Cheshire chapter 4

by fhwrege

Trials of the first days of a young breakthrough.

Cheshire

Astra turned to me as we flew, "So do you know how fast you can fly yet?"

Tearing my eyes away from the view I shook my head. "No I don't. Everything involving flying has been maneuvering for pictures or getting from place to place in a small area. The one chance I had to go all out I chose swimming with Tygeara. I think she said we reached 100 knots."

Astra blinked, "That's impressive. But.. what made you want to swim instead of fly?"

"I was kicking my feet in the water this morning and I subconsciously changed their shape to be fins." turning to look at the east horizon I shrugged. "I managed to change them back and when I checked I found Donna had made me a swimsuit. I've always liked swimming and I guess the thought of possibly being able to dive as long as I wanted and not having to come up for air was too tempting. Tygeara didn't mind me joining her for laps so I experimented a bit and managed to shift into what Grandma Alice calls my selkie form."

I looked over at at Astra only to see her squinching her eyes and using her hand to block the light coming from me. "You sneak." She must have slowly sped up while I was distracted. "You said something earlier about bad influences?" I heard a snicker over comms from Shell as Astra blushed. I blinked in surprise as I watched the ground go by, "Just how fast are we going?"

Shell answered over the comm, "About 130 mph. How much faster do you think you can go?"

"I'm not sure but.." I hesitated biting my lip, "Just how noticeable do you want our entrance to be? When I was swimming at top speed I was as bright as the sun. I'm trying to turn it down but it isn't working."

"It's your call Astra." Shell replied. "But you should know, I'm already tracking three feeds asking who the new breakthrough flying with you is."

Astra winced, "I'm sorry Rionnagh. I thought the daylight would mask your wings. I didn't realize they became brighter with higher effort. What do you want to do?"

I thought about it, "Is there a way we could convince them we're going in one entrance and at the last moment go to one as far on the other side of the dome as possible?"

Astra looked thoughtful, "A bait and switch? That could work. Shell?"

"On it." Shell sounded cheerful, "I'll contact Sykes. Give us 5 to 10 min."

"Got it. Stall for 5 to 10." Astra responded before turning to me. "So, sun bright huh? Want to try for your top speed?"

I grinned, "Yes ma'am!" and started to push myself. They told me later my speed reached 190 mph and stayed there, give or take a few mph. I followed Astra's lead as Shell guided us so my light didn't interfere with air traffic, giving us a circuitous route timed to get us there when "Sykes" was ready.

As we came in from the west on our final approach I could see six guards keeping the crowd standing outside away from the main entrance as even more cars drove in, dropping off more people that pulled out cameras and phones and raced to join the crowd. So many people. Fighting rising panic I followed Astra in, slowing to half speed.

We stopped descending to a height just high enough to blow past the west side entrance and still clear the dome. The east side entrance only had a dozen or so people by it but it was suddenly still too many. I started looking for someplace to hide as we broke hard and dropped down. I was about to give up when I noticed Astra's cape had fluttered vertical as we descended. "It isn't much but I'll take it."

Keeping the brightness up I shrank to a foot high, shifted behind the curtain and "switched off the light" so I was out of sight and, in the time it took her to land, ducked into my hiding spot.

Before she could give me away I reached up from under her cape and tugged her hair whispering, "I'm here." through the com.

I barely felt her twitch before she turned to greet the guard, "Good afternoon John."

Peeking out I spotted their reflection in the door as he responded. "Astra." I felt my eyes go wide as he flicked his gaze to me and winked. "Interesting day for reflections."

"Yes, Yes it is." Astra's shoulders shook with repressed mirth as she entered the building. After the doors closed I pressed my face into her back to muffle my squeak as I let out the breath I'd been holding. She laughed quietly before asking, "Are you alright back there? Why so shy suddenly?"

I took a deep breath before using the com to answer, "I'm not sure. I mean I was nervous meeting you and the other Sentinels but you are Malcom's friends and teammates." I shuddered, "These people are all strangers. I... I just don't know if I'm ready for a close encounter with the general public."

"Nuts." I could feel Astra tense, "Terry is here."

I crouched lower. "Who is he?"

Astra kept walking, "Technically he's our embedded journalist in all but name. He's a decent guy most of the time but he has a habit of pushing a little too hard for a scoop." she sighed, "If nothing else I can threaten him with Quin."

Just then Shells voice cut in, "Okay I've been talking to new Tom and I think we have this. Alright you little ray of sunshine, are you ready to get sneaky?"

Despite my nerves I found myself grinning. "Yes ma'am."

I could hear the glee in Shell's voice as she started giving direction, "Okay Astra, not as if you had a choice but, stall Terry at reception." About ten steps later Astra began to slow.

"Okay Rai, new Tom is about to open a drawer. I want you to get in it….." Shell hesitated as Astra came to a stop. "Now. Go!"

