Thunderchild tucked into his beef and ham pie, the galley had prepared it especially for him in light of the victory against Bahamut.
"You're hungry." Noted Domino from her position across the table from him.
"I haven't eaten properly in several days." He confessed.
Domino glared at him
"You idiot," she scolded him "What the hell's got into you recently anyway?"
Thunderchild looked up, his face slightly shocked, he had hoped that she had forgotten about that.
"Oh…nothing…nothing." He tried to assure her, the last thing he needed to do was to burden her with the vision he had had.
Domino just gave him another 'look' and carried on eating her meal.
Thunderchild sighed and put his knife and fork down, chewing on his food he looked at Domino.
"Hmmm…maybe I've been a bit too devoted to destroying Jara recently…"
"Maybe?" asked Domino, one eyebrow raised.
"Ok…ok…definitely…"
He picked up his fork and speared a piece of ham, placing it in his mouth he thought long and hard about what he could do to raise the flagging moral of the fleet, this ship and Dominos.
But Jara's still on my mind he thought, and then thought exactly how he could do it.
"A dance!" he said with a mouthful of ham.
"Pardon?" asked Domino
"Sorry…thinking out loud. I was thinking…maybe we could have a small party when we get to Klatch…"
"A party? Whatever for?"
Thunderchild sighed and rolled his eyes
"The fleet Dom…I mean, I don't know if you've noticed but we've taken a helluva hammering…people out there are shattered…I know I am. I think we could all do with a bit of a break…don't you?" he said
Domino thought about it for a while.
"Yeah…I'd like that." She said
Thunderchild nodded
"Yeah…I can picture it now…song…dance…"
"Dance? Oh no…no, no, no."
"What?" asked Thunderchild looking at her puzzled
"You are NOT getting me to dance!"
They looked at each other for a moment and then both of them burst out laughing
"Well how about sing then?" he asked, giggling
"No way!"
They both laughed again and were still laughing when the door opened and Funaho walked in.
"I am sorry, am I interrupting something?" she asked when she saw the giggling pair.
Thunderchild put his hand over his mouth to try and stop the laughter as Domino collected herself and said
"No…nothing at all…how can we help you Funaho?"
The blue haired genome look-alike frowned slightly and then shook her head, making her long hair shake behind her.
"I was thinking of returning to mother."
"ARE YOU NUTS?" shouted Domino, all trace of humour gone from her face and voice.
Thunderchild had a similar reaction, standing up suddenly he knocked his chair over and shoved the table to one side.
"Why!" he asked
Funaho had expected a similar reaction.
"I have nowhere else to go…mother is all I have left."
Thunderchild walked over to her and put his arm around her shoulder.
"Funaho…you have me! I'm your brother!"
Funaho pulled away from his embrace and looked him in the eye
"Do I? But for how long?"
Thunderchilds legs nearly gave way under him.
How did she know! He hadn't breathed a word of this to anyone other than Nagy! How did she know!
He couldn't find a reaction to her question and instead stepped back
"I don't know what you mean." He finally said, bowing his head to avoid her gaze
"Well…anyway, I must return to Mother…I will be leaving shortly."
Thunderchild recovered himself enough to give Funaho a warm embrace
"Very well then sister…I bid you farewell, we will meet again because Jara and I's paths will cross again. That I promise." He said
"And I bid you farewell and good luck too brother…father would be proud of you."
Thunderchild hugged her tightly and then ended the embrace, wiping away a tear from his eye as Funaho went over to Domino and bowed deeply before her.
"Farewell Domino…watch carefully over my brother for his heart knows no limits, neither does his courage…not even death."
As she said the last three words she looked directly at Thunderchild before turning around and exiting the room.
There was a long silence after the door swung shut and Domino and Thunderchild looked at each other.
"What she said about…" Domino began
"Forget it." Thunderchild responded quickly and firmly.
Domino opened her mouth to protest but Thunderchild raised his hand palm facing her as if to say 'I've had enough…don't push me'.
Domino knew better than to challenge her husband on a matter like this and just sat back down again.
They ate the rest of their dinner in silence.
Funaho stood on the deck on one side of the Defiant as the ship rolled in the now choppy seas, to her left she could see the faint smudge on the horizon that signalled the approach of Klatch.
Bowing her head she quickly transformed into a large light red dragon with dragonfly wings, flapping those wings rapidly she lifted up off the deck and shot off into the Klatchian horizon, flying back to mother. Where she had always felt welcome, where she was sure she'd feel welcome again…despite her mothers betrayal.
A clanging noise on the ships intercom system woke Thunderchild up and directed his attention to the speaker on the wall, he hit the button on the side of it and lifted up the receiver.
"Thunderchild here." He said into it, behind him Domino stirred and opened her eyes.
He listened carefully to what was said to him and then acknowledged it with a clipped
"I'm on my way."
He put the receiver back down on its hook and turned around to the now awakened Domino.
