Chapter 67
Chapter 67
“So it’s not a black hole bomb?” Max asked, studying the metal ball in his hands that looked just like the one Nerdok had displayed on the screen.
“It is not one, but it looks and will act like a real one at first,” Nerdok stated. “I sent in my request, got laughed at, discussed who I put in the request on behalf of, endured a day’s worth of grumbling, and three days later, received that.”
“So I’ve been given a fake one,” Max said, sensing the reasoning behind the gift. “And how would anyone know this isn’t the real thing?”
“Well, when it doesn’t suck in four or five systems or create a tear in space that typically requires the Archons to eventually fix,” Nerdok replied, matter-of-fact like. “You’ll just have to bluff your way out of it.”
“Bluff my way about having a black-hole bomb in a monitored arena, while it’s shown across thousands of worlds, and hope the void god doesn’t call my bluff.”
Saying that out loud sounds really stupid.
I’m certain you’ve said dumber things. Or at least Fowl has.
“Exactly,” Nerdok said. “Remember, you have the switch. Press the button, and it starts to exhibit some of the qualities of the black hole bomb. It will suck in dust, dirt, and stone, but that will only last about sixty seconds before the bomb stops working. After that, it’s just a play toy.”
This is so you. I mean, we’re playing with death, bluffing about something we don’t have, all while fighting a god that should be able to kill us. How can this not be something you would come up with? Because…
Max stopped arguing, knowing that Bob was right and that he would indeed come up with a plan like this if given the opportunity.
“Odds of success?” Max asked the gnome.
Nerdok frowned for a moment. “Honestly… less than 10%. I was told 17%, but I’m not so sure. You don’t seem like the kind of god that could pull something like this off.”
“Should I take that as an insult?” Max asked.
“No… you seem… nice. Most gods aren’t nice . They’re ruthless. Sure, some can play the nice card, and a few of the kinder ones are horrible opponents, but nice gods don’t last long. You have to be willing to sacrifice everything sometimes. Friends, planets, family.”
“I’m not sure that’s true,” Max said.
“Maybe, but I’ve been around a long time,” Nerdok stated. “These silver strands of hair aren’t just ’cause the four who chose my appearance put them there at the start. They made me change over time because they changed over time.”
“They got meaner?” Max asked.
Nerdok didn’t say anything. He just shrugged, his lips pulled tight.
“Well, thank you,” Max said, holding out a hand. “I appreciate everything.”
The gnome shook it and sighed. “I wish you the best, Max. I really do. I hope nice guys… or gods don’t always lose.”
Max knelt and put a hand on the emissary’s shoulder, smiling. “Bet on me. Always bet on me,” he said. “I’ll prove to you I can make it.”
Those silver eyes sparked just slightly before Nerdok coughed.
“Well, time for you to go. I’ve been given orders, and standing around in this room all day isn’t one of them. But before you go… take this.”
A red and gold card appeared in Nerdok’s fingers, looking gigantic in those tiny fingers.
“What is this?” Max asked as he took it.
“ When you return, show that upon arrival. It will… make it easier on getting you to me and not cause as many problems.”
Max nodded, took the card, and admired it. There was a certain energy that was set inside. Tiny runes lined the surface of the card. “So you say, when . Does that mean I’m permitted back?”
A small chuckle came from the tiny gnome. “I’d expect you’ll return at some point. Perhaps I’m just trying not to have as much excitement when you do. I would like to express my gratitude for the drink and our conversations. Whatever happens, be safe, Max Hoste.”
“Thank you again,” Max replied. “I hope to prove you wrong about the nice guy stuff.”
[ System Travel - Planetary ]
As he stepped through the portal, Max’s sonar picked up on a few words.
“So do I.”
***
“I can’t believe you’re going to go through with this,” Miranna said. “Mom told me what had happened… why can’t you just let the planet go?”
Max would have shrugged if she hadn’t been leaning against his arm as they sat on the ledge that overlooked the city.
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“Because I can’t. I have to take this fight. Something about it is wrong… Zogooruth challenging me two times in a row, basically a hundred years apart, is impossible,” Max said. “Every angle I look at it, the truth is there’s no way someone isn’t pulling his strings.”
“And so you’re just going to walk into a trap? A fight you can’t win?”
Max patted her leg. “Do you walk away from fights that you’re not sure you can win?”
He felt Miranna tense, moving away from his side and frowning. “That’s a bad question, Dad.”
“But it’s the one I need to ask. You of all people know what it takes to walk through a portal, not sure what is on the other side, and know you have to defeat it.”
His daughter grunted. For a brief moment, she had trembled, but then appeared to have stopped herself.
“Every day I ask myself if today is the day someone else will die,” Miranna whispered. “Or if Shale Spark will die… or… me. I don’t have a spark… If Shale dies, she’ll come back. If the other three die, they’ll come back. But if I do… that’s it. The weight of that will haunt you and Mom forever.”
“And we understand that,” Max said softly. “We understand the drive you have and the pain you carry. It’s why I like times like this. You and I, spending a moment talking about life and its hard parts. We both know each of us is there for the other.”
