Chapter 7

"Political Frontlines"

A/N: My brain just had an idea. Keep an eye out for some new characters. Oh and now chapters will have a pseudo title.

It wasn't so much running as it was being dragged. Alek wasn't particularly athletic and couldn't outrun Dylan if he tried. But she obviously wouldn't be able to beat Jules. Jules flew down the corridor, managing to almost reach the bridge before the general alarm sounded. The pair got there in a record.

"Where is Captain Hobbes?" was the first thing out of Jules's mouth. He didn't sound tired from the sudden sprint at all. The first mate looked up from the wheel to the two young men that had appeared in the room.

"He's asleep right now. We've sent a message lizard for him."

"That land ship is the S.M.S. Herkules. Ring a bell?"

The first mate looked confused for a moment, not understanding the question for a second. "Uh… you mean the Herkules? Yes we've seen it before, in the Alps. It nearly shelled us down." Jules pulled out the strange, fragile-looking glass scope he had just lent to Alek.

"The Herkules is carrying something called a Tesla cannon. Would you care to elaborate?" Jules glared as Alek watched the first mate pale at mention of the cannon.

"It's some sort of lightning gun. It could fry the whole ship." Turning back to the wheel, the first mate fumbled for and then pulled out a whistle. Blowing it in a complicated pattern he waited for a message lizard to appear. "This is a General Warning to all crew members on the Royal airship Leviathan. A Wotan class, German land ship, the S.M.S. Herkules, has been spotted off the port side, carrying a Tesla cannon of similar proportions that which attacked and nearly destroyed the Leviathan over the Mediterranean. We are turning to retreat to the Russian front. Triple repeat." The message lizard retreated into the network of tubes that ran across the Leviathan.

Alek couldn't help it. "Why did you only tell the one Lizard? Why not more?"

The first mate gestured at the tubing. "One lizard will tell another, then another, and the yet another. They're trained for it."

Alek looked out the window. The Herkules already had a definite shape in the distance, Jules intently staring down with the glass scope he had lent to Alek. Alek still wasn't sure that the Herkules would catch them. "How long until we're over the war line, first mate?"

"Nearly eight hours. We'll be clear of the Herkules long before that though. It can't hope to catch us."

"How fast can the Leviathan fly?" The question came from Jules, and surprised the first mate and Alek. The first mate still managed to answer.

"About sixty miles in an hour. If you think that the Germans can outrun us, then you obviously have not been on this ship long."

"I've only been on this ship for a few hours, as you'll well aware. And I don't think, I know." Jules turned from the window, a mask of calm over a sea of fear. "The Herkules is closing at ninety miles an hour. We have less than an hour until it's here."

"Then best speed must be reached men." The captain strode into the bridge as if he (and not the air force) owned it. "Your highness, if these engines are as powerful as you claim, then we have to outrun the Germans. Your men will be waking soon, so get to an engine and coax out every ounce of speed that you can from them."

Alek turned to leave, unsure if he could manage the task of forcing the engines to greater speeds, and was in the hallway when Jules grabbed his arm. "When you hear the song, reverse hard." The desperately whispered orders couldn't have made less sense. But Alek couldn't ask why Jules had said that before he had sprinted off. All he could do was watch as Jules vanished down the corridor.

…

The starboard engine was cold. As Alek dropped into the pilot seat that he and Klopp had rigged onto it, he knew that they would be wasting crucial minutes bringing the engine to full power. Searching for the ignition lever in the dim light of the glowworms in the ships flank, Alek cursed the person who had thought it was a good idea to bolt a pair of Daimler engines to an airship. Alek worked for a moment before remembering that he had had the idea to use the walker's engines. Finally finding the lever, Alek yanked hard. The engine purred to life beneath him, bringing the odd sense of accomplishment that usually went with piloting the engine pod. It was probably the fact that he held half of the ships enormous power in his hand.

Easing the saunter forward and left to engage the engine gears came simply enough. The hard part would be to get the engine to max power without ripping those gears to shreds. Hoffman scrabbled out of the hatch leading into the ship and jumped into the engine pod. "The Herkules found us again. First in Germany, then again in the Alps, now here. The captain of it, or the Kaiser, must really want you dead, your highness."

