Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic

by Armand Baltazar

  “It’s not your fault,” Siobhan said gently from across the table.

  Diego glanced up. He’d barely been able to look at her since he’d been brought home. She offered him a supportive smile, but her eyes were red, her face tight with worry.

  Tears sprang from his eyes again. He couldn’t hold them back. “I wanted to stop them, but I didn’t know what to do.”

  “There was nothing you could have done,” Siobhan said. She reached out and rubbed his hand. “You’d be no match for Magnus and his warriors. Few people are. And you were doing what Dad wanted. He would never have forgiven himself if you were captured, too.”

  Diego nodded. He knew this. But it didn’t make him feel any better. “I just . . . I wish there had been something . . . some way I could have used the Maker’s Sight. Anything.”

  “So . . . Santiago was right after all,” Siobhan said. “You have the Maker’s Sight.”

  “Yeah.” Diego shifted in his chair. “And I know it needs to be kept secret. I just . . .”

  “What is it, honey?”

  “Nothing.”

  Siobhan rubbed his hand again. “All that matters is that you’re safe. Now eat up and then get some rest.”

  She stood and took her sidearm holster from the counter and slung it over her shoulder. He’d seen her wear it to military functions, but she’d never had it out around the house. “I’m going to check with the guards.” She headed for the front door. Two marines were stationed outside.

  Diego shuffled through his nighttime routines, then lay in bed, staring at the curved inside wall and wondering how he would ever sleep. His mind replayed the attack. He could hear the explosions, feel the station rattling, smell the smoke.

  Siobhan came in a few minutes later and sat on the edge of his bed.

  “Any news?” Diego asked.

  “No,” Siobhan said. “There won’t be until morning. Magistrate Huston has called a meeting first thing tomorrow at Union Station. We’ll know more then. Now, try to sleep.” She kissed his forehead.

  “Mom . . . ,” Diego said cautiously. There was a question he’d been yearning to ask. “Those Aeternum . . . Magnus, Balthus—Dad knew them. They talked to him like they were old friends.”

  Mom’s lips pursed. “Not friends, exactly. But yes, your father worked with them in the past, before they were the Aeternum. It was during the Dark Years. He doesn’t like to talk about it, and he’s never told me very much, but I do know this: when your father met Magnus, he was a great warrior, and he helped the allies turn the tide and end the fighting in the Chronos War. But after that . . . he changed.”

  “What made him evil?”

  Siobhan looked away. “Your father never told me exactly.”

  Diego wanted to ask more, but Siobhan stood up. “I love you, honey. Go to sleep.”

  “Mom?” Diego asked anyway. “Are you okay?”

  Siobhan paused halfway to the door. “Not at all.”

  Diego thought he might be awake all night. He’d woken up this morning with his thoughts only on his birthday—no, that wasn’t true. There had been the dream. His world falling apart . . . and now it had.

  The great hall at Union Station was packed to capacity. All schools and nonessential services had been shut down in the wake of the attack. People crowded the doorways, perched on the bases of the columns, and sat on the sills of the tall windows to get a better view. The room was dimly lit with gas lamps, and everyone buzzed with frantic, nervous conversation.

  Diego sat among the Mid Timers on the benches along the center floor of the hall. Siobhan sat on one side of him, Petey on the other.

  Across the aisle, Diego spotted Lucy among the Steam Timers. She wore an austere black dress with a white collar, a black choker, and high-laced black boots. Her hair was pulled back into a tight braid, her face shaded by a short-brimmed hat. Despite its shadow, Diego could see the dark circles around her eyes. Lucy’s mother, Margaret Emerson, sat next to her in similar dress, her stony expression betraying nothing.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s begin.” Conversation hushed, and all eyes found Magistrate Huston. He loomed over the crowd, with powerful shoulders and a stern gaze, wearing the customary Elders clothing. When he spoke, no one dared turn away.

  “Here are the facts,” he said. “By now you’ve all heard about yesterday’s attack on the Arlington plant. We can confirm that an Aeternum assault force carried out this assault, but unlike prior aggressions, this time we believe that attacking the city was not their objective. Their goal was to capture a dozen of our best engineers, for reasons we have yet to determine. Hundreds of lives were lost in the raid, and hundreds more were wounded.

