Flight of the Maita Supercollection 3: Solving Galactic Problems Collector's Edition (180 page)

Thing moved to
where it could watch the ship from the cover of a small tree. They
waited, then the golems suddenly moved from the shrubbery into the
sunlight, arguing loudly.

–
How in
all the nine hells can you say that, Leadhead? Those stupid
otherworlders will shoot at us and ruin our finish! I just know it!
They're almost as idiotic as you are!–

+Now, No. You
always take the negative view! They won't shoot at us! They have no
reason to do something like that!+

Both Jornians
fired lasers at the floater.

–
Ah-HAH!
See? See, Asshole? What did I tell you!? Damned gnatbrained moronic
idiots are shooting energy weapons at bronze! Idiots!–

+Now, No, we
merely startled them is all! I'm sure when they see....+

[ You two shut
up! ] Thing ordered, moving out behind the golems and signaling for
Kurk to follow. [ They can't hurt us! I'll remove all the energy
from their ship again if they shoot at ME! Next time I won't allow
them to make anymore! Enough is too much! ]

Confusion

Maita watched
the proceedings carefully and even felt some excitement. This was
fun, but it was deadly serious, too. Communications were quite
good. Z was ready, Thing and its entourage were coming into the
clearing with the arguing golems already starting things. The
watching Jornians fired at the floater, as planned.

Maita warned Z
to be ready to move, then told Ehrak to get ready. It would start
coming fast and furious now, orchestrating three scenarios at once
while running the golems.

Maita took over
from the secondaries when the golems left Teeme to be ready for
anything. Nothing could be said directly by Z because of that
damned video/audio box over the door – and now he was going to
sleep!

Oh, that was
it. Maita used Z's voice on the hidden com floater in the tree by
Ehrak and Fale to tell Fale to fly above where it would be seen,
but would be out of range of the hand weapons the Jornians were
carrying. That would cause the Prlnth to keep at least one of the
Jornians outside.

That was a
mistake! Z would want everyone to be inside! It must stop being
logical where the Terran was concerned. Maita told Ehrak it made a
mistake there and to try to do something to neutralize it if
possible. Ehrak said he would be able to get them inside soon
enough so nothing was lost. It might be a good thing Fale was seen
because it would explain how he knew Thing was there trying to take
over Z's power base. It would add continuity to the growing
confusion.

Thing went
inside with the golems keeping up their act very well. Kurk was
acting glum. Z was doing pretty much what Maita figured since he
laid back to feign sleep. It was going well. There was now a
certain time while the golems, Thing and Kurk set up the stage for
the big act. All the Jornians except for the two on guard outside
came to ask what the demons wanted. Thing demanded an audience with
whoever was in charge – or it would take the energy from the ship
and not allow it to return. The Jornians weren't too sure it
couldn't do it so they led the group to the chamber where Nrkll was
housed. Maita waited and watched. Soon.

Okay! Z was up
and was opening the door. Timing was important now. Get the
Jornians off of that ramp!

Maita told
Ehrak to move now. It had to be right! Fale would have to be
protected along with Ehrak when they moved toward the two Jornian
guards. Keep them from shooting or shield the two if there was
laser fire. Critical now.

Good! They drew
their weapons, but didn't fire. Now all Maita could do was to watch
and to keep the communications open among the group. This would
accomplish the immediate aim. Z would play his hand carefully, but
the actual problem was still right there.

*

Thing rode the
floater up the ramp behind the golems. Kurk was coming behind. The
Jornian guards called out, but didn't fire again. Other Jornians
came out to meet them at the top of the ramp and to ask what they
wanted.

[ I would speak
to one in charge here. ]

"I'm in charge
here," Froh replied. "What do you want?"

Thing stared
hard at Froh, swung the robe hanging from the floater regally, then
turned to Kurk to say he should be ready to keep the otherworlders
from restarting the generators when it took the energy away.

