Chapter 3
Bright crystalline stars illuminated the Thames as it leisurely made its way along the ocean surface. An enormous platform, complete with battleship style superstructure along one side, rested on four massive metal pillars. In the daytime, the rusting crumbling hulk looked like a floating pile of junk, but at night, it achieved a kind of strange grandeur, like an ageless battle scarred whale plowing the depths.
The Captain standing in the bridge at the top of the superstructure fit in. He was a tall walrus demi-human with a peg leg and a pipe jutting from his mouth at a jaunty angle. He scanned the black horizon with a practiced sailor's eye as he sucked on the empty pipe.
"Hanz, any contacts?" he asked in a gruff voice.
A dolphin demi-human looked up from his instruments and stifled a yawn with a flipper.
"No Captain," he said wearily.
"No slacking!" admonished the Captain waving a paw at his first mate, "You're a man of the sea!"
"This man needs sleep," muttered Hanz to himself.
He blinked for a second then rubbed his eyes. A crimson bright point of light was flashing in the lower left corner of his scanner.
"Contact Captain!" yelled Hanz, "Bearing north by northeast!"
"Excellent!" said the Captain filling and lighting his pipe. The glow of the match briefly illuminated his look of grim satisfaction.
"Orders Captain?" asked a grizzled man at the ship's wheel.
"Helmsman, steady as she goes!" responded the Captain, "Hanz, order general quarters!"
"General quarters?" protested the dolphin, "But we haven't attempted contact yet!"
The Captain looked around him at the graveyard shift crew around him. "You can't be too careful," he said finally, "After all…."
Everyone groaned inwardly as they knew what was going to happen next.
"I am!"
"A man!"
"Of the sea!"
After spinning to face all four directions he returned his attention to his first mate. "Hanz, try contacting her."
"Aye Captain," responded Hanz, "Attention unidentified ship bearing north by northeast, this is the mobile mining platform Thames. Please identify yourselves and your intentions."
"Thames, this is the Yggdrasil," responded a high pitched squeaky voice laced with static, "Our intentions are peaceful."
"The Yggdrasil?" said the helmsman incredulously, "Not them again!"
"We're still cleaning up the damage from last time," groused Hanz.
"Invite them aboard!" bellowed the Captain cheerfully. He liked adventurers.
"Aye Sir!" said Hanz, "Yggdrasil, proceed to main docking birth."
"Understood Thames," said the distant voice, "Nice talking with you."
"Strange crew," muttered Hanz, "But good taste in communication officers!"
A sail of a giant submarine broke the surface of the water and came to rest against a docking platform. The hiss of a hatch on top opening briefly muffled the argument within.
"Enough with the sermons!" yelled an impulsive young man as he climbed up the ladder on to the deck of the Yggdrasil. He had wild blond hair, an eyepatch over one eye and wore a red jacket with white pants He put his gloved hands on the railing and sighed deeply.
A courtly bronze skinned man with silver hair and an eyepatch as well appeared out of the hatch. He was wearing a long elegant coat with blue trim. "Sire, you can't just forget your responsibilities!" he protested.
"Sigurd, you sound like old Maison now," said the young man bitterly.
Sigurd Harcourt stiffened like a guard at attention. "I'd consider that to be an honor."
Bartholomew Fatima stared out at the nighttime ocean and once again bitterly reflected on his fate. He was more cut out as a Pirate Captain than as the next ruler of Aveh, but all his followers treated him as if he was already King. With his shoulders slumped, he turned around and rested his elbows on the railing. "All right, what do I have to do?"
"What have I always told you?" inquired Sigurd patiently.
"Never start something I'll regret later," murmured Bart automatically.
"And?" prompted Sigurd.
"A King's first duty is to his people," recited Bart.
Sigurd folded his arms across his chest and regarded Bart with a familiar mixture of admiration and exasperation. "Let's go Sire."
They walked up the plank together and entered an elevator mounted in a screw shaped shaft. Bart pushed a button and the elevator began to ascend, spinning along the spiral grooves as it did so. They stepped out onto the main deck area. Bart was surprised to see so much activity going on at the dead of night. A pair of diving gears sat side by side as work crews adjusted and repaired the armor plating. A derrick lowered cargo into the gaping maw of a hatch that led into a storage hold underneath.
"Remember, we're here for supplies," said Sigurd, steering him clear of the gears.
They made their way toward a random pile of crates around which some people had set up some small shops. Sigurd approached one as Bart noticed two people playing cards. As he got closer, he could see the woman in the gray hooded cloak was slamming cards on top of other cards at lightning speed, so fast the man in the white suit could not keep up. She slammed the last card down on the pile triumphantly.
"I win again," she gloated.
The man slammed a coin on the tabletop and angrily stalked off.
"Thanks for playing," said the woman as she reached for the coin. Bart put his hand on top of the coin before she could take it.
