by Perry Rhodan
The videoscreen brightened slowly; a face became visible. Rhodan recognized it again immediately, even though 56 years had passed since he had been face to face with the Mounder, Talamon, discounting that brief second on Volat when Talamon had recognized him.
"Perry Rhodan, I'm glad you're still alive."
Rhodan nodded and replied somewhat sarcastically: "And your joy was so tremendous Talamon, that you just couldn't keep it to yourself. You had nothing more urgent to do than to report it to the Regent."
"Now you have to understand what happened," said Talamon, attempting to defend himself. "I was taken completely by surprise and I was afraid of complications. In the Empire there is peace, Rhodan. I didn't know..."
"...Whether or not I would disturb that peace, is that it? Well, relax Talamon. Nobody's happier about your peace than I am. As far as I'm concerned, Terra and Arkon will never come into conflict. That's why I'm grateful to you that you made the decision for me and advised the Regent that I was still alive. Now the two of us are met again-you as representative of Arkon and I as representative of the Solar Empire."
"What's the Solar Empire?"
"Terra and its colonized planets," replied Rhodan with equanimity. "Tell me about Arkon-or would it be better for us to wait till we're together?"
"The atmosphere is breathable," agreed Talamon eagerly. "Let's meet each other halfway between the two ships. I'll bring along some of my officers as witnesses and also the personal representative of the Regent.
"You are not the representative?"
"Well, yes, but only the human one. The Regent preferred to also send a robot representative so that it could get a direct report on the progress of our discussions."
"That's agreeable. I'll also bring a few of my men with me. But I believe we can have mutual trust in each other. How goes it with you financially, Talamon?"
It was a pointed question. Talamon had Rhodan to thank for the biggest business deal of his life and probably even today he was still living off the fortune he had made from it. For that he was in the Terranian's debt.
"Things are pretty good for me, Rhodan. And if you'd like to know, I still haven't forgotten that I have you to thank for my prosperity. You may remember, about 60 years back, that I didn't take part in the action of the Springers and the Aras against Terra."
"Very well," smiled Rhodan. "In ten minutes we'll see each other in person."
The communication ended. Rhodan issued final instructions and signaled to the six mutants and Khrest.
"We will not carry any weapons with us but the Drusus remains on standby alert. Sikermann, you take the command here and remain in contact with me on the wrist radio. That way you'll know what's going on and if necessary can take appropriate action."
The exit lock was already open. While across the way the outer hatch of the Arc-Koor was still sliding to one side, Rhodan and his accompanying men were already descending the wide ramp and on their way toward the appointed rendezvous point. Pucky waddled eagerly behind and strove to prevent too big a gap from developing.
When they were about 400 yards away from the Drusus, Rhodan gave the signal to halt. This was approximately the middle of the stretch between the two ships. A number of boulders made inviting seats to rest on. In the west they could see the silhouettes of the mountains standing against the pale sky. The yellow sun was high in the heavens and furnished a pleasing warmth. The high plateau country around them stretched out on other sides through forests, valleys and plains. There was nothing to be seen of any human settlements.
The passenger ramp was just now extending to the ground beneath the Arc-Koor. A large, powerful figure appeared above in the open hatchway and looked across at the eight men.
Talamon!
He raised his right hand in a signal of greeting, then came striding down the ramp. Four or five men of normal stature followed him. Two of them were Springers and the others doubtlessly Arkonides.
When the envoys of the Regent finally stood on the ground under the spherical ship, something very peculiar happened which immediately alarmed Rhodan. Quite clearly he could see that the portal of the exit lock was widening to a point where it was big enough for an auxiliary craft of some kind to emerge.
Was Talamon about to bring out some tanks?
But then, before he was able to transmit an appropriate command to Baldur Sikermann, he remembered Talamon's announcement that the Regent had also sent along a mechanical representative.