Alek pointed at several gauges. "We have to be careful. If we push the engines to far then we'll risk blowing out something important."

Hoffman checked the myriad of gauges before removing an engine cover. "If we need to get this engine moving then we can bypass a few steps for heating it." Reaching into the tangle of pipes and gears, Hoffman grabbed at one in particular and pulled on it. The engine's growl changed to a high shriek before roaring louder than ever. Alek looked up from the saunter to see what Hoffman had done. Hoffman pointed at a few of the gears. "I picked this trick up from my father. He fought in the Balkan wars and figured out how to get the engine to engage when it was cold from the night."

Alek nodded in appreciation and turned back to the front of the engine. The chill night air slapped at his face, trying to pull his mask off. The Minotaur fell behind them as the Leviathan powered forward. Alek gripped the saunter harder. Whatever Jules had meant for him to do, Alek knew that he couldn't turn the ship around. They would die if they did.

"Something on your mind, your princeliness?" Jaspert Sharp's voice sounded so close to Dylan's that it was eerie. But then Jaspert was a real boy, while Dylan was just a girl dressed like one. Or at least Jaspert looked like a real boy to Alek.

"We're not going to outrun the Herkules. We couldn't have outrun it if we had a day's head start."

Jaspert grinned from ear to ear. "Oh you shouldn't be so pessimistic. We just need a tail wind."

Hoffman looked at Jaspert as though he had grown a second head. "We have a head wind boy. We're not going to outrun a German land frigate if we can't get to full speed in the air."

A noise from behind Jaspert surprised everyone. Jules climbed out of the hatch, gloved hand gripping the frame. "If we could reach full speed then the Herkules wouldn't try to catch us mates."

Alek gripped the saunter harder, wondering if Jules could tell that he wasn't going to turn the ship around from his pod. "Why are you here, Jules?"

Jules leaned out over the engine nonchalantly. "Why do you think Alek? To make sure you don't keep our beloved ship going forward." An oddly blue gun was in Jules's hand. "So when I give the signal, you're going to put this engine into reverse."

Alek readied himself for the fight. "No."

Jules shrugged. "Okay then." Suddenly the gun was pointed at Hoffman. Before anyone could react, the gun flashed (no bang or recoil was seen or heard) and Hoffman collapsed onto the engine. Then the gun was pointed up at Jaspert. "How about now, mate."

Alek choked on his response, instead saying "Mutter mist." Alek look at the gun, then to Jaspert. To his credit, Jaspert Sharp looked like he was ready to go down fighting. But Alek wasn't ready to let him.

A growl, almost harmonious, suddenly shook the engine pod. Jules brought his gloved wrist near his face and nodded. "Now if you would kindly, Alek?"

Alek gripped the saunter, groaned, and pulled back.

The engines gears moaned at being sent from all ahead to full reverse. An icy wind broke over the pod, sweeping Alek forward a little. Jaspert flailed for a handhold before falling onto the engine. Jules stuffed the gun into his jacket.

"I've only the ships best interest in my mind. The Herkules won't hurt us now." Jules cried over the noise of the wind and engine.

Alek forced the saunter forward again, trying to look brave. It wouldn't matter though. No one would survive the Tesla cannons blast. The Herkules loomed large below the ship. The cannon twisted and tracked the Leviathan. Electricity built at the base of the tower. Alek closed his eyes. A thought crossed his mind; "Maybe I'll see Dylan in heaven. She's certainly earned the right to walk with angels."

A flash lit the sky. Alek couldn't help opening his eyes a little. They flew open in shock at what he saw. Instead of myriad of bolts piercing the air, a single glowing tendril of energy reached from the Herkules gun deck, missing the Leviathan by several yards. The strange tongue of light was almost directly across from the engine pod that Alek, Jaspert and Jules stood in. It reached high into the sky, connecting with some distant point.

