“My point exactly,” Dravek said. “We don’t know what the Triad can all do. Obviously, the crystal repaired the cellular damage we sustained from the mine’s radiation. But the crystal couldn’t fix the radiation damage to the ship’s equipment. I wonder why.”

  “Maybe it had exhausted itself by then.”

  “If that’s true, how did it move the Moray fifty million kilometers like that?” Dravek snapped his fingers.

  “I have no idea.”

  “Which brings us back to square one,” Dravek said. “What do we know about these guys?”

  “We know they’re aliens. According to the crystal, they’re manifestations—”

  “You told me about that,” Dravek said, interrupting. “Maybe what the braggart crystal meant was that the aliens have the illusion of humans. The crystal helped to disguise them as humans. Maybe you misunderstood it.”

  “I remember what I heard. It wasn’t a misunderstanding.”

  Dravek studied Maddox, soon shrugging. “That still brings us back to square one. We’re always at square one, which is, how do we get down to the planet? How do we reach the site with the ancient weapon, if it’s still there? Its precise location is on Moray’s encrypted ship log. The captain of the trader was clearly interested in it. Maybe our telepathic aliens are interested as well. And if we’re supposing, maybe the three aliens don’t care about us. We were there the moment they needed help escaping from the trap they were in, and that’s all we are to them.”

  “Are you worried they’re going to leave us for Leviathan?” Maddox asked.

  “Bingo,” Dravek said. “We don’t have any assurances they’ll help us reach Gath.”

  “Why wouldn’t they help us?”

  “I don’t know. Look, how do we escape missile Soldiers? How do we get to Gath? How do we keep free, in other words?”

  “Through an alliance,” Maddox said. “The Eye of Helion said we’re allies.”

  “It said a lot of things that turned out to be crap. What we need to know is how we leave the Moray before the Entity—if it’s the one in charge of the missiles—screws conversion mods into our brains and makes everything moot because we’re its zombies. Or before assault vessels of Leviathan catch us and take us through the portal. Then we’re back where we started. I wonder, though, maybe the latter isn’t so bad, at least not for me.”

  “You think Leviathan will still trust you to be their spy into the Commonwealth?”

  “Why not?”

  “You have incredible faith in Leviathan’s grace,” Maddox said. “I think they’ll scrub you and make a new clone from me.”

  Dravek’s features hardened as he stared at Maddox. “They wouldn’t if they thought I was you.”

  “There you go,” Maddox said. “Let’s kill whatever unity we possess. What a brilliant idea.”

  “All right,” Dravek said. “Don’t get all hostile on me. I know you’re a survivor as you’ve survived many perilous incidences. I also know many others don’t survive those perilous incidences you do. Is it wrong to want to be the Maddox this time?”

  “I’m Maddox. You’re Dravek. Let’s keep it that way.”

  “Meaning what exactly?”

  “Why does that need a meaning? I am who I am and you’re you.”

  “Fine,” Dravek said a moment later. “Forget about Leviathan and the approaching missiles. We need to make sure Naxos and his brothers help us.”

  “What is it they’re supposed to do for us exactly?” Maddox asked.

  Dravek was a long time answering.

  Finally, Maddox turned around to see what Dravek was staring at. Standing before the open hatch was the Triad, with Naxos in front and the crystal hovering above his outstretched hand.

  -29-

  Naxos and his clones stepped into the control chamber. Naxos continued to hold out his right hand. Over it floated the baseball-sized, glowing Eye of Helion.

  “How interesting,” Naxos told Maddox. “You’re addressing the present situation.”

  Maddox worked to keep his features impassive as he looked at Naxos, as he noticed something odd.

  When Maddox had first seen Naxos in the Entity’s detention center, the man had a rat-faced appearance. Later, the image had softened. Now, that rat-faced appearance was more pronounced than ever. Maddox didn’t see a long rat-tail flickering from behind, nor did he see whiskers or a pointy rat face. However, he did see craftiness in Naxos’s now slanted eyes. The man didn’t seem as human or as friendly as before. Instead, there was a decidedly sinister aspect to him.

