“If you’re wrong,” Maddox said, “our return might anger Omegan, as it said never to return. It might send up many motes this time and put us all to sleep for good.”

  “I’ve thought of that of course,” Ludendorff said. “I’d need to make a few adjustments to the ship’s shield. With those adjustments, the mote or motes wouldn’t be able to pass through.”

  “What type of energy was the mote?” Galyan asked. “Do you even know?”

  “Not yet,” Ludendorff said. “We’ll have to review your sensors more closely. Run these computations for me.” Ludendorff gave precise instructions to Galyan. Galyan ran holographic equations before Ludendorff.

  Ludendorff studied them closely and began to nod. “I’d call this electroluminogenic light or energy. It’s far off in the spectrum. But given what the mote did and what the sensors are telling me, that was the type of energy used. Once I fix the shield generators, such electroluminogenic energy will fail to pass through. Such a shield should also stop any telepathic thought, which might be critical to the rest of us.”

  Maddox studied Ludendorff as he might a new alien. “Electroluminogenic energy, new shield processors and this teleport device—how in the world are you coming up with all this now?”

  “Obviously, my Builder inheritance is coming to the fore,” Ludendorff said. “Do you remember when I built the weapon you used against the Ska in the Alpha Centauri System?”

  “When the Ska went into one of the system stars and caused it to explode?” Maddox asked.

  “Precisely,” Ludendorff said. “I believe such has happened again in me. My time on the Ruby Planet raking and receiving whatever rays came from the scooper might have triggered this function in my brain.”

  Maddox scowled. “That works against your theory. You’ve said the Builders are causing all this because they want to empty the spiral arms of intelligent life so they can reseed it with themselves. Why would your Builder-trained memory help you against them then?”

  Ludendorff held up an admonitory finger. “I worked for a minority sect among the Builders. Like humanity, Builders were divided amongst themselves. There was the majority thought and a minority, actually several minority sects. The minority in total but the majority in the Orion Arm, were the Builders most likely to help humanity.”

  “Why haven’t you told us this before?” Maddox asked.

  “It never was germane to the issue,” Ludendorff said. “For us—I mean humanity as a whole—the Builders have been benevolent. There is another, larger faction of Builders with different agendas. I have begun to suspect that the Spacers and Leviathan belong to this different, former majority Builder sect.”

  Maddox snorted. “This all sounds like tenuous gobbledygook to me.”

  “Our entire mission is tenuous,” Ludendorff declared. “The idea the Supreme Intelligence should find these things in the Aquila Rift with sensors and ancient sentinels is hard to swallow. Think of the distances in terms of light years to the Library Planet from here. Is it reasonable the Supreme Intelligence suddenly knew all these things and should send you to precisely the right place?”

  “That does seem odd,” Maddox admitted.

  “So then, I suggest we return to Omegan and see if anything I’ve suspected is correct. Furthermore, I suggest we return to the Ruby Planet. I believe the real answers lie there.”

  “Reaching the Ruby Planet would take Omegan’s help,” Maddox said. “The giant computer would have to make a portal for us to there. What if Omegan refuses to help us?”

  “Captain, please, I’m used to dealing with Builder artifacts. I know how to coerce it.”

  “Omegan still might be a Precursor,” Maddox said. “You haven’t shown me anything to change my mind about that.”

  “Have I shown you enough to make the attempt to return there?” Ludendorff asked.

  “The Ruby Planet has a coercive array or mind working against everyone there,” Maddox said. “I resisted that. Are you suggesting I go there alone?”

  “Certainly not,” Ludendorff said. “Now that we know there is a coercive array, we know something else. Telepathy likely was at the root of that. I have a solution. I will fashion similar headbands for us as those we used once against the telepathic Liss and Captain Becker.”

  “Could it have been something other than telepathy at work on the Ruby Planet?” Maddox asked.

  “Doubtful,” Ludendorff said.

  “Does that make Omegan telepathic?”

  “Because of what the mote did on Victory to us?” asked Ludendorff.

  Maddox nodded.

  “Yes, I should think so.”

