Tajlon went straight to work when Widhbo teleported him back to the lab. It was another hour before Jejliard woke up.

"How do feel?" Tajlon asked.

"Hung over," Jejliard replied. "Did Widhbo pay you a visit by any chance?"

"Oh, yes. I didn't have time for his games," Tajlon replied. "I decided to postpone uploading until I finish here. He can knock me out cold when the work is done."

"This is an amazing opportunity. I just wish it were under different circumstances."

"What was it like?"

"Oerwhelming and a little painful," Jejliard said and looked around the lab. "Where’s Halston?”

“I don’t know,” Tajlon said. "He wasn't here when I got back. I assumed Widhbo swapped us out one at a time, but he should be back by now."

Tajlon was trying hard to clear his head, forget about Soshe and focus on the day before them. “My guess is Hal won't be going with us on the Sora. He wouldn’t leave Greyla.”

His words hung in the air. Tajlon realized what Soshe would think when she discovered he had left. The pain on his face gave his thoughts away.

“You made the right decision, son.”

“Yeah. That’s what my chip said. Not so much, my heart.” Tajlon replied. "I don't think Soshe will ever forgive me. Mara has convinced her the Sora is evil. I can't imagine she would ever get on it."

They could see the ever-present guards through the glass in the door to the lab.

"As unnerving as the experience was, it's good to know Widhbo can teleport us out of here if need be," Jejliard said. "They keep those guards posted around the clock."

He had no sooner spoke thant they could see the guards come to attention and salute.

“Here comes Colberton. What’ll we tell him?” Tajlon asked.

“Let me handle it,” Jejliard said.

Colberton burst through the door in a jovial mood leaving his personal guards outside the lab area.

“There’s my star performer.” he said reaching out to shake Tajlon’s hand. “I’m expecting a big show for the fleet today my boy. I know you won’t let us down.”

“I think you’ll be impressed, General.”

“I’m sure I will,” Colberton turned to Jejliard. “Don't you have a little something for me?”

“I suggest you leave them here until the show is over as a precaution in case something should go awry. Have you selected a location for the demonstration?”

“Where do you suggest?”

“We were planning to go halfway between Turodey and the Agartoon rift," Jejliard said. "Give us a five-minute head start and stay behind us. We’ll be at a safe distance.”

“Fine. Fine,” Colberton wrinkled his brow. “But I’ll need those nukes now, before you leave.”

“I’ll bring them out now, General,” Tajlon said. "We have them well hidden." He turned his back to Colberton, popped his eyebrows up and cut his eyes back toward the general. They needed to stall for time. Widhbo hadn’t delivered the dummy nukes yet.

Jejliard took the hint and kept the conversation going.

Tajlon called to Widhbo telepathically. “Where are the nukes? Colberton's demanding them now.”

“Impatient, is he?” Widhbo quipped. “Where do you want them, up his ass?”

Tajlon stifled a laugh. "Very back of the lab. Track me. I’ll let you know when it's clear.”

He found a far corner that was isolated from view. "Okay, here"

"Incoming...peeoowwh!"

"You're enjoying this a little too much. This is a serious situation." Tajlon chided.

"I made you laugh. If you take everything too seriously all the time you'll snap, Tajlon."

The fake bombs appeared from thin air as they were teleported to the corner of the lab.

"I know you're trying to cheer me up about Soshe. It won't help. I can't forget I'm leaving her and Mara to fend for themselves."

"Not true. Nova is with them."

"Then I'm abandoning him too. Where's Hal?"

"He wanted to go with the sub, but it left earlier."

Colberton stuck his head outside the door of the lab and called to his guards to bring in some workers to carry the bombs. A guard called out for Tajlon.

"I'm back here," he answered. "Not a second too soon, Widhbo."

"What's the hold up?" the guard asked and brushed past Tajlon to inspect the new bombs.

"Nothing," Tajlon replied. "Just making a last-minute check."

They loaded the bombs on a cart and wheeled them to the front where Colberton and Jejliard were waiting.

"Now those are a sight to see," Colberton said and whistled through his teeth. "These ready to go?" He stroked one of the fake fission devices.

"They are," Tajlon said.

"Give me a look inside?"

"Sure. They're not armed yet." Tajlon opened one of the hinged casings. He trusted Widhbo had thought of everything.

Colberton cast his eyes over the complex interior of wires, capacitors and fuses surrounding a solid core painted with radioactive warnings and symbols.

"How do we arm it?"

Tajlon quickly scanned for a keyboard and saw one in the back of the cylinder. "Here." He breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "I made the code sequence the same as the serial number of the ship so you couldn't lose it or forget it."

"Good thinking," Colberton said looking pleased as the soldiers carried the bombs out. "Take those to the batttleship," Colberton said to his men. "I assume you're ready for the demonstration, Tajlon?"

