by Liandra Jake
Sandy nodded. "I'm sure he could handle that."
Corenden laughed. "You do now he slowed a twenty ton shaft of metal with his bare hands right?"
Arend shook his head. "I compensated for that. I personally can handle up to a solid Mach 5, but I'd end up breaking the steering afterwards."
A long, resounding horn sounded. Rose and Iode rejoined the group. "We have to head back now." Rose said.
"You still want that ride?" Zeph asked.
Arend reattached the engine housing. "I'm driving!" Arend exclaimed.
The rest of the group left him to work on Sandy's and Lave's engines, as well as throwing out some potential designs for new jets and advising on getting a wind tunnel built. When the group joined Noir on the platform, Arend had finished his work and was being briefed on the basic mechanics of flight.
"Alright. Got it." Arend said with a nod. Zeph climbed in behind Arend. Arend glanced over to Sandy and Lave. "Remember, on a low burn, these engines will last a long time on a single canister. Longer if you had nitrous or oxygen for fuel." Arend closed the cockpit. Lave and Sandy gave him a thumbs up and the jet rocketed from the airstrip.
[X]
Noir docked back onto the fortress. "I can't believe he gets to take a wild ride…" She grumbled as everyone unloaded.
A pile of materials was piled up in neat bundles at the center of the platform. Iode was called away to work, and Rose left to change and redecorate her "room." Michael and Corenden left to the library to look up some of the things Arend had mentioned.
Flake, Noir, and Night were getting chewed out by their commanding officer when Arend arrived. Arend brought the jet drifting around the pile of materials that blocked any sort of runway. They stopped, surrounded in red flames eleven feet from the edge of the platform.
"I told you it would be okay!" Arend exclaimed as he stepped out.
Zeph moved forward to the front seat. "That doesn't mean I have to be calm about you drifting in a fucking jet." He replied before shooting off.
"Yo! See you guys when I'm done with the Korvan systems!" Arend called to Flake, Noir and Night with a wave. The waved back until the enraged face of their captain stopped them.
Rose watched it all with an amused smile from atop the tower. She turned away and headed to her usual sleeping spot. She laid out her newly bought blanket and pillow. She heard the sound of foot steps behind her. She turned to face Nova.
"So Rose, did you enjoy your time over there?" Nova asked, eyeing the neat piles that was soon to be Rose's bed.
"It was alright. I spent most of my time buying these." Rose replied, shirking away from Nova's presence.
He bent down and picked up the pillow. "It's very nice…"
He grabbed it in two hands at the center, ripping it apart with little effort. The feathers bled out, floating away in the building wind. Tears swelled in Rose's eyes as Nova ripped her blanket into shreds and tossed them over the ledge. He left the cloths untouched.
"Why?" Rose asked; the fur on her face soaked in her tears. Nova lifted her up by the collar to his face.
"Because you're stepping beyond your bounds. Your new friends can't protect you from your punishment." He dropped her, leaving her to sob into the cold concrete. "I hope you think it's worth it. The fourth spot is still open." He looked down at her with lustful eyes.
"You know my answer. Our chances to be together ended when you turned into a lecherous bastard." Rose replied.
Nova flipped her over with a sharp kick. She squeaked slightly when she landed on her back.
"Fine. Then you can stay here." Nova said before stalking off.
Rose sat up. Hobbling over to what remained of her blanket and pillow; she stuffed it and her cloths inside her shirt and curled up as she usually did. The wind blew harsher than usual.
- -Power of the Dragon - -
Arend and Iode were headed to the bottom of the large, central Korvan at the bottom of the main tower. Flake, as usual, tagged along. They had borrowed one of the flying platforms to check up on the Korvan.
"So far so good. Everything looks stable." Arend said with a shiver.
Iode shuddered as well. "It got very cold in a short time. It's hard to believe it got so cold in only an hour after the sun fell."
A piece of cloth floated past Arend. He plucked it from the air. "What the hell?" Flake said. Arend looked back and up. A cluster of feathers and ripped cloth floated by in a twisting wind. It scattered past them as it fell to the earth. "Weird. I wonder how long that was caught in the wake of the fortress." Flake said as he returned to the controls.
'This is Rose's.' Arend thought as he rubbed it in his fingers and sniffed briefly.
He glanced back towards the Recreational Tower. He caught a whiff of Nova's bloodlust mixed with something else. He slid the strip of cloth into his pocket and returned to his work.
"Looks good Flake. It seems that the system is just ineffective. Installing a Drive will do wonders." Arend said.
"What's with that look?" Flake asked.
"What look?" Arend asked, glancing over.
"That one. Something big is going down. Something you don't like. I want to know what." Flake replied.
"What passed earlier were the remains of Rose's blanket and pillow. Buying them cost all of her money and a bit of mine." Arend replied.
"But she-" Flake stopped himself. "She didn't want us to know."
