Widhbo replenished his energy and then he started to work on the bombs. He only had a couple of hours and wanted to build in another surprise or two.

He made a fake nuclear weapon for Tajlon’s demonstration that would make a big splash and make a lot of noise. He arranged sequential conventional explosives, carefully aimed for maximum surface disturbance of the water, a flash bomb for a hot burn, then a huge smoke bomb for the cloud effect with a secondary rocket to lift it high in the sky.

“They’ll love it,” he thought, cackling to himself as he worked.

He made a couple of impressive looking cases with complex wiring for Colberton, but they were total duds and couldn’t be detonated. The radioactive materials had all been stored or fed to the Sora’s power core earlier

Next came the delivery device. He had started designing remote control drones with Tajlon a few months earlier. With the ship to help him, it was child’s play to complete the project.

Jejliard often sailed the Luca Luna alone and had already rigged a steerage system that could be operated by one person. All they needed was to set the controls for the open sea with the drone aboard to deliver the payload. He would teleport Tajlon and Jejliard back to him when they were a few miles out. The drone could be controlled from his perch on the Sora.

Widhbo was in his element and moved about with a greal deal more agility than would be expected for his size. He was seven foot tall and sported a full plummage of white feathers which glowed softly. Once he had completed his handiwork, he stood back and puffed out his chest with admiration.

“Showtime!”

* * *

Widhbo teleported the new drone and live bomb for Tajlon's demonstration to the Luca Luna still tied at the dock and hid them below deck. Next, he refocused on Hal and teleported him on board the Sora.

"Zoom! Zoom!" he thought and cackled to himself. Widhbo's dropped Hal in the chair beneath the helm and shook him awake.

"You could sleep through anything, Hal. Wake up!"

Hal roused and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He woke to the sight of a large white feathered bird towering over him. "What the hell? Widhbo?"

"I've brought you to the Sora for processing. Tajlon can explain it all later. I'm in a hurry. I need to upload your brain to the ship."

Widbho adjusted the helm and started to lower it over Hal's head.

"Not so fast, feather face. What's going on?" He grabbed the helm in one hand, stopping its descent.

"Immortality. I'm recording you before you die, which could be very soon, thus the hurry."

"Where are Tajlon and Jejliard?"

"Tajlon's working in the lab and Jejliard's in his bed. I'll put you back in yours when we're done here."

"Oh, we're a long way from done here."

"Hal, don't be difficult. This is a precaution in case you don't make it back from the demo. Turodey will be blown away by tomorrow by a direct nuclear hit."

"By whom?"

Your friendly General Colberton. Who do you trust? Him or me?"

"Myself."

"Hmm. Lateral thinking. I like that." Widbho rocked from foot to foot with impatience.

"What about the crew on the Sea Grinder? I'm not going anywhere without Greyla."

"I've taken care of them the best I could. Colberton has a special treat in mind for them, at Catspaw I believe."

"Then I'm going to Catspaw. I'll need weapons."

"Really? It's not that simple."

"I think it is. I've seen what you can do. Look around."

"This was a focused project."

"Then focus on saving the Sea Grinder and everyone on board."

Widhbo postured, puffing out his chest and fluffing his wings in an exaggerated fashion.

"I've sent the Solar Wave to intercept them at sea, hopefully before Colberton's men gets to them."

"Then send me and some weapons with the sub."

"What about your upload. It will render you unconscious."

"Screw the upload. Do it later."

"There may not be a later."

"Our priorities are a little different."

Widhbo plucked at a few of his feathers in frustration then tapped in commands on the console control keyboard. "What about this?"

The room in front of them filled with a bright fog and electrified plasma field. Hal felt the hairs on his head stand up. When the fog cleared, Gengor stood before them. Hal jumped out of his chair.

"I thought he was dead"

"He was. This is the new and improved model, adapted for underwater survival in a post war Beldora."

Gengor blinked and oriented himself, then took note of a thick collar around his neck. "What's this?"

"A thought to speech device I invented for you," Widhbo said to Gengor, dancing in place as he looked over his newly minted creation. "Very easy to use. You just did, actually."

"Hello? Is he my weapon?" Hal asked.

"Comrade in arms actually," Widhbo replied.

"You might want to fill him in," Hal said.

Widhbo transferred files with records of the events since his death directly into Gengor's brain. "Done."

"I didn't think you'd bring me back," Gengor said to Widhbo.

"I said I'd get even with them for killing you and I said I'd throw you off my ship. This accomplishes both. It's a chance to redeem yourself. Do everything Hal tells you to do. He's in charge of you."

Widhbo snickered as he considered what Hal might do with Gengor at his side. "They won't see this coming."

Widhbo started rapidly punching keys on the console again, totally lost in his work.

Gengor who walked over toward Hal, testing his new body.

"You look a lot better than the last time I saw you," Hal said.

"Thanks," Gengor replied.

"Are you good with this, buddy?"

“I want to kill every one of them."

"Alright then. We'll get along fine."

Another small plasma cloud formed and deposited a hooded helmet on the floor. Hal walked toward it. "What's this?"

Gengor held a finger to his lips indicating Hal should be quiet. "He's not finished yet."

Hal nodded and tapped a foot in mock boredom.

"You both should come back on my side of the desk," Widhbo said. "Stay off the formation grid, Hal."

They did as he requested. The room came alive with the plasma field which was much more intense this time. When it cleared, a stack of small missiles and a vest with a shoulder launcher lay in the floor.

Hal went and picked up the vest which was far too large for him to wear. "I'm guessing this doesn't come in my size."

"It's mine," Gengor said taking it from Hal and putting it on.

"Your items are over there," Widhbo pointed to a bullet proof vest and a sleek blaster lying beyond the missiles. "It's a nuclear-powered laser. The helmet has its own power source too. Since you don't have a chip, I'll be able to communicate with you and track you through it. I can also upload anyone's persona directly to the Sora through the helm, if it's a clear day that is."

"Sweet." Hal put on the helm and vest, then picked up his new weapon. "Tell me about those," he said pointing to the missiles.

"Miniature torpedoes. They'll work in or out of the water. Don't let the size fool you."

What's the next step?"

"I've deployed the sub hours ago. It's running at maximum speed and is too far away by now to teleport you reliably. You're on your own."

Hal looked to Gengor. "Are you with me on this?"

"Let's do it, boss."

Gengor picked up the missiles and loaded them into the bands in his vest.

"Alright, let's go then," Hal said heading for the door.

"How do you plan to slip by security?" Widhbo asked.

"I don't plan to slip by anybody."