“Oooh, yeah,” Sabine replied, standing up.
“Um, sure,” Liz said and looked back at Howie.
Amanda followed Liz’s glance and looked at Howie also. “Are you in?”
“You sure I’m allowed?” Howie asked.
“Oh, to be sure,” she said, smiling. “It won’t be a problem.”
“Alright then, yeah, I’m in.”
“Good,” Amanda said. Opening the door to the Arkady, she stepped through the Portal and out onto the main deck of the ship.
She concentrated for a moment and reached out to the ship’s core and set in a course for Enceladus, the icy moon of Saturn where the Magi Council’s castle was. As the ship started to move, Liz, Howie, and Sabine walked to the windows and watched the Earth slide around them as it turned. The Magical dampeners cast on the vessel nullified nearly all the feeling of the ship moving, apart from just a hint of it, just enough so that you knew she was running, and so that Amanda could feel if something wasn’t quite right.
A couple of seconds later, she brought the ship’s displacement drive online, and the Earth suddenly shot away, disappearing to nothing in just a couple of seconds.
“Holy shit,” Liz said. “That’s incredible. We must be going at, what, a million miles an hour?”
“A little faster than that,” Amanda said. “We’re travelling in excess of the speed of light. We’ll be at Enceladus in a few minutes.” She reached out with her mind and activated a holographic display set into the nearby table. A glowing blue map of the solar system flickered into life, showing the sun and the orbits of the planets as rings of light around the star. Labels pointed to the locations of the planets on the map, with Earth and Saturn highlighted. Stretching out from Earth on the end of a lengthening line, a glowing point of light with the name Arkady beside it flew through the Sol system, heading towards Saturn.
Liz looked at the map in awe as Amanda sat on one of the soft sofas, letting the ship do its thing.
The Arkady had a bridge, just like any space ship, with full manual control, complete with a flight stick, throttle, and endless buttons and displays that controlled every aspect of the craft. But she didn’t typically need to use them. When she did, it was usually just because it was fun rather than because of any particular need.
Today was not one of those days, though, and the ship was more than capable of making this trip on autopilot.
“Want a snack?” Amanda asked.
“Sure,” Howie said, never one to refuse food. “What have you got?”
“I have a whole stash of Taytos in here,” she said, opening a hatch on one end of the sofa.
“Taytos?” Sabine asked.
“Crisps,” Liz said.
“Huh?”
“She means chips,” Howie explained. “Jeez, you girls and your colloquialisms.”
“That’s a long word for an American,” Amanda quipped.
Howie raised a middle finger and looked in the storage hatch. “What have we got? Hmm, Space Raiders?”
“A classic,” Amanda smiled knowingly.
“What the hell are these? Burton’s Fish and Chips?” he asked, pulling out the white snack packet.
“Manna from heaven,” Amanda replied, putting a suitably dreamy look on her face.
“I thought Fish and Chips was a meal of battered fish and fries,” Sabine asked.
Howie nodded. “These look like Pepperidge Farm Goldfish with a salt and vinegar flavour. Is that about right?”
Amanda blinked at him. “Um, I guess. All I know is they taste lovely.”
Howie shrugged. “Okay, sure, I’ll give them a try.” He ripped open a pack.
Amanda went for a pack of Pickled Onion Space Raiders and ripped the packet—with its familiar green alien face on it—open before picking one of the puffed corn bites out and eating it, enjoying the taste. Given she was in space, it made sense to eat the right snack. The other two helped themselves, and before long, they were enjoying their food and the views, allowing Amanda to lose herself in thought.
She remembered her conversations at the multiverse bar with Tanis and the AI she had in her head, Angela, and wondered if she should look into something like that for the ship.
Plenty of Magi ships out in the cosmos had been made intelligent, with a consciousness all their own through various means. Some were true AIs with a computer core, while others were more magical in nature. A ship could be made intelligent, just like a sword or anything else if you had the magic to do it.
Looking at the ship, she wondered if that might be a way to go. It wasn’t the first time she’d come across the phenomenon though, merely the most recent.
She’d been on plenty of ships throughout the Sol Protectorate and beyond that were intelligent to one degree or another. She’d also met people with AIs living inside of them before Tanis.
She’d need to think about it some more, but perhaps making the ship intelligent was a good way forward?
Looking up at the map, Amanda could see they were approaching Saturn, so she finished her snack—disintegrating the packet with some Magic—stood, and cancelled the hologram. “Would you like to come with me up to the bridge for the final approach?”
All three of her fellow passengers affirmed that they would with nods and positive comments, so Amanda led them up a nearby staircase and to the deck above them.
The bridge was a large room in the shape of an elongated horseshoe with the curved end towards the bow of the ship.
Smooth, dark surfaces covered in glowing touchscreen controls lined the edge of the room with seats spaced around them. In the middle, towards the front was the pilot’s seat with its own consoles. Further back, on a slightly raised platform, giving a good view of the other stations, was the command seat.
A wide viewscreen stretched all the way around the front of the ship, while more viewports stretched over the roof, giving a great view of the outside of the vessel.
