Divine Deception: The Will Traveller Chronicals (26 page)

“So we let Lord
Robert destroy and kill until they do” Confirmed the first man.

“As you said
Julia, we can’t touch him” The man added.

Just then, an
extremely attractive, almost erotically dressed young woman, who
had obviously come direct from a party or some other function,
turned and raised her hand, she had headphones on and was over by
an electronic panel on the other side of the room.

“There’s someone
coming online!” She announced in a sultry, excited, but very clear
voice.

“Yes, this is
Governor Barry’s office” She said into the mouthpiece. A moment’s
silence, then she suddenly sat up as if shocked “Yes Lord Elton,
right away” She replied, her voice now breathless. She turned on
the speaker phone as instructed.

“Barry, you
there?” Elton’s voice demanded imperiously.

“Yes Lord Elton, I
am so glad to hear from you” The Governor almost grovelled.

“Millwell here
says Lord Robert is on his way to Port Rualé” Elton told him
brusquely, a question in his voice.

“It’s true your
Worship, it’s true!” Governor Barry confirmed to him, adding “He’s
already destroyed the Clearance building, please come and….” He
pleaded.

“Alright,
alright!” Elton cut him off, seems he never was too patient “Enough
whining Barry. How did he do that” Elton demanded to know and was
alarmed to find out. Though I didn’t know it at the time, he and
Edmond had tried to demolish the rest of the retirement resort,
only to lose another T.T.V to Jarrat’s weapon. Thus Elton assumed
no doubt with the encouragement of his older brother and sister,
that I’d given mine to Jarrat. The three of them knew that we all
had only one each.

“Well, I’ll just
have to come over and see if my Brother and I can talk things over”
Elton replied, after some seconds of silence.

“Er forgive me
Lord Elton, this is Deputy Governor Flake” The older, taller man
spoke.

“Yes Flake what is
it?” Elton snapped back impatiently.

“Well, Sire, I am
a little concerned that if you and Lord Robert fight it out, well
Sire, with the weapons you use and all, it could be…..” The Deputy
Governor let his voice trail off.

“There is no need
to be at all worried Flake” Elton’s tone was condescending “Lord
Robert has lost his vehicle and I’m sure he will just be glad of a
lift home” Elton answered, giving a patronising laugh “Expect me in
a half an hour” He commanded curtly, then hung up.

“I don’t
understand” It was the sultry voiced radio operator “He doesn’t
seem too angry about Lord Robert murdering their Brother and
Sister” She commented, sounding puzzled.

“Sharon” Governor
Barry replied in a Fatherly tone “You’re a brilliant young
technician, just focus on that will you and don’t wonder about
things which have nothing to do with you” He said..

I froze everyone
in that room, except the beautiful young radio operator, and then I
quietly entered through the big double doors. The poor girl almost
fainted, reaching out for support from a younger man, only to find
him frozen. She fell to her knees crying, when she saw the others
in a living but totally immobilized state.

“Sharon, Sharon,
there is no need to cry” I called to her softly. She stopped crying
and looked up, without raising her head.

“How is it that
you know my name Lord Robert?” She asked, speaking softly into the
carpet.

“Sharon, you
really have nothing to fear from me” I repeated as assuringly as I
could, stepping forward to help her back to her feet. “Now let’s
get to work, we’ve only got a half hour” I told her, leading her
back to the communication console. She stopped, still standing in
front of the console

“Should I serve
you when the Supreme One has declared you an outlaw and expelled
you from the Supreme Family?” The very brave young woman challenged
me softly, in that low sultry voice.

“Perhaps I’ll get
the chance to explain later Sharon, right now all I want you to do
is make some phone connections for me” After a moment’s thought,
she sat down. She used the non monitored commercial line, despite
protesting that it was ‘illegal on pain of death’, to raise Susan.
I filled Susan in on the current situation, and confirmed Elton’s
hunt for me. Then Sharon asked for the phone.

“Does Lord Elton
believe Lord Robert killed them?” She asked

“It may seem that
way” Susan replied, adding “But I’m sure he knows Lord Robert
didn’t”. The Port Rualé operator heard lots more from Susan too,
but it was my call to Jarrat and his account of the second attack,
on defenceless people who have served the Supreme House all their
lives, which really did horrify her.

