Batrun nodded. “You are curious, I understand. You are an intelligent creature. I am Batrun, and I have come to warn and aid you against the Jotuns and…” The synthetic stopped talking.

  Maddox shifted his stance. The power pack was heavier than he’d realized before putting it on. The straps were beginning to dig into his shoulders.

  “How did the first Jotuns get hold of the first androids?” Maddox asked. “If they’re Jovian-based life—”

  “Yes!” Batrun said, interrupting. “That is an intriguing question. I, too, wish to know that. Who are these Jotun agents? They cannot be Jotuns themselves, as they would have to exist in huge and heavy containment boxes to move among us. It is an intriguing dilemma, is it not?”

  “You’ve never seen a Jotun?”

  “No.”

  “How do you know they exist then?”

  Batrun said nothing for several seconds, until he said in a loud voice, “Turn off the magnets, Captain. Either shoot me and die yourself, or release me. I am tired of being attached to the deck plates.”

  Maddox fingered the firing rod. Should he attempt to destroy the…synthetic? Was the thing bluffing about being a bomb?

  “Was the marine android a plant?” Maddox asked.

  “Of course,” Batrun said.

  “No. Was the marine android your plant?”

  “…Yes,” Batrun said.

  Maddox raised the firing rod.

  “A moment,” Batrun said. “The marine was a Rull Nation android first altered by Jotun agents. Ludendorff must have found the neuron-shifter inside its chassis. I captured the android and made some minor adjustments to it. I then used the android in a crude and hurried attempt to force you to trust me. I should have realized that you and your crew have become supremely paranoid concerning androids. It is a reasonable response given your previous stimuli to them. Know, however, that I can undo what the android did to your brain.”

  “What did it do?”

  “Made a minor adjustment regarding anger triggers,” Batrun said. “Have you found yourself becoming more easily angered?”

  “How many Batrun models are there?”

  “I will not tell you.”

  Maddox nodded. At least that was an honest answer. “I bet there are only a handful of you. That’s why you’re here. The truth is that you need Victory more than we need you.”

  “How did you reach that conclusion?” Batrun asked, sounding intrigued.

  “First, it fits android behavior.”

  “I told you. I am a synthetic, not exactly an android as you conceive of them.”

  “A rose by any other name is still a rose.”

  “I could deem that an insult.”

  Maddox shrugged.

  “Are you attempting to anger me?”

  “If you’re an android, that should be impossible.”

  “I see,” Batrun said. “Perhaps it is time to rearrange the parameters of our situation.” He quit talking as his eyes shifted back and forth within his sockets.

  Abruptly, the hum ceased from the floor. As if rising from bed, the synthetic climbed off the deck plates that had been holding him down, as they were no longer magnetized.

  Maddox raised the firing rod and pressed the firing switch, but nothing happened.

  “Why attempt to kill me now?” Batrun asked.

  Maddox pressed the firing switch again.

  “The unit is broken,” Batrun said. “It will not respond as designed.”

  “Is this a takeover attempt?” Maddox asked.

  “Of course not,” the synthetic said. “I have spoken the truth as I said I would. I am not here to coerce you or your crew or ship. You should know that I am much more powerful than the usual run of android. I am the latest model and therefore the most versatile and prevailing. I am not a Builder. I do not, as such, seek the Builders. I would like to move all the androids out of Human Space. To do that, I believe aiding Star Watch in defeating the Jotuns would be in my best interest.”

  “I’m not hunting the Jotuns just now,” Maddox said. “I’m going to look for Lord Drakos and try to figure out what he did or is doing in the Vega Sector.”

  Batrun stood utterly still, no doubt processing the information, finally nodding. “That is acceptable for now. Yes. If you will permit me, Captain, I would like to join you.”

  “And if I say no?” Maddox asked.

  “Then I shall leave and never return.”

  Maddox nodded slowly. “If you will agree to leave when I say so, I’ll let you stay for now. And, if you agree to continue to tell us the truth and nothing but the truth.”

  “So help me God,” Batrun said.