"Let's finish our work. We still have a job to do." Arend said. Iode brooded to himself.
Three long hours later, they finally finished installing the new Drive. The power it gave allowed the fortress to travel at twice its normal speed. A strong headwind created freezing temperatures in the lonely night. Rose shivered, exposed to every gust and unable to move around the dome.
"Damn you Nova." Rose said under her breath.
"Be loud and proud!" Arend exclaimed suddenly. Rose jumped.
Arend floated up in one of the floating platforms, along with everyone else. Night, Flake, the unarmored Noir, Michael, Corenden, and even Iris and Maeil.
"Sup Rosey!?" Arend asked.
Michael shivered. "Damn it's cold up here."
The group spread out. Arend drove an anchor directly into the concrete to secure the platform in the strong winds.
"What are you-" Rose stopped as Iode pulled a thick wool blanket around her.
"Thank Arend later." He said before helping the others with futons and sleeping bags.
Maeil and Iris stayed in the platform, handing out the supplies and wind shields. They were adjustable pieces of metal Maeil had created quickly that could lock into position to force the wind up and around.
"We're having a little campout since the Drive has pushed up the day we leave." Arend explained.
"And I'm sorry, but you, Night, and Noir have to share a wind shield. I couldn't make enough." Maeil said as Arend anchored each wind shield the proper distance apart to separate the wind properly.
Rose cried silently into Arend' blanket. No one mentioned it.
"We'll come to pick you up in the morning." Maeil said as he and Iris left on the platform.
"Nova's going to be pissed." Rose said.
"Don't worry about it." Noir replied.
Arend tossed Rose a tightly bundled blanket. "Sorry, but we don't have enough pillows. Noir and Night took ours. Be careful with that, my wife made it."
Corenden called over. Corenden and Arend were left with nothing but Arend' emptied duffle bag to sleep in. They planned to sleep together with Iode blocking the wind.
"Perfect!" Noir exclaimed. "All three of us can be warm and comfortable!" She beamed down at her masterpiece. "You know, it would be a lot more comfortable if you joined us." Noir said with a glance to Arend.
Arend shrugged. "Tell that to Kronth when you meet her. Someday."
"Who's ready for a party?!" Flake asked as he pulled out a bottle of Sereph liquor and lots of snacks.
The group gathered around in a tight circle. Blankets bl
ocked the fierce wind with the help of those with fur and wings, but mostly Iode. He sat to the center of the wind side of the circle, Rose sitting red faced against him in Arend' blanket. Arend sat nearby, with Corenden in his lap and Noir leaning against him with a wing around him. The others were scattered to their discretion.
"So Arend, where to once you get your friend?" Night asked.
"I don't know. I'm assuming somewhere farther south. Unless Richard says otherwise." Arend replied.
"And you big guy?" Noir asked as she stretched over Arend to poke Iode's arm.
"Where he goes I guess. My time here has given me a lot to think about. I may look around for somewhere where my skills would be useful." Iode replied.
"Then you'll eventually leave us for you own travels?" Michael said.
"Of course he will. You'll end up doing the same." Arend said.
"Sometimes I wonder just how it'll end." Corenden said.
"That's not important right now. Ya'll are going to be together fo' a long time." Noir was already flushed from the alcohol.
"It would be great if I could come with you." Flake said. "It gets really boring up here."
Night shrugged, nudging him. "What can you do?"
"For one, take this away." Rose said as she snatched the half empty bottle from Noir.
"Gimmie!" Noir exclaimed as she lunged after the bottle, knocking Arend over and landing on top of him.
"How strong is that?" Iode asked, watching Arend struggled against the drunk Noir.
Rose chugged a bit. "Strong enough. *hic*" She hiccupped and Arend took the bottle next, shoving Noir off him. He lifted the crumpled Corenden and shoved it into his hand.
"Aren't you going to drink any?" Noir asked, now laying flat in the middle of the circle.
"He can't get drunk." Rose said before Arend could.
"Anti-poison Bezoar?" Michael asked.
"I guess." Arend replied. "I haven't really been able to find a reason myself."
"It would make sense. Pendragons normally don't have immunity to poisons." Rose said.
They stayed up half the night talking. Since the Serephs didn't have much knowledge about the world, Arend, Corenden, Michael, and Iode did most of the talking. One by one, they all began to fall asleep. Noir was out first, joined by Night and then Flake. Michael retired an hour later. Arend and Corenden left Iode and Rose alone shortly after.
"So Iode, what are you looking for in a wife?" Rose asked, leaning drunkenly against him. "Someone who can be a great mother. And isn't afraid of having lots of children." Iode replied.
Rose laughed. "Quick to the point aren't you?"
Iode shrugged. "That pretty much sums it up though. She doesn't have to be smart or talented or strong. She just has to be kind. That's all I need." Iode replied. Rose let out a snore.
