Star Blaze (33 page)

Sol was delighted with the modified miniature London Gherkin in a snow globe that Clara had bought her, which repeatedly folded in and out of the scene, and loved the chess set from Johnny. When Kovac discovered he wasn't getting any more presents, the computer instantly challenged the ship to a game. Sol accepted and soon they were engrossed in a battle of intellects, the board projected in mid-air above the table so everyone else could follow the play. Clara's present to Alf was a book of cryptic crossword puzzles and how to solve them, which the android loved nearly as much as his gyroscope. He started the device spinning on the very edge of the ice table, so it was
soon hanging right over, yet somehow didn't fall to the ground. Alf gave Johnny some new space posters for his room at Halader House, but they weren't the kind anyone could buy in a shop. Instead, the images had all been taken from the android's own memory chip and depicted some of the favorite places Johnny had visited.

It was the best Christmas Johnny could remember, but he had to admit something was bothering him. At first, when they'd returned from the Fountain of Time, he'd been relieved that Clara showed no signs of wanting to talk about Nicky. Then, as the weeks passed, a dreadful idea had begun to form in Johnny's head—one he hadn't been able to dismiss. Over and over he re-ran his last conversation with Clara as he'd been falling toward the heart of the gas giant orbiting Aldebaran. It was more than possible—in fact now it seemed likely—that his confession about Nicky, spoken as he plunged to his doom, had never reached his sister. How else could he explain her continued silence when any link to their family, like his dad's journal, was so important to her? He braced himself. If he couldn't talk about Nicky now—on Christmas Day itself—he knew he'd never be able to.

“Clara,” he said, getting to his feet. “Can I have a word?” He nodded in the direction of a rocky outcrop where they could sit down, close to the Christmas star.

Clara looked puzzled, but stood up, holding her stomach. She looked as full as he felt.

“Where do you think you two are going?” asked Alf, also standing.

“Just for a chat,” Johnny replied, feeling his face warming under the android's scrutiny.

“Master Johnny—there will be all the time you want for chats once dinner is finished. Will you please sit down. You too, Miss Clara.”

Clara shrugged and resumed her place around the table.

Reluctantly, Johnny followed suit—at least he'd started the ball rolling. A few minutes more wouldn't make much difference.

Alf picked up the Christmas pudding and, even without asking, all the lights on the deck went out, leaving the only illumination coming from the ongoing chess match. The android placed a finger on top of the dessert next to a couple of holly leaves, and the whole, rich black hemisphere burst into ghostly blue flames, reminding Johnny for a moment of the blue sparks on the
Astricida
. He joined in with Clara's applause while Bentley barked his approval.

Once the flames went out, Alf divided up the pudding in the darkness, and placed bowls in front of Clara, Johnny and Bentley. To see exactly what he was eating, Johnny said, “Sol, can we have the lights back?”

Nothing happened.

“Ah, I forget my infrared vision is somewhat more developed,” said Alf. “Lights please, Sol.”

Still nothing happened, although the garden was brightening up a little, but only because Kovac's casing had started to glow.

Johnny put his hand on the table and found it was wet—and cold. “Sol—what's going on?” he asked, suddenly wary.

“I am a little busy,” the ship replied, very slowly. She wasn't wrong. Moves on the chess board were happening at lightning quick speed. Johnny stood up and reached over to Kovac—the computer's casing was too hot to touch. He studied the board—the position looked incredibly complex. It sounded crazy, but it was as if Sol and Kovac had diverted all their thinking power into the match, at the expense of pretty much everything else.

Then Kovac blundered. Johnny wasn't even that good at chess, but he could see the quantum computer had made a losing move.

“Checkmate,” said Sol, as she captured Kovac's queen and checkmated him all in one move. The ship's lights flickered on all around.

“That's not fair,” said Kovac. “I was distracted. Let's play again.”

Clara laughed. “Distracted how?”

