by Sam Ryan
“Explosive rounds?” Jezebel cursed.
“They may not be able to penetrate our hull,” Yates informed. “But with explosions like that, they could shake the vessel apart. And if they manage to hit one of our engines…” He let the implication sink in.
“Bring us about,” Jezebel ordered. “Is the crew at their stations yet?”
“Nearly,” Yates said, glancing down at the pocket watch in his hands. “In about ninety more seconds.”
“Once they are, order them to pick their targets and fire at will,” Jezebel ordered, shaking as the hull was struck yet again. “Don’t bother conserving shells, just shoot those gnats out of my sky.”
“Aye, aye.” Yates nodded. He leaned over to the copper tubes in the wall and began issuing the orders to the rest of the ship.
In about half the time Yates predicted the Iron Rose began firing, rocking the ship from the force of each salvo. But unlike the last time they were in an air battle, the Galleys were a much smaller target, and after they fired they would angle themselves so they were not exposing their sides to the Iron Rose, giving them even less of a target to aim at.
Jezebel’s lips curled in frustration as she saw most of their shots miss, some by inches.
“Three ships are bearing down on the bridge,” someone yelled.
“Full stop,” Yates called out.
“Belay that,” Jezebel said. “All stop engines five and six only. Raise our nose 20 degrees.”
There was a long moment as the bow of the Iron Rose slowly began to climb, making them all feel like they were standing on the side of a hill. The cannon fire from the Galleys thudded against the sides of the hull, hitting where the bridge would have been.
“Fine,” Jezebel seethed, gripping the railing tighter. “You want to play that way? Then we will just go where you can’t reach. Seal all outer bulkheads. Take us above the cloud line.”
“You can do that?” Madilyn asked.
“Not for very long,” Jezebel replied, never taking her eyes off the battle going on in front of her. “The air is to thin up there, but we will be able to out distance these fools at least.”
Sophia could see the worried look on Madilyn’s face. Not just about them flying so high but just the feeling of being useless. Sophia could sympathize with that feeling. Despite her age and skills, as well as the general direness of the situation, there was still nothing she could do.
Reaching out, Sophia grabbed Madilyn’s hand. Madilyn turned to look at her and Sophia flashed her the best reassuring smile she could. Madilyn seemed to relax a little, giving Sophia’s hand a squeeze in response and did not let go. And Sophia was fine with that.
The Iron Rose shook again, but there was no explosion this time. It felt more like they had been yanked back down as they tried to rise.
“Reports coming in of tether lines latched onto the side of the hull,” Yates reported.
“Damn it all!” Jezebel cursed. “They knew exactly what we were about to do.”
“Remember who we are fighting,” Allora said, taking a step forward. Out of all of them she seemed the most calm. Her hands clasped elegantly in front of her as she stepped forward. “We are not fighting a normal army with standard tactics. We are fighting Stella. And she knows everything there is to know about us and she wields that weapon very effectively. But remember that we have our own unique weapons, and hers is a double edged one.”
For the first time a smile came to Jezebel’s lips. Suddenly all the worry and frustration lifted off her shoulders and she stood tall once again, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Commander Yates, order Clementine to head down to the hanger and launch the Rabbit immediately.”
Yates frowned, not understanding the orders but he did not protest as he began talking into the brass tubes.
“Elena.” Jezebel turned her hips so she was facing the woman. “Go cut us loose from those ships. Use the Rabbit as your magic carpet.”
Elena nodded her head and began moving to the ladder on the back wall that lead up to the observation deck.
“What is she going to do?” the Representative asked as he watched her opened the hatch, then lift herself up to the next deck.
“What she does best,” Jezebel said. Her smile turning into a grin. “Now then. They think they can hold us in place, I say let them try. Bring us about, 180 degrees. All ahead full.”
“Aye,” Yates said, sharing in his mother’s smile.
“Everyone, you might want to hold onto something,” Jezebel said, keeping her arms crossed. There was a sudden lurch as the Iron Rose began spinning in place. Sophia fell forward, grabbing onto the railing to steady herself, Madilyn falling next to her.
The knights reached out and grabbed their charges, keeping them steady as the ship turned.
Only Jezebel seemed unphased by the motion, standing glued in place with her arms crossed, a devious grin on her face.
The sudden turn of the ship yanked the Galleys tethered to the Iron Rose out of position, giving the cannon crew their first clear shot at the side of the vessels. There were several loud explosions as the shells struck and blew apart the airships. They lurched again as the vessels that were attached to the hull of the Iron Rose began falling, pulling them down as well.
There was a thudding sound from above them as Elena ran down the outside of the bridge window, her sword drawn at her side.
“She is going to get herself killed,” his Majesty gasped.
“Unlikely,” Jezebel assured.
Sophia turned and looked out the viewport as Elena leapt off and landed on the chain that was latched onto the side of the hull. She perfectly balanced herself on the chain as she ran across it to the Galley it was tethered to. There were several smaller flashes as the soldiers began firing at her, but they either missed or she ignored the wounds they inflicted as she leapt onto the deck.
“Commander Yates,” Jezebel said, glaring at her first officer. “Where is my singing? You know how much I like to hear singing when we crush our enemies beneath out heel.”
“Forgