THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

in deference. “Then do it. Grab them.” 
    “We will, but we can’t move too quickly. G’ortians disappearing draws more attention than losing the other MystiK adolescents. And still, capturing those other five may not be enough.”
    SEOH breathed through clenched teeth for a moment, determined not to lose his patience. “Now what do you want?”
    “To prevent the MystiKs any chance of outplaying us. I’m concerned about the unknown element in all of this that could jeopardize everything we’ve worked toward. To win this war for domination, I believe we must strike from all sides at once.”
    Now Rustaad was talking SEOH’s language. “I’m listening.”
    “First we capture the other five G’ortians, all of whom are future MystiK rulers, and take them out of play, which will prevent their prophecy from coming to fruition.”
    “You’re sure.” 
    “As sure as I can be. We interpret the prophecy to mean that a specific G’ortian will guide the future of the world.”
    I hate that mumbo jumbo crap . But SEOH believed in TecKnati analysts, the ones he’d hand selected from the best to work on his secret project. “Go on.”
    Rustaad lifted his hand, two fingers unfolded as he counted. “Next, we need a successful activation on time of the laser grid to neutralize all MystiK power before the leaders meet. But to insure our final step in this plan, we must have number three–to locate the sentient computer before the MystiKs do and perfect time travel in both directions, not just into the past.”
    “I do want that computer for many reasons, starting with keeping those crazy MystiKs from destroying it. But even if we don’t get our hands on it before the BIRG Con, we have confirmation that our people in the past are on track with DNA testing and inoculations. As long as we can travel back in time, we’re still good.”
    Rustaad stared unfocused for a moment then said, “True. But gaining that computer would be a game changer, even more so than the grid system.”
    SEOH sighed, wishing he could just blast the MystiKs to hell and back with a T-970 missile. “Speaking of the laser grid, is everything still on schedule?”
    “Yes, but I’d prefer another test before the BIRG Con–”
    “No. We can’t risk the MystiKs figuring out what we’re doing. If we didn’t have that idiot Troade in our pocket, the head of his House would have found out about the test we ran in City Three that caused their MystiKs to get sick.”  SEOH would never allow someone with so little loyalty and backbone to remain in his camp, but MystiKs obviously didn’t demand the level of loyalty that TecKnati expected. Creature comforts were Troade’s addiction and SEOH made sure the weasel MystiK got everything he wanted. 
    For now.
    Rustaad shifted his pose, slightly, not enough to indicate any change in his non-existent emotion. “We’ve taken some large risks over the years, but this one is huge. With such a tiny window of time to activate the grid before the MystiK leaders meet the first day of the BIRG Con, we should have a contingency plan.”
    “No. You’ve convinced me to treat their powers like any other dangerous weapon. That damn grid has to work, and when I want it to work, so we can shut down these invisible powers for- ever . Our engineers have confirmed the grid will function exactly as intended. All you have to do is make sure the final grid connections between cities are completed during the twenty-four hours the leaders are between cities traveling, when they are unable to communicate with anyone from a distance. If that doesn’t happen, there’s no contingency plan that will save us from the fallout.”
    Rustaad’s chest hardly moved with his shallow breaths as if he wasn’t alive. “You’re right.”
    “Of course, I am. And I’ll remove any obstacle, human or otherwise, that gets in my way.” 
    Inclining his head in agreement, Rustaad spoke with the quiet strength of an eagle in flight. Silent, but deadly. “We will be prepared for anything and everything.”
    Scratching his neck, SEOH slowed his pacing, a new idea forming. He’d never been half in on anything and certainly not now. “We need to combat the prophecy crap they’re spewing with a counter-campaign that sways public opinion, even for those of the MystiKs like Troade who enjoy life through technological advantages. That way, when we take control through the grid and/or the computer, the majority will not buck us.