He watched the enlarged airlock port cautiously while Marshall whispered: "Talamon has no bad intentions. The small positronic brain is leaving the ship now. There it is already..."
Out of the lock floated a mighty hemisphere of metal on its antigravity fields and sailed gently down toward the planet's surface, where it maintained about a half-yard of altitude. Rhodan realized that it was an almost true to life copy of the Regent on Arkon although the dimensions had been reduced to half size. The Regent's 'baby' was about 100 feet in diameter and displayed also an array of antennas on the half-dome as well as viewscreens and what were presumably screens for making positronic impulses visible.
As 'Baby' floated nearer Rhodan perceived in one viewscreen the actual positronic Brain on Arkon. It had to be a direct transmission through hyperspace because Arkon was virtually light-millennia distant.
Talamon hurried to keep pace with the approach of the Regent's surprising representative. He arrived almost simultaneously with the robot brain at the collection of rocks that Rhodan had selected for their point of contact.
"I am glad to see you, Rhodan," his voice boomed through the clear air. "I'm really glad."
Rhodan could sense the note of sincerity in his words. "I'd be telling a lie if I said I felt any differently than you do," he replied cordially. "The Regent couldn't have sent me a better intermediary." He took hold of Talamon's hands and returned their relatively gentle pressure. "The intervening years haven't aged you any."
The Mounder blinked his eyes, which were barely visible under his bushy eyebrows. "When a man is wealthy and has a lot of money he can get along pretty well with the Aras-and they've got all kinds of anti-death potions and cures. I have even that to thank you for. But you don't look so bad off, yourself. Where's your fountain of youth?"
Rhodan gave him an inscrutable smile. "On an unknown planet that is called the World of Eternal Life. I found it purely by accident."
"Oh no!" roared Talamon, almost splitting his sides with laughter. "You're still up to your old tricks, trying to pull my leg!" He got off that ticklish subject and indicated the Drusus. "You don't mean to tell me, though, that you built that battleship on Terra? Isn't it the same class as my Arc-Koor?"
"It is that, old friend, and it was built on Earth. We have several of them. I'll admit we used the Titan as a model but nevertheless I'm fulfilling my part of the agreement by coming in a ship of our own.
"That I am happy to admit," smirked Talamon who both understood and agreed with Rhodan's stratagem. "But may I say hello to your companions now and introduce them to mine?"
A general shaking of hands ensued all around until it came turn for the silent and motionless robot brain that had been hovering on the periphery of the group. And that naturally ended the handshaking. Only Pucky wanted to use the opportunity to make contact with the personal representative of the Regent but before he could push between the men and precipitate possible complications in the matter the Regent took the initiative.
"I greet you, Perry Rhodan," rang the cold and mechanical words from a hidden loudspeaker. "Yes, it is I myself who speak to you. That which you see before you is nothing more than a relay station. We are thus in direct communication and it's exactly as if you were here on Arkon-or I there with you."
"My greeting likewise to you, Regent of Arkon," replied Rhodan while concealing his excitement. "It's good to meet again after such a long time."
"For me it has been but a few seconds," said the mechanical voice unemotionally. "But I agree with you
; I am also pleased to see you. In the interim, much has happened."
Rhodan noted that his mutants had gone with Talamon and his companions to sit down on the nearby rocks. Khrest stood off to one side with another Arkonide engaged in a stimulating conversation. And beyond loomed the mighty Drusus-standing by in threatening silence. But across from her stood her mirror image, equally menacing.
"I know," said Rhodan.
"Yes, your agents have learned much, Rhodan, but I doubt that they know all that has happened."
The conversation was carried on in sufficient volume so that the two delegations could understand every word. Marshall and the other mutants listened carefully to every word that was said. Talamon also showed interest in the parley that was going on.
"What could they have missed, Regent? I know that you have made the Arkonide Empire a powerful factor again in the Milky Way and that you have reestablished peace. I am frankly very pleased about that. You have swept all enemy factions out of the way. In the Empire, order and peace reign. That's all I know, Regent. The only thing I'm wondering about is, what do you know about me and Terra?"
