Pawns
Chapter Five: Patience
A short, bald biped from the planet Ferengenar stood behind the elevated podium. A grin stretched his oily face as he turned his beady eyes to the audience before him.
"And now, for the prize of the auction," he announced, sweeping his arm dramatically. A heavy velvet curtain pulled back, revealing a small, ornate box. The box was no more than a foot in breadth and depth, but even from a distance the glittering, transparent jewel that adorned the lid was plainly visible.
A few hushed whispers filtered through the subsequent silence. Creatures in the audience peered forward, gleams of excitement animating the eyes of many an educated consumer. Most of them easily recognized the fabled crest of Edenoid royalty.
"May I present an infamous weapon, so dangerous many never dared to believe it existed." He lifted the black box high, letting the smoky spotlight above him gleam off its polished surface.
"It is considered one of the greatest feats of technological advancement the Edenoid monarchy has ever created. Forged by the hand of King Lexion himself, the greatest genius of the Silicon Dynasty. Some say it is in fact his greatest creation, even more reputable than the Alpha robot line. Even greater than the elaborate devices of Masked Rider. A weapon designed to manipulate and subsequently destroy the operating system of any mechanical device, from a cooking oven to a galaxy-class warship. A weapon so terrible, Lexion himself buried it within the labyrinthine tunnels of the palace catacombs, in an effort to keep it hidden from the universe. Due to the heavy tolls Edenoi has taken from the Dregon wars, Lexion's precautions have failed him, and the greatest weapon in existence will now see the light of day once again. My distinguished colleagues, feast your eyes on… the Pulse Bomb!"
The auctioneer decorously lifted the cover, holding the small box out for his audience to gaze upon in wonderment.
Instead of the awed whispers he expected, his large ears were deafened by cries of outrage.
Blinking in puzzlement, he turned the box toward himself.
His jaw unhinged at the sight of the empty box.
He continued blinking, as if trying to shake off the effects of some hallucinogen. But no amount of blinking would return the fist-size bomb to its chamber.
Before he could compose himself, the unfortunate Ferengi was struck by the razor sharp batlh'etlh of a particularly violent client.
As chaos erupted in the packed auction house, no one noticed a red and black demon slip outside.
oooOOOooo
A thousand kilometers distant, chairs flew across a remote saloon, shattering against walls, tables, and often the back of some hapless customer. Glasses of liquor crashed into each other, and drunken off-key sing-alongs polluted the dry air.
"Ha! Dragon's tail!" the robot declared, his victorious cry rising through the surrounding melee.
The two other beings around the table stared in astonishment at the hand of cards he tossed to them.
The larger player, a seven-foot monster reminiscent of a lion, revealed all ninety-eight of his razor sharp teeth in an impossibly wide, intimidating smile. "So it is," he rasped. "Very impressive hand, Deviot."
The mechanical misfit tipped his head modestly. "The Sprocket of Fortune has turned in my favor," he laughed, bending to collect his winnings.
The lion's serpentine tail shot forward, wrapping around Deviot's outstretched arm. "Almost… suspiciously impressive."
Deviot blinked his copper eyelids, and managed to look aghast. "Lord Chimera… I assure you there was nothing underhanded in this hand! I swear on the tomb of the Great Emperor Mondo the First!"
The second player, a muscular humanoid with a flare of black hair, revealed a frightening smirk. "Your treachery is legendary across half the galaxy," he noted, "I doubt you have enough loyalty for the House of Mondo to power a light bulb. In fact… aren't you a wanted felon?"
Deviot pulled away from the table, managing to slip out of Chimera's tail. He lazily crossed his arms over his chest. "To set the record straight, I was only accused of treason because I allegedly assisted in Lord Gasket and Lady Archerina's elopement. Which hasn't been proven, by the by… but even if it were true, I would only be guilty of a romantic heart. Not treachery!"
The two creatures rose from their seats, and leaned over the table.
Deviot took a surprised step back. "Do you honestly think I had cards hiding beneath my sleeves?"
His playing companions nodded.
