The demon spun so quickly Richard was caught by surprise. He hadn’t thought anything as big as that dragon’s body could move so fast. Richard felt Nickelo take control of the battle suit. Under Nickelo’s guidance, the suit twisted violently. Richard felt as if he was being turned into a human pretzel. When he saw the four razor-sharp claws coming his way, Richard wished Nickelo would twist him harder. Richard tried to use his telekinesis to slow down the claws, but his ability was no match for the strength of the dragon’s body. In the end, Nickelo’s maneuver only partially succeeded. Two of the claws missed, but two of them hit their mark. One claw caught Richard on the head. The other claw tore through the battle suit’s armor on his left side.
A flash of white-hot pain exploded in Richard’s head. His breath was knocked out of his lungs, and he was flung through the air. Richard unconsciously grabbed hold of his side with both hands. His flight through the air was stopped when he hit one of the boulders with bone-crushing force. His battle suit’s armor absorbed most of the blow, but not all of it. Richard felt his left leg snap as at least one bone broke. When he fell to the ground, he rolled into a tight ball. He was in agony. Just touching his side hurt, but it hurt worse to release his grip. A warm liquid ran into his eyes partially blinding him. Reflexively, he raised one hand to his face and wiped his eyes.
Where’s my visor, he thought groggily. The pounding in his head made it difficult to think.
Nick, said Richard. I’m hurt, and I can’t see.
Your battle helmet’s damaged, said Nickelo. All electronics are out. That includes your night vision. Your left side is heavily damaged as well, but without the suit’s electronics, I can’t tell how serious it is. I’m sorry, Rick. I let you down.
Richard felt around his battle helmet with his free hand. Part of the left side around the ear was missing. Without electronics, he had no visor or heads-up display. Also, none of the battle suit’s built-in medical equipment would work without electronics.
What should I do, Nick? Richard asked. He was still groggy from the blow to his head.
I honestly don’t know, Rick, said Nickelo.
Through his pain, Richard thought he heard a strange note in his battle computer’s voice.
What else is going on, Nick? Richard said.
My isotopic battery has been damaged along with the battle suit’s battery, said Nickelo. I’m operating on emergency backup. My primary memory chip is undamaged, but without power, I will shut down soon.
Then what? Richard said. He was starting to panic as he feared the worst.
Then I will cease to exist, said Nickelo matter-of-factly. I have about two minutes power remaining. The backup is only intended to provide time to change out the primary battery.
I’ll summon a new isotopic battery for you, Richard said as he reached over his back trying to locate the flap of his dimension pack.
Don’t waste your time, Rick, said Nickelo. The slot for the battery was in the part of the helmet that’s missing. You can’t help me now. I’ll try to help you as much as I can, for as long as I can.
Are you trying to tell me you’re dying? Richard said. He couldn’t grasp the concept. He needed Nickelo. His battle computer was his friend. He couldn’t lose another friend. Not again.
It’s all right, Rick, said Nickelo. Forget about it. Right now, I need you to get to your feet. That demon may attack again.
Richard stayed on the ground. It hurt too much to move. He saw momentary flashes of light along with a series of explosions. He assumed Shandria was putting up one heck of a fight on the other side of the boulder. The flashes proved one thing. He was not blind. He just needed some light to see.
“You pathetic fool,” laughed a deep voice. The voice sounded cruel, and it sounded much too close. “Did you really think you could steal my property with impunity? You’re almost out of Power. Your battle suit is damaged, and your battle computer will soon cease to function. You will soon be alone. Even now, the defenses of the elf-slut are being worn down. This is working out much better than I planned. I shall have the seed; I shall have the elf-slut; and I shall have you. All is lost, human. I can taste the sweetness of your despair.”
“Then kill me and get it over with,” Richard yelled defiantly.
