He paused, like a teacher about to reveal theanswer to a test question. “Everyone knows it is not the number ofrobots in a planet’s arsenal that decides victory. All it takes isone robot, skillfully piloted, to end a war. And so it is importantto undermine the confidence of each pilot on the other side. Quitothe Great did that to Alluva by bringing down a giant with askirmisher. They feared him thereafter, so he had an advantage whenhe fought the next battle, skirmisher versus skirmisher.”
Humber’s tone grew grim. “Now the Alluvanshave done that to us—undermined our confidence, for the moment, atleast—just by challenging us. It tells us they think they canprevail. Also, they have surprised us with the size of theirarsenal.”
“How many do they have? They’re required toreveal that to you, aren’t they?” Rem asked.
Humber nodded. “They have a dozen of eachsort of smaller robot. A dozen skirmishers also. And to our shock,they have five giants. Since it takes fourteen Earth years to buildjust one of those, we could never have guessed they’d havemore than two or three, given their depleted resources.”
“And how many do you have?” Ziademanded.
“Good question. We have approximately thesame number of each sort. Including giants—we have five. Exactlylike them.”
“And that’s why you’re here?” she asked, hertone turning brisk. “You want Grandpa’s giant back?”
Humber nodded.
She smiled in relief. “How wonderful that wecan really help you. Of course you can take it.”
“Zia!” Jared Quito’s face had turned thecolor of ashes. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying they can borrow the giant. Andthe skirmisher too for that matter. And if either or both isdestroyed for the sake of Malara, that’s a price we’re willing topay.”
“Are you so sure the people of Earth arewilling?” the president demanded.
Zia felt her cheeks redden. “Pardon?”
Jared cleared his throat. “You’re impulsive.It’s what our citizens love about you. But still, to give up therobot. Both robots . . .”
Rem leaned forward. “I think what Zia’ssaying is, the robots are just symbols. Of our alliance withMalara. If we don’t hand them over, they won’t mean anythinganymore.”
Zia nodded. “Thank you, Cadet Stone. That’sexactly what I meant.”
Her uncle seemed about to argue, but theambassador stopped him. “I have not made myself clear. We are notasking for the skirmisher, although it would be useful. We need thegiant. And a pilot.”
“A pilot? Don’t you have one whocan—oh!” Zia drew back, shocked by what she now knew to betrue.
She had heard this so often, it was insanethat she had forgotten it, even for a moment. By their nature,giant robots were bonded—virtually for life—to the brainwaves andgenetic patterns of a particular pilot. As a tribute to DanielQuito, the giant robot gift had been attuned to him. In the hands,or mind, of any Malaran pilot, it was useless.
Realizing that among the Earthlings she wasthe only person who had grasped what the ambassador was reallysaying, she turned to her uncle, and then with as loving a smile asshe could muster, she explained, “They don’t just need thecolossus, Uncle J. They need you.”
Chapter3
Rem Stone jumped to his feet, his blue eyesflashing with excitement. “I’ll go too. I can pilot theskirmisher.”
Zia couldn’t help but smile at the burst ofbravado. Nor could she ignore her uncle’s reaction, which wasvirtually the complete opposite.
Ambassador Humber gave Rem an approving nod.“We appreciate the offer, young man. But it is not necessary. AnyMalaran pilot can handle any skirmisher. They are not synchronizedto the pilot’s mind and body the way a giant is.” He turned back toZia. “You may have misunderstood—”
“Let’s hope so,” the president interrupted.“Because if you expect me to go to Malara, you’re sadly mistaken.I’m needed here. I’m crucial here. I can’t be spared.”
“They need someone with Grandpa’s DNA,” Ziamurmured. “That’s you. He’d want you to go.” She edged closer anddraped her arm around her uncle’s shoulders in the awkward half hugthey had developed for moments like these. “I know you think I’museless, but I’ll step up while you’re gone, I promise. I’ll helpthe vice president and the commander, and meanwhile, Earth willadore you. You won’t weaken your administration, you’ll consolidateit. They might even vote you a life term for this, right? That’show Quito got his, remember?”
Ambassador Humber cleared his throat. “Youmentioned DNA. I hate to be statistical, but facts are facts. You,Zia, are a direct descendant, and therefore much more likely to bea match.”
“Me?”
“That’s ridiculous,” Jared said, visiblyfuming. “If you think for one moment I’d allow my niece to go withyou—or frankly, that she’d be of any use to you—you’ve lost yourMalaran mind. She can barely drive a skycart without causinghavoc.”
“Hey!” Zia pretended to be insulted. “Don’tmake me sound so uncoordinated. I’ve never had an accident, have I?And I’m an expert at sky paddle.” Flashing a smile to assure heruncle she was just kidding, she turned back to Humber and insisted,“Uncle Jared was in the military before he became president. If youneed a Quito, he’s your only hope.”
“Zia, that’s enough.” Jared stood and beganto pace, his tone brisk. “As I said before, this is out of thequestion. And a waste of time. I may not be a robot expert, butI’ve read enough to know that that giant was finely tuned to DanielQuito—so much so that even his own son might not be a match,assuming he had one. Isn’t that true, Humber?”
The ambassador nodded. “That is the point Iattempted to make earlier. Zia calls you uncle, but that is notaccurate. You are actually the grandnephew of hergreat-grandfather’s half brother. Correct?”
Zia gave Rem a sheepish smile. “Too bad youdidn’t win a medal in genealogy.”
Rem laughed. “I think the ambassador’s sayingthat President Quito isn’t a direct descendant of Quito the Great.You are, but he isn’t.”
Noting the scowl on her uncle’s face, Ziareplied carefully, “What’s the difference? We both trace back tothe Quito family that came here from Mexico, right?”
“But Quito the Great was half Cuban,” Humberreminded her. “On his mother’s side. It is possible that the DNAthat made him so—well, so unique—stems from her.”
“That’s slander!” Jared roared.
Humber stood and stared directly into thepresident’s
