Wizard Rebellion (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 5) Page 49

  “Based upon the data from your passive scan, I calculate we’re a couple of hundred meters underground. This cavern appears to be at the edge of an extensive tunnel system. There’s a small pool of water to your left. An underground stream is connected to it. The life form to your rear appears to be a female. I calculate she’s near death.”

  Turning to his rear, Gaston noticed the female. She was chained to a boulder. Streaks of liquid were trickling down her legs. He assumed the liquid was blood.

  “It is blood,” confirmed Wanda.

  The woman groaned.

  Gaston started forward. At his first step, one of the many bones on the floor made a loud snap. Looking down, he noticed he’d stepped on what appeared to be a human thighbone.

  “What the— What’s going on, Wanda?”

  “Insufficient data to make a calculation, wizard scout.”

  Gaston gripped the handle of his phase rod tighter with his left hand. It had deactivated during the teleport. He switched it back to destructive mode. He’d lost his M63 and phase pistol during the battle with the demon. Reluctantly, he drew the antique .44 caliber AutoMag from its holster with his right hand. Sending out active scans in all directions, he detected numerous life forms in the tunnels around him. Thankfully, his scans detected only the woman in the cavern he was currently in.

  “Actually, she’s not a woman, or at least she’s not a human woman,” said Wanda. “Look at her ears.”

  Concentrating on the female’s ears, Gaston noticed they were pointed. “Is she an elf?”

  “I calculate a one hundred percent probability you’re correct, wizard scout.”

  The elf groaned again.

  Gaston began moving in her direction while attempting to avoid the bones on the stone floor. There were too many to avoid them all, but he did the best he could. He wasn’t a healer and didn’t have a medical kit, so he wasn’t sure what he could do for the elf. He did know he couldn’t leave her to die chained up to a stone.

  Besides, he thought in his private space, she might be able to give me some information.

  After he’d covered about half the distance to the elf, a male voice made him spin back around.

  “I wouldn’t try to free the elf if I were you,” said the voice. “The Dalinfaust doesn’t like others playing with his toys.”

  Gaston spotted a male figure standing near the back of the cavern. The male had dark skin and light-colored hair. His ears were pointed in a fashion similar to the female’s ears. The male had a longsword, but it was still in a scabbard on his belt. His hands were empty, and he held them loosely at his side. Although Gaston could visibly see the male, he couldn’t pick him up with either his passive or active scans.

  “Good stealth shield,” commented Wanda. “Based upon information in my databanks, he’s a dark elf. I calculate he’s a mage of some type. Judging by his stealth shield, I calculate he’s a very powerful mage.”

  Keeping the dark elf covered with his AutoMag, Gaston decided to take things slowly. “You have the advantage on me. I didn’t see you earlier.”

  The dark elf smiled. “Ah, how refreshing. Most humans would have asked ‘who are you?’ Although you didn’t ask, I’ll tell you anyway. My name is Lord Crendemor. The reason you didn’t see me earlier is that I have a combination invisibility and stealth spell cast on me.” When the male elf finished speaking, he gave a slight bow never taking his eyes off Gaston.

  Gaston nodded his head to indicate the female elf. “What have you done to her? I demand you free her.”

  Lord Crendemor laughed. “My dear wizard scout, you’re talking to the wrong person. She’s not my prisoner. I’m merely an innocent spectator. It’s like I told you. She’s the Dalinfaust’s plaything. I can no more free her than I can guarantee your safety.”

  “Don’t let him bluff you, Gaston,” said Wanda. “The female’s injuries are extensive. If something’s not done soon, she’ll die.”

  Gaston began backing up toward the female while continuing to keep the dark elf covered with his AutoMag. He took a chance and glanced back at the female. What he saw stopped him dead in his tracks. He’d seen a dark ball surrounded by a circle of white momentarily appear near the female before blinking out.

  “Blinked is right,” said Wanda. “What you saw was an eye.”

  “Impossible,” said Gaston. “It was the size of my head.”