“Oh, no, my little wizard scout,” said the demon almost conversationally. “Your death will not be so easy. One of my brothers can heal. Normally, he only heals virgin females. Perhaps I can persuade him to make an exception for you. If I’m careful, I believe I can stretch out your torture for many decades. Even a little pain can be unbearable when it’s stretched over enough time.”
Richard heard a series of bangs from behind the boulder. A momentary burst of white light illuminated the surroundings. Not two meters to his front was the snout of the black dragon. Its eyes reflected the flash of light with a deep red glow, and its dragon fangs dripped with a liquid that caused the very rocks beneath them to bubble. Richard tried to scoot backwards, but the boulder blocked his way. The movement caused a hot flash of pain to shoot up his leg. In spite of himself, Richard let out a cry of agony. The light went out, and Richard was trapped in darkness again.
“Oh,” said the deep voice. “You’ve hurt your leg. You can’t see it, but inside your armor, the bone is protruding from the flesh. Your head and side are bleeding profusely as well. You’ll need healing soon, or you will bleed to death. Now, we can’t have that, can we?”
Something heavy pressed against Richard’s leg. He screamed as the paw of the dragon pulled on his leg and popped his bone back in place.
“Ah,” said the deep voice pleasantly. “That should buy you a few minutes. Your screams are delicious, but let’s not waste them now. It’s time to get this farce over with. Give me the sphere, and I will be merciful.”
“Why don’t you just take it?” Richard said angrily. He tried to put defiance in his voice, but he feared he failed miserably.
“Now, now, wizard scout,” scolded the demon. “There’s no need to be unpleasant. I don’t want to take the sphere. I want you to give it to me. That would please me so much more than merely taking it.”
Rick, said Nickelo, I haven’t much time. You still have the bag of J22 plastic explosive. Maybe you can use it somehow to buy enough time to find an exit. You can’t just sit here. You have to do something before you lose consciousness from loss of blood.
How much time do you have left, Nick, Richard said, before your battery runs out?
It doesn’t matter, Rick. We need to get you out of here. That’s what’s important.
Nick, Richard said using his command voice. How much time?
One minute and six seconds, said Nickelo in reply to the command.
Another boom and flash of light came from behind the boulders. Richard noticed during the flash that the demon had raised its dragon head high into the air as if looking at the battle on the other side.
“Shandria!” Richard yelled in the momentary calm. “I can’t see. I need light.” His voice was muffled by his oxygen mask. He only hoped his shout was clear enough for the elf to understand.
A ball of energy shot into the air and opened up into a bright ball of light. It hung in the air dimly illuminating the cavern. Richard got his first good look at the demon in white light. It occupied the body of a black dragon with a bright red stripe down its side. The demon turned its dragon head as if avoiding the sudden light, dim though it was. The demon’s dragon body was over thirty meters from snout to the tip of its tail. Richard had thought it was huge before. It appeared even more immense now given its proximity.
It hates the light, Rick, said Nickelo. Use that to your advantage. Ignore your pain. Do something.
Richard decided he would do something, but it wouldn’t be what his battle computer wanted. He removed his battle helmet and reached over his back to open the flap of his dimensional pack.
No, Rick, Nickelo pleaded. You need me. I can still help.
You have thirty seconds of battery li
fe, Nick, Richard said. You’ve helped me enough. Now I’m going to try and help you.
Richard wasn’t sure he was doing the right thing, but he was sure doing nothing to save his friend would be the wrong thing. He couldn’t let Nickelo be destroyed with him.
Take care, Nick, Richard said. I’ll be seeing you.
Richard let go of the battle helmet. It dropped into the pack.
Rick! came Nickelo’s cry. Then there was silence.
The demon had recovered from its momentary blindness. It was once again watching the ongoing battle on the other side of the boulder. It was hard to tell, but Richard thought he saw an amused look on the face of the dragon.
Without looking at Richard, the demon said with a sarcastic chuckle, “How sweet. You saved your little computer and friend. If only you knew.”
An explosion larger than any Richard had heard so far echoed through the cavern.
