The Conspiracy of Hearts and Daggers

Chapter Nine

Scopes flew his stolen Saucer Sled from Consul Ari's home to the Aqua Life Terrace. The normally emotionless Scopes lifted his chin up as if embracing the warm air touching his cheeks. Still cast in his illusory guise of the captured Mensa, his grey hair did not blow back in the wind. In-between Scopes legs was an adjustable seat that could raise to the rider's height. So, whoever was driving the Saucer could stand, fully supported or semi-supported by the leveling seat.

The journey was short as Scopes hovered over the large landing pad below him. The large landing pad was an atop a tower in the center of the Aqua-Life -Terrace like a rounded pad. There was the pattern of an arabesque flower on the pad which suddenly spiraled open to display swirling peddles to catch Scopes craft as it gently touched down in the telescopic flowers embrace.

Once Scopes craft was in the flower bed it was lowered through the opened pad into a shaft housed within where the Saucer Sled was allowed to disembark the flower bed in order to dock inside a bay area. A smooth-running escalator was nearby which ran upwards as well as downwards. Scopes turned his ignition key back into its neutral position in order to shut off the Saucer Sled. In-between the bay area where the Saucer was docked was a walkway where Scopes used make his way towards the escalator running downwards. As Scopes descended down the escalator the flower re-sealed itself inside of the pad it was formerly fixtured in.

A constant flow of water which could be seen in-between the opposite running escalators was what kept it in motion.

Scopes had ridden the escalator all the way to ground where he then exited the tower itself. Once outside the tower Scopes was in a courtyard where he began to scan 360 degrees around in order to find Prince Randor. The prince had already vacated his room though Scopes did not know what the itinerary was for today. Scopes would have to find the activity manager so he could become aware of the next five days of scheduling for the young prince.

"Mensa!", a man's voice shouted out to Scopes from halfway across the yard behind him.

Scopes tightened his grip on his bird headed walking stick, watching the short thin tanned man with a receding hair line of white rush up to greet him!

"I am so glad you have arrived!", the man stressed as he stopped to catch his breath.

Scopes expression lay still as it always did which confused the white-haired man before him.

"Where is Randor?", Scopes asked unabated.

"In the communications center, in a private screening with his father.", the man replied in almost a whisper as if trying to conceal the fact.

"Has the princes father arrived?", Scopes asked urgently.

The white-haired man gave who he thought was the real Mensa a puzzled look before answering," Randor is just on a call in a special private tele-screen room reserved for him. The prince's father had called early this morning having been informed of his sons' condition."

A loud beep from a communicator attached to the white-haired man's gray belt averted the conversation away from Scopes questioning.

"Hanso, speaking...", the white-haired man said upon answering through his communicator.

Fortunately, for Scopes, he would not have to avoid the man by name or ask for his name upon hearing it third person.

The voice through the communicator was telling Hanso that the memory room was all ready for prince Randor. Another reveal to Scopes, this time the location of where the prince ought to be this morning.

Without any answers to provide other than...the prince will be their shorty, and I understand your concerns...the conversation was finally ended when Hanso told the voice on the communicator...Mensa is here with me right now.

Hanso proceeded to admit as he was out of cache," I am sorry but ever since Randor has taken his father's call our schedule of activities for him have been delayed. We have not even taken his vitals yet."

"Let us not waste any more time then...Hanso...take me to the communications center.", another odd look was given by the white-haired man in the way that Mensa over emphasized his name.

Hanso shrugged off Mensa's seeming unfamiliarity of him for the moment to wave him on, in order to lead him to where prince Randor was.

As Hanso led who he thought was the real Mensa, on a large square tele-screen, King Miro was addressing his weary son who sat seated on a cushioned carved out clamshell.

"You do not have to tell me of my obligations son. I will intend to things here in due time. For right now I would like to make sure that you are properly taken care of. Also, as to your point about Glenns other astronauts...you stated Duncan was suspicious of them.", Miro earnestly stated.

"I have been trying to...though whenever I bring up the question of why you sent me to tour the Golden Isle with the astronauts you change the subject.", Randor freely admitted to his father.

"It was simply something that I thought up...spur of the moment.", Miro muttered back in an awkward explanation.

"You usually inform me in private a day or two in advance before sending me on royal excursions. You also like to discuss with me in further detail about whatever excursion you are having me perform. I just feel that our communication was lacking before my departure.", Randor professed.

"As do I, my son.", Miro confessed.

Randors father continued," Once Zarek told me the news of what I happened to you I became frantic with fright. I could not bear losing you in any circumstance let alone one that was under my command."

Miro's admittance caused his son to sigh, not out of exasperation but rather a calming acceptance of his father's love for him.

Miro looked down for a moment on the tele-screen before he spoke," I am most proud of you, my son."

In answer, Miro's son proudly replied, "I know."