I went. Shifting immaterial I swung around Astra to see the receptionist just starting to pull the drawer out. Flitting down I ducked in and found plenty of space to shift back. Whoever this new Tom was, he was good. The only signs he showed he noticed me were him handing me a badge with my face on it and the wink he gave when I waved at him and mouthed 'Thank You'. I whispered to Shell, "Okay. I have the pass.", as new Tom closed the drawer.

"Good, The next step is to move to the area next to the elevators, but the com signal doesn't reach you when you go immaterial so you're going to have to come back in and find a place to hide." Shell paused for a moment. "There are some potted plants that should work and I can try adjusting the lighting when no one is looking. Whenever you're ready."

"Going." Whew okay, I can do this. Shifting again I flew through the side of the desk and towards the elevators. I slowed my pace when I noticed new Tom had filaments running from him to Sykes and more than half of the security force I could see, including the guards by the elevators and at least two others on the levels below. I shook my head and continued on. I could ask about him/them later. For now I needed to find those plants. "There." Four low leafy plants and two small trees were spaced around the area in front of the elevator. The trees even had white blossoms on them and were lit so the side toward the wall was in shadow. I picked the tree on the left and squeezed in. I could hover without my wings manifesting so the branches didn't even wiggle when I shifted back in.

"What took you so long?" Shell almost snapped at me. "Astra's on her way over."

I flinched, "Sorry. I'm still getting used to seeing things differently. It distracted me for a bit." I waved at one of the guards when he glanced up at me. "At least now I have an idea about why you called the receptionist 'new' Tom."

"You what?!" Shell's exclamation startled me. "No. Not important now. You need to be right with Astra when the doors open. Move as soon as she's in sight."

"Okay. I can hear her boots.. I go...now." By now shifting was almost as easy as walking. So with barely a pause I was through the air and at Astra's shoulder as the doors opened. As she stepped in she moved to one side and I maneuvered behind her. Looking over her shoulder I could see Terry looking in this direction so I made sure duck under Astra's cape before shifting back. The doors had barely closed before she burst into giggles. Shell and I followed quickly.

Growing back to full height I gasped, trying to catch my breath. Suddenly realizing I was hearing Shell in stereo, I glanced to my left. What I saw stopped my giggles with a hiccup. Shell was hanging in the air a few inches off the floor wearing jean shorts and a t-shirt that read "Life 3.0 .. The extended warranty was worth it." and looking at Astra. I cautiously leaned over to sniff at Shell and as my whiskers got close to her they limned in silver and touched her cheek. Shell squeaked and ducked behind Astra. Which was a bit disturbing as part of her was in the wall of the elevator.

Her brow furrowed Astra looked at her. "What's the deal Shell? It's not as if Rionnagh is the first person that has been able to see you."

Shell slowly pulled out of the wall, "Sure but none of them were able to touch me!"

Astra did a double take, "Wait what? Shell are you sure you didn't imagine it? Maybe flashbacks to when Graymalkin would wake you in the morning?"

I watched as Shell began slowly disengaging from the wall "Umm I can try to not use my power for evil." I said with a wide eyed innocent look... just before I flicked the back of her knees with my tail. "But no promises." and broke out in a wide, Cheshire grin.

Shell's eyes nearly popped out of her head as she squealed and disappeared.

Astra looked at me with a little chagrin, "You're making me feel guilty for wanting to keep you around just to level the playing field for tickle fights."

Shell came through the coms, "Oh come on! I said I was sorry."

Astra smirked and I giggled. You could hear the pout in her voice.

I tried to stifle my mirth as I apologized, "I'm sorry, Shell. That was somewhat unfair of me. Truce?" Shell reappeared with an incredulous look on her face. I raised an eyebrow. "I could see if I can reach you when your piloting one of the Galatea shells." Shell just floated there making a choking sound.

Just then the elevator stopped and opened its doors to an underground lobby with a desk manned by a man that looked identical to new Tom upstairs. I put on my badge as I stepped out, and when I looked he was one of the two "nodes" I'd noticed from up stairs. His nametag said Bob. I giggled and waved a greeting.
The ghost of a smile appeared on his face, "Good afternoon. Astra, Cheshire."

I smiled, "Good afternoon Bob. It's nice to finally get to talk to one of you." My ears dipped to bashful as both Bob and Astra looked at me with surprise.

Astra blinked. "Wait. You're saying your sight lets you see that a person is a Redux?"

I shrugged, "It seems to. At least if the duplicates are permanent in nature. I don't think I've met an intermittent redux yet anyway."

Astra smiled, "Well we can schedule something to test that in a couple of days." she held out her hand. "Right now we need to get you to Dr. Beth so you can be done in time for your family's arrival. Come on." I took her offered hand and she led me down the hall past a fancy gym until we came to a door marked, "Medical".