“The elf-slut is doing better than I expected,” said the demon nonchalantly. “That hydrogen explosion must have weakened my servants more than I thought.” The demon turned its dragon head to stare at Richard. Its red dragon-eyes seemed to promise a slow death. “I assume the hydrogen was your idea. Yes, no doubt it was. It was too illogical for a computer.” With an evil grin, it added, “That’s another reason I’m going to enjoy our future sessions together. If I hadn’t sensed the air pressure change, I might have been caught by surprise as well. I barely got a defensive shield up in time as it was. You’re a tricky, little human. I’m definitely going to enjoy our time together.”
Richard saw no openings, so he decided to keep the dragon talking. At least it wasn’t taking part in the fight against Shandria when it was here talking to him.
“How is it you know so much about computers?” Richard asked in as pleasant a voice as he could muster.
“Wizard scout,” said the demon in a voice tinged with mock disappointment, “surely you’re not one of those fools who think demons cannot use technology.”
Actually, Richard had thought so. Of course, he hadn’t even believed in demons until he had been thrust in this time-bubble nightmare.
“Maybe between torture sessions, I will teach you something about the demon world.” The demon gave an almost uncontrollable laugh has if it had thought of something amusing. “In the meantime, just know that demons understand much. Some demons even takeover technological devices and use them as bodies. Others such as I occupy powerful creatures like this dragon. But, my brothers and I share much of our knowledge. So yes, I know about computers.”
“You have brothers?” Richard asked.
Three powerful booms came from the other side of the boulders, and a blast of lightning hit the ceiling and bounced back to the ground.
“Lesson’s over, wizard scout,” said the demon. “We’re about to have some company. This should be fun.”
Shandria came running around the corner of the boulders. A rapid series of energy-balls shot out of her staff and hit a defensive shield the demon had hastily erected for its protection. The demon had scoffed at Richard’s ability to harm its dragon body, but the fierceness of the elf’s attack had the demon temporarily on the defensive.
“You shall not prevail,” yelled Shandria.
The elf’s rings and necklace glowed brightly as Power transferred directly to the elf’s staff. Richard was awestruck by the ferocity of the elf he had lived with for four months. She was a sight to behold. If Richard had ever doubted her fighting ability, he had no doubts now. Shandria was every part a fierce warrior-priestess with her long, silver hair trailing behind her. She was giving it her all, and the demon was forced back two steps. It was too busy defending itself to make a counterattack of its own.
But, Richard could tell Shandria would not be able to keep the momentum of her attack much longer. Even now, he sensed her staff and jewelry were nearing the end of their Power. Shandria had told him she was saving the Power in her jewelry for an emergency. She was no longer saving it. This was an all or nothing fight for her. Shandria’s Power drained rapidly even as her massed spells confused and befuddled her enemy. Richard feared just a few more spells, and the elf would be at the mercy of the demon. Then it would be the demon’s turn.
Richard used his plasma rifle to leverage himself to a standing position. The demon was so engrossed with the elf’s attack it apparently failed to remember Richard was inside its primary defensive shield. Richard unslung the satchel of J22 plastic explosive off his shoulder and threw it in the direction of the dragon’s flaming-red eyes. His throw was awkward and weak, but Richard used his telekinesis to boost the satchel’s momentum as he drew his .44 caliber AutoMag. When the satchel was within two meters of the black dragon-head, Richard fired and closed his eyes. The J22 plastic explosive exploded.
A rush of air flung Richard backwards. He hit one of the boulders again and fell to the floor. The nineteen blocks of J22 exploding simultaneously was beyond deafening. The sound and pressure shattered Richard’s eardrums. He screamed involuntarily from the pain. He heard nothing.
A glance upward revealed the demon shaking its dragon-head. If it had not been so pressed by the elf, the demon could probably have shrugged off the effects of the J22 plastic explosive. But, the double attack had it off balance. Richard sensed the demon’s defensive shield weaken and begin to buckle.