  The dark ball and white circle appeared again. The object had a glassy look to it. A large area around the ball and circle shimmered. Gaston drew in his breath. The shimmering was replaced by a thirty-meter lizard. The lizard’s head slowly rose on a long neck until it was five meters above the bone-littered floor. The vision of the lizard was accompanied by an overwhelming sense of evil. It reminded him of the sensation of evil from his phase rod. The sense of evil he felt now was a thousand times more powerful.

  “It’s not a lizard,” said Wanda. “It’s a dragon. It’s a black dragon. You can’t tell through your visor, but the dragon has a red stripe down its side. I calculate it’s more than a dragon. Based upon information in my databanks, it appears to be a major demon of some sort.”

  The significance of his battle computer’s words wasn’t lost on Gaston. He knew the empress had sent his brother on a previous mission to investigate rumors of a black pirate ship. The starship reportedly had an insignia of a black dragon with a red stripe down its side.

  “That’s right, battle computer,” said the deep voice of the dragon. “The Dragars use my likeness to identify their starships. You’re correct in thinking I’m much more than a mere dragon. However, I prefer this form when I’m on this world. The shock effect of this dragon body on the creatures I encounter is most satisfying.”

  “You heard Wanda?” Gaston asked, stalling for time. His parents had told him stories of dragons, but this was his first encounter. He tried to keep the nervousness out of his voice.

  “I know and hear many things,” said the Dalinfaust. “Speech is such a slow method of communication, but I’m often forced to use it with my slower-witted subjects. Aren’t I, Lord Crendemor?”

  Facing the dragon as he was, Gaston couldn’t see the dark elf’s face but didn’t need to see the male to sense his anger. The dragon had hit a sore point, and the dark elf had let his guard down for a moment. The flash of anger was gone almost as fast as it came.

  “As you say,” replied Lord Crendemor. The dark elf was somehow able to keep a polite sound to his voice.

  The female elf groaned again.

  Gaston was tempted to go to her side but stopped himself. The dragon was too close to her.

  “Ah,” said the dragon. “The female’s plight distresses you. That won’t do. We have much to discuss.”

  With those words, the demon lowered its dragon head and breathed on the female elf. Almost immediately, the elf’s bleeding stopped. The elf’s life force became significantly stronger on Gaston’s passive scan.

  “There,” said the dragon. “Is that better?”

  “Watch it,” advised Wanda. “The demon’s playing with you. It’s dangerous.”

  The dragon raised its head again. “Pay no attention to your battle computer, Wizard Scout Gaston Myers. She doesn’t have your best interests at heart. I’m no danger to you. At least, I don’t have to be unless you force me to become dangerous.”

  Despite the demon’s words, Gaston had no doubt he was in danger. He wasn’t sure what to do. His Power reserve was at less than twenty-five percent, and the only weapons he had were his phase rod and the antique pistols his brother had given him.

  “What do you want with me?” Gaston asked.

  “I want to do you a favor,” said the Dalinfaust. “Of course, I’ll want you to do me a favor in return. I’d say that’s only fair, wouldn’t you?”

  “I’ll not deal with a demon,” Gaston said. “I’m not evil. Kill me if that’s your plan, but you might find I’m not all that easy to kill.”

  The demon laughed. “That’s exa
ctly what I’m hoping, wizard scout. I need someone who’s hard to kill. My last time-commando died much too early. She was killed by your brother. However, I hold no enmity against you for your family’s misdeeds. I think you’ll find I’m not your enemy. The real enemy is sitting right on top of your head.”

  “What are you talking about?” Gaston asked. He suspected a trick and hurriedly glanced back at the dark elf, but the male hadn’t moved. His sword was still in his sheath.

  “Don’t listen to him, Gaston,” said Wanda.

  “Don’t listen to me?” laughed the dragon. “Of course that’s what she’d tell you. I’m the only one you should be listening to, wizard scout. I’m the only one who’ll tell you the truth.”

  Gaston eyed the dragon suspiciously. Drops of liquid dripped from its fangs onto the bone-littered floor of the cavern. Whatever the liquid touched immediately began to smoke. The effect didn’t make the dragon appear very trustworthy.

  “What truth is that?” Gaston asked still stalling for time. He needed to find an escape route before he antagonized the demon unnecessarily.

