• Chapter Eleven:

    Rachel’s world came to life slowly, her eyes peering through both the dark haze and her mind fighting past cluttered thoughts. She decided to get the former in order first. She felt around, and found she was in a bed, and had been covered up. She could see a thin tail of light, a doorway.
    She sat up, and tried to look around, her vision trying to take in what she could from the near pitch black room. She could make out a dresser in the corner, not more than a few feet away. The room looked no bigger than an office cubicle, but for its size it did the job she guessed. She could hear the sound of people moving about the ship. The ship.
    That’s right, she remembered now about the plane, then the huge craft. Then there was the captain that was not a captain. And the flashing light was the last thing she could really recall. A light knock came at the door. Rachel thought about faking being asleep. From all she had been taught in school, magic was outlawed because of its effects on people. It warped their minds, and corrupted their souls. But a familiar voice came from the other side of the door now.
    “Rachel, you up yet?” It was Maria.
    “Yeah, come in.” The door swung open and the girl flipped a light switch. Rachel’s first assumptions about the room had been right. It was a small room, a twin size bed with a single three-drawer dresser, a little mirror and a sink. The girl had a big smile that Rachel found a bit on the infectious side.
    “You’ve been napping all afternoon. Pops sent me to check up on you.” She crossed her arms and gave a comical tsk-tsk to her friend. “I can’t believe you fainted just cause Orion did a little magic.” The girl was speaking as if it was all well and good for her, even though Rachel knew that she had been taught the very same things as she had in school. But the imagination of a girl her age was more than enough to compensate.
    “Well, I guess I’ll have give our…hosts, an apology, huh?” Rachel was finding it hard to sound in good spirits when she was still more than a bit concerned with the company they now kept. Maria shook her head, the smile returning to her features.
    “Nah, Orion says that its ok. I guess your not the first to take her,” Maria looked to have to search for the new word, “polymorph spell, yeah that’s what it was, that your not the first one to get a little light in the head from seeing stuff like that.”
    “Well, then I’ll just have to keep an open mind, I guess.” Maria hopped onto the bed next to her.
    “Dad and Khey are off talking to some of the crew with Captain Robin about something or another.” An impish smile came to her face as the girl looked to the open door to make sure no one was there, then she nudged Rachel with her elbow. “He’s kinda cute, huh?”
    Rachel felt herself blush a little, thinking about the dark haired man she had talked to briefly on the flight here. She now knew that he was a man who captained his own ship, and probably knew hundred as people. She looked to Maria who was eyeing her mischievously.
    “Or do you prefer Khey’s type? Clean cut, sleek looking?” Maria sounded like she had been reading one too many teen magazines. Rachel found her face reddening more though, despite her effort to think about other things.
    “That man is nothing but trouble.” She took a quick breath and composed herself, even though the look the girl gave her told that she had caught Rachel’s shyness about the topic.
    “Well, if you say so. Even though he got our place trashed, I think he’s kinda cute. That, and if it weren’t for him I would’a never got to see this place. It’s amazing! Right?”
    “It is big, I’ll give you that. But I don’t know if being on a giant ship surrounded by strangers is my idea of a good time.”
    A new voice came from the doorway. “Then I’ll be sure to give you a grand tour and introduce you to everyone.” Rachel looked up and saw a beautiful woman with midnight black hair that went all the way down to her waist standing in the doorway. Her face was tan, and her eyes were a deep green that shined like a precious stone. She had an almost wild look about her, with the way she carried herself Rachel knew this woman might be someone of importance.
    “My name is Valenna, Valenna Hestia.” He bowed her head a little. Rachel took in her outfit, which was half colonial looking and half regal, but all came together wonderfully on her. But Rachel had never seen features like hers before, and Valenna saw Rachel’s pondering and answered with a smile.
    “I am human, I promise. I’m from Adoni. My family is a traveling group of merchants, so I guess I’m really from all around. But I’m happy to call the Zolumous home.”
    I, I’m Rachel. Rachel Heart. I’m a pharmacist.” Rachel found herself a bit disappointed that her entire life was pretty much summed up to that single statement.
    “Well then, welcome aboard Ms. Heart.” Another female voice came from down the hallway, and Valenna looked away. In a moment the woman who Rachel rembered was named Orion came into view. The golden hair and long ears were enough to jog her memory. When the elf looked and saw Rachel awake, she turned to her and bowed, giving her a brief apology for earlier which Rachel said was no problem.
    Orion spoke quietly to Valenna, and a serious feeling overtook the room as the dark haired woman’s face cast a worried look to Rachel and Maria.