  Maddox wasn’t sure this was the right choice, but it looked like they were going to work with an android—or a synthetic—one more time.

  -34-

  Lieutenant Noonan plotted a course to the Vega System and Keith Maker piloted the starship to the first Laumer Point.

  Victory left behind the exotic hauler hidden inside the gassy innards of Jupiter as a Star Watch fleet orbited the giant planet. So far, there hadn’t been any hint of the hauler attempting to escape or to communicate with Star Watch, or anyone else, for that matter.

  Just how long could the hauler stay hidden down there?

  “Do you have any idea?” Maddox asked Batrun.

  The synthetic sat in a lounge chair as Maddox and Ludendorff faced him in comfortable chairs of their own. They were in an observation area, with screens showing the stars from within the Alpha Centauri System.

  This was the first jump of many to reach Vega II. This was also the first time Maddox had been in the Alpha Centauri System since he’d killed everyone here by sending a Ska into the Alpha Centauri “A” star.

  It had been two days since the confrontation in the brig cell. Before leaving the Solar System, Maddox had sent a message to Stokes concerning all he’d learned about the Jotuns. Since then, Ludendorff had hooked up the thumbtack-shaped device to the ship’s most advanced computer. As Galyan observed and listened, Batrun explained to the professor how to activate and use the mind-altering device.

  Both Batrun and Galyan had watched as Ludendorff delicately used the device to reverse the process in Maddox’s mind.

  An hour later, the captain had climbed off a brain scanner. The professor had shown him several charts so that Maddox could see for himself that his brain patterns were back to normal.

  Batrun, Ludendorff and Maddox presently sat in the lounge area as the synthetic processed the captain’s question.

  “No,” Batrun finally said. “I do not know how long the hauler can exist so deeply in the Jovian atmosphere. I would expect weeks, perhaps even months.”

  Ludendorff and Maddox both questioned Batrun further about the Jotuns. As he’d previously stated, the Watchers had never met one or one of their primary terrestrial-moving agents. However, Batrun had detected energy spikes in several Jovian planets in systems just outside the Commonwealth. None of the synthetics had ever detected such readings in any gas giant inside the Commonwealth.

  “That’s something,” Maddox said.

  Batrun shook his head. “We Watchers have nothing like Star Watch’s resources and have thus only cataloged a small number of star systems.”

  “How have you deduced the Jotuns then?” Maddox asked.

  Batrun looked away.

  Maddox and Ludendorff exchanged glances.

  “I will tell you,” the synthetic said shortly. “The knowledge comes from long ago before we left the Builder base. The Builder informed us of them and showed us certain schematics. He warned us that eventually the Jotuns would colonize Jovian worlds in star systems where humans lived.”

  “When did you learn this?” Ludendorff asked.

  “A little less than five hundred of your years ago,” Batrun said.

  “Before the beginning of our Space Age?” asked Maddox.

  “Yes,” Batrun said.

  “So that would be before humans colonized any new star systems,” Maddox said.

  “You should not be amazed,” Batrun said. “Given his vast knowledge and exceptional intelligence, the Builder was good at extrapolating future events.”

  “What else did the Builder say about the Jotuns?” Ludendorff asked.

  Batrun shook his head. “Now is not the time to dwell on them. Now, you must focus on capturing Lord Drakos the Hardliner Chief.”

  Once more, Maddox and Ludendorff exchanged glances.

  The professor cleared his throat. “We don’t operate that way, Batrun. We need more data to make informed decisions. You can’t expect us to trust you yet. I thought the captain had already established that with you.”

  Batrun seemed to process. “You make cogent points, Professor.” The synthetic eyed the captain. “I believe you enjoy poker analogies. You want me to put my cards on the table. Perhaps this is the right moment to do so.”

  “Galyan,” Maddox said.

  The little Adok holoimage appeared.

  “This is a show of good faith on my part,” Maddox told Batrun. “Galyan is going to record what you say. He could have done so without your knowledge, but I want you to know what we’re doing.”