When we entered we found Dr. Beth doing final adjustments on a web of elastic bands with sensors attached. After having me change into a jumpsuit Dr. Beth apologized for the source of the webbing (the bands were ones a veterinarian would use for monitoring animals without shaving off hair) and the amount of gel necessary for the sensors to maintain good contact.

He examined my scalp first to make sure I was healing before he moved on to something close to a normal physical. The easy part over, he began the tests on my powers. Flying pushes to test my exertion levels, weight sets to gauge my strength and tests for hearing, scent and vision.

Towards the end of the vision tests I caught a slight whiff of jasmine. While trying to locate its source I turned and nearly fell off the chair I was sitting on when I found myself nose to nose with Chakra's astral form. She was completely unfazed by the perturbed growl that escaped me, so I limned my body like I had in the elevator with Shell and booped noses with her. Chakra's eyes widened in surprise and then sparkled with delight. Before I could stop her she'd taken my face in her hands and kissed the bridge of my nose. I could have just dropped my limning but the feelings of welcome she projected and the massage she was giving my ears felt too good. She let me go with the promise she would see me at dinner before fading away.

Turning my attention back to the room I noticed Dr. Beth giving me a quizzical look. I blushed furiously when I realized I'd been purring and that he'd only seen my side of the exchange. After a very quick explanation we finished up the vision tests and moved on to trying to quantify my abilities. Shape shifting was first, followed by shrinking, then my phantom ability and lastly my ability to seemingly disassociate body parts.

Finally Dr. Beth was satisfied with his preliminary tests. He handed me a lollipop and let me go, saying he'd have the results ready by the time dinner was over. Astra showed me where the towels and bodywash were and gave me time to scrub the contact gel out of my fur. Once I was done I did a shrink, shake, and scrub to dry off. It worked so well it actually took me longer to brush the extra fluff out of my fur.

I'd gotten my costume back on and was getting the last tangles out of my hair when my ears picked up a sound I couldn't identify. Turning my head back and forth after closing my eyes I let my ears see for me and when I felt I was facing the source I opened my eyes and found myself facing the mirror. Peering closely at the surface I could almost make out a spot of color. "Nix?" Wanting to see clearer I felt something click in the back of my mind and I suddenly found myself looking at Nix and Ozma standing in a lab of some kind. I reached out my hand and pressed it against the mirrors surface. My touch said the glass was there but some instinct told me it didn't have to be.

Looking at the mirror I suddenly realized Nix and Ozma were looking back at me. My ears drooping I snatched my hand away and apologized, "I'm sorry. I-I just wanted to know what the sound was. I didn't know I could..."

Ozma smiled at me, "I will accept your apology if you will accept mine. I was working on something for you and an augury suggested now would be the time to scry you to get the measurements I needed, which I did without your permission. Now that you know, though, it would be easier if you were on my side of the mirror."

Her side? I looked at the mirror and remembered how I'd arrived in Ruth's living area. I wondered, "Could I do it again?"

Gathering up my courage I reached back toward the mirror and asked, "Lady Ozma? May I try?" She nodded her permission and stepped back to give me room.

Finishing my movement I touched the mirror, or tried to. Instead of contact, a glowing ring rippled out to the edges of the mirror and clung there. Floating up I passed through the opening and into what must be Ozma's private lab. Touching down I turned and, with a thought, closed the opening leaving it just a mirror.

Ozma clapped her hands together, "Very good, Rionnagh. Am I correct in thinking this is the first time you've consciously opened a portal bridge?"

I nodded absently looking with wonder at not just the mirror but the room around me. Much of the equipment and furnishings were what you'd expect from a modern lab but some of it, - especially with my vision, - seemed otherworldly including the indoor garden to one side. As I looked around I started noticing other auras. Not the shifting glimmer that living things had, but organized and set.

Ozma called my attention back to her, "Is there something wrong, Rionnagh?"

I could feel my ears droop with worry. "I think my, what did Dr. Beth call it? My visual cortex? Is still learning to translate the information it's getting from my eyes." I pointed at different objects and asked. "Are those magical?"

Ozma looked from the objects I'd pointed at back to me. "Yes they are." She answered with a hint of a smile. "You are certainly manifesting an interesting range of sensory ability. Can you also see heat like an Atlas can?"

I shook my head, "No I can't. I only have the visual acuity of an Atlas type. But I do have very good low light vision. According to Dr. Beth I can still see in color by the light of the full moon and in black and white in light as dim as that shed by a quarter moon."

Ozma tapped her chin in thought, "Hmmm. Some stories grant felines the ability to see the spiritual or 'magic' world. So perhaps Supernatural Senses instead of Super Senses." She smiled, "But, that is something to explore after we have had time to talk to Dr. Beth and your legal guardians." Picking up what looked like a simple caliper she continued, "For now I should get the measurements I need and then send you back before Shell tells Astra you've gone through the looking glass." She pointed to a chair. "Sit here please."

