As he materialized and his vision cleared, he was able to determine with relief that he was alone. In this particular room were all kinds of equipment, the purpose of which at first eluded him. Since he saw no portholes he deduced that he must be deep inside, away from the outer hull.

  He decided to start a routine search. The room had two doors. One of these was easily opened by pushing against it and he found himself in a corridor containing a number of doors. He didn't dare open any of them so he went onward, ready at any second to quickly dematerialize.

  The forward opening was a bulkhead door, obviously leading to a continuation of the corridors. He hesitated a moment before he swung it open. The passage behind it was clear. He stood with his back to the wall and listened. Somewhere ahead he heard human voices. They conversed in Intercosmo. Thanks to hypno-schooling, he had mastered this Esperanto of space. In spite of this, however, he couldn't understand a single word of the present conversation. Yet it devolved on him to learn what he could about the Zalites on this ship.

  Cautiously he stalked onward until he could hear the voices more clearly. They emerged from one of the rooms behind one of the numerous doors. Inwardly triggered to teleport, he pressed an ear against the smooth surface. Now he could understand them.

  "...we are probably putting our foot in it..."

  The unknown speaker did not say this in so many words but the sense of it was the same. Another voice answered, "Hemor certainly must know what he's doing. He's operating under orders of the Zarlt. And he must know very well what he's about."

  "I'll grant you that but you can't play games with the Empire. If it's detected that we're being deceptive, there'll be a whole fleet on our necks. We should avoid such an eventuality."

  "Our opportunity is unique. just remember that this alien from the Universe has outwitted the great Brain!"

  "My very point! And now the Zarlt thinks he'll be even smarter. To me, its a rash undertaking."

  A slight pause ensued. Tschubai heard footsteps coming toward the door. He drew back and looked for an exit so he could avoid having to teleport. But there was little time to decide. The door was shoved open and a head appeared in the corridor.

  Tschubai wouldn't have ventured to say later whether or not the Zalite had seen him. He dematerialized in the same second and simultaneously concentrated on the bow section, where the alien ship's control room would be located. It was a big risk but he had the assurance of knowing that he could disappear again at any moment if he ran into any people.

  He was lucky.

  While his vision returned and he readied himself for another transfer, he perceived that he was alone. Surrounding him completely was—the Universe.

  But it was filled with air and he could breathe.

  Fortunately, his initial fear that his direction had gone wrong and that he had landed in the vacuum of space, was unfounded. Much to his amazement he stood in the middle of a sphere-like room, the walls and deck and ceiling of which consisted of transparent material. Probably an observation room.

  To the right of him he saw the massive hull of the Titan towering above. A human figure walked briskly through a plastic boarding tube to the other vessel, under escort of several officers: probably the alien commander whom Rhodan wished to interview.

  Ras observed with some relief that only one door gave access to the observation room. He hurried to it and risked a quick look into the corridor beyond. It was empty. From this direction there was nothing to fear. He closed the door and tamed around.

  And then he saw the monster.

  • • •

  From the beginning, Tako had not fared so well.

  When he materialized he found himself in the midst of a group of people who were engaged in a highly agitated debate. Without exception they were Zalites and they wore smudged and soiled work clothes, indicating that in all probability they were members of the technical personnel.

  Tako didn't have the presence of mind to disappear immediately. Now that he'd been discovered, perhaps he didn't consider the fact overly important, since naturally it would be impossible for them to capture him.

  The excited discussion stopped abruptly. The men turned to him with a general raising of brows. They stared in speechless amazement at this strange apparition which had popped up in their midst and who nonetheless seemed to be composed of flesh and blood. Tako was inwardly amused but maintained a bard and grim expression, which of course was in tremendous contrast to his very delicate frame.

  One of the Zalites, a hefty fellow in green trousers, came up to Tako and took hold of him, his face a mixture of fear and curiosity.

  Tako pushed his hand away. " Okapka!" he warned in Intercosmo. "Don't touch me!"

