Wizard Cadet (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 2)

by Rodney Hartman

  “For nothing?” said Dren a little heatedly. “Keka is alive according to you, and we are alive because your soldiers and you came. So, how is that for nothing?”

  “The Empire conducted that raid specifically to get a defecting scientist who knew how to create some super-secret weapon,” Richard said. “We didn’t get that. So I’d have to say, yes. Our soldiers died for nothing. The information doesn’t exist.”

  “If that’s how you think,” said Dren, “then the Empire’s no better than the Crosioians. Both the Crosioians and the Empire are willing to kill to get a weapon. Leave it to the military to take something designed to protect and turn it into a weapon.”

  “Well, I think –” Richard began before being interrupted by his battle computer.

  Rick, said Nickelo privately. You’re not helping the situation. Please. Let me try to explain.

  “Dren. Brachia,” said Nickelo. “You’re right. Everybody is trying to get their hands on what they think is a powerful weapon. I haven’t been fully connected to the tele-network in over a year. I don’t profess to know all the reasons why the Empire wants the information they think your Keka has. But, I believe they want to keep a potential weapon out of the Crosioians’ hands. The Crosioians would have hurt Keka and you to get the information. The Empire will not. For all their faults, the Empire follows specific rules. They did not murder your parents, and they will not harm Keka to get the information they think he has. The raid was conducted to keep the information out of the Crosioians’ hands. That’s the truth.”

  Neither of the children looked convinced.

  “Dren,” Richard said in a relatively calm voice. His rising anger had dissipated during his battle computer’s speech. He was always quick to anger, but the anger normally disappeared as quickly as it came.

  “Yes, Rick,” said Dren.

  “I would like to ask you two questions,” Richard said. “After you answer them, I will answer any questions you may have about me. Will you do that?”

  “Perhaps,” she said noncommittally.

  “Close enough,” Richard said. “Here’s my first question. You said your parents’ knowledge was transferred to your brother and you. Are you now in possession of the information the Crosioians and the Empire are looking for?”

  Dren looked at her brother. He shrugged his shoulders.

  “Perhaps,” she said.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Richard said. “Here’s my second question. You implied the information was developed for peaceful purposes, but that it could be used as a weapon. What information is so valuable that the Crosioians invaded sector five and started a war with the Empire to get? And, why did your parents transfer the knowledge to the two of you? It seems to me they endangered you by doing so.”

  That’s three questions, Rick, said Nickelo.

  Give me a break, Richard said. I’m thinking on the fly.

  Richard was pretty sure Dren could count to three also, but she didn’t mention the increase.

  “If you think about it, Rick,” said Dren, “many weapons start out with a peaceful purpose. Unfortunately, there’s always someone who wants to turn a great, peaceful invention into a weapon of destruction. You’re from Earth, aren’t you, Rick?”

  Richard gave a nod of his head.

  “Well, take black powder, for instance,” said Dren. “It was originally used for fireworks. Later, someone had the bright idea to use it to propel a chunk of metal out of a long tube. The result was a canon. Or, take Earth’s nuclear reactors back in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. They could be used to generate electricity, but they could also be used to create weapon’s grade plutonium. The result was nuclear weapons.”

  “Okay,” Richard said. “I’ve heard that same concept brought up in lots of conversations over the years. Humans tend to turn just about anything into weapons if given enough time.”

  “Not just humans, Rick,” said Nickelo out loud. “Your species does not have the patent on destruction. Many other races excel at it as well.”

  “Nick is right,” said Dren. “Even on Veturna, our leaders often have heated debates on whether to use our science for peaceful pursuits or in more forceful ways. The destructive side in the argument is not limited to our planet’s human stock either. Power has a tendency to corrupt even the kindest of souls if it’s given enough time to simmer.”

  “So we’ve been told at the Academy,” Richard said.

  “Well, our parents often told us that as well,” said Dren. “Our grandfather and Keka’s brood father spent their lives working on a way to prevent our world from being invaded by things too horrible to even think about. Our parents and Keka’s brood mate were able to complete their work.”