    “You two need to get to Main Bay One.” She looked to the younger girl. “You remember how to get there, don’t you Maria?” Maria nodded, and took Rachel’s hand. “Good, then get there as soon as you can.” She looked to Rachel, with a sadder look for a moment. “I’m afraid that tour is going to have to take a rain check, alright?”
    “Sure.” Rachel had that sinking feeling again that she’d been caught up in things that she shouldn’t be. But before her mind could wrap around it Maria was pulling her out of the room and down the corridors. The took several turns and went down two different sets of stairs until they finally came to an open area with a large group of people moving around with crates and other cargo.
    “C’mon, we can wait over there.” Maria pointed to a corner were there were a few boxes stacked up. The went there and took a seat as the people around them paid little heed. Then a loud siren echoed throughout the ship, a long shrill that reminded Rachel of a tornado siren. Red lights flashed along the ceiling, and the people began to scatter to different places like a hoarde of bugs.
    Rachel didn’t even have time to worry before she caught eye of Storm coming there way. But she stopped from standing when she saw that he was carrying a large machine gun in his hands, the ammunition belt draped across his chest. Maria stood and waved him over.
    “What’s goin on, Pops?” Maria asked, and Rachel could tell that the girl was worried too.
    “You two just stay here, where it’s safe.” Storm looked to Rachel. “Will you stay here with my daughter please?”
    Rachel nodded, suddenly feeling more worry for this man than for herself. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt that she was seeing more of this man than she had before, and it made her feel even worse knowing that all she could do was sit and wait. She wished there was more that she could do to help, but knew that right now this was the best thing she could possibly offer. She nodded her head, and Storm smiled a bit which made her smile too if only a little.
    The open space that they had come in through, which was a doorway for massive metal bulwarks, closed. All the people inside began to finish whatever it was they had been doing, and all quieted down, taking seats on boxes or standing in small groups. Rachel and Maria sat alone together in the corner.
    Minutes past which seemed like hours. But the silence was broken all to soon by a faint sound. Then louder, the fast sound of gunfire. It sounded far off, but Rachel figured it was because of the thick walls. It must be close. There was a loud boom, and the whole ship shook. Maria leapt into Rachel’s arms and buried her head in Rachel’s shirt.
    “I’m scared!” Maria’s muffled voice came, and Rachel knew that she wasn’t the only one. Worried looks were on the faces of all she could see.
    “It’ll be ok. Promise.” He held the girl close, wrapping her arms around her protectively. “Your dad’s out there, remember? He can take care of everything. Did you see the size of that gun he had? I bet it could shoot a hole through a tank.” Rachel was doing her best to try and cheer the girl up. Maria looked up with a slight smile then nodded.
    The big metal door made a loud bang as something big hit it from the other side. Rachel’s world went completely silent as an unyielding sense of dread overcame her. Another loud thud against the door, then silence. This time there came no more sounds. No more gunfire, no more explosions. The metal door whined as it opened.
    Standing on the other side, Rachel could see Storm and Khey along with what looked like the bodies of several people laying at their feet. Both men were covered in a smattering of blood, and Rachel prayed it wasn’t theirs. But then she saw a dark shadow behind them. No one else seemed to see it, but she was to far away for them to hear her, and the blanket of darkness was beginning to envelop them, though they seemed not to notice. She yelled out to them.
    “Look out!” But no sooner than she did were Storm and Khey consumed by the lurking shadows. Everyone else all at once apparently could see the blob of darkness, as a collective gasp echoed throughout that cargo bay. Maria broke out of Rachel’s arms, screaming.
    “No! Papa!” The girl ran as fast as she could, but Rachel caught her before she was to close, and held her back with both arms. She was only momentarily surprised by how strong Maria was, as the girl screamed and cried to be let go.
    “Maria, you can’t help them!” Rachel was fighting back tears too. She didn’t know what was going on, but her gut was telling her that it was nothing good.
    “Papa, NO!” Maria fell back into Rachel sobbing uncontrollably. Rachel held her, keeping her eyes on the black mass that had just eaten her only other friends on this insane adventure. But now they were gone.

    Chapter Twelve:

    Khey stood next to his friend, Captain Alexander Robin, on the bridge of his ship the Zolumous. Rachel had just been taken to a private room to rest after she had feinted from the sight of Orion’s magic. Khey hadn’t expected her to be so shocked by it, but he supposed that her reaction was somewhat warranted considering the teachings of the Empire.
