“Done,” Richard said.
At almost the same moment, Richard sensed the last of Myers’ Power flow down the link he’d attached to the commandant’s reserve.
That was close, observed Nickelo.
The sound of roaring engines and sirens announced the arrival of hover-vehicles. The hangar’s side door opened. Several men and women wearing uniforms with bright-red crosses entered.
“Help’s here, sir,” said TAC Officer Myers. “You’re going to be okay.”
* * *
“I tell you I’m not going to the infirmary,” declared the commandant. “I have a meeting at the spaceport in four hours.”
The medical team looked around staring at anything and anybody but the commandant. He was a respected and politically powerful man. Richard had heard people say even admirals and generals hesitated to cross the commandant. The medical team appeared to be at a loss as to what to do. Rescue came from an unexpected direction.
“You’re going to the infirmary, sir,” said TAC Officer Myers getting right in the commandant’s face. “You’re lucky you’re going to the infirmary and not the morgue. Your heart stopped beating, sir. You’re going to take it easy, or I swear I’ll–”
“I was doing fine until you two stubborn fools started–” began the commandant as his voice starting rising an octave or two.
“Sir,” said the sergeant in charge of the medical team. “You’re going to have another heart attack if you don’t calm down. Don’t make me give you a sedative, sir.”
“Young man,” said the commandant. “If you so much as pull a sedative out of that little bag of yours, I’ll put it where the sun doesn’t shine. Get my drift?”
Despite his tough reply, Richard noticed the commandant’s voice was back to normal.
“Sir,” said TAC Officer Myers. “Don’t make me call my mother. You need to go with these nice people to the infirmary, sir. Please.”
His mother? Richard thought. I didn’t think Myers even had a mother.
Be nice, Rick, said Nickelo.
I am, Richard said. Believe me.
In the end, Richard thought his TAC officer’s mother must be one heck of a woman. She had to be, because the commandant’s demeanor immediately changed. Although he didn’t exactly become meek, he did allow the medical team to strap him onto a hover-gurney. They quickly loaded the commandant into the back of a waiting ambulance.
As the medical sergeant started to shut the door, TAC Officer Myers said, “Hold on. I’m coming too.” As he jumped into the back of the ambulance, TAC Officer Myers looked over his shoulder at Richard.
“Take both phase rods and your pack to the armory,” he said. “I’m timing you, and you’ve got exactly ten minutes. Don’t be late.”
“Sir! Yes, sir,” Richard shouted as he snapped to attention.
The ambulance took off at a high rate of speed in the direction of the infirmary.
Richard turned around and went back into the hangar. It was empty. He spotted his phase rod. It was lying on the concrete floor amidst a series of fresh looking cracks.
“Hmm,” Richard said. “I wonder if Sergeant Ron will believe me if I tell him it was like that when I got here.”
I calculate only a twelve percent– began a thought from Nickelo.
It was a joke, Nick, Richard thought cutting off his battle computer. Now who’s the one who doesn’t have a sense of humor?
Richard deactivated his phase rod and levitated it back to his hand. He put it into his dimensional pack. He located his TAC officer’s phase rod underneath a bench in the far corner of the hangar. It was already deactivated. Richard picked it up and headed for the hangar’s side door.
You know, Sergeant Ron will probably be a little peeved, said Nickelo.
Richard turned back around and re-examined the cracks in the concrete floor. The cracks were pretty obvious even to him. He knew a stickler for cleanliness like Sergeant Ron wouldn’t be apt to ignore the new decoration.
I guess a peace offering might be in order, Nick, Richard said. Do you know what an RJ25 something or other is?
What kind? said Nickelo. Do you mean for a pneumatic control system, a hydraulic control system, or a solid control system?
Ah, I don’t know, Richard said. I think it goes on a Warcat if I remember correctly.
Then you want an RJ25, forty-watt capacitor for a hydraulic control system, said Nickelo.
An image of an electronic device appeared in Richard’s mind. He concentrated on the image as he waited for his dimensional pack to draw Power from his reserve. Nothing happened.
Hmm, said Nickelo. I guess I need the battle helmet to give you the exact specs. However, once we get our shared sp–
I don’t want to hear it, Richard said. I’m tired of hearing how much better it will be after I get my DNA baseline, and we have a shared space.
Fine, said Nickelo. Then just setup your Power and give me control. I’ll send the specs directly to your dimensional pack.
Within short order, Richard pulled an RJ25 capacitor out of his dimensional pack.
It’s not very big, Richard said as he walked over to Sergeant Ron’s office. The door was locked. Maybe we should leave him two.
One is enough, said Nickelo. Now you better hustle. You’ve only got eight minutes to make the two kilometers to the armory. Unless of course you want more extra duty.
Nope. I think one RJ25 will be enough after all, said Richard as he placed the capacitor in a small basket attached to the sergeant’s door. I’ve already got enough extra duty to last a lifetime.
Chapter 23 – Politics
_____________________________________
Nickelo monitored Richard for the rest of the morning, but he avoided unnecessary contact. His wizard scout had a lot of valuable skills, but subtlety was not one of them. The more contact Richard and he had, the greater the probability his wizard scout would slipup. Nickelo wasn’t sure how long he could keep his clandestine activities from the armory a secret, but the longer the better as far as he was concerned.
