by J M Bannon
Prior to the development of the Nexus gates, the Brotherhood used airships to transport the soul magnet from where they collected life-force to the energy process location. On a return trip from America aboard the Zeus Colonial, an accident occurred. He assumed the device misfired. To make matters worse, the craft veered off course and ended up in the custody of the British. Once the Brotherhood of the One realized that the device was on the ship, Caiaphas used his influence to remove the ship from the hands of the British. On its transit back to its home port in Greece, the vacuum was retrieved and sent to Allard's original workshop at the Monastery. Back in his control, Henri understood the bounty of human life force the device had captured from the accident.
"Henri you have surpassed your master," said Caiaphas as he led Allard through the gate into the secret laboratory. They now stood just inside the lab between the two soul corrals. "You have proven with your homunculus, you can create an artificial life that is sustainable. We are ready for the next phase and to learn how we will expand your operations. Soon, Henri, you will need to say goodbye to your Necronist brothers and work full time on our next steps taking a broader approach to your creations."
Caiaphas led Henri past the rejuvenation chambers, the cooler and the homunculus pens to a door. The door had always been locked, Henri checked it from time to time to see if it would provide a clue to the location he was transported to by the Brotherhoods portals. Caiaphas opened the door led to a stone staircase that spiraled up. As the two men shuffled up the steps, the sounds of machinery and belts permeated the walls. He was hit with an overpowering smell, a mix of dung and offal with a touch of burnt hair some distance up the stairway. Perhaps three stories up Henri could hear the loud clatter of machines and voices. Caiaphas opened the doors to step out on to a mechanized slaughterhouse.
"Henri, I am a patron of the industrial age. You have succeeded in the laboratory and now it is time to repeat your success and create thousands of your homunculus," the Doctor encouraged.
"May I ask why?"
The elderly man smirked, “An army, why else?" He paused letting it sink in for Allard.
"I require an army to defend against our foes and I will send the artificial to fight."
"But they are not artificial the way we are keeping the Homunculus alive is by mixing human and animal life force together. Humans die to make the creatures."
"Henri, you are right, and that is why in this next chapter while we endeavor to develop this factory to produce the homunculus, you will be required to use your genius to get the soul vacuum to capture the spirit of the dying. While it was unfortunate, that our accident took the lives of those passengers, the necessity of human life energy to stabilize the homunculus is imperative. It occurred to me that there might be a better way to harvest that life force. Every day thousands die from natural causes, disease, war, etc. and if we were to snatch the soul energy just as they left, say at hospitals or the battlefield…" offered Dr. Caiaphas.
Capturing the souls of those who had just died, sat better with Henri, but the real issue was he had never been honest with Caiaphas. He could operate Hume's technology but did not understand how it worked.
"Doctor, it is urgent that we retrieve the existing siphon, there are components that I must... re-evaluate and reuse or we will lose months to re-engineering," said Allard.
The old man stared at Henri, his hollow eyes boring into him from under his hairless brow. The longer the air was silent the more Allard worried that Caiaphas knew he was a fraud, not a metaphysical innovator.
"Henri, I trust you will deliver a device that can draw the power of the dying just as you delivered on the breakthrough of the homunculus. A member of the Brotherhood, has been working on the mass production of your creatures and what you see here is the result. All we need is for you to deliver the device to gather the life force of the dying and we will be able to create an endless horde,”
7:50 a.m. London Aerodrome
“Would you mind sharing the circumstances of the previous First Mate’s departure?”
This was Reidun’s second interview with Miss Amelia Macbeth who had served for several year’s under Captain Kubesh. Her letter of recommendation from the Captain was glowing and Reidun’s Father always had good things to say about Kubesh. She had experience on traditional airships and the newer LQ gas ships, more than Reidun, but Reidun wouldn’t admit that. Reidun liked Amelia’s experience and wanted to help another young woman making a go of it in the airship business, but this could be the end of the interview right now. The pain of Lukas’ demise still was at the surface and learning that your predecessor was killed in the line of duty was never something that went on the recruiting poster.