It then turned
back to Froh. [ It is well-known that a demon is in charge here,
not an otherworlder. I will not argue with you. If I am not taken
immediately to the true leader here I will take the energy from
your ship of space. I will not make the mistake Boss made in
allowing any to return. Ever. Be warned! ]

The Jornians
discussed it in their own language, then one went inside to return
shortly to report Nrkll said to send the demon in. It was curious
as to what it wanted and had no fear whatever of it. It had the
wizard Boss as hostage, didn't it?

"I tried to
tell Nrkll Boss demonstrated he could come and go as he pleased so
wasn't much of a hostage, but he said I was being obtuse," Nax, who
had been the one to report, said. "Serve it right if these wizards
ground the energy in its own chamber!"

"We can hope,"
Froh responded in Jornian, then turned toward Thing to add, "Nrkll
will see you. Please come this way."

–
Hah! I
told you simps these slimewads would back down as soon as they were
faced with real power! No guts at all!–

+Now, No! Be
nice! We are guests here! What an interesting vessel! It is a large
golem in itself! Let us go to the brain, Maybe! Perhaps it will
explain the ways of these otherworlders to us!+

–
AHH,
you copper plated rockslug! They aren't going to let us talk to the
ship! It would throw in with us to throw out these halfbrained
idiots!–

[ You two shut
up! If the ship has any sense it will melt you both down for dross
metal! ]

Thing was
noting every small detail as they moved through the ship. It signed
to Kurk when they passed the companionway to where Z and the
Tlorgians were being held. Maita had placed a small spot over the
arch with one of the spy floaters. It would be important to keep
the area from there on to the door open and unobserved shortly.
That would take a massive diversion, but there was one hell of a
row planned!

The group went
into a chamber with a partial stasis box sitting in the center. The
Prlnth was an irregular changing, iridescent shape inside.

[ You are the
demon, Nrkll? ]

"Hardly a
demon," Nrkll replied. "I am Nrkll."

[ We are, none
of us, truly demons. Well, except Extrx, but he's not here. I would
speak with you about power. ]

"In power
interested I am," Nrkll answered. "Boss the wizard would stop from
using it us. Dangerous it is, but control it we can. To gather
power it is not simple a thing. What needed we must have soon or
perhaps sooner or later."

[ I know the
spells of Boss so I can gather any amount of power very easily. I
am not interested in that kind of power. Anyone can use such things
with a minimal skill and talent. You are holding Boss here which
means he can't use his powers on Tlorg for that time. ]

"Negotiate for
Boss will not we!" Nrkll replied. "Stay here right will he if until
power have we for portal. Negotiate no!"

[ Negotiate for
Boss? No way! We want to do exactly the opposite! We want to ensure
that Boss is taken with you to wherever you came from! Then I will
be the head wizard of Tlorg! THAT is true power! THAT is the power
of Boss! ]

"You can't hold
or use Boss's power and we all know it!" Kurk snarled. "What are
you doing? You said you wanted to get these otherworlders away from
Tlorg!"

–
Hah!
And you thought you knew Rubberpuss here! For such a small lump of
glump it sure has some weird fantasies!–

+Now, No. Maybe
has some delusions, but we all do.+

[ Shut up or
I'll fry you where you ... float! I'M the one in charge here!
You're nothing! Nothing at all! ]

"So you're in
charge of nothing!" Kurk snapped. "There's no way you're going to
take charge of anything over Boss! You're playing at something that
can never be! You're insane!"

–
Hey!
That's pretty good, Stretchface! You're in charge of nothing! Maybe
we can put you in charge of these silly otherworlders and this ugly
excuse for unfocused light! Then you'd be in charge of ten times as
much nothing!–

+Now, No,
you're going to....+

[ I warned you!
]

Thing waved a
tentacle at the golems (While focusing a tight microwave beam on
the No head) and No was suddenly glowing red hot.

–
Whooo!
Wah! Hey! Whoooo!–

+You just won't
learn, will you? Now your polish will get all dull.+

[ You shut up
too – or you'll get the same! I didn't come here to listen to you
two! ]

"What doing now
are you?" Nrkll asked. "Can agree not among us yourself. Power not
to be is in your hands. Certainly disaster soon follow will!"

It was time for
the second part of the diversion Thing was sure so it told Maita to
handle it. Z would be ready to move.

