Wizard Scout (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 3)

by Rodney Hartman

Chapter 45 – DNA Baselines

  _____________________________________

  The standoff at the DNA Center didn’t end immediately. There were more threats and counter-threats. But in the end, the Deloris Conglomerate’s security troops withdrew to await orders from their higher-ups. The commandant didn’t allow them to take their crew-served weapons or armor. Once the blue-suits left, TAC Officer Myers wasted no time in assigning part of the cadets to their newly acquired equipment.

  The dolgars soon became bored and departed. Richard tried to convince them to stay, but for all he knew, they didn’t understand his words. In any regard, they left. The spirit-horse departed with them.

  “Gaston,” said the commandant. “I want half the cohort inside. The other half will remain on guard. The conglomerate will not take this sitting down. We can’t waste a moment.”

  Richard’s platoon was assigned to the group on guard duty. In less than an hour, the first half of the cadets had finished. The group on guard was relieved in place by the cadets who had just gotten their DNA baselines. Richard sensed no difference in those cadets. They seemed the same as they had been before they’d gotten their baselines.

  As Richard started to enter the DNA Center, the commandant stopped him. “Not you, cadet 832. Not just yet.”

  “Sir?” Richard said. He was confused. If not for him, none of the cadets would be getting a DNA baseline. Am I being left out, he wondered.

  “Chief Instructor Winslow wants you to go last,” said the commandant. “She’ll explain later.”

  When Richard hesitated at the door, the commandant said, “Trust me, Rick.”

  Richard nodded his head in acceptance. He did trust the commandant. For whatever reason, Richard had developed a deep affection for the old man. Richard did an about face and took his place back on the perimeter.

  By the time the second half of the cohort exited the DNA Center, a large force of armored vehicles could be seen massing on the far side of the spaceport.

  “Cadet 832,” shouted one of the TAC officers. “The commandant wants you inside. Now!”

  “Sir! Yes, sir!” Richard said as he ran towards the DNA Center’s main door.

  From the looks of things, we don’t have much time, said Nickelo. The conglomerate’s going to be making their move soon.

  I know, Nick, Richard said. I’m hurrying.

  Once inside, Richard found the commandant with Chief Instructor Winslow and TAC Officer Myers.

  “Sir! Cadet 832–” Richard began.

  “No time for formalities, Rick,” said the commandant. “Listen closely.”

  The commandant nodded his head at Chief Instructor Winslow. “Harriet?”

  “Cadet 832,” said Chief Instructor Winslow. “You’re receiving your DNA baseline last because of your third Power reserve. We’ve never seen anything like it. We can’t even determine its size. We intended to conduct additional testing on you today to find out more information before your baseline. Unfortunately, we don’t have the time now.”

  Richard thought the chief instructor looked apologetic. He also thought she looked very concerned.

  “I’m sorry,” said the chief instructor, “but we’re forced to proceed with what we already know.”

  “That’s fine with me, sir,” Richard said.

  “They haven’t told you everything, cadet,” said TAC Officer Myers.

  “Gaston–” started the commandant.

  “He has a right to know, sir,” said TAC Officer Myers.

  “Know what?” Richard said. When TAC Officer Myers glared at him, Richard added a hasty, “Sir.”

  “First off,” said TAC Officer Myers, “no one in the cohort got adequate rest last night. Their baselines have been set based upon their current state. That means they’ll always be a little tired. Their selfheal will constantly return them to baseline regardless of how much rest they get.”

  “You’ve gotten even less sleep,” said Chief Instructor Winslow. “And I’ll bet you haven’t eaten today. If you receive you DNA baseline right now, you’ll always be a little tired and hungry. Are you sure you want to proceed?”

  Why are they asking, Nick? Richard said. I didn’t go through the last five years of hell for nothing.

  “Normally,” said the commandant, “we would have a cadet not meeting optimum specifications wait until the following year. There may not be a next year in your case. That’s why we’re letting you make the decision.”

  “Are you asking me if I want to get my DNA baseline, sir?” Richard said. “Of course, I do. If I don’t get it today, I’ll probably be dead soon anyway. I’d rather be a little tired and hungry than dead.”