Here we go.
“He was shot on the bridge of my previous ship by Prussian soldiers that attacked the ship,” Reidun stated as a matter of fact.
There was a pause.
“That’s a shame. Let me say while I will bear arms, although I think guns are loud and sloppy. I am well versed in the sword and have had an occasion to use my rapier to defend against boarding actions. The freight runs we were doing from Singapore to Jakarta had us cross paths with Malay and Indonesian Pirates,” offered Amelia.
A rhythmic rapping came from the doorjamb outside the stateroom. “Captain, I’m back.”
Reidun Falk, the Captain of the Peregrine glanced up from her desk to see the young man waiting to enter. “Come in, Tommy, how is everything progressing over at Rose’s?”
“Good, I have been working on a new project together with a Mechanist savant named Fletcher. We had substantial progress actuating a mechanical arm using electrical signaling,” replied the young boiler room assistant with excitement.
“Have you returned to retrieve supplies? You still have liberty for a few more days,” The Captain asked to get a feel for her crew’s movements.
“Well, that’s the thing Captain. I have a letter here from Rose for you,” Tommy passed the letter to Reidun. She searched her desk for her letter opener finding it under a pile of invoices and slit open the cream-colored envelope.
Dear Reidun,
It appears the expertise of my superior, Detective Williamson, and myself are required in America. Specifically, a small town in the Colorado Territory to assist the local law with an investigation. I write to enquire if you are prepared to provide transport for us on this trip. The voyage is on request of the United States State Department with full authority of Her Majesty in my official capacity as a Constable of the Metropolitan Police. Having your extensive experience navigating the western part of America would be an asset to the expedition and a comfort to me. Your services will be compensated per the daily rate.
Dr. Lorelei Traube will be joining Detective Williamson and I. Lorelei and I are keen to see the new airship and enjoy all the amenities. If the ship is ready, we would look to depart at your earliest convenience. If you cannot accommodate us, please let me know so we can arrange other transport.
Yours,
Rose Caldwell
Reidun leaned back in her chair. “Did Rose share this with you?” asked the Captain looking at Tommy.
"Yes, she did. She wanted to just wire you last night but when she had the idea of taking the Peregrine to the States, I said to let me deliver the news. I came straight away with the letter as I am sure you are as interested as I am to get back and show off the new ship," said the teen.
“Go check with Jules on the status of the engine room and how quickly we can depart. I wish I had more time to get the crew filled out and properly trained,” mused Reidun.
“I’ll let him know,” and Tommy was off in a flash to report to his boss they would return to the United States.
“Have you ever been to America, Miss Macbeth?”
“Amelia please, I have not, but it is on my list to visit,” the young woman offered.
“Reidun reached in her desk and pulled out some papers. If you have that contract signed and are back here by the time
we leave you have the job and you’ll get to see America sooner then you expected,”
Amelia looked over the papers, “Do you have a pen?”
Reidun turned her pen stand with its quills and inkwell towards Amelia. The woman signed the papers and handed them back to the Captain, “Everything I need is on me or in my bag here,”
Reidun looked to see the well worn carpet bag near the door of her office, “Well let’s show you your state room,” the Captain got up and grabbed Amelia’s bag, “Your room is across the hall from mine.” Reidun opened the cabin and ushered in her new first mate.
“This cabin is bigger than Captain Kubesh’s,” said the wide eyed Amelia as she tucked her chestnut locks behind her ear.
Well, I doubt you’ll see much of it once we are on our way. We are flying the White Witch of London to adventure in America, so get unpacked and then come see me so I can show you around.
Reidun walked back into her sizable state room she now enjoyed. The space was twice the size of her state room on the original Peregrine, now she had a separate office attached to living quarters with her own lavatory.
