The Adventures of Deacon Coombs (59 page)

“Gem is our choice. We voted on that matter earlier, Xudur. Again I have the support of Dreveney, Raal, Eggu-Nitron, and Dithropolis. I am sorry, but your arguments do not go unheralded. I should now ask that the room be cleared.”

After Toad and Gem departed, Deacon opened the door to return and say, “Excuse me. Landrew, Raal, Schlegar, and Xudur, I have some final parting thoughts for you. There is a grave discovery that has been brought to my attention by Doctor Roadster. I have known Toad for many years, and I admire and respect his work. His calculations at Medulla have uncovered a serious breach of security.” Raal’s many pink eyes blinked in rapid succession, a response of interest.

“With great regret and no disrespect intended for the staff at Brebouillis, Toad has calculated that the volume that Medullans currently occupy is considerably larger than the effects of the natural fields in place. It is possible that, like Urzel, other Medullans may very well discover this in the future by accident, or design. Therefore, with great respect, I must reiterate, Schlegar, my request previously that we seriously consider disbanding diplomatic relationships and contact with the Medullans. They are already outside the forces of their fields and could enter at will onto any ship docked at the Vesper station to travel into our worlds.” Schlegar shook his head in disbelief.

“Toad has summarized this in this document, which was written entirely by him for your understanding. The facts are indisputable, Schlegar. My esteemed colleague awaits your discussion on this matter. Whatever you debate, you cannot deny that the Medullans are currently capable of coming out of their fifth dimension and into ours as they please.”

“How far outside the fields?” Landrew asked.

“By Toad’s calculations, currently hundreds of thousands of miles. Enough to interface with a trade ship; and they appear to expand that distance exponentially as time progresses.”

“So we use the current treaty to build a new force field,” Schlegar said, taking up their cause.

Deacon was ready to depart. “You had to know. I leave you now.” As he closed the door, Schlegar argued with Xudur. Ahead Rodan had dropped his discs in the hallway, and as he retrieved them, more spilled onto the floor. Deacon stopped to assist him. “Excellent work, my friend.”

“My dear Deacon, it was my pleasure. Now for the hardest part—execution.”

Down in the abyss later, Schlegar descended upon them. “Why did you not inform me of this earlier?”

“Toad and I thought that the facts should be divulged in front of the entire group. I apologize, Schlegar.”

Schlegar gave an impersonation of Xudur with a Zentaurian grunt, and then wrinkled his nose, Aralian style. As he turned away, Rodan chased him to enter into academic pursuit, thinking that this would appease Schlegar. Deacon, meanwhile, headed to his quarters, where he fell into a rest only to have a familiar odor arouse him. He awakened and rubbed his eyes.

“How long have you been here?”

“Two hours. I sat and read your account of the trip to Medulla in your notebook.”

“What time is it?”

“You have slept for ten hours. It is eight o’clock in the morning, Liberty City time. Welcome back.” She leaned over his bed to give him a kiss. “I also visited with my second father, Schlegar, who informed me of the details of your voyage.”

“Oh, Lyanna, if only Urzel Lok would come to his senses and go away. I dread the experience of encountering him.”

“That’s why I came. He will arrive soon.”

“How do you know?’

“Gem delivered this message for you only minutes ago. I planned to wake you up.”

He sat up straight. “Oh no! In twenty hours!” She talked to him, attempting to soothe him as he dashed to the washroom to freshen up. Lyanna prepared some food that he intermittently ate as he sweated and conversed and perused Rodan’s notes. “Lyanna, this requires so much to go right: the landing in the Vesper dish, the immediate activation of force fields around the chamber and the
H’vington
, and the escape of Chubby and transport to the outer galaxy. I must see Nedilli at once. My time to remain with her has arrived.”

“I saw Xudur doing just that as I entered two hours ago. She was ordering the transport of Nedilli.”

“Xudur?”

“Yes. She told me that she was making the final arrangements for Nedilli’s positioning in the Vesper station.”

“What? That’s my job! Now, why would Xudur do that? I briefed her on the series of actions.” He knew he had to hurry to Nedilli’s chamber to find out what duress Xudur was exerting on the Medullan. In his body cavity, he cramped at the thoughts of the tampering Xudur had done. “I shall eat these last morsels hurriedly, have time for one good-bye kiss, and then I need to find and remain with Nedilli immediately.”