  “Fine then,” said the commandant. “Harriet?”

  “Not so fast, sir,” said TAC Officer Myers. “You haven’t explained the danger.”

  What’s his problem? Richard thought. He’s determined to prevent me from becoming a wizard scout.

  “We don’t have time for this, Gaston,” said the commandant. “The counterattack will be coming soon.”

  “Make time, sir,” said TAC Officer Myers through gritted teeth. “At least give him a chance to make a decision based upon facts. I’ve seen you make too many decisions based upon nothing more than blind obedience to instructions from ‘the One’.”

  The commandant’s face turned red, but only for a moment. Almost immediately, he got control of his emotions before they got out of hand. Once he looked like he was back in control, the commandant turned to Richard.

  “You’re the first person to get a DNA baseline with multiple Power reserves,” said the commandant.

  “In fact,” said Chief Instructor Winslow, “I haven’t found any documentation in the tele-network on anybody with two, much less three, Power reserves. That makes you an unknown.”

  “It makes you dangerous,” said TAC Officer Myers. “For all they know–”

  “We’ll handle this, Gaston,” interrupted the commandant.

  TAC Officer Myers glared at the commandant, but he said nothing further.

  “Your TAC officer is right, cadet 832,” said Chief Instructor Winslow. “Our systems were not designed to deal with multiple Power reserves. Also, your third Power reserve has a strange design. It’s almost as if it’s been created specifically for your selfheal ability. It should be very efficient, but…”

  “But, the size of the reserve is unknown,” said the commandant. “Harriet believes it is quite large. Possibly several times larger than your two current Power reserves combined.”

  “Isn’t that a good thing?” Richard said. Extra Power sounded like a blessing to him. He was tired of always running short of Power.

  “Not if the DNA Center’s systems can’t handle the load,” said TAC Officer Myers. “Let me clue you in on something, cadet. ‘The One’ does what’s best for its self-proclaimed mission. It could care less what side effects the pursuit of its mission may have on you.”

  The commandant started to speak, but TAC Officer Myers raised his hand to stop him. Surprisingly, the commandant remained silent.

  “Don’t be stupid, cadet,” said TAC Officer Myers. “Do you think you have multiple Power reserves by accident? You can bet ‘the One’ planned it that way. Your Power reserve has been divided into three parts on purpose. You can rest assured it wasn’t for your benefit. Do you know how many wizard scouts have been emp-healers?”

  Richard didn’t want to listen to his TAC officer. From the very first day, Myers had hated him. But Richard didn’t trust ‘the One’ any more than he trusted his TAC officer. Richard wanted to know more, but he was unwilling to verbally acknowledge TAC Officer Myers might have a valid point. Richard compromised by shaking his head in a negative motion.

  “None,” TAC Officer Myers said. “Out of the thousands of wizard scout healers in the last eight hundred years, exactly zero has been emp-healers. That is, until you.”

  TAC Officer Myers waited as if expecting Richard to respond in some manner. When Richard hesitated to
reply, TAC Officer Myers tried a different tack.

  “Very well,” said TAC Officer Myers. “What about your primary Power reserve? It’s the smallest of any known wizard scout. Do you think that’s an accident?”

  Again, Richard kept silent.

  “No, it wasn’t an accident,” said TAC Officer Myers. “It was made small by ‘the One’ on purpose. It’s trying to force you to act the way it wants you to act. And, this mysterious third Power reserve. Do you even comprehend what this means? It means you probably had a single, large Power reserve until ‘the One’ got hold of it. From what Chief Instructor Winslow tells me, the size of your third Power reserve may be the largest reserve she’s ever seen. It’s off the scales of her equipment. You might have been the most powerful wizard scout ever, but ‘the One’ decided to split your reserve into three parts. Why? And, why is the largest of your Power reserves designed to only work with your selfheal ability?”

  Richard didn’t even bother shaking his head this time. He hated his TAC officer for bringing the information up. And, he hated ‘the One’ for trying to manipulate him.

