by Leo Lukas
28 April NGE, Akon System
Now was the time to be mortified.
The faces of the crisis staff's members spoke volumes.
Rhodan had of course made the profile recorded in his wristband of the contagious mutant, who had just escaped yet again, available at once to Mechtan and his organization. The Fleet maintained a positioning system throughout the entire system that should have been able to pick up poor Boryk, who had caused so much damage in his cluelessness, in a matter of minutes.
Right. If there hadn't been some compatibility problems.
Thoroughly committed to isolationism since ancient times, the Akonians used their own operating systems exclusively for their Syntrons. In addition, they walled off the important computers behind a vast array of highly complex, virtual firewalls, icebergs, tar-pits, tank traps and Paratron screens, against every thinkable infiltration from outside. Because of this xenophobic paranoia, a legion of technicians was currently working frantically to format Rhodan's data so that in spite of its "Terran" origin it would be accepted as harmless and so could be entered into the FleetNet.
Meanwhile, the situation in the Rotodrome had been attended to, although not nearly in as inconspicuous a manner as Mechtan tan Taklir had intended. Even Achab ta Mentec seemed shattered. The Maphan had lost much of his superior attitude. He sat with his head bowed and with a weary gesture signaled for the team leader of the operation to make his report.
"After the little troll escaped through the reprogrammed teleporter—and then the technicians under his influence erased his destination—the remaining masses of sports fans were suddenly struck with an instinctive urge to escape and stormed the exits. Two thirds of the gates were manned by soldiers who had been outfitted with PsIso-Nets just in time. There the infected individuals were identified without any problem and taken to the hospitals. However, the security personnel assigned to watching the remaining gates and the associated teleporters still suffered from the after-effects of the hypnotic influence. They weren't able to stop the onrushing mob. Several even left their posts and took part in the stampede."
"Does that mean that about 30,000 people, among them an unknown percentage infected during the riot on the playing field, were able to get away unhindered?" Mechtan tan Taklir asked hoarsely.
"Not all. After we took over the control center, we were able to shut down those particular teleporters. But by then about 8000 people had already gone through."
"Who are at this very moment spreading the disease wherever they call home?"
"I'm afraid we have to assume as much. At least there weren't any fatalities in the Rotodrome and only a relatively small number of seriously injured."
Mechtan collapsed in his seat. "That's fine, but it doesn't make any difference. The media are going to kill me," he added tonelessly. "Execute me, terminate me, mow me down with a non-stop barrage of abuse and insults. Dahilm Drschat will make me the weekly laughing stock of the Galaxy on his show. I can see him waving his arms and sneering already: 'The Ark-Admiral and his entire Seventh Fleet weren't able to bring a single Lemurian troll acting entirely alone under control. Bravo, Mechtan tan Taklir—thanks to your incompetence, the plague is spreading over all the worlds in the Empire, and there will be millions of victims before long.' In short, I'm finished."
Rhodan felt pity. But what should he have done?
The Admiral bore the responsibility. Just as Mechtan had earlier basked in fame and glory and reaped the laurels that were due to him. Now he also had to bear the disgrace and take the beating. That came with his position at the top. Still, it spoke well of Mechtan that he didn't try to shift the blame onto his subordinates, but even in this bitter hour stood with his people.
Finally the Syntron showed a green light. Boryk's individual pattern had been successfully entered, and almost immediately the search had turned up a result.
Jars tan Aburrir went pale as it was announced. Achab closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Mechtan burst out with a sarcastic laugh: "As if we didn't have enough problems!"
Although he had used his power on such a large number of people, Boryk hardly felt exhausted. That was perhaps due to the new energy he had gained from his rebirth. More likely it was because the crowd in the huge bowl had not only taken strength from him, but had in turn given him strength. He felt neither hunger nor thirst, only a little craving for a sweetbar.