“I want to play again,” said Kovac, becoming more insistent. “Something was bothering me.”

“What?” Johnny asked, wondering if the computer was going to blame the way Alf had cut the Christmas pudding, or something similar.

“It's those annoying Wormholes,” said Kovac. “Someone keeps shouting down one to say the defense net has been activated and Andromedan ships are entering the solar system.”

“
What?
Play the message,” said Johnny.

“If I do, do you promise we can have a rematch afterward?” asked Kovac.

“Now!” Johnny shouted.

“All right—keep your follicles in place,” the computer replied. “Displaying message.”

The final image of the chessboard was replaced by a frantic Tolimus shouting, “Can anybody hear me? I'm reading three, no make that four … five Andromedan ships gathering in the Oort Cloud. It's just how it began with our suns. Can anybody hear me?”

“It's Johnny here … Johnny Mackintosh,” he shouted to the figure. “Frago? Is that you?” Johnny hadn't worked out a good way to tell which Tolimi was which.

“Please respond … it's now eight ships,” said the Tolimus. “The Krun are here too.”

“I'm here,” shouted Johnny. “What's your status? Has Pluto Base been detected?”

“Please … is Johnny Mackintosh there?”

“Why can't he hear me?” Johnny asked around the ice table.

“Didn't you read my blueprints?” said Kovac. “This is purely a projection of the Wormhole. I never said you could communicate through it.”

The snow that had covered the deck was melting away and
Johnny heard Sol say, “Switching to battle stations.” He knew the ship wouldn't flinch from the fight, however long the odds of survival. He turned to Clara who understood at once what was needed. The very next second, the attic room of Halader House came into view and Johnny stepped through, followed by his sister and Alf. There was a thud, as though the trapdoor had just been pushed shut, but then Johnny realized that Alf was on the floor, having been unable to cope with the fold. Clara bent down to reboot the android, while Johnny pushed his head into one of the hazy patches of light, glinting above the bed.

The scene that confronted him was chaotic. Several little Tolimi were running around the control center, silencing one alarm after another, only for more to keep going off. There was no room for Johnny's hands in the Wormhole or he'd have been covering his ears. It took a few seconds to make himself heard.

“Oh thank the Maker,” said Frago, turning round and almost running into Johnny's face. “We're reading ten Andromedan Stardestroyers already, with a score of smaller Krun ships.”

“When Toliman … your sun, exploded,” said Johnny, “how many ships did they have?”

“Several hundred,” the little alien replied. “We think they needed enough vessels to surround the star with their tachyon beams.” There was a look of horror in the alien's large, black eyes as it recalled the dreadful day its own sun was blown up, but it mingled with a burning fire—the determination to have its revenge.

“Is the base secure?” Johnny asked.

“So far—we don't think they know we're here. Well, they're in for one very big surprise.”

“Don't do anything stupid,” said Johnny. “The fleet have got to be here any time now—Captain Valdour would never let us down. You can't fight them on your own.”

“Humph,” was the only response.

“Listen,” said Johnny. “Alf's talking to Melania right now, to find out what's happening.”

“We'll see,” said Frago. As more and more alarms continued to wail in the background, it added, “The super gun will be ready in three days—though I imagine it will take at least that long for the Andromedans to gather enough ships, I think he should tell this Valdour to hurry up.”

“Don't worry,” said Johnny. He pulled his face out of the hole to find Alf standing beside Clara shaking his head.

“No sign of His Majesty,” said the android.

“Well, the Tolimi are OK … for now,” said Johnny, “but I'm worried. They don't sound like they want to lie low. I'll try Bram—just in case.” He paused for just a moment to flatten his hair and then stuck his face into the adjacent Wormhole. The Imperial Palace was bathed in a red glow, the two strong shadows of the buildings indicating that Arros and Deynar were both high in the sky.

“Hello,” shouted Johnny. “Can anybody hear me? Bram? Anyone?”

