Chapter 32
Armathea
Orbiting Talear
“Talear command. this is alpha seven delta two. Do you copy?”
“Roger. This is Talear command.”
“Tell Mordrick we have secured his prize. Advise him we also have two prisoners who hijacked our first ship. Also, advise him the stolen ship has been recovered. The crew remains unaccounted for. We are departing now.”
“Copy. I will be sure Mordrick is well informed.”
The scratchy transmission they intercepted turned static.
"Damn.” Odin slammed his fist into the control panel. “How the hell did those two screw this up? I gave them one task. Just one fucking task. If they were standing before me right now, I would strangle them both.”
“You don't know what happened down there," Tia interjected. “It isn't fair to make that kind of assumption. I'm sure Garrett and Quinn did everything they could."
Odin gritted his teeth. "Then how the hell did they get themselves caught?"
"It’s possible they were caught off guard.” Tia suggested. “Even we were tricked by the mining ship.”
"Maybe," Odin conceded, turning back to the control panel. He watched the two Taleari vessels leave Calypsta's orbit and head towards Talear.
Odin paced the bridge with long strides, cursing. He turned to Tia. “Is the implant ready?”
“Yes. Why?” She flipped open the lip of a rectangular box that held an intricate woven piece of shiny metal. Next to it lay a syringe filled with a yellowish substance. “Are you thinking what I think you are?”
"Yes. I am going to Talear." He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, leaving it disheveled. "I sent them there, and I will not rest until I rescue all three of them. Regardless of the risks involved."
Tia knew it was pointless to argue when Odin's mind was set. “Alright, it’s an easy procedure. A small incision. Once the wound is seared, I will coat the implanted metal with arageon. It will not take long for the implant to fully solidify.”
“Good.” Odin tugged his shirt over his head, bearing a chest full of silvery hair. “Let’s get this over with.”
Tia unrolled a leather case, revealing an assortment of surgical instruments on top of the control panel and selected a sharp scalpel.
After taking a deep breath, she sliced into Odin’s left biceps and inserted the implant under his skin.
After she cauterized the wound with a handheld device, she coated the metal with a series of injections.
Tia wrapped Odin's bicep with a clean white bandage.
The insertion had been a success. The implant had fully solidified, an identical replica.
"Are you finally going to tell me about the weapon?" Odin asked. "I think I need to know."
“Ah, that.”
“Well?” Odin barked, then softened his words. “Please, Tia. Don’t keep me in suspense.”
“It’s a shield destroyer. One commissioned by the Valerian King for the sole purpose of destroying the shield matrix protecting Mordrick’s fortress.
Apparently, Mordrick wasn’t the only one who wanted to start a war.
According to the notations made by the weapon designer, Calypsta is no longer toxic. ”
Odin digested her words. “If the Valerian king knew that, then it’s safe to assume that Mordrick knew it as well. He doesn’t care about Valeria, or Kendra. He wants Calypsta and will do anything get rid of the opposition.”
Tia’s jaw dropped. “So, he was just biding his time until the wedding?”
“Yes, and if Kendra had been present, the royal bloodline would be gone, and Valeria would have already been invaded and conquered.” Odin stood to his full height as he slid Reyne's silver armband over the bandages to ensure they were concealed.
Tia marveled at his transformation. Wearing another stolen Taleri uniform, he appeared formidable and commanding, as if the last eight years had melted away and he was once again a renowned leader of the rebellion.
“Is it ready? Odin questioned. “The shield destroyer?”
"Almost. I need to make a few small tweaks. Give me a couple of hours, and it will be ready for testing."
"Excellent. Have the crew prepare the skiff for immediate departure to Talear.”
Tia nodded.
Odin opened a chest and grabbed a handful of charged weapons and headed towards the door with a purposeful stride. “I will also need a secure long-range communicator and at least ten of detonators.”
“You are coming back, right?” Tia questioned, her brow raised in concern.
“They are coming back.” He slid two pistols into the back of his silk belt and departed the bridge.