After I took the chair Ozma indicated she began taking measurements of my head and face and calling out the numbers while Nix wrote them down.

Five minutes later I'd thanked Ozma and shrank down to give Nix a hug before going back through the mirror. I felt vain but I checked over my fur one more time. If Chakra was going to be there perhaps some of the other senior Sentinels would be as well and I didn't want to let Daddy and Malcom down.

Opening the door I found a guard waiting for me. Tim (another Bob, I peeked) apologized and explained Astra had been summoned for a team meeting. He asked me to follow him and led me down the hall past the lobby and Bob down another hall until we reach an open door with "Young Sentinels" written above the lintel.

Tokki Kim

We'd only been waiting about five or ten minutes when there was movement at the door. Looking up I saw Rionnagh being ushered in by a guard suspiciously similar to the other three we'd seen since we'd arrived. The only new face that wasn't a Sentinel was Willis the Majordomo. I watched as he introduced himself. Rionnagh giggled and I overheard her telling him it was nice to see a new face. "Waaaait a minute."

I waited until she'd walked over to hug her family before getting her attention. It only took one look from me and her giggleness leaned over and whispered into my ear. When she was done she booped noses with me and went back to answering questions about her examination. "Well I'll be damned." I relayed the information to the other me's and then we got back to work.

June and Julia were in the room the Sentinels had set aside for Rionnagh to use as long as she needed to stay here for tests. They were setting up the laptop they'd linked to Rionnagh's phone and epad and coordinating the security for it all with Shell. They'd even contacted the cultural exchange program Rionnagh had been participating in and been able to transfer the secure application to the three devices so she already had texts waiting for her.

At a signal from June I nodded to Alice who broke the news to her granddaughter. Once in the room Rionnagh bounced with excitement. They managed to settle her down enough to get her to put her things where she wanted before they headed back out to the common area, with Rionnagh taking her phone with her.

The Sentinels were going to be another ten minutes so Rionnagh sat between her Father and Grandmother and spent the time answering the texts, (apparently in the languages of the friends) and telling her family about each friend as she did.

Shell ended up whistling in my earbud. "Wow. She's fluent in Japanese, Scott Gaelic and Arabic at a month or so short of ten? She even reconfigured the keyboard for each text. And don't tense up. Mr. Scott asked me to get her full records so Dr. Poppins could get a starting point for Rionnagh's continued education."

I had to smirk. Dr. Harte sat at the counter in her full regalia, drinking tea and holding conversation with Willis as he put the finishing touches on the buffet. It was a custom modern pants suit with coat, all cleverly cut to look like it could have come right out of the movie. Her hat, parasol and satchel sat next to her. I frowned looking at that last. June had been in the room when Dr. Harte had packed and told the rest of us she had loaded up as if she expected a disaster.

I didn't have any more time to think about it because the briefing had apparently ended. The senior Sentinels came through first, only staying long enough to greet Rionnagh and her family and grab a sandwich and drink before heading out to patrol. The only exception being Seven who engaged the family in conversation. I had to be impressed. He managed to interrogate them about Rionnagh's mother without mentioning her once or arousing suspicion.

The Young Sentinels stayed longer but even that wasn't long. Standing back and watching I could tell there was an underlying tension, as if they were waiting for something to happen. There was some levity however. Those of us from NU watched in amusement as, much to the confusion of the Sentinels, Rionnagh put away more food than anyone other than Grendel or Tygeara. After everyone had eaten all but Seven and Ozma excused themselves and filed out.

After everyone had left Ozma opened a box she had with her and pulled out a small case and handed it to Rionnagh. Ozma prodded her when she hesitated. "Go ahead. Open it."

Rionnagh opened the case and asked, "Anonymity Spectacles?" She giggled, "Magic glasses as a disguise?"

Ozma smiled at her. "Yes. So long as you don't do anything unusual such as fly or lift a car you'll be able go out in plain view without trouble. We can go for a walk in Grant Park, even wade in the new fountain to test them out if you want."

Rionnagh smiled and looked at her Father. I tried to hide my smile by finishing my coffee. She might be able to look him in the eye now but Rionnagh would always be Daddy's little girl. Alice didn't argue against it so in short order we were headed up stairs and out.

Tygeara

I shifted down to my human form before we got in the elevator and stayed in it when we got up stairs. Ozma handed me a pair of the specs in the elevator and I caught myself smiling at my reflection before I put them on. Human form or not a six and a half foot tall woman built like a brick house and wearing a leather bodysuit and boots would draw attention and it was warm enough out that long jackets would have been out of place. Nodding my thanks I put them on before the doors opened.

No one gave us a second look as we stepped out of the elevator. Kim and I shared a shrug. If it worked. It worked. The disinterest persisted as we walked through the atrium. We broke into groups after we exited the building. Rionnagh, her father and Alice made one group, Kim and I the second and Ozma, Seven and Evelynne a third.