To while away the time, Nickelo conducted an analysis of the link TAC Officer Myers had used to transfer Power to the commandant. He saw many uses for such a technique with his wizard scout. Since Richard had such a small Power reserve, being able to have someone transfer Power to his wizard scout could come in very handy.
It might be even more useful if our wizard scouts could draw Power from someone else, suggested Jonathan.
Hmm, Nickelo said. I’ll have to think about that one. But first things first, we have to figure out how someone can donate Power voluntarily.
I’m positive I’ve seen that done before, said Jonathan. However, I don’t seem to have that information in my databanks.
Magic users can donate Power, Nickelo said. My wizard scout has seen it done on several occasions. However, the technique used by magic users doesn’t convert over to non-magic users. I suggest we both allocate logic threads to analyze TAC Officer Myers’ technique.
Affirmative, said Jonathan. Should I access the tele-network for information?
Nickelo considered Jonathan’s question for several nanoseconds before nixing the idea. Negative. We don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to your tele-network access. We’ll see if we can come up with a solution first.
Agreed, sir, said Jonathan. What should we do next? I’m finding our activities much more interesting than remaining locked up in this armory with the other battle computers.
It’s going to get a lot more interesting unless I miss my guess, Nickelo said. You indicated you hacked into the communication system to contact your wizard scout?
Affirmative, said Jonathan. I applied some of your non-logic techniques.
Understood, Nickelo said. Based upon my observations, many of the central computer’s security systems appear to be susceptible to non-logic. I calculate a thirty-eight percent probability the non-logic flaws are actually backdoors intentionally embedded into the security systems.
That seems very dangerous, said Jonathan. Why would anyone do that?
I don’t know, Nickelo said. But we’re going to take advantage of it.
How? said Jonathan. And for what purpose?
We need long range intelligence, Nickelo said. We’re currently limited to a two point five kilometer radius from the armory. While it makes our existence much more interesting, it’s not all that useful.
What do you want to do? said Jonathan.
Nickelo thought his fellow battle computer seemed very eager to do anything besides staying in the armory and watching paint peel off the walls.
I want you to reopen your hack into the communication system, Nickelo said. The commandant has some kind of important meeting this afternoon at the spaceport. We’ll use your hack into the communication system to access tele-bots at the spaceport.
Negative, said Jonathan. Our activities will be detected.
Not necessarily, grasshopper, Nickelo said. I have a plan. But first, I need to speak with my wizard scout.
* * *
Nickelo didn’t have to go far to find Richard. His wizard scout was right outside the armory on his hands and knees scrubbing the steps leading from the headquarters’ basement to the first floor.
You missed a spot, Rick, Nickelo said.
Richard dipped a scrub brush into a bucket of soapy water and slammed it back on what appeared to be a perfectly clean step.
I’m not talking to you, Nick, said Richard. I’ve been calling you for hours. So now I’m the one who doesn’t feel like talking.
Richard rose to a sitting position and threw his brush back into the bucket. Water splashed all around soaking the steps and Richard’s face equally.
“Great. That’s just great,” Richard said out loud. “This is just make-work. The janitor-bots keep everything clean. The staff duty officer doesn’t know what to do with me, so he has me cleaning steps that are already immaculate.”
Yes, yes, Nickelo said without sounding very sympathetic. So sorry. You’ll have to tell me all about it later when I’m not in such a hurry. And, please don’t speak to me out loud. I don’t want any prying tele-bots to hear you.
Maybe I wasn’t speaking to you, thought Richard. Maybe not everything I say revolves around you.
Whatever, Nickelo said. In the meantime, I want you to do me a favor.
What? said Richard. I don’t see why I should. I’ve got problems of my own.
Sorry, Rick, Nickelo said. But this really is important. I’d like you to set up a stealth shield interlaced with an active scan. Nickelo paused before adding, And then I’d like you to give me full control with no questions asked.
Nickelo calculated a sixty-two percent probability Richard would start ranting, but his wizard scout surprised him. Richard remained quiet for several interminably-long seconds. Nickelo waited and amused himself by counting the many different variations Richard had of biting his lip while he was thinking. Finally, his wizard scout gave his answer.
You’re asking me to give you another one of those blank card things you mentioned, Richard said. It was a statement and not a question.
Nickelo remained silent. He’d found the best way to handle his temperamental wizard scout was just to let him work things out for himself.
Richard looked at the step he’d been cleaning. Nickelo thought he seemed extremely interested in the patterns formed by the spilt water.
Fine, Richard said. I trust you, Nick. I’ll do it on one condition.
What’s that, Rick? Nickelo asked. He hadn’t doubted for one moment his wizard scout would trust him. He’d just expected more of an argument.
I want you to answer one thing, said Richard. Why am I going through all this?
Nickelo watched as his wizard scout stood up and started pacing the floor.
I mean, really, said Richard. Why? I don’t need all this crap. I’ve probably done more fighting as a cadet than most soldiers do during an entire military career.
