‘My men are talented trackers, they will find him wherever he is,’ said Alkon confidently, circling to Kobin’s right side, keeping his distance. ‘But for him to be found,’ he went on, ‘he must first be lost.’
‘With more practice, your men will not lose their captives,’ said Kobin bluntly.
‘Your ignorance surpasses your wit, Callibrian. Do not think you can rely upon magic tricks to be safe here. A bullet can come from any direction.’
‘As can a man’s failure,’ Kobin retorted.
Alkon circled back to the left, refusing to take his angered stare away from Kobin as he did. ‘You are right about one thing. The boy will be found, but not by the scout you sent. I have ordered a helicopter to locate him. He will be dead in the coming days.’
‘You fool,’ whispered Kobin.
‘What did you say?’
‘You will condemn this unit for the sake of impatience, and risk losing our only chance at finding the Daijuarn hideouts!’
Alkon grinned from beneath his anger. Kobin had allowed him to find a weakness he was able to exploit. Kobin quickly calmed himself, hiding his vulnerability the best he could. The damage was small. He could still recover.
‘The only evidence I have seen of the Daijuar is the powerful one’s shield when we first arrived here,’ said Alkon with a note of triumph. ‘He was defeated with ease. They are not a threat to us.’
Kobin was silent in thought.
Alkon circled back to his right side. ‘Have you nothing to say?’
With slow, purposeful movements, Kobin straightened his coat, seemingly unaware that Alkon had spoken as he looked directly ahead.
‘You must answer a commander, Callibrian!’
‘If the Daijuar are not a threat,’ said Kobin casually, ‘why have you developed weaponry solely for defeating them? I understand that the High Council has not yet heard of this work. Perhaps I should ask them what should be done about the boy.’
Alkon laughed. ‘You think your threats mean something to me. You are new to the Alliance, Callibrian, do not mistake the High Council’s kindness to you as genuine interest. They are grateful for what you have done for us, but you have not yet earned their respect. I will notify them on the progress when it is ready to be used.’
‘And what will you use it for?’ asked Kobin.
‘If by chance the Daijuar stand in our way again, they will wish they had not. There is no more to this discussion. We have no need of the boy. He will meet his end in two days.’ Before Kobin was able to protest, Alkon added, ‘And you will not speak of him again.’
Alkon walked briskly away, leaving Kobin standing where he was. For this bout between them, he had been the victor, and he would not allow Kobin another chance to make it otherwise. In the future, he suffered no delusion of there being peace between them. They were destined to clash again if Kobin insisted that his opinion should not only be heard but followed as well. Kobin had to learn his place, and in time, perhaps even keep his comments to himself.
Alkon smiled as he walked. The attack had been a drain on him, but he was starting to feel a little better already, and if Kobin wished to use his magic tricks around him again, Alkon would have a surprise for him.
As Kobin wandered slowly back to his quarters, Alkon entered the laboratory where he knew he would find the head of the Equan science team, Ethan Coride.
‘I want to see it,’ said Alkon, startling Ethan from his work over a small electronic device.
Ethan looked up from the desk, the lamp swaying slightly as he did. A magnifying function on the headset he wore retracted to allow for normal vision, and he took a moment to register what had been said. Seconds later, he straightened up and walked through the door at the other end of the room. Alkon waited, crossing to the desk and glancing momentarily over Ethan’s latest project. It made little sense, alien-looking instruments strewn across the flat surface and little more. This was why he enjoyed visiting Ethan. There was always something new and amazing to be seen.
Ethan returned soon after with a metal case. It appeared he was able to hold it easily with one hand, but chose to hold it with two, as if it were a delicate vase. Ethan put the case on another desk to Alkon’s right and opened it carefully.
Alkon approached him. ‘Is it done?’
‘It is not yet as powerful as we had hoped, but it is useable, yes.’
‘Will it do as we planned?’
‘It is hard to say, General,’ said Ethan, reaching into the case and taking out a metal brace. ‘If you are able to catch them by surprise, it will suffice, but it has not yet been able to penetrate our shields entirely.’