He had chosen two of the giants as companions. They had struck him as the ringleaders of their groups. He knew their type: pompous, big-mouthed, born petty officials, like Gujnar had been. Not genuine leader personalities, but good at pushing to the front in small circles—in the Traditions Club, in the ball-playing association, in seashell collectors' meetings. Shooting off their mouths as ponderous organizers, and then in turn unconditionally subordinating themselves as soon as the truly powerful appeared on the scene.
"Take me home!" he had ordered his followers. But since he couldn't make it clear to them what he meant by that, let alone where home was, he described the cavern with the many green gateways to other worlds. The beefy, bald-headed man named Zupat then brightly claimed that he was familiar with that destination, and the skinny Wench agreed, nodding eagerly. So they made their request to the Herrots who controlled the gateway and let themselves be lifted and pushed by the other giants through the glowing ring.
But they didn't come out where Boryk had wanted. It looked completely different here. "You made a mistake," he said, disappointed.
"What?"
"What?"
He had to repeat the sentence because there was such deafening noise that he couldn't understand his own words. Shrill music howled from uncountable different sources. Everywhere things tooted, clattered, and rumbled loudly. Dozens of blaring voices mixed with each other as well. Boryk's little box couldn't keep up and emitted only sentence fragments like "greatest attraction in the Galaxy ... the Furball Parade begins soon ... it twists, it turns, everything moves ... loads of fun for the entire family ... "
Brilliantly colored cascades of light and a plethora of different food odors gave the place a certain similarity to the village in the Silver Mountain. But while Boryk had always felt comfortable there despite the overcrowding and the happy confusion, this bustling chaos simply repelled him. Still, much that he saw seemed to be proportioned for his size, in particular the numerous animals and vehicles. Also, considerably fewer people towered over him here as on the other Giant worlds that he had visited. The majority of those laughing and shouting as they romped were ... children!
"We're in the wrong place!" he exclaimed.
"No, no, Master, have a little patience—we'll be in the cavern with the many green gateways soon."
"Green gateways. Just as you said, Master."
Skeptically, Boryk let the two pull him along. As he went by, a ridiculous figure in a thick, brown pelt hung a garland of stinking flowers on him while warbling, "Welcome to Furball Land!"
Disgusted, Boryk asked, "Will we be there soon?"
"Only a few more steps. There's the entrance."
"We're going in there, Master."
The control pad in his pocket beeped as they came to the hut that Zupat had indicated. The animal-like Guardian performed a series of grotesquely exaggerated bows, hummed a little tune, and helped them into a little car. Jerking, they went through a double swinging door, then the rails bent downwards.
"See? We're going down into the cavern!"
"The one with the gateways, Master!"
He would have liked nothing better than to give the two giant idiots a good slapping when it became clear how thoroughly they had misunderstood him. Yes, they were rattling through a cavern. And yes, in the walls on their right and left were gateways outlined in green. They were decorated with suns, moons, and stars, and the doors creaked open as the little car went past them. Behind the doors groups of figures had been mounted that probably represented well-known legends, fairy tales, or historical incidents.
"Beautiful, aren't they? So many worlds, right?"
"Dioramas of all the planets in the Empire, Master! Are you pleased?"
"Oh, shut your mouths!"
They went on through the rest of the exhibit, then returned to the surface. Zupat and Werch pressed their hands to their lips as hard as they could for the entire duration.
"Furball Land. A space station roughly halfway between Drorah and Xolyar," Aykalie explained. "Basically, it's Veehraátoru for children."
"An amusement park in space?" Rhodan asked. He was starting to get a bad feeling. He could just imagine what technology-loving Akonians were capable of pulling off in the area of entertainment facilities with the likes of antigravity and shaped energy. He could also imagine what a confused Suggestor could do in such surroundings ...
"Yes. Flippy Furball is a popular tri-vid cartoon character. Ten thousand children are cavorting up there. If there's one place where we need Boryk even less than in the Rotodrome, it would have to be Furball Land. Poor Grandfather Mechtan ... everything really seems to be conspiring against him right now!"