  The Zalite understood him. " Tono—who are you?" he asked, and added suspiciously, " Alda—where do you come from?"

  "Perhaps I can make myself invisible," retorted Tako. He pushed the nearest Zalite aside and walked leisurely through the opened passage between them to the nearest door. "With your permission, I'll just take a look at your ship."

  He opened the door. No one stopped him. They simply stood and stared at him, unable to believe the evidence of their eyes. Only when Tako was already halfway into the corridor and had the door just about closed behind him did the reaction set in. They came storming and crowding into the narrow opening like commandos and sought to grasp him. But they grasped at empty air.

  Tako dematerialized and sprang toward the middle of the ship but had the misfortune of arriving precisely in the spot that Ras had just vacated seconds before. Thus it happened that the officer who was just emerging into the corridor became witness to an event that might require years for his reason ever to explain.

  At first he saw a black monstrosity that suddenly began to shimmer and dissolve into the air. Certainly this was a most uncanny phenomenon that defied explanation, because the black apparition had no sooner become invisible than here was another form materializing in its place. The form of Tako.

  With a cry of alarm the officer drew back and clanged the door shut behind him. Puzzled by the unusually fast reaction of the Zalite, Tako concentrated on seeking out Ras. He reasoned that he must be somewhere about, barring the unexpected.

  He had hardly taken 10 steps before the alarms began to shrill through the entire ship. The sirens had an unpleasantly high tone to them which was painful to human eardrums. It was enough to wake the dead.

  Tako cursed his luck and raced along the corridor. Actually he had accomplished nothing other than to panic these people into a full alarm. Rhodan wasn't going to be too happy about it but the damage was done. He figured be might just as well return to the Titan, as Ras might have done already.

  So Tako teleported.

  • • •

  Ras Tschubai froze in his tracks. He had thought he was alone in the bubble chamber but he was not.

  The creature was approximately five feet high and about three feet wide and somewhat circular in shape, reminding Ras of a giant jellyfish. Beneath its body he was aware of an indeterminate number of short feet which appeared to be as flabby as the rest of the horrible shape. The whole mess was topped off by a ball-shaped head as though plunked into the middle of a pudding. Large, knob-like eyes stared at him with baleful intent.

  The most curious part of the situation was that the weird creature squatted in a glass container which appeared to be hermetically sealed on all sides. Ras recognized it at once as a spherical pressure chamber. Silvery metal pipes connected the container with an apparatus that was similar to an oxygen tank. An underchassis of simple construction completed the picture.

  Ras remained motionless and regarded the creature, sensing that it actually would not harm him. This was the only reason he stayed. He had an awareness of having discovered something very important.

  Where do you come from?

  Ras was very familiar with telepathy. Often enough he had practiced it with John Marshall and the mentalists of the Corps. The projected thought stood clearly in his mind. The monster was a telepath.

  He ignored the question and took a few steps closer to the container, coming within about six feet of it. The cold, searching eyes made him wary; a certain threat emanated from them, the nature of which Ras was not able yet to determine. He was wondering what Rhodan would make of this discovery

  Who is Rhodan? came the next question.

  Ras was apprehensive now. If this beast could read thoughts, then the situation became dangerous. He strained to apply the training he had received, to screen his mind from telepathic surveillance. He must have succeeded as the next thought seemed to confirm.

  Why do you screen yourself? There can thus be no communication between us.

  Ras decided not to waste the unusual opportunity. He concentrated: What—who are you?

  I am Mooff, came the answer, along with a powerful thrust at the teleporter's mind. Ras suddenly felt impelled to come nearer to the pressure chamber. When he took a step closer, the mental thrust strengthened perceptibly.

  Somewhere in the depths of him alarms began to sound.

  But not only inside him: the sirens also rang in his ears. The shrilling sound was physically real; it rang through the entire ship. He heard the sound of running feet. They approached the observation chamber. He heard doors banging open, a storm of shouted questions.

