The Enemy of an Enemy

doors. Next, themagnetic locks released from the ship and Luke took control of thecraft. Once the other bay doors were opened we got the call overthe radio, “Dark Talon, you are cleared for departure. We will sendyou jump algorithms before you clear the wake.”

“Negative, Bay Control, we do not need thealgorithms,” I replied.

There was a pause, then a hesitant,“Acknowledged. Bay Control out.”

I smiled. That must have had them reallyconfused.

Luke then expertly flew out of the bay andsaid, “We will be clear of the gravity wake in abouttwenty-seven minutes.”

“Excellent. Okay, since you are all sowell trained in the specs of this ship, get working on disablingall recording devices on this ship. Gafar, see if you can figureout what Zalith took,” I said.

Gafar said, “Vydor, he took a memory bank.It was tied to the ship’s internal sensors, but primarily used forpersonal storage.”

“Personal storage?”

“Yes. Journals, diaries, personal logs, thatkind of thing.”

So Zalith was not lying after all. He reallywas after personal effects. “We will need to get that replaced,then.”

“Vydor, are you planning to keep thisvessel?” asked Kellyn.

“Yes, we need a base to work out of, andthis is a good size for us.”

“How do you plan to get them to give it tous?”

“Well, I plan to steal it.”

“Vydor! That is not a good plan. Whateverhappened to the rule about always doing the right thing?”

I sighed, “You are right, Kellyn. I willrequest it from High Command, and if they turn me down we willfigure out something else. Meanwhile, I may have to appoint you asthe official conscience of the Council of Wizards,” I said witha grin. I was not sure why, but I felt like deciding not to stealthe ship was a small victory for us.

I returned to the captain’s seat while Iwaited for us to clear the wake.

“Vydor, before we jumped last time youmeditated, and when I finally came out of the post-jump effects Inoticed that you were already in control of the ship. Doesmeditation somehow help you come out of it faster?” askedAndreya.

“Yes, it avoids almost all the impact ofthe jump. I would have told you but I promised the Dark Knights Iwould keep it secret,” was my answer.

“So this method is not generallyknown?” asked Kellyn.

“No, it is their secret weapon that givesthem a big edge in combat,” I said. “As far as I know theyare the only ones ever to figure it out.”

“Well then, we shall all keep theirsecret,” stated Kellyn, and the others nodded in agreement.

“Vydor, we are clear of the wake and canjump when you are ready,” said Luke.

“Give a five-second countdown and thenjump,” I said.

“Jumping in five … four… three…” wasall I heard as I slipped into a trance. The post-jump beep of thecomputers alerted me to the end of the jump and this time everyonebut Kellyn was awake. “Do not look alive just yet. It would bebest if they do not know how fast we can recover,” I said. Iwaited until I saw Kellyn come out of the post-jump hangover, andthen announced our presence to the planetary defense network.

“Dark Talon, please relinquish control ofyour craft. We will take you into the meeting point,” was the onlyreply. Their security codes checked out, so I really had no choicebut to comply.

“Luke, do as they ordered,” I said.Then I responded on the radio, “Acknowledged.”

Soon the ship was dropped into full stealthmode, and all viewing screens were turned off. They apparently didnot want anyone to know where we were going, not even us. “Do wehave access to any sensors?” I asked.

“No, sir, all controls are offline, andbecause we are in stealth mode I cannot even probe for someoneoutside that can see us,” responded Darnath.

“Well then, enjoy the ride, I guess.”It made sense that they would keep the location of the High Commanda secret. I just did not like not being in control. Not onebit.

“Okay, everyone, here is our plan. You areto hide wands on your person, but leave your staves here. I will becarrying mine just in case, and to add to the effect I am goingfor. When we disembark, everyone is to have their hoods up, and tostand tall and proud. Do all that you can to look as powerful aspossible. Show not even the slightest fear or worry. Instead, actlike you are in complete control of everything. We want to make astrong statement for our first impression,” I said. “When wewalk, I will lead and you follow. Form up double-file behind me. Donot let anyone break our group, and prevent any security measurefrom seeing you.”

As I finished saying that I felt the shipcome to a landing. That was much too fast to be on the planet; wemust have been in a station in orbit. I threw up my hood andgrabbed my staff. The lights came on in the ship and the systemsreturned to normal. “Darnath, see to it that the ship is safewhile we are in there. If all goes badly we will return here andfly her home to the Dragon Claw.”

“Dark Talon, please disembark from yourvessel now,” came the order over the radio.

I waited a full five minutes, and then openedthe airlock. I felt Andreya wrap a subtle aura of darkness aroundus to help create the effect I was looking for. We walked down theramp. Instead of an honor guard like there had been on the DragonClaw, we were greeted by heavily-armed and armored security forces.I walked fearlessly up to the head of the squad and said, “We areready.” I could tell that shook him a bit.

“Sir, I need to take your staff,” hesaid.

“No, you will not,” I said and laced my wordswith a bit of fear. I hated to manipulate him like that, but Icould not risk losing the staff when we would soon be facingLarath.

“Follow me, then,” he said.

We followed him to a high securitycheckpoint. He stopped to get clearance to enter, but I ledeveryone right through the security screens without triggering asingle alarm. Once clear, I stopped and without looking back waitedfor him. I could hear them mumbling in shock, as we did not evenshow on their scanners. After a minute I said, “Corporal, the HighCommand is waiting.”

“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir,” he said and resumedleading us down a long corridor. When we reached a large door heheaded to the commpad, presumably to request that the door beopened.

I approached the door and cast a minorunlocking spell and then pushed the door open with telekinesis. Theguards looked on in shock. From their perspective I merely waved myhand over the door and it opened. We then walked into the chambersand I saw the members of High Command sitting around a U-shapedtable. Larath was in the center, as if they were grilling him. Whenwe entered they all stood. Andreya’s illusion of power around uswas working perfectly; they were on their feet before theyremembered who it was that we were. Larath turned to look at me andI immediately reached out to see what he was up to. He sent onelast message back to his master: “He is definitely the one,”then did all he could to lock down his mind.

Chapter Twenty-Four

The chairman gestured for the others to sitand said, “Welcome, Vydor. We have reviewed all your reports, andheard Larath’s testimony about you, but we are a bit baffled as towhy you are here. We sent no order for you to come.”

“I sent the order,” a voice said from behindus. I turned to look and saw the Emperor himself walking in. He