Hoffman grunted suddenly, than properly woke up. Pulling himself up he saw the light and instantly knew what was going on. "I'm dreaming." Alek barely registered Hoffman's waking, because a far more fantastical sight lay before him. The Herkules was rising from the ground.

It happened slowly at first. The legs began to straighten, then, one by one, they detached from the earth. The land ship's bow tipped upward. Men rose off the decks carried, it seemed, by their fire arms. An aeroplane broke off a launch cannon and drifted over the Leviathan. The group on the starboard engine watched spellbound as the Herkules rose past them. A few intrepid German's hurled themselves bodily off the land ship, trying to reach the relative safety of the Darwinist air beast. Only a few made it.

One of the select minority that did reach the Darwinist beast crashed onto the engine pod, knocked out or simply killed by the landing. Alek didn't check which. The stern of the landship rolled past the group with extravagant slowness. The whole of the Herkules continued to rise, before disappearing into the clouds. The awesome sight muted the four, still conscious, members of the starboard engine. For a moment it did anyway.

"Well, we will have to bring this man to the infirmary, won't we mates." Jules's voice wasn't as stunned as the rest obviously were, but he still sounded like he had just seen an elephant jump though flaming hoops.

"How did you know that that would happen?" Alek couldn't help asking. Jules ignored the question for a moment, and then pointed to the sky. Following his hand, the group was awe struck again, as a cloud of blue lightning raced towards the Leviathan.

"Steel you mind, Aleksandar." Jules whispered the warning into Alek's ear just before the wall of electricity hit them. A set of visions flew by Alek's eyes. A girl who said something about people tasting like cake, then a series of explosion racing by him and destroying row upon row of strange crab-like walkers, then finally a boy devoid of features and made of light, save for his right arm and his left leg from below the knee, standing before a door.

Alek collapsed onto the thankfully solid engine pod. Jaspert's and Hoffman's shocked faces told him that they had seen the same or similar things. Jules was already in motion though. "Grab the German. Hurry up. Hoffman, you will be fine if you're not allergic. Your highness, we only have a few moments before the crew arrives and finds us here."

Alek pulled himself out from the pod, trying to make the vision's reasonable. Before he knew it he and the rest were in the ship's gut. Verne sat cross-legged on the pathway. Jules smiled cautiously and spoke a few words of the weird language he and Verne used, though was cut off by Verne when she slapped him.

The captain and first mate, along with a half dozen others, scrambled out of the hatch leading to the gondola. The portside engine crew, made of Klopp, Bauer and Mister Hirst, also climbed out of the passage leading to their engine. The Captain looked furious.

"Who told you to turn around and charge the Herkules? Which one of you tried to destroy our ship?" The Captain's eyes flicked from one group to another, the men behind him reaching for their air rifles.

"Uh… you did sir." Mr. Hirst looked apprehensive, as though he doubted that he was telling the truth. "A message lizard told us that you planned to rush the Clankers to buy the Minotaur more time."

The Captain did a double take, shocked that Mr. Hirst had told him this. Jules piped up. "We got a message lizard too. We thought it was on your orders." No one spoke for a moment, until Captain Hobbes, who dismissed the men behind him with a wave. "If the Herkules is gone and everyone's awake, then we might as well bring the Leviathan about and set off for Moscow."

Count Volger disentangled himself from the fray of Englishmen. "And though the threat is past we will still retreat?" Alek hadn't noticed his tutor among the soldiers, though his question was a valid one. The Captain smiled grimly.

"We are to reach Moscow by Monday and have two new boffins board. And there will be a gala in honor of Tsar Nicholas of Russia that night, and you and his highness will be attending.

…

Moscow was cold, but the gala was beautiful.

Swanesques strode around, delicacies loaded on their backs. Men on stilts and dressed in Russian army uniforms wandered the crowd, juggling and breathing fire. Musicians danced through the throng of noblemen and women. Dumen, noblemen elected to office, paced proudly though the crowd, confident in their power and station. Fanciful women walked near them, gossiping on the latest news of the Russia's. The war seemed a thousand miles away from Moscow. It helped that it was.