  Danger!

  Ras concentrated on the Titan and sprang. That is, he intended to make the teleport jump but something held him, preventing him from dematerializing. It was as though a thousand invisible eyes clutched after him and his brain. The mental thrust became stronger, accompanied by an order to stay. The monster was trying to hypnotize him.

  The magnitude of the trap he'd fallen into began to dawn on Tschubai. He had to break loose from it or he would endanger not only Rhodan but all humanity. The prime commandment of the Terranian astronauts was never to betray mankind, even at the cost of one's own life.

  Well, it hadn't quite come to that point!

  He strained with every ounce of concentration of which he was capable, forcing himself to think of Rhodan in the control room. He envisioned Rhodan before him, realizing the terrible danger to which he, too, was now exposed. It seemed to repeat for him the scene in the jungle when the great carnivore had leapt toward him. Only this time there was no lion but a terrifying monstrosity, a telepathic thing that was his enemy and possessed strong powers of suggestion.

  But his efforts succeeded.

  As someone burst through the door of the observation chamber, he dematerialized. He found himself staring at the back of an unknown person who faced Rhodan and seemed not to notice his arrival.

  3/ THE REAL RULERS

  John Marshall met the visitor in the airlock and escorted him through numberless corridors and antigrav lifts to the central control room. This way he found sufficient opportunity to sound out the thoughts of their guest and give them a thorough analysis. The Zalite had no inkling of this. He was not a telepath, as John could easily perceive. This was surprising because Pucky had insisted that telepaths dwelled on board the other ship.

  Waiting for the visitor were Rhodan, the two Arkonides and Bell. Pucky located himself nearby in the communications section; it seemed better, for the time being, for him to remain in the background.

  Rhodan stood up as John Marshall and the stranger entered. The Zalite didn't make too bad an impression but there was something in his eyes that Rhodan didn't like. His copper-colored hair was long and slightly wavy. Even here under the artificial lighting his skin appeared reddish-brown and tanned. He was wearing a type of uniform that bore gold and silver insignia.

  "You requested a parley with me," said Rhodan, opening the discussion.

  "I am Hemor, commandant of the small ship that the Zarlt has dispatched to you. I am commissioned to present certain proposals to you, which I trust you are ready to accept."

  Rhodan's brows raised. "That will depend on the nature of the proposals," he replied. In his tone was a challenge, which did not escape Hemor.

  With what appeared to be considerable self-confidence, Hemor began. "You have stolen this spaceship from Arkon. The entire Empire is hunting for you. Until now, no one knew where you were located."

  "But you do."

  "Only we!" nodded Hemor with a cold smile. "It was pure chance but the fact is—we know. However, don't let this be of concern, as we have no intention of making your position known to Arkon. The Zarlt wishes to speak with you."

  "Who is the Zarlt?"

  The Zalite couldn't subdue his astonishment. He seemed to have taken it for granted that every intelligence in the Universe was aware of the Zarlt's identity.

  "He is ruler of the Voga system and Vice Imperator of Arkon, therefore second in command to the Emperor himself. He is Admiral Demesor and he awaits you now in Tagnor, the capital of Zalit, which is the fourth planet of the Voga system."

  "And what does he want of me?" Rhodan's voice was cool and deliberate. He comported himself as though this were the most insignificant of occasions, hardly worthy of attention. Inwardly he was anxious to learn what the Vice Imperator of the Arkonide Empire was after.

  "I am not empowered to discuss the matter—other than trivialities, perhaps. You have questions?"

  Rhodan glanced briefly at John Marshall and the telepath nodded to him. "Has the robot brain on Arkon declared me an enemy of the State?"

  Hemor took a few seconds to answer. "Not expressly, but it pursues you with every means at its disposal. Does that answer your question?"

  "Yes, thank you, Second question: What has your Zarlt to do with this? Why doesn't he follow the orders of the Brain?"

  I am not empowered to answer that."