Rhodan saw images of horror flashing in front of his mind's eye, and he probably wasn't the only one who could see them. A massacre in a high-tech playground ... He leaped after the Akonian into the light arch, oriented himself, then ran to Mechtan tan Taklir. "Takhan, I'd like a word."
"Yes, Resident?"
"I don't want to interfere in your affairs. But considering the seriousness of the situation ... "
"If you want to give me some advice, go ahead. You have far more experience than the rest of us. I'm listening."
Rhodan gave his multifunction wristband a quick glance. The micro-scanner had already determined Boryk's location. "This is not the place for a major military operation."
"I agree with you there. But I still have to prevent the plague from being spread any further."
"Have all the teleporters be redirected to the quadrant hospitals," Rhodan told him. "Post your people there to meet the incoming individuals and take care of them."
"But if Boryk ... "
"Enter his profile into the teleporters so he can't use them. Then he'll be stuck there."
Achab ta Mentec looked at the Admiral and nodded. The Maphan stepped to the side to take care of all the necessary details.
Mechtan asked, "How do we prevent him from taking control of another crowd of people?"
"By not putting him under pressure. I think what he did in the Rotodrome wasn't intentional, but instead he reacted instinctively to the overpowering aggressive mood. He basically just wants to go back to his ark."
"'Take Boryk home!'"
"Exactly. We should approach him in such a way that he doesn't lose control out of terror again. Meaning in the smallest possible group."
"Fine. You, Jars, and Aykalie. Achab will stand by in the immediate vicinity with a few specialists from the tan Aburrir family security service. They are better trained for hostage situations than my soldiers."
"Thank you, Takhan."
Their eyes met. "I thank you."
Rhodan's wristband chirped. He was afraid the scanner had lost the profile, but it was a call.
"I have just found a message," Icho Tolot said. "From Levian Paronn."
He didn't have any other choice.
The DIOGU was no longer responding. As soon as he had learned that, it was clear to Paronn that the events he was expecting, even yearning for, had begun. Everything fit: the nebula, the Howalgonium deposits, the failure of the hyper-transmitter on the fourth planet, and the silence of the DIOGU as well.
Still, he didn't want to run any risks by going on his own after the second instrument that he needed for the realization of his millennia-spanning plan. If anyone could find it at the right time, it would be Tolot. So Paronn had to bring the Halutian to Gorbas.
He made a jump to the ACHATI UMA. In the confusion that the flight of the Lemurian mutant had caused all across the Akon System, and with the crisis staff's many changes of location, his brief absence wouldn't be conspicuous. Icho Tolot was at that moment on board his space-sphere, so Paronn could leave a note in the Halutian's cabin. It included an invitation to meet and the astronomical coordinates of the Gorbas System. Levian Paronn had signed it with his real name and the current date. That should be enough to send the Halutian on his way to where he wanted him.
That left the problem of Boryk, in particular the diary. As much as Paronn regretted it, it might be necessary to destroy his precious notes so that Rhodan didn't have a chance to read them.
And he already knew how.
It was enough to make him weep, so he wept. Boryk held his head in his hands and let his tears flow.
The two giants were embarrassed and said nothing. They were probably ashamed of their uselessness. Boryk was ashamed of himself as well, and cursed the day he was born. He had always had only the best of intentions. Had always wanted to be a good boy and do what was right—and still he had made bad mistakes and suffered from terrible guilt. The fate of the Naahk weighed on his conscience along with the death of the friendly giant who had hidden him in the love grotto. And what he had done in the gigantic ball-playing bowl, he couldn't begin to guess.
No one should be burdened with an ability like mine, he thought. It's far too much power for a single person. It isn't so much a gift as a curse.
Now he was overcome by a kind of hangover, although without any physical symptoms. Boryk felt empty, despondent, disheartened. Suddenly he could understand how it must have been for the goddess. He felt a longing for death, realizing that even the amulet couldn't bring happiness over the long run, but more likely misery and desperation.
Then, he heard his name. He almost couldn't believe it. Someone had spoken to him. In his language, or in any event one that sounded very much like his own!
"Boryk, can you understand me? Please don't be frightened. We want to help you go back home."