King Miro procedurally began to change the subject in a way that led his son feel this transmission was coming to conclusion," The only thing that I need or want from you right now my son is for you to heal yourself. You can rest assured that if Glenns associate's act a fowl in any fashion that they will be dealt with. Zarek runs a tight ship and would put a stop to any nonsense once he was alerted to it. If those two are found out of malicious intent, then the royal tour would be ended forth width. However, regarding what has happened to you on seemingly two occasions thus far now...your assailant the Mer-Man will be apprehended. After we conclude our call, I am putting out a Navel bulletin for Mer-Mans capture. The Royal Navy will scour along with Island authorities all the sea day and all sea night for Mer-Mans capture."

Unbeknownst to the king or prince inside their communications center housing with oval portholes and swirling see through glass like peering's for which Scopes in his illusory guise as Mensa along with Hanso and two other staff members stood as they watched there transmition end.

"Finally.", Hanso said as he singled for the two staff members to enter the housing. Scopes quickly followed the two staff through long orange dotted drapes into the enclosed environment which caught the princes attention.

Scopes, who was taller than the staff before him abruptly backed up after seeing his real self in the turned off tele-screens reflective surface.

"Are you alright? You seem startled.", Hanso asked who he thought was Mensa after seeing him back away so suddenly.

Scopes did not give Hanso an answer for what really effected his behavior. Instead, Scopes intended to stay nearer the entrance way and as far away from the turned off tele-screen as he possibly could in fear of his real self being seen on its surface.

"Soothers!", Hando said in reference to the two staff helping Randor up from the inside of his clam shell.

Then after seeing Randor brought to his feet, Hanso greeted the prince," I hope that your conversation went well."

"It went fine, sorry for the delay as my father can be overprotective at times.", Randor admitted.

"I completely understand. It is no wonder after what you have been through. Though that is also why you are here in our care.", Hando warmly states.

"Then we should get the prince over to the Memory room at once.", Scopes sternly states.

The soothers as well as Hanso looked back with their mouths agape at whom they believed to be Mensa.

"I understand, I'll try to hurry there.", Randor says as he is gently held back, the soothers kept the young prince close to them for his own safety.

"All in time my prince.", Hanso told Randor, "You have been sitting in conversation with your father for a long time. Your legs muscles may be at rest as well."

Hanso gives a signal to the two men holding onto Randor by his arms. Hanso motions for the soothers to start as one of the men holds the prince's right leg up before gently lowering. The man beside him performs the same action as his associate. Both men perform these actions on Randors legs several times before the prince is asked by Hanso, "How do your lags feel now?"

"They actually feel less stiff.", Randor remarks.

"That is good. I still will ask you; would you like to be carried over to the memory room or do you think that you can manage on your own?", Hanso politely asks.

Randor not really knowing what was in store for him at the memory room takes Hanso's question with full consideration as he answers," I would like to accept your aide in carraging me over thank you."

Hanso who seemingly is more than happy to oblige gives a wave to the two soothers as they hoist the prince up in there strong armes. The soothers then begin to carry Randor from each of the prince's sides equally as one Hanges his arm over their shoulder while each is also holding up one of his legs out of the entranceway!

Underneath, the platform of the hanger deck still tied up on the floor were Duncan alongside the re-awakened Mensa.

"The design of this room along with your moral code of pacifism leads me to believe that you were a student of Rohad.", a confident Duncan deduces.

Mensa did not answer, nor did he acknowledge what Duncan had said to him or at least that is what it appeared.

"Well, I know that you heard me.", Duncan reasoned.

"How do you know that I heard you?", Mensa asked cooly.

Duncan laughed to himself as he told Mensa, "Only one trained by Rohad would reply to a comment with a question."

"How do you know Rohad?", Mensa then asked.

Duncan then gave a stern look towards Mensa stating, "I don't know about you, but I intend on getting out of here."

"How do you intend on escaping then?", Mensa again asked.

"I was hoping with your help...no don't ask another question.", then with both of his arms still tied in seaweed mesh around his wrists, Duncan proceeds to take off his metal helm. After nodding his head down, a little in order to aide his hands in retrieve his helm he answers the second question Mensa posed to him, "Everyone knew Rohad or at least before he trained me."

"I was his second student." Mensa told Duncan.

"So, you do talk like a normal person.", Duncan kiddingly replied.

Mensa apologized accordingly, "I just wanted to make sure. It was a test of sorts."

Showcasing his metal helmet to Mensa, Duncan states, "The circuitry in my helmet as well as hidden micro-tools can help us get out of here."

"I presume that those are inventions of yours.", Mensa admiringly stated.

A modest Duncan replied," Yes but strictly military as well as personal."

"He never had a bad word to say about you.", Mensa stated in reference to Rohad.

"Rohad was a great man before his demise.", Duncan said respectively.

Duncan then held out his helmet before Mensa so he would use the sharp edges to cut his rope. Instinctively, Mensa went to work on his bonds.

"Thats it...get your hands free as I have got a task for you since you don't have your feet tide.", Duncan informed Mensa.

"Tell me what you are planning.", Mensa asks curiously.

As Duncan begins to explain his plan in great detail Mensa steadfastly works on cutting himself free from the rope work around his arms.