“Yeah… but…” Miranna started to say. She stopped and leaned against his arm. “I can’t imagine life without you.”
“Nor I,” Max replied. “But I won’t hold you back from chasing your dreams. Just like you can’t hold me back from chasing mine.”
“And what is that dream?” Miranna asked. “You never really told me your real dream. Not the one you always talk about, ‘keeping us safe.’”
Max took a deep breath and slowly let it out. His words got stuck in his throat, and he had to repeat the action several times. “ My dream is to be able to protect you both and know that no one will harm you. That’s never changed. What has changed…” Max paused, knowing he was about to voice something he hadn’t planned on saying for some time. “Is helping Bob. No matter what the day is going to come when the two of us will be facing two other gods, each with a black skill. I have to make it to that day. I have to survive a fight, I don’t think I’m supposed to.”
He turned and gently tapped her chin. “And that Star is part of me, keeping my dream. Those two are intertwined; one just doesn’t get voiced as much because talking about it is hard on everyone. Your mother especially.”
***
“I can’t believe you’re going in like that,” Fowl said, slugging Max in the shoulder. “You know I believe you’ll win.”
Max chuckled and gave his dwarven friend a small punch back. “Of course I’m going to win. I have to be here to keep my shorter brother out of trouble.”
Fowl shook his head, a smile beginning to form, right until Max grabbed the dwarf by his shoulders and spun him around.
“I hate when you do that!”
Max laughed and sat his dwarven brother down. “I know, that’s why I always do it.”
A large hand rubbed his bald head, and Max sensed a second hand coming to repeat the gesture.
“I’m not okay with this,” Max protested as Sog attempted to mimic Rakonath’s action. “The head rubs are only for Tanila.”
“But it feels so… smooth,” Sog stated. “It’s hard to describe other than I might need to get a human friend with a bald head like yours that I can rub whenever I want.”
“And things just went sideways,” Cordellia said, groaning. “You two stop messing with him and let Jazzjak and Max get going.”
Max smiled at their elven archer. “You sure? I’d let you rub my head if you wanted.”
Her cheeks reddened, and Cordellia gave a hand gesture that sent the rest gathered in the room into tears and laughter.
“Be safe, Max,” Batrire said, patting his arm. “You know you’re my second favorite dwarf.”
“I do,” Max replied. “And you know you’re my favorite dwarf.”
“Hey!” Fowl protested, winking at Max.
“Give me a hug and get going,” Tanila said as she came toward Max, the rest of the group all giving them space.
Max moved toward his wife, wrapped his arms around her, and drew her close. She smelled of lavender, a scent that always reminded him of her.
“I love you,” Max whispered. “I’ll come back, I promise.”
He felt Tanila tighten for a moment as she hugged him a little harder. “I know. You always do.”
Giving her a quick kiss on the lips, Max moved to join Jazzjak, who was waiting by the portal area.
“See!” Cordellia exclaimed. “That’s how you kiss in public! Not making noises and trying to see who passes out first.”
Max chuckled and motioned to Jazzjak. “I’m ready.”
The vorpal rabbit nodded and pointed at the spot next to him. “We’ll be back soon.”
***
“Max… Can I just say… You don’t have to do this?” Jazzjak said once it was just Max and him in the waiting room for the fight. “You could still back out.”
Max put his hand on the shoulder being the system had given them. He squeezed and pretended to pick a bit of white fuzz off the perfect black suit Jazzjak wore.
“Listen, Jazzjak,” Max said. “Sometimes I think I should have asked what you wanted to be called or how you wanted to look. At the time, I got caught up in a stupid game of dwarf-donkey-beer and didn’t ask. Then I felt stupid later when the thought came to me that maybe I should. Another part of me experiences great joy when I see you. You remind me of a friend who sometimes acts just like you. He would be nervous, thinking I was crazy and that I didn’t have a chance. But like him, you’re also wrong. No matter what happens, no matter who I face in that arena, I’m coming back.”
Jazzjak stiffened slightly, and then his shoulders relaxed. “I hear you… It’s just… like you said, I value our friendship. I really do. A hundred years almost, and it’s like I’ve known you far longer. You still treat me… all of you treat me differently than I’ve ever been treated, and sometimes…” A few tears rolled down the white fur, escaping those ruby red eyes. “Sometimes it pains me to think I might lose one of you.”
Max nodded and thumped his own chest. “That pain you feel, right here. That means you love someone enough that losing them will hurt. But that doesn’t mean you can’t let them grow up, make their own choices, and possibly fall. Love doesn’t do that.”
His friend and help slowly bobbed his head, a single ear flopping over as Jazzjak did. “You’re right. I know it.” He cleared his throat. Jazzjak wiped the tears from his face and then took a deep breath. “Go win again, Max. Show all the gods who you are.”
Max laughed. “That’s what I’m talking about! Now then, I’m ready whenever they are.”
Jazzjak’s tablet appeared in those fur-covered paws, and he tapped once on it.
A shimmering white disc began to grow below Max’s feet.
We may have a chance of winning this after all.
You really think so?
After the performance you just put on about how we’re winning no matter what, yeah.