If truth be told, Richard would have to admit he’d picked Tia and Daniel partially to get back at the duke for making him come to Trecor in the first place. At the same time, Tia and Daniel were excellent additions to the crew. Although both were young, they’d been training as soldiers since they were basically old enough to walk.
Tia really was a hotshot fighter-pilot. Whether she was as good as her sister, Liz, Richard didn’t know. But he did know the teenager was very good. Tia was also an excellent instructor. Once she’d picked up the finer points of flying the Zip fighters assigned to the Defiant, Tia had spent hours training Matthew Deloris in them as well.
Tia also spent a significant amount of time trying to train Richard in Zip fighters as well. Unfortunately, Richard’s skills at flying the little zippers weren’t much better than his skills at piloting heavy cats.
Matthew on the other hand had easily transitioned his cat piloting skills to piloting the little Zip fighters. Matthew was a dedicated student when it came to learning to fly the zippers. Richard had a feeling the fact Matthew’s instructor was a beautiful and highly intelligent girl contributed to his motivation to learn as well.
While the crew was training and finalizing their places in the Defiant’s routine, Nickelo and Margery analyzed the data disk supplied by Duke Bistoria. The results of the analysis were why the Defiant was even now approaching the mining camp.
When Richard reached the cargo bay, he headed straight for the ejection tube. He immediately began lowering himself into the top of the long cylinder.
Using the ship’s intercom, Richard said, “You do realize, Sergeant Ron, this tube’s original purpose was to eject garbage and waste material out into space, don’t you?”
Richard heard Nickelo laugh over his shared space. What makes you think it’s not being used for that right now?
Yuk, yuk, Richard thought back. I keep telling you you’re not as funny as you think you are.
Sure I am, said Nickelo. According to my calculations, I’m the funniest prototype battle computer on this starship.
Richard chose to ignore his battle computer. He’d learned from experience he couldn’t win the argument anyway.
“Relax, Rick,” came Sergeant Ron’s reply over the intercom. “The Deloris Armaments’ technicians modified it for bombs, missiles, and the occasional crazy-as-all-hell wizard scout.”
“It’s fine, Rick,” yelled Daniel from across the cargo bay. “Charlie and I checked it out this morning. It’ll serve your purpose.”
Richard glanced to the other side of the cargo bay. Daniel was busy helping Charlie and Terrie get strapped into their Warcats. The two cats were top-of-the-line Deloris models. Richard had a momentary regret he wasn’t piloting one of them for the insertion mission instead of using just his battle suit. The newer Warcats were heavier armed than the standard models issued to active line battalions, and Richard was a little envious.
No time for regrets now, said Nickelo. Besides, Warcats aren’t air droppable without additional gear. The extra equipment would nullify their stealth capabilities. You on the other hand can go in without being detected if you’re just wearing your battle suit.
I know, Richard admitted. But can’t I even complain just a little once in a while? Sometimes it makes me feel better even if it doesn’t do any good.
Fine then, said Nickelo, complain away. By the way, we’re twenty seconds from the drop point.
“Twenty seconds,” said Margery over the intercom.
“Thanks, Margery,” Richard said.
Hey, that’s what I told you, said Nickelo with a mock hurt-feelings tone. How come you didn’t thank me? I have feelings too, you know.
Whatever, Richard said.
Just before Richard’s head dropped below the lip of the ejection tube, he noticed Daniel and Terrie give him a thumb’s up. Charlie gave him a thumb’s up with both of his right hands.
“You ready, Rick?” asked Sergeant Ron from the bridge.
“All set,” Richard replied as he tried to relax. No matter how often he did them, he always got nervous right before a high-altitude drop.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to just land?” said Sergeant Ron. “It would be safer if you had the Warcats backing you up right off the bat.”
“Negative on that,” Richard replied. “Tia and Matthew will cover me with the zippers until I give you the all clear. Based upon their analysis, Margery and Nick are sixty percent certain warning sensors were left on this chunk of rock. I don’t want anyone touching down until I give the okay.”