"Not much," admitted the robot Brain. "A certain length of time ago, Terra was believed to have been destroyed. You yourself were considered dead. And now suddenly you make an appearance again. So that places new facts before us to which I must adjust myself."
"Aren't you curious as to how it all happened?"
"Why should I be? You live, Rhodan. That alone counts. Perhaps you intended to deceive me. If so, then you succeeded. The past is settled; only the present is important. And naturally the future. That's why I wanted to meet with you."
Rhodan knew that over there in the Drusus the robot psychologists were monitoring every word that was spoken here. The evaluations and interpretations were processed automatically and the results were already at hand. He hesitated, then overcame the urge to have the output data come through. Under no circumstance did he wish to arouse the Regent's suspicion.
"Then I take it, Regent, you don't want to know how I managed to fool you and the whole galaxy?"
"Later, perhaps, but now there are more important problems. As you have observed, peace and order reign in the Empire, including the entire portion of the Milky Way that is known to us. All races of people live in peace and there are no more wars. At the most few pirate groups here and there try to get a toehold but they're always tracked down and destroyed by my troops. I give or recognize no mercy for those who wish war."
"I confirm that our thoughts are in accord," smiled Rhodan and looked straight into the viewscreen behind which he presumed the pickup camera to be that was send his image to Arkon. "So it raises the question as to why we don't work together?"
"We shall have to work together, Rhodan, if our existence is not to be endangered!"
This time the Regent's voice revealed the first signs of being actually alive. It seemed to Rhodan that the vibratory harmonic of the Brain's words was worry and fear-indeed, an apprehension for naked existence itself.
"I am ready to do just that, Regent, under certain provisos. In no case will I agree to be your servant."
"That I do not ask of you, even though such a situation would be better than dying. And that danger, Rhodan, still exists."
Once more Rhodan sensed the gravity of these statements. Unfortunately he wasn't able to make use of his weakly developed telepathic faculty now because the thoughts of a positronic brain could not be read.
"What danger?" he asked simply.
"It can't be defined but it has been present for as much as ten years already. No one but myself knows about it because whenever it appeared anywhere there was nobody left behind who might have reported the matter. Do you understand, Rhodan? No survivors!"
Rhodan seemed to feel an icy hand touch his heart. Did another great war threaten the united Milky Way? Did there exist some new deadly enemy who was ruthlessly determined to exterminate all humanoid races?
"Can't you draw some inference as to the nature of this foe, Regent, from the kinds of weapons they used?"
"Weapons?" came the Regent's question in a tone that was cold and flat. "The unknown enemy has thus far not revealed his weapons. Perhaps I haven't expressed myself clearly enough, Rhodan. I said, there were no survivors. Perhaps I should express it better: after an attack by this sinister opponent, not one living creature is left."
"Are they blasted out, burnt out with energy beams?"
"Not even that. They simply disappear. Entire planets have been depopulated this way. They belonged to our Empire, having a good civilization and enjoying a well-developed biological environment with ample fauna and flora. Then, one day, on a given planet there is suddenly nothing left but the plants. The people and animals disappear as if they had never existed. Until this day I have not succeeded in finding an explanation for the phenomenon. Every precaution so far has proved fruitless. There is no defense against this enemy."
Rhodan cast a quick glance at his people and at the Regent's delegates. By Talamon's reaction he perceived that the Mounder had known nothing about this danger. Talamon had turned pale and stared almost helplessly at the robot Brain. The Springers and Arkonides appeared to be disconcerted and fearful. Only Rhodan's mutants remained calm.
Rhodan turned once more to the 'Baby' Regent. "What do you propose to do and how may I be of assistance?"
