#45: DIRECT DEPARTURE:

Drake wasn’t exactly struggling with his opponent, but it WAS rather difficult to maintain a decent grip on the armour. At least he didn’t have to contend with the dirty great big sword too. The rider wasn’t faring much better, with Drake constantly wriggling out of or breaking his holds. All either needed was just the right opening. 

The Norwegians rushed over to join them.

“Use the scanner again,” urged Daedalus.
“I can’t,” said Lucius. “The power-cells are depleted. This thing’s useless now.”

Daedalus grabbed the device from him and clocked the rider with it: once, twice, three times. Drake kicked the rider off and pinned him face-down on the ground.

Relieving his opponent of the broadsword, he used the now-inactive whip to truss the rider.

“Thanks for the assist,” he said. “Where’s the Canidon?”
The scientists pointed to the bloody mess over by the tree.”

“Ah. That’s going to take some cleaning up,” said Drake. “I suppose the other question is how are you going to get home?”

Lucius had been searching the armour of the rider and produced a small disk-shaped gadget.

“Trans-mat recall,” he explained. “It’s how our friend here was getting back. We’d better hurry, it’s nearly out of energy as well.”
Drake nodded.

“I guess this is so long then. Tell me though; you’re not really from Norway are you?”
Daedalus merely grinned as they picked up the rider between them.
“Goodbye Drake Mandible, perhaps we’ll meet again.”

“Good-luck,” Drake said, waving them farewell as Lucius pressed the button on the Trans-mat recall device and they phased out.

Shaking his head in bewilderment, Drake picked up the sword, which he would put in the armoury. The distant engines of the Cessna 680 Sovereign indicated that Nickelby was almost home. Drake smiled and hurried off to open the hanger doors.