“All right, Rick,” said Sergeant Ron. “You’re the wizard scout.”
“Drop in five seconds,” said Margery. “Four… three… two… one… execute.”
The bottom of the tube opened up below Richard’s feet. At the same time, compressed air forced him out of the blackness of the tube and into the emptiness of space. Bright sunlight reflected off of the small planet’s surface below him. Everything was in red since the battle helmet’s visor was down. Richard preferred the red light to the pitch black of the ejection tube. The truth was, he was a little on the claustrophobic side.
At 6,000 meters, he was on the edge of the planet’s thin atmosphere. Wrapping himself in Power, Richard gave a series of intermittent taps to slow down.
Good job, Rick, said Nickelo in rare praise. Very efficient use of your Power.
Richard waited a second for his battle computer’s invariable but. However, none came.
Miracles do happen, Richard thought.
Of course…, I could have done it better if you’d given me control, said Nickelo. Still, it wasn’t half bad for a human.
I should’ve known, Richard thought. So much for miracles.
As Richard began descending through the planet’s atmosphere, his battle suit began to heat up. When he’d done drops as a cadet, he’d used a personal force field to protect himself from the heat of entry. As a full wizard scout, he had better methods of protecting himself at his disposal. And, unlike a personal force field, his wizard scout methods were practically non-detectable.
Wrapping himself in Power once again, Richard caused himself to shimmer in and out of the void. Using a technique the Commandant had shown him, Richard barely entered the void before shifting back into the physical dimension. Although sub-second in duration, the intermittent dimensional shifts were enough to dissipate the heat buildup.
“Margery says the zippers are out, Rick,” said Nickelo.
Richard picked up the locations of the two Zip fighters with his passive scan. They were flying in stealth mode. However, he’d tagged both Tia and Matthew earlier that morning so he had a trace on them. He was positive he could easily locate them anywhere on the small planet as long as he kept the trace active. He’d also put a trace on the rest of the crew. If anything went wrong, Richard didn’t plan on wasting time trying to figure out his friend’s locations.
I’ve marked the two zippers and the location of the Defiant on your heads-up display using the information from your passive scan, said Nickelo. The zippers are in white, and the Defiant is in green.
I see them, Richard said when he noticed the dots appear on the display of his battle helmet.
You’re drifting to the left of your most efficient course, said Nickelo. That is, assuming you still want to head to the mine’s entrance.
I do, Richard said. I’ve given you control of the battle suit if you need to make adjustments. Believe me; I wouldn’t be offended if you gave me a hand. That is, if you get bored.
Oh, I rarely get bored when I’m with you, said Nickelo accompanying his comment with a half-hidden giggle. It’s always entertaining to calculate all the ways I could do things better than you. It’s amazing how many mistakes you make.
Ha, ha, Richard said while trying to concentrate on keeping his body position aligned to keep him on track to the mine’s entrance. Unfortunately, the planet’s thin atmosphere was making it more difficult than he’d anticipated.
<
br /> Richard felt the arms of his battle suit move slightly to take better advantage of what little air was available.
Thanks, Nick.
No problem, said Nickelo. But you’re still falling too fast. I recommend using your telekinesis to slow down.
No can do, buddy, Richard said. I want to keep a higher speed than normal. I don’t want to be out here falling through the air like a sitting duck longer than necessary.
Well, if you don’t slow down, you’ll wish you had when you smack into the rock this planet calls for topsoil, admonished Nickelo. You’ll have to waste a lot of Power to stop on the surface at this speed.
Actually, I’m not going to stop on the surface, Richard replied. I’m going to shift into the void just before I make contact with the ground and use my momentum to carry me directly into one of the mine tunnels below the surface.
And when were you going to tell me your little plan? said Nickelo sounding alarmed. Are you sure you’re good enough to get your timing right?
