, Richard turned and walked with the wind at his back. He supposed it didn’t matter which direction he went.
&nbs
p; I forgot to ask, Richard said. How’s the decryption of that Crosioian scout’s battle computer coming?
Not so good, said Nickelo. Jonathan and I were confident we could break its security code, but it’s giving us problems. I thought sure we’d have it done by now.
Richard didn’t know if computers could get discouraged, but he had a feeling his battle computer could. He definitely sounded discouraged.
Well, if you can’t do it, then you can’t do it, Richard said trying to sound logical. It’s not like you’re on a time schedule or anything.
Oh, we’re going to get it, Nickelo said with a tone that made Richard think his battle computer had taken affront with his words of comfort. And, I don’t know if we’re on a time schedule or not. Jonathan and I both think the Crosioian battle computer contains data we urgently need to know.
Richard didn’t feel like arguing. Brachia, Jonathan, and Nickelo had been working on the Crosioian battle computer for weeks. If they hadn’t broken the encryption by now, Richard figured it wasn’t going to happen. But he wasn’t going to tell his battle computer that. With a shrug of his shoulders, Richard said, Well, let me know if I can help.
I might just do that, Rick, said Nickelo. The security program appears to be emotion-based. Jonathan doesn’t think he or I are emotional enough to break the security algorithm.
Richard laughed. Then I’d definitely be good at it. You’re always telling me I’m too emotional.
It’s the truth sometimes, Nickelo said.
Richard wandered around for a few minutes until he found himself near one of the airfield’s backup power plants. It was the same one he’d been at a few weeks ago when he’d sensed something strange. But if there had ever been anything there, it was gone. He sensed nothing abnormal now.
All right, Rick, said Nickelo. I’ve got the communication hookup ready. Switch to your clear visor. I’m activating the holographic projector.
Richard stopped walking and changed to a clear visor. The area around him looked like a room of some type. Richard looked around the room. From all the equipment and work benches, Richard knew it was a lab of some kind. He noticed two children dressed in jumpsuits near some type of control panel.
“Uncle Rick,” said Brachia.
The small boy ran enthusiastically towards Richard with outstretched arms. Richard knelt down and opened his arms in return. Brachia ran right through him.
“Smart move, guys,” laughed Dren. “Sometimes I wonder about the intelligence level of the male gender.”
“Whatever, sis,” said Brachia. “At least I have some intelligence.”
“Hey, kids,” Richard said hoping to stave off a sibling argument. “I’m glad to see you two again. But why now? I thought I told you I was hoping to get some leave time after I graduate next week. We could probably meet somewhere.”
“We still can, Uncle Rick,” said Brachia. “But Dren and I wanted to show you something.”
Brachia motioned for Richard to follow. Although Richard knew he was still near the airfield’s power plant, for all intents and purposes, he felt as if he was right there in the room.
Nick, Richard said. Keep an eye out around us. I don’t want something sneaking up on me while I’m occupied with the kids.
Will do, Rick, said Nickelo. But I’ll do you one better.
The area around Richard changed. The image of the lab became translucent, and its image was superimposed over the actual area around him. The double vision was a little disconcerting, but Richard quickly became used to it. He had a feeling Nickelo’s presence in their shared space was helping him keep the two images separate in his mind.
Ah…, well, that’s different, Richard said to Nickelo. But I guess it’ll work.
“You’re talking to Nick, aren’t you, Uncle Rick,” said Brachia.
“Yeah, how’d you know,” Richard said.
“You had that same ‘I am not in this room anymore’ expression on your face you always get when you’re talking to him,” said Brachia.
“Nick,” said Dren. “It’s not polite to leave us out of the conversation, you know.”
“Sorry, Dren,” said Nickelo using the battle helmet’s external speakers. “I was just showing Rick how to use double vision to keep track of his surroundings.” With a laugh, Nickelo said, “You know he’d be helpless without me.”
“Well, it’s not like I was trained on it,” Richard said. “Nick told me you installed the holograph projector last week, Brachia.”
“I told him not to do it, Uncle Rick,” said Dren.
“Did not,” said Brachia. “You said I shouldn’t do it.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Richard said still trying to stave off any argument. “But, Brachia, please don’t mess with my equipment without talking it over with me first. Okay?”
“Okay,” said Brachia. “I didn’t think you’d mind. Umm…, do you want me to put your battle suit back the way it was?”
Uh, Nick, Richard said privately to his battle computer. Do you know what he’s done?
