The reassurance brought her beaming smile back. ‘I have missed you.’
‘Dear Goddess, haven’t you two found the plot yet?’ Zerrah leaned out of his quarters to yell down the deserted corridor at them.
‘Leave Uriah here to question your sister,’ Maelgwn instructed.
‘Why on earth would I want to do that?’ Zerrah was almost forced to laugh.
‘Because I need you to assist me with an autopsy. I think it’s about time we found out exactly how Cornelin died, don’t you?’
Zerrah didn’t want to be seen to agree, although it was obvious that he did. ‘Such a tempting invitation.’ His tone indicated a distinct lack of enthusiasm for the idea. ‘How could I possibly refuse?’
No surgery was required to complete an autopsy here in Mazua. The corpse was scanned, the data analysed and the cause of death determined by the one amazing machine.
‘Jumping jellyfish!’ Zerrah’s jaw began to fall as he read the report the machine spat out at him.
‘What does it say?’ Maelgwn urged him to impart the news.
Zerrah looked to him, still stunned by the conclusion reached. ‘Asphyxiation, caused by exposure to massive amounts of concentrated microwave radiation,’ he informed, passing the print-out to Maelgwn so that he might read it himself. ‘Someone fried Cornelin from the inside out.’
What was perplexing about this news was that Maelgwn’s memory did not deliver up any additional information. ‘I have no knowledge of a weapon with this kind of capability.’
‘That’s because there is none.’ Zerrah appeared very perturbed about the fact. ‘Such a weapon would never get Pantheon clearance.’
This seemed to implicate Inanna and Shamash all the more, in Maelgwn’s view, knowing that they had the resources and cause to create such a weapon.
‘Where are the quarters Inanna’s representatives are occupying at present?’ Maelgwn queried.
‘Why?’ Zerrah couldn’t keep the smile from his face, having guessed what the Dragon was going to suggest.
‘So we can search them, of course.’
Their unique situation did seem to be begging to be taken advantage of. ‘That is highly illegal, you realise.’ Zerrah felt it his duty to point this out.
‘So is roasting your uncle,’ Maelgwn justified.
‘You twisted my arm. Follow me.’
Because Zerrah was head of security, his palm print gained him access to everywhere in Mazua, bar the lab. As the Delphinus warrior placed his hand on the security plate that unlocked the door of Inanna’s representatives’ room, he commented sideways to Maelgwn, ‘This doesn’t mean to say that I don’t still suspect your involvement in this affair.’
‘Same here,’ Maelgwn concurred, as the door departed to grant them entry.
‘How could I have possibly stolen an item that I know nothing about?’ Zerrah challenged as they moved inside the luxurious guest quarters.
‘You may have had an accomplice,’ suggested Maelgwn, as he began to search through the luggage laying about. ‘After all, you were the guard on duty at the time of the robbery. Whoever stole the item would have had to get past you first.’ He didn’t really suspect Zerrah, he just thought he’d give him a taste of his own medicine.
‘No one entered,’ Zerrah defended. ‘And only Aquilla exited after Gibal’s departure, and she was empty-handed.’
‘So you say,’ Maelgwn vexed him further.
‘Aw!’ Zerrah dismissed his view with a wave. ‘Think what you like, Dragon, but you’re skirting around the wrong reef.’ The young warrior got to sifting through the personal effects of the occupants, whereby he uncovered a wrist brace with an unusual metal tube attached. ‘Hey-ho, what have we here?’ Zerrah pulled a set of large tweezers from his weapons belt to lift the unusual device up so that he and Maelgwn could view it more clearly.
‘I’d say you may have found the murder weapon,’ Maelgwn commented, as they both observed it.
A disturbance behind them distracted Maelgwn and Zerrah from their speculation. They both turned to view the only point of entry to the quarters, but were not fast enough to spy the cause of the noise. The sound of someone running down the interior corridor beyond the guest chamber spurred both warriors into a chase.
They found the transporter plate, not too far down the interior walkway, alight.
‘Damn it!’ Maelgwn grumbled, coming to a standstill, as their mysterious suspect was spirited to another part of the city.