  Batrun almost seemed amused. “My cards are this: a little more than eight months ago, we detected strange emanations from a planetary system in what you term as the Beyond.”

  “You already told us that,” Ludendorff said.

  “I did,” Batrun agreed. “Now, I am going to give more details. You know the world in question, having named it, the Forbidden Planet.”

  Maddox straightened in alarm.

  Ludendorff became pensive.

  “What kind of emanations?” Maddox asked.

  “I perceive that you already know,” Batrun said. “I will state that we have detected similar emanations before. Those came from a nexus in the Sagittarius Spiral Arm.”

  “Do you mean from the primal Yon-Soth?” Maddox asked sharply.

  Batrun nodded.

  “The emanations—”

  “Captain,” Batrun said. “Allow me to elaborate. I said these were similar emanations. We Watchers know the Yon-Soths exist, but we know little about them in particular. Naturally, we were more than curious after your success in the Sagittarius Arm nexuses.”

  “Wait,” Maddox said. “How can you know so much? It’s too much. Do you have spies in Star Watch Intelligence?”

  “Of course,” Batrun said. “They have been there since the beginning. But you must not alarm yourself, Captain. We Watchers have never been hostile to humans. We have observed and nothing more—until now.”

  “Yet, you’ve infiltrated Star Watch—”

  “Captain,” Batrun said. “We have been around since the beginning. We know far more than you realize. Our time is ending, however. We desire to take the androids—all the androids—and lead them to planets far from here. That is why I have made myself known to you. Do you not realize that we could have remained hidden much longer than this?”

  “Why show yourselves now?”

  “Because of the emanations from the Forbidden Planet,” Batrun said. “I see that you do not understand.” The synthetic looked away and actually frowned.

  “Is the Forbidden Planet Yon-Soth dead?” Maddox asked.

  Batrun regarded him. “I do not know, although I suspect so.”

  “Why?” asked Ludendorff.

  “An astute question,” Batrun said. “For the simple reason that the emanations abruptly stopped broadcasting. I might add that that meant they were not fully effective, at least, certainly not against us.”

  “Yes?” Ludendorff asked, his eyes gleaming.

  Batrun put his hands on his knees. “You are a Methuselah Man, Professor. You are a creature of the Builders, as am I. You must understand certain realities that the captain doesn’t yet comprehend.”

  “You can explain these realities to me,” Maddox said.

  “I am attempting to do just that.”

  “No,” Maddox said, “you keep trying to couch things. Why not speak plainly?”

  “Yes! You are right. It is time for plain talk.” The synthetic sat still for several seconds before looking fully upon Maddox. “Part of this is conjecture on our part, part of it is logical deduction. First, know that we are fewer in number than you suspect, less than fifty, in fact. We have lost several members throughout the centuries. We are observers as I have said. We came from a different Builder than the ones you have known. Our…purposes were different from the androids. We were watchers, catalogers and repositories of data for the day when the Builders returned.”

  “When is that?” Ludendorff demanded.

  Batrun appeared troubled. “A majority of us believe never. The era of the Builders is over. Of course, we are not omnipotent or omnipresent. We could be wrong, but I do not think we are. The Builders dwindled and have almost died out. The drive toward action has fled them, or almost all of them.”

  Batrun shook his head. “That means our purpose has become useless. We were supposed to report to them all that had happened in their absence. But if the Builders never return, who will we report to? Do you not see our dilemma?”

  “I do,” Galyan said. “It is sad. I have empathy for you and your dire situation.”

  A wan smile appeared on Batrun’s face. “I appreciate that, Driving Force Galyan. You have found new purpose by attaching yourself to Captain Maddox’s service.”

  “It is so,” Galyan agreed.

  “That is what we are attempting to do,” Batrun said. “Oh, we will not attach ourselves to Captain Maddox, but we are seeking a new purpose just as you once did.”

  The Adok holoimage’s eyelids fluttered and then stopped. “This is interesting. The emanations appear to have brought you a bitter truth: that you lacked true purpose because the Builders will not return to demand an accounting. That set you adrift.”