  “Tell me how a machine can be telepathic,” Maddox said.

  “Perhaps the same way the computers on the Planet Kregen were telepathic.”

  “By using Yon Soth brain pieces?” asked Maddox.

  “That was a grisly and vile method, but that was the thrust of it,” Ludendorff said. “I think much of what we’re dealing with could be Yon Soth in origin.”

  Maddox scowled. “Why would the Yon Soths want to bring back the Builders?”

  “I don’t think the Yon Soths do,” Ludendorff said. “They’re using Builder artifacts, Builder machines and Builder sentinels to start a war between those who can resist the Yon Soths—us and Leviathan.”

  “You’re making my head hurt, Professor. Your ideas don’t hold together in one piece.”

  Ludendorff gave Maddox a bleak look. “That may be, but I know we must go back to the rogue planet. We’re in a trap. This is the only way to escape it. That much I do know, but it seems I cannot prove it to you.”

  Maddox massaged his forehead. Could Ludendorff have stumbled upon the answer? He had built a teleport device. The dreams seemed to have prodded that.

  “What do you think I found upon the sunken saucer ship in the water world?” Maddox asked. “To be precise, what does that stellar map lead to?”

  “I’m not sure,” Ludendorff said. “That seemed like an odd way to give you information. Perhaps Omegan did it that way to dull your suspicions. All I really know is that my dreams point the way. For once, I have had the strange dreams, not you.”

  “You’ve given me a lot to consider,” Maddox said.

  “Is that a brush-off, my boy?”

  “No,” Maddox said. “It means I really need to think about this.”

  -43-

  In the end, Maddox tested his intuitive sense on the idea of returning. Ludendorff felt something off about Omegan. So far, Ludendorff hadn’t been able to articulate the reason completely. Yet, the Methuselah Man had developed a local teleport device and he had changed something in Galyan’s AI core. That had shown the alien mote coming aboard Victory earlier. Maddox didn’t like anyone coming onto his ship and tricking them to do a thing. Now, Ludendorff had named this new electroluminogenic energy and could change the shield to block it and telepathic rays.

  That was enough evidence in Maddox’s book to give his crazier idea a look-see. Builder factions, Yon Soth brain pieces and a lying, non-Precursor cube—those were all possibilities. Added to the Supreme Intelligence learning about the Aquila Rift and Seekers in so tenuous a manner…

  Victory turned around, heading back toward the rogue planet.

  The starship came in slowly to the region where the rogue planet should be. The starship used its passive sensors almost delicately.

  The ship’s astrogators had used dead reckoning, taking into account the previous location of the rogue planet, its speed, and the density of the surrounding molecular clouds and gases.

  They made another star drive jump, and then one more.

  “According to the astrogators,” Keith said, as he came out of jump lag, “the rogue planet should be three million kilometers dead ahead of us.”

  The bridge personnel were at their stations. Maddox sat in the captain’s chair.

  “Sir,” Andros said, beating Galyan to the punch, “I have detected a ship.”

  “What kind of ship?” Maddox asked.

  Now, Galyan spoke up, “I am sorry, Andros. I, too, have detected it. It is an assault vessel of Leviathan, sir. There is not just one, but five of them.”

  “Five? No, you are incorrect,” Andros said. “There are three. Two of them are ghost images.”

  “I do not think that is correct,” Galyan said, his eyelids fluttering. “Oh, I see that I am wrong, Andros, and you are correct. You made a more careful reading of the sensors. I took at face value all that I saw. I have failed in this endeavor.”

  “Hardly failed,” Meta said, from the comm station. “You saw five, but there are three. That’s better than seeing nothing.”

  “Yes,” Galyan said, “but Andros saw them first. Perhaps he was watching more keenly than I.”

  “I do not see how that could be the case,” Andros said, hiding a grin behind a pudgy hand.

  Galyan saw that. “How could you see faster than me?”

  “That’s a secret for now,” Andros said. “I’m going to keep it until you figure it out.”

  “Are you trying to distress me?” Galyan asked.