‘I can trace the destination from the central security quarters,’ Zerrah offered, also annoyed to have lost the displaced person.’
‘They’ll be long gone by the time we get the information.’
‘If we’re real lucky, one of the surveillance cameras might be in this sector,’ suggested Zerrah.
‘Check it out when you get the chance.’ Maelgwn headed towards the now inactive transporter plate. ‘It could only have been one of three people … unless?’
‘Unless what?’ Zerrah had to wonder what he was implying. Only an immortal could have survived the wormhole out of stasis, and Gibal was the only Nefilim on Mazua at present. Maelgwn knew, that to the best of Zerrah’s knowledge, he was telling the truth, but that didn’t mean to say that one of Gibal’s kin hadn’t snuck into the city somehow. ‘Finish your search.’ Maelgwn stepped onto the transporter. ‘I’m just going to check on Aquilla and Uriah.’
Maelgwn found the pair still interrogating each other in Zerrah’s quarters, where they’d been left. Both vouched for the other’s presence the entire time the Dragon had been gone.
‘Why do you ask?’ Aquilla frowned curiously, but Maelgwn declined to comment.
‘Well, it is my conclusion,’ Uriah rose from his seat to explain, his eyebrows raised in suggestion, ‘that Aquilla is blameless in regard to her uncle’s death and your mysterious theft.’
Maelgwn was most pleased to learn this, although he’d never truly suspected her.
‘I can confirm that Uriah was not involved either.’ Aquilla sat back in her chair. ‘So where does that leave us?’
‘In the dark, as per usual,’ Maelgwn commented dryly. ‘Remain here,’ he instructed. ‘I shall be back with Zerrah, presently. I’ll need you,’ he looked to Uriah, ‘to interrogate Zerrah and clear him.’
Aquilla seemed really surprised by his suspicion. ‘Surely you don’t think —’
‘It’s just a precaution,’ Maelgwn cut in. ‘As Zerrah said, no one is above suspicion.’
‘But I have already checked with surveillance, who have assured me that Zerrah was at his post the entire time.’ Uriah spoke up for the captain of the guard. ‘And as Zerrah wears no thought wave neutraliser,’ Uriah’s eyes skipped to the one Maelgwn wore, ‘his thoughts are open to all. I would have detected his involvement long before this … he is clean, I assure you.’
‘Surveillance, hey?’ The notion reminded Maelgwn that although the mobile microscopic surveillance cameras that were used to patrol the city did not enter the lab, there was a surveillance camera that was part of the NERGUZ security system. Maelgwn felt sure Gibal would have checked this footage immediately upon discovering the device missing and reported any findings, but just in case it had been overlooked, he decided to check it en route back to Zerrah.
When Maelgwn called up and viewed the footage of the day in question, the theft of the NERGUZ was shielded by a great flash of light — one minute the device was under its protective force field, then a flare of light and it was gone. As the exterior security of the lab was so tight, there had been no need for massive amounts of surveillance, so this footage was all Maelgwn had to work with.
‘Very helpful,’ Maelgwn commented sarcastically — although the footage did indicate that some sort of technology had been used to retrieve the band from its housing. The security systems appeared to have remained in place and active the entire time — a fact that Maelgwn double-checked with the city’s central intelligence computer.
After Maelgwn had re
ported his findings to Zerrah, he quizzed him as to what means may have been used to commit such a theft.
Zerrah produced what appeared to be a tiny hand gun, which was small enough to be easily concealed. ‘Something like this, I’d say.’ He aimed it at a vase and fired, whereby the vase disintegrated into light wave matter and was sucked into the weapon. ‘It’s a particle converter, which works on much the same principle as your fighter module.’
Zerrah reversed the function of the weapon, whereby it shot forth the light matter once more and it reformed into the vase. ‘I’ve already scanned it for prints.’ He then shrugged. ‘Either it’s been wiped clean or our thief was wearing gloves.’ Zerrah placed the particle converter aside.
‘But the missing item was guarded by an alarmed force field,’ Maelgwn posed. ‘Surely the beam from the converter should have set it off?’
