Zeta Exchange: A Terran Empire story

"Such a summoningis dangerous even for an experienced magician--far too dangerous for anovice, particularly one who is also a Ranger. No, I will not teachyou that spell. But I will attempt to summon this object myself, if youwill describe it."

  Medart frowned. He wasn't used to having his requests refused, evenfor his own safety--a Ranger was presumed to be able to evaluate risksand take only necessary ones. On the other hand, he didn't know enoughabout magic to make such an evaluation accurately, and his firstattempt at using it had injured an Imperial officer . . . so maybe he'dbetter accept the refusal gracefully. "All right, Captain. But ifit's that dangerous, I'd hesitate to risk an IBC's captain, either.Don't you have any magical specialists?"

  "Yes, of course. Next to Ranger Ariel, Major Treschler is our mostaccomplished magician, and he has been successful with summonings."

  "Get him to do it, then. I may be able to do better than a descriptionof what I need, though--I'd better be, or there won't be any point ingetting it. Emperor Barton, do your records include twentieth-centuryentertainment tapes?"

  "Yes, Ranger. I have a complete selection."

  "Then if they exist here, you've got the Star Wars movies."

  "Yes, sir. They do, and I have."

  "Good! I'd like close-ups of Lord Vader's lightsaber, please, from asmany angles as possible."

  "It will be about ten seconds." The ship paused for that time, thensaid, "Completed; they are in your fabricator."

  "Thank you." Medart went into the sleeping area to get the stills,then returned to the living area and handed them to Chavvorth. "Minelooks like this. It's in my quarters aboard the Empress Lindner."

  Chavvorth took the pictures, clearly puzzled. "An object from an oldentertainment tape?"

  "Right, and I'd recommend close study of the movies, too--Lord Vader inparticular. The Sandemans at home regard those movies as classics, andbased several aspects of their culture on them. The first clan formedafter Overthrow is named for Lord Vader, for instance, and the clothingthey call honor-black is based on his armor and robes. They put a lotof effort into developing real lightsabers, too--I got mine as adeath-gift from the warrior Leigh DarVader, and I wear it on ceremonialoccasions or when I'm in Sandeman territory."

  Chavvorth came as close to frowning as most Traiti could manage. "Ihope you do not intend to confront them personally."

  "I think I'm going to have to. There isn't anything I can dolong-range that your own Rangers can't; what I can do is talk to them ontheir own terms."

  "I understand." Chavvorth rose. "I will give these to Major Treschlerand ask him to start preparations immediately."

  "Thanks." Medart watched him leave, then asked the ship for a basicmagic text. If he was going to have to confront hostile Sandemansagain, he wanted every bit of knowledge and skill he could manage.

  He was perhaps a third of the way through the tape when the shipinformed him the Emperor was calling. He went to the screen, pleasedto see that this universe's Sovereign looked like he was standing upwell to the strains of war. "Ranger James Medart of Alpha Prime, YourMajesty. I'm at your Empire's service."

  "I'm pleased to meet you, Ranger Medart, though I must apologize forhaving you taken away from your own Empire."

  "No apologies needed, sir. Things were quiet at home, and I wasplanning to ask for temporary out-universe duty. It seems I've madefriends out of your current enemies once before, so I get the challengeof trying to do it again."

  The Emperor smiled. "I'm glad to hear you feel that way, Ranger. I'mnot sure it'll be possible to make friends out of the Sandemans, butI'm not asking for a miracle; it'll be enough if you can just stop themfrom destroying the Empire."

  "I'll do my best, sir. What resources can I call on?"

  "Anything that's not actually engaged in combat. Or anything that is,if you consider it essential, including myself and the Rangers."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty. In that case, I'd like to borrow the bestmagic teacher available; I won't be much real good until I can controlthe power I accidentally burned Captain Chavvorth with."