"Looks like our welcoming committee is on its way." He said
"What?"
"Several Klatchian warships have been spotted on an intercept course…they'll be with firing range within the next ten minutes."
"Firing range? Hang on…they're not gonna attack us are they!"
Thunderchild shrugged
"I dunno what's been happening in Klatch…and for a Morporkian fleet to suddenly arrive on their doorstep will be a bit of a surprise for them."
Domino stared at him as he straightened out his ruffled clothing and flattened his hair back down.
"Come on…we'd better get to the bridge."
Proeliator was standing to one side of the bridge as Beowolf held the ships wheel in his hands when Thunderchild and Domino walked onto the bridge.
"Hiya Thu." Greeted Proeliator
"Hiya Pro…how far are the ships from firing range?" asked Thunderchild as he walked over to the bridge windows and scanned the horizon.
"Oh…five minutes probably less."
"Hmm…" muttered Thunderchild "They must have changed their tactics because…aha…there it is, right on time."
"What?" asked Beowolf
"Carpets, two o clock low. It's a ID check…standard Klatchian Naval doctrine."
As they followed Thunderchilds' outstretched arm they could see two rapidly enlarging dots low on the horizon.
Thunderchild walked out on the deck and waved as much as he could at the carpets, the two carpets then split up, one headed for the Enterprise while the other headed straight towards them.
As the flying carpet flew low overhead, Domino could see a turban headed man staring intently at the ship, the carpet turned around and hovered low alongside the Defiant, Thunderchild walked as close to the carpet as he could while remaining on the ship and shouted out something completely unintelligible to the pilot.
The pilot seemed surprised and shouted something back that made Thunderchild smile and nod his head.
The carpet then moved away and met up with the other carpet before heading back over the sea to the horizon.
"Klatchian ships within range…but not firing." Said Proeliator from behind Thunderchild.
"Well…I don't think they will fire on us…I hope not anyway." Said Thunderchild as he walked back onto the bridge.
"What did you say to him?" asked Domino
"I just told him who we were and what we are doing. That's all." He said
"He looked pretty shocked."
Thunderchild chuckled
"Yeah…word of our escapades in Ankh-Morpork is starting to trickle in here."
Domino nodded
"Oh…I guess we're heroes here too then?"
Thunderchild shook his head in disagreement
"Not yet…we've still got to stop her here."
"More carpets…four of them, coming in low!" warned Beowolf
Thunderchild turned and walked back out onto the observation deck, shielding his eyes from the sun with his hand he watched the carpets fly up to the ship and come alongside, one carpet slowly descended onto the front deck and two Klatchian officers got off it and stood waiting.
Thunderchild ran from the bridge down onto the deck and over to the officers, saluting them he began to speak rapidly in the foreign language that Domino couldn't understand.
Domino watched them speak for a while and then the officers saluted Thunderchild and walked back onto the carpet and flew off as Thunderchild returned to the bridge.
"What did they say?" asked Proeliator
"We're clear to dock at Al'Jazerra, the warships will escort us in."
"Escort? Why?"
"Jara has been busy here…the shipping has come under attack before…but not lately."
Proeliator nodded in agreement as Thunderchild walked over to the communications desk and selected the mirror that would enable him to speak to the whole fleet before activating it with a wave of his hand.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Morporkian fleet," he began "Our naval journey is nearly at an end, before us lies the port of Al'Jazerra and the continent of Klatch. But our fight does not end with our arrival at Al'Jazerra…no, it only begins. When we overthrew Jara Gedyens Crystal Palace in Ankh-Morpork we thought that we had killed her…but the recent attacks on the fleet and news of attacks within Klatch show that we were sadly mistaken.
However…for now, let us dock at Al'Jazerra where tonight we will feast and drink well in a party I have organised for us…I think after the hardships we have been through recently we deserve it! And then we will see what the morning light brings.
To Al'Jazerra!"
He put the mirror back down to face a round of applause from Proeliator and Beowolf
"Well said Thu." Said Beowolf
"The Klatchian warships are taking up escort positions on the edge of the convoy." Reported Proeliator
Thunderchild nodded
"Yeah…they'll see us into the port. Do we have a visual on the port yet?" he asked
Proeliator nodded
"It's very far off but just visible."
Thunderchild nodded
Less than half an hour later the Defiant manoeuvred its way gently into port, the sailors along the port side of the deck throwing out lines which the Klatchian dock workers caught and secured to loops on the dock. Just behind the Defiant, the Enterprise was doing the same thing. Both ships slowly came to a halt as the mooring lines went taut and stopped any forward motion.
"Well done everyone!" congratulated Thunderchild from the bridge of the Defiant "That was one of the smoothest dockings I've ever been in!"
Proeliator and Beowolf smiled and relaxed, the docking had been quite a tense one, at one moment it looked like the Defiant was going to smash into the wooden dock which would have done nothing for Klatch/Ankh-Morpork relations.