Barron von Traube, Lorelei’s father was so overjoyed at the return of his daughter, combined with Reidun’s anger with Lorelei for the danger she put them in, that the Barron didn’t just fix the Peregrine. He built Sky Captain Falk a brand-new ship.
It would have been far more economical to refit her old gasbag with some new engines, but the Peregrine had lost more than just some of its parts in the group’s last adventure, the ship had lost its first mate. Not that a new ship would make up for the death of Lukas. It was a gesture that the Traube’s could make to show their gratitude to the Captain for the sacrifice her crew made to rescue Lorelei. On top of the large gift Baron von Traube made to the Captain his daughter Lorelei also contributed to the project to build Reidun’s dream ship. Rose asked Reidun if she would be interested in designing special features on the airship for future adventures with her. Reidun’s acceptance resulted in Rose also investing in the ship, providing funds to fit out the craft with a laboratory and other rooms.
The new Peregrine was the latest design and built at Lloyd and Sons, the most advanced shipyard in the world, the same one where the HMS Victoria had been built. The Peregrine also shared the same infrastructure as the Victoria using Luminiferous Quintessence for flotation within an Envenrude L. Pruflek’s vapor compression ballast system. The ship was now at a private berthing pylon at the London Aerodrome and was taking on supplies and completing the crew. Reidun was still getting accustomed to flying a ship six times the size of the original Peregrine, along with all the advanced mechanical controls, some never seen on an airship before.
Now preparations needed to be made for the ship’s first long-haul voyage overseas. Transatlantic airship travel was more dangerous than people perceived. Winds over the North Atlantic could be wicked, and if a ship were to go down survival was low. Most vessels were not equipped with enough lifeboats. With the Peregrine the runabouts were both air and water worthy, a novel development.
What excited Reidun about the prospect of returning to America was the news circulating of her return. She got up and looked at a letter she had framed on the wall. The letter was from Cornelius Vanderbilt thanking her for her service and acknowledging her achievement in setting the transit record for the Boston to San Francisco mail route. The letter, however, did not acknowledge what had been required of her to receive that chance. In a time when women did not have the right to vote, to witness a woman take any position on an airship let alone the Captain, placed her in the cross hairs of many men who thought it perverse for a woman to assert herself.
Returning to the States as the Captain and partial owner of her airship would be such a satisfaction. Better still, that a majority of the ship’s title was held by women, that being Rose Caldwell and Lorelei Traube, all three faced the disapproval of society; only to push their respective fields further and faster than any man had ever done. While always reserved unless angered, Reidun relished returning to America with a new ship and a company of friends, another glorious sign of her accomplishment.
11
Wednesday the 13th of March
11:30 a.m. Belfort Hotel Belfort France
Lilith had planned for a trip to Belfort today. She asked for Emil as a chaperone, but her father went right to suspicions about what she might be up to with the teenage boy and agreed to let her go with Mademoiselle Levy, her tutor.
Her plan was to take an early lunch at the hotel after a morning of shopping. Lilith and Ms. Levy shared a cassoulet that the hotel was so well known for.
"I know you won't believe me Lilith, but this dish tastes better than anything you could order in Paris. I am sure it's the farm-freshness of the ingredients.”
"I don't doubt you, Mademoiselle, I would just like the chance to find out for myself. If the city is as dangerous as my father makes it out to be then why must he go, there so often?"
"You will learn with time we all end up doing things we don't enjoy. When the time is right, you will marry someday and settle down.”
Lilith dropped her utensils and shot a look at her teacher.
"You will find the right man from a good family and while possibly not be completely satisfied, you will come to understand the trade-offs for having the stability of a family.”
"You didn't marry," challenged Lilith.
"No, I did not. I made choices based on my circumstances and while I enjoy teaching you, a family life would have been more to my liking,” said Levy
"I need to go to the loo," Lilith stood up and walked to the lobby of the hotel where they had fancy indoor plumbing. An old woman was in attendance, cleaning the porcelain and fussing over a room that was already immaculate.
