One World

Part 19

Rag'ell threw the Qar'a dagger on the table and looked at Leic-en sitting opposite him, "The genetic lock on this weapon still doesn't work."

The chief of the science team, who had attended the meeting as he had the day before, shook his head dismissively, "That's impossible."

"Gabriel was able to activate the weapon," the Supreme replied sternly, casting such an icy glare at the older Ardanian that even the confident scientist averted his eyes. He was about to say something in his defence, but Maw-ghet preceded him.

"You let the human try, my lord?" He asked, the disapproving tone in his voice coming through clearly. "That was extremely risky, what if the man had..."

Rag'ell silenced him with a flick of his hand.

"Enough. I want to hear what my science team has to say," he ran his cold gaze over Leic-en and the other two scientists, as well as the young technician he remembered from their last meeting.

Surprisingly, it was that lad who replied in a trembling but determined voice: "Our Supreme, the lock is all right."

He turned the weapon in his hand and stared at it in disbelief before Leic-en took it from him to examine it as well.

"Could we see the man activate it?" the older scientist asked.

Although Rag'ell wasn't too happy about the request, he still agreed and nodded, "Bring Gabriel Cassel here."

Maw-ghet gestured for two of his soldiers to carry out the order. Then he turned to the Supreme: "My Lord, the other problem is with Cassel's rebels. They are still hiding somewhere near our base N34S098 and hacking into our transmissions."

"What do you suggest?"

"All it would take is an air strike and the problem is solved."

"I don't want any more bombing. Block their transmissions and increase patrols in the area. But don't confront them."

Meanwhile, the Maw-ghet soldiers he had sent to bring the Earthling had returned empty-handed. "The prisoner is gone, my lord," they informed him, knowing full well that their leader would not take the news well.

"What? How can that be?" the Supreme was startled. "Find him at once!"

"He can't get far," Maw-ghet objected. "Have no fear, my lord, we will find him." He then used his communicator to sound the alarm and begin a wide search for the missing prisoner.

Rag'ell wanted to join the search, but he knew it was unworthy of his title. So he had to wait patiently to see if his soldiers would find Gabriel.

He felt his hands shaking, his stomach clenched with unease. Even though he knew that the prisoner could not escape from the ship and would be discovered sooner or later, he had to work hard to keep his composure. Rag'ell kept telling himself that his soldiers would discover the Earthling at any moment and bring him back.

Unfortunately, instead of Maw-ghet's soldiers bringing him the good news, the air force commander entered the meeting room.

"My Supreme," he bowed deeply, his slightly frightened expression indicating that he was not exactly eager to break the news to his leader.

"What is it?" Rag'ell asked with an uneasy premonition.

"I heard about the escaped prisoner and... I mean... I don't know if it's related..."

"Speak!" The sickening feeling returned, hitting the silver-haired Ardanian with full force.

"Um... my lord, one of our fighters is acting strangely. It doesn't respond to the return command, the remote control is disabled, and..."