  “Not at all,” Andros said.

  The Chief Technician and Ludendorff exchanged the tiniest of glances. This time, Galyan did not notice.

  Instead, Galyan turned to Maddox, “There are three attack vessels of Leviathan, sir. They are approaching or may already be in orbit around the rogue planet, although I have not yet detected the planet.”

  Maddox stood. “Ready the disruptor cannon and approach with extreme caution.”

  “Aye, aye, sir,” Keith said, as he manipulated his board.

  Victory used its present velocity to approach.

  “I have detected the actual planet, sir,” Andros said. “According to the mass detector, it is the rogue planet, exactly where it should be.”

  “Thank you,” Maddox said.

  “You did it again,” Galyan said. “You detected the planet before I did. I must know how you are doing this.”

  “Quiet, Galyan,” Maddox said. “We’re in attack mode.”

  “Yes, sir,” Galyan said, hanging his head.

  Maddox studied the main screen. He did not see three attack vessels of Leviathan on it, but he knew their dimensions and tonnage. Each was each much smaller than Victory. He saw the misty molecular clouds in lieu of anything else.

  Did the three assault vessels indicate a greater number of Leviathan warships nearby in hiding? He didn’t order any launched probes. He certainly didn’t launch the Tarrypin.

  Instead, Maddox waited as Victory closed upon the rogue planet. The misty darkness did not change. The starship’s screens were up just in case.

  Then, the outline of the rogue planet appeared on the screen, accompanied by small red shapes indicating the three assault vessels in an equatorial orbit.

  What were the Leviathan craft doing around the rogue planet? Their presence was telling, as far as Maddox was concerned. To the captain’s mind, it gave Ludendorff’s ideas credibility. He would operate on the assumption that Ludendorff was correct about all this.

  “Sir,” Meta said, “we’re being hailed from one of the attack vessels.”

  “Don’t answer,” Maddox said.

  Meta nodded, though she did put one of her hands against her ear, listening to the earbud.

  “Are we pretending to be a ghost, sir?”

  Maddox turned to Galyan.

  “I’m sorry, sir. I should not have asked that. I will say nothing until asked myself.”

  Maddox nodded sharply. Then, he considered the AI’s morale. Andros had been besting Galyan several times today. “It’s all right, Galyan. I appreciate your interest in tactics.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Galyan said.

  “The hails have increased,” Meta said. “All three assault vessels are hailing us.”

  “Is the disruptor cannon ready for firing?” Maddox asked.

  “Aye, sir,” Keith said.

  “Lock on to the nearest target,” Maddox said.

  “When are you going to start your deception campaign?” Galyan said.

  “Not now, Galyan,” Maddox said. “Let me think.”

  Maddox watched the main screen as the rogue planet and assault vessels become clearer. There did not seem to be other Leviathan warships around.

  “Fire and destroy the first assault vessel,” Maddox said. “As soon as you’ve destroyed it, start on the next, and after you’ve done that, the next one after that.”

  Keith pressed controls on his board.

  The antimatter engine worked harder, causing greater vibration on the deck. Then, a yellow disruptor beam lanced from Victory. It smashed against the shield of the nearest assault vessel. Almost instantly, the shield went down. The disruptor beam smashed against the ship armor, boring into it. Seconds later, the assault vessel exploded.

  The disruptor beam retargeted, centering on the next assault vessel. It, too, ignited in moments, blowing apart.

  “The last assault vessel is fleeing,” Keith said, even as he manipulated his board. “Shall I fire?”

  “Yes,” Maddox said.

  Victory increased velocity, chasing the last assault vessel, unless there were more nearby. Then this one would not be the last. The beam struck, and in moments, the third assault vessel of Leviathan exploded as its antimatter engines ignited.

  The EMPs, heat and debris struck Victory’s shield, but didn’t penetrate.

  “Watch for other enemy vessels,” Maddox said. “The instant something appears, attack it relentlessly. We must destroy every vestige of Leviathan from around the rogue planet.”

  Several bridge members glanced at Maddox. None questioned him, though.