Amanda settled into the captain’s chair as the other three moved to the windows to watch the approach.
Saturn grew from a pinpoint of light to a large sphere in a matter of moments as the ship decelerated and started to boost around the planet. Amanda guided the flight path with her mind, putting the vast gas giant on the ship’s port side as it glided in low over the rings. Individual chunks of ice came into view as Amanda slowed the ship further, and inclined the angle of the ship to allow her three passengers to get a good look.
They cooed over the view, much like Amanda had when she’d first visited Ultima Thule. Even now though, after having seen this planet countless times, it still called to her. It was a magical place, and she couldn’t resist looking up at it and enjoying the sight herself.
As they glided around the planet, Amanda sent out a message to Ultima Thule that she was on approach. She got the usual short reply back with directions of where she should land. She confirmed receipt and closed the Link.
After a moment, Amanda turned the ship and made her way out towards the planet’s moons, heading to one in particular. The glowing white ball of ice rose out of the darkness and grew to enormous proportions before them until they were gliding around one of the plumes of water that were erupting from the moon’s south polar region. A moment later, the enormous Gothic castle of Ultima Thule rose up over the horizon, jutting from the ice as if it had erupted from it.
Amanda guided the ship down to the designated landing pad, where it alighted gently on the ground.
Amanda noticed one or two other ships that were present, but as usual, the traffic of Aetheric Craft within Sol was light, and the number of craft docked here reflected that. Compared to other systems, the traffic here was as good as non-existent.
Amanda wondered if that would ever change.
There was something of a separation between the Magi of the Cosmos beyond Sol and those within the Solar System. Most of the Magi living on Earth probably had little idea of what it was like out there, and even those who did usually stayed on Eart
h. Meanwhile, those out in deep space often held a negative view of Earth and its Magi, seeing them as backwards or ignorant.
There were a few factors which contributed to this, but the main two were the Null Realm barrier that put many Star Magi off visiting Earth, and the Sentinels who did not like the interstellar Magi visiting and making themselves known.
On Earth, the Magi hid in the shadows, leaving humanity unaware of the Magic that surrounded them. Out beyond Earth, the Magi and their Magic were well known, respected, and often feared. The Magi Dynasties ruled whole sectors of space as a kind of nobility.
Besides, the governments of Earth might have something to say about a huge Aetheric Craft settling into orbit around the globe.
“Did you enjoy that?” Amanda asked, rising from her seat.
“Yeah,” Liz confirmed. “That was amazing.”
“Thank you, yes, that was incredible,” Howie agreed, smiling at her.
“Awesome,” Sabine added.
“Good,” Amanda said with a smile. “Now, I’m unsure if you will be allowed into the actual Council meeting itself, but you can come into the castle with me. If you want to, of course…”
“I’d love to,” Sabine said. “I’ve heard stories about this place, but I’ve never visited it before.”
“It’s impressive,” Amanda said. “Liz? You coming, too? Howie?”
“If you think it’s okay, then sure, I’d love to.”
“Oh, I’m there,” he said, stepping up to Amanda.
“Grand,” Amanda said. “Now, let’s go and see what this meeting is all about.”
- Somewhere in the Middle East
Kennedy wandered into another building. They’d been inside over twenty now, ranging from what looked like houses and dwellings, to shops and other places of business. It seemed as though there once was a whole working society down here. Some of the buildings were in a greater state of disrepair and dereliction than others, but it was incredible to see no matter what they looked like.
This particular building had a wide-open space inside, with the remains of seats and ornaments scattered about the floor. There were even a few items that looked like they were made from gold or other precious materials.
Sandy went over to examine them as Kennedy looked over the walls. Faded murals seemed to show elements of life here in the city. As Kennedy scanned them, he noticed the focus seemed to be centred on the worship of some sort of god or ruler. There were a few scenes showing crowds of people surrounding an elaborate structure, as well as lines of people walking up to a strange-looking figure standing on a raised dais.
The people were bowing down to this deity and making offerings to him or her.
It was an odd-looking creature, too. There were some human elements to it, but Kennedy saw it depicted elsewhere with wings, sometimes with tentacles. Were these even the same being? Maybe there was a pantheon of gods they gave thanks to.
And yet, there were too many other similarities between the depictions to know for sure.
“Hey, haven’t we seen this building before?” Bryn asked to Kennedy’s right, pointing at the mural.
Kennedy looked over. “I don’t know, have we?”
“I’m pretty good with landmarks, look,” he said and led Kennedy outside. Bryn pointed up to a massive tower that loomed over the city. It was blocks away, but the resemblance was uncanny.
“You know what? I think you might be right.”
Proof
Ultima Thule
“Thank you for coming,” Trevelyan greeted her as she walked down the ramp from the Arkady.
“No problem.” Amanda hugged him briefly.
“The Legion is here, and they seem a little fired up.”
“They really won’t give up, will they?” After the effort that the Legion put into discrediting her, and then the somewhat unorthodox rescue, she wasn’t surprised that the Legion would try to save face and turn things around.
That coven was as stubborn as they came and seemed to really hate her with a passion.