"Hey!" she snarled, suddenly turning pale as she saw his face.
"I know this game," said Bart leisurely tossing the coin up in the air and catching it again, "You're pretty good."
"It's just a matter of strategy," said the woman coldly.
Bart placed the coin on the table. "You may be good sister, but not good enough to beat me!"
"We'll see about that," said the woman shuffling the deck
Sigurd came over, his expression worried. "What are you doing?"
"Just a little fun," replied Bart, as he took of his jacket and handed it to Sigurd. He stretched his arms off to the sides.
The woman dealt quickly. Once the cards were laid out they began to pull four cards apiece from the central pile. Then they rapidly laid out the cards in order in two piles to either side. Bart drew and slammed down cards with reckless abandon, but the woman was playing her cards carefully. Within a minute it was all over. Bart stared down angrily at he three remaining cards.
"You cheated!" he snapped.
The woman smirked and held out a hand. Bart flipped a coin her way and stalked off, snatching the jacket from Sigurd on his way.
"Jerk!" he shouted when he thought he was out of earshot.
Sigurd laid his own coin on the table.
"You want to play too?" asked the woman.
"Why not?" said Sigurd with a twinkle, "I always enjoyed our matches Tolone."
The woman pulled back her hood revealing long silvery unbound hair that reached past her shoulders. Her light blue eyes regarded him with arrogance tinged with fear. A small triangular cluster of electrodes decorated each cheek.
"How did you know?" she asked.
"It wasn't hard," he said picking up the cards and shuffling them, "A true strategist recognizes technique."
"But playing cards and fighting are completely different!" she insisted.
Sigurd regarded her evenly and he dealt. "You still have a lot a learn."
Tolone sighed and they began to draw cards. Both played defensively, trying to provoke the other to make a careless mistake. Neither of them did. It got down to the wire, and Tolone noticed she had no place to put any of her cards. She looked over to see Sigurd calmly waiting with his cards. He then placed his cards in a quick series of deals that Tolone could only barely keep up with. She was left with one card.
"Damn it!" she snapped, "How could I lose?"
"Losing is always a risk you take when you play," said Sigurd, "But not all losses are worth risking."
She stared at him blankly. As he started to walk away, she caught his sleeve. He half turned to see her expression of animosity give way to one of fear.
"It's not too late for you Sigurd Harcourt," she said insistently, "Come with me."
"Go where?" he asked. But he already knew the answer. They both did.
Still she said it. "You can be forgiven!"
He smiled faintly. "Does this offer apply to Hyuga and Jesse as well?"
Tolone's expression hardened. "They chose their path long ago."
"Then why the special consideration for me?" he asked gently.
Tolone looked to one side. "It's killing the Commander to dispose of traitors like you!"
"I know," said Sigurd, "It pains me as well."
"Then why?" demanded Tolone, gripping his arm fiercely. Small motors whirled in her limbs as her grip became crushing. "How could you do that to Commander Ramsus?"
He put his hand on top of hers. "We just see things differently that's all."
She dropped her arms to her sides. "One day I'll have to kill you."
He nodded. "It would be an honor Tolone."
She faced away from him. "It's not funny!"
"I never said it was," said Sigurd sitting on a nearby crate. Reluctantly she sat next to him.
"Tolone, I'm not going to patronize you," said Sigurd, "So follow whatever cause you believe in."
"But," prompted Tolone quietly.
Sigurd smiled briefly. "But try to see what you're following with open eyes."
"I owe him my life," said Tolone intensely, "He saw value in me that no one else saw!"
"Maybe he's looking for value in himself," suggested Sigurd.
Tolone frowned. "How?"
"By finding worth in others, he can find it in himself," said Sigurd.
She shook her head. "How could he doubt his own worth?"
Sigurd chuckled bitterly. "I think everyone goes through that, but I think with Khar it's worse."
Tolone grabbed his arm again. "What did he tell you?"
"It was more what he didn't say that told me," said Sigurd as he shook he head.
"I wish we were back at Jugend," she said with a sigh.
Sigurd nodded. "I miss it too."
Tolone leaned her head against his shoulder.
"You're wearing your hair down," he commented.
She nodded.
"It looks better that way," he said.
"Don't," she said with an edge in her voice.
"Don't what?" inquired Sigurd.
"Don't be nice to me," she said bitterly, "It will make it harder in the end."
Sigurd was still trying to think of a suitable response when Bart returned.
"Hey Siggy, how much longer are you go-whoa!" he said in boredom that quickly gave way to shock.
Bart reached down for the whips on his belt just as Tolone reached him. She backhanded him into a pile of spare gear parts. Sigurd helped Bart up as she ran toward the superstructure at full tilt.
"Sigurd, what the hell was that?" demanded Bart.
"Just let her go," said Sigurd sadly.
"To hell with that!" yelled Bart as he ran off in hot pursuit.