We spread out as we made our way into the park, passing memorials and decorative statues as we went. I watched as Rionnagh went from display to display, enthralled with everything and trying to take it all in at once as only the young could. Still, a part of my mind told me there was something wrong and it was leaving me edgy enough that I was having trouble staying human.

It wasn't until we reached the open area around the new Buckingham fountain (rebuilt and expanded since the green man attack) that I realized that I could see more than a dozen Tokki spread out in groups of 2s and 3s. I turned to Kim with a hiss, "Seriously Kim. What. The. Hell? What's going on?"

Kim hissed back, "I don't know. Evelynne started loading her satchel after her noon meditation. When Claire asked why Evelynne told me to activate three response teams. One medical, one crowd control and one suited up in D gear."

I almost shredded my boots before I reeled my claws back in. D gear? That was what NU called their Verne created D class exosuits. They gave a user moderate D class Ajax abilities and were compact enough that they could pass as slightly bulky clothing and a backpack. Three teams meant I'd only seen half of the Tokkis here. "Okay Ruth calm it down. Whatever Evelynne saw wasn't totally catastrophic or it would have been more teams and C or even B gear."

I nodded to Kim and then pasted a smile on my face hoping the tall, fuzzy munchkin wouldn't notice it was fake. Luckily Rionnagh was distracted by the fluid arches that traveled the inch deep splash area.

Flanking the main fountain it ran in an arch running from its start at the northern side of the main fountain and around to its west before stopping at its southern side. It had been added during the rebuild in an effort to keep people from wading in the main fountain. By the time Rionnagh had taken her boots off my smile was genuine. She was barely making her first splash before I was pulling my boots off and putting them on the bench next to her's.

I joined her in an impromptu martial forms routine as she explored what worked with her new body and what needed adjusting. The experience was so enjoyable that I began entertaining the hope that whatever Evelynne had seen wasn't going to happen today. Of course that was when Rionnagh suddenly clapped her hands over her ears and looked northeast over Lake Michigan. I heard nothing but the fountain and all I saw was a few small clouds low in the sky. Then I felt it. A subsonic rumble I'd first felt a three weeks before. I didn't grow but my fur and claws popped and an answering rumble built in my chest.

Tokki Kim

"Shit!" Both of them were reacting to something. This was SO not good. I moved closer just as Rionnagh reached out and moved her hands as if opening a window in the mist from the fountain. I stopped and stared. Apparently that was exactly what she was doing because we were suddenly looking down on the lake from about three thousand feet up. There was a glowing line in the water and I could see three shadows emerge from the south side of it. The longest was half the length of the lake freighter traveling north in our view. "Rionnagh what is it?"

Her ears were folded back against her head as she answered me. "I'm not sure Kim. I think the glowing line is a portal. It hurts my ears. And… I think those are Kaiju."

Seven's voice came from over my shoulder. "Damn. At least this explains why they seem to appear out of nowhere." Then he did a double take, "Wait. You can hear it?" Rionnagh nodded.

Ruth's voice was a frightening base rumble as she handed her specs to Dr. Harte. "Rionnagh can you get me close?"

For an answer Rionnagh waved at an arch that spanned a walking path. A flicker of light and instead of the path we were suddenly looking down a concrete dock and across the lake to the freighter five miles away. Ruth turned towards the portal and shifted to her full rest form. Rionnagh called out before she stepped through, "Tygeara?" Ruth hesitated, looking over her shoulder, "Kick their scaly butts."

Ruth gave her a broad toothy grin. "You got it sunshine." Then she turned and began running down the dock, picking up speed before diving out into the water.

Rionnagh closed the portal with a wave. Seven called it in while we watched through the mist "window" as Tygeara grew from a speck to her full size, the cavitation of her passing leaving a wake behind her as she raced towards her targets. Out in the lake we could see that the freighter was slowing, the Kaiju's EMP must have shut down their engines. We all held our breath as one of the shadows turned toward the vessel and surfaced. Tygeara passed beneath the ship before surging upward, just in time to block the plasma breath of the attacking kaiju and creating a cloud of steam.

The delay as the sound traveled the three thousand feet to the window made the view surreal. It was like watching a video with the sound track out of sync. By the time we heard the crunch of a blow three more had been traded. When Tygeara finished off her first opponent she was already slipping back beneath the surface by the time the sickening gurgle from her ripping its throat out reached us.

We were watching Tygeara close with the next kaiju when the ground pulsed beneath us. "What the hell?" A few seconds later the sharp report of high explosives reached our ears as well as the muffled sound of falling concrete and tearing metal.

I turned to Seven and Ozma, "What just happened?" But the answer came from Rionnagh.

"There are people in the river!" she called out and when I turned to her she was staring down into the water in fear.

