Chapter 219 - The watch - I (2/2)

”First, can you help us get a cable that fits into this?” asked D.i.c.k.

”No. But I have the specs for the device. Come to my lab beyond the. Don't bother, I will send you the location on your device. Be there in an hour. A makeshift port could be designed using 3-d printer and some solder,” replied Elias. ”Now about the device.”

”Sure, but it comes at a price. It isn't for free,” said Balthazar.

”It is your's?” asked Elias surprised.

”Yes,” replied Balthazar.

”I thought it was the Rowley kid's,” interrupted D.i.c.k.

”Consider, it mine. I will deal with those things,” said Balthazar. He had to pay quite an amount to Elias for setting up the somnium technology virtual training platform. So, he hoped to get a bit of a discount on that.

”Yes, I will buy it,” said Elias without much thought. ”How much?”

”How much?” asked Balthazar stumped by the question. He had no idea of its value or a clear idea of the rarity of the item. He needed the assessment of a professional before he could make any deal. ”Why don't we discuss it later? I am not even sure if it will remain with me after we are done with it.”

”Yes, we will stop at your lab in an hour. Get yourself there in time if you want to have a look at it,” said D.i.c.k and cut the call.

”So, what do we do till then?” asked Balthazar.

”You told something about getting to the planet, DH-8?” asked D.i.c.k.

”Yes, I have an acquaintance who is currently at DH-8. He is somewhat of a freelancer and I contacted him about getting a ride. Told him that I have a solid lead on finding out about the Nirbaadh pirates and he could collect on the reward,” said Balthazar.

”Apart from that, I told that I have a personal interest in a Shadow Card mission. My own and that I am willing to pay the reward amount along with its details.”

”So, he agreed to help you and informed that he is currently at DH-8. He told you that he could pick you up at that point as everyone are trying to avoid the planet due to Winston's speech,” said D.i.c.k.

”Nice guess, but he actually didn't say anything about it. If anything, I replied telling him to stay there. There are lots of eyes on the planet due to Winston and those eyes would be more concerned on who are getting in rather than who are running away. I plan to be among the second kind,” said Balthazar.

”I don't think it is much of an issue, but sure it is better this way. It also allows people to see me getting out of the planet while I can hide the pair of you in my shuttle. If you can act like you were recuperating in your room and avoiding public due to Winston's speech, it would be good. I suspect many of the family would try to avoid public for now because of that,” said D.i.c.k.

”Hmm. I guess that is right. His speech did give me a better chance of remaining hidden with a proper excuse,” said Balthazar.

”Cool, then make all preparations to deal with it. We can depart once the device is examined,” said D.i.c.k. ”But what do you plan to do if we don't find anything from the device. There is a good chance that we failed to identify his message or if it failed to function properly. It is over a century old and is an electronic device. A good chance exists that it hasn't been maintain in perfectly functioning condition.”

”We still continue to move in the direction of the quadrant, the pirates escaped or towards the location of the Rowley family. They have a private moon where most of the family resides. We move towards it,” said Balthazar.

”Good. We need to have alternate plans of action in case of first attempt fails,” acknowledged D.i.c.k as the both of them got up. As they got up, Glen who was outside guarding against any unwanted guests also got up and came in. Being just outside the door, he had heard everything that happened inside clearly.

”Tell Thaddeus to give me the keys to your shuttle. I will have our equipment put in it,” said Glen as the door opened. He had already made a call to the butler and made D.i.c.k inform the butler that D.i.c.k needed to carry somethings out of the mansion for some mission.

Thaddeus had prior experience with such requests and didn't question much. In this way, the managed to set up a story to chief butler of the mansion and they knew that he would inform any who asked the same.

After that D.i.c.k and Balthazar made way to the lab whose address, Elias sent Balthazar through e-mail. Balthazar and D.i.c.k took a car from the family garage to get to the location. It was large 4-storied building and once, Balthazar told of his identity, the guard allowed him inside as he was already told by Elias that Balthazar would be arriving with another visitor.

As they parked the car, Elias came to them jumping in glee along with another man. The man was rather portly with a thin pencil like moustache, a button nose with a pair of beady eyes wearing a top hat. He was in some kind of uniform and they both looked slightly drunk as they walked towards Balthazar slightly wobbling along the way.

”How was the trip?” asked Elias happily as he addressed them both.

”How do you do, Colonel Balthazar,” said the portly man shaking his hand vigorously.