Flight of the Maita Supercollection 3: Solving Galactic Problems Collector's Edition (177 page)

Maita wasn't
particularly worried about Z for the moment because the Prlth
needed him. They would definitely have some fear of him so he would
be safe enough for the time being. The important thing would be the
rescue of those innocent people and to make certain nothing more
was done on that stupid portal.

It might get
pretty desperate, though. Thing wasn't always practical or logical
when those it loved were threatened. It would be interesting to see
how this turned out. Things were beginning to feel like old times.
The danger was real and was there, the crew were thinking of one
another and there was really no set plan. They would survive on
their wits alone.

If the
omniverse was going to end, as selfish as it seemed even to Maita,
this was the only way to go!

*

Thing was
greatly worried. Z was so dramatic and impetuous sometimes. He
never did seem to completely understand that he was mortal. He was
dealing with a being from another plane. It didn't reason the way
anyone they had ever met reasoned.

That was
probably not at all true, but Z would take the most unnecessary
chances at times. On another level this was like old times. Maita,
Z, Thing and whoever else was around pitting themselves against an
adversary who was threatening something dear to them all. This was
the first time where the entire omniverse was threatened – the
empire, a race, a world or collection of worlds, but this was
seriously about the entire omniverse. It didn't seem at all real –
but the threat to Z was very real.

Thing was in
its cubicle with the communicator on its "head" when the call came
in from Z. It didn't stop to think, ordered Maita to get as much
aid as possible, got aboard its floater and was heading out as fast
as the floater would go toward his friend – and that was FAST!
Ehrak and Kurk would follow very quickly, Thing knew. There could
be a plan of action waiting for them. Maita reported that Fale was
coming so could be a part of any plan.

Maita was
thinking through any number of schemes whereby Z would be saved as
well as having the other aims met. When the initial panic subsided
Thing had to admit Z was probably safe for the moment. Its point
was that the thought patterns of the Prlnth were alien in more ways
than they had encountered before so they'd have to be prepared for
any eventuality. Maita made a suggestion minutes before Thing
arrived near the Jornian ship that would be used, though there was
going to be much more. This was going to be the kind of thing Z
would really appreciate. They had done the same sort of act before
in other ways so this would amuse him no end. It was the kind of
thing that appealed to his sense of the ridiculous. It would also
use all of the people involved on Z's immediate team.

The
otherworlder was insane if it was judged on their standards, but
was confused by many things they said and did. What would happen if
the Prlnth suddenly discovered that the bunch of them were
operating on a system of logic they couldn't hope to understand?
What if they started doing things that the Prlnth would consider to
be totally insane? They would dare not act. Z might actually
fission their generators – and what if ANY of them could do it?

The wait for
the arrival of the carpet/floater was interminable, though the
reality was that it was less than half an hour. It was just past
midday so their plan could begin on one phase as soon as they
discussed what everyone would be expected to do. Kurk knew about
them, but Fale would be kept in character much better if it thought
it was dealing with demons and wizards as it knew them.

Maita sent a
silent empathic message to Thing, who found the possibilities
amusing. It could even be fun! The golems would be there in a few
minutes! If THAT didn't convince the Prlnth the lot of them were
crazy nothing would!

A new
communications system would have to be arranged quickly. The
golems' floater could be programmed only to a small extent so, as
the people aboard the ship were unsuspecting at this point,
micro-relay floaters were sent inside to cover as much of the
Jornian craft as they could, which was most of it. Special light
transmissions would ensure direct beam transmissions would go
undetected.

When the golems
were there Thing gave the instructions.

"I have a
quesdion," Fale said, puzzled. "Why all of zis zubderfuge? Izzn't
Boss able do handle all of ziz?"