“No need,” said Gem. “Xudur and Schlegar have already transported Nedilli in her chamber to the moon’s Vesper station.”

Deacon was infuriated at Xudur’s interference. “And Jim?”

“With Nedilli, as you promised, Master.”

“Well, I also promised that I would be there at her side throughout. Xudur seems to have violated that.”

Gem tried to calm him. “Master, we still have time to depart and reach the moon and converse with Nedilli. We have eighteen hours and thirty-two minutes until Urzel’s arrival.”

Lyanna agreed. “Calm down, Deacon. I don’t think that anyone is bypassing you or usurping your authority. Take a deep breath, my hero.” She placed her arm around him and pecked him on the cheek.

“Do you know if Toad has departed?”

“Toad has departed for the Vesper station in a small craft. You and I shall ride in your favorite ship, the
Heritage
. We may even overtake them.”

Was he being ignored? What was Xudur up to at this late stage? “I should have been notified like the others.”

She placed her arms around his neck. Trying to calm him, she pulled him tighter toward her and then kissed him again and hugged him and walked hand-in-hand with him down the halls to the departing metro car. From the portal of the
Heritage
, she spied the final sight of his brown mop and features before they turned out of sight. Tears welled in her eyes. Deacon had come to the realization that it was his desire to see her again that would keep him alive.

Urzel arrives

The trip on the
Heritage
was excruciating, with every single minute pounding home that this was it—the final confrontation. Could they perform this marvel? The grandness of the glowing disc suddenly came into view. He did not look forward to Vespering again, especially into some distant quadrant of the galaxy. He said to himself, “Never again after this case.”

“What, Master?”

“Nothing, Gem.” He was strapped in on the control level beside Gem, who had been at his side for this entire escapade. Gem had saved him from the steely clutches of Morris Mydloan. And now he stared at the Owler with the proud red strap.
Is
this
a
sign
of
evolution
that
I
should
feel
this
way
for
a
machine?
he wondered. He had known for a long time that when the time came to confront Urzel, Gem would be the chosen one. It was during those early moments after they escaped from Nix that he sketched the plan of attack and knew Gem would be the general. He did not think of Gem as an executioner. And it had been very difficult for him to volunteer Gem as he blurted out the name to the Council, but it had to be done.

“Gem, I appreciate your loyalty to me and what you have done for me. I will never forget you.”

“I will never forget you, Master, since every minute of our journey together is recorded in my files.”

“How long is your term, Gem?”

“Until I malfunction, until I am injured beyond economical repair, until the Gem Two model is produced in approximately three years.” Her taut pink lips pulled into a smile.

Deacon leaned into Gem. “Well, you are a great Owler.”

“I wasn’t the last off the assembly line. That distinction belongs to Jim. I am proud to have served and protected you.” Deacon laughed. “I hope Jim and I are able to serve you again, Master.”

Deacon asked, “Have you downloaded all your files to a backup security system?”

“Yes, Master. Jim and I performed that action as soon as it was determined that I shall accompany Nedilli to exterminate Urzel Lok. Jim also has a copy of all my files, including the sermon on Nix and the footage from planet Medulla.”

“Do you know your instructions?”

“Yes. While you slept, Toad and Schlegar provided details of my mission. I will hide inside Nedilli until she opens a tiny portal, exposing Urzel to me. At that second, I will fire the device into him. Nedilli will be protected by the force field initiated by Xudur, and I will take the risk of perhaps being damaged.”

“Xudur?”

“Yes, Xudur’s primary duty will be to place the protective force field around us in one-fiftieth of a second after I have fired. Xudur discussed the timing with Toad, Nedilli, and me earlier. I understand perfectly well, Master, that there is a risk involved. Xudur will have remote access to my program so will know when to activate the fields.

“I realize that I may never see you again, Master. This will require exact timing, and the chances of survival for an Owler are only one in two hundred forty-three thousand six hundred seventeen. Perhaps, it will be me in the two hundred forty-three thousand six hundred seventeen. If not, you still have the last Owler off the assembly line to protect you.”