  It was a harsh order, but Maddox didn’t want to give any Leviathan ship the chance to send viruses against the starship’s computers.

  “Sir, there is another hail,” Meta said.

  “From what direction?” asked Maddox.

  “From the planet,” Meta said. “Omegan wants to speak to you.”

  Maddox debated that. He soon composed himself. “Yes, put Omegan on the main screen.”

  -44-

  “Captain Maddox,” Omegan said. The giant cube showed one pulsating, swirling-color side on the main screen.

  Maddox instructed Meta to dim the colors on the main screen.

  “I heard that,” Omegan said. “Do you think I’m trying a subterfuge assault upon your minds, using visual cues?”

  Maddox debated several seconds on the correct approach with Omegan. So far, Ludendorff had been right about all this. Finally, “Let me be blunt. I distrust everything you told me earlier. Thus, yes, I suspect your actions.”

  “What a preposterous thing to say to me,” Omegan replied. “I spoke to you in confidence, truthfully and honestly. I wish for your goodwill.”

  “I know about your mote,” Maddox said. “That you sent it from the planet and that it roamed throughout my ship, touching our foreheads.”

  “Certainly I sent my mote up and it brought you down, in a manner of speaking. That was only in order to determine if you were worthy of the great prize.”

  “Uh-huh,” Maddox said. “That’s what you told me. Maybe you had other reasons.”

  “Captain Maddox, you surprise me. Have you been to the planet then, the one shown on the stellar map of the sunken saucer ship?”

  “Surely you understand we couldn’t have reached it and returned here in the time that has passed.”

  “I do realize,” Omegan said. “I was merely curious whether you were going to be truthful or not. I wonder over this new belligerent manner. It seems odd. It is not in keeping with how you dealt with foes in the past. Why take such a stance with me, Captain? Why not attempt to earn my goodwill or at least treat me respectfully?”

  Maddox kept his composure, asking, “What were the three assault vessels of Leviathan doing here?”

  “Why,” Omegan said, “you would have to ask them. But oh, I’m sorry, you can’t ask them as you destroyed them without qualm or mercy. You would not even listen to what they had to say. I find that barbaric, Captain.”

  “Ain’t it just,” Maddox said.

  The colors swirled faster on the showing side of the giant cube. “I do not understand this belligerence. What could I have possibly done to upset you? Does this have anything to do with Professor Ludendorff?”

  “Why would you think so?”

  “He is a Methuselah Man, a Builder protégé. I could have turned him into an imbecile while he was down here, but I did not. I suffered his desperate thinking even while he was under the influence of the—I forgot. You hadn’t learned that part.”

  “Have you switched gears?” asked Maddox. “Are you attempting to goad me into saying things I shouldn’t? If so, it won’t work.”

  “It might.”

  “Let’s get down to it,” Maddox said. “I destroyed the assault vessels because I think you’re trying to make our two empires fight each other.”

  “That makes no sense. In order to stop this from happening, you destroyed the Leviathan vessels without mercy?”

  “It is only an apparent contradiction,” Maddox said. “I suspect they were your keepers, or possibly messengers. I don’t know.”

  “Come now, Captain. You’re being ridiculous and giving me irrational statements. I’ve already told you I’m a machine of an ancient Precursor.”

  “Enough,” Maddox said, “I don’t want to hear bullshit because that’s what it is. You and I both know it.”

  “What a quaint phrase that is,” Omegan said. “Why would this sort of manure be worse than any other?”

  “There you go,” Maddox said, “trying to change the subject. Cube, I’ve considered launching antimatter missiles at you. But you may be able use the Yon Soth portals just enough so the missiles will appear elsewhere. Instead, I’ll use the disruptor cannon to beam you until you’re annihilated.”

  “In that case, my lonely vigil will end. I will have ceased existence due to a Builder child, an arrogant and violent one. But maybe violence is the answer. Maybe we should be violent when problems arise. Maybe that is the best way. Thought, culture and reason are mere child’s toys. The real way is to use your fist and smash someone in the face. Is that not your way, Captain?”