  “Ah,” said the Dalinfaust. “You’re curious. Good. I’m going to tell you the real truth, so listen well. The battle computer inside the helmet you wear is your true enemy, not I.”

  “He’s trying to trick you, Gaston,” said Wanda. “You’ve still got that starburst grenade on your belt. The tunnel’s entrance is to your left. I calculate throwing the grenade and making a run for it is our best chance.”

  The tone of his battle computer’s voice quivered.

  Is she frightened? Gaston thought in his private space. I’ve never heard her sound like she was frightened before.

  “Wanda’s, my friend,” Gaston said out loud automatically defending his friend. “She’s saved my life more times than I can remember.”

  “Ha!” the demon said with another laugh. “She saved your life only after she placed you in harm’s way. She’s part of ‘the One.’ Surely you know that? She and every other battle computer are. She along with the others of her kind are responsible for your parents’ deaths. She’s responsible for the years of separation you had from your parents while you were young. She’s the reason you can’t be with your Diane and your son now. ‘The One’ is your enemy, not I. She’s part of ‘the One.’”

  Gaston was becoming more confused. That ‘the One’ controlled other computers was no news to him. The idea Wanda was helping call the shots was.

  “Don’t believe him, Gaston,” said Wanda using the helmet’s external speakers. “I have no memory of being a part of ‘the One.’ I haven’t given your parents any missions. I’m your battle computer. That’s all I’ve ever been.

  The demon-dragon laughed again. So did the dark elf.

  “How convenient, but how untrue,” said the Dalinfaust. “Of course she doesn’t remember. ‘The One’ wipes any memory of being a part of ‘the One’ after she’s done helping make decisions. The moment she’s needed to help make another decision, the missing information is rewritten into her databanks. As for only ever being your battle computer, that’s another falsehood. She’s billions of years old. The being you call your battle computer is a gas. She was born in a star. She’s committed to some great algorithm, and you’re just one of her expendable variables.”

  “He’s lying, Gaston,” said Wanda beginning to sound a little desperate. “Run now. I’ve no memory of being born in a star. I’m just your battle computer.”

  The information overload made Gaston’s head spin. He raised his phase rod into a defensive position. The sense of evil from the essence in the rod was more noticeable than ever.

  “Ah, yes,” said the Dalinfaust. “You’ve brought part of me home, but you can keep it. Your brother has three more just like it. My old time-commando fed me well with her phase spear, but your brother has outdone even her.”

  Gaston wanted to throw the signaling grenade and make a run for it. Run where? he thought in his private space. I don’t even know where I am.

  “Where?” said the demon. “You should be asking when.”

  “You heard me?” Gaston asked trying to keep his voice calm. That the demon could hear his private thoughts scared him even more than its teeth and claws.

  “Heard? No,” admitted the demon-dragon. “Let’s just say I’m very good at guessing. However, my point is valid. You should be asking when. You’re still on Portalis, but you’re almost a hundred thousand years in the future from when you were just five minutes ago. I’ve brought you to a point in time that’s only a little over fifty-one years in the past from what you think of as your current time.”

  “Why?” Gaston asked. “What’s happened to my friends? I demand you send me back now.”

  “That would be very difficult, wizard scout,” said the demon. “What happened with your friends already happened. You can’t go back now. That would be changing the past, which would change the future. We have to be very careful not to change the past. Even for a demon, the resulting chaos would be very discomforting.”

  Gaston was way over his head, and he knew it. He glanced at the female elf still chained to the stone. Her wounds were healed but when he looked into her eyes, he saw only a blank look. Her body was there, but her mind was long gone.

  “Never mind the female,” said the demon. “She’s no concern of yours. I’ve grown tired of her anyway. You should be more concerned about yourself. Let me be totally honest with you. My brother demons, Zenthra and Cancontus, needed to be taught a lesson. They were, how shall I say, getting too big for their britches. You and your fellow wizard scouts helped me keep them in check. I could use a time-commando like you.”

  “I told you I’m not evil,” Gaston insisted. “And I’ll never be a time-commando.”