Deviot then held out his arms. "What sleeves? Machines do not wear cloth, only metal plating. You can't hide cards so easily beneath a suit of armor, Gentlemen."
Chimera's smile widened further, as his sapphire gaze slid to the man. "What do you think, Seleri?"
Seleri clenched his fists, an aura of chalky energy casting shadows in the valleys between his strained muscles. "I think I want my money back."
Deviot backed away slowly as the much larger beings advanced. Silence fell amongst the other bar patrons, and all watched in amusement as another sniveling weakling was about to learn why Onyx was a planet for warriors only.
Deviot tripped over a fallen stool, falling flat on his back. He blinked in surprise as a lithe, feminine body leaned over him.
The woman set a calculating stare on the machine, before turning her fearless eyes to the two would-be attackers.
"I suggest you return to your business," she advised, folding her arms. Her pose would have been intimidating, if not for her diminutive figure, and pretty face.
Chimera and Seleri both sneered at the interloper. "Onyx is not the place for little girls," the former said, his voice low and menacing.
"You're right. And it also isn't the place for childish beasts."
The audience began to buzz as fury wrinkled Chimera's face. Seleri himself began chuckling. "Bad idea, Girl. Now he's going to be rough with you."
The woman cocked her head, a curtain of black hair falling over her shoulder. Her expression remained passive as her hand fell to the curved blade hanging from her golden belt.
Seleri's sneer fell when he witnessed the blade morph into a spinning discus of energy. "Chimera, watch out!" he cried in warning, "She's an Arachnid!"
But the beast was deaf to his ally's voice. "Nice parlor trick, Girl. But I fear no flashy lights."
"Idiot," she sighed, raising her hand. The discus followed her movements, hovering inches from her manicured fingernails. "Feel my Sting!"
She launched the spinning disc. Chimera dodged the first pass, laughing deeply to mock her… but the disc returned, biting deeply into his shoulder.
Chimera groaned at the pain, grasping the wound as streams of black blood flowed down his furry arm.
"You missed anything vital," he sneered, stepping forward, "I suggest you throw your frisbee again."
The woman caught the discus, gold energy shifting back metal as it touched her hand. "It's a shame you didn't do some research on alien species before coming to this planet," she informed him, sheathing her blade.
Chimera started to respond, and was astonished to taste the blood that dribbled from his mouth. Before an enthralled audience, the towering monster gagged on his own blood, falling to the floor. His powerful limbs flailed helplessly, muscles tensing in agony as gore oozed from his ears, nose, and throat.
He never got up.
Seleri snarled at the woman, but had the common sense to hurry out of the bar. Chimera may have been a partner in a handful of raids, but avenging his death wasn't worth incurring the wrath of an Arachnid… and tasting the fastest-acting venom ever documented.
The woman smiled cruelly, then sat at the bar.
After a few seconds of hushed awe, the dozens of lowlifes populating the bar returned to their merriment and scuffling.
"Barkeep! Get me a bottle of Lord Yemn's Synthetic… vintage."
The bartender, a green troll with tall pointed ears, narrowed his small black eyes at the machine. "Synthetic cheap is not," he grumbled.
Deviot smiled, opening his palms to reveal his winnings. The wrinkles around the troll's mouth folded into a smile as he hopped off his booster bench.
"Let me buy you a drink, my dear," he declared, sitting beside his savior. He recorded her appearance in an eye-blink: slender limbs, gold armor plated over yellow leggings, ornate gold headdress designed as a coiled scorpion's tail…
"You are Scorpina of Arachni Prime," he realized, "The most infamous spy of the Phlegethon Empire."
Scorpina glanced at the robot over her shoulder, offering him an unnerving smile. "And you are Deviot, cousin to Queen Machina, who joined the forces of King Mondo's arch nemesis, King Aradon of the Northern Continent. Thanks to your efforts, King Mondo and his eldest, Prince Gasket, are at odds. Your treachery has put ten million credits on your head… though most bounty hunters are too fearful of King Mondo's irrational temper to tread near his palace and try and collect."