  The Emperor frowned. "I saw the record tape of that, Jim. We don'thave any teachers who can give you control of that much power withoutlimiting it--the only ones who might even come close are the Sandemans,and they're not likely to want to help an Imperial."

  "In that case, I'd like the fastest small ship available--something onthe order of a courier--with a volunteer crew, to take me to Sandemanterritory. I'll tape everything I know about them on the way, soyou'll have that information whatever happens to me."

  "What do you plan to do?"

  "I don't know, exactly," Medart admitted. "That depends a lot onexactly how closely these Sandemans parallel the ones in Alpha Prime--andon how they feel about some incidents that took place there. But Ido know, as I told Captain Chavvorth, that I can't do anything at longrange that your people can't do at least as well. The only thing Ihave that they don't is over a hundred and a quarter years offriendship with Sandemans."

  "That long?" The Emperor looked concerned. "Just how old are you,Ranger Medart?"

  "A hundred and seventy-five, Your Majesty--but the anti-agathics arestill working fine; I have the same physical abilities I did when Istarted them at eighteen."

  "Understood. All right, Ranger; you were on full duty, and youobviously know more about them than we do, so I can't reasonably orderyou to stay away, however dangerous a situation I believe you're goinginto."

  "It is dangerous, Your Majesty--I don't have any illusions about that.I fought them before I brought them into our Empire, and they scaredthe stuffing out of me then. These have an extra century and a quarterof development, a hell of a lot bigger civilization, and magic, so theyscare me even worse. But the only chance I see for your Empire isgoing in, so I have to do it." He paused. "I was brought here with nochance to inform Alpha Prime's Emperor Kennard. If I'm able to return,I can explain things myself; if I can't, for whatever reason, I'dappreciate it if you'd notify my Sovereign of the circumstances."

  "I'll see to it, Ranger. Is there anything else?"

  "Just one thing, if I can indulge my curiosity."

  The Emperor chuckled. "A weakness you know I share. Go ahead."

  "In my universe, you have limited precognition. Do you foresee thekind of solution we'd both like as a result of bringing me here?"

  "I foresee a chance of it," the Emperor said slowly. "Not a goodchance, but without the summoning, there would be no chance."

  Medart nodded. "You had to do it, then. Thank you, sir."

  "Thank you, Ranger Medart. The ship and crew you want will meet you assoon as possible--and in the meantime, I'd recommend you not studymagic. You don't want our version limiting you if you are able to getany help from the Sandemans."

  "Yes, sir. I'll concentrate on recording everything I can rememberabout them, then."

  * * * * *

  Medart watched the lifecraft heading back for Imperial space. Hisvolunteer crew had given him a good ride to near-Sandeman space, andhad been reluctant to leave him to face them alone, but they'd finallyobeyed his orders and left.

  Once the lifecraft was out of sensor range, Medart switched on all thecourier ship's external lights, activated the locator beacon, and setcourse for the center of the Sandeman sphere. The Sandemans at homehad become familiar with Rangers, but the ones here still weren't, sohe'd done as he had for the Mjolnir Conference: traded his militarytitle and uniform for his civilian title and appropriate clothes, whichmeant a lot more to them.

  The Sandemans here were as alert, quick to respond, and curious as theones at home; less than an hour later, he was challenged. Adark-skinned face with light blond hair and pale grey eyes appeared onhis comscreen. "You are intruding, Imperial. Identify yourself and giveus a reason not to blast you out of existence."

  "James Medart, Prince of the Terran Empire--but an Empire in adifferent universe. At home, we're friends, and I'd lik
e the same tobe true here." He unhooked the lightsaber from his belt, held it wherethe Sandeman could see. "I was bequeathed this by the warrior Leigh ofClan Vader, for giving him Last Gift. Both he and the warrior Keith,of Clan Lewies, named me as battle-companion for that service, and Ihave never claimed the life-debt owed by either clan."

  "You know things you should not, Prince James," the Sandeman said. "Doyou claim life-debt