"I am. It's loaded on the Luca Luna and ready to go.," Tajlon lied and called to Widhbo again telepathically. "They look fantastic, but where's my demo and where's Hal?"

"Your live demo bomb is already on board the Luca Luna," Widhbo said. "Hal's being Hal."

"We'll be off then," Jejliard said.

"I'll be right behind you," Colberton said a little too cheerily, then with a darker tone to his voice. "Where's Halston?"

"He should already be on board," Tajlon was quick to answer.

"Well now, you don't need three people, do you? Jejliard, ride with us. You'll have a grandstand view."

Tajlon tried not to react, but he froze for a brief moment. Colberton was separating them and essentially taking Jejliard hostage.

"Where's Hal?" Tajlon asked Widbho.

"Leaving the Sora in three, two, one..."

Jejliard was about to respond when their conversation was interrupted by the sound of weapons being fired. Between the popping of gunfire was heard a high-pitched whine. Colberton's men scrambled to find out what had happened.

"I should mention Gengor is with him and they have weapons," Widhbo said.

"What kind of weapons?" Tajlon asked.

"Real ones."

* * *

A thick haze was engulfing the dock and the acid odor of metal pervaded the air. Hal's blaster vaporized the metal in one of the large chains holding the Sora and it lurched to one side. He placed a line of laser fire along the wooden dock, catching it on fire. The blaze flared several feet into the air, black smoke coming from the oiled wood. Several guards lay wounded on the dock and shore. Hal advanced down the dock; his form lost in the billowing smoke.

Gengor dove into the water and headed straight for Colberton's ship anchored a couple hundreds of yards away. Widhbo had given him webbing between his fingers and toes as well as gills. He wouldn't need to surface again.

Jejliard took advantage of the confusion and reached under his mattress for one of the military rifles he'd stashed there. He aimed it at Colberton whose men had all ran out the door. Tajlon saw his opportunity, grabbed another rifle and covered Jejliard.

"There's been a change of plan, Robert," Jejliard said. He was surprised at how calm he felt. He and Tajlon had just turned the tables. There was no going back.

***

"Put the weapons down," Colberton ordered. "You don't stand a chance. The Beldorian Security forces and my battleship are already on the way from Novaland, Jejliard.

"They aren't coming to watch Tajlon's demonstration though, are they?" Jejliard countered. "They're coming to steal the spaceship and blow Turodey off the map."

"How could you possibly know that?" Colberton asked. "Not even my top ranking officers are privy to such classified information."

"Like everything else on Beldora, I have superior intell, General," Jejliard said. "Turn around." He pressed the barrel of his rifle to Colberton's back. "Let's go. You go first this time."

Colberton looked to Tajlon who gave him back a steely stare. "Such a waste of talent young man. I had great plans for you."

"I have my own plans thanks."

Jejliard pushed Colberton out the door and evaluated the scene. They could see some motion on the Luca Luna and saw Hal toss a rope free. He was about to leave. "Call to your men," Jejliard ordered. "Tell them to stand down."

You kill me and they'll waste their bullets on the two of you, " Colberton replied.

"I won't kill you, Robert. Just take out a knee."

Tajlon fired his rifle in the air to get attention and help Hal escape.

All the guards turned in their direction with firearms taking aim.

"Hold your fire," Colberton yelled. "Stand down."

"Weapons on the ground," Jejliard said. "Now!"

Colberton had broken out into a cold sweat. "Do as the man says."

A clatter of rifles was heard up and down the dock. The Luca Luna's auxilliary engine fired up and she pulled away.

"You can't get away with this. You'll be hunted to the last backwater jungle of Beldora."

A loud blast and shock wave hit the dock. A cloud of smoke poured from the hull of the big battle ship stationed in the harbor and a flicker of flames erupted on the side.

"No! This can't be!" Colberton screamed as though in physical pain. His neck veins bulged, and his face turned a livid shade of red. The ship began to take on water and listed to the port side. One of Gengor's missiles had struck home.

"It looks like you'll be riding with us instead," Jejliard said and then pointing to Colberton's men. "Everyone in the water."

A grumble of protest went up.

"Anyone who stays on the dock will be shot. Go!"

And then to Tajlon. "Get the workers and load everyone not with Colberton on the Sora."

"What if they don't want to come?" Tajlon asked.

"Tell them the truth. There's a nuclear attack coming to Turodey," Jejliard said. Then to Colberton, "We'll have to escape on the Sora."

"You realize my engineers have been making final modifications to our own bombs thanks to Tajlon's input at the conference earlier. They're untested of course, but we have a lot more than two nukes," Colberton boasted. "I'm betting they will work."

"And I'm betting this space shipcan fly."