The green troll hopped back on the bench that allowed him to reach the bar for service. He set a slender bottle and two shot glasses before Deviot. The Machine smiled charmingly at his companion, and poured two shots of thick ochre. He stared in astonishment as Scorpina swallowed the drink in a single gulp.
"An Organic that can stomach petroleum-based liquor," he noted, grinning widely, "I am duly impressed."
He then refilled her glass. "At any rate, the reports of my disloyalty have been greatly exaggerated. I did not take an active role in the civil war."
Scorpina lifted her second serving, the oil swirling in the glass in slow motion. "Of course not. You are too devious to openly fight anyone. Instead, you manipulate and deceive those you despise, and help bring about their downfall indirectly."
Deviot laughed deeply, slowly sipping the potent liquor. "We all use methods that work best in our circumstances, my Lady… not that I admit to your accusations, of course."
"Of course."
Deviot watched the spy carefully as she polished off her second shot. "Not to insinuate I am ungrateful, but I must admit I am curious. Why did you rescue me from those barbarians?"
Scorpina set her glass on the bar and fixed him with a steady gaze. Astonishingly, she seemed unaffected by the powerful liquor. "I came to this planet to find you."
"I'm truly flattered."
Scorpina smirked. "Don't be. I have no interest in you whatsoever… but my Lord wishes to meet you."
Though a master at maintaining composure, Deviot gulped. "Lord Zedd wishes to see me?"
The spy nodded, a sweet grin on her face. "As a matter of fact, he is awaiting our arrival."
She rose from her seat, casually tossing her hair once again. After meeting her level stare, Deviot also stood. "Well… no one denies an audience with Lord Zedd himself."
He plastered a confident smile on his iron face, and followed Scorpina toward the exit. On his way out, he glanced down at Chimera, whose face was contorted into a frown of unfathomable pain.
He sneered, opening a hidden plate beneath his wrist. "I lied, by the way. I always have something up my sleeve."
A handful of cards fell onto the corpse.
oooOOOooo
Just outside the remote, nearly desolate town was a large field of dust. The field served as a parking area, spotted with cruisers, shuttles, and other small space ships from dozens of different cultures.
One ship, vaguely shaped like an arrowhead, wasn't vacant. In the lower section of the vessel, a burly demon in red armor lined with spikes stood waiting. He tapped his foot impatiently, narrow amber eyes glancing at the chronometer on the wall.
"Where is she?" he hissed angrily. His glance shifted to a small wooden crate lying on the floor beside him. "I did my part…"
He grinned cruelly when he saw two silhouettes approach on the view screen.
oooOOOooo
"So, this is Lord Zedd's vessel?" Deviot wondered.
Scorpina rolled her eyes. "Don't be asinine. My Lord is on his flagship, in orbit of the planet. He awaits our arrival."
Deviot lingered behind Scorpina, watching her type the code to open the ship's hangar. "I'm leaving the planet?"
Scorpina grinned. "Considering you'd be nothing but scrap metal if I hadn't intervened earlier, a brief trip isn't asking much."
"You still haven't told me what your emperor wants from me."
"I am in no position to explain my Lord's intentions. You will meet him shortly."
Deviot sighed quietly, and followed Scorpina into the ship. Once inside, he noticed the other occupant.
The red demon fixed the robot with a frigid grin.
"Darkonda!" he growled, eyes narrowing suspiciously, "What are you doing here?"
The infamous bounty hunter laughed at the twinge of fear he detected in the mechanical voice. "I've recently come into Lord Zedd's employ. Dark Specter has no need of me for the time being."
"Still making a living kidnapping young girls?" the Machine hissed.
Darkonda's laugh deepened. "Oh, that's never for money. That's for fun."
He then turned to Scorpina. "All preparations have been made."
oooOOOooo
From within Serpentera, Lord Zedd watched his small vessel emerge from the desert planet's atmosphere.