    The ship was cruising along at a low altitude, the glistening sea only about a hundred yards from the belly of the airship. The sky was dotted with little white clouds here and there. It was a beautiful day for flying.
    “So, you gunna tell me what I flew well into Royal airspace to get you for?” Alex looked over and Khey could see that the man still had much of his boyish good looks about him. Still a young round face, yet to see the harder contours of adulthood. But he was growing up now, and Khey knew that both his father and mother would be proud if they could see him now.
    “I figured that question could wait until we were a bit closer to friendly skies, Jay.” Khey grinned as he used the boys old nickname.
    “No one calls me that anymore you know.” The smile dimmed a bit from the captain’s face. He crossed his arms over his chest. “If its all the same to you, I would prefer to know now. You are putting my crew and I out on a limb with this little stunt. It still amazes me that a patrol of sharks or buzzers hasn’t run up on us.”
    The sharks, Imperial Navy swift-ships, and buzzers, a slang term for the rotary blade aircraft, both patrolled the waters of this region. But Khey had provided them a small window of open sky by pulling a few strings and calling in more than one favor.
    “Well, in a nutshell, I’m planning to throw the entire world into chaos.” Khey’s face was solemn, his eyes distant. The captain of the Zolumous tried to smile, but Khey’s look disarmed the attempt of humor.
    “Your not joking, are you?”
    “No. What I have set in motion will cast us all into a major turning point in history.”
    “That big huh?”
    “Bigger than I believe you can imagine my young friend.” Both men stood in silence for a minute, until Alex finally broke the silence with a change in subject.
    “You know, I turned twenty-five last month. I think I’m gunna ask Val to merry me. What do you think?” Khey smiled, thinking about a boy he had know, running around the airship with his pants on his head with a staff of people in tow behind in hot pursuit.
    “Valenna is a fiery one. I think you two will do good together, as long as you can both learn to use each others strengths. That, and as long as you don’t let your stubbornness get the better of you.
    “Me, stubborn? What makes you say that?” Alex said in jest.
    The two made light conversation, and Khey managed to avoid talking further about his plans which was enough for him to feel a little better about dragging these people into his devices. Each person on board was worth their salt, and Khey hated the thought that his actions might lead to their deaths. But he knew it couldn’t be avoided.
    A few minutes later Storm joined them accompanied by the head engineer, who was a big man with a big smile. Khey knew his name, Vincent. He was a wide man, but every inch of him was both kind and amazingly intelligent. His face sported a scruffy mustache and goatee, and his cloths where loose on his frame. He was the kind of man who like to smile and listen rather than talk. More than once his council had come to Khey’s aid in the past.
    “I have to say, I am impressed by your ship, and your craft, captain.” Storm’s words were formal, and Khey wondered what thoughts were going through the veterans mind.
    “Thank you. I would think you would expect no less from the ship that almost single handedly put a stop to the Crystanian naval assault on the west.” Khey expected Storm to get upset, but was surprised by the lack of emotion in the man’s face.
    “Very true. I know that when I fought your father, it took over a week of assault to breech the outer hull. Even when we boarded, every inch we gained was a bloody mess. I trust there will be no hard feelings between us. I no longer serve that government, and would be honored to be counted among your crew on the battlefield. They are a brave and courageous bunch.”
    Khey smiled a bit to himself. No he knew what Storm was up to, and he found that he had underestimated the big grease monkey. The man had turned a possibly tense situation into an agreement of honor. Khey would have to remember not to take Storm so lightly in the future, less he get more than a fist to the face for his silver tongue.
    “No hard feelings, Storm. After all we won that fight.” Captain Robin grinned, even though Khey knew that those battles had been possibly the single most horrific thing that the boy had ever seen. His very home had become a battleground, men and women dieing each day. Had it not been for his mother’s selfless sacrifice, the Zolumous likely would have fallen to the enemy. In those days, craft of this scale were not destroyed by the Empire, but instead captured, to further raise the advantage of the capturing side. The Human Empire’s Airships had been fitted with self-destruct devices, to ensure that even if they had been captured the enemy would not use the ship to gain more leverage.
    The four of them went over plans, covering the next few days as well as their destination in Stone Tomb. Storm had been more than a bit hesitant of it at first, but resided himself to following Khey’s lead. It made Khey feel a little bad about reducing a former military commander to a simple mercenary who just nodded with the orders given. But for now there wasn’t anything he could do about that.
    “Sir! Our radar just picked up a vessel approaching fast from the south. It looks Imperial, Bishop class, sir.” A man from one of the monitoring desks shouted up to the captains deck.