Alek tugged at his piloting helmet, conscious of his every movement, every eye on him. His family had started the whole war. Even though his parents had been murdered to instigate it, even though he had confessed his belief that the Germans had killed them, even though he had helped keep the Ottoman republic out of the war and (by proxy) saved the Russian war effort, there would still be those who would blame him. Volger was keen on reminding him of this.

"We needn't be here Count, if the crowd causes you so much worry."

"Nonsense Aleksandar, you will need the recognition of the Russian empire if you are to be crowned." Volger's eyes swept the crowd, wholly content with the knowledge that if Alek was threatened than he would be able to bring him outside as quickly as needed. He focused on a boy and girl that were approaching though the crowd. The boy spoke first.

"Aleksandar Ferdinand von Hohenberg, it is a pleasure to see that the war has held no ill fate on you. If only the same could be said for your father and mother." The girl knocked her elbow into the boy's ribs.

Alek bowed to the Tsarevich and the duchess, "And it is a pleasure to meet you again, Alexei. I take it that you and Maria have been well also?"

The grand Duchess Maria bowed solemnly to Alek. "We have been well, even with the war. We grieve for the men on the front, but a nation must have its leaders be strong. But we have heard of what you have been doing."

Alek put up a wide smile, though it slipped a little. "And what have you heard, Maria?"

"That you've aided a revolution, shot down a German zeppelin and saved the Leviathan on three different occasions. You've seen more fighting then any soldier on or above the continent and yet you stand here as though it is nothing." Maria's eyes glowed with aspiration. "How did you do it all?"

"Um… well… I did have help. I didn't do it all alone."

"Oh really? What about the engines you gave to the Leviathan?"

"Well that was just a good idea."

"Sneaking past the Herkules at the Swiss border?"

"I had practice at night walking."

"And standing on a moving walker under fire? Or piloting an Ottoman walker into a revolution?"

"The revolution just needed some help. It could have worked without me."

Maria tilted her head at Alek, daring him to contradict her for the next question. "Did you have help with telling all of this to the American that printed the story?"

"I do believe that his Serene Highness did not." A sickly looking man detached himself from the mass of humanity that surrounded the royalty. Long black hair and an uncut beard framed a gaunt, pale face. Alexei greeted the man warmly.

"It is nice to see you here Rasputin. You look well." Alek didn't think that this man, Rasputin, looked well at all. He looked rather sick. "Aleksandar Ferdinand, this is Grigori Rasputin. He is our family friend."

Rasputin looked down on Alek. "Yes, the heir to the throne of Austria Este. It is an honor to meet you here."

Alek tugged at the piloting hat. "I am no more an heir then I am a chicken. Anyone of noble birth would know this."

Rasputin blinked, then threw his head back and laughed. Alexei snickered, and Maria covered her mouth. Volger's hand was on Alek's shoulder in an instant. Recovering from his mirth, Rasputin looked down on Alek. "Any one of noble birth would also be literate. When they were handing out the paper that announced your parents' marriage, I returned it, because I cannot read."

Alek unconsciously rubbed the back of his head. "I'm sorry sir. I had no idea."

Rasputin placed his hand on the shoulder that was not occupied by Volger's and whispered, "Be weary young emperor, your enemies are not all German and Austrian."

Alek nodded, understanding the warning. Rasputin straightened, and then left. A beautiful woman replaced him. "Mother." Alexei embraced his mother, even though Maria abstained. Alek was glad she did. The Tsarina smiled at him. "Aleksandar Ferdinand von Hohenberg. It is an honor to see you again."

Alek bowed deeply. "Alix von Hesse, to meet you again is fortune. But where is your husband? If the gala is in his honor then it would be rather odd if he did not appear."

"Why, father is right there." Maria pointed to a man who rose a little above the crowd. Suddenly Alexei reached for Alek's piloting helmet. Taking the helmet he ducked into the crowd, leaving the four remaining to wonder what he was up to.

Seconds later Alexei shouted, "The Kaiser came to our party! Kill him so we can stop the war!"