So far, everything was going smoothly. Not long after leaving the M 51 galaxy, Zedd made contact with Scorpina, one of his more trusted spies. With her scheming mind and centuries of experience, he knew she would be a critical asset in his mission to destroy the Machine Empire.
He could have returned to his throne world to amass an armada to face the Machine Empire in an open war. He had enough loyal soldiers to give King Mondo a respectable challenge. But open warfare would take far too long, and would more than likely culminate with the destruction of the very planet he wanted to conquer.
War wasn't the solution. Instead, he opted for Scorpina's particular talents.
The minx did deserve some credit; the Pulse Bomb was her idea. During the first few weeks, which were dedicated to "research," she learned of the rumored discovery of the Pulse Bomb by one of Dregon's lackeys. Rather than surrender the weapon of mass destruction to Dregon, the lackey decided to sell it to the nearest weapons dealer, and made a fortune.
Scorpina tracked down the dealership that acquired the Bomb, and learned of the auction on Onyx.
While Scorpina focused on the weapon itself, Lord Zedd concerned himself with the delivery method. King Mondo may have been irrational, but he was hardly stupid. His infinite Cog armies wouldn't let any Organic near the Palace without authorization. And surely any recognized member of the Phlegethon Empire would be shot down before coming within a thousand miles of Earth's moon.
The precise potency of the Pulse Bomb was unknown. Therefore, to insure the rulers of the Machine Empire were obliterated in the blast, the bomb had to be detonated in their presence.
Someone unaffiliated with Zedd's own forces had to approach the Machine throne and deliver the bomb. That someone had to have an excellent reason if he were to be allowed admittance.
Given enough time, patience, and ingenuity, anything can be accomplished, Zedd reasoned, turning away from the view screen. He took a seat on the command station of Serpentera, and waited.
Moments later, the bridge gate opened.
At the sight of the Emperor, Scorpina fell to her knee in obeisance. Darkonda bowed stiffly, his fierce face never falling below waist-level. Deviot seemed unsure what to do, so he merely nodded to the foreign ruler.
"My Lord Zedd," Scorpina spoke, rising to her feet, "our mission has been accomplished. May I present Deviot, traitor to the Machine throne."
Zedd lifted his hand, waving the visitor toward him. Deviot held his chin up as he approached the most powerful sorcerer in the Milky Way.
"I am honored to meet you," Deviot said with another graceful nod, "I have heard a great deal of your conquerings."
"Then I am sure you are aware of my difficulties with your native empire," Zedd rumbled. Deviot took a step back at the harsh note in the emperor's voice.
"Your king has ousted me from the Sol system, where my satellite palace is located. While the system isn't a great loss, I have been humiliated by the invasion. Such an affront cannot be ignored."
"Sire, I must point out that Mondo is not my king," Deviot corrected quickly. "Surely you have heard of my current legal status."
Zedd nodded, the steady lights of the controls glinting off his steel faceplate. "That is why you are here."
Deviot smiled, falling into a gracious, deep bow. "I am honored to assist you. With my intimate knowledge of the royal family, I am certain I can offer you a great deal of valuable information."
Zedd answered with a chuckle. A deep, slow chuckle that tingled Deviot's tactile receptors.
"Unfortunately, I don't have the necessary patience to orchestrate some sinister upheaval. Instead, I plan to offer you to Mondo as a peace offering. Perhaps the Machine Empire and my own can come to an understanding, and even a coexistence treaty."
Deviot's eyes bulged. "M…my Lord…" he stammered, backing away from the throne, "Mondo is hardly a Machine to reason with! He couldn't even reconcile with his own son! Surely he would never treat with Organics!"
A terrible smirk pulled Darkonda's lip as he stepped forward, grasping Deviot's shoulder. The robot winced as the intense grip tightened, nearly denting the bronze plating.
"It is a risk I am willing to take," Zedd decided. He then rose from his throne, grasping the sparking silver scepter in his clenched hand. Deviot trembled in outraged terror as the proclaimed Emperor of Evil walked toward him.
