Chapter 36
"A New Morning"
September 24th, 1917
Innsbruck, Austria
Austria had changed.
It was no longer solely a land of clanking war machines and turning gears. Though industrialization continued and Clanker tech was still common, Darwinist fabrications were beginning to populate the streets throughout the day. Oxenesques, created strong enough to hold five times their body weight, dragged along carts of crops and other food through markets. Small airbeasts made traveling from one end of the country to the other far cheaper and faster than airships ever could. Even Gottschalk's killing beasties, like the chimaeras, had found uses as guard dogs, as well as for protecting herds for traveling farmers.
At the same time, hybridization was taking place to make the most of both types of tech. Disruptor beetles wired to Clanker engines powered entire city blocks at a time. Chickenhawks wore given metallic, grooved talons for better carrying packages. Glow-worm lanterns were hung over stalls to light up the marketplace until the sun rose. The reformed Austrian military was being trained to use organic and mechanical implements, from traditional firearms to fabricated acid grenades.
In spite of all of this, Alek felt at home returning to Austria with Deryn and Dr. Barlow in tow. The fruits of their labors had ripened. Though the postwar peace was an uneasy one, it was preferential to another drawn-out conflict.
Dr. Barlow studied every sight carefully, nodding in sync with her lorises with each new fabrication or hybrid that passed by.
"Really, the both of you did spectacular work here," she said. "My best-case scenario was a Clanker Austria that would sign a non-aggression pact with Britain. Somehow you two went above and beyond my expectations and created an amalgam state out of Austria. Quite fascinating to see such a dramatic change in such a short span of time."
"Oh? So all this wasn't part of some secret plan of yours?" Alek asked. "I'm used to you breaking out your Plan D's and Plan E's whenever something doesn't go as expected."
"I assure you, Mr. Hohenberg, I am not getting slower. I was preoccupied with two crises – one involving a protégé of mine, and another involving Germany's machinations. While you two altered Austria's course for the better, I was putting out a fire before it could ignite, so to speak."
They were clad in freshly-pressed dress uniforms as they approached Ambras Castle. It was acting as a local center for the Austrian Reformation Coalition, a government-sponsored Clanker-Darwinist group that helped implement hybridization across the country. The three of them were supposed to meet with the regional heads of the organization there.
Though the castle had suffered heavy damage throughout the war, it was undergoing renovations to ensure it would live on. The engineers promised that, with the resources and modern equipment on their side, Ambras would weather any storm that came its way.
The soldiers guarding Ambras were an odd sight to behold. Their clothing was nothing like the common Loyalist and rebel outfits used throughout the civil war, with gray Clanker coloration and telltale signs of fabricated material all over. Much like their new way of life, the very clothes they wore were made from the cooperation of Darwinists and Clankers.
The exhaustion and fatigue plaguing both sides wasn't present among those who greeted Alek at the door. Hope and relief were the new norms of the Austrian people.
"Blisters, these people work fast. Last time I was here, all these fancy decorations were dirty and torn up. Everything looks so colorful and new!"
"Austria does have an image to improve, Mr. Sharp. It needs to convince its neighbors that it is no longer a war-torn wasteland. What better way to do so then to clean up its ruined landmarks?"
"Making sure that bum-rag Gottschalk stays locked up forever; I'd say that's a good way," Deryn commented.
"I assure you, Anastasia will receive the sentence she deserves. My concerns lie less with the possibility of her escaping and more with the possibility of her being executed. If necessary, I will argue for her preservation."
Gottschalk's public trial was becoming a spectacle around Darwinist and Clanker states alike. Reporters from all over the world flocked to Austria to watch the latest developments, whether they were as dramatic as her former allies testifying against her, or as simple as another cross-examination.
Alek and Deryn had briefly sat in on the trial while Dr. Barlow made statements. From what he had seen, the fire in Gottschalk's eyes had extinguished. Her will to fight had faded away, leaving her in a trance-like state where she answered questions straightforwardly and rarely stuck up for herself.
If she hadn't had a hand in the deaths of thousands of Darwinists and Clankers, he might have felt some pity for her sad state.
They stopped at a recently-polished set of double doors. Alek adjusted his tie, pinching the knot tighter to compensate for the gloves he and Deryn were ordered to wear.
Stepping into the sparsely-occupied conference room, they found only a couple of people waiting for them inside – two girls leaning over a map of Innsbruck, muttering to each other. The taller of the two resting her hand over the other's. Near the red-headed girl was a large bird perched on the desk.
"Ashton! Moira! Great to see you again!" Deryn cried.
Alek couldn't help but smile. He and Deryn had been talking back and forth with this pair for months. Their shared past had made the four of them natural liaisons between Austria and England, but he hadn't assumed that they were the lucky ones to take charge of operations in Innsbruck.
Moira whipped around. Smiling widely, she and Deryn caught each other in a friendly embrace. They pulled apart and immediately began trading stories and catching the other up-to-speed on what had been going on.
