Free The Cagliostro Chronicles II: Conflagration by Ralph L. Angelo Jr. Page A

They have the beings to do so.”
    “You mean they have the numbers on us, correct?”
    Chakix/Ariel nodded in the affirmative.
    “I figure there’s got to be a few races out here somewhere that have had enough of the Agalum and want revenge on them or just want to see them beaten so far back that they never come out of their solar system again .”
    “As they tried to do to you .”
    “Don’t you think that it would be apropos?”
    Slowly Chakix/Ariel nodded her head in the affirmative.
    “Good. Now leave Ariel’s body.”
    “I will not, not until you comply with my demands .”
    “Your demands hold no meaning now. You are held captive. I can pump sedative into you with a nod of my head. Not only that, but I came up with a little something that will make your stay within Ariel agonizing. Leave her body and we can speak to each other respectfully as civilized beings should.”
    “What is this ‘civilized’?”
    Mark rolled his eyes. “This is going to be a long evening, isn’t it?”
    “I refuse to leave ,” Chakix snapped.
    “Very well. Let’s see how you do with this new toy.”
    Mark touched his sleeve and a virtual pad sprang to life before him, anchored at his right sleeve. He touched a few spots on its surface and then looked up above Chakix/Ariel’s head.
    The creature inhabiting Ariel’s brain followed his stare and her eyes grew wide as a helmet began to lower in place around her head from above.
    “What is t his?” the strange voice shouted. “I will shatter this device and destroy both you and this vehicle!”
    “I don’t think so , Chakix. Right now you’re still sedated enough to not be able to concentrate sufficiently to use your telekinesis. Once I activate that helmet your brainwaves will be scrambled. You’ll be the helpless passenger inside Ari’s brain and not the other way around. She won’t even be affected. You see, we were able to separate your brain patterns and since we already had Ariel’s on file, it was a simple matter to come up with the correct frequency to neutralize your own. The tables are about to be turned. You’re about to learn what it feels like to be on the receiving end of what you did to Ariel.”
    Mark touched a butt on on his virtual control panel and the helmet instantly hummed to life. Chakix/Ariel began to scream silently then went limp.
    Before Mark could even get to her side, Ariel sprang back upward. “Mark! I-it’s gone, I mean I still feel it within my mind, but it’s now trapped, and it can’t escape.”
    Mark rushed to her side and hugged her tightly. “What is it Ari? What does it want?”
    “Mark, i-it’s frightened. I can feel it. It’s not an act. Chakix is a frightened parent looking to protect its children.”
    “What? What children?”
    “Everything on this planet is Chakix’s child. At least that’s how Chakix sees things.”
    “That’s not good. Mothering instincts are some of the most powerful known to man. If this sentience is seeking to protect everything on the planet, it only can lead to disaster.”
    “It already has. Chakix had no defense agai nst the Agalum. They had no telepaths with them at all. Not even one of those horrible Quels they used on me, at least none that Chakix recognized.”
    “Okay, go on .”
    “ The only reason she attacked was because she realized I was a telepath, or psi. My mind was attainable to her. She was as surprised as I was when she entered my mind. She’s been guiding her children or the beings on this world against the Agalum since they arrived here a few months ago, but it hasn’t done much good.”
    “I can see that. What about ‘Red Kong’ out there?”
    “She can guide his actions as well. But it’s sort of aiming a bull at a red flag and letting it go. She can basically coerce these beings to do what she wants , but they are not mindless. It’s different than you would think.”
    Mark nodded. “Okay, are you all right now?”
    Ari nodded in return. “Yes, good