"S…sire… I beg of you… I can serve you! Serve faithfully as a spy, tactician, politician…"
Deviot's words degraded into a scream as Zedd touched his scepter to the robot's chest. White energy crackled along his body, forcing Darkonda to drop his grip.
When the blaze of energy faded, Deviot collapsed, smoke pouring from his fried circuits.
Zedd held his palm out to Darkonda. A snide grin on his face, the red demon sat the small wooden box in his employer's grasp.
He then held his own open palm out.
"Your job is only half done, Darkonda," Zedd reminded the bounty hunter. "I will pay nothing until the task is complete."
"I can easily get a fortune for that bomb," Darkonda rasped, "The opening bid was to be a million."
Zedd didn't respond. "Scorpina, show Darkonda to the lab. Then set a course for Earth's moon."
The spy nodded, bowing deeply to her master. She then set her beguiling midnight eyes on Darkonda, a small quirk on her lips.
The demon watched the beautiful warrior turn, a delectable sway in her hips. A fierce, hungry grin darkening his face, the demon tossed Deviot over his shoulder, and followed suit.
Once the heavy footfalls of the monster faded from earshot, Lord Zedd pressed a button on his throne's console.
A wall lifted, revealing a small chamber. Within it was a middle-aged human, a nauseated frown on his face.
"I caution you, Lord Zedd," he spoke passionately, fists trembling with helpless agitation, "Darkonda is no mere monster. He is a demon! He will surely rape that servant of yours to death, as he has done with countless pretty faces!"
"As he has probably done with your daughter," the emperor pointed out. He watched in amusement as the man winced at the tactless comment. "I assure you, Egeon, Scorpina is more than capable of taking care of herself. Her venom will kill any living organism in under a minute, provided it isn't protected by magic. And Darkonda is no Power Ranger."
"Filthy pig," he continued, his eyes moist with emotion. "I haven't even seen his face in the flesh before this day. Only on the security tapes, on which I saw him steal my sweet Karone-"
"Clear your head, Minister," Zedd commanded, his voice biting, "This needs your full attention." Egeon watched as the emperor opened the small wooden box, revealing a mechanical device.
"The Pulse Bomb," Egeon breathed, "I never believed the stories."
"Believe them. This weapon is my chance to destroy the Machine Empire, and your chance to exact revenge on Darkonda for the disappearance of your child."
The Kerovan took the bomb, and examined it carefully.
"Can you set this bomb to detonate the very moment Deviot opens his mouth to speak?"
"That would be easiest. I can connect the detonator to the jaw hinge… but what if Deviot awakens after Darkonda leaves the Machine Sky Base?"
"Darkonda will not leave before Deviot awakens. Mondo ordered Deviot to be arrested alive, so he could torture the traitor into revealing all he knows of Aradon's forces. Mondo will not pay the reward until Darkonda proves Deviot is alive and unharmed. And I doubt Darkonda is capable of leaving such an exorbitant amount of money behind, despite the fortune I promised him upon completion of this mission."
A wild, cold grin lit the former Minister's face. "His own greed will insure his downfall. Brilliant, my Lord."
Lord Zedd watched the man depart. Once upon a time, he had been a good, noble leader of a powerful, advanced society. However, the tragic disappearance of his youngest child broke his heart. Then, the savage destruction of his entire society shattered his mind.
His thirst for revenge blackened his soul. All Zedd had to do was offer the head of Darkonda, and the brilliant scientist was more than willing to partake in genocide. And as long as Zedd dangled the prospect of vengeance against all of Dark Specter's forces, the tormented genius would serve him faithfully.
The emperor returned to his seat, generating a smoky image of his favorite sight. The mists swirled into a screen, and Zedd watched as the object of his desire slept the sleep of the troubled.
Soon you will sleep in perfect contentment as the galaxy is laid before your feet.
oooOOOooo
"As you can see, I have Deviot with me. I had to knock him out to keep him outta my hair, but I assure you he's in working order. Escort me to the Palace, and let Mondo see for himself."
The faithful robot paused the recording, and eyed his ruler carefully.