Without hesitation, the machine said: "We have to consolidate our strengths and our intelligence in order to be able to face this danger. In this regard you are at least more mobile and flexible than I. I admit that you have more animated and capable forces at your disposal. Perhaps I have the superiority in power. Neither one nor the other will be enough by itself to stop the foe or to vanquish him. Together we will succeed-if at all."
"If at all...?" Rhodan drawled the question out in some wonderment. "Don't tell me you're ready to give up hope!"
"Rhodan, I've fought against this invisible menace for ten years. Ten years is not very much time but time enough to furnish an insight. If we don't succeed in at least perceiving the nature of this horrible attacker, we are lost. The enemy will depopulate the whole Milky Way."
"You exaggerate!" said Rhodan sternly. There simply couldn't be a menace of the magnitude that the robot Brain depicted. "I will help you, Regent-specifically as an equal partner and a friend. If it appears to be necessary I would even request the power of command over your battle fleets and fighter robots."
"That won't work," said the Regent in a cool tone of rejection. "I cannot confer power over the Arkonides upon you."
"I'll admit you are faced with a difficult decision. But either you will agree to trust me or one day the invisible menace will have gobbled up your whole empire. You yourself have nothing to fear since you are composed of inorganic matter."
"I carry the responsibility for all life in this part of the Milky Way..."
"Then act accordingly! Transfer part of your power to me so that I may fight this opponent."
A slight pause ensued. Baldur Sikermann made use of it by cutting in and transferring a message from the laboratory of the Drusus. One of the scientists there explained in a whisper:
"Our analysis show that the robot Brain is speaking the truth. It can't cope any more with this new danger that has appeared and it's glad to find a helper. It will accept all of your conditions, sir, there's no doubt about it."
Rhodan answered in low tones: "Thank you, Dr. Ali el Jagat." More loudly, he said: "Sikermann, I think it would be wise to launch a few small patrol boats and have them set up surveillance around Mirsal 3. The Arkonides will follow our example."
"It shall be done, sir!"
Over by the rocks, Talamon nodded. He gave his officers in the Arc-Koor identical instructions. One minute later the agile guppies climbed vertically into the sky and darted into observation orbits.
Rhodan breathed a sigh of relief. The danger of a surprise attack had been considerably lessened if not eliminated. For one shuddery moment h
e asked himself who could possibly attack them, then he turned once more to the robot Brain. "Have you arrived at a decision, Regent?"
"Equal powers, Rhodan; in no case can I promise you more without endangering the stability of the empire."
Rhodan nodded. "I could bargain for more but I'll forego that. I'll take only what your own free will dictates that I should receive from you. The time may yet come when you'll be ready to charge me with more responsibility. And now, tell me your plan."
"I have no plan, Rhodan. We shall wait for the next attack so that you can get a picture of the situation. Then you will share your conjectures with me and we will confer as to what should be done."
"Conjectures?"
"Hunches, if you will. I have my own ideas concerning this foe-who he could be and how he operates. I don't wish to share these thoughts with you now for fear of influencing your own deliberations on the matter. If you arrive at the same conclusions independently of me, then there will exist the possibility that we have found the truth. I warn you, Rhodan, it could well be that this truth may be a shattering experience. Your mind may not be able to withstand such a concept. It's pure madness..."
Rhodan remained cool and collected. "I am prepared for the worst of possibilities, Regent. There are no mental dangers in this for me. Is our conference at an end now or do you have any further suggestions?"
"None for the moment. You may get together with Talamon and discuss your method of mutual operation. I'll establish contact with you as soon as the unknown enemy attacks again. For the first time I am hoping that he will not keep us waiting long."
The image of the subterranean chamber housing the steel hemisphere of the robot Brain faded out. The Regent 'Baby' continued to hover motionlessly on its antigrav fields. Undoubtedly it was itself in contact with the Regent but it took no further active part in the local events.
"Well, you heard the Regent. Did you know about this threat?" asked Rhodan of Talamon.