A figure appeared in front of Johnny. He was relieved to see it wasn't Chancellor Karragon, or any Phasmeer for that matter. This alien had a blotchy blue and white face, spotted with fur, and was wearing very baggy orange trousers with a gap at the back for a long, curling tail. It looked a little like a cat, standing on two legs.

“Is that the Terran?” asked the creature.

“Yes … Yes it is,” said Johnny, amazed to be recognized.

“Massenko Felix Dinaster at your service,” said the alien, bowing slightly. “What can I do for the mysterious Johnny Mackintosh?”

“We're under attack,” Johnny replied. “Or we will be any time now. The Andromedans have entered our system—Bram … the Emperor promised us ships.”

“Hmmmm … I'm afraid, Johnny Mackintosh, that His Divine Imperial Majesty Emperor Bram Khari is not in residence. I will, of course, pass your request on as soon as he returns.”

“But that'll be too late,” said Johnny. “Captain Valdour needs to get here now.”

“Valdour, you say?” The cat-like alien cupped its head in its hands as though deep in thought. “I believe the Captain has been seconded on official Senate business, reporting to the Regent.”

“No!” shouted Johnny.

“Do not fear,” said the alien. “It so happens I have Its Highness's representative, the Chancellor, standing beside me—I shall ask.”

“Don't bother,” said Johnny. “There's more chance of a Sulafat tortoise winning the Imperial Speed Medal than Chancellor Karragon wanting to help Terra.”

“But you are behind the times,” said the alien. “Karragon was not considered up to the difficult task ahead … and has been replaced.” Johnny's spirits rose. “The new Chancellor is familiar with your planet,” continued the alien. “I'm sure a request to release Captain Valdour from his duties would be looked on favorably.”

“Brilliant,” said Johnny. It was about time he had some good news. “Can you ask him … her … it, sorry, what I need to do?”

There was a pause as though the creature was clarifying instructions. Johnny crossed his fingers behind his back, hoping for all he was worth.

“The Chancellor apologizes,” said the blue-headed alien. “While we are sympathetic, and would support your request, there are procedures to be followed. Now the Senate is involved, the only way for Captain Valdour and his fleet to be released is to present yourself before the Imperial Senate and petition for it
in person. It is purely a formality, you understand.”

Johnny gulped a huge lungful of Melanian air. “But … I'm not meant to go to Melania,” he said. “And there isn't time.”

“I am truly sorry,” said the creature. “Sadly, we do not make the rules.”

“No … I'll come. I'm on my way,” said Johnny. As the alien bowed its head, Johnny pulled his own out of the Wormhole and into his bedroom.

“That didn't sound good,” said Clara.

Johnny shook his head. “The Regent's got Valdour working for the Senate—we've got to ask for his release in person.”

“There can be no question of going,” said Alf. “The Emperor was very clear—on no account were you to return to Melania in his absence.”

“Alf—we have to,” said Johnny.

“Our whole planet's in danger,” added Clara.

“Does either of you believe for one nanosecond that the Regent or his … highly objectionable Chancellor will give you ships to defend Earth?”

Johnny could tell Alf felt incredibly strongly—he'd never heard the android openly criticize a chancellor before. “There's a new chancellor,” he said, “who's on our side. It might make the difference.”

“We have to try,” Clara added.

“If Captain Valdour doesn't get here soon, the Tolimi will start fighting,” said Johnny. “You know they don't stand a chance.”

“You two are impossible,” said the android. “One of these days I will blow my neural detonator and it will be all your fault.”

“Not today, I hope,” said Johnny “I've a feeling we're going to need you.”

Clara reopened the fold, this time leading straight to the
Spirit of London
's bridge.

“We'll never get there in time,” said Johnny, to no one in particular as he rebooted the prone android before walking across to the captain's chair.

“Yes we will,” said Clara from beside the Plican's tank. “Remember, we have two folders on board. I'll take turns with the Plican.” Johnny's sister looked fiercely determined.