‘The archon took him tothe Logicon Embassy. That’s all I can tell you at the moment’ saidhis grandfather, his face grim again.
They raced through themansion and straight to the workshop. Granddad hurried to the roomwithout a doorhandle, mentally spoke a word and the door openedwide. This was the safe room for their magic items. He grabbed asmall velvet bag and stuffed all the available powerstones into it.Powerstones were the mind wizard’s equivalent to magical scrollsused by other wizards. Each powerstone held up to three powers.
‘Here, take these withyou - they might be useful,’ said Granddad, thrusting the bag intoRob’s hand. He then mindspoke another word and a panel slid aside,revealing a small opening containing several small bags. He openedone and tipped out some rings, selected four of them, and handedthem to Rob to give to Melanie.
‘Melanie’s going too!You’ll need physical protection, and that’s what she’s been trainedto do over the last several years. I’ll send Facit to you when wecan get him released.’
He opened another smallbag and emptied a pile of gemstones into the palm of his hand. Theywere small and of good quality.
‘Here, take these Rob.You should know their value. They will be lighter to carry and moreuniversal than other currencies.’ He closed the secret panel andlooked around the safe room.
‘You’ll need atranslator crystal, as they speak a local dialect - trade common -there. Take your second master from the lab and update it with anynew word meanings.’
‘Ah yes,’ he said as hegrabbed a thick black belt.
‘All right Rob, listencarefully. The archons are no joke. They are exceedingly tough andtheir word is law. Mind magic may work on them, although I’vepersonally never tried to influence one. Never try to fight one, asyou will be killed. Surrender peacefully and get word to me andI’ll use my friends to get you out.
‘Now, about your shapechanging ability, try not to reveal it to anyone that you don’ttrust implicitly. Shape changers are hated everywhere, and oftenfor good reason. I know one of your father’s agents. I tracked himto a remote world where he uses the name Alin Amber.
I have been trying toget in contact with him to help you with controlling your shapechanging. I think he knows where your father is hiding. Find himand try to convince him to take you to your father. You may havealso inherited another very dangerous talent from him that herefused to disclose to us. You must find your father to find outabout it.’
‘I’ll do my bestGranddad,’ said Rob, suddenly realizing the importance of themoment.
‘I’m sure you will,’Granddad said. ‘Can you maintain your shape indefinitely?’
‘No. I can onlymaintain my form for an hour or two at a time. It seems to bedependent upon the size of my source,’ Rob replied.
‘Not good enough I’mafraid,’ said Granddad gravely. ‘You’ll have to go as a Logicon andbe sure to practice as a newman as often as possible, as I’ve heardthat shape changers that remain in one form for long periods oftime become like that form.’
‘Which body shell shallI take?’ asked Rob.
‘Take the old one,it’ll attract less attention. You can be a personal servant toMelanie. She’ll enjoy that,’ said Granddad.
‘One more thing, Rob!You have a lot of knowledge locked away inside your mind that youcan’t normally remember. Alpha is the key. If you wish to knowanything ask it, and it may be able to unlock something hidden. Asalways lock away any information that may be dangerous if you arecaught. If you haven’t sealed off your discrete client list, do itnow. You have five minutes to get anything you need and meet mebeneath the staircase.’
Grandad mumbled aphrase and Rob’s eyes turned black and his expression changed toone that was less friendly and a little bitter.
‘The time has come.Allow Rob to be in control. You must show great restraint and staywell hidden, or you’ll ruin the plan,’ Grandad warned.
‘He’s too soft,friendly and trusting. He’s not ready. He won’t survive in ahostile environment. You’re sending us to our deaths,’ said theblack eyed Rob, quite displeased.
‘The situation callsfor peaceful deception, not your violent aggression. Why did youkill the priest? That will cause all sorts of problems.’
‘The priest was aself-confessed murderer and in fact punished himself for his owncrimes.’
‘Maybe he was but it’snot your job to be his judge!’ grandad replied testily.
‘Anyhow, please givehim a chance. Allow Rob to get a good control of the shape shiftingability, to get to know the locals and to adapt to the environmentthere. Be patient. Wait for events to unfold. Only reveal yourselfif there is no other option.’
‘Okay, I’ll play ityour way for now, but I will be surprised if we don’t die within aweek,’ said the black eyed Rob.
‘Forbearance isneeded,’ counselled Grandad.
Rob’s eyes reverted tobrown as Granddad walked out, leaving him alone in hisworkshop.
Rob glanced around onelast time. This was his home; his sacred place; his security, andhe had to abandon it. He was now a criminal on the run. He wanderedaround aimlessly looking at his tools, the items under repair, hisunfinished pet projects and the spider web in the corner that hehad meant to remove.
Logic dictated thatthey had no more value. They were a part of his past. He tossed thesmall bags of gems and rings that Granddad had given him into thecubic body shell, changed to the Logicon form, slid into his newhome and walked off without looking back.
Arriving at thestairwell he saw all the family gathered there, shocked looks ontheir faces. He lowered the body shell to the ground, slithered outthe waste exit hole and reformed into his naked newman shape. Hismother hugged him with tears in her eyes.
‘I’m sorry mother. I’vebecome a criminal. I have to go away for a while. Granddad is goingto try to get the charges dropped. When he does I’ll be back. I’mgoing to find father and tell him how much you miss him.’
‘Listen Rob, there’ssomething I’ve never told you. Your father named you at birth. Hesaid it had some special significance. You will