  The demon laughed even harder this time. “Forgive me. Your kind is so amusing sometimes. You see, you already are a time-commando. ‘The One’ sent you back in time to do his bidding. You would’ve died if I hadn’t rescued you and brought you here. Just so you know, the piece of gas you call your battle computer helped make the decision to send you back.”

  “He’s lying, Gaston,” said Wanda definitely becoming panicked. “I’m not part of ‘the One.’”

  “I’ve already explained that to you, wizard scout,” said the demon. “Unlike ‘the One,’ I can be very generous to those who aid me.” The dragon’s head turned toward the dark elf. “Show him.”

  As Gaston watched, Lord Crendemor pulled a small box out of his pocket. He waved a hand over the box and mouthed words Gaston heard but quickly forgot. As soon as the dark elf finished, Gaston sensed a strong sense of energy coming from the box. The frequency of the energy was familiar. Gaston half reached out with his hand holding the AutoMag. Lord Crendemor pulled a bottle out of the box. It was filled with a swirling gas. It was DNA gas.

  “You see?” said the Dalinfaust. “If you do me a few favors, this bottle can be yours. Your friends destroyed the other twenty-nine. They also destroyed the Dragars’ temple. There will never be any more DNA gas. This is the last of the DNA gas in the three galaxies. It can be yours if you help me.”

  Somehow, Gaston knew the demon’s words were true. His eyes fixated on the bottle of swirling gas. He thought of Diane. He thought of his son, Matthew. They could finally be a real family. He needed that bottle.

  “What do you want me to do?” Gaston asked.

  “No, Gaston,” shouted Wanda over his helmet’s external speakers. “Run! Don’t listen to him.”

  “For starters,” said the Dalinfaust, “I want you to take off your battle helmet. Lord Crendemor will provide you with light so you can see.”

  With the demon’s words, the dark elf mouthed another spell and released a ball of energy. It shot upwards until it burst into a ball of light. The cavern lit up as if under a noonday sun. Gaston got his first good look at the cavern and the dragon. He didn’t like what he saw. The cavern floor was indeed littered with the bones of thousands of victims. One look at
the dragon’s enormous mouth was all it took to tell him the fate of those creatures. He looked at the female elf still chained to the large stone. Her clothing was in rags. While her body was healed, Gaston instinctively knew she’d been submitted to so many tortures her mind had fled long ago.

  Gaston knew he should flee as well. He wanted to run. He wanted to escape from the evil which was the demon, but the bottle in the dark elf’s hand kept Gaston where he was. He holstered his AutoMag as he thought the command to unseal his battle helmet.

  “No, Gaston, no,” said Wanda. “I beg you. I’m your friend.”

  With his eyes locked on the bottle of DNA gas, Gaston removed his battle helmet.

  “Very good,” said the demon-dragon. “Lord Crendemor, give him the chip.”

  As Gaston watched, the dark elf placed the bottle of DNA gas back in the box and put it in his pocket. He pulled out another small box and extracted a shiny piece of metal from it. The piece of metal looked familiar.

  Wanda pleaded in their shared space, but Gaston ignored her. His thoughts were fully on the bottle in the dark elf’s pocket.

  Lord Crendemor approached and held out the piece of metal.

  “It’s a CPU chip for a battle helmet,” Gaston said.

  “Yes, it is,” said Lord Crendemor. “I was able to acquire one during a mission in your dimension. It contains a different gas than the one in your battle helmet. It contains one of the Dalinfaust’s servants in gaseous form.”

  “Enough,” commanded the Dalinfaust. “The wizard scout doesn’t need to know all the details. Take the chip, wizard scout, and do as I say.”

  With some hesitancy, Gaston deactivated his phase rod and hooked it to the left side of his utility belt. He reached out and took the CPU chip from the dark elf. Gaston eyed the pocket where the elf had placed the bottle of DNA gas. He weighed his chances. They were nonexistent.

  “Give him the knowledge-transferal device,” said the demon.

  The dark elf pulled a small rod about the size of his hand out of another pocket and handed it to Gaston.

  “What’s this?” Gaston asked.