Actually, no, Richard answered being honest with both his battle computer and himself. I know I’m not good enough. That’s why I have you. You’re the most advanced battle computer in the galaxy, remember? The timing shouldn’t be a problem for a big, bad, battle computer like yourself.
How true, how true, answered Nickelo ignoring Richard’s obvious sarcasm. I’m glad after all these years you’re finally starting to appreciate my obvious abilities.
Richard ignored his battle computer in order to concentrate on the planet’s surface as the ground continued approaching at a rapid rate. He doubted he’d ever get used to his eyes telling him he was falling to certain death while his logic told him his wizard scout abilities would keep him alive. He didn’t mind admitting he was a little skittish during every jump. But of course, he jumped anyway, skittish or not. That’s what wizard scouts did.
The mine’s entrance came into focus. It was located in the wall of a quarry on the east side of town. Richard expanded the range of his passive scan in order to pick up readings from the three anomalies located below the planet’s surface. One of the anomalies was located about five hundred meters below the surface almost directly below the mine’s entrance. The other two anomalies were located twenty kilometers away at sixty degree angles.
The three anomalies form a triangle, said Nickelo in their shared space. I believe the anomalies are similar to the spheres you helped the elf recover from the demon. I can sense links connecting the three spheres together. It’s strange that you’re picking them up so easily with your scan.
Roger that, Richard said. I see them. Are you saying they’re seed parts?
Negative, said Nickelo. They’re spheres, but I don’t believe they’re seed parts. I calculate they’re something else. It appears the spheres and their links are designed to form a gate. The gate’s not active at the moment, but there’s enough latent energy being released to allow you to sense them. By the way, you only have six seconds until you splatter on the ground.
I’m getting ready to shift into the void now, Richard said. I’ll give you control of the dimensional shift as soon as it’s formed. I’m hoping it will be just like when we shifted that missile through those magic users’ shield at the airfield last year.
Roger that, replied Nickelo. I’ll take control. By the way, you do realize it was only last year as far as the Empire is concerned. It was many years ago if you count the years you’ve spent doing missions for ‘the One’. I worry about you sometimes, Rick. I think you’re brain has trouble keeping the time differences straight. Good thing you have me around to help.
Whatever, Richard said dismissively. However, he had to admit, he really did have trouble keeping time straight in his head.
The increasing details of the sharp rocks below jerked Richard’s thoughts back to reality. Wrapping himself in Power, Richard shifted into the void when he was a mere fifty meters above the ground. He caught a glimpse of a few vehicles parked near the black entrance of the mine. Then everything went dark as he plunged through the rocky surface.
We’re off target, said Nickelo in their shared space. Set up telekinesis on yourself and give me control.
Richard didn’t bother answering. He just did as asked and gave control to his battle computer. Richard sensed the Power in his reserve begin to deplete. Although he was significantly more efficient at dimensional shifts and telekinesis than he’d been while a cadet, both abilities were still very Power hungry.
Suddenly, Richard caught a glimpse of light. In a maneuver too fast for Richard to have accomplished by himself, he came to a stop with the soles of his boots only a few millimeters above the floor of a dimly-lit tunnel. Richard immediately dropped his Power to shift back into the physical dimension. His barely noticed the drop to the tunnel floor as he released his telekinesis.
Power? Richard asked.
Eighty-seven percent, said Nickelo. You’re sitting pretty good all things considered.
“Rick,” said the voice of Tia over the battle helmet’s intercom. “We lost track of you. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, Tia,” Richard replied. “I did a dimensional shift. I’m in one of the tunnels now. I’m going to try and locate the first anomaly.”
“Crap, Rick,” said Terrie. “How about giving us a heads up next time? I’m a disabled wizard scout, remember? Your unannounced disappearance nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought you’d splattered on the ground.”
“Sorry, guys,” Richard apologized. He wasn’t sure what else to say. “Uh…, I should have said something, but I didn’t think of the plan until the last second. I forgot to tell you. I guess I’m used to working alone.”