[ Boss is in a
very bad position. You know how deeply he cares about people and
those children are in grave danger. Boss could easily handle this
if he took chances with their lives. You and I both know he would
never endanger innocent people. He's in contact with Yes and No,
but this is something we'll do on our own. It's because we all care
for Boss so much that we'll try to work this out. You know how much
he likes a joke so we can even make it fun. He laughs in the face
of death, but we can't forget he would allow himself to be killed
to save those children. ]

"I'm gonna have
a say about using those kids in this!" Kurk snarled. "That demon,
no matter how powerful, is gonna directly face me! Those
otherworlders, too! They're in this to their ears!"

–
Oh,
don't be so damned stupid, Airbrain! Boss says the otherworlders
have no choice! You're gonna screw this up! I just know
it!–

+Now, No! Kurk
is frustrated by the necessary inaction of the moment. He will
think it over and come to the right decision without your sour
derision.+

+AHHH, stick it
in you nose, Slime Breath!+

[ Both of you
shut up! Kurk, it's true these otherworlders have no choice. Don't
do anything we may all regret. You were with Boss earlier so you
know a little something of what he's trying to do. ]

"I know," Kurk
replied. "As obnoxious as No is about it I could let my stupid
temper screw it up. Yes is right, too. I'm frustrated. My instinct
is to go in there and start tearing the place up!

"I know the
weapons they have. The lasers – and worse – and Boss wouldn't be
there to turn the beams so I'll do what you want. Boss will enjoy
it, too, I think. He'll see the humor in it. As you say, nobody
loves a joke more than Boss!"

"Zhust zo we
know Boss is zafe," Fale agreed. "Zhat iss zhe mosd impordand
zhing!"

[ We all agree
with that! Extrx, you're very quiet? ]

"I have to get
used to this all over again every time we do anything," Ehrak
replied. "I think I can do it. We have to hope the demon in there
will react the way we plan. It's not going to think like we do, you
know."

[ THAT is the
main thing we have to make it realize! Well, if everyone knows his
part let's get started. ]

*

Kurk jumped up
from his seat as soon as the golems gave him the message to get to
the castle. He was more than ready to see a little action. The
golems were funny and educational, but he didn't need that
education. He knew Emperor Maita was controlling them. It was a
great show, but Boss – or Z – was doing something that could be a
bit too foolhardy.

The clamshell
floater took Kurk and Ehrak quickly to the castle where the two ran
for the dining hall. Fale flew in as they arrived so Maita would
have to be careful what he said there. He worked it out well,
though, and Fale would accompany them to the dark continent on the
carpet that was still in storage in the hold of the emperor's ship.
Kurk had heard about that magic carpet and knew it was another
gravitic floater in disguise.

They arrived at
the rendezvous with Maybe where a plan was made that didn't seem to
make any sense whatever – but was one that would be fun. As the
plan unfolded Kurk saw what they were trying to accomplish.

Some weakness
would have to be determined if they were to stop the dangerous
scheme these Prlnth were working on. To make it permanently safe
seemed impossible at this point if only because Maita and crew
wouldn't do what would make it safe: Attack the attackers. Destroy
them completely. Kurk had no twinge of any moral sense about doing
that. What the hell? The Prlnth were perfectly prepared to destroy
this planet and its people with their greed for free power.

They didn't
know they were endangering the entire omniverse, but the fact they
would kill off a population on a whole world made them beyond his
contempt. Z had argued that it may be only a few of them who would
do this, but the technology belied the fact there were more than a
few involved. The receiving of all that power spoke of massive
funding and building on the receiving end. Most pressing to him
personally was the fact that he liked children. These slimeball
sleazy Prlnth were directly threatening to kill those children to
force Z to do their bidding.

That was also
beyond his contempt. For even making such a threat they would pay a
very high price. That was beyond the bounds of anything so far as
Kurk of Hades was concerned!

The report said
the child, Bet, had even defied the Prlnth in his name. He couldn't
let the kid's faith in him down! That name was going to eventually
strike fear into every one of those Prlnth.

The plan Maybe
was laying out was fantastic! It was totally crazy! Incredible they
would even consider it! It might even work!