Iode glanced down. Rose was fast asleep, snug between Iode's arm and his side. He picked her up, setting her gently between Noir and Night. He joined Arend and Corenden behind the wind shield.
[X]
Maeil and Iris came just as the sun began to rise. Arend was the first one up. "Alright everyone! Time to get up!" He called out.
He was knocked backwards over a wind shield by a barrage of pillows. "Shut up you moron!" Iode grumbled as he sat up.
"We don't have time to argue like this." Maeil said. "Hurry up and pack everything up."
Arend was the only one not suffering from a hangover. Noir vomited over the ledge multiple times. "Why did you guys let me drink so much?" She asked as she spat the lingering bile from her mouth.
"It's not like we could stop you. Arend was lucky that you didn't try to remove his pants with the way you were hanging off him." Night replied.
"C'mon c'mon. You guys got in enough trouble with your stunt yesterday. I'd hate to think what would happen if you were late for role call." Iris said.
Flake, Arend, and Michael dislodged the wind shields and packed them up, save for one. Night and Corenden fished up by collecting the bed rolls and blankets. They left a blanket and pillow for Rose behind the wind shield. Rose and Iode stayed behind as the others piled into the platform and left.
The two of them sat at the ledge and let their feet dangle off. "Are you sure it'll be okay if you stay up here?" Rose asked.
Iode nodded. "Most of my work was in blueprints and what materials to use. I'm sure they can handle following them without a problem."
"It's not like you could do anything with that hangover." Rose said.
"If I remember correctly, you drank more than I did." Iode countered.
Rose chuckled. "You've also got at least two hundred pounds on me as well."
They watched the sun rise over the mountains in the distance. "You know Rose, leaving this place is going to be difficult for me." Iode said.
"Do you like how peaceful it can be?" Rose asked.
"That's not what I mean." Iode replied.
"I know." Rose said as she leaned against him. "I feel the same way." Iode wrapped his arm around her. He noticed the ribbon oh her wing.
"So what's the story behind that? I know you couldn't have bought it back on the islands." Iode asked.
Rose took off Arend' ribbon. "Arend gave it to me. He said it's meant for those who are looking for something." Rose stared down at the ribbon in her hand. "In the past, I've felt this way to a man who betray me. For the longest time I couldn't trust in someone's love. There have been others, who spoke of whisking me away from here, but they always ran when faced with Nova, but I know you're different. I know you love me just as much as I love you. I'm not afraid anymore."
Rose held out the ribbon to the wind. Iode grabbed her hand gently. "Don't. You may have found what you're looking for, but we still haven't made it all the way. We could use the extra bit of luck. You know we can't stay here." Iode said.
Rose put the ribbon in Iode's hand. "Then let's see how far that luck stretches." Rose said before kissing Iode's cheek.
[X]
"You're still working on that?" Corenden asked Arend.
They were back at the picnic table in the Rec. Tower. The sun was high above, but the daily meeting was still a few hours away. Arend was bent over the Dragon Drive, the blade and Drive separated so he could fine tune the mechanics after the damage the near crash did to it a few days prior.
"The Korvan are working fine, and the system has reached a usable synchronization, but I still need to fix a few things to fit the Drive proper." Arend replied.
Flake and Night were nowhere to be seen. Arend, Corenden, and Michael were the only ones in the tower.
"Where is everyone?" Michael asked. "It's too soon for the meeting." Michael said as he looked up.
A voice swept across the tower at great volume. "CRIOS!" Noir was rocketing towards them; half dressed in her armor, skipping along the ground using her wings as a boost.
She dug her toes into the grass and dirt to stop. "What?" Arend asked with a sideways glance.
"Iode and Rose are being tried to be de-winged. A group of Serephs overheard them confessing their love." Noir said hastily, eyes wide and chest swelling with each breath.
"Shit." Michael cursed as he jumped to his feet.
"How long?" Corenden asked, face now serious.
Noir blinked. Corenden turned around. Arend was working as usual, face unchanged.
"Arend?" Noir said.
"What the hell man!? Get up!" Michael exclaimed as he slammed his hands down on the table. Arend continued to work silently.
"Michael, forget about him. We can handle this." Corenden growled.
They started off at full speed, quickly crossing halfway across the tower. The primal growl of an engine shook the air. Corenden stopped and glanced back. Arend was standing by the table with the fully assembled Dragon Drive Mark II. While on the inside it was spinning rapidly, the ring of Korvan was spinning much slower in comparison.
"We should move." Corenden said as he turned pale.
"What?" Michael said.
&n
bsp; Corenden tackled him and Noir to the ground. A figure cloaked in red landed where they were. Arend was burning at full power. More red Orenth surrounded him than King had in his wings.
"Let's go." Was all he said as he started to run, the Dragon Drive only in one hand.
A wall of black armored Serephs blocked the doors to the Inner Sanctum. "You are forbidden from entering." One of them said.