  “While emergency crews and mechanized construction bots work around the clock to restore Arlington, the assault has left the city nearly without power. In the meantime, all pressurized propulsion and natural gas systems are now running from emergency boiler hubs around the city. We will have water running again later this evening and hope to have lights, heat, and limited steam power sometime tomorrow. But more importantly, we are fortifying our defenses against future attacks. For these reasons, the council has decided that we will not be launching a rescue operation at this time.”

  “What?” Diego exclaimed. The crowd exploded into accusatory shouts.

  “That’s gotta be wrong,” Petey said.

  Diego clenched his jaw and gripped the bench on either side of him, his fingernails nearly gouging the wood. He glanced over and saw that Lucy had her face in her hands, her shoulders hitching like she was sobbing. Meanwhile, a boy who looked like a cross between her and Georgie had leaped to his feet beside her and was shaking an angry fist at the magistrate.

  “Believe me, people, as a former military commander of our armed forces, it would not have been my decision,” Huston said against the uproar. “But there is wisdom in remaining calm and choosing patience before military action. We need to protect the city first.”

  Some in the crowd still jeered, but a new chorus of support emerged.

  “We must rebuild and work toward bringing the city back to normal. Again, all city and civilian resources will work with your districts—Old Chicago, Mid-city, and Elders’ town—to get power, water, and supply lines up and running. Until further notice, only essential services and businesses will operate, and we ask that any nonessential canal travel at night be avoided until lights and traffic systems can be restored. Please, work with us toward this end, not against us. Thank you. This meeting is adjourned, but I would like all families of the captives to join me for a private briefing.”

  Huston left the stage to some shouts of support, yet anger and confusion still stalked the fringes of the crowd in anxious whispers.

  Siobhan stood, sighing and shaking her head.

  “It’s wrong, Mom,” Diego said.

  “Let’s go talk to the magistrate,” Siobhan said.

  The crowd filed out, murmuring and grumbling to one another. Diego, Petey, and Siobhan made their way up to the front of the hall, where they gathered with the other families around the magistrate. There were forty or so standing silent as the hall emptied.

  When the last footsteps had echoed away, Huston spoke. “Thank you for staying—”

  “Magistrate,” Siobhan interrupted.

  “Yes, Captain Ribera?”

  “Sir,” she said, her voice firm, “I understand the need to keep our defenses close, but we must meet their aggression with force and take back our people!”

  “What do you propose, Captain?”

  “Let me lead a rescue team,” she said. Others murmured their approval. “Give me Skywolf, and one fast-attack boat of commandos and sharpshooters, and I’ll get them back.”

  “Siobhan,” Huston said, “I’m afraid that’s not feasible. You and our best soldiers are needed here. The council has reappointed me as commander of all New Chicago city and territorial defense forces. All military personnel are being reinstated to active duty as of this moment, to d
efend the city. The decision has been made not to engage the Aeternum until we are back at full strength. It’s simply too risky.”

  “But—”

  “The answer’s no, Captain,” Huston said. “And that’s an order. Are we clear?”

  Siobhan stood at attention. “Yes, sir.”

  “What have you learned about the hostages?” Lucy’s mother asked, her voice thick with worry.

  “I’m afraid we have no new information about them,” Huston said.

  “How can you do this?” an older woman asked. “Just leaving our loved ones in the hands of the enemy?”

  “It’s more complicated than that,” Huston said. “Listen, everyone: we’ve gathered credible intelligence that Aeternum agents have infiltrated the city, with orders to kidnap the family members of the engineers they’re holding prisoner.”

  “But why us?” Lucy said.

  “To use you as leverage,” Huston said, “in case the captive engineers refuse to follow Magnus’s commands. We’re placing you all in protective custody immediately. You will be escorted home to gather essential belongings and then brought to the air corps base at Meigs Field, where we can keep you safe. Police boats are waiting outside. You’ll need to go immediately.”

  The crowd started toward the door. Siobhan didn’t move at first, and Diego held back when he saw Huston coming over.