Several Dumen and other noblemen laughed at the joke and Tsar Nicholas the second, looking much like his cousin Frederick Wilhelm, who was emperor of Germany, came striding through the crowd. Grabbing his son the Tsar shook him playfully before dropping to a knee and saying "You shouldn't take other peoples things Alex, it's unbecoming. And I believe this hat belongs to you Alek."

It took a second for Alek to realize that the Tsar was speaking to him and not his son Alexei. Taking the helmet, Alek also took the Tsar's hand. "It's great to see you again Nicholas. Has the war been hard on you?"

Tsar Nicholas smiled the same jovial smile that he had when Alexei made him seem to be the Kaiser. "Not as hard as it's been for you. Chased over half of Europe by the German army, only to be whisked into the air by Darwinists once you reach safe haven." The Tsar's smile vanished. "We grieved when your father and mother were murdered. No good Serb would have done such a thing. It is the will of God that you have been so safe for so long. And perhaps a union in God's eye will help end the war."

Alek glanced nervously at Maria. "And what sort of union would you purpose?"

The Tsar's smile reappeared. "Why, a holy one of course. If you marry into the Romanov's then you shall be recognized as royalty, and with your father's name you could lay claim to the throne of Austria. We have always married freely, even before Darwin learned us of the dangers of inbreeding."

Alek gulped and adjusted his helmet again. A thought of Dylan crossed his mind before his more pragmatic side kicked in. "Perhaps Tsar, we shall see. In the meantime, why don't we meet those boffins I've heard so much of?"

The Tsar's smile didn't waver, though Alix looked like she would kill him. "They are this way, your serene highness."

The Tsar guided Alek through the crowd, easily clearing a path with his bulk and his station. Volger whispered insistently into Alek's ear. "If you marry Maria, then you will be guaranteed the empire. The papal will shall grant you the nation. Providence has handed us the throne on a silver platter."

Alek waved off Count Volger, turning his attention to the men that had appeared from the crush of people. A balding man with black hair was the first to reach out for Alek's hand. "Vladimir Ulyanov, at your service your Highness. Call me Vlad."

"Everyone does" said the man next to Vlad. This man was taller and had greater musculature, with a full head of long blond hair. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of dark glasses. "I am Dr. Bergheim. It is an honor to meet you, Aleksandar."

Alek shook the hand of the boffin as well. Neither seemed particularly interested in the political climate as of the moment and enjoyed the banter of the gala. Alek was about to say goodbye when someone called out his name from behind him. Turning, Alek saw Jules, dressed in a black and white smoking vest, a top hat and strange blue head band tucked over his missing eye, with Verne, dressed in a pink skirt and corset, an orange scarf covering her mouth but letting her brown hair roll free, and Newkirk, dressed in full dress and looking like he wanted to be anywhere else. Alek was quick to introduce the three newcomers to the boffins, when Bergheim raised a question. "Jules and Verne? As in the writer Jules Verne?"

Jules chortled. "A happy accident doctor, that we were named this way. I would never have her go by any name then My Sweet if I could though." Jules chuckled again then looked at Bergheim. "Say, have I seen you before, doctor?"

Bergheim smiled. "I doubt it Jules. I've traveled far and wide, though I've never been to Germany. Your accent sounds about right there. Me, I'm Serbian."

Jules cocked his head, as though the different angle would define a sort of hidden feature. Failing to find that piece, Jules introduced Vlad and Bergheim to Verne and Newkirk. Vlad raised interest in Newkirk's first name.

"Well you have to swear you won't laugh." Newkirk blushed a little bit, as though his first name was an embarrassment. It occurred to Alek that he did not know Newkirk's name. Perhaps this would be his chance.

"It's Saulb, sir."

Alek tried to tell if Newkirk was lying, but then realized that he was being completely honest. What sort of English name was Saulb?

"Saulb sounds rather Arabian" Pointed out Bergheim, clearly thinking the same as Alek. "Was your mother a fan of the book Arabian nights?"

Newkirk blushed redder. "My mother said that it was the name I had when she found me. I am adopted."

