MAGIC IN MECHANICSBURG

CHAPTER 5:

THUNDERBOLTS AND LIGHTNING,

VERY VERY FRIGHTENING ME!

Harry grimaced as he watched the airship come in to hover overhead, before a lift was engaged to lower a small party to the ground. That shade of pink reminded him all too much of that favoured by Dolores Umbridge. They had rendezvoused with Hermione and Gilgamesh. Harry, Hermione, Agatha and Gilgamesh were using Omnioculars, Tarvek, Violetta and Anevka looking on, as were Judy and Von Pinn. Gilgamesh frowned as he focused the Omnioculars on the girl dressed in pink in the middle of a large escorting party, flanked by a pair of hooded and cloaked figures. "I know her," he muttered. "She was a girl I knew in Paris."

"Ex-girlfriend?" Agatha asked.

"Sort of. Her name's Zola. She was a worker in a nightclub in Paris, often got kidnapped by amorous Sparks. I used to play the hero rescuing her," Gilgamesh admitted.

"I remember her," Tarvek said with a scowl. "Why would Zola be their chosen dupe?"

Anevka snorted. "Probably because she isn't just some French tart. She wouldn't last five seconds in Castle Heterodyne if she actually was a dupe. I'd imagine she's as cutthroat and devious as any member of our family. But what about those two rather sinister figures with her?"

"One's a Geisterdamen, I think," Agatha murmured. "I can't see her face, but that skin on her hand's very pale. I don't understand…the Castle told me it would test me in the Chapel of Bones…a blood test?" She looked at Judy, who nodded. "So unless she's a closer relative to me than I thought…"

"Let me see, please," Judy said, gently taking Hermione's Omnioculars. "…I think she's one of Lucrezia's relatives. Probably one of the Malfeaziums. Not a Heterodyne, unless it's at a very distant remove. The family trees of many Spark lines are fairly tangled, but not quite that tangled." She handed the Omnioculars back to Hermione.

"So, she's definitely a Spark?" Hermione asked.

"Like Anevka said, she's not just some French club waitress or dancer. And she wouldn't be going in there unless there was some way to deactivate the Castle."

"What about an EMP? Can you create something like that?" On their looks, Hermione explained, "Electromagnetic pulse, it affects electronics."

Judy looked thoughtful, and then horrified. "Yes…something similar, anyway. The Castle is meant to withstand strikes from lightning, which generate a small EMP of their own. Indeed, it can use them to power its systems. But something similar could potentially be formulated…if she can hold the deactivated Castle and help them obtain legitimacy…Gilgamesh, are those devices ready?"

Gilgamesh nodded. "Thanks to Tarvek and Anevka, not to mention Hermione," he shot a smile at the young witch, "I've made improvements. It should hold for multiple strikes. Of course, I can't guarantee that, given the sheer output of power a lightning bolt outputs, but…"

"But I think you're going to have to use them sooner than you thought," Zeetha said, coming over to meet them. "I can see what looks like steam or smoke in the distance. If they're War Clanks, it'll be some hours before they get here. I also got word from Father. There's been quite a few assassins, but between Punch, DuPree and Doctor Sun, none of them have gotten through. They're little more than clowns."

Gilgamesh scowled. "Yes…very like clowns…loud and distracting, allowing for the main players to prepare."

They heard, in the distance, the girl proclaiming herself to be Lady Zola Heterodyne, daughter of William. Her voice must've been boosted by a hidden microphone to carry this far. She made some bombastic speech about how the Baron could no longer protect Mechanicsburg the way he was now, and so she would have to claim her birthright.

"She's putting on a good show," Tarvek remarked as Zola leapt from the statue and began leading the crowd up towards the Castle. "This performance must've been rehearsed for a long time. She could easily fly to the top spire of the Castle, but look at her! She's leading them right to the front door."

"That bitch…she's trying to take my Castle," Agatha hissed.

"Agatha," Gilgamesh said, looking at the blonde Spark. "Go to Father right now, explain the situation. Make preparations to go in. I'll defend Mechanicsburg from any invaders for now, until you get the Castle up and running again."