“Lord Edmond and
Lord Elton used their laser weapons to destroy the green house,
before I could get a shot at them” He told me “Two hundred and
thirty dead, only eight survived” He added.

“Did you hit Lord
Elton’s ship?” I asked hopefully.

“No” Jarrett’s
replied “They both took off soon as I opened fire on the other one”
The young man reported.

“Good work Jarrat”
I congratulated “At least they have one less T.T.V. to do their
dirty work. And we might have some more in another day or two” I
added. After filling him in on events up to now, I said goodbye and
Sharon broke the connection.

“So, didn’t you
kill them Lord Robert?” Sharon asked, standing, arms folded,
looking at me and showing absolutely no fear.

“No, my younger
Sister tried to kill me and hit Lord Peter instead” I answered “She
also hit a pillar, which brought the whole balcony down on her.
That’s the simple truth” I told her quietly.

“Perhaps I’m being
imprudent in questioning you Lord Robert” She acknowledged in an
almost respectful way “But why was your younger Sister trying to
kill you in the first place?” She asked.

“Because she
believed what her older Sister had told her, which was that I was
going to destroy Supreme House and it’s control of the New World” I
answered, looking deep into the beautiful young woman’s remarkably
pale blue eyes.

“Is that true?”
She asked, her sultry voice completely emotionless.

“As a matter of
fact yes Sharon” I replied “Now go back to the lounge, sit down and
I’ll return everyone to normal. You won’t remember a thing” I
assured her.

“But I want to
Lord Robert!” Sharon exclaimed. This time her voice held respect
and even warmth “I’m witnessing history and personally serving the
one who will soon lead the entire New World” She declared
stubbornly, not moving.

“Once you cross
that line, nothing will ever be the same” I warned.

“Will anything be
the same after today Lord Robert?” Her eyes and that oh-so-sultry
but strong voice convinced me she was sure. We stepped back out of
the room and I unfroze its remaining eleven occupants. They stood
looking at each other, understandably confused.

Governor Barry was
the first to speak, after looking at his watch.

“I don’t know
what’s going on here, but Lord Elton is due any minute now”. The
others checked their watches. Blake saw that Sharon was missing and
was just about to say something about it when the console started
to blink. Almost automatically, Julia picked it up and snapped.

“Governor Barry’s
office” Then she snapped to attention and almost stammered “Yes
Lord Elton. Not now no, Lord Elton. At the Clearance House Lord
Elton” and “Yes my Lord” In answer to Elton’s short, sharp
questions. Shaken, she returned the hand piece to it’s cradle.
“He’s on his way here” Julia told the other men.

“With his fleet?”
A suddenly alarmed Governor Barry asked her.

“No, he’s only got
one of those T.T.V. craft” She told him. The plan had worked, by
now Zoran would have control of Elton’s other two T.T.Vs. The
‘here’ Julia had spoken of was the third floor of this building, so
they quickly tidied up and went down to greet their Lord, radiating
almost every emotion imaginable. All of them completely forgetting
that they were leaving Sharon upstairs. I told her to wait there
and followed the others down. Elton’s T.T.V. looked huge; it filled
the road outside and was two stories high. When the doors swished
open and the transom lowered, a brown clad younger version of Zoran
did the whole routine.

“You are honoured
by the presence of Lord Elton of the Divine House of Brown” He
announced grandly.

All of them
grovelled sickeningly, kissing his proffered hand. This was a very
different Elton to the thirty year old youngest brother I’d met at
Supreme House. Here he was God, and he quite obviously liked to
drink from their worshipful well.

“Enough, enough”
He barked regally, when he was well assured of his absolute
supremacy among these probably more intelligent people. He walked
up to the Governor and hissed venomously.

“Where is my
Brother Barry?” Right in the poor man’s very frightened face.

“I, I really don’t
know my Lord. I would give my life to know that you might slay him”
The Governor avowed..