He lifted his head. The giant had a lighter skin than the others, and dark blond hair and bluish gray eyes. One step behind him stood a female giant who wore a net-like head-covering, as did the man next to her ... the Majittri!
He could stop running now. They had caught up with him.
Boryk almost felt relieved about it.
Zupat and Werch had leaped up, wanting to stand protectively in front of him. "Go," he told them. "I am releasing you. Forgive me for misusing you."
"But Master, we want to stay with you."
"Yes, with you, Master."
They seemed confused, as though struck in the head. Like children who couldn't understand why they couldn't play with him any more. He had given them something and was now taking it away again without any reason.
One more mistake, one more sin.
"Go away," he said softly. "Please."
"Go away. Got you!"
"Sure, great idea. Go away. You can count on us, Master!" They left, contented.
"Are you ready to come with us, Boryk?" asked the light-skinned giant. "We'll take you home."
"Yes."
The Majittri cleared his throat, a little embarrassed it seemed to Boryk. "I have reason to believe that when we last met, you took something from me. Would you care to return it?"
Boryk reached into his pockets and pulled out the control pad, the tool, and the worn-looking device. He held the objects out to the light-skinned giant because he stood closer to him.
The giant reached his hand out. But before he could take the objects, there was an angry buzzing in the air, and then the world exploded.
Rhodan noticed the silver flash out the corner of his eye. He reacted without conscious thought, pushed Jars to one side, and pulled Boryk down to the ground with him. Then there was a loud bang.
When his head cleared, Rhodan saw that he had suffered only light, superficial injuries. Boryk, however, had been hurt far worse. He lay in a pool of blood. The explosion had torn off his forearm. Jars and Aykalie were untouched, apart from shock. They stood with
their arms wrapped tightly around each other and gasping for breath.
Before anyone else could take the initiative, Rhodan spoke into his wristband's minicom: "Rhodan to PALENQUE. I'll be arriving on board shortly with the Lemurian mutant, who is severely injured. Prepare everything for an emergency operation along with decontamination and quarantine."
Achab ta Mentec appeared, out of breath from running. "Wait a minute. Shouldn't he go to one of our hospitals ... ?"
"No. With all respect, Maphan—something is very wrong here. That was a deliberate attack. Until we find out who was behind it, Boryk will stay with me."
He quickly gathered all the pieces of debris that he could find, carefully picked up the unconscious Lemurian, and carried him to the nearest teleporter. He brusquely ignored the protests that Jars, Achab, and Aykalie made. Someone was playing a crooked game. Rhodan was angry and not inclined to tolerate it any longer.
The Lemurian was given emergency treatment in the PALENQUE's medical section and was then put into an artificially induced sleep. Only then did Rhodan turn to reconstructing the event with the help of his wristband's recording function. It appeared that a mini-drone with a built-in explosive device had aimed itself directly at one of the devices from Boryk's pockets. The tiny flying machine had been destroyed along with the three objects. According to the Terran League Service's information, drones of this type were typical of the equipment used by special units like those subordinate to Jars tan Aburrir and commanded by Achab tan Mentec. He didn't find any other clues as to who had sent the drone.
Icho Tolot came over from the HALUTE and showed Rhodan the note with Levian Paronn's message. They informed Sharita Coho and Jere tan Baloy, the commander of the LAS-TOOR. Everyone decided unanimously to set out in all three ships for the Gorbas System at once. Speed was essential. Mechtan's fleet wouldn't be allowed to beat them to the punch again.
After they had made the first Metagrav jump, Rhodan worked with Kurd Brodbeck, the Chief Engineer of the PALENQUE, and the physicist Hartich van Kuespert on the remains of the objects from Boryk's pockets. He didn't seriously believe that the tiny fragments could be made to reveal any further secrets. Still, he had a vague suspicion that these devices had been the actual target of the attack rather than Boryk. Since the little mutant had already given up any resistance, there would have been easier ways to eliminate him. In that case, it might actually pay off to examine the pieces more closely.