Seven's voice was tense as he added, "Someone just dropped five of the bridges into the Chicago river." Rionnagh gasped a second before Seven paled. "They shot the vehicle."

I turned to him, "What?"

Seven was livid when he answered, "It's an ambush. Watchman tried to pull a car from the river and they blew it to pieces!"

Movement caught my eye. Rionnag's hand trembled as she handed her specs to Ozma. Tears ran down her face as she shook her head. "No more. No more lights can go out. I can't let them." She stared down into the water at her feet and gestured. "NO MORE!" With that yell she plunged down and disappeared into an inch of water.

Stunned, I just stared at the water, "What?" I only had a moment to be confused before light blazed and Rionnagh reemerged, pulling a vehicle with her. "Oh you wonderful, wonderful child." Seven grabbed the chunk of concrete lodged in front of the windshield and used it to break the drivers window and let the water out as I rallied me. "ALL TOKKI! FALL IN ON MY POSITION! EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROTOCOLS!"

April arrived as Seven pulled the driver from the vehicle and May helped the coughing passengers out of the back. Dr. Harte started directing the med team in setting up a triage area and the control team started cordoning off both the triage area and space for the D gear team to move the waterlogged vehicles to. Not a moment too soon. A splash followed shortly by a flare of light and Rionnagh was pulling a second vehicle out of the fountain.

We settled into a rhythm. Rionnagh would dive in and pull a vehicle through. Two D gear would break it open to free the passengers before carrying it off while two more moved up to get the next vehicle as Rionnagh dove back in. The eighth vehicle was a large passenger van. Rionnagh was struggling to pull the front through when the rear end lifted out of the water and a battered SaFire came with it. Once it was on dry land SaFire only paused long enough to rip the back doors open to drain the water before grabbing a gasping Rionnagh in a hug.

"SaFire!" The call came from a man used to making himself heard over noise. "You need some help?" SaFire looked at Rionnagh who nodded.

The relief in SaFire's voice was easy to hear as she called back, "Irons! Come on in."

"Irons? The crew?" I looked up from sorting out the sports team from the van to see Irons and Lash push their way in. Catching Rionnagh's eye I nodded. I could see her sobb with relief as she hugged SaFire back before standing and turning and moving into a new position.

She wasted no time. "June. Metro bus incoming." She pointed to two positions for Irons and Lash to stand "Sir? Ma'am?".

Irons turned to a third man that had followed him in, "Kabe. Can you do up a sling so we don't have to dive in?"

The man nodded, "Hai."

I saw Rionnagh give a start at his name but she turned back to the fountain. A wave of her hands and the gate opened leaving the roof of the bus visible just below the surface. Kabe immediately sent a web of glowing bands through to wrap around it. When he nodded both Irons and Lash grabbed on and heaved. Rionnagh braced herself as the bus came through. Judging by the amount of water pouring out it must have weighed as much as a heavy load Semi. Once it was clear Rionnagh closed the gate so they could set it down. I watched as she turned to the unknown breakthrough.

Rionnagh asked worriedly, "Hogo Kabe san?" He looked to her in surprise as she continued. "Where are they? Are they alright?"

Lash interrupted, "Hey. English please?"

Kabe shook himself, "Yes of course." Looking at Rionnagh he continued, "I am not sure. The locator had them on the State street bridge when I lost contact."

I hissed. Blocking technology suggested someone was targeted. I could only watch helplessly as Rionnagh frantically scanned the water as seconds dragged by. Suddenly her gaze locked onto the water walls that capped the end of the wading fountain. A wave of her hand and we suddenly had a shrinking window showing several cars on a bridge with water lapping at the tires.

Kabe called to Rionnagh, "Nekokami. Can you bring it back?"

Rionnagh blushed a little as she answered, "Hai Kabe san, but if you're willing to swim I know the location now so we don't have to wait for the wall to be splashed again. Is Mizu san with them?"

Kabe nodded, "Hai. She should be. What do you need her to do?"

"If she can put a vertical wall of water in front of each vehicle Irons and Lash can pull them through quickly as I open a gate to each one." Rionnagh told him before turning to me and nodding at those of me in D gear. "Can they be ready if the cars aren't drivable?"

I grinned, "Yes they can." I "signaled" them and they quickly took up positions leading away from the wall. I turned back to Rionnagh, "Ready when you are, Cheshire."

She nodded and opened a gate, "Good luck, Kabe san."

I watched as Kabe dropped through and Rionnagh closed the gate behind him and moved to the path side of the wall. Tense seconds passed before Rionnagh's eyes went wide and she opened the first portal. Irons and Lash wasted no time grabbing the bumper that appeared and pulling the first vehicle through. Two of my D gear began guiding the driver away to where the control team had another area ready to receive the cars while two more took their place at the gate.