“Hey, what about me?” said Nickelo over the communication network for all to hear. “What am I, chopped pactar?”
You know want I meant, Nick, Richard thought.
Reaching over his shoulder, Richard pulled his M63 out of his dimensional pack. No Power left his reserve. The weapon was one of his freebies.
After making sure the weapon’s isotopic battery was fully charged, Richard clicked off the safety and began trotting down the tunnel. He didn’t sense any lifeforms in the immediate area. However, he wasn’t going to take any chances.
Keep an eye out for booby-traps, Nick, Richard thought.
Roger that, oh wizard scout extraordinaire, said Nickelo with a short laugh. I’d hate to get a perfectly good battle helmet blown up.
Chapter 37 – The Assets
_____________________________________
The Oracle’s teleport deposited Jeena on a circular, knee-high dais. The dais was five paces across, and it was located in the center of a large room filled with strange-looking boxes. The boxes were adorned with flashing lights of every color of the rainbow. Two children were in the room.
One of the children was Brachia. The other was his sister, Dren. Jeena knew at fourteen, Dren was physically only a little younger than herself. However, the girl had an air of maturity far beyond her years. Once the introductions were over, Dren took Jeena aside and told her the boxes with the flashing lights were computers.
After only a few minutes interacting with the children, Jeena began to understand the children’s mysterious computers played a large part in their ‘magic’. The children had a name for their magic. It was a strange word called technology. They also used an alternate word called science. Jeena didn’t like either of the words. They sounded harsh.
“Well,” said Dren. “I guess you’d better let me see Rem’s staff. It looks in worse shape than it did the last time we saw it.”
Jeena clutched the Lady’s staff closer to her chest. She wasn’t sure she wanted to trust a child with the Staff of the Lady of the Tree.
Noticing her action, Dren said, “We’re going to fix the staff. Didn’t the Oracle tell you?”
“The Oracle said many things,” Jeena said. “Much of what he said made no sense. The Lady’s staff is too valuable to risk being damaged.”
“Ok
ay,” said Dren as if used to people not taking her seriously. “Then how about this? What if I tell you what to do and you do it? I won’t even have to touch the staff.”
Slightly mollified, Jeena nodded her head. “Very well.”
“Good,” said Dren turning all businesslike again. “You see the five white dots near the top of the staff?”
Jeena nodded her head. She’d noticed the dots during her journey to see the Oracle. They appeared to be discolorations in the darkened wood. When pressed, they moved slightly inward. When the pressure was released, the dots moved back to their original position.
“Imagine those dots are numbered one through five from top to bottom,” said Dren. “I want you to press them in this order; 1, 5, 3, 3, 2, 5, 1, and 3.”
Unsure what the girl hoped to accomplish, but seeing no harm, Jeena pressed the dots as requested. When she pressed the third dot for the last time, she heard a click. Without warning, the blue gem at on the top of the staff popped off and fell onto the stone floor.
“No!” Jeena shouted. “What’ve you done?”
“Relax, Jeehana,” said Brachia who had walked over while Jeena was pressing the dots. “Those blue gems are the hardest substance I’ve ever dealt with. It takes a type III plasma cutting-torch to even scratch one. I should know. I had to cut some smaller gems made out of the same material to put in my uncle’s armor.”
Jeena stared at Brachia as he reached down and picked up the blue gem. He handed the gem to her.
“See?” said Brachia. “Not a mark on it.”
Reaching out, Jeena snatched the gem from the boy’s hand and held it up to the light. She spent the next minute verifying the blue gem was undamaged.
Holding the blue gem in one hand and the Lady’s staff in the other, Jeena said, “The high priest will kill me if I’ve let two children destroy something which has survived for a hundred thousand years.”
“Humph,” snorted Brachia. “I’ll be glad when I grow up. I’m tired of people always thinking I don’t know what I’m doing just because I’m a child.”
Wizard Omega (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 4) Page 38