    “Bishop class?” Storm looked a bit confused. “Those don’t usually patrol waters this far away from the capital as far as I know.”
    “No, they don’t.” The captain replied. “I bet it’s got something to do with the commotion you folks left behind on your way out.” Captain Robin shouted orders for the primary engines to be fired up. “We can outrun them, but I would rather not use our emergency fuel to do so. That stuffs not cheep you know. We will increase speed and hope that they give up their chase once we reach Friendly waters.”
    “You think that they’ll just stop?” Khey looked a little skeptical.
    “That’s the idea.”
    Storm crossed the distance to a monitor and read the readout about their pursuer. After a minute of studying, he frowned. “They’re not going to give up.”
    “What? What makes you think that?” The captain was a mix of worry and anger. He was still getting use to his position of command, Khey could tell.
    “The readout you have it a cover. That’s one of their new ships, a Pegasus. They are a pursuit type ship with special jamming technology. Instead of masking their approach, which might be overcome by a better radar system, they mask their signal to mimic a different kind of ship.”
    “How do you know all this?” The captain asked as Vincent read the readout for himself.
    “I’m the one who put their development onto the drawing board. But when I left it was still in the test phases. I didn’t think they could get one operational so soon.”
    Vincent turned from the monitor with his report. “Cap, he’s right. The heat and IBS is to high for a Bishop. That, and its speed is picking up to rapidly. Bishops can’t accelerate that fast.”
    “So, what do we do?” The captain was looking frustrated by this new information, and Khey could tell that his ire was focused solely on Storm at the moment. He prayed his young friend wouldn’t do anything rash.
    “We either climb high, out of sight high, or we haul a** out of here with everything we’ve got.” Vincent was the first to offer a solution.
    “What about sinking them? What kind of weapons do they have, Storm?” The eyes of everyone on the bridge seemed to be on Storm now, and the room fell quiet save for the sound of the pinging radar which was slowly getting faster.
    “I don’t know. When I designed the masking unit and ship structure, I did not add any weaponry to the initial design. Whoever finished that work probably added weapons. And since it is a light, fast moving ship I would say that most of its capabilities lay in long range communication to call in support.”
    Khey spoke, a sarcastic grin on his face. “So if we stand and fight the might have time to call in for backup. But if we run, they can just call in for someone to cut us off. Either way, we wont make it out of this airspace without a fight.”
    “Looks that way.” Alex thought for a moment. “Turn us broadside. I’d rather fight a ship than aircraft. If we can at least knock out the communications we can just change course to shake any other Imperials that this thing called in.”
    The ship rocked as it came about, making a wide arc in the air. Khey thought about all the risks he had taken up to this point, and knew that a simple thing like this could make them all for naught.
    “Sound the alarm. Get everyone not on battle positions to the bays. Seal the bulkheads and prepare for the worse. We’re going into this blind. Lets not get caught unprepared.” As Alex called out his orders Khey saw a vision of his father, and smiled knowing that the boy had grown up into a fine man indeed.
    “Did you find that little thing I asked you about, Jay?” Khey asked.
    “I told you… never mind. Yes I did. It wasn’t easy either. That’s another you owe me, Twighlight.” Alex said as he caught a man a giving him an order to go retrieve Khey item.
    A minute or two later the man came back and handed Khey a long, narrow box. Made of dark oak, it was only a foot an a half shorter than he was. He undid the red string holding the top to the bottom, opening it. Inside was a long, thin bladed sword, which looked to be elven in make, yet with an uncharacteristically dark coloring to it. The handle was wrapped in black and lavender cloth, the hilt a silver and gray design -a swirl in the design of a dragon.
    Khey whispered to the blade, “Welcome back old friend.” as he pulled it free along with its scabbard. Storm looked at him with a confused look.
    “You planning on fighting with that?”
    “Well, I had thought it might come in handy, should the need arise. Can’t go shooting all over the place inside our own ship, can we?” He smirked.
    “Leave it to you to bring a knife to a gunfight.”
    Khey looked a little hurt. “Last I checked, it was hard to punch a ship too. Go grab a weapon from the barracks.” Storm nodded, though the skepticism didn’t leave him as he and Vince departed with Khey to the weapons room. Alex said hey would stay on the bridge and coordinate.
    Soon enough, Storm had picked out the biggest weapon he could find, and slung two belts of ammunition across his shoulders. He said that he was going to check on Maria and Rachel, and would meet him on the upper deck.