Agatha seemed about to protest, before she nodded. "Don't get killed." And with that, she, Harry, Judy and Von Pinn headed for the hospital…

Von Pinn caught the dagger that was thrown at them by Bangladesh, who pouted. "Damn," she said quietly.

Klaus looked fine, though the small pile of bodies shoved into a nearby cupboard and the damage done to the room told of what happened to any assassins. He sighed as they approached. "I could hear that girl's announcement from here, or at least part of it. You were correct. I presume you're here to get my permission to head into the Castle after her?"

"In a moment," Judy said. "We're going to prepare before we head on in. Klaus, their chosen fake heir is one of Lucrezia's relatives, I'm sure. I think she's one of the Malfeaziums. Gilgamesh and Tarvek have met her before, working in a club in Paris. We also believe she may be here to usurp control of Mechanicsburg by deactivating the Castle." As Klaus began to protest, Judy said, "Hermione mentioned something she knew from her world, an electromagnetic pulse that could be used to disable electronics. She thought it could be used to deactivate or destroy the Castle's intelligence."

Klaus looked aghast, and thoughtful. After some time, he said, "Yes…it is theoretically possible…but how would they get such a bomb into…oh. It must've been smuggled in piecemeal and assembled in a key location. They must have suborned key personnel to get away with this…does this mean Tiktoffen was…?" He looked thoughtful. Eventually, he said, "And my son?"

"He's setting up for defending Mechanicsburg from any invaders looking to take advantage of the situation," Judy said. "The wizards have used something called the Fidelius to conceal the locations of the devices he's using."

Klaus nodded. "Tell me everything you observed about the impostor. Leave no detail of her appearance or behaviour out. The same for her entourage."

After they were done, with Judy and Von Pinn contributing most, Klaus grimaced. "My son has sent me news of what he's been doing to get the town secured. I've warned him about Vole. He has…impressed me, what he has done of his own volition while I have been recovering. Perhaps he is ready for taking the reins…and perhaps so are you, Agatha. I wish I had time, time enough to teach you what I taught my son about statecraft. But you have the will and determination." His eyes fixed on Agatha sharply. "But remember, I refuse to allow your mother to be any kind of threat to my empire, ever again. Ensure that you keep that locket on. As it happens…I have received word from one of my agents. They'll be bringing in someone who'll be accompanying you."

That impish smirk touching the Baron's lips didn't bode well. "A babysitter?" Von Pinn asked. "Am I not enough?"

"Lucrezia built your current form, Von Pinn," Klaus said. "You can be commanded by her to a degree. Besides, it's partly him babysitting you…and partly the reverse."

It was Judy who seemed to realise what he meant, and she facepalmed. "…Oh no. Please tell me we don't have to look after a certain 'Gentleman Adventurer'…"

"Then I won't tell you," Klaus said with a painful smile. Then, he said, perhaps more seriously, "Othar has more experience getting into and out of bad situations than any other living person I know, save perhaps for myself and Bill and Barry. If he dies within Castle Heterodyne, then fine. I have one less major troublemaker to deal with. If not…well, he has his uses. Once you have proven yourself to the Castle in the Chapel of Bones…see if it can activate the Torchmen and other defences, but tell it not to target any of my airships. I know it well enough to know it has a twisted sense of humour." His eyes looked over at Agatha. "Keep this in mind, Agatha. The Castle has a bad habit of interpreting orders creatively. And considering that its personality was modelled on Faustus Heterodyne…"

"In short, I have to be very specific how I order it?" Agatha asked with a resigned sigh of annoyance. "Incidentally, Zeetha said she thinks she could see smoke or steam from War Clanks in the distance."

Klaus nodded. "Hardly surprising. I expected this. Are my son's defences ready?"

"Yes," Harry said.

"Good. I've tested him for years to see whether he will be able to run the Empire. That has irritated him somewhat. But hopefully, what happens here in Mechanicsburg will be the last of them. Othar should be here soon. Once he is, you can go in…"

Agatha growled slightly in frustration at the delay as they headed for the walls once more, though they were joined by Von Mekkhan. "I've learned about the backers of the false Heterodyne," he said as they walked. "That pink airship is an expensive one, fresh from Stockholm's airship yards. They can customise the colour with ease. Oublenmach and Strinbeck are her backers."

