When I had done so, Master Spectra said, “I found none out this way. How long ago did you destroy it?”
“It was sometime in November of last year,” said Zah’rak.
“That was before we went searching for the other tables,” said Master Dusty. He explained that they had found and destroyed several of the tables.
“So our fates have been intertwined for some time now,” said Zah’rak.
“It seems so,” I said.
“As for armor, I only have two sets ready right now; they are not quite as good as what you are wearing,” he said.
“That’s fine,” said Master Dusty. “I will give you a datapad that contains information not only on how to make these suits but also the jewelry we use as standard equipment. We will take what you have now, and when you have more sets of armor ready we will pick those up.”
“How many are you looking for?” he asked.
“Three dozen,” he said.
“That will take a lot of time and materials,” he said.
“The instructions in the book will help with that, I am sure,” said Master Dusty.
Zah’rak leaned back, wearing that same entranced look that he always did when he was using telepathy. I was sure he was asking Ragnar’s opinion.
“We hope to make this an ongoing deal,” said Master Spectra. “As we grow we will need more and more magical supplies, and Greymere trusts you, so we are happy to give you the business.”
“This datapad, may I see it?” he asked.
Master Dusty slid the datapad over to him and said, “It is all on that.”
Zah’rak flipped through the screens for a few moments. “It would take me a lifetime to learn all of this.”
“Then, if you don’t mind, start with the armor,” said Master Dusty with a grin.
“Do we have a deal, then?” asked Master Spectra.
“Absolutely,” he replied.
Chapter Fifty-Two
We had traveled much of the way to the Imperial Human station where the virus research was being conducted when the time came for Master Flame to give birth. Spectra, Shea, Nanny and I traveled through one of Grandmaster Vydor’s gates so that we could attend the celebration. Only Master Shadow, Master Kellyn and Grandmaster Vydor attended the actual birth and, just as Master Kellyn had promised, both boys were born healthy and strong.
There was a large party after the birth which Spectra and I wanted to avoid, but Shea and Nanny insisted that we should be there.
“Dusty, Flame and Shadow are practically your aunt and uncle,” reasoned Shea. “No matter what else happens, you two need to go.”
“I know, I know, but it’s hard. I don’t want to mess up their night!” I said.
“Nanny and I are here to make sure you don’t,” she said with a smile and then took our hands and pulled us into the party.
In the center of the room was Phoenix, being his normal clownish self for everyone. He had once again somehow turned his skin random colors and was playing the part of a jester. Mantis was with Mathorn and Shadow’s father was talking off in a corner with Flame’s family. It seemed that everyone who even remotely knew Flame was there, but Master Flame and Master Shadow were nowhere to be seen.
“Where are they?” I asked.
“They are in the recovery room. Each person or couple gets the chance to visit for a limited time. Flame is exhausted and we may not actually get to see her,” said Shea. “But that is not what matters. What does matter is that she will know you came for her.”
Mantis beckoned us over to their group, and we went over to see them. Spectra was tense and uncomfortable. She was far out of her comfort zone and was pulling back into herself, just like she used to do years ago.
“Ah, this must be the famous Nanny,” said Master Mantis as we arrived.
“Yes, I suppose I am,” she said.
“Nanny?” asked Shadow’s father. “Is there something you two need to tell us, Master Spectra?”
“No,” I said, rescuing Spectra. “Nanny raised Spectra when she was little and is now a vital part of our crew.”
“Raised Spectra?” asked Mathorn. “Now I am impressed! Well done, m’lady!”
The talk wandered around various subjects for a while, and then an attendant came over and said, “Forgive my interruption, Masters, but Master Flame requests Master Dusty and party to visit her.”
“Oh, surely all of us at once would be too much!” said Shea.
“Please, Master, she insisted,” said the attendant.
“I would not question her, if I were you,” said Shadow’s father.
“Very well; but when I give the word, I want everyone to leave her. Knowing her, she is pushing herself way too hard,” said Shea.
“This way, Masters,” said the attendant.
We were brought into Flame’s room and found her in her bed, sitting up but looking drained. She smiled as we came in. “I am so glad you could all make it. I was worried!”
“We will only stay a moment. You need sleep,” said Shea.
“Don’t worry. You’re the last group they will let me see,” she said.
Master Shadow looked almost as worn out as Flame. He said, “Actually, the last group they would let her see has already left.”
“Now, Flame, that won’t do!” chided Shea. “You listen to your doctor!”
“I will, I promise, but you all came so far just for us. How could I turn you away?” she asked.
“Where are the boys?” asked Spectra.
“They are in the nursery,” she said.
“So that she can sleep,” said Master Shadow with a smile. “Do not worry, Shea. I will not let anyone else in after you go.”
The ladies talked for a bit about children, and Nanny gave Flame some parental advice, while I just stood there. I had no experience with children nor any parenting instincts, so I felt a bit awkward.
“Flame, this has been wonderful, but you need your rest,” said Shea.
“Spectra, Dusty, I have something very important to ask you,” said Flame.