  John Marshall in his corner nodded imperceptibly. Rhodan shrugged his shoulders. 'Very well, I'll soon find out. What happens if I Don't accept the invitation?"

  Hemor smiled faintly. "Our entire fleet is on alert. To the present moment, they have been under orders to conduct you to Zalit, which they will do, provided that a counter-order is not given. This counter-order will not come from me but from my second in command if I am not back within a certain time. You can see that we have taken all eventualities into consideration."

  Rhodan praised the Zalite's circumspection. "Indeed you have! But I think that further questions would not be of any use here. I will therefore listen to what your Zarlt has to tell me."

  Hemor's face lighted with relief. A load had lifted from his chest. Then he glanced at Thora and Khrest, who had remained silent until now. "I did not know this ship harbored Arkonides. Nothing of this was ever mentioned."

  Khrest made a deprecating gesture. "Does it matter?" he asked, casually.

  The door opened and the communications chief entered the command center. "A fleet is approaching from the System," he announced. "It consists of at least 200 units, which are falling into attack formation."

  Rhodan gave Hemor a questioning look.

  The Zalite smiled. "Only a precautionary measure, nothing more. But you will accompany us, if I have understood you correctly. Am I now permitted to return to my vessel?"

  At this moment the figure of Ras Tschubai materialized directly behind Hemor. For a second Ras appeared to be confused, then he grasped the meaning of Rhodan's silent signal and turned toward the wall. Everyone except the Zalite had witnessed his return out of nothingness.

  "You are free to do so," Rhodan replied. "Is the landing field on Zalit clearly marked?"

  "You need only to follow me," said Hemor. He made a curt bow and turned around. He glanced questioningly at Marshall, who had conducted him here. Then without further ado he strode into the corridor, followed by the telepath.

  Rhodan gazed after him reflectively.

  Bell was stirred up. "That guy sure has his nose in the air. He has the kind of face that makes you want to punch it. I'd like to know what's on his mind."

  "We'll learn that as soon as Marshall gets back. Now will you kindly let the Titan follow the small ship. Issue the necessary instructions to Col. Freyt. So let's take a closer look at Zalit and the Zarlt. I have a strange hunch."

  "I, too," said Khrest from the other side of the room. "It appears to me that the Zalites are not as dependable as we had always assumed. Perhaps we can demonstrate our services to the Empire."

  "That," said Rhodan, "is exactly what I intend to do."

  Three minutes later John Marshall returned to the command central and overheard the last words of Ras Tschubai's report: "...this jellyfish thing was trying to take possession of my will. I took off immediately but I'm afraid I was seen. At least the ship alarm was activated."

  "No matter," Rhodan reassured him. "They certainly don't know they were dealing with a teleporter. What became of Tako?"

  Pucky came waddling into the room. "He's back" he chirped. "Scared a number of men half to death and then sneaked out." He turned to Marshall. "Will you make the report? I also picked up what Hemor was thinking."

  Alright. Correct me if I forget anything." Marshall looked at Rhodan. I took him back to the airlock. He wants you to know that the flight to Zalit will begin in three minutes. We are to maintain synchronous velocity. Now as to what he was thinking... Actually, not too much. I could just get a little—maybe Pucky had more luck—to the effect, anyway, that the Zarlt wants to try, with our help, to play a trick on the robot brain. He does not seem to be well disposed toward the Empire."

  "Just what I thought!" sighed Khrest.

  Rhodan smiled. "It's not too surprising. Who wants to be ruled by machines? Do you have anything else of significance, Marshall?"

  "Not particularly. just once, though, this Hemor thought about a certain Mooff but I don't know who that is."

  "We know about that already. Ras has encountered this Mooff. It's an animal of some kind."

  "Some kind is right!" shrilled Pucky. "That's the beast whose thoughts were superimposed on those of the Zalites. That's why I didn't pick up much from them. In any case, the Mooff is a telepath and suggestive hypnotist."

 

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