When she came out from the toilet stall the attendant had already turned on the faucets and was mixing the water in the sink to get a good temperature for hand washing. Lilith took extra time washing up with a washing guard looking over her shoulder. The older woman handed her a towel. Lilith dried her hands and returned the towel to the old woman.
"You have beautiful hair… and eyes," the woman said, making eye contact then looking down at a plate on the sink with loose change sitting on it. Lilith foraged in her handbag for a tip. Grasping her change purse, Lilith removed a large roll of Francs. The old lady stared at the bankroll, it was likely a month's wage for her. Lilith scrunched her mouth in dissatisfaction as the towel maid continued giving her sad eyes. Lilith found a coin and dropped it onto the plate.
"Merci,"
Lilith walked out of the bathroom taking care to look for her chaperone. Levy had her back to her, so she made her way out to the cobblestone street then scurried across the street to the train station. She had planned this for weeks, purchasing the ticket for the 12:05 p.m. train to Paris. Lilith double-timed it through the station and on to the platform, she was officially on an adventure and felt aware of everyone as a possible agent looking to report her to her Father. She would ride the train through the afternoon and then check into the Saint George Hotel for the first night of her holiday in Paris.
"Excuse me, Sir, where is my cabin?" The man looked at her then reviewed her ticket. "Follow me, please," offered the conductor. The doors to each cabin opened from the outside so he reached for his key ring and unlocked the cabin. "This is cabin number 12 M Mademoiselle," the conductor held the door for her. "Any bags?" he queried.
Lilith froze. Did he suspect something? She stood there, her mouth agape. "I can carry your bags and put them onto the luggage rack," he pointed to the metal racks over the seat, "I think it is too high for the Mademoiselle,"
She responded, "I have no bags, Merci.”
Lilith took her seat and made herself comfortable. The conductor hovered, looking at Lilith, then her handbag. Ugh, another one with their hand out. Again, she took out the wad of cash and searched for her change purse.
"May I suggest that you give me one of those five-franc not
es and I will give you change? Then I would put the bulk of that cash on my person and not in a handbag. Too easy for some Parisian cutpurse to steal your money," said the conductor.
"Sound advice I am sure, but you treat me as if I have never been to Paris before." Lilith replied.
2:40 p.m. Palazzo Corsini, Rome Italy
Caiaphas walked into the library of Palazzo Corsini his student Gerrard was reading from the Grimore Astraktas in its original Latin.
He looked over the boy's shoulder "Mark your place I have a different lesson for you. You are officially a teenager today and I want to give you a special present," said Caiaphas.
The boy stopped his studies closed the book and turned to his mentor.
"You can ask me any question, just one, but you may ask anything, and I will truthfully answer it," offered the man.
The boy turned and looked at the old hairless man. Caiaphas experienced a strange sensation as the boy stared at him confirming, "You will truthfully answer and fully explain what I ask? No silly riddles, or questions answered with a question?" Said the dark-skinned boy. Caiaphas could sense his frustration and sometimes he pushed the boy by making him find answers on his own.
"You have my promise.”
"I want to know of your true nature,” the boy demanded.
Caiaphas shuddered inside but showed no emotion. The boy's question showed that he was indeed the one he needed, and the boy was learning fast. He could have asked why he couldn't go into the basement, or why he was the only student being trained; one of a myriad of other things that would catch a young teens curiosity, but not Gerrard. It was time.
"I am not of this world, Gerrard. I am older than you can imagine and before I came, I was an explorer. There was an enclave of us and just as you become wiser, more experienced as you learn, the four of us had our minds opened to the true nature of being -through our exploratory pursuits. I am not referring to foreign lands or worlds, but alternate realities. Upon our return from our travels, my companions and I made exhaustive efforts to help our fellows understand that what they thought was true was only partially so. What we showed them from our explorations brought fear and challenged what they had built our society on, the leadership told us we could no longer take these voyages and risk damaging their way of life.