Chapter 16: Cailus’ Game

#

When Galen and the others got back to the castle, Amon quickly ushered them to the Citadel Room. Egad had just received a video call from Calius, and they were recording it just in case. They tried to trace it as well, but Cailus had implemented a jamming spike on his end of the line. The jamming spike was self-explanatory: It spiked the data line so the modem stayed open until the call was cut-off, while at the same time, masking and scrambling the origin of the video call along the inter-galactic information web.

As soon as they got to the information room, Cailus and Egad were finishing up their conversation.

“So, you will agree to the terms of my game, then?” Cailus said.

“It doesn’t appear like I have much of a choice.” Egad replied.

“That’s right: You don’t.” Cailus crooned, rubbing it in. “I’ll see you in Vegas.” Cailus then hung up.

“Master, what was that about?” Galen asked.

Egad sighed. “Cailus just informed me he’s bought 45 percent of the public stock in one of my freight line companies: Ecco transportation services. He’s using this to blackmail me into a poker tournament, and he wants me to put the Coven on the line as a counter-bet. If I don’t do it, he’ll shut down his sectors that he now owns, and it will cause the company to fall apart, as well as an economic recession. I don’t want to have to put you up in the bet, though…”

Galen knelt down and placed his hands on Egad’s shoulders. “Master, I think I speak for all of us that we have full faith in you. You can win this game against Cailus! We’ve beaten him before!”

“It’s not that simple, Galen.” Mick spoke up. “Poker is a game more about statistics and chance rather than just skill. A single slip up in a poker tournament could cost thousands, even millions of dollars depending on how much is bet.”

“True, but we really don’t have a choice in this, Mick.” Jet said. “We can’t just let Cailus de-rail the intergalactic market. Billions of dollars of supply shipments depend on that freight line.”

Johathan sighed. “Well, if you’re going to go into this game, count me in. It would increase our chances of winning if we had more than one player.”

Egad thought on it. “Good point. Besides, I doubt Cailus could resist the chance to try and scoop up anything you could bet. GCOC secret service technology is rare and sought-after, even Cailus won’t resist something like that.”

“So, when do we go?” Mick asked.

“Tomorrow evening,” Egad answered. “The tournament is going to be held at the Ceasar’s Palace casino, two days from now on Earth. That will give us time to check in, and get ready.”

Mick smoothed out a crease in his hair. “I’ll have to get out my tuxedo and dress coat.”

“Indeed.” Xen said. “It’s time to break out the gambler’s regalia.”

# # # #

Everyone began looking through different designs of clothing they could wear to the casino, as well as figure out who would stay with Egad during the game and what the rest of the Coven would do.

Eventually, the coven decided on a plan of action: Galen, Uniko, Zhal, Jet, Codec, Tuxa, Bishop, and Tommy would accompany Egad and Johnothan to the game, while the rest of the coven would keep lookout for anything suspicious and respond if necessary. They did not trust Cailus or his goons.

As for an escort from the Las Vegas Spaceport to the Casino, Bishop and Tommy volunteered to ride alongside the car on motorcycles. Tommy had been practicing on rides around the countryside on a Kawasaki Ninja X-4000. Egad bought it for Bishop, Gareth, and Tommy to ride around with, as well as rebond with each other after their rescue from Cailus last year. Now, they would go along with Mick in the Audi as escorts, while the Coven followed in the private van with Johnathan Flond.

Tommy selected an outfit of leather biker pants to go over his red speedo, along with a black leather jacket with a blue-flame phoenix on the back. Bishop selected a pair of dark blue jeans with a long-sleeved gray shirt with a leather vest, bearing a red flame phoenix on the back. Gareth chose an outfit of black jeans with a gray tank top with a leather jacket bearing a white “Crest of courage” design on the back. Codec wore a bespoke business suit with a long coat, and a few bits of jewelry in his dreadlock-braided hair, while Tuxa would wear a classy butler’s suit. Damion and Eli also wore high-end dress suits for the occasion.

As for Galen, Uniko, and Zhal, they would wear their pre-coven outfits with additions that would make it appropriate for the casino. Once they arrived at the private game room with Jet and Tommy present, they planned to situate themselves teasingly around Master Egad. Tommy thought it would be the best way to rub Cailus’ failures of last year in his face, and the coven agreed. Egad also approved this, as it would provide a provocative distraction that would throw Cailus off his game.