Ashton nodded towards Alek and Dr. Barlow. "Haven't seen you two since Boesch's funeral. It was a good send-off, but I'm glad to have you back."
"Same goes for you, but I'm honestly surprised! They put you two in charge of this place?"
Ashton nodded. "That showdown with Gottschalk apparently won a lot of admirers for us. Since we both know the area and have plenty of experience with Darwinist and Clanker tools, the Coalition figured we would make good tools for the reconstruction effort."
"I couldn't think of anyone who could do the job better," Deryn said.
"Aye, we've been able to make a difference here. Been making the rounds all over, showing people how to use the new tech being sent around." She reached under the chickenhawk's beak and stroked it affectionately. "Not only that, but I finally found Fitzpatrick! I've been away from the little bugger so long that I almost forgot about him! Turns out he was waiting in Ambras for me all along!"
"Glad you're both doing well for yourselves. Good thing Jung isn't here, or he'd be furious that you're surpassing him in rank!"
"I doubt it. He retired a few months ago. He told me that he was done with the military life, and that taking care of his sisters was more important. He wrote me a letter a couple weeks back. Apparently, he's been teaching at some university up north since then."
Alek couldn't imagine being lectured by someone as irate as Jung. Still, he felt some relief that the lieutenant had gotten his priorities straight and settled down.
"Ms. Marlow and Ms. O'Donovan, we meet at last." Dr. Barlow shook both of their hands. Bovril scurried down her arm and onto Moira's shoulder. "My companions here have spoken highly of your skills. They said they might not have succeeded in toppling Gottschalk without your assistance."
Ashton shrugged. "Honestly, Sharp and Alek got the ball rolling on that," she modestly responded. "We just helped them out when they needed it the most."
Bovril joined his counterpart at Ashton's desk, where the two lorises exchanged snippets of conversation with Fitzpatrick.
Dr. Barlow glanced down at the trio of fabrications. "I certainly hope your chickenhawk has not overheard any profane conversations. It took me weeks to get Bovril to stop saying 'barking spiders' in front of guests."
"I, uh, can't make any promises, ma'am. He's been out-of-sight for a while now. God knows what colorful words he picked up while I was away."
"Very well. With introductions out of the way, I suppose we should get to the heart of the matter – you said in your letter that you wanted to form an alliance between Austria and the British Empire, correct?"
Moira straightened up her coat and sat down beside Ashton. She stretched one of her arms over to Dr. Barlow's loris, petting it gently over the head. "That's right. We're at an odd spot now, being not-quite Clanker and not-quite Darwinist. Germany broke off relations with us a few months ago, and France still doesn't trust us. We figured that – well, I mean, we wouldn't have gotten here without the Zoological Society's help. Might as well repay the favor by working with you lot. Could protect us if Germany decides we should be a Clanker state again."
"We'll be right by your side, don't you worry!" Deryn cried. "Alek and I talked to the top brass in the Society. They're going to be working round-the-clock to get your treaty signed." She pulled off her gloves, laying them down on the table. "Sorry, it's a wee bit hot. They were antsy because you don't have a prime minister yet, but we convinced them you were a sane lot."
Ashton lightly drummed her fingers against the table. "Is there any way you can prove you'll hold up your end of the bargain? I trust you three, but I've had bad experiences with your government…"
She trailed off, likely because the focus had shifted from international affairs to something far more personal. Mouth agape, Moira pointed at the golden object gleaming on Deryn's finger.
"Is that the ring I keep hearing about?" Ashton asked.
Deryn tried keeping her composure, even as the redness spread along her cheeks and face. "Aye. The one Alek gave to me when he popped the question."
Moira giggled enthusiastically, shaking with glee. "God, you two are so adorable! What'd you say?"
"She just stared at me for a whole minute, then wrapped me up the tightest hug I've ever felt," Alek answered. "She yelled, 'Why didn't do this earlier, you Dummkopf? Of course I'll marry you!'"
Even Ashton couldn't help but crack a grin. "So, who's taking on whose name? Is it going to be Deryn Hohenberg or Alek Sharp?"
"That's an easy one," Deryn answered, "it's going to be-"
"-Deryn Hohenberg," Alek said.
"-Alek Sharp," Deryn said.
The two exchanged confused looks. Alek remembered the back-and-forth conversation they had the night before.
"We're still figuring that out," Alek said.
"Why not mix the two?" Moira suggested. "How about Aleksandar and Deryn Hohenberg-Sharp?"
"…If we could get back on topic," Dr. Barlow said, "I already thought of several ways we can hold Parliament to its commitment to the new Austria. Two involve standard diplomacy between nations, while a third will have the Zoological Society apply pressure until Parliament submits – and, I assure you, the Admiralty will make sure of that. I will go over them in detail after that conference you scheduled for tonight."
Moira tilted her head at the doctor. "Are you hiding something, ma'am?"