  “I don’t understand,” Richard said perplexed. “Prevent your world from being invaded by what? And, how would someone use a preventive mechanism as a weapon?”

  Before Dren could answer, Richard noticed Brachia absently trying to rub the soot off of his hands.

  “No, wait,” Richard said. “Hold that thought. I have a feeling this could take a while, and I’d feel better if we got a little more distance between our friends from last night and us. Why don’t you kids get yourself cleaned up?” Pointing in the direction of two small packs leaning against a nearby tree, Richard said, “I took the liberty of making up a small pack for each of you. You’ll find a change of clothes, toilet articles, and there’s even a canteen you can hook to your belt along with your knife. That canvas bag over there hanging from the tree limb is full of warm water. It’s probably just lukewarm by now, but I think it will be fine. Just twist the shower nozzle to let the water out. Does that sound like a deal?”

  Dren’s face immediately lit up. “Yes. A warm shower would be wonderful.”

  “Fine then,” Richard said. “You guys get cleaned up, while I break the camp down. We’ll try and leave in about an hour. Then we’ll see what we’ll see.”

  “It’s a deal,” said Dren.

  “Omar the Pirate says he gets to shower first,” said Brachia as he made a dive for the smallest pack.

  “Hmmp,” said Dren. “Boys.”

  Chapter 10 – Northward Bound

  ____________________________________

  What do you think about their story, Nick? Richard asked as he started breaking down the camp. It seems farfetched to me. I mean, this knowledge transfer stuff seems a little too magical to be true. Also, the idea that two young children know about some super-secret weapon is something out of one of those spy novels.

  Well, Rick, said Nickelo. I’ll admit I need more information on the weapon aspect of their story before I can calculate any useful percentages. However, the knowledge transfer part of their story has a seventy-six percent chance of being accurate.

  That’s pretty high, Nick, Richard said as he placed the propane stoves in his pack. I know they’re smart, but if people could transfer knowledge back and forth without having to study, I think we’d have heard about it. I mean, it would have come in pretty handy when I was in school. My grades weren’t exactly topnotch if you know what I mean.

  I do indeed, Rick, said Nickelo. In fact, I have all your grades while you were in the orphanage in my databanks. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Sister Catrina DeMonis gave you an ‘Inferior’ in ancient literature. Her comment says, ‘Richard is disruptive in class and tends to resent authority. While intelligent, he does not apply himself. Recommend additional supervision during study halls.’

  Yeah, Richard said as he began rolling up the children’s tent. Sister Catrina was dry as a bone when she gave a lecture. She was also meaner than any of the drill sergeants I had in boot camp. I’d probably have done a lot better with a different teacher.

  Yeah, I’m sure, said Nickelo not sounding the least convinced. However, let’s get back to our discussion. You are living proof that at least some type of knowledge transversal by subliminal consciousness relay exists.

  Puzzled, Richard stopped rolling up the tent.

  Ho
w so? Richard asked.

  Both you and the children are speaking a different language, replied Nickelo. It’s not Empire standard, and it’s not your native English. It’s the same language spoken by the demon and those werewolves last night. The same thing happened during your mission for ‘the One’ last year. You spoke a language called Letian then. How do you think that’s possible?

  I didn’t really think about it at the time, Richard admitted. I was too busy trying to stay alive. I guess I just accepted it as the way things work when it happened on this mission.

  Well, said Nickelo. I’ve spent a lot of processing cycles on it. I believe ‘the One’ has access to some type of knowledge transfer device. I believe you have been the recipient of that device in some manner. There’s one other thing you should be aware of my most respected of wizard scouts.

  What’s that, Nick? Richard asked as he continued putting the last of the camping gear back in his dimensional pack.

  Those children were not brought along with us by accident, said Nickelo.

  Richard looked over at Dren and Brachia. The little boy was sitting with his back against the same tree Richard had slept against after they’d made camp. The boy was dressed in the clean jumpsuit Richard had given him. He was in the process of lacing up his boots. Dren was also dressed, but she was still drying her hair with a small towel from her pack.