The robust King Mondo tapped his fingers thoughtfully before turning to the throne beside him. "What say you, my Dear?"
Machina tightly clenched her hands together. "The image of Deviot was indeed him. I'm sure of it."
"We've gotta get him, Dad!" young Prince Sprocket shouted, pumping his fist, "Now's our chance to find Gasket!"
"I have no interest in finding that traitor!" Mondo hollered, his voice trumpeting through the throne room. "But I am interested in Aradon." He turned to his servant. "Klank, see that this 'Darkonda' is escorted to the Palace. And keep him under heavy guard, to make sure he doesn't try anything."
oooOOOooo
Darkonda stood proudly about ten yards from the thrones of the Supreme Monarchy of all the Machine Empire. Their territory was staggering; nearly a quarter of the inhabited planets of the entire Milky Way were either direct holdings, or paid tribute to the Empire through local technological advances or rare ores.
Darkonda was well aware he was the only Organic in the burring floating palace from which the Monarchy ruled. His cold, confident smirk revealed none of the glittering that warmed his black heart.
Throughout the galaxy, he would win infamy and respect as the mighty Organic that single-handedly destroyed the Machine Empire. He'd get the millions Lord Zedd swore to deliver once he saw the Sky Base burn into ashes. And the icing on the cake; he'd even collect the bounty on Deviot's head.
A good day's haul, if I say so myself…
"I see you've found that sneaky rodent," Mondo noted.
Darkonda's smirk widened as he pitched Deviot's motionless body towards the throne. The ring of Cogs surrounding the demon edged closer, but Mondo lifted his head to stop them.
"He poses no threat to me," the monarch snorted disdainfully. The Cogs bowed in unison, and mutely returned to their perfect ring.
"Klank," Machina uttered, "is Deviot disabled?"
The robot approached Deviot, and the small, round robot on his shoulder beeped as it conducted a brief scan.
"Nay, my Queen," Klank reported, "He's still functional."
"In fact, I can wake him if you'd like," Orbus added.
Mondo's face stretched into a cruel smirk. "Do so. I want to see his face when he realizes his predicament."
Orbus began buzzing again, and a flash of electrical energy shot toward Deviot. Immediately, the traitorous robot jolted to life, jumping to his feet and turning full circle.
His eyes bulged when he laid eyes on the terrible Machine King.
"Welcome, Deviot," Mondo mocked, "Have you nothing to say to your King and Sovereign?"
Deviot's mouth opened… and all hell broke loose.
oooOOOooo
Serpentera hovered just outside Earth's star system. Scorpina stood behind her Lord, her head obediently dipped as she watched him.
Zedd gazed out the view screen, which was focused on the small mechanical disk floating above Earth's natural satellite.
In absolute silence, the Sky Base was swallowed by a ball of flame and electricity. As predicted, the Pulse Bomb distorted and destroyed every operating system on the orb… and as luck would have it, everything in the Machine Empire was operated by complicated computer systems.
The entire Sky Base erupted like a prehistoric volcano.
"If I may be so bold as to ask, why didn't you keep him?" Scorpina wondered. "He may have been an oversexed pig, but his strength and cunning could have been useful against the Power Rangers."
Zedd clasped his hands behind his back. "Darkonda, and even Deviot, could have been valuable to me in some way, shape, or form. Yet Deviot is loyal only to himself, and Darkonda is only loyal to money. My sworn warriors are loyal only to me."
He then turned away, reveling in the sight of the flames reaching to the heavens, only to be quickly quenched in the void of space. "Scorpina, set a course for Earth."
To Be Continued…
A/N: Okay, I just couldn't resist throwing a few familiar alien species into this chapter, so here's the rundown: the auctioneer is Ferengi, and the man that killed him with the batlh'etlh is Klingon. Both are from "Star Trek." Also, the bartender is inspired by Yoda of "Star Wars," and Celeri is Saiyan, from "Dragon Ball Z." I made Chimera up, based on the mythological creature with the head of a lion and tail of a serpent. How many did you recognize?