  “Think about it, cadet,” said TAC Officer Myers. “If most of your Power is designed to work with your selfheal ability, it’s probably because ‘the One’ is going to send you on missions where you’ll take a lot of damage. You may complete your mission, but at what cost to you?”

  “I think that’s enough, Gaston,” said the commandant.

  “Not quite, sir,” said TAC Officer Myers. “I’ve one final thing to say. Do yourself a favor, cadet 832. Save yourself a lot of pain and agony. Tell ‘the One’ to stick its DNA baseline where the sun doesn’t shine. You’re a decent fighter. Go back to your marine recon. You’ll be a whole lot happier.”

  The commandant, the chief instructor, and Richard’s TAC officer all looked at him expectantly.

  I calculate a ninety-two percent probability everything TAC Officer Myers said is true, said Nickelo. ‘The One’ probably has designed your Power reserves to guide you into some desired action. What do you want to do?

  Indeed, Richard wondered. What do I want to do? Richard wasn’t sure. But, he knew he was the only one who could make the decision. He also knew he needed to make it quick. For all he knew, the conglomerate might be starting their attack even now.

  Not yet, Rick, said Nickelo. But, I think they’ll attack soon.

  Richard looked at Chief Instructor Winslow. “What are we waiting for, sir? I’m ready. Hook me up.”

  The commandant nodded his head approvingly. TAC Officer Myers gave him a disgusted look before stomping out of the room.

  Without giving Richard a chance to change his mind, the chief instructor had two of her technicians lead Richard to a complicated looking chair. They began strapping him into the device. The technicians had Richard unseal his battle suit and open the top to expose his chest. They stuck needle threads into various parts of his chest and neck. The technicians let Richard keep his battle helmet on his head, but they made him keep it in half mode.

  One of the technicians, John, came over with a glass and something folded in a napkin. John handed them to Richard. When Richard unfolded the napkin, he saw it contained a sandwich.

  “It’s simulated roast beef,” said John. “It was supposed to be my lunch, but I think you may need it more than me.” John pointed at the glass of liquid. “It’s only water, but we have plenty of it. You’d better hydrate while you have the chance.”

  It won’t do you any good at this point, Rick, said Nickelo. There’s not enough time for your body to hydrate or to digest that sandwich. It’s just wasted effort on your part.

  Richard thanked John and took a bite out of the sandwich to spite his battle computer. With the first bite, Richard realized how hungry he was. He didn’t care if he had time to digest it or not. He was hungry, and the sandwich tasted good. For good measure, Richard drained the glass of water dry. John hastily refilled his glass.

  By the time Richard finished his sandwich and drank another glass of water, the technicians had finished prepping him for his DNA baseline. Without further ado, the technicians took his empty glass and napkin and left the room.

  Richard realized he was now alone in a room full of machinery. He also noticed that a vial filled with a red, swirling liquid was attached to the top of a nearby piece of apparatus. A clear tube ran from the apparatus to a needle thread in the left side of his chest near his heart.

  Looking to his left, Richard saw Chief Instructor Winslow in a room on the other side of a large, glass window. He also saw John conversing with a handful of other technicians in the same room. They were all poring over several consoles with all sorts of flashing lights. Chief Instructor Winslow looked out the window and noticed Richard watching. She gave him an encouraging smile. Then she mouthed the word ‘activate’ to one of the technicians.

  The red liquid sped down the tube and into Richard’s chest. He stiffened in his chair. Richard didn’t feel pain so much as he felt a sense of strangeness. His mind seemed to lose its grip on reality. Richard wanted to float away, but Nickelo kept calling him back.

  Richard had grown used to having Nickelo in his mind over the past three years. But he now felt his battle computer’s thoughts shifting into a separate region of his mind. The rest of his mind was his own, but the separate area was now shared with his battle computer.

  An image of the outside of the DNA Center flashed into Richard’s mind. It wasn’t so much a visual image as it was the knowledge of the data Nickelo obtained from the image. Richard interpreted the data as showing the cohort deployed in a defensive position around the DNA Center. Richard noticed the beginnings of movement on the other side of the spaceport. The conglomerate was making its move.