Zerrah nodded to agree. ‘Unless it was specifically designed to avoid triggering the alarm system. It’s been done before. No sooner have we devised a new defense system than some industrial thief has figured out a way to work around it.’
‘In fact, it’s looking like all the hardware used to commit this theft was specifically designed for the job. While you were gone I ran a metal detector over the room.’ He led Maelgwn to his next finding. ‘And came up with this.’
It was a small box-like object that was open front and back, so that you could see straight through the middle.
Maelgwn’s information stores didn’t recognise the device. ‘What is it?’
‘It took me a moment to work it out as well.’ Zerrah grinned as he picked up a little bottle that was on a nearby bench. He placed it inside the device and the bottle vanished. ‘I’m pretty sure it’s a mini-transporter plate.’
‘Curse it!’ Maelgwn feared the device may have been used to get the NERGUZ out of Mazua already.
‘Now don’t wet yourself,’ Zerrah urged. ‘If Gibal is yet to invent a transporter with a range that goes beyond the radius of a city, I very much doubt anyone else has.’
Maelgwn’s instincts disagreed. ‘I’ll bet my life Inanna has the item in question already.’ If the size of the mini-transporter was anything to go by, it looked as if Zerrah’s assumption was correct — it had been specifically designed to cater for the NERGUZ. That was not to say that Inanna’s officials had committed the crime. Whomever it was who’d been sneaking around in these quarters may have planted the evidence now laid out before him. The mysterious stalker may also have been looking for the stolen item, and this tiny transporter could be just a decoy.
‘Is there some way to trace the destination of this mini-transporter?
Zerrah shrugged. ‘There is one on my security team who might be able to hook it up to the central security system and extract the information. But only he could tell you if the components of this mini system are compatible with ours.’
‘Then you have my clearance to revive that person,’ Maelgwn granted, ahead of pointing to the charichalum tubes that contained Inanna’s officials. ‘These two will be the first to be questioned once we dock with the Aten.’
‘Agreed,’ Zerrah nodded, rather interested to find out just how much the two Leonines knew.
As the time of contact with the Aten was fast approaching and Gibal had yet to make an appearance on the control deck, Maelgwn decided he’d best chase the Lord up.
But Gibal was not encountered en route, nor was he to be found in his quarters.
Maelgwn tried to reach Gibal via his communicator, but there was no response. Before panicking, Maelgwn reached for the secret PKA locator that Gibal had insisted he carry in case of an emergency. Unfortunately, he discovered that the pouch in his belt that had contained the device was now empty.
‘That’s impossible!’ he cried, beginning to wonder if he was capable of keeping track of anything?
‘Wait a moment …’ Maelgwn focused on Gibal to teleport himself to his side, but again had no success.
Either he’d missed Gibal somewhere along the way and the Lord was now in the lab, or, whomever was in possession of the stolen NERGUZ was using it on Gibal to prevent him from being found via thought projection.
Maelgwn gripped hold of his communicator. Zerrah.
I read you Dragon, Zerrah confirmed. Is there a problem?
Revive your entire security team. Gibal may be missing.
What?
Maelgwn was sprinting towards a transporter when he realised there was an easier way. With no one around to witness the event, he envisioned the inner security doors to the lab and in an etheric instant, found himself there.
What do you mean, may be? Either he is missing or he isn’t! Zerrah demanded answers.
Maelgwn held his palm up to the security plate outside the inner doors to the lab. Once inside the top security area, Maelgwn willed himself to the control deck.
On the other end of the communications link, Zerrah had began to panic. Dragon, answer me!
When Gibal was nowhere within the control deck either, Maelgwn breathed a heavy sigh of remorse for his negligence. Confirm, Gibal is missing.
Just wonderful … this is a flipping nightmare! Zerrah cursed, and then went quiet a moment. So, who is going to dock Mazua?
I shall see to it, Maelgwn advised.
Like you were seeing to Gibal’s safety? Zerrah mocked to make a point. This isn’t just some minuscule fighter craft, you know? Just how much flight experience have you got?
Maelgwn was hardly going to admit to having but a few hours of simulated pilot training. You just concentrate on finding Gibal. Let me worry about the Aten.