Deacon smiled back. “I will be thinking about you every moment, Gem, and wishing you good luck in your mission.”

“Thank you, Deacon Coombs.”

They docked, and butterflies swarmed in the pit of Deacon’s stomach. The familiar face of Rodan greeted him. “Everything is in place, Deacon. We have the force fields around Urzel’s chamber, ready to be fired. I just hope Chubby has had access to the manual security controls. The Owler task force team has confirmed their boarding procedures while we are in the disc. They will escort us. Oh my, I’ve never Vespered before. Great thrill for me. One last dream realized.”

Deacon chastised Xudur as the princess approached him. “You should not have departed without me. I promised Nedilli that I would remain by her side.”

“You are,” she said. “That is Nedilli’s chamber beside you. Touch it. She will sense that it is you.”

As Deacon peered inside into a colorless gas, he realized that he was at the mercy of Xudur’s word. “I would not have left the moon without you, Coombs, my dear detective. You and I are now intertwined in the future destiny of our worlds.”

He picked up his gear, leaving them to proceed to the control center, into the throng of Owler patrols, all waiting for the
H’vington
to land in the disc. They were to be crammed into a small shuttle that would dock onto the side of the
H’vington
; the breach of security would allow access to the ship without warning.

Xudur was at his side. She leaned over and, in his breathing space, said, “You must find me somewhat attractive with my boundless courage and high intellect.”

He turned to answer. “Xudur, I am scared to death, for if we fail to execute, this being will have revenge on all of us, you included. Keep your mind on the tasks at hand. Remember, Xudur, you have boundless physical strength compared to Urzel, but he possesses mental powers that belittle you.”

“I have no fear. I know Jim is here to protect you, but I too promise to protect you, Coombs. I will save myself, I will see him dead, and I will protect you. These are my three admirable goals.”

“The Owler Gem will carry out our orders to the end.”

Xudur was persistent and stared at the Owler. “Huh. You may regret your ultimate loyalty to an Owler.”

“Why?”

“On Zentaur, Owlers perform menial tasks, which are what they should be relegated to. The most important acts on Zentaur are reserved exclusively for the living beings that deserve them and will ensure their flawless execution.”

Deacon ignored her remarks and turned to Gem. “Has there been any communication from Chubby?”

“No, Master, but the time for the
H’vington
to reach here grows near.”

Schlegar grabbed his arm from behind as they stood in the crowded glass bulb, looking down into the disc. “We must assume that Urzel is still in chamber fifteen.”

A commotion reigned behind as the chamber with Nedilli inside moved on motorized wheels toward the hatch of the shuttle.

“Nedilli will have her space directly in front of Urzel’s vat,” said Xudur. I personally will activate the force field around Urzel so this vermin doesn’t escape. You, Coombs, remain on the bridge with Toad, Schlegar, and Gem to prepare the coordinates for our next stop. Jim will remain with me to escort Nedilli.”

Gem said to them, “Xudur, we will Vesper as soon as you transmit to me that Nedilli is in place and the force field is active.”

Schlegar’s face grew animated. “Look! They are signaling.”

Gem turned to confirm. “The engineer signals that the
H’vington
is arriving early.”

The group boarded the shuttle while the ionic frenzy outside indicated the Vesper had been activated. In the throngs, Deacon had a clear view of the surroundings, standing beside Rodan, peering down into the disc. A curtain of frenzied purple molecules buzzed around the perimeter of the disc before it appeared as a translucent cover over the top.

“Oh my, oh my goosh, what a sight to see.”

“You won’t see it anymore. Here. Place these protective goggles on.” Rodan reluctantly did so just as the intensity of the motion and the brightness climaxed. There was a flash in the middle of the cover that signaled the penetration of the energy package of the
H’vington
into the disc. “This is it,” Deacon whispered to Rodan as a tingle raced around the back of his neck.

With a jerk the shuttle broke loose from its dock high above the Vesper disc, descending slowly, waiting for the split second when it could free fall to beside the
H’vington
. There they waited, directly over the top cover, which had now changed to a blue-and-yellow pattern. Deacon looked over the cramped quarters of security Owlers and police to the elliptical chamber of Nedilli on the far side of the shuttle.