'There shouldn't have been any navy in this area,' Barns said. 'Could they have gotten here already from the train's distress call?'
'Damn it. Kagas.' Southunder muttered. There was a large brass telescope mounted at the front of the cockpit and he swiveled it toward the ocean. Sullivan followed the direction it was aiming and noticed more black specks on the ocean, surface ships. 'That's not why they're here.'
There was a terrible sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. 'Is that the atoll?'
Southunder pulled away from the telescope, his face ashen. 'Well, looks like you were right.'
'Hate to say I told you so,' Sullivan muttered.
The black ships were getting closer. Tiny dots dropped from their bellies as they released their parasitic fighters. 'Orders, Captain?' Barns asked.
Southunder steadied himself against the telescope. Pushing for the atoll would mean certain death. If the fighters didn't get them, the heavy antiaircraft guns on the surface ships would. 'Run for the storm.'
Chapter 23
We've been warned about magic since the days of Adam. Wizards from Canaan and Babylon were always there to lead man astray. Why should now be any different? What if what we're seeing in these times is a quickening of mankind, tempting us to stray one last time before the last days? This is nothing new. The serpent has just got himself a fancy new suit. Join with me, brethren, and demand that Washington round up these heathen wizards once and for all!
– D.W. Griffith
At the first screening of his blockbuster film
The Death of a Nation, 1918 UBF Tempest Lance joined Faye on the observation bubble at the top of the airship. She'd been up here for hours, watching the distant angry clouds and now enjoying the orange sunset. This was the first time she'd ever flown and the first time she'd ever been over the ocean. She liked the view, and she didn't really feel like being around the others. For the first time in a very long time, she just wanted to be all alone.
'Hey, kid,' Lance said as he limped over and leaned on the rail next to her. Faye was leaning way forward, with her forehead against the cold glass, so it felt more like she was outside, flying… Flying. Now that would be a neat magic to have. She wondered if anybody could fly?
'Hi, Lance. Do you know anyone who can fly?'
'We're in an airship right now…'
'No, silly, I mean, like a magic bird.'
He thought about it for a moment. 'Well, I sorta do, when I put part of my consciousness inside a bird. It's overrated. Lots of flapping… I came to ask you a favor, a real hard favor, and I won't blame you if you say no.'
She figured she already knew what it would be. Faye might have been young, but she wasn't stupid. The Tempest was going to try and sneak up in the dark on the Tokugawa. If they were spotted, they'd get shot down. There was only one of them who could go over there and find Jane without having to actually make the ships touch. 'Get me close enough and I'll get her.'
Lance nodded thoughtfully. 'I knew you would. You're a brave girl… but don't tell Francis, it'll scare him to death, and the poor lad's already a little addled, and especially don't tell Dan.'
She hadn't spoken to Mr. Garrett on the trip. For someone whose Power was based on words, he sure seemed to be saving his up. 'He wants to go get her himself.'
'Yep. Can't say I rightly blame him,' Lance said thoughtfully. 'You still got your Grandpa's ring?' Faye pulled it out of her pocket and showed him. It was too big and kept slipping off her fingers, but she'd never lose it. 'Put it on,' Lance said gruffly. She complied. 'Right hand, I'm making you a knight, not proposing, damn it.'
'Really?' She put the ring on her right hand.
'Yeah, really.' He looked at her for a long time. 'John figured you were too young and that you hadn't been taught near enough, but I figure you're gonna need all the help you can get. John's gonna kill me.' He cleared his throat. 'Do you, Sally Faye Vierra, agree to take the oath of the Grimnoir knight-'
'Sure,' she answered. 'Is that it?'
Lance rolled his eyes. 'No, that ain't it. Christ almighty… where was I? That you will swear before your God that you will stay true to that which is right and good, that your magic will be used to protect, never to enslave, that your strength and wisdom will be used to shield the innocent, that you will fight always for liberty even though it may cost your life, that the Society will become your blood and its knights your kin, and that you will heed the wisdom of the elders' council.'
Technically, it seemed like they were violating the heck out of that last one, since they'd left Mr. Rawls and Mr. Harkeness in San Francisco, but she supposed that the other part about the knights being your family came first and Jane was in danger. 'Okay.'
'Do you willingly pledge your magic, your knowledge, your resources, and your life to these things?'
She had plenty of magic, so much that she was starting to think that maybe she had more than anybody else, but not nearly so much knowledge, and no resources to speak of, but she didn't really mind risking her life. It was actually kind of fun. So it probably balanced out. 'I do!'
Lance took his thumb and pressed it against her forehead. He pushed hard, leaving a pink indention in her skin, making a simple design. She felt her Power perk up, almost like it was excited, and then the feeling was gone.
'Sally Faye Vierra, you are now a knight of the Grimnoir Society… On a personal note, don't screw it up.'
Grandpa's ring shrunk just enough to fit her finger perfectly. Imperium flagship Tokugawa Madi was so excited he could barely contain himself. The Kaga, first of the Imperium's super warships, had just maneuvered alongside and the docking had been perfect. Ropes had been launched across and tethered between the two giants, and the canvas and silk covered bridge had been rolled across and unfurled. The Weathermen were burning Power to keep the air perfectly calm as the Chairman strolled across.
The crew had assembled and stood in perfect formation. They snapped to even tighter as the personal bodyguard walked from the bridge onto the Tokugawa's deck. The soldiers were dressed in black with the traditional red shoulder sash and belt. They formed two lines, and at a command, lifted their Arisaka rifles as one, creating a roof of bayonets for the Chairman to walk under. They stomped their feet in unison. 'Strength forever! Imperium forever!'
He could tell that the Chairman was eager by how he was walking with a purpose, though as usual his face betrayed none of that. The man never seemed to hurry. Everything was always done in the proper time, but even he had to be a little excited to fire up the Geo-Tel. The last message they'd received had said that the Shadow Guard sub had recovered the final piece, and that they'd used a magic portal, just as he and Yutaka had done, to send it directly the Chairman.
Okubo Tokugawa paused at the end of the ramp and took in the assembled men and the lofty hangar. He breathed in deeply, smelling the recent construction. 'I like it,' he said simply, and the men were happy. The Chairman was followed by several men in long black coats, Unit 731 Cogs, and they were carrying the pieces of the Tesla device. Behind them came another two hundred men to supplement the Tokugawa's crew, handpicked from the finest in the Imperium navy.
Madi barely moved as the Chairman stopped right in front of him. Madi seldom wore an Iron Guard uniform, but this was a special occasion. His chest was covered in medals and commendations, and he'd even kept the stupid little one the AEF had given him, only it was below all the Imperium honors. Is my uniform perfect? I should have ironed it better. Damn it. He couldn't help but be nervous. The Emperor was supposed to be a god, but Madi had seen him. He was just some pathetic Normal, a figurehead. The real leader of the most powerful nation in the world was right here, close enough to smell his breath.
The Chairman looked over at the Healer standing at his side. The blonde had her head down, afraid to look at him. 'What is this?' he asked.
'A gift. She is a Healer, captured from the Grimnoir. I thought you could find a use for her.'
