The Cagliostro Chronicles II: Conflagration by Ralph L. Angelo Jr.

exited the command deck.
    “He’s quiet. Been that way since I got back in here an hour ago ,” Red commented.
    “Why’d you come back here an hour ago? I thought you were going to get some rest, and I know your morning routine ; two hours of exercise before you take your post.”
    “Relax, Boss. I had six hours sleep.”
    “And a half dozen cups of coffee?” Mark smiled.
    “Yeah, at least.” Red returned his grin.
    “How are our guests out there? Behaving themselves yet?”
    “So far so good ,” the big security officer shrugged.
    “Okay . Don’t let them start any cooking fires. I don’t want to bring any attention at all to this position. We’re buried deep in the foliage here, and it’s been serving its purpose. But we are literally under the nose of our enemy. After Eddie took out that ship yesterday in the Stargrazer I’m surprised this place isn’t swarming with Agalum.”
    Mark stopped and looked out the view screen, then returned his gaze to Red. “What happened to Red Kong?”
    “Disappeared during the night. He got up quietly and skulked off according to Marek.”
    “Huh. I thought it was brain damaged from the beating Dan gave it .”
    “Yeah,” agreed Red, “There was no reason to post guards around it, when we could have watched it just as closely from here.”
    “Very true, Red. Besides the way it was lying there I doubt it would have wanted to cause us any more problems once it awakened.” Mark mused.
    “Or that Chakix thing inside of Ari might’ve ordered it to remain still and sleep. We don’t know what kind of control that creature has on the animals on this world. Hell, it may have control over the natives as well.”
    Mark nodded silently. “You are right, Red. We really don’t know the extent of that thing’s power. Danny said we’d be spaceworthy by the end of today. I think it’s time to start getting the ball rolling on our exit strategy here.”
    “I hate to be the one to mention the eight hundred pound gorilla in the room, but what about that base that’s in the volcano? Are we just going to leave here and not help these people?”
    “Red, we’re damaged. You know I have the utmost faith in this ship and more importantly the crew . But we are in the deep end of the pool here without a life jacket. The ship is damaged, and while Danny and the engineering staff can get us up and running to close to full capacity, I’m not sure I want to go into battle without a full refit on Earth, especially against an entire base full of Agalum.”
    “You do not have a choice , MarkJohnson,” Both men turned toward the Maglovator door to see Ariel walking in, but it was Chakix speaking. Behind her was Dr. Troiano waving her hands frantically.
    Ma rk put his hand up, halting Ann Troiano in her place.
    “What do you want , Chakix? I cannot drive these invaders off of your world. We are one ship and a damaged one at that. They outnumber us by a vast number. I have complete faith in my crew, but I refuse to send them to their death, just because you want me to. That’s not going to happen.”
    “You will remove them from my world MarkJohnson or I will make sure ArielO’Connor never leaves here.”
    “That’s something else that is not going to happen .”
    “You force my hand , Earthman.”
    Telekinetic lightning flared from Ariel’s eyes and slammed into Mark’s chest , throwing him across the command deck. Everyone on deck scattered.
    Red leaped through the air, and tackled Chakix/Ariel, knocking her to the floor, b ut her telekinetic power instantly hurled him away, to land unceremoniously next to Mark.
    “ Ow. That hurt,” Red mumbled painfully.
    “No kidding. Oh no,” Mark exclaimned.
    His eyes were fasten ed onto the rear of the command deck, where Chakix/Ariel had Dr. Troiano by the throat and was holding her a foot above the ground by the neck.
    Troiano’s feet kicked frantically as a hypo dermic needle clattered to the ground from her outstretched