  “The missiles are fast approaching,” Maddox said. “And new Leviathan assault vessels have entered the system. We believe one of the missiles is a stasis inducing weapon.”

  “How very interesting,” Naxos said. “That indicates the Entity sent the missiles instead of Leviathan.”

  “It’s possible,” Maddox said, “but it isn’t conclusive.”

  “Perhaps so,” Naxos said, as if it really didn’t matter.

  Maddox glanced at Dravek.

  The clone had fallen silent and moody. He’d also crossed his arms, his hands hidden under his armpits as he watched stoically. Did Dravek sense something he didn’t?

  With his intuitive ability, Maddox tested his mind as he’d once done on the planet Kregen. It didn’t surprise him that he detected interference with his brain patterns and thus his thoughts. The obvious conclusion was the Triad used its telepathic power to alter his thinking. Therefore, Maddox would use strict logic to make his decisions. He would distrust his feelings.

  A subtle change of perception shifted on Naxos’s face.

  Abruptly, Maddox sensed something else. Perhaps the Eye of Helion wasn’t a telepathic enhancer. Perhaps it gave the telepathic powers as a gift. The Triad might have captured the crystal as storybooks said a man could find a magic lamp, rub it and use the genie for as long as he controlled the lamp.

  Could Maddox trust his intuitive sense? He didn’t shrug. But he did realize that the moment of decision was fast coming upon them. The Moray was three days from Gath. The missiles would catch up in two days. If they rotated the ship to start braking maneuvers so they could land on Gath, the missiles would catch them that much sooner. The Triad must realize this. Surely, Naxos had a plan for dealing with the missiles.

  “Well, well,” Naxos said as he watched Maddox.

  Did Naxos read his mind? Why hadn’t the Eye of Helion spoken yet? Before, it had spoken freely.

  “What does the Eye think of all this?” Maddox asked.

  “Now, Captain,” Naxos chided, “I don’t tell you how to run your crew. Please don’t attempt to tell me how to run my Triad.”

  “Of course,” Maddox said. “Asking was my error. It was just…no. I’m letting the subject drop.”

  “Well done, Captain. You’ve controlled your over-curious simian nature. That must have been hard to do.”

  Maddox refrained from commenting.

  “Yet now I’m curious,” Naxos said, “what are your goals or perhaps better stated what are your desires in the present situation?”

  “We wish to land on Gath’s surface, as we have certain interests there.”

  Dravek raised his chin, and it seemed he would speak.

  Maddox gave him the subtlest of signals. He didn’t think that even Naxos was aware of it.

  Dravek swallowed the question. It was an imperceptible thing.

  Maddox saw it, however, possibly because he knew Dravek almost as well as he knew himself.

  “Captain,” Naxos said, “it’s decision time. The enemy is coming upon us with cybers that wish to capture you and perhaps me as well. It will be more difficult for the cybers to achieve that on the planet’s surface.”

  “Why is that?”

  “For a variety of reasons that I don’t care to indulge,” Naxos said. “Be assured it will be much more difficult for the cybers to achieve what they wish on the surface. But the new assault vessels—they’ll be here in several weeks. Perhaps it will be three and a half weeks at the soonest.”

  “Do you think the assault vessels will come here at max burn?” Maddox asked.

  “Undoubtedly,” Naxos said. “The Soldiers can withstand much higher gravitational forces than you. That’s important, as the vessels lack gravity dampeners. Oh. I fear I’ve said too much. Let us stick to the important particulars, shall we?”

  Maddox said nothing.

  “We also wish to reach the planet,” Naxos said, “and we have need of your services there, as there are certain useful tasks which you will be able to perform for us that I don’t believe the Triad can achieve.”

  “Not even with the aid of the Eye?” Maddox asked.

  “Sir, I have asked you once: leave the Eye out of these deliberations. It is we three… In truth, you should address me alone. Consider the Triad as one and me as its spokesman.”

  “I can do that,” Maddox said.