"Who are they?" Harry asked.

"Baron Oublenmach is a former mercenary who bought his title, noted for his greed. Josef Strinbeck is a deposed Duke from one of the minor kingdoms of Lithuania, once part of the Fifty Families. Ambitious, but stupid," Judy remarked. "They're not the true masterminds, just the proxies for the actual puppetmasters, I'd say. So are these people in the War Clanks. They're dangerous, but Zola is more so. They wouldn't dare put someone stupid in charge of bringing Castle Heterodyne to heel, and a relative of Lucrezia's has to be watched on principle."

They reached the walls, and soon found almost everyone gathered there, watching the by-now close spider-like War Clanks approach…save for Gilgamesh. "Where's Gil?" Agatha asked, bustling through a crowd of people gathering.

"He's gone to face them," Hermione said. "I inscribed some runes on his armour to better protect him against bullets, but they can only do so much. I'm hoping it's enough." She looked up at the now darkened sky, filled with dark clouds.

Anevka sounded like she would have frowned as she peered at the leading War Clank through Ominoculars. "…That's General Selnikov!" she exclaimed, not quite in surprise, but more irritation.

"One of our father's allies," Tarvek explained. "Anevka, are you sure?"

"He's wearing that stupid moustache, that stupid hat, and that stupid pompous look. And there's that former Duke with the buck teeth," Anevka said with a sneer in her electronic voice.

Just as the War Clanks, massive tripod-like machines with platforms for the soldiers stopped near the walls to Mechanicsburg, they saw Gilgamesh walking out. "…I hope he's not walking to his death," Agatha said quietly.

"Me too," Hermione said, biting her lip. "But he said he wanted as many people as possible to see this. Looks like we're in luck, too. Those muskets are old-fashioned muzzle loaders. Less stopping power than most."

Any further discourse was stopped when Gil roared at the War Clanks, "STATE YOUR BUSINESS HERE!"

Distantly, they heard Selnikov's reply. "I AM RUDOLF SELNIKOV, A COMMANDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF JOVE! IN THE NAME OF THE HOUSE OF VALOIS, WE HEREBY TAKE COMMAND OF THE USURPER'S EMPIRE! SURRENDER MECHANICSBURG, AND WITH THEM, THE HETERODYNE GIRL AND THE BARON! NOBODY WILL COME TO HARM IF YOU COOPERATE!"

Eventually, Gil roared back, "I AM GILGAMESH WULFENBACH, SON OF BARON KLAUS VON WULFENBACH! LEAVE OR DIE! THAT IS YOUR ONLY WARNING!"

Selnikov seemed pensive…but then the man next to him ordered them to open fire. Soon, bullets were being shot at Gilgamesh…who raised the glowing stick he had. Suddenly, a massive bolt of lightning smashed down from the sky and into the War Clank, all but destroying it. Even as the echoes of the thunder rolled away, Harry could hear Agatha's scream of delight. Everyone else was too shell shocked to make so much as a peep.

"ANYONE ELSE?" Gilgamesh roared. Two of the other War Clanks seemed to surrender, but another attacked. Gilgamesh lashed out with another lightning bolt, annihilating them. "THIS IS NOT A TRICK! THIS IS NOT LUCK! I AM GILGAMESH WULFENBACH, AND I! AM! IN! CONTROL!"

"Is he okay?" Wooster asked.

"He's like a cockroach," Tarvek said, trying and failing to sound unimpressed. "Hard to kill, likes to get down and dirty, and always pops up where you least want him to."

Hermione, who was watching through her Omnioculars, nodded. "The runes I put onto his clothes and armour seem to be working."

"Do you think this has bought us any time?" Harry asked Tarvek and Anevka.

"From these idiots? Yes, but they'll mobilise a stronger force," the redhead said. "The Knights of Jove won't give up so easily. Besides, that fake Heterodyne has some sort of plan."

"Then we mess it up," Agatha said resolutely. "Once we're ready, we're heading into the Castle. Still, we'd better make sure he's all right…"

CHAPTER 5 ANNOTATIONS:

Gil gets to be awesome. 'Nuff said.

No numbered annotations this time.