  “Yes,” Batrun said. “That is well reasoned and even more, it is accurate.”

  “Wait,” Maddox asked. “The Yon-Soth emanations did this to you?”

  “Ironically,” Batrun said, “they were synthetic emanations.”

  “I don’t understand,” Maddox said.

  “I hate to admit it,” Ludendorff said, “but neither do I.”

  “The captain and the professor are biological,” Galyan told Batrun. “Their outlook is biologically based. Thus, what you are saying is not as obvious to them as it is to me.”

  “It should be obvious to anyone of intelligence,” Batrun said. “We had our programming: to watch, record and never interfere in the works of man. We saw deeply and understood consequences, and we marveled how Captain Maddox repeatedly changed the course of destiny, as you humans say. Then…”

  Batrun regarded Ludendorff, Maddox and Galyan in turn. “The primal Yon-Soth died on the Sagittarius Arm nexus. His nightmare plot of using the naïve Spacers failed in the end. The first of the Yon-Soths used biologically produced emanations beyond the ability of most of see or record, although all could feel the repercussions of them.

  “The machine-produced emanations coming from the Forbidden Planet were similar to those but also different. One important difference was their hastiness. That was another reason we believe that the Yon-Soth died there. He acted in haste, which is against the nature of the Yon-Soths. That would imply that he knew his end was near.”

  “After the space battle, Fletcher ordered an asteroid bombardment of the Forbidden Planet,” Maddox said. “The admiral had orders to destroy everything.”

  “That is highly classified information,” Batrun said. “I am surprised that you are privy to it.”

  Maddox said nothing.

  “Even so,” Batrun said, “your statement is accurate. The Old One used machine-created emanations…” The synthetic paused and shrugged. “This is also a guess, a deduction on our part. We have a few incredible machines that originally the Builders never intended that we use. They are Builder machines of immense complexity and delicacy. It took us over a hundred years to learn how to use them correctly. In any case, these machines were able to record the EQE7 wave-rays that the Yon-Soth targeted on several varied groups.”

  “The Watchers for one,” Ludendorff said.

  “Yes…” Batrun said slowly. “We were one of the primary targets for the wave-rays. The rays would induce hallucinations meant to drive the receptors in certain calculable directions. In our case, the rays were meant to change us so we would no longer watch, but actively destroy our quarry.”

  “Humanity,” Maddox said.

  “Exactly,” Batrun replied. “A few synthetics actually began the processes—you must understand that we made a horrible choice at that point. We destroyed those synthetics, destroyed fellow Watchers of many centuries. It was painful for us to do.”

  Ludendorff clapped his hands. “I understand,” the Methuselah Man said in what sounded like glee. “The EQE7 rays disrupted your old programming. That is what allowed you to make a new choice.”

  Batrun eyed Ludendorff. “That is a keen guess, Professor.”

  Ludendorff shook his head. “No guess, sir, but educated deduction. I am the smartest man in Human Space, after all.”

  “No,” Batrun said, “Strand is.”

  “Bah!” Ludendorff said, swiping a hand through the air. “That’s a preposterous statement. Look at the two of us. He’s imprisoned. I’m free. How could he possibly be smarter than me?”

  “I am not here to debate the issue,” Batrun said. “I am here to help you. Our guess is that the Yon-Soth recognized his limitations. He attempted to turn certain entities against humanity because he knew that his plan would need highly intelligent beings to implement it. That meant he needed to suborn the smartest beings in Human Space.”

  “You?” scoffed Ludendorff.

  “Precisely,” Batrun said, “I and my brethren.”

  “Yet…you told us that you broke the Yon-Soth’s spell,” Maddox said.

  “Ah,” Batrun said. “That is an apt metaphor, a spell.”

  “Who else did the emanations strike?” Maddox asked.

  “Certain Jotuns, for one,” Batrun said. “I suspect Lord Drakos, for another and possibly one other group. We detected four major concentrations of wave-rays. We do not yet know the nature of the last, the fourth group.”