Sigurd sighed and reluctantly ran after his charge. The reached screw elevator and found the meshwork elevator doors closed. They heard the rumble of the elevator as it descended below them.
"She's headed for the sub deck!" said Bart.
Sigurd stared upwards. "No, she's climbing up the inside of the shaft."
Bart frowned. "How do you know?"
Sigurd shrugged. "Instinct."
Bart punched the elevator button repeatedly until the elevator returned to their floor. Bart and Sigurd ran in and Sigurd hit the button for the top floor.
"What's she doing here anyway?" asked Bart.
"Most likely gathering information," suggested Sigurd.
The elevator spun and spun and finally came to rest at the bridge level. They walked into the bridge deck to see Tolone standing in front of the Captain.
"I don't have time for this!" Tolone was saying.
"Ah but lass, you seem the seafaring type!" said the Captain cheerfully.
They both turned to Bart and Sigurd.
"Welcome to the Thames!" said the Captain.
Bart gave a friendly wave. "Mind if we take this Element off your hands?"
The Captain arched a bushy eyebrow. "Are you looking for trouble lad?"
"Yes," said Sigurd with a faint sigh.
"Siggy!" snapped Bart.
"But it's true," replied Sigurd.
Tolone raised her hand above her head and began to glow green. Wind whistled through the room, blowing anything loose into a whirlwind that veered over towards Bart and Sigurd, who jumped in opposite directions to dodge. Tolone knocked Hanz over as she climbed onto the control panel. With her fist she punched through the plate glass window. The outside air whistled in, blowing Tolone's hair behind her. She stared into the ocean far below.
"Tolone!" called out Sigurd, holding out a hand.
She glanced back at him, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes
"Don't do it you crazy broad!" shouted Bart.
Tolone caught her hands on the top edge of the window and swung out and up, disappearing from sight. They heard her footsteps reverberate on the ceiling above them.
"She's on the roof!" said Bart.
Hanz pulled a lever and a hatch opened in the ceiling. Bart leapt through it and clambered out onto the roof. The roof was rust red and covered with aerials and antennas. He didn't see her.
"Come out and fight you coward!" said Bart drawing out his whips.
Sigurd quickly joined him.
Tolone stepped from behind an aerial. "You lambs will not be forgiven!"
She neatly sidestepped one of Bart's whips and then ducked as the other whip knocked over an antenna.
"Damn it Sigurd, help me!" yelled Bart.
Sigurd folded his arms across his chest. "It is not our time to fight."
Tolone leapt backwards toward the edge. She stared defiantly at them. They heard a distant rumbling sound, the distinct roar of a gear engine.
"You will die next time!" shouted Tolone as she stepped of the edge of the roof.
A yellow bird with a long needle-like beak and blue trim thundered past, it's wings held close to the sides as the rocket engines spewed fire. Sigurd thought he could make out Tolone clinging to the neck of Skyghene as it raced away in the moonlight. He sighed deeply.
"What was that all about?" asked Bart as he coiled up his whips.
"Sometimes it would be better if no one had a past," said Sigurd sadly, "Then there would be no regrets."
In the cockpit of Skyghene, Tolone tapped a button that closed the hatch above her, sealing out the bitter night cold. She took off the cape and stuffed it into a bin under her seat. Underneath was her Element uniform, a white and green shirt under a gold sash with matching shoulder length gloves. She then turned a dial on a console.
"No information pertaining to Dominia could be found on the Thames," she said, "Returning to base."
Skyghene sped on across the nighttime ocean, until slowly an aircraft came into view. It was long and needle-like, with six wings spread out along one end, three to a side. She maneuvered her gear alongside. The rear bay doors slowly opened and she cut the engines, letting Skyghene drift behind. She then maneuvered into a cavernous hanger bay.
A series of ceiling hooks caught her gear and slowed it down. A moment later, she was lowered into a side bay, with Marinebasher to her left and Grandgrowl to her right. She threw a couple of switches and dials and her gear powered down. She sat perfectly still in the cockpit for a long time. Finally she flipped open the hatch and hopped to the ground. She looked to see Kelvina and Seraphita standing further down along a walkway. As she got closer she could see they were standing in a front of an empty bay.
"Tolone!" said Seraphita, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she replied coldly.
"We were worried about you," said Kelvina, ever calmly.
"I'm touched," said Tolone, "What are you doing?"
"We're waiting for her to come back," said Seraphita sadly.
"Don't get your hopes up," retorted Tolone.
"Hope may be all we have," pointed out Kelvina.
"So you didn't find out anything about Dominia?" asked Tolone.
They shook their heads. All three of them regarded the empty bay. Tolone began to walk away.
"What happened to your hair?" asked Kelvina without turning around.
Tolone gathered up her hair into two bunches and tied them into two long ponytails on either side of her head.
"Nothing," she said and walked through a pair of automatic doors that closed behind her.