Dragon and Liberator

The Number Two weapons bay is around the next corner to the left, Draycos warned. The Death weapon is mounted in the bay's auxiliary control room.

Any idea how many Valahgua might be aboard?

There will be at least nine, Draycos said. A Death weapon requires one operator and one controller, There will also be a Lordover in command aboard this ship, plus a Lordhighest in overall command, probably on the Advocatus Diaboli with Neverlin and Frost.

How good are they at hand-to-hand fighting?

Adequate, Draycos said. But the K'da and Shontine are far better. It is only the Death that gives the Valahgua their advantage.

Ah. Though at nine-to-one odds, Jack noted privately, the Valahgua didn't have to be particularly good to still win out in a straight-up, toe-to-claw fight. He and Draycos would have to make sure that didn't happen.

He rounded the final corner and found himself facing an orange-rimmed door fifteen feet away, flanked by a pair of armed Brummgas. That's it? Jack asked.

That's it, Draycos confirmed. You'll need to bring me as close as you can.

Easy, Jack cautioned as he strode toward the guards. To his eye, the Brummgas didn't look particularly alert. Certainly not as alert as someone guarding the ultimate weapon ought to look.

In fact, come to think of it, they looked bored and even a bit resentful.

Small wonder. Here in the middle of a ship populated entirely by their friends and allies, guard duty would seem pretty unnecessary.

They would have a rude awakening on that point soon enough. In the meantime, a pair of bored guards opened up some intriguing possibilities. What did you call the Valahgua head honcho again? he asked Draycos.

The Lordover, Draycos said. You have a plan?

I'm thinking we might try the subtle approach first, Jack told him, glancing casually around. Besides the two guards, there didn't seem to be anyone else around. We can always kick butt later if we have to.

"What do you wish?" one of the guards demanded.

"What do you think I wish?" Jack retorted. "The last diagnostic on the big gun came back a little iffy, and the Lordover wanted me to run a quick check."

The Brummgas looked at each other, and Jack held his breath. If they decided to call the Valahgua to check on the order, Draycos was going to get some exercise after all. "Come on; come on," Jack growled, waving toward the door behind them. "I haven't got all day."

"No one is permitted to be inside with the weapon," one of the Brummgas rumbled.

"No one is permitted to be alone inside with the weapon," Jack countered. The trick with Brummgas was to stay one step ahead of their mental processes. "Read your standing orders sometime, will you? So open up and we'll all go in together."

The aliens exchanged a second uncertain glance. "All of us, together?" the same one asked.

"I'm not supposed to be in there alone, remember?" Jack reminded him, putting some strained patience into his voice. "Besides, I'm going to need an extra hand or two."

"Yet the orders also state that we cannot leave the door unguarded."

"Then you wait out here, and your buddy can come in with me, and everyone'll be happy," Jack said.

The Brummga drew himself up. "No," he stated firmly. "He will stay. I will go." He gestured, and his companion stepped back to the door control. "But I will watch you closely," he added warningly.

"Fine by me," Jack said. "Can we please just get to it?"

The Brummga gestured again. His companion keyed the control, and the door slid open. Squaring his shoulders, Jack stepped between the aliens and into the doorway.

And found himself face-to-face with the Death.

Viewing it on the monitor, Jack had been able to appreciate both its comical appearance as well as its more deadly aspects. But no more. Here, standing in its presence, he could see nothing amusing about it at all. The device reeked of destruction and anger, of hatred and pride and a lust for power.

All tools and weapons, Uncle Virgil had once said, could be used for both good and bad. They could be a help in Jack's work, or could throw a snarl-up in his path.