Other than two bodyguards that came through with the second vehicle it became rinse and repeat, with Rionnagh switching the gates from one vehicle to the next as fast as Irons and Lash could pull them through. They were on the third car when the sounds of combat started coming from the gates, getting louder and louder with each car pulled through. Finally a crowd of bodyguards followed a car through while energy blasts slammed into the bridge behind them and the gate collapsed.

Rionnagh scrambled frantically to the other side of the wall and plunged her arms into the water. When she pulled them out she brought two figures with her, Kabe and a female guard that struggled until Rionnagh let her go. Three of the other guards came around and helped them to their feet. The woman calmed down as she realized there was no immediate danger and Kabe managed to stand on his own, albeit a bit shakily.

A man that Astra had introduced as Kitsune at dinner seemingly appeared at Rionnagh's side to catch her as she wavered. "Easy Koneko-chan. Here." He said as he guided her to a bench. "Sit. Rest. You've pushed yourself very hard. Too hard for someone so young on her first day."

When Alice came over to sit next to her and tried to pull her into her arms Rionnagh protested weakly, "But Seanmhair I'm soaking wet."

Alice smiled at her and pulled Rionagh's head into shoulder anyway, "Hush, aon bheag it is nothing."

Kabe nodded to the woman that had come through with him and she turned to give a small bow to Alice before calling the water from Rionnagh's fur and her's and Alice's clothes and letting it flow back into the fountain.

Rionnagh gave a seated bow, "Arigatō Mizu san. This is much better." and relaxed (slumped really) into Alice's arms. Physically exhausted, Rionnagh stayed there, blinking slowly as she watched Dr. Harte queue the rescues for transport to the hospitals.

While we waited I started collating the information from my various selves. Of the people that Rionnagh had helped to rescue twenty were seriously injured but only four had been life threatening and SaFire and several C class atlas Guardians had delivered those to hospitals already. They weren't out of danger but the doctors gave them a fifty fifty chance they'd pull through. But while the C-class capes continued to work their way down the queue, SaFire had returned to the front line along the river. For some reason whoever was behind this wasn't giving up. It had gotten bad enough that Chief Redmond and Watchman had given the order for "No Quarter." If severely injuring or killing the target would result in less loss of life and less damage the CAI teams were to do so.

I was looking toward the east as a black smudge appeared in the sky. "June! What the hell is that?" I asked "showing" her what "it" was through our/my link.

June's response was quick. "Airbus out of New York. All four engines just blew. They're too far out to make the airport."

I was going to ask if there was a chance the pilot could ditch when waterspouts sprang up three miles out in the lake. Four missiles left contrails as they raced in the direction of the airbus. "June?"

June voice was hoarse as she answered, "Long range spike interceptors. Top speed Mach 3.4. L- less than 20 seconds to impact."

I turned to see Rionnagh looking at me all I could do is shake my head. What were these people after that they were willing spend so much to kill so many innocents?

A stubborn look was on her face as Rionnagh lurched to her feet and took a wobbly step before lifting off and fading from view. I was looking around trying to find her when a star burst into being over the lake and streaked towards the plane, passing the missiles in seconds.

Seconds ticked by as Rionnagh reached the plane and disappeared inside. June began a countdown. "Missile impact in five, four, three, t… The airbus has dropped off radar, repeat it has dropped of radar. Negative impact! Missiles have lost their target." June's voice was awed. "Holy crap."

"Dammit June out with it! What's going on?!" I yelled through the link. I could still see Rionnagh's light but it somehow seemed more diffuse. Wait, did she actually?

June answered. "She jumped the whole freaking plane! Visual is confirmed. I'm getting a 'ghost' image of the plane with Rionnagh shining like a star inside. No radar or lidar. They are there, but not there there." she paused. "SHIT! Activity from the submersible. It's firing!"

Out in the lake the vessel had surfaced and began firing at Rionnagh and the plane with laser turrets mounted in the upper deck. They weren't having any effect on the plane now but Rionnagh was exhausted. It was only a matter of time. Flashes started coming from the direction of the Navy Pier as the fight moved from the riverfront to the lake. A new turret with flak cannons began firing at the approaching capes to keep them back. I blinked. Was that a bow wave spreading out behind the ship?

An alarm and a frightened voice behind me made me turn, "Basaan! It is a Kaiju. What do we do? There is no place for these people to run." The speaker was a young girl looking up at an older woman. Both were ringed by their bodyguards, who looked ready to whisk them both away at an unknown signal.

Kitsune stepped up to them, "The water displaced is the only thing we have to fear from this one." He turned to Mizu, "Mizu san could you be so kind as to direct the waves away from shore when they arrive? I believe our opponents have made Tygeara very angry."