    By the time that he and Storm, along with a few of the crew, stood on the deck the Pegasus ship was almost upon them. It was bigger than Khey thought it would have been, almost the size of a small battleship. He figured that the façade of being a Bishop class ship wasn’t to far off as size went. He could see an array of weapon systems on board. Machine guns, missile batteries, and a forward mounted main cannon.
    “This isn’t going to be as easy as I thought.” Khey said, glancing over at Storm.
    “Don’t worry. They’ll want to take us alive. They can’t afford to sink us out here. Water is to deep.” Storm’s words did little to ease the tension in the air.
    “You sure about that?”
    “Pretty sure.” Khey caught the glint of a smirk on the big man.
    “Only pretty sure?”
    “Rachel and Maria are safe below deck in Main Bay One.” Storm’s change of subject was enough to get Khey’s mind back to the task at hand. Repel borders, and disable the ship. Storm looked to the men who were suiting up with dive gear, a look of concern crossed his face.
    “Don’t worry, we’ll leave the ship to them. They’re very good at what the do.” One of the men gave a grin that might have scared a child. “Maybe a little too good.”
    “Heh, I’m just glad I’m not squeezing into one of those wetsuits.”
    “Afraid of the water?”
    “No,” He pulled his massive weapon up and rocked the charging handle back. “But then I wouldn’t be able to do what I do best.”
    “And what exactly would that be?”
    “I’ll tell you when your older.”
    “Wha-?” But Khey’s words cut off as the Imperial ship launched a volley of missiles at them. “s**t! I thought you said they wouldn’t use that stuff.” They all dove for cover as the missiles rained down, striking the ship in several different places.
    “No, I just said they wouldn’t intentionally sink us.”
    “Remind me to, never mind.” Khey pulled a pistol from a hip holster he had picked up earlier. “Lets just get this over with.” Storm nodded, a rain of bullets exploded forth toward the ship below.





    Noises. Voices. Everything was a blur, was always a blur. Pockets of light, dancing in quick flashes. Time was nothing here. Out there were people. In here the was only the one, him. So weak, so alone. Death, life, all the same. Both not here, but out there.
    What was this now? So long was his suffering, so long his torments. This was familiar now, this was something he knew. But it was not himself, for he knew that not. Nor was it death, for that he knew too. This was something he did not know, but did somehow. This should be familiar.
    He felt the darkness, it was him. Was he darkness? No. He felt the life leave those he found, flowing away in pools of warm blood. Was he death? Maybe. But this was a new thing, what was it?
    Leave. Must leave now. The not darkness and maybe death had to leave, but not to far. Far enough to go, but not far enough to stay gone. But why? He did not know.

    Chapter Thirteen:

    Storm’s eyes came open as sound returned to his ears. He made to move, but found he was being held, held by familiar arms. It was Maria. She was holding onto him as he lay on the floor. She was crying. Why was she crying, he wondered. He coughed and rustled under her and her head shot up with a happy and surprised look on her face.
    “Papa!” She jumped him with some force, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I was so worried. You and Khey got swallowed up by that thing! I didn’t know what to do, so I just ran to you.” Storm saw Maria look back, to where he saw Rachel sitting with an ice pack on her side.
    “What happened?” He asked as he sat up, daughter still attached to the neck. He saw Khey sitting up near him, nursing a wound on his arm. The captain appeared, placing his hands on Storm’s shoulders, encouraging him to stay seated.
    “Well, from what we’ve put together, the Empire’s ship ran out of weaponry and troops to send at us, and turned away, thanks to you and Khey’s gun-work. As for the black thing that knocked you out, I don’t have a clue.”
    Storm looked to Khey, who’s eyes betrayed worry, but the usually talkative man said nothing. Storm decided that right now was not the best time to press the matter. He felt he knew Khey well enough that should the man know something, that the information would be given at the appropriate time. He looked back to Rachel who was sitting with a confused look.
    “What happened to you?” Storm asked.
    “Well-” She said, but Maria cut her off.
    “I’m sorry. It was my fault. When I saw you get eaten by that black thing I guess I got a little carried away. She was trying to protect me, but I… I elbowed her in the ribs so I could try to help you.” Maria looked back at Rachel apologetically. Rachel shook her head, and with a smile said that it was ok, because everything had turned out alright.
    With that all said, things began to settle down, and soon the Zolumous was in free air space. The were headed north, and had a couple days until they reached their destination. The ship was using its fuel-free lift systems. They were slow, but could keep the ship aloft indefinitely. Storm had expected Khey to insist that they make better time, but he didn’t. In fact Khey had become a bit reclusive in the days following the incident.
