"Follow me," beckoned Dolores, and the entire group followed her down the staircase into the new Casita's lower levels. Down they went, passing subterranean tunnels that weren't even part of Casita itself, but simply accessible due to a magical house being built above them.
Dolores led the way to the inner chambers of the Casita. It went even beyond Bruno's secret room, and even Abuela was flabbergasted by the existence of the chamber Dolores showed them. It was a large cavern, filled with mysterious inscriptions and hieroglyphs. But the strangest thing was the bizarre contraption at the heart of the chamber.
Alfred let out a nervous laugh. "That's a fucking Gold Flyer,"
Maria nodded, dumbfounded. "From Ancient Aliens"
The Madrigals were confused, so Japan stepped up to explain. "A few years ago, archaeologists in Colombia discovered mysterious gold figurines from a pre-Columbian civilization. Most of the figurines were normal things: Birds, fish, but some were completely bizarre, and almost looked like airplanes or even a Space Shuttle. Ancient Astronaut theorists, that is, people who believe the Earth was visited by aliens in the distant past, which shaped our history, point to the gold flyers as prime evidence for this. This object in front of us is almost an exact replica, blown up to operational size!"
Japan excitedly fondled the machine, feeling its parts and muttering to himself. "I think I can get this thing to fly, Dolores, how did you know this was here?"
Dolores shrugged. "After Tio Bruno stopped hiding, I thought the strange noises at night would stop, but even after then, I would hear this very faint sound, like the tick-tock of a mechanical heartbeat. I go down here, sometimes, to get away from all the noise"
Mirabel was shook. "Aaaaaand, you decided not to mention the fact that there's a UFO lying under Casita?"
"Yeah, Hermana, what gives?!" Camilo joined in.
Abuela shook her head. "This is not the work of aliens, my dears. I have heard of these golden planes before. They are creations of the Children of Night."
"As in an unknown civilization?" asked Alfred. "Like Atlantis?"
Abuela nodded. "Like that, but legends are unclear as to what the Children looked like. All they agree upon was that they looked like large men, but they were not human."
Maria felt a chill down her spine, and suspected the kids felt it, too.
"So, they're like, evil? Night and all…" Alfred asked.
"No, hijo, not necessarily. They were called that by the legends because night is as day to them and day night. But they do take naughty children, or was that just a saying? The legends do not agree on the true nature of the Children, only that they and humans kept a safe distance from each other."
"Well, whether by aliens or Atlanteans, I believe I can fix this machine and make it run. It seems to have a surprisingly modern engine, almost beyond my specs today. But how will we get it to the surface?"
Antonio let out a shrill whistle and an army of moles emerged from the dirt walls. Upon hearing his instructions, the moles began drilling a massive tunnel upwards. Luisa then began to haul the machine up. In a few hours and a little help from the other people there, the flyer saw the sunlight once again for the first time in probably centuries or more.
Maria told the Madrigals they'd caused them enough trouble as it was, but the kids wanted to see the plane, and Julieta INSISTED on cooking for them while they worked on the engine. They did return to Casita for a while to rest up, leaving only Camilo and Mirabel with them.
The engine of the plane was a mysterious cylinder that seemed to radiate energy. On opposite sides of it were two larger tankards. "A central engine with two fuel tanks," said Maria.
"As I suspected: An ingenious engine, of a design that I myself had only begun to explore" Japan murmured.
"At the risk of calling you a nerd, what's so special about the engine?" asked Alfred.
"Well, it's a plutonium core engine that uses water for fuel." Kiku explained.
Maria flipped. "Water?! Don't tell the oil barons, they'll start poisoning the wells. How exactly does it run on water?"
Kiku took a breath. "The plutonium battery powers the central fission device, which breaks down water into its constituents, hydrogen and oxygen. The former is used by the plane as fuel and the latter as an emergency air regulator at high altitudes. Ingenious, like I said. The hydrogen recharges the plutonium battery to keep the cycle going."
"Ok, I'mma pretend I understood that," said Alfred.
"A flying machine that runs on water," Mirabel murmured. "It must be fabulous to ride"
"We can do that when we get it working. First, I need to clean up the engine so that it doesn't short out and melt us all." Japan had Maria and Mirabel help him with the cleaning and sent Alfred and Camilo to fetch pure water for testing fuel.
They worked quickly, knowing there might not be much time left for Spain and England. Japan gently poured water into the tankard by the side of the engine. "Now, for the moment of truth."
At first, nothing happened, which greatly disappointed them all, but suddenly, the gold flyer began to light up in a rainbow of electrical lights. The engine hummed, and a faint sound like crackling electricity could be heard.
"Amazing!" said Japan. "The hydrogen powers an antigravity device that allows the plane to ride the planet's electromagnetic field!"
"Yup, that's definitely not one of mine…" said Alfred.
As the plane began to levitate, Mirabel and Camilo joined the rest of the village in watching the spectacle of their three visitors taking off in such an unusual fashion.
Maria waved as she caught the food Julieta threw at them with Luisa's help. "Thank you so much, guys! We won't let your kindness go to waste. We'll make sure the Hegemony's plans won't fly!"
"They won't," said Alfred, "but this baby sure will!"
Japan operated the plane, quickly studying the strange interface and figuring out how to give them a safe ride up north, to either America's own territory or into Canada, who might be safer to go to since they were seeking out a hideout in the North. Quickly, the plane elevated higher and higher, like a helicopter minus the noise. Once Japan decided there was enough altitude, he started the thrusters to propel them northward.
"You think those Children of the Night still exist, Alfred?" wondered Maria aloud.
"I don't think, babe, I know"
"How?"
"The Colombians aren't the only people who claim to see people of the night time. My native people speak of sas qets, the wild, hairy man of the woods."
"Sas qets," Maria let the words roll off her tongue. "Where have I heard that word before?"
"These hairy men are famous all over my place. Of course, today, the name is simplified into Sasquatch…"