"Take heart, my dear – my line of work always entails hiding crucial details from everyone I know, even my husband. I am only withholding this information because…" she glanced back at the closed door, "…I would rather discuss it somewhere that is not buzzing with activity."
Alek faintly heard Deryn mutter, "Once a sneaky-boots, always a sneaky-boots," under her breath.
"In any case, I would like for you two to take these," she removed two envelopes from her coat and slid them to Moira and Ashton," and read them before you begin answering questions from the foreign delegates. In addition to containing a proposed development timeline of the Zoological Society's partnership with Austria, they contain profiles of your guests. This way you will not be caught off-guard by their more…eccentric behaviors."
Ashton and Moira shrugged at each other and pocketed Dr. Barlow's letters. Ashton cleared her throat. "Well, thanks…I guess. I'll keep all this in mind."
"And, at the risk of coming across as forward, I recall you mentioning that your fabricators were able to crack Gottschalk's formulas. Part of your deal with the Society was that you were going to give them to us for safekeeping."
Moira blinked. "Oh sod, right! We've got all the specific life chain combinations written down. There's a list in the vault upstairs. We'll go get it now."
Ashton held an arm out in front of her companion. "Actually...if you don't mind, we want to hold onto that. That's our only means to hold your organizations to the treaty. Once we see progress, then we will give you the combinations one at a time."
"It would seem that Austria is in better hands than I anticipated." Though Dr. Barlow showed no reaction to Ashton's comments, her voice carried a hint of approval. "Your concerns are understandable. For the time being, we can discuss the increments of this release upstairs. Assuming you all do not mind?"
"Not at all!" Moira responded. "Let's hash it out in private. No need to get anyone else involved for now."
The sun pushed up over the horizon, its top rim easing its way into the morning sky. The clouds seemed to burst into a bountiful orange blaze. Light spread out across Innsbruck and the countryside beyond it.
Ashton, Moira, and Dr. Barlow left the room, their personal beasties hitching rides on their shoulders. Deryn and Alek stayed behind, transfixed by the sight of a new morning in Austria.
Deryn's hand slipped into his. She gently rubbed the missing ring finger on his hand, her thumb making circles in his palm. His fingers ran over the golden ring on her own hand.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" she whispered. "Can't believe it's all over. Your home's finally at peace."
"I pray for it every day. There are days I'm just terrified the fighting will resume, and all of our work will be for nothing."
She raised his chin so their eyes met. "You won't have to worry about that. Austria is in good hands. It's in a wee bit of a strange place, but it'll survive. It's a lot harder to hate your neighbors than it is to get along with them, I know that from experience."
Alek chuckled quietly. "You know, before we left for Austria, I told you I was worried the people here would hate me. That they'd see me as a traitor that cost them the war. Now that they like me, I'm worried I won't always be able to help them."
"You can't! It's just not possible. And you know what? They won't think any less of you for not always helping them out. What matters most is helping when you can." She gripped his hand tighter. "And we will do that, together. I'll always be by your side, Alek, no matter how much of a thick-headed ninny you can act."
"And I promise to stay by yours, even when you overzealously throw yourself into the most dangerous situations imaginable."
Deryn leaned in closer to him. Alek's eyes closed, knowing what would come next. Their lips met, drawing out an initial kiss that lingered as the two drew back from each other. Alek's arms were around Deryn's back, just as her arms were around his.
Their eyes opened. Instead of another kiss, Alek leaned his head on Deryn's shoulder, smiling as she rested her cheek on his. Basked in the warmth of the sun and his fiancé's heat, he truly felt at peace.
The two remained that way for what felt like hours. Gradually, they moved apart and collected themselves. A pleasant burning had sparked in Alek's heart, one that no cold morning could ever extinguish.
With her gloves back on, Deryn held the door for Alek. They followed their friends' paths upstairs, awaiting the trials of the new day so they could tackle them together.
Austria would never be a perfect country, but together they would improve it however they could.
A/N: After two and a sixth years of work, Between Two Giants has come to an end. It has been a long, windy road to this point, filled with successes and doubts. I feared I would never finish it at several points in my life, but here I am now. I guess perseverance does pay off. While not all of my original concepts for the story made it in, I am happy with the way it turned out.
To everyone who read, followed, favorited, or left reviews for the fanfic: thank you all so much! Your support was a key motivator for writing new chapters for this story. Every bit of feedback, support, and criticism greatly helped me with the story.
If you are expecting a sequel to Between Two Giants, then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you: I do not intend to continue this at any point in the foreseeable future. I want to get back to writing original content once more, and while I grew as a writer thanks to FFNet and the Leviathan community, I do not want to have to do another massive undertaking like this. If anything, I may write a couple one-shot stories or, less likely, continue work on Phoenix Rising. That all depends on the time I have available and the dedication I have for writing more Leviathan fanfictions.
Thank you to eisceire to providing valuable feedback as my beta reader! Your contributions helped me out significantly.
And, again, thanks to everyone who helped this story proceed from start to finish. I truly appreciate your support.