  I’m not sure what you mean, Nick, Richard said. I thought you said they got caught up in the teleport because they were holding onto my leg.

  That is not what I said, replied Nickelo, so don’t try and put words in my speakers. That’s what you said. I said there was only a twelve percent chance they were brought along with us by accident.

  So, you think ‘the One’ teleported them here on purpose? Richard said dubiously. Why would he do that?

  I have insufficient data to answer that at this time, Rick, said Nickelo.

  Well, old buddy, Richard said, let me know when that changes. In the meantime, stop giving me all these problems to think about. At the present time, I’m more concerned with what we should do next.

  “Are you talking to him?” said Brachia still sitting with his back against the tree. “Are you talking with your battle computer?”

  “Yes, I am,” Richard said as he wandered over and began taking down the field shower and privacy tarps since the kids were done. “How’d you know?”

  “You just had this ‘I am not on this planet anymore’ look on your face,” said Brachia. “My sister looks like that when she’s thinking about boys.” He gave a snicker and said, “She likes Bryon Tesler. I think he’s goofy looking.”

  “Mind your mouth,” said Dren who had finished drying her hair, “or I’ll make you sorry.”

  Brachia stuck out his tongue, but Dren chose to ignore it.

  Richard placed the last tarp in his pack and looked around at their barren campsite. The children were both standing in front of him with their packs on and ready to go. The only problem was that he had no idea where they should go or even what direction to start walking.

  “Listen kids,” he said, “you did good getting yourselves ready. I don’t know how long we’re going to be together, but if we have to keep camping out, we’ll divide up the duties some. How’s that sound?”

  “Fine by me,” said Dren. “We don’t mind working.”

  “Can we pretend we’re pirates on a scouting trip to find treasure?” said Brachia. “Omar and I are good scouts.”

  “I guess,” Richard said. He wasn’t really sure what the best approach with a six year old would be. On top of that, he wasn’t sure how to relate to Omar. Sometimes the boy was Omar, and sometimes Omar was the boy’s friend. It was very confusing.

  “You can be either pirates or scouts as long as you don’t wander away,” Richard said. “We have to all stick together. Besides, you need to protect your sister.”

  “Right,” said Dren, “in his dreams.”

  Rick, said Nickelo, you’re stalling. What are we going to do?

  We could keep heading north, Richard said. At least until we know a better way to go. Or, do you have a suggestion?

  Your Power reserve is almost at a hundred percent, said Nickelo. You haven’t picked up anything of significance with your passive scan, but I don’t think we should risk either a long-range active or electronic scan. I’d recommend sending out a drone to get an aerial view of the countryside.

  “You’re talking to him again, aren’t you,” said Brachia. “You’re talking to Nick.”

  “Yes,” Richard said. “We’re trying to figure out which way we should go.”

  “You know,” said Dren sounding a little perturbed, “it’s impolite for you two to talk together without including us in the conversation. I know you think we’re just children, but we might have some useful ideas if you give us a chance.”

  “You’re absolutely right,” said Nickelo over the battle helmet’s external speakers. “It isn’t very polite of us. We were just considering sending up a drone of some kind to recon from the air.”

  “You mean like tele-bots?” said Brachia.

  “No,” said Nickelo. “They’re too complex. Rick’s Power reserve is too small to create enough of them to be useful. Besides, I have a feeling ‘the One’ wouldn’t allow it anyway. He seems to prefer Richard summoning older technology from his dimensional pack for some reason.”

  “What’s a dimensional pack?” said Brachia curiously.

  “Let’s get into that some other time,” said Nickelo. “For now, just know Richard can summon some items from it, but he has to use Power from his reserve to do it.”

  “Oh,” said Brachia as if he really understood.

  “Nick,” said Dren. “Are there any tele-bots in the area? If so, do you have access to them?”

  “We’re not in the physical plane anymore, Dren,” Nickelo explained patiently. “We’re in the magical plane.”