  Huston put a hand on Siobhan’s shoulder. “If it had been up to me,” he said, “I would have let you go.”

  “I know,” Siobhan said.

  The families filed out, no one speaking other than in a stray whisper. Diego saw the scowl on his mom’s face, and he felt the same.

  Petey was waiting for him outside the doors. “How you holding up?” he asked.

  “Bad. They’re putting us in protective custody. So I guess you’d better not hang around me.”

  Petey smiled. “But hanging around you is where all the action is.”

  They stepped out into the fading glow of sunset on the front steps of Union Station.

  “It’ll be okay,” Petey said, patting Diego’s shoulder.

  “No, it won’t,” Lucy said, appearing beside them. “Nothing’s going to be okay. We’ll never see our fathers again.”

  “You don’t know that!” Diego snapped.

  Lucy bit her lip. “Sure feels like it.”

  “Lucy,” her mother said. “What’s going on? Do you know these boys?”

  Lucy’s eyes dropped to the ground. “No, Mother, of course not.”

  “You—” Diego began, but he understood when Mrs. Emerson’s disapproving gaze traced over him. Lucy had said that her parents weren’t True Believers, but clearly they ascribed to some of the discrimination that was common among people from the Steam era.

  “Siobhan!” Diego saw Officer Leahy waving to them from one of the boats tied at the base of the stairs. “You and the Emersons can come with me.”

  Siobhan glanced at Margaret. “I’m Siobhan Quinlan-Ribera,” she said, extending her hand.

  “I am aware of who you are,” Margaret said, her hands remaining clasped in front of her. “It was . . . noble of you to suggest a rescue mission, if a bit improper.”

  Siobhan lowered her hand. “Not to me it isn’t.”

  Margaret nodded. “These are my other children: Lucy and Archie.”

  “How do you do, ma’am,” Archie said flatly, but still doffing his cap.

  “It’s an honor to make your acquaintance, Captain Quinlan,” Lucy said. “I mean, Quinlan-Ribera, I—” Her face reddened.

  “You can call me Siobhan.”

  “Lucy, compose yourself,” Margaret said. “And you’ll address her properly, as your manners dictate.”

  “Yes, Mother,” Lucy said.

  “So, will it be all right for the Emersons and Riberas to ride together?” Siobhan asked. “We do have much in common at this moment.”

  Margaret’s lips pursed, but she nodded. “That will be fine.”

  Diego saw that Lucy was still gazing at Siobhan like she might say more, but then Margaret nudged her in the back.

  “Let’s move along then,” she said, and they all started down the steps.

  “Lucy!” a voice called as they reached the dock. Diego saw Paige rushing over, skateboard under her arm.

  “Hey,” Lucy said, a relieved smile lighting her face as Paige hugged her with her free arm. “I’m so glad to see you.” Tears sprang from her eyes.

  “Lucy,” Margaret scolded. “Hello, Miss Jordan.”

  “Ma’am, I’m sorry to hear about Mr. Emerson and your son,” Paige said.

  “Thank you, my dear.” Margaret gave a faint smile.

  “Mother,” Lucy said, “would it be all right if Paige came with us? She was going to ride back with her cousin, but we could drop her off on the way. Please? With everything that’s happened, it would mean the world to me to have her company right now.”

  “That’s all right with me. Is it all right with you, Officer?” Margaret asked. Diego wondered why Margaret’s cold vibe didn’t extend to Paige.

  “It’s fine,” Officer Leahy said. “Kowalski, you’re riding with us, too. Diego could use a friend along, and I already cleared it with your folks.”

  Engines roared, and the armed escort boats that would lead the convoy began to pull away from the moorings.

  “Let’s go, everyone,” Officer Leahy said, motioning them into the boats. “We need to keep these formations tight.”

  Diego climbed into the back of the boat, sitting between Siobhan and Petey. Lucy ended up across from him. She and Paige spoke quietly to each other.

  The boat churned up the canal.

  “People were saying the Aeternum kidnapped those engineers to help run their conquered cities,” Petey said over the roar of the boat engine. “But then I heard a guy earlier today saying that it was to build their own geothermal station at some secret location.”