The golems flew
in, so they would be used. Maita used No to tell Kurk he must
control himself or he would ruin the whole thing and would probably
get Z killed on top of it. Maita knew how frustrated he felt and
said so in that strange way.

There were to
be sensors and spy floaters inside the Jornian ship to control the
golems, who were to have a major part in this crazy play. Maita may
be forced to stay inside the ship by circumstances beyond his
control, but he damned well participated almost as much as if he
were right there with them!

Kurk felt truly
"at home" with these people of the empire. They were a tight group,
but he was as much as a part of that group. He felt that he somehow
belonged and he'd never felt that way before.

Z was pushing
to let the Tlorgians into the empire. It would happen. Maybe he
would even be allowed to go to another world aboard the emperor's
ship.

New Zule! He
had to meet a Zulian! The stories he had been told about those
people made it #1 foremost in importance that he actually meet one
of them – after this was over, of course.

This was hardly
the time to daydream about what would happen after Tlorg was a part
of the empire. If these Prlnth weren't stopped there wouldn't BE
any Zulians or empire or anything else.

Well, he had
the first part in this crazy drama so he might as well get started.
He grinned, saluted and headed for the Jornian ship with the golems
not far behind.

*

Ehrak was
totally confused as to what could be accomplished by all this
playacting. The plan seemed more silly than anything else, though
Thing was taking it seriously. Maita, through the golems, had added
greatly to the plan. Only Ehrak and the Frome, Fale, couldn't
understand any of it.

Then it slowly
began to make sense. It first seemed a slapstick joke with a strong
possibility of Z ending up dead, but now it seemed more and more to
be a solid plan. Maita and Thing knew about these alien forms of
psychology. They were now analyzing what Z had learned about the
Prlnth and were planning to use it against them. Thing would be
able to add a lot because of what it learned through its
empathy.

Fale suddenly
laughed its barking laugh as it dawned on it what they were doing.
It intended to enjoy this and to learn from it. Its confidence
would add to the game – but it didn't know Z could be harmed,
killed, in truth, by the Prlnth. So far as it was concerned the
wizard Boss was invincible and would play with these arrogant
demons and otherworlders.

If everyone
didn't play his part to perfection what would Maita do? It would
fail from any of a thousand points and this wasn't all that smart
to even try, but the phenomenal luck, a result of the skills of
this tight group, was legendary. Tom's memories were urging Ehrak
to join into this fully and to allow himself to enjoy it. If he
were to die here that was the way of things. No one had planned for
anything more than a vacation. It was no one's fault this had
happened. It was fortunate they were there or the omniverse would
have suddenly ceased to have ever been shortly.

Ehrak wished
with all his being that he could be what his famous ancestor had
been, that he could thrill to this huge challenge.

Ehrak was too
insecure. He was NOT Tom.

He could be!
This was the chance to break the bonds of civilization –
overcivilization – that were making life boring to his entire
generation. His part in this could be important. He could be a part
of saving the omniverse! Slight courage never fame won! He was
going to go into this thing with the attitude in his memories! He
was going to become the personality Tom had been. He was going to
do this thing, he was going to enjoy it, he was going to be able to
tell his own children of the exploits of yet another of their
ancestors!

When he first
submerged himself in Tom's personality at the fountain it was one
of the finest feelings he had ever known. Wrestling in the fountain
with Z and Kurk and the others lacked one exhilaration that was
here: He was in no danger in the fountain.

Ehrak was
surprised to find the danger added so much to the whole thing. He
had never known danger before, had never known the feeling
described as having your heart trying to fly out of your mouth
before. He was most surprised to find he liked all of this!

He looked up to
find Thing watching him with one eye. Of course the little empath
knew Ehrak just became a person on his own. He had thrown off the
thin cloak of his conservative civilization and reverted to what
was, by the omniverse, what a Zeenan was MEANT to be! Maybe he
would revert back to what he was before this moment once the crisis
was past, but there would always be one major difference in him: He
knew what it was to really be a part of something. He knew what his
heritage was along those lines.