“What?” asked Spectra.
“All of us have dangerous jobs and could be killed at any time. If Shadow and I were to fall before the boys are grown, would you take them in?” she asked.
I looked at Spectra in shock and did not know how to reply.
“Flame, we are greatly honored, but what do we know about raising children?” Spectra asked.
“As much as I do right now,” she said with a soft smile. “Besides, you’ve got Nanny to help out. I just need to know that they will be safe and loved. I know I can trust you both to do that.”
“Flame, I hardly know what to say,” said Spectra softly.
“Then just say yes, and let me get some sleep,” said Flame with a wink.
Spectra looked at me and sent, “Dusty?”
“How can we turn her down? Say yes,” I sent.
She looked back to Flame with tears in her eyes and said, “Of course, you can count on us.”
“Thank you. I deeply appreciate it,” she said.
After some parting words, we went and saw the babies in the nursery through a clear window. The women oohed and aahed over them, but they looked nothing like Parrinian babies and I couldn’t see the appeal. They just looked like tiny, wrinkly, bald humans.
Eventually we headed back into the main hall. Grandmaster Vydor and Master Kellyn called our group over. We followed them into a back room and Shea asked, “How are you getting on with the station refit?”
“Very well. They should be able to hold off the next attack at least long enough for me to get a good night’s sleep,” he said with a smile.
“It seems odd that this attack happened without any warning. Just months before, Doctor Hawthorne was making progress at forging peaceful relations with the Phareon government,” I said.
“Yes, I completely agree. I suspect that these Imperial Humans may have tried to destr
oy the station either to distract you from your goal or to remove the evidence of their actions,” he said. “How goes your mission?”
“It’s going well,” I said and told him about the station we were traveling to. “With Shea along, we hope to find enough information to create vaccines and then destroy the station.”
“Excellent! Once you have that information, get it to Doctor Leslie directly. She will know what to do with it,” he said. “However, in future, before you plan to destroy a station I want to know about it. I am sure someone will be unhappy with that action and I would like to be ready for any repercussions.”
“Do we really need to destroy the station?” asked Master Kellyn.
“Master, it is the only way to be sure we destroy all the virus research on it,” I said.
“Master,” said Shea. “Even after we’ve made the vaccines, these viruses are a huge threat. They could kill millions upon millions before we could treat them, and if they mutate at all the vaccine could be ineffective.”
“Still, that is a big ‘if,’” said Master Kellyn.
“Not really, Master,” I said. “They have already used one of the viruses in an attempt to eliminate the Cathratinairians, and we believe that another group has discovered the supply and is en route.”
“Who?” asked Grandmaster Vydor.
I told him about the battles between the cyborgs and the stations we’d already visited. “Given their hate for all non-cyborgs, we believe no good can come of them acquiring the database and samples.”
“I have to agree. Carry on with the mission,” said Grandmaster Vydor. “But in future I really need to be aware of these kinds of development. I trust you, I really do, and I agree with your plan and your actions so far, but what you do will have repercussions throughout the realm and I need a chance to prepare for them.”
“I understand, Grandmaster. I’ll bear that in mind,” I said.
“How long until you reach the station?” he asked.
“Probably another three months,” I said. “We have had no luck hitching a ride along this route, as it is so lightly populated.”
“Then in about two months I would like to visit and see how the training is going,” said Grandmaster Vydor.
Spectra looked over at me and hesitated briefly. She met his gaze and said, “Before you do, Grandmaster, you should know we have a spy on board.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes. His name is Chrimson,” she said and explained how he had joined up with our team.
“Who is he spying for?” asked Master Kellyn.
“Henrick, Master,” said Spectra. “The way we see it is that there’s nothing on board our ship that Henrick doesn’t already know about, and since we are traveling under cloak almost all the time there is no way for him to get a message back.”
“Very little risk, then,” said Grandmaster Vydor.
“Yes, Grandmaster,” said Spectra. “That is what we think, and by working with him we are learning a lot about Henrick’s organization; his means of training and recruiting.” She told them of our experiences training Chrimson, and how he sees things. “From what I can tell, Henrick trains magi only in the very specific skills they will need for whatever job he plans to put them in. He promises them a fast road to power and provides the rapid training that they want, but not the breadth of power they should have.”
“What do you plan to do with him?” asked Master Kellyn.
“We hope that by training him and teaching him our ways we can convince him to join us wholeheartedly; and if he does, then we might be able to get some more detailed information on Henrick’s organization,” said Spectra.
“Does he know that you know?” asked Master Kellyn.
“No. We have just treated him as a new recruit,” I said. “Well, I should clarify that: he knows that we know he was rejected by Alpha Academy, but not that he is working for Henrick.”
“What do you think of him?” asked Master Kellyn.
“He has a temper, but he is a Zalionian, so I guess that is to be expected. I think with time and training he will do well,” said Spectra.
“Then you are honestly training him, hoping he will join us?” asked Master Kellyn.