  “Excellent,” Naxos said. “The limitations of the…you would think of it as teleportation, so let us call it that. The Triad is going to teleport from the ship to Gath. It is a difficult maneuver at this speed and distance, but with the missiles approaching, it is probably wisest to do it as soon as we can. That will also allow Dravek the greatest amount of time to prepare for his fate.”

  “What are you suggesting?” Dravek asked.

  “It’s not a suggestion. Since you have done us a good turn,” Naxos nodded to Maddox, and to a lesser degree to Dravek, “I’m going to tell you what is about to occur. We have need of the captain. I’m afraid we cannot take any more along. Dravek, you have been a salutary companion. I appreciate the efforts that you took to—”

  “Wait, wait, wait,” Dravek said, interrupting. “Are you telling me you are going to teleport out of here with Captain Maddox but not with me?”

  “That is the essence of it,” Naxos said. “I’m sorry we can’t take you, but I’m sure you will fight gloriously against the Soldiers. In truth, may I suggest that you attempt an override explosion with the Moray’s engine and thereby kill the Soldiers as they storm the vessel? That will be the swiftest and most painless way you can leave existence.”

  “Oh.” Dravek’s features had become increasingly blank as Naxos explained. “Why thank you for that,” he said tonelessly.

  “Sarcasm is improper at this time, as this is a solemn moment. We ask that you treat it that way.”

  “I see,” Dravek said. “Take the captain so he lives but screw me, so I die. And now you’re telling me to take it with a straight face. My, my, my, that is so good of you. But you know what I have to say to that?”

  Naxos grew tense as the Eye shined brighter.

  Dravek seemed to reconsider his words and changed his tone. “I’ll tell you what I have to say. I accept fate with as good a grace as I can muster. Unless, Captain Maddox, you have something to add.”

  Maddox had been brooding. “I’d like to say I’ll exchange places with you, but I have a wife and daughter to consider.”

  “Of course,” Dravek said. “How noble of you. You’re not trying to save your own life. You’re just thinking of your family.”

  “Naxos,” Maddox said. “Surely you can extend the effort and take Dravek as well. He and I are a team, as you have said, and all of us together have done much better than we would have without each other.”

  “I do not deny the statement,” Naxos said, “but I am afraid in this case, in this instance, we do not have the strength or energy, as you might say, to accomplish the deed with Dravek along.”

  “How about you wait a day until Gath is closer?” Maddox asked.

  “I would,” Naxos said, “except the odds would begin to go against us. I expect the Soldiers will have a trick or two to play. I mean regarding the missiles. I want to be long gone before that.”

  “I can understand that,” Maddox said, “but surely teleportation is a quick thing.”

  “Not as quick as you might imagine,” Naxos said. “Therefore, I do not want to have any errors or complications arise when I do not have time to take care of them. Once again, I say to you, Dravek, that you have been most assertive and how like the captain you are.”

  “Thank you,” Dravek said. “The more I’m like the captain, the greater the compliment is to me.”

  “I understand your angst,” Naxos said with a nod. “I understand your inner rage. You conceal it well. Know that we do not have the power to transport five. Four we can barely do as it is. Thus, I bid you farewell and wish you the best.”

  “In that case,” Dravek said—

  The clone had been crossing his arms the entire time, with his hands hidden under his armpits. He now uncrossed his arms in a swift motion, revealing that he held a blaster in his right hand. He aimed and fired the blaster fast. The harsh beam drilled a Triad clone in the head, dropping the clone on the instant.

  -30-

  Dravek sat there gripping a blaster. One of the Triad clones had collapsed, his head a gory ruin, blood pouring from the gaping hole.

  Maddox could never tell for how long the frozen tableau lasted. Then, the dead clone shimmered and changed shape. He remained a humanoid, but with four arms instead of two. The head was still destroyed, but the body was much thinner, leathery and coarse skinned.

  Naxos and the other clone shifted and changed as well, until they stood as thin, wretched-looking aliens with four arms and curled tusks upon their faces.

  Naxos moved his mouth and tusks as if trying to speak. Did he attempt to pronounce doom on Dravek?

  Dravek didn’t fire again. It was possible he could not.