“They seem quite set on this course of action,” Trevelyan said.
“But how many of the Council know of my true history now? There are you, Stephen, the Count, Victoria, and Kai, right?”
“That’s right. Also Harry and Kristal from the Arcanum, as well.”
“So, we have a majority who will back me,” Amanda said.
“We do, but I thought you’d want to be here.”
“Well, you’re right about that.” She turned towards the window. She had been hoping to string things out for longer than this, but the truth about her time travel would be known eventually, and it might be that telling the whole Council about it and revealing her true Magi rank might swing things in her favour. Especially with Trevelyan and the others backing her up. But doing that would come with consequences.
She knew Yasmin would be hunting for any hint that her younger-self had travelled back in time and that it was effectively open season on her. If she left things to go their own way, it might be that she wouldn’t know when Yasmin found out, not until it was too late, anyway. At least this way, she would be taking control of the situation. She could assume that Yasmin would hear what transpired at this meeting and know that the restrictions on her actions had been lifted. That would free up Amanda to decide what action to take and strike first. She’d had a few weeks to herself, after all and now was as good a time as any.
Plus, she felt reasonably sure that Yasmin had picked up the Scroll by now.
Even without it, Yasmin was pretty high on Amanda’s list of people she needed to deal with. Her machinations down through the centuries had caused pain and misery to hundreds of thousands of people, after all. If anyone deserved to have the gift of life taken away from them, it was Yasmin.
So, this is it.
If she went through with it, this was the moment that would no doubt change her life and the lives of her friends. If she did this, there was no going back. Yasmin would find out Amanda’s younger-self had gone back in time and things were likely to get a little crazy.
“Is everything okay?” Trevelyan asked, apparently noticing her slip off into deep thought.
Liz stepped up to her. “You alright, Mandy?”
Amanda smiled at her apprentice. “Yes, everything’s fine. It’s just… Well, this meeting is going to change a few things for us.”
“What do you mean?” Liz asked.
“Don’t worry, I’ll explain later,” Amanda said. “It depends on how this meeting goes. I hope I’m not underdressed,” she said, looking down at her ripped jeans.
“Oh, I have an idea for that, actually,” Trevelyan said.
“Is that so?” Amanda asked, curious as to what he had in mind.
***
Amanda walked into one of the smaller Council chambers within Ultima Thule. The Magi Council employed several rooms in the castle for their meetings, depending on what the meeting was about or how many people were attending.
Today, they were in one of their hearing rooms. These could hold the Council itself and their aids, as well as having provision for witnesses or for people on trial, and finally, space for an audience as well.
Liz, Voodoo, and Howie had been shown into a side room that overlooked the chamber, but which was also hidden from the view of those in the session so they could watch in secret.
Amanda stuck close to Trevelyan, following him to his seat and then standing behind and to one side of him. She stood calmly and enjoyed the fact that the Legion had no idea she was there.
Trevelyan had suggested that she transform herself into the persona of Alice White again, the white-haired Magus she used as a disguise when she’d accompanied Trevelyan on the raid to free her younger-self from the Legion.
Her presence as Alice White had not gone unnoticed by Forest Ward, the leader of the Magi Legion Coven though, and he eyed her briefly from across the room.
Two more Magi from the Legion flanked Forest. His wife, Stella stood
on his right, and Saxon, the suit-wearing lawyer of the coven—who reminded Amanda of a car-salesman—was on his left. They stood as the Council entered, as was required, and returned to their seats as the Council took theirs.
The room settled and eventually, Trevelyan addressed the room.
“Thank you all for coming today,” Trevelyan began. “I know this was short notice, but we have an interesting situation here. I also want to extend my thanks to Forest, Stella, and Saxon of the Magi Legion, it’s because of your request that we sit here today.”
Forest nodded. “Thank you, Councillor, we appreciate the audience.”
“I’m sure you do,” Trevelyan answered. “Now, down to business. So, let me run through the facts as we know them. The Magi Legion—”
“Objection,” Saxon called out, silencing the room. Everyone looked up, surprised. “Trevelyan has a biased opinion on this matter, we request that a neutral party summarise the recent events.”
Trevelyan nodded, resigning himself to this kind of petty behaviour. “As you wish. Would Councillor Kai be suitable?”
Amanda watched as Saxon conferred with Forest in hushed tones, before turning back to the room. “That is satisfactory.”
Trevelyan nodded and gestured to Kai, who was sitting beside him, to take over.
“Very well,” she said. “The situation is as follows. The Magi Legion has requested this meeting as it is their belief that Magus Amanda-Jane Page of New York and The Legacy Coven, is working with the Nomads. Specifically, Yasmin the Dark. They have shared what evidence they currently have in their possession but claim that the rest was destroyed by certain Magi in this room in some kind of conspiracy. They claim that although they realise their actions in taking Amanda and two of her coven into custody were a little rash, they believe they were justified in the face of the evidence they had gathered. They also claim that they were ordered to keep quiet about these events by the Magi within the conspiracy, but they could not in good conscience stay silent on such an important matter. Is that correct?”
Magi Legend Page 121