Yes, Nickelo said. I helped with some of the calculations. But Brachia wants to surprise you. I think you’ll like it.
“Okay, Brachia,” Richard said. “What’d you do to my battle suit? You didn’t break it did you? It’s saved my life more than once, you know.”
“Uncle Rick,” said Brachia looking like he was getting ready to cry. “You know I wouldn’t do anything to get you hurt.”
“I was just joking, Brachia,” Richard said trying to assure the boy he wasn’t mad. Richard sometimes forgot his adoptive nephew was only seven. “Please tell me what you did. I’m sure it’s fine.”
“Oh, it’s more than fine, Uncle Rick,” said Dren. “Even I approve of this change. Tell him, Brachia.”
“I will if you’d give me a chance, sis,” said Brachia.
Walking over to a computer display, Brachia pressed a button. A life-size hologram of Richard’s battle suit appeared in the room.
“This is your battle suit,” said Brachia. With his left hand, Brachia picked up a small block of silver-colored metal. “Do you know what this is, Uncle Rick?”
Richard moved closer to the metal bar. He reached out to grab it. His hand passed through the bar. Dren and Brachia laughed.
“Oops,” Richard said. “I keep forgetting. Hmm. Since you’re probably like fifty thousand light years away, I can’t scan it, so I’ll just take a wild guess. Is it titanium?”
Brachia smiled. “Very good, Uncle Rick. That’s exactly what it is.”
The boy picked up a small glass vial full of a silver-colored dust. “And this is titanium dust.”
“Okay,” Richard said. He wasn’t sure where the boy was going. Richard looked at Dren hoping she’d give him a hint, but she just gave him a wait-and-see smile.
“So, you have titanium dust,” Richard said. “Is that important?”
Dren spoke up before Brachia got a chance. “Do you know what creallium is, Uncle Rick?”
“Ah,” Richard said suspecting a trick. The sciences were not his best subject. “I assume it’s an element.”
“No, silly,” said Dren. “Creallium is just titanium that’s been radiated with a special energy charge.”
“I didn’t know that,” Richard said. “I thought creallium was supposed to be expensive.”
“Oh, it is,” said Nickelo. “It’s probably the most expensive alloy to make in the known galaxy. The process of radiating titanium in order to turn it into creallium is a long, drawn-out process.”
“But, it’s worth it,” said Dren. “Creallium is the only known material in the galaxy to conduct phase energy. That’s why the core of your phase rod is made out of creallium.”
“Ah, I know that kind of stuff is interesting to you guys,” Richard said. “But in all honesty, as long as something works, I’m not real interested in what makes it tick.”
Richard thought Dren looked like someone had thrown cold water on her.
“Really?” said D
ren as if she was shocked anyone could help but be interested in how things worked.
“Sorry,” Richard said.
When neither of the kids said anything for a few seconds, Richard tried prodding them along. “So, does titanium have anything to do with my battle suit?”
“Oh, yeah, your battle suit,” said Brachia as he remembered the point of the whole conversation. “Well, anyway, if the correct energy is applied to titanium, it will be transformed into creallium.”
“Okay,” Richard said. “I’ve got that much.”
“Good,” said Brachia. “This is where it gets interesting.”
Reaching over to a nearby workbench, Brachia picked up a small, blue gem. “Do you recognize this, Uncle Rick?”
Richard looked closely at the blue gem. It did seem a little familiar. He reached out to take the gem. Brachia grinned. Richard pulled his hand back before he made a complete fool of himself.
“Right,” Richard said. “I keep forgetting I’m not really there.”
After inspecting the gem in Brachia’s hand a little more, Richard said, “All right. I give up. What’s so special about the gem?”
Nickelo answered first. “Your memory is atrocious, Rick. You had to find twenty-five hundred of them for ‘the One’. Don’t you remember?”
Richard did remember the mission. He’d hated it. But he still didn’t recognize the gem. He admitted as much.
“That’s because I had to cut and buff it up some,” said Brachia. “The angles of the cut help concentrate the energy flow.”
“Fine,” Richard said. “Can we just cut to the chase? You won’t hurt my feelings if you skip the scientific details.”
“I’ve got this, little brother,” said Dren. “Brachia had me help him teleport particles of titanium dust into the material of your battle suits. Then, my brother installed one of those blue gems in each suit. When the gem is activated, it releases energy that temporarily turns the titanium dust into creallium. Notice I said temporarily. Using one of these gems, it’s not a permanent transformation.”
Wizard Scout (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 3) Page 49