You had better be true to your word this time, Dragon. My kin, associates and dearest friends are in your hands. Zerrah signed off.
Maelgwn let go of the communicator. He had no wish to endanger these people, but, as advised by mission control, he had to trust that his mind had been programmed to deal with such situations.
Thus, in blind faith, Maelgwn assumed the hot seat and placed his hands on the PK control plates that were on the end of both the armrests of Gibal’s chair. Although Maelgwn had perused the ship’s instrument boards many times before this, only upon this viewing did he come to understand all the different functions. Now he could make use of the data each readout disclosed. He was concerned to discover, however, that according to this ship’s tracking device, the Aten should have been within sight and yet the huge spacecraft was not registering on any of the other instrumentation. Upon requesting an exterior visual, the visible monitor came to hover before him. On the screen all Maelgwn could see was light-years of deep space and the distant twin suns of the Sirius system.
‘Please Goddess,’ he mumbled to himself as he lowered the headset that would allow him to communicate with craft outside of Mazua. ‘Surely I can’t lose a space station of that size.’ Maelgwn was about to attempt to raise a response from mission control on the Aten, when an exterior craft advised: ‘This is Aten patrol requesting identification of approaching craft. Respond or you will be considered hostile.’
Maelgwn breathed a sigh of relief as he saw two of the Aten’s patrol craft shoot past over the city. ‘Aten patrol. This is Mazua control requesting top security clearance to dock.’
‘Grandpa, is that you?’
Maelgwn grinned broadly as he recognised his grandson’s voice. ‘Confirm that.’
‘Well, holy subspace, Dragon, you do like to make an entrance.’ Cadwell laughed. ‘Hang about, we should have clearance for docking presently.’
‘I’m hanging,’ Maelgwn confirmed. ‘I also request an immediate audience with mission control.’
‘Passing on that request.’
All went silent in Maelgwn’s headset a moment.
‘Dragon command,’ Cadwell responded, finally, ‘mission control wish to know if you have achieved your directive.’
‘I have.’ I hope, Maelgwn thought on the quiet. ‘I must advise, however, that I have a highly volatile situation on board. Until I have briefe
d mission control, I suggest this ship is kept isolated … no one departs, no one boards, except me.’
After another long silence Cadwell advised. ‘Mission control confirms your requests, Dragon. We are guiding you in.’
‘Much obliged, she’s all yours.’ Maelgwn’s headset retracted and he sank into his seat, relieved to no longer be acting alone.
On the invisible screen before him, he witnessed the fabric of space rip open to reveal the Aten nestled in its fold. With the parting of the cloaking shield, all the instrumentation began registering the larger craft it approached. The Aten was guiding the Mazua down beneath itself, where a special docking bay awaited designed specifically to accommodate the mobile city. The pinnacle that rose from Gibal’s central operations building was the point of contact that housed the only corresponding hatchway through to the Aten.
As Maelgwn raised himself from the pilot’s seat to make his way to the top level of the building, Aquilla entered the control deck. ‘I thought I told you to stay with Uriah.’ He was angered by her defiance; with persons unknown loose in the city it wasn’t safe for her to be wandering around on her own.
‘Zerrah said the Lord Gibal has gone missing.’ Aquilla ignored his protest. ‘And as everyone else is in stasis and we are all accounted for at the time of his disappearance, that would seem to imply there is another player in this mystery, someone of the Nefilim persuasion most likely.’
‘Which is exactly why I asked you to stay with Uriah.’ Maelgwn grabbed her by the arm on the way to the exit door. He didn’t have time for this conversation.
‘Just listen to me!’ Aquilla demanded, breaking free. ‘You could be blowing our only chance to catch the guilty party.’
With a heavy sigh, Maelgwn gave her leave to explain. ‘Talk en route.’ He motioned her to walk with him.
‘If you still suspect that Inanna is behind all this, then I don’t think you should question her representatives.’
‘What?’ Maelgwn failed to follow her reasoning.
‘They are here to take delivery of the chariot for Inanna,’ she reminded him.