    On the second night in flight Storm decided to confront Khey about what had happened. He had a lot of questions and he hoped Khey could give him the answers. He made his way to Khey’s cabin and knocked on the door. There was a long pause, but then he heard Khey call him in.
    Inside, Storm saw that Khey’s room was much larger that the rest of theirs. His was almost as big as he would suspect the captains to be. The bed was off to the side, a large desk cluttered with paperwork sat against the rear wall, with Khey sitting back in a chair looking to be in quiet thought.
    As he approached he noticed a tall glass case. Inside was a long, beat up leather coat and a wide brimmed brown hat. It was like something out of an old cowboy movie, he thought. He turned his attention back to his host.
    “Do you have a minute? I’ve got a few questions and I thought you might be able to answer at least a couple.” Storm’s tone was lass than formal. There was concern in it, in earnest. Khey seemed to note it, and his eyes pointed Storm to a chair, which the big man pulled up and sat down on.
    “Alright. I will try my best to answer them, if I can.” Khey was tired, he could tell. But also Storm could see that the usual light-heartedness of the man had been replaced by something he had yet to see in Khey, a sense of maturity that belonged to an old man not some young twenty-something guy.
    “How’s the arm, for starters?” Storm motioned to Khey’s bandaged arm, a wound he had somehow gotten while they had been inside the darkness.
    “It will be fine. Doc Illiam said that it looks like a bear tried to take a swipe at me. Looks worse than it is though.”
    “That’s good.” They sat in silence for a moment to long, and Khey spoke up first.
    “You want to you if I know what that thing was, or why that ship just decided to turn around when it could have easily kept up with us. Or maybe why I came to you in the first place?” Khey’s eyes were like little gems in the dim room, seeming to glow of their own light. Storm felt that some things he might not want to know the answer to, and kept that in mind as he went on.
    “Well, I had been wondering about that. Why me?”
    “That’s one of the questions that I can’t answer till later, my friend. But I promise you I intend you no ill. It’s a ll a very… complicated matter.” Khey’s words came smoothly, as if he’s been anticipating that question for some time now, which did not surprise Storm in the least.
    “I trust you. Then what about that thing, that darkness that might have killed us?”
    Khey was a long time in answering. For a minute Storm thought he saw a look of hatred cross Khey’s expression, but it was gone before he could determine whether it had been real or just the light playing tricks on his tired features.
    “That was what we call a void spirit.” Khey finally said, words slow and precise.
    “A what? A void spirit? Like a ghost or something?”
    “No. In a nutshell, a ghost is a spirit that has died but remains in our world. A void spirit is something that comes from the world beyond the underworld.” Khey looked into Storm’s troubled eyes and gave him a reassuring smile. “It would take me weeks to explain the details of it all. But just know that it is creatures like, and other things, which drove me on the course I am on now.”
    Storm remembered what he had overheard Khey and Robin talking about the day of the attack. “Your planning something pretty big, huh?”
    “Yes. Very big indeed.” Khey looked at the bed for a second, and Storm knew that his friend had not slept in days. “I’m going to risk everything we have, Argonas.” Khey’s last words were almost to hushed to hear.
    “What?”
    “Oh, I’m sorry. My mind was… elsewhere.” Khey stood. “I think that I could use a little shut-eye before we reach Stone Tomb.” Storm nodded and made to leave, though he felt a knot in his stomach build with a sense of foreboding. He was in the middle of something that could end the very world, he knew.
    “Alright, Khey. I’ll have someone come get you once we make port. Try and get some rest until then, ok?” Storm made for the door as Khey sat on the bed.
    “Storm. I heard Maria call you Papa today. Isn’t it usually Pops, or something like that?” Khey’s words struck home in Storms mind. The man was right. But hat did it mean?
    “It is. She’s never called me Papa before. Not once.” He paused in the doorway, he and Khey’s eyes meeting. “Does that mean something?”
    Khey took a moment in thought, then shook his head. “No. Nothing I can think if at the moment. Don’t let it bother you. It was just something I noticed is all.”
    Storm nodded and shut the door behind him as he left. For the questions he had gotten answered, a dozen more had taken their place. His mind was in a bit of a haze as he made his way to the kitchen to get something to eat.
    When he got there he saw a crowd of people gathered around Rachel and Maria. But something felt off. He made his way through people until he finally got to them. His jaw dropped when he saw his adopted daughter’s hair. It was now waist long on her, and pale white.
