Dragon and Liberator

"In that case, I'd best get started checking rooms," Draycos said. "If I find it quickly enough, I should at least be able to guarantee that that one's out of action."

"Assuming that isn't where they've shifted all the Brummgas that used to be guarding this other—" Jack broke off, his breath catching in his throat.

"Jack?"

"It's okay, buddy," Jack said, his brain suddenly racing. "I just had a sudden revelation. Did you actually see the Death weapon in the weapons bay?"

"Yes, of course."

"What direction was it pointing?"

There was a short pause. "It was pointing a hundred and ten degrees port side from the bow," the K'da said slowly. "Just aft of straight across. Odd. They've always been pointed forward, or a few degrees outward from forward."

"All aimed and primed and ready for their upcoming attack, in other words," Jack agreed. "Now, suddenly, they've got one pointed back inward toward the middle of their own ship."

"It's pointed at the other Death weapon," Draycos said, his voice suddenly charged with energy. "They're protecting each other."

"Like a pair of chess knights in mutual guard positions," Jack said. "Now, knowing that, can you tell where the other one's been stashed?"

"Knowing that, there are only two possibilities," Draycos said slowly "The forward machine shop, or the port-side power substation."

"Are both of them close enough?" Jack asked. "Back on Rho Scorvi, you said something about atmosphere limiting the Death's range."

"It's not the atmosphere itself but the density of life within it," Draycos corrected. "As the Death kills, some of its energy is absorbed by the life it's destroying. The atmosphere of a typical planet is full of microorganisms, spores, insects, and other life."

"And we were in a forest at the time," Jack said. "Probably one of your higher-density locations."

"Correct," Draycos said. "Also, the nearness of a planetary mass affects the Death in a way that the artificial gravity of a ship does not. As a result, on a planet the Death has a much smaller range."

"But none of that applies here."

"Correct," Draycos said. "Here the Death will have no problem cutting completely through the ship. However, in a choice between the machine shop and the substation, I would vote for the latter. It has more power available."

"Let's try that one first, then," Jack said. "How long will it take you to get there?"

"At least ten minutes," Draycos said. "The route isn't very straight."

Jack chewed at his lower lip. The idea that was taking shape in the back of his mind was straightforward but tricky.

It was also dangerous. And not just for him and Draycos.

"Shall I get started?" Draycos prompted.

"Better idea," Jack said. "See if Langston can give you a lift."

"You are joking, right?"

"Not at all," Jack said. "If you can get onto his skin without any of the Brummgas in there noticing, he can stroll down the corridor faster and easier than you can travel through the ducts."

"The ducts would be safer."

"Not necessarily." Jack hesitated. "Besides, we owe it to him let him know what's coming."

There was another short silence. "Is there something coming that I don't know about?" Draycos asked.

"I think there is, yes," Jack hedged. "Let me think it through a little more. Meanwhile you go see if you think it's possible to get to Langston."

"Very well," Draycos said. "I'll speak to you again when I can." The comm clip went silent.

For another moment Jack lay where he was, gazing at the floor above him. Then, rolling over, he started crawling toward the next nearest group of wires and cables.

This was going to take more of a diversion than he'd originally thought.

The Brummgas hadn't moved from the positions where Draycos had left them a few minutes earlier. Langston, in contrast, had abandoned his place behind the Death weapon and was moving slowly around the room, gazing at each of the security camera monitors as he passed them.

His path, Draycos saw, would bring him directly beneath the ventilation grille. Keeping an eye on the Brummgas, Draycos got ready.

And as Langston passed beneath the grille, Draycos extended a claw and gave the edge of the grille three quiet scratches.

Langston paused, his head cocked. Draycos repeated the scratching. Langston half-turned to look at the Brummgas standing by the door, then turned back, leaning toward whatever equipment was directly beneath the grille as if he were studying it. "Hello?" he murmured just loud enough for Draycos to hear over the quiet hum of the equipment.

"I'm here" Draycos murmured back, watching the guards closely. There was no reaction there that he could see. "I need to find the other Death weapon."

"I heard someone say they'd moved it to the conference room off the main control complex," Langston offered, pretending to make an adjustment.

"No, it's somewhere nearby," Draycos told him. "The Valahgua expect me to attack this weapon. When I do, they plan to use the other one to kill me."