I turned back in time to see the ship lurch upward and begin to tilt as a massive force hit it from below. Tygeara's subsonic growl rumbled like a shockwave and the turrets ceased firing as 100m of metal groaned under the force of the impact. Up it went. 100 feet. 200 feet. 300 ft. By this time the ship was fully upside down and at the peak of its ascent. For a moment I could see Tygeara's eyes blazing. Then they disappeared as she roared and yanked the ship down and into the spur that protected her knee. Vern metal or not the ship was not made to withstand a focused attack from an angry Kaiju. She put so much force behind it the bow and stern crashed together hard enough to crush the turrets and conning tower into the opposite decks.

Peeling the wreck off of her leg Tygeara held it out in front of her and exhaled a freezing hell directly onto it. She kept it up until we could hear the metal pinging and cracking with the cold. Setting it on the water she went over it one last time.

Kabe walked up to Kitsune. "Kitsune san why is she doing that?"

I turned and answered before he could, "If I had to guess, Tygeara just dropped the ambient temperature of that ship to a degree or less Kelvin. If the Vern that built it had any self destructs they can't currently go off."

June cut in, "Heads up she's here!"

I turned in time to see the ghostly plane hover into view just off shore before turning solid, dropping into the water and extinguishing the still burning engines. Seven was already down the dock Rionnagh had luckily set down next to and opening the forward door.

Cheshire

I'd shifted between because I was tired and I didn't actually weigh anything there. I hadn't realized that meant I could fly much faster than I could in the "physical" world. Speeding by the missiles I didn't think about how little time I would have once I got there. When I arrived I simply went through side of the aircraft before dropping out of between.

A flight attendant gasped and covered her eyes at the sudden brightness, I'd have to apologize to her later. Reaching out with what I was coming to think of as my "key", I tried to open a door to get the plane closer to the ground, but every door I felt was as insubstantial as I'd just been. Searching closer and closer I finally felt something. "Seeing" the missiles about to strike I didn't hesitate, I pulled. The missiles reached the plane, and did nothing, passing through us like ghosts. Around me the passengers screamed, but I couldn't hear them over my own cries of effort. I'd pulled the whole aircraft and everyone in it "between" but it was HEAVY and I was so tired.

I clenched the door frame so my shaking wouldn't topple me over. Lights flashed from the submersible but they didn't touch us any more than the missiles had. But my grip on the balance that kept us between was slipping. Even with the faster speed here I didn't think we could make shore.

My pulse was pounding in my ears so I couldn't hear myself sobbing as I tried desperately to get us closer to the water so my failure would not immediately kill the people I was trying to save. Struggling, I held on for just a few more seconds. Pain. Tears ran down my face and I could taste blood. Had I fallen? Was I dying? "I'm sorry Daddy. I didn't mean to leave."

Suddenly I felt arms around me and I could smell Jasmin. "Hang on sweetie I have you." Chakras voice whispered in my ear. Her voice and touch bolstered me as she guided me the last few seconds. Finally, "We're here, Cheshire. Little Rionnagh, let go. Let go, they are safe."

I began releasing the plane slowly but the moment a wave touched it my control broke. Passengers screamed at the sudden drop and the roar of the still burning engines being extinguished in the water. Then there was quiet as the plane gently bobbed, it's nose just touching the shore. The attendant unbuckled herself from her seat and caught me before I fell.

She'd just grabbed a towel and placed it under my head when I heard the door open and Seven's startled voice, "Cheshire?! Jezes kiddo. What did you do to yourself?" He stepped in and kneeled in front of me. "Cheshire? Can you hear me?"

I was so tired I could barely blink. Even focusing my effort I could barely twitch the fingers of my hand but it was enough. Seven took my hand and began asking me yes/no questions and having me press his fingers. After a minute he seemed to relax and turned to nod to someone over my shoulder.

I heard something rattle behind me just before Seven, the attendant and SaFire carefully lifted me up and lay me down on what turned out to be a gurney. SaFire tucked a blanket around me and gently strapped me down. Then she and Hi no tori, one of Hana's bodyguards, lifted me out of the plane and flew me to the shore.

Hi no tori leaned in to whisper in my ear, "Kitsune has explained enough Koneko-chan. Hana-chan and her grandmother only ask that you tell them the whole story when you're strong enough. Until then rest 'little' hero."

I tiredly dipped my chin in the only bow I could manage, "Arigatō Hi no tori-san." She smiled down at me and nodded.

Everything was passing in a dreamlike state. Dr. Harte assured Daddy and Grandma Alice that I was just very tired and that, despite the clotted blood she and Ozma cleared from my sinuses, I'd done myself no lasting harm. Tygeara scared everyone when she lurched out of the lake to make sure I was alright. She nuzzled my forehead before letting Dr. Harte do something that sent her back to her grotto in New Underland to heal. After that they took me to the dome and down to the infirmary where they switched me to a very soft hospital bed. The last thing I remembered was Dr. Harte and Ginger giving me rich, warm, milk to drink. I barely finished the last glass before finally falling into the embrace of sleep.