  “So?” said Dren. “We were teleported along with Rick, and don’t try to tell me it was an accident. Now that I’ve thought about it, I know better. Mother specialized in teleportation relays and inter-dimensional monitors. I have her knowledge now. I know that in order to teleport someone without them being on a tele-pad requires a detailed modulator baseline for the target. Someone must have gone to a lot of trouble to get our baseline. We were brought here intentionally.”

  “Agreed,” said Nickelo, “but I estimate –”

  “I wasn’t finished,” Dren interrupted. “I think you’re too close to the problem, Nick, to see the answer.”

  Whoa, Richard said privately. I guess she told you.

  “Clarify,” said Nickelo.

  “If ‘the One’ intentionally tele-ported us here,” said Dren, “then he must think Brachia and I are just as important to his mission as Rick and you. Whatever the mission is, it’s obviously important, otherwise he wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble. And, I’d like to point out that I’m calling ‘the One’ a he because Rick and you do. However, I have serious doubts about your automatic gender selection.”

  “Our pardon,” said Richard in an attempt to get back in the conversation. “But what’s your point?”

  “My point is,” said Dren, “that if this mission is so important, I do not think ‘the One’ would send us here without keeping an eye on us. He’s got too much invested in this mission to let us wander around on our own.”

  “So,” said Nickelo, “you think ‘the One’ sent some tele-bots along to monitor us? It’s a logical conclusion. But even if you are correct, I’m unable to make contact with them. I was given a special interface for our raid mission back at the compound, but it’s not functioning now. I can’t even sense the tele-network much less connect to it.”

  “We’ll have to talk about your lack of connectivity sometime, Nick,” said Dren. “But, I was thinking how tele-bots are able to use their short-range communications to influence nearby creatures if they are receptive.”

  “One of our instructors
at the Academy,” Richard said, “talked about that in a class earlier this year. He said tele-bots will sometimes attempt to influence wizard scouts via non-verbal communications. I think the instructor called it external intuition.”

  “Exactly,” said Dren. “But just so you know, their non-verbal communication is not limited to wizard scouts. I have a feeling the reason I initially trusted you on the stairway was due to external intuition. However, as a wizard scout, you should be more receptive. If ‘the One’ did send tele-bots along with us, they may be trying to communicate with you via non-verbal communications.”

  “Sounds a little shaky to me,” said Nickelo. “The probability you’re correct is above zero, but just barely. Still, it’s something to consider since we can’t think of anything better. So, what does your intuition say, Rick? Which way should we go?”

  Although he felt a little foolish, Richard tried to sense if any compass direction felt more important than another. His thoughts kept going back to north. Richard told the others what he felt.

  “Then north it is,” said Nickelo. “Press onward, oh wisest of wizard scouts. We, your humble followers, shall be behind you.” After a short pause, Nickelo added, “Yeah. We’ll be way behind you.”

  Dren and Brachia giggled.

  “Oh, you won’t be behind me, Nick,” Richard said with a laugh. “You’ll be right on top of my head where you belong. And, I keep telling you I’m not a wizard scout. I’m just a cadet in training. For a computer, you have a short memory.”

  “Maybe so,” said Nickelo, “but at least I can remember what I had for breakfast this morning without straining my brain. I had the same thing I had the day before; nothing!”

  Nickelo started laughing, and the children joined in. Richard didn’t think the joke was all that funny, but after a moment he laughed in spite of himself. Sometimes, you just had to go with the flow.

  * * *

  Notwithstanding his apparent acceptance of Dren’s theory on tele-bot intuition, Richard decided to summon a small, civilian drone from his dimensional pack. He’d seen a group of hobbyists once who had used drones to take videos of the ground from a couple of thousand meters in the air. While the images hadn’t been military grade level, he thought they would be useful enough in his current situation. He asked Nickelo to pull up the specs for a civilian drone, and before long, Richard’s heads-up display lit up with the information on a small, hobby drone. His Power supply went down a little, and he pulled the drone out of his dimensional pack.