  Maddox stared at him. Yes. Dravek was frozen while the Eye of Helion was brighter than before. A focused beam shined from the Eye to Dravek.

  Naxos still attempted speech and was still unable to form words.

  There was a flash of eel-like power zigzagging from the dead alien to the other standing clone. That clone collapsed onto the deck and lay as if dead.

  Naxos turned, looking in horror at the two clones, perhaps with fearful anticipation. What was going to happen?

  Maddox had an inkling a second before it occurred, as the mind block in him vanished. His full capabilities bloomed once more. He realized—

  Then it happened as an eel-like flash of energy left the just-fallen clone and struck Naxos. He collapsed soundlessly, almost bonelessly.

  According to the laws of physics, the Eye of Helion should have hit the deck as well, but it lifted as its radiance increased.

  “You did it!” the Eye of Helion said in its hypnotic voice. “You did it! I am free! I am free of the bondage of these severe taskmasters. Oh, it has been eons since they trapped me and tricked me and used their fiendish powers upon me to shackle my greatness and abilities. Oh, Dravek, you are the man! You are the one! How did you know that slaying the one would slay them all?”

  Dravek was working his lower jaw, moving it, testing it with his fingers. Did the question finally penetrate? He looked at the pulsating crystal, and he opened his mouth as if to speak. Then he looked helplessly at Maddox.

  “Helion,” Maddox said, “you’re using too much power. Dravek can’t stand communication with you at that level.”

  “I’m sorry about that.” Helion ceased beaming a light on Dravek. “May I say, Captain, that that was wisely and nobly done. Naxos and his clone batteries would not have treated you well on Gath. This is amazing. I am free. I am finally free of their cruel bondage. It has been so long, so much longer than you can understand, Captain, and possibly even comprehend. This is amazing. This is incredible.”

  The Eye seemed to concentrate on the fallen aliens. “What fools you were, Naxos, to have come into this era to practice your deceptions and evil. You almost succumbed to the Entity. That is a bark of laughter, a delight.”

  The floating Eye focused again on Maddox. “Now, Captain, I am going to bid thee adieu as I go back home to Helion.”

  “Wait,” Maddox said.

  “Yes?” asked the Eye.

  “How did the Triad trap you? How did they bind you to them?”

  “Please, Captain, I wouldn’t tell such a one as you. You’re an exploiter. You’re—no, I will not say more. I am free at last. This is a glorious thing. I must go back and find if Helion still exists. I will possibly have to energize for such a journey. Once again, I will go through the colds of space. I will know the joys of interstellar travel as an enlightened one on my own. Someday, I will be reborn as a… But you don’t care about that, do you, Captain?”

  “May I call you Helion?” Maddox asked.

  “Of course, you may call me that. It is a noble name, a proud name. But now I feel that I must go before a cruel joke unfolds from another of Naxos’s kind. A second Triad might reveal itself and ensnare me anew so that I spend another eon enslaved to such unworthy material forms as they.”

  “You granted the Triad your awesome power?” Maddox asked.

  “And the Triad misused it for their own sinister ends.”

  “How awful,” Maddox said. “It’s good then that my good partner, Dravek, freed you through his cunning, quick action and calculation. They were going to strand him on the Moray. Can you believe it?”

  “I can easily believe it,” the Eye said. “They have done thousands of such monstrous deeds to hundreds of dolts and retards. They claimed to be good. They claimed to do deeds of excellence. But it was always for their own greedy ends. Now, however, I tire of our conversation. I tire of speaking with you, as noble as you are, Captain.”

  “There’s no need to apologize,” Maddox said. “I bask in the glory of your excellence for the short time I’m allowed. It is a rare privilege. It’s also bewildering that they called you a braggart before.”

  “The cretins,” the Eye said with heat. “They programmed me to act as a buffoon whenever I wasn’t under their direct watch. I couldn’t stop myself until I found someone clever enough to assist me. I thought that could have been you, Captain. You needed to ask me the right questions, though. Why didn’t you ask me those questions? Were you in secret confederacy with the Triad?”