  “Huh,” Diego said. He stared into the shimmering spray of water arcing off the back of the boat.

  “Hello?” Petey said. “Earth to Diego.”

  “Sorry,” Diego said. “Just thinking about Dad. And these undercover agents.” He glanced at the sides of the canal. “They could be anywhere.”

  Someone tapped his shoulder. Diego turned to see Siobhan standing up. “Leahy wants me up at the wheelhouse,” she said. She leaned into the stiff wind and made her way around to the cockpit of the boat.

  “Okay.” Diego kept a wary eye on the walkways around them. The boat passed in and out of the crisscrossing shadow of an Elder maglev train overhead. They wove around a Chinese dumpling house resting on pontoons and barrels, veering close to the floating sidewalks. Their police escort was causing bystanders to turn their heads.

  “We’re not exactly sneaking through town like this,” Petey said.

  Raised voices caught Diego’s attention over the wind. He turned toward the bow. Siobhan and Leahy seemed to be arguing. Diego craned over the seat, trying to hear better—

  Something tore through the air with a searing crack. Diego glimpsed a flash in the corner of his eye before being knocked down by the blast.

  “Get down!” Siobhan yelled.

  The boat was tossed violently, everyone falling into one another. Leahy spun the boat, throwing them again.

  More pops. Splintering cracks. Diego scrambled up from the floor of the boat, trying to get his bearings and afraid to lift his head. The gunfire seemed to be coming from everywhere.

  Leahy shouted over the barrage. “I think there’s just one—”

  Crack! Snip snip! More bullets strafed the side of the boat. They pitched right, nearly capsized, and slammed off a parked barge. Metal whined, wood splintered, the hulls momentarily fusing together . . . then their boat lurched free.

  “Diego!” He popped up to see Siobhan shouting to him. She held Officer Leahy in her arms. He was slumped over, blood spreading across the back of his coat. “Get up here!”

  Diego dropped to his elbows
and knees and made his way to the cockpit, his heart pounding.

  “Take the wheel!” Siobhan said. She dropped to her knee and peered back at the pursuing skiff. “Keep our speed up!”

  “Got it.” Diego jammed down the throttle.

  “Do you have any weapons?” Siobhan asked Leahy.

  He only moaned but managed to point toward a locker in the floor.

  Siobhan grabbed the keys from his belt, fumbling with them before finding the right one and opening the locker. Diego saw a flare gun, a loaded service pistol like Siobhan’s, and two World War II–era hand grenades. She slipped the extra gun and one of the grenades into her jacket, cocked her pistol, and grabbed a grenade with her free hand.

  “Can I help up there?” Archie raised his head above the rail, but bullets zipped around him and he ducked quickly.

  “Stay down back there!” Siobhan shouted. “Diego, I need your help.” Diego nodded.

  Siobhan checked the position of the enemy boat, then ducked back down. “I want you to slow down, let them get close.”

  “But, Mom—”

  “Diego! Trust me. We can’t outrun that skiff. We have to take them out.”

  “Okay.” Diego eased off the throttle.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” Paige shouted from the back. “Don’t slow down! They’re going to waste us!”

  Siobhan watched over the side. “Now, when I say . . . turn hard right.”

  Diego gripped the wheel. The skiff was gaining fast. Almost beside them. Bullets zinged past Diego’s head.

  Siobhan held the gun close to her nose. “Blood to bones be true,” she said quietly.

  “What?” Diego shouted.

  Siobhan didn’t answer. She checked behind them. “Wait.”

  The skiff churned closer. Diego heard their pursuers calling to one another, laughing at their victory.

  “Wait . . .”

  Diego heard Lucy scream as the faces of their attackers appeared over the side of the boat.

  “Now!”

  “Full throttle!” Siobhan shouted as she dropped back down.

  As they roared away from the explosion, the shock wave pitched the police boat forward, its nose plunging beneath the surface. Diego struggled to keep control. He jammed back on the throttle, and the nose popped free, but then they swerved wildly, nearly broadsiding a paddle wheeler. Diego yanked the wheel the other way, then back again, and finally they steadied. He slammed the throttle to full speed, and they shot down the canal.