[ We each think
in rather different ways. It is not of concern to you. This is for
us to work out among ourselves. What I offer is unlimited power for
your portal if you will agree to take Boss from this plane. ]

"That is the
thing I offer also!" Ehrak said from the door. "The difference
being I have the wand of Boss to back up my claim to power!"

*

Ehrak and Fale
received the signal from Maita. Fale took to the air to precede
Ehrak to the ship, announcing that they were there and they were
coming aboard. Maita had warned them they might be shot at so they
must stay close so they could both be shielded.

The two
Jornians on guard drew their lasers, but didn't fire at them. The
female looked at the male and shrugged, then waved for them to
enter the ship. There was a confused/amused little smile on her
face.

Fale lit on a
solid railing above the door while Ehrak went inside with the two
guards to be led to a room with a stasis chamber in the center.
Thing and the golems were the center of attention with Kurk
standing toward one side. Thing was making its speech about power,
claiming it could give the Prlnth unlimited power if it would get
rid of Boss.

Ehrak stepped
into the room with the two Jornians coming in behind him and
stepping to the side.

"That is the
thing I offer also!" he announced loudly. "The difference being I
have the wand of Boss to back up my claim to power!"

He flourished
the wand.

[ Hah! Anyone
can have a wand! ] Thing pulled a wand much like the one Ehrak was
waving around from under the robe and pointed it at Ehrak. A bright
purple beam shot from the end of the wand, Ehrak dropped and rolled
close to the door and fired a bright green beam at Thing, who
dodged to one side. The two stared at one another for a moment,
then Ehrak shot a blue beam at Thing, who dipped under it and
returned a yellow.

"So! You have
stolen some of Boss's secrets, I see!" Ehrak sneered. "Little good
they'll do you! Take that!"

He fired a bolt
of blue then white in rapid succession. Thing went close to the
ceiling then dropped again when the beam had passed below,
returning a chartreuse beam that hit the door panel causing the
door to close.

Ehrak fired a
red beam at Thing, who dodged and fired a blue beam at Ehrak,
hitting the panel and causing the door to open again. Thing dodged
behind the stasis chamber, causing a gasp among the Jornians.

"Insane are
you!" Nrkll yelled. "This is the instant that my demandings are to
you stop this made!"

–
Ha!
Stick it in your dimensional projections, Photon Head! This is
great fun!–

+Now, No! They
are both acting in a truly irrational manner. I think we should act
more as a moderating ... YEEEE!+

Both Ehrak and
Thing fired at the golems at the same time. The floater dodged,
then dove behind the Jornians near the door. Just before Thing
fired again they went up close to the ceiling. The Jornians all
dropped to the floor.

"It is to this
stop!" Nrkll screamed. "Cease! Halt! Desist! Order it I!"

The golems came
to sit directly on the stasis chamber.

–
Hey,
muckheads! Why not shoot at us up here? If you miss Boss will
automatically be released! That should make for some interesting
conversations!–

+For once I
have to agree! You two clowns will bring destruction on your own
heads!+

[ I refuse to
continue this farce! I am in charge here! Stop this! ]

"You?!" Ehrak
replied angrily. "You? Who would make a sick deal to have Boss
removed to another of the demon worlds? You, who hasn't considered
that he travels the planes at will? You would be in charge?

"I'm in charge
here and you'd better not forget it!"

Just then, Kurk
flew from the door to make a flying tackle on Ehrak.

*

Z received the
message from Maita, laid on the big pillows and pretended to sleep,
meanwhile moving a bit of insulation from the power cord to the
video camera above the door. There was a puff of smoke as the
camera burned out. Z quickly opened the door, slipped out and
reclosed it and moved up to see Ehrak moving into the chamber room
followed by two Jornians. He quickly went to the door of the room
where the farmer and his family were being held, opened the door,
made the sign of a hand across the lips for silence and waved the
people inside to come out. Zaft was with them, as he had hoped.

He herded them
quickly along the hall where he was joined by Kurk, who Bet, Men
and Klee ran to hug. Kurk made the silence sign and headed for the
outer door. When they were outside Fale flew down from its perch to
help.