    “Maria! What happened to your hair?” His tone was more shocked than he had intended, and he blamed only himself for that.
    “It just got all straight when I let it down. Then it grew, and then it turned colors.” Maria looked about as surprised as everyone else around. Rachel looked like she had seen a ghost, and Storm thought that his face wasn’t exactly the picture of composure either. He took a second to calm down, and told everyone to go about their business.
    Once the commotion had settled down, he took Maria and Rachel to their rooms, and told them to get some rest. He was worried about causing some kind of panic. They would be at their destination in about ten hours, and they could all use the rest anyway.
    As he drifted to sleep he had his first nightmare in almost thirteen years. Blood and violence of a war long past. But then something different came, something new. He heard a voice, a dark and whispered voice. It was rough, edged. But most of all it was what his mind labeled as evil itself. And it said only one thing to him, “Maria”. The voice shook his very soul, and he sat up, sweat beading down his brow. For the first time in thirteen years, William Argonas, aka George Argonas, aka Storm, was afraid.
    Chapter Fourteen:

    Cross stood on the dock, eyes gazing past the horizon to a foe he could not see, but knew where he was. It had taken him a week to track down the terrorist’s informants and persuade them to give him the information he needed. He had always known that Twighlight would leave Halmahera, as the entire continent had Imperial forces in every city. But what he didn’t know was where his target would go next.
    But now he knew. He knew that Khey was aboard an airship headed towards Stone Tomb in the northern continent of Shay’Zarran. It was a land of kingdoms and territories still wild, a dangerous place for the civilized man. But there was nothing that would stand in his way, not now.
    As Cross turned he saw a ship approaching around the cliffs. He checked his watch. They were late. He rested his hands on his blade-pistols, aggravation showing in his eyes. As the Pegasus class ship, named Freedom’s Call, he saw the captain standing at the nose of the ship. Cross waved the man into port, and met the captain halfway up the gangplank.
    “Did you find them?” Cross went straight to business. Even if he had felt like a few formalities he knew that Second Lieutenant Redden was not a man for it.
    “Yes. We got you communication and caught them near the edge of our jurisdiction. The masking technology didn’t work, and they spotted us early on.”
    “What? That system is state of the art. There’s no system on earth that could have beaten it.”
    “That’s what I thought too. But sure as s**t they caught on to us pretty damn fast. They gunned down our assault squad and…” The officer looked away, as if nervous to say more.
    “And what?” Cross knew that Redden was unaware of his current rouge status. If he had been, he knew that the veteran officer would not hesitate to arrest Cross were he stood.
    “We could have easily kept our distance and followed them further, but there was a disturbance on board the ship. I lost a dozen crewman.”
    Cross looked shocked. “What happened?”
    “The airship sent sappers, as I expected they would. They were good, but we caught them soon enough. There were only three. But once we had those pirates locked up in the brig, something else happened.” Redden paused again, composing himself, and ushered Cross up to the main deck of the ship. Around the first corner they stopped, and the Lieutenant pointed to the deck below. There were three mutilated bodies strewn about, limbs without b body attached and the blood stained the metal.
    “What happened here, Lieutenant?” Cross kept his composure, but just barely. “What did this to your men?”
    “We don’t know. They were on patrol, looking for more sappers, and we lost power. By time we got the lights back up and running and did a security run throughout the ship, there were four separate groups like this one, including the sappers we had locked up.”
    Cross was at a loss for words. He was no stranger to the grizzly crime scene, but this was something more, different. This was beyond murder, it was something he had no words for. He and the Captain of Freedom’s Call shared a moment in silence, one saying a prayer to himself for the dead the other planning his next move.
    “I need to get across the ocean, and I need to get there fast. Any recommendations?” Cross turned and looked out over the sea.
    “Well, we could get you there. Would take time though. We’re fast, but I would think you don’t want to wait the day it will take to refuel, and another day to get all this mess cleaned up and re-supply the ship. Not to mention the travel time.” Cross could tell the man was trying to discourage him from opting for the naval rout. Regardless of the man not being aware of his current status Cross knew that he had a notorious reputation for endangering others in his pursuit of justice.
    “Your right. That’s time I just don’t have. But I don’t want to waste the time with our own flight crews either. By the time I would have filled all the paperwork out the trail will have gone cold.” He made to leave the ship after giving the Lieutenant a salute of gratitude.
    It didn’t take him long to find a private flight. The cost was more than he would have liked to pay, but at the moment he didn’t care. Money did not hold a candle to his final objective. In less than ten hours he was flying over the ocean headed towards his prey. He landed in El’Shaddai airport, and sped out of the city on his bike, thankful that he had been able to find a plain which could accommodate it.