Shandria waved her staff in a great circle around her head. Richard sensed the elf draining her Power reserve and all her jewelry for one final destructive spell. She pointed the staff at the demon as she gave a shout. A great flow of energy shot out of the staff. It overpowered the demon’s defensive shield and struck it between the eyes. The demon’s mouth opened in an obvious roar of pain, but Richard heard nothing. The demon fell to its knees, but it immediately tried to rise. Although it was partially stunned, Richard could sense the demon’s Power reserve was nearly full. It was far from beaten.
He also sensed Shandria was out of Power. As far as Richard could tell, she was out of options as well. But the elf did not hesitate. She drew her dagger and advanced forward. Richard saw her mouth moving as if she was yelling her battle cry, or perhaps she was calling out instructions to him. He heard nothing.
With a calmness belying the severity of the situation, Richard jerked the leather bag secured to his chest. The straps holding it in place broke. Richard threw the bag, blue sphere and all, towards Shandria. Then Richard opened the back of his phase rod and gave the endcap a twist. He extracted the phase rod’s isotopic battery and broke it in half. He felt the battery going into overload. This was not one of the training batteries used in the Academy. It was a full-powered isotopic battery from a wizard scout’s phase rod. The resulting explosion would be small in area but enormous in intensity.
Because Richard could no longer stand much less walk, he used telekinesis to move himself to the lower part on the back of the dragon’s neck. His Power reserve ran out just as he reached the demon. As the last of his Power disappeared, Richard’s stealth shield dropped. The demon twisted in an attempt to bite Richard. Before the jaws closed around him, Richard shoved the two pieces of broken battery underneath a loose scale.
As the battery pieces lodged in place beneath the demon’s defenses, a voice sounded in Richard’s head.
Mission complete. Continue training, said ‘the One’.
Richard’s body began to tingle. He caught a wavering image of the inside of the dragon’s open mouth with its teeth dripping acid. Then all went black.
Chapter 27 – The Return
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Richard found himself standing upright in bright sunlight. He didn’t remain upright very long. His broken leg buckled under his weight. He gave a pain-wrenching yell as he fell to the ground. He missed the sidewalk with his face, but even so, the smack he took when he hit the hard-packed parade field hurt.
Richard yelled again, but this time in fear, “Shandria! Shandria!” But, he heard no sound. Richard didn’t care. He screamed out his agony an
yway, both physical and emotional.
Suddenly, two strong hands were rolling him over onto his back. Through the blood running in his eyes, Richard made out the face of TAC Officer Gaston Myers. For a moment, Richard thought his TAC officer’s face looked concerned. Then the expression turned to a grimace. Richard assumed his TAC officer had just realized his identity.
Richard watched TAC Officer Myers get red-faced, and his mouth make large movements. He had to be shouting, but Richard heard none of it. But with a little lip reading, he did make out the words; ‘832’ and ‘hold still’. TAC Officer Myers ripped open the first-aid kit all instructors carried on their belt. The first thing he did was jam a syringe in Richard’s neck. Richard felt a surge of sudden warmth spread throughout his body. He no longer felt pain. Richard watched with detached interest as his TAC officer applied pressure bandages to his head and side.
Richard realized he was shouting for the elf again. He wasn’t really sure he’d ever stopped. Everything was blurring together. He didn’t understand why he had been taken from the battle. It had been so close to the end.
“Did she make it?” he shouted. “Is she alive?”
He was sure he was shouting, but he heard no sound. He wasn’t even sure sound was coming from his mouth. Richard tried to roll onto his right side in an effort to get away from his TAC officer. He needed to get back in the battle. The elf needed him. Why wouldn’t Myers let him go to her? He had to get away from Myers at any cost. Richard remembered he’d put his .44 AutoMag back in its holster. He reached down and put his hand around the grip. He struggled to extract the pistol. He had to get back in the fight, Myers be damned.
Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles 1: Wizard Defiant Page 26