“Yes, Master; no deception there,” interjected Shea. “I am working with him on his temper. I agree with Spectra. He could make a good wizard. He simply needs more time and attention than Alpha Academy could afford to give him at the time he applied.”
“Great! I hope it works out, then. Everyone deserves a fair shot,” said Master Kellyn.
The conversation turned from there to more mundane matters, and when the hour grew late we headed home to Nemesis.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Henrick was working in his office, paging through displays, when Curetes came in. “Hello, Curetes. Do we have anything yet from Chrimson?”
“No, but the Nemesis has not dropped cloak at all since he boarded, as far as we know. There is no way to reach him,” said Curetes. “Our last contact with the ship was a report that it had appeared briefly near Hospital Station.”
“Oh? What was it doing there?” asked Henrick.
“We don’t know, but shortly after that report Shea disappeared,” said Henrick.
“They must have picked her up. That is odd,” said Henrick.
“Odd?” asked Curetes.
Henrick got up, walked over to the window and waved his hand over it. The scene changed from a night sky view to an idyllic pasture with the sound of birds chirping. “Spectra is planning to break off from the Wizard Kingdom. I can see it clearly.”
“Very well, but why do you say that their taking Shea is odd? I doubt if there is anyone Spectra trusts more than Shea,” said Curetes.
“Yes, but Spectra knows as well as I do that there is no better icon of goodness anywhere than Shea. By her very nature, Shea would want to find a way to prevent Spectra’s betrayal of Vydor,” said Henrick.
“I see. Well, maybe Shea did not go with them,” said Curetes.
“If she has not turned up since Spectra visited, then she is definitely with them. Shea is not the kind to hide from anyone at all,” said Henrick.
“I don’t see why Spectra would break away in the first place. She has everything she needs right now,” said Curetes.
“Spectra is darker than anyone realizes. She will steer Dusty right down the path that puts them in a position of power in this realm. Her past is longer and darker than even she knows. It is only a matter of time before her true character comes out,” said Henrick.
“And when it does, Shea becomes a problem?” Curetes asked.
“Yes, exactly; which is why it made sense when she left Shea behind,” said Henrick.
“Ah,” said Curetes.
Henrick adjusted the view in his windows a few more times before settling for a quiet forest scene. “Chrimson has been with them a long while now without any contact, and that could indicate a problem.”
“How so? He can gather more information the longer he is on board,” said Curetes.
“Yes, if we could stay in touch with him and reinforce his reason for being there,” said Henrick.
“Are you thinking he will switch sides?” asked Curetes.
“With Shea on board, it is certain that they will be teaching him to control his temper instead of using it. He will see that as a victory that we did not enable him to achieve, and that will create a bond between him and some crew members,” said Henrick.
“Do you think he will tell them?” asked Curetes.
“You said he followed a female Zalionian on board?” asked Henrick.
“Yeah, the albino Kymberly,” said Curetes. “He followed her like a puppy.”
“Then he may already have told them. I suggest we keep trying to get information out of him, but be cautious of him as a data source,” said Henrick.
“Understood,” said Curetes.
“Is there a
ny sign of Raquel yet?” asked Henrick.
“No,” said Curetes.
“There are disturbing trends in her future, and we need to know more about them. They could be trouble for all of us,” said Henrick.
“Trouble?” asked Curetes.
“Yes, of a kind that will make the tables look trivial,” said Henrick.
“We have an around-the-clock watch on that location. If she visits we will know about it, but the last report still places her in the Wizard Kingdom undergoing a crash study course,” said Curetes.
“She has a lot of ground to cover, but she will visit the grave site,” said Henrick.
Chapter Fifty-Four
It had been two months since our trip home to see Flame and the new babies, and Grandmaster Vydor’s visit was upon us. We had as yet made no move to break away from the Kingdom, but not for the lack of Spectra’s desire; it was my own hesitation that delayed us. The imminent visit reminded me that Grandmaster Vydor was supportive of our desire to build this corps, and also how much we now resembled a family. I kept reliving the moment when Flame had asked us to care for her children if she fell in battle. That kind of trust can’t be replaced or rebuilt if it is damaged.
“Dusty, why do we have to put up with this inspection? Just tell him ‘no’,” said Spectra.
“No, I will not. Not only is he the most powerful wizard alive, he is still also our superior,” I said.
“But he does not have to be anymore! We can do this alone!” she insisted.
“Yes, we can, but I am not convinced that we should just yet. Let’s destroy this station under his flag first,” I said.
“Why?” she demanded. “It’s not like he’s sending us any help!”
“Only because we haven’t asked,” I said.
“Admittedly, but I still don’t see why we should not act now,” she said.
“Because if that station falls while we are still acting as part of the Wizard Kingdom, then they will go after the Kingdom and not us.” I was just stalling, and I was sure she knew that, but it was still a valid point.
She was pacing back and forth, and her hair was sticking up. Her tail was thrashing back and forth behind her, as if it had a mind of its own. I had learned that meant it was best to steer clear of her, and I would have avoided the issue if it were possible but we had to resolve this before Grandmaster Vydor arrived.
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