Alek face-palmed, though hid the action as if clearing something from his eye. Of course Newkirk was an orphan. Why hadn't he realized that? Newkirk answered that question for him.

"My mother found me when I was about one year old. I was in a bundle right on her doorstep. I don't remember my parents, before you ask."

Bergheim smiled and Vlad nodded in understanding. "My brother adopted a child when he was twenty three. I understand how you would feel."

Volger impassively shook his head. Alek decided that the conversation would eventually turn the on-going war and so choose the first question. "I hear that you are fabricating a new type of fighting bear. How has the going been?"

Bergheim shrugged. "That would be a military secret. But it is very good so far." Vlad seemed to take a darker view then Bergheim.

"If we are to fabricate something to make our nation stronger, then we must first turn to the people that populate it. Mark my words; the nation that is first to set aside its ethics for the power locked in Man's life strands will be unopposed."

…

The gala continued long into the night. Alek shook hands and bumped elbows with the most powerful men in Russia. Talk of the war was infectious, though Alek seemed immune to it. Newkirk eventually vanished from the party, needing to return to the Leviathan to sleep. Jules and Verne left as well, though Alek suspected it was for more personal reasons. Finally, he found himself in the indoor gardens. Maria chanced upon him there.

"Alek, it is nice to see you again. May we talk alone?"

Alek tried to point out that Volger would not let him be left alone for fear for him, when he saw the Counts back retreating smartly into the gardens. He consigned himself to his fate. "If you want to Maria, we can talk."

Maria smiled and led Alek deeper into the garden. "My father has always wanted you to be the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He argued strongly in your father's favor."

"I know. Volger said that he tried to talk my father out of it personally, so I have his dismal powers of persuasion to thank for my existence."

Maria didn't laugh. "You still could be the heir. The Austrians have yet to name another for the throne. Just five words and you could be back on your way to true royalty."

Alek knew what those words were. "Will you marry me, Maria?" A few words, a piece of paper and time would give him all of Austria. It was too perfect to pass up. And yet… what would Dylan have done, if she was in his place?

Alek almost laughed aloud. Okay-, what would Dylan have done if she was in his place and an actual boy?

"She would have jumped at the chance." Alek had slowly grown used to the idea that Dylan was a girl. When he had figured it out, he barely had time to think about it, because the Herkules's attack had removed most other thoughts from his mind. But the three days that passed had let him warm to the idea. Granted he wasn't happy that she hadn't told him during the month they had been aboard the Leviathan, or the time in Istanbul, while he had spilled every secret he had to her. But whenever he had tried to see it from her perspective, it only made more sense. Maybe it was the fact she wasn't here to argue with but sometimes he found himself thinking that, in her place, he wouldn't have told her.

Alek turned his thoughts back to the present. Would Dylan have really jumped at the chance to marry someone at only fifteen? It had been a common practice in royalty for centuries. Everyone would agree it would be for the greater good. But Alek knew that, if anything else, he wanted something more from life. Weeks on the run, months of war, had slowly taught him this. And being stuck in the house of the Romanov's wouldn't be how to get it. But… if he could only have both.

The conflict would be over if he took the throne. The people of Austria wouldn't have to face the innumerable horrors of war. One choice and the whole course of history would change. If only it was that simple. Alek steeled himself for it.

"I'm sorry Maria. I decline."

A/N: On my way to 5000 words. This was a fun Chapter. The mix of history and action is just right. For anyone wondering, yes Vladimir Ulyanov was a real person. We call him Vladimir Lenin. Saulb is a cute name. And the confusion of Alek and Alex would have happened in the canon. I got the idea from a drapple collection. Oh, and for anyone wondering if Bergheim and Rasputin will be important to the plot.

Uh …

Deryn: "Where was I in that chapter?"

Levi: "Unconscious."

Deryn: "For so barking long!"

Levi: "Time Flux. Time flow varies from dimension to dimension on a daily biases. But they remain constant in the long run."

Deryn: Oi bumrag, make sense!"

Levi: Snape killed Dumbledore!"

Good bye. Until next week my faithful readers. Plus;

Just eight more words and it's over 5000.