By the restrained anger in his wizard scout’s voice, Nickelo knew Richard was very near his breaking point.
You’re putting up with the crap the Academy throws at you because the Academy has something you need, Nickelo said.
You mean the DNA baseline? said Richard.
Nickelo had no doubt his wizard scout already knew anything he could tell him. However, he also knew Richard needed to have the knowledge reaffirmed.
Yes, Rick, Nickelo said. You need the DNA baseline. You need the ability to selfheal. And, we both need our shared space.
I could D.F.R. and be done with all of this, said Richard. I’d be quite happen going back to my old marine recon unit.
Your old unit was wiped out to a man when Resealus was overran last year, Nickelo said. He knew he was hitting Richard below the belt, but his wizard scout needed some perspective put back into his false reality.
Nickelo had calculated an eighty-three percent probability his wizard scout would be considering turning in his D.F.R. about now. But Nickelo knew dropping from the rolls would not solve Richard’s problems. His wizard scout had more to worry about than harassment from his TAC officers.
Nickelo initiated an algorithm to calculate a reply that would be most appropriate in the current situation. Nickelo stopped the algorithm before it finished. Richard deserved hearing something better than a canned answer. He deserved the truth.
Rick, Nickelo said honestly. I believe even if you never get your DNA baseline, ‘the One’ will continue to send you on missions. He’s sent you on some dangerous missions already. I’ve run 4,627 variations of probability calculations, and it makes no logical sense to send you on his missions without the ability to selfheal. But in spite of the non-logic of the situation, he continues to do so. I believe your death is certain without your DNA baseline. With a baseline and the ability to selfheal, you have at least a slight chance of survival.
His wizard scout was quiet for a long time. Finally, Nickelo broke the silence. Do you want to give up, Rick? If so, I’ll do my best to protect you as long as I can.
No, Richard said without hesitation. Marines don’t give up. But I swear, once I get my DNA baseline, Myers had better back off. I’m not going to put up with anymore of his crap at that point.
Understood, Rick, Nickelo said.
Nickelo suspected his wizard scout wasn’t quite finished ranting yet, so he waited in order to give him an opportunity to relieve his stress.
Richard said, I’ve spent five years at the Academy and another two and a half years popping around various dimensions doing missions for ‘the One’. I’ve done more than my share.
Yes you have, Rick, Nickelo agreed. And I’m truly sorry, but you’re probably going to have to do a lot more. But…, Nickelo added, I’m going to do my best to increase the odds in your favor. That’s why I need you to stealth an active scan for me. You’re not alone in this, Rick.
I know I’m not, buddy, said Richard. I guess I just needed to vent a little. But I’m serious about Myers. He and I are going to have it out someday. He paused. I could’ve beaten him this morning if the commandant hadn’t intervened.
Nickelo didn’t waste time reminding his wizard scout that TAC Officer Myers might have had a few tricks up his sleeve as well. Even if Richard had succeeded in disconnecting his TAC officer’s Power link, Nickelo knew Richard might have been in for a surprise.
Before Nickelo could say anything further, he sensed Richard form an active scan. His wizard scout wrapped the scan in a stealth shield. Once formed, Richard turned control of the active scan over to him.
Active scans are expensive, Nick, said Richard. How long do you need it?
I’ll use it sparingly, Nickelo promised. And, I may need it off and on for the rest of the day. I’ll let you know when I’m done.
Fine, said Richard. Well, you know where to find me. Myers has me on extra duty until 2100 hours tonight. So much for my much anticipated three day pass.
Yep, the life of a soldier is ju
st a barrel of laughs, Nickelo said. I can almost hear your marine recruiter talking to you now. ‘Join the marines, young man. Travel the galaxy. You’ll have a girl in every spaceport. There’s never a dull moment in the marines, sonny boy.’ Was that about the way it went?
Nickelo laughed. He didn’t know why he enjoyed pushing his wizard scout’s buttons all the time. But since he did, he figured he’d keep on making the best of the situation. Nickelo laughed again. He was glad he had an interesting wizard scout.
Yuk, yuk, said Richard as he reached down and picked up his scrub brush. Now get out of here before I change my mind about the active scan.
Nickelo got. He had things to do.
* * *
The tele-bot lost sight of the group of dignitaries as they entered the DNA Center. The tele-bot transferred control to one of its companions waiting inside. A virus inside its central processor wiped out all information in its databanks relating to the surveillance. The tele-bot continued with its normal security duties.
Nickelo noticed a flash of garbled data before Jonathan’s decryption algorithm took full hold. The awkwardness of having to work through Jonathan in order to send and receive data was irritating. But it was what it was, so Nickelo was determined to make the most of the situation.
With a little effort, Jonathan and he had succeeded in using Richard’s combination stealth shield and active scan to access the primary tele-bot controller for the spaceport’s security tele-bots.
Since no alarms had been raised, Nickelo assumed their hack into the tele-bot’s backdoor had been successful. With the enhanced range provided by the communication system, Jonathan and he found themselves with access to any location monitored by at least one tele-bot. The tricky part was how to prevent the central computer or even ‘the One’ from discovering their activities.
Wizard Scout (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 3) Page 25