“Oh come now
Barry” Elton’s voice was cold “Let’s not be so melodramatic” He
added, thawing slightly “No one needs to die. I’m just here to take
him home” He lied easily “Only the Supreme One sits in judgement”
He said with carefully feigned reverence. They passed within inches
of me, as Lord Elton suddenly decided that the roof was where he
wanted to be. I moved quickly out of the building’s doors and onto
the big T.T.V’s still lowered transom. The two guards only got a
glimpse of me when I was already there. I froze them and Elton’s
older spokesman, before any of them could sound the alarm. I did
the same to the other three guards and the two beautiful, near nude
girls who lay on Elton’s bed in his lavishly decorated cabin. With
the laser weapon in my hand, I entered the cockpit of Elton’s
T.T.V.

“Good Morning
Gentlemen” I said quietly but firmly, they saw me and began to get
up, but I held up my hand “You know that I can kill you and you
cannot harm me” I pointed out quietly “If I wanted to kill Lord
Elton, I could have done that already” I reasoned. They sat back
down, afraid, but curious as well.

“Speak with either
of the other two Captains” I told Elton’s Captain. He did as
instructed and was told that Zoran had taken both craft, in my
name. The Captain then told his three man crew.

“What is it you
wish me to do Lord Robert” He asked, resigned to the reality that
things were beyond his control.

“Why don’t we go
and pick up Lord Elton” I suggested, grinning to myself at this
unplanned turn of events.

The Captain
ordered the transom up, but got no response, then I remembered and
promptly unfroze the guards. Then they did as ordered, all were
still unaware of my presence aboard.

“Tell your crew
what has happened” I ordered the Captain “And please remind them of
who I am. No one will be hurt if they obey my orders, understand?”
The Captain nodded, confusion growing in his eyes, as he did just
as he’d been told to.

“Just hold off on
that assent for a moment Captain” I ordered.

“Yes Sire” He
replied dutifully. I turned and entered the main cabin. The old man
stood waiting with the five young guards, who stiffened and
saluted.

“You are?” I asked
Elton’s older spokesman gently. Surprised, the old man looked at me
strangely

“I am Salam Sire,
you don’t know me?” He asked curiously.

“I have forgotten
much old man” I told him, adding “And I have discovered much as
well. Are you well and good with Zoran?” I enquired of the old
man.

“Oh yes Lord
Robert” His reply held genuine warmth “We are lifelong
friends”.

“Then speak with
him and you will know the truth” I suggested. Elton’s two party
girls hadn’t felt the need to get dressed yet. They came to the
door of his cabin, pathetic in their course attempts to attract my
favour.

“Put some clothes
on and cover your whorish hides” I ordered

them coldly, then
I returned to join the four men in the cockpit.

“Alright Captain,
take her up” I ordered. But he hesitated, worried.

“Er Sire, with
respect Lord Robert” The Captained coughed “Er, I wondered if,
well, I’m happy to pilot the craft Lord Robert, but we don’t need
the crew, the guards or Salam” He pointed out “So can we not leave
them down here?” The brave and caring Captain looked at me, his
eyes pleading. I stepped toward him and put my right hand on his
shoulder.

“You think Lord
Elton would fire on his own ship to kill me” I asked, a little
surprised. But not as surprised as I was at this loyal Captain’s
soft but vehement reply.

“Lord Elton would
not give our destruction a moment’s thought” He told me, looking
directly into my eyes “If he has to kill all of us so he can kill
you Lord Robert, he will” The Captain replied.

“Captain” I looked
into his weather beaten face “Although Lord Elton doesn’t know it
yet, he cannot kill me again” I assured him, adding “And, I promise
that I will not let him harm this ship”.

“If Lord Elton
killed you, how is it you are here?” He was quite understandably
confused.

“Zoran seems to
understand that better than I do” Was my truthful reply “Now let’s
ease on up to the rooftop and see what Lord Elton is up to” I
ordered kindly, adding “I assure you men, you have nothing to fear”
As I looked around at the decidedly nervous crew.

The T.T.V. lifted
silently till we could just see the twelve people from the cockpit.
They were all looking out toward the port, their backs to us.

“Open the doors
and put the transom out just level with the roof” I told the
Captain and walked back into the cabin. When the door opened I
stepped out onto the landing platform.

“We can’t stand
around up here all night” Growled Elton “Don’t you have ways to
track people down” He rasped at the Governor and his frightened
staff.