  A series of hot flashes ran through Richard’s body. This time, the strange feeling hurt. It hurt a lot. Richard screamed. In spite of his pain, Richard noticed a flurry of activity in the room behind the glass window.

  Is that smoke? Richard wondered. He noticed yellow and red flames leaping out of one of the technicians’ computer screens. Almost immediately, two more screens burst into flames. Suddenly, the room’s automated fire-suppressor system activated. Clouds of some type of smoky gas filled the room with the glass window.

  Another, more intense, series of flashes swept through Richard’s body. He heard the sound of a tortured animal screaming. The voice sounded familiar. Finally, Richard blacked out.

  * * *

  Wake up, Rick, said Nickelo. Come on, buddy. You can do it.

  Nick? Richard thought.

  There was no reply.

  Rick, answer me, said Nickelo

  I am, Nick, Richard thought. He didn’t understand why his battle computer wasn’t hearing him. Then it hit him. Richard shifted his thoughts to their shared space.

  I’m here, Nick, Richard thought.

  Thank the Creator, said Nickelo. I thought I’d lost you.

  What happened? Richard said sending the question into their shared space.

  What didn’t? said Nickelo. But never mind that now. Can you walk? If so, you could help your friends out.

  Richard grew aware of his surroundings. He was bouncing up and down. Opening his eyes, Richard saw Stella and Jerad each holding onto one of his arms and legs. They were carrying him as they ran. Jerad lost his grip on Richard’s leg. It dragged the ground for a second before he grabbed it again.

  “I’m awake,” Richard said. “I can walk.”

  “Good,” said Stella as she released her hold on him. “Battle suit heavy.”

  Jerad released his side as well, and Richard fell the short distance to the ground. His battle suit easily absorbed the shock.

  “Don’t walk,” said Jerad. “I’d advise running. We’re making a tactical withdrawal back to the hover-tram station.”

  Richard got to his feet and began running alongside his friends. His battle suit kept up easily with them. They were unarmored after all.

  Risking a glance behind him, Ri
chard saw dozens of cats and other armored vehicles swarming around a distant DNA Center.

  “Was anyone hurt?” Richard asked anxiously.

  “No,” said Jerad. “The commandant ordered our withdrawal a couple of minutes before the conglomerate’s armor got there. TAC Officer Myers and the commandant stayed behind to sort things out. We’ve been ordered back to the airfield.”

  “All transportation has been shut down,” Richard said. He wasn’t sure why they were running if there was nowhere to go.

  “I suspect the crisis is over,” said Jerad. “We’ve got our DNA baselines already. Nothing the Deloris Conglomerate can do will get back their precious DNA gas. They’ll just have to wait another year to refine some new gas.”

  Using his passive scan, Richard sensed the lifeforms of his cohort around him. They were all within a two hundred meter radius of his position.

  “Everyone’s slowing down,” Richard said growing concerned. “The conglomerate will be after us. Shouldn’t we set up some kind of defense?”

  Jerad and Stella slowed their pace to a fast walk in order to match the pace of the other cadets.

  “Relax,” said Jerad. “They won’t be pursuing us. They’ve no reason. We’re wizard scouts now. All we’re missing is our shiny gold dragon pins to make it official.”

  “Yeah,” agreed Tam who had just jogged up with Telsa. “We’re Empire assets now. The conglomerate gains nothing by fighting with us. In a few days’ time, we’ll all be on the frontlines preventing the big, bad Crosioians from coming to Velos and kicking the conglomerate’s scrawny little butt.”

  Richard wasn’t as confident of the situation as his friends, but he had a lot of respect for Jerad’s judgement. If Jerad said the crisis was over, then Richard suspected the crisis was over.

  Apparently Jerad was right, because within thirty minutes, they were in a hover-tram heading back to the airfield. No one had tried to stop them.

  Once the hover-tram started moving, Richard and his friends settled into their seats. Telsa touched Richard on the arm to get his attention.

  “You about scared the daylights out of me, Rick,” said Telsa with a half grin. “You didn’t tell me your spirit-horse was some nightmare straight out of hell.”