Thunderchild saluted all who were on the bridge and made his way down the stairs to the side of the ship, a gangplank had already been laid and he walked down it onto the dockside where he was greeted by someone he recognised.
"Al-Jhip-Ghot!" called out Thunderchild in Klatchian "It's been a long time!"
"Too long!" cried out the large bulk of a man as he grabbed Thunderchild in a bear hug which nearly broke several of Thunderchilds ribs.
"I take it you know why we've come?" he asked after Al had put him back down.
"Yes…the enemy is near at hand…just yesterday we lost contact with a camel train only ten miles from here."
"She's that close?"
Al nodded
"Yes…she may be closer. No-one knows where she is heading though…one day it looks like she's heading for KLK, the next she's out in the desert."
What is she doing? thought Thunderchild
"On a happier note…the party will begin in less than an hour!" exclaimed Al-Jhip-Ghot
"That quickly?" asked Thunderchild in surprise
"Of course…it's been too long since we had a party around here…The sun will be down soon, I can't think of a better time than after sundown."
Thunderchild nodded in agreement
"Sounds good to me."
Al adjusted his turban and grinned at Thunderchild through his goatee
"I must go and help with the preparations." He concluded
"I'll see you at the party then." Agreed Thunderchild
Al smiled and bowed to Thunderchild in a traditional Klatchian bow before turning on his heel and walking back down the dock, shouting at the sailors standing around as he did.
Thunderchild chuckled, he felt like he was home again…it had been many years since he had come back to Klatch…he was looking forward to seeing his parents…no…foster parents, he corrected himself, once again…even though the subject of the visit was likely to be difficult.
How do you tell someone you've always regarded as your mother that you know that she isn't? he thought
My love! called out Domino, he turned and saw her standing at the top of the gangplank
Yes Dom? he asked
So this is Klatch…where you've been all these years?
Thunderchild nodded
Yep…this is home, or at least what I considered to be home until recently.
It's hot…like Terra…I can see how you managed to fit in here…climate-wise it's just like Terra.
Thunderchild nodded, his mind preoccupied by what he might find when he went home. Would his foster parents be forthcoming or would he have to drag the truth out of them?
Only one way to find out he thought Tomorrow I shall go and find them.
In the darkening evenings light on the edge of the town of Al'Jazzera later that evening, a large bonfire sent sparks flying high up into the air. Around it stood or sat many people, mostly from the Morporkian fleet, but some from the town and others from nearby towns to whom word had spread of the fleets arrival.
A small band was playing all different types of music, some tunes lively others slow and people had begun to dance by the bonfire.
Everyone was there bar two people…Thunderchild and Nagy were conspicuous by their absence. Domino stood with Zidane and Mikoto watching the events.
"I don't know about you sister," said Zidane "But I think I'm going to enjoy this party."
Domino said nothing, she was still unsure about the whole thing.
"Where did Thunderchild say he was going anyway?" asked Mikoto
"He didn't…he just said he was going to tie up a few loose ends." Said Domino, she went to continue but suddenly there was a dull thump from the harbour, as she turned to look she saw the Defiant explode into flames and begin to sink rapidly.
The music in the party stopped, many people drew their swords sure that Jara was attacking.
Another explosion indicated the departure of the Enterprise, the burning hulk settling lower in the waterline until it disappeared out of sight underneath the waves.
"Of course…" muttered Domino, now sure of what her husband was doing.
"It must be Jara!" hissed Zidane to Domino
"No…no, it's not her, it's Thunderchild." She replied
Mikoto turned on Domino, frowning
"Thunderchild? Why would he want to blow his own ships up?"
Zidane clicked his fingers, realisation dawning.
"Of course…he didn't want the technology reaching the Discworld."
Domino nodded as Mikoto said
"Oooh, I see now. It's good of him to think of that."
A black shape darted overhead and settled on the further reaches of the party, Domino ran over to it, as she got closer she could see it was her husband and Nagy getting off a magic carpet.
"It's sorted." He said to her as she hugged him
"Well done." She whispered back to him.
Proeliator came running over to the two of them.
"Thunderchild! The ships…they're…"
"I know…don't worry, we have no need of them now."
"But…but…" stammered Proeliator, clearly he had wanted to technology to remain on the Discworld.
"Come now…let's enjoy this party. Let the music and drink flow freely!" shouted Thunderchild, sure enough the band started playing again and Thunderchild took Dominos hand and began walking back into the party leaving a confused Proeliator to confront Nagy.
"What the hell happened!" he asked
"Just diffusing some wars before they happen." Replied Nagy as he followed Thunderchild.
I hope you keep your promise Leonard thought Thunderchild as he walked over to the bonfire.
"Right…Mrs Domino." He said, turning to his wife "I believe we are due for a dance."
"What!" she exclaimed as he took her hands, sudden alarm spreading across her face.
"Just follow me…you'll be fine." He whispered to her
And so they swung out into the crowd, moving effortlessly to the music of the night.