“How long have you known about Hogan’s connection to Darkmagus?” Watt asked.
“I suspected something when he first came aboard.” Magus replied.
“Then why the hell didn’t you say something?” snapped Pendragon. “I’ve heard all the old stories about Darkmagus. If they’re true we could be headed towards a full-scale war here.”
“They are all true, Commander, but there is something that you don’t know about. I believe Tompkins is safe, and he will be back with us when we reach the Procyn system.”
“Why there?” asked Watt.
“Because Darkmagus is there.”
On the shuttle Hogan sat at the controls with the bound and gagged Tompkins sitting in the compartment behind him. Tompkins was just beginning to come to. The first thing he did was struggle, but he couldn’t break free of his bonds. Hogan looked around.
“There is no point in struggling Lieutenant.” he said. “He will deal with you soon enough. Then the first victory will be his.”
The Valkyrie entered the Procyn system some two hours later. The tension was mounting on the bridge.
“I urge caution here Captain.” said Magus. “We don’t know what we may find here.”
“I’m hoping we’ll find Tompkins.” said Watt.
Amarus’ sensor panel began to sound off.
“I’m picking up the shuttle on the long range scanners, in orbit around the third planet.”
“Manhunter territory.” said Magus.
“Put us in a synchronies orbit.”
They were soon in orbit near the shuttle craft. The sensors soon picked up two life forms on the planet. Watt turned to Amarus.
“Assemble your security teams.” he ordered. “Heavily armed. Use force to get him back if you have to.”
“I advise against this.” said Magus. “Your teams will not be needed.”
“And what will?”
“Just you and me, unarmed.”
Watt was very sceptical.
“I’m still not sure about this.” he said.
“Neither am I.” said Pendragon.
“Gentlemen, please trust me.”
The surface of the planet was barren. It seemed that there had not been life here for hundreds of years. Hogan struggled along in the winds as he carried Tompkins along on his shoulder. Then in the distance he saw a huge building. Hogan could tell his master was inside. He hoped Darkmagus would be pleased. Then, just as Hogan was about to enter the building he watched as Watt and Magus beamed down.
“Stay back!” he shouted. “Or Darkmagus will kill you!”
“I doubt that.” said Magus.
“He will! He knows you are here! He watches from inside!”
“No he does not! Darkmagus watches no one!”
“Then come inside with me. I am sure Darkmagus would be pleased to find out that I’ve not only brought Tompkins but his brother as well!”
“I urge you, please do not go inside. You will find it most upsetting!”
“Don’t treat me like a child!”
Hogan then moved forward and pushed open the door.
“Come on.” said Magus.
They soon followed Hogan inside. Once inside the interior began to remind Watt of Istarix.
“What is this place?” he asked.
“It is modelled on Istarix itself.” Magus replied. “But it had only one occupant, Darkmagus himself.”
“Who built it?”
“I did.”
They soon came to another huge door. Hogan turned round and smiled at Magus and Watt.
“We are here. The main chamber.”
Hogan lowered Tompkins to the floor and then pushed open the two huge doors. The main chamber looked like the meeting chamber in the Citadel of Istarix. At the far end of the chamber there appeared to be some sort of container, a container that resembled a coffin. Hogan walked over to this container and looked inside. He then slumped to his knees and let out a huge cry.
“What is it?” asked Watt. “What’s inside that thing?”
“Two hundred years ago Darkmagus was defeated by w powerful force.” Magus explained. “He was placed in this chamber by myself and the other members of the Istari.”
Then Hogan got to his feet and turned towards the others. His eyes were filled with tears.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he cried. “Why didn’t you tell me that he was dead?”
“Because he isn’t dead but in an eternal sleep.” said Magus. “It is the only way we could stop him and his allies using his power.”
“Then the second New Age will be beyond us!”
Then Hogan extended his arms and a glow appeared around him. Magus watched as Hogan began to disappear, until after a few seconds there was nothing left of him.
“Where is he?” asked Watt.
“He’s killed himself.”
A short time later the Valkyrie was back on it’s way to Earth. Watt sat in his ready room when his door buzzer sounded. The door opened and Magus entered.
“Please forgive this intrusion Captain, But I thought I should explain the past few events to you.”
Watt put down his book and Magus sat next to him on the sofa.
“Has your grandfather told you about the New Age?” asked Magus.
“He told me the stories, after all that’s when Anglo-Force became Mega-Force isn’t it?”
“Yes, but that’s not the last we heard of Darkmagus. Later he formed his own group of wizards, evil wizards, a sort of darker version of the Istari.”
“The Istari’s evil counterparts?”
“Sort of. Darkmagus was their leader. They included Saruman the White, Morgana Le Fey, Xusia, Cabal and others. For a while they held the galaxy in a grip of terror. They were defeated by the Istari and our allies, including your grandfather, but there was only one way we could stop them from using their powers.”
“Which was?”
“By separating them and placing them each on barren planets through the entire universe. They are placed in the Alpha, Gamma and Omicron quadrants to protect the universe. Each is placed in suspended animation.”
“How many people know of this?”
“Your grandfather, Connor, Duncan, myself, and now you. I must ask you to do something for me. No matter what you must not tell anyone of what I have just told you. If someone were to revive those wizards the entire universe would be under threat.”
“You have my word.”
“To me your word is your bond.”
And with that Magus got to his feet and left Watt alone. He now felt slightly relieved, as if telling someone else about the “tombs” had taken a weight off his shoulders. He only hoped that no one would ever find those tombs, for if they did the universe would be theirs.
The End.
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