    He drove through the night, and well into the next day before fatigue caught up with him. Driving through the desert took a lot out of him, the beading sun and dry air only adding to his tiredness. He pulled into a little motel and stayed there for the evening, setting out again in the middle of the night. He had a lot of ground to cover still, and little time to do it in.
    But he knew that he needed to keep himself focused. He was in a foreign land, and he had never traveled outside of Halmahera and the Holy Empire. This was a wild land by his accounts. Old races who still lingered and clung to the old ways. The elves had gone decades ago, and those who stayed behind were said to live as nomads and gypsies. Their old magics floundered now, as the writ of the Empire spread it’s influence and brought the reins in on such heretical and satanic practices.
    But vagabond elves weren’t his problem. The north half of Shay’Zarran was controlled by the dwarves, a race a short, stubborn, and wickedly ingenious people. Though there were a non-aggressive race by all accounts, Cross knew that they were like insects. Left to their own devices they would toil into eternity in their hills and caves, building ungodly machines and archaic mechanisms. But should their hive be shaken they would bring down an unrelenting assault on their would-be attackers.
    But even though he would be heading into the dwarf capital, Stone Tomb, he still had other things on his mind. The stout dwarf was a reasonable sort. As long as Cross gave no reason for aggression, there would be none. But it was the orc that Cross worried about. Dozens of tribes inhabited the majority of eastern Shay’Zarran. They lived in the foothills, the forests, the grasslands, and in large towns and moderate sized cites scattered across the eastern coast. He would be going through their lands, and though the tribes all flew their own banners and were individual mini-nations within themselves, the orcs, as a race had been a united nation since the end of the last war. When the Empire had sought to purge Halmahera of all non-humans the orcs had been one of the larger forces standing in the way. Since then they had been the Empire’s biggest threat.
    Cross slowed his bike as he approached a road block. He pulled up his face mask, so that only his eyes shown through, and they were covered by his black shades. As he got closer he could see the humanoid forms, with green skin. He cursed to himself. Orcs. This would not go well, and Cross check his weapons one last time.

    “Ho’d up there.” The voice was gruff, the accent heavy. The dark green skinned orc looked over Cross and his bike with a suspicious gaze. It’s eyes were a pale brown, which Cross hadn’t expected. For some reason he thought that they should be red, dark red. Like the eyes of a green devil or something. Another one, a shorter and most likely female one came up beside him. This one was armed with a heavy pistol he knew was called a bolt gun. Though the weapon was not as accurate and had shorter range, it was a devastating weapon, especially against light armor like that of a car or his personal body armor that he wore just underneath of his coat.
    “You have your passport handy?” She asked him, and he was again surprised by not only her clear words and politeness, but also her simple smile and clean pressed uniform. White slacks and a sleeveless vest, also white, over top a blue short sleeve shirt. Her skin was much lighter than her male counterpart, and he assumed that their uniforms coincided with their clan colors, this being the outskirts of the desert clan, Korindo’s, territory.
    “No, I’m afraid I don’t have one. Is there any way I can get through? I have a very important meeting in Stone Tomb in a couple days.” Cross didn’t bother with any elaborate lies. He felt that it was easier to stick with the truth and deal with the cards that would be dealt to him.
    The dark skinned orc scanned through a few pieces of paper attached to a clipboard. “Stone Tomb, eh? I reckon’ dat is the best place for you to get you paperwork. You know dah way?” There wasn’t any real concern on the orc’s face. Cross had seen a zillion guards like him before. Bored and willing to look the other way to avoid any unnecessary paperwork. The thought make him grin a bit. The orcs had forever been seen as furious warriors with superhuman strength and endurance. It was, on some level, comforting to know that they had some of the same tendencies as humans did.
    “Yeah, I picked up a map. I should be alright.” Cross dipped his head, as to thank the guard for his concern. The gesture was returned with a roll of the eyes from the male, and a official nod from the female. They opened the gate, and motioned him through.
    As Cross drove away he found himself a bit confused at what had just happened. He had been fully prepaired, and willing, to gun the both of them down. But he had been let through just like any other person. Had the situation been reversed, he knew Crystanian guardsmen would have gunned them down without hesitation. This was shaping to be a very interesting trip indeed. When he was done stringing Twighlight up by his feet Cross thought about taking a little time and doing some reconnaissance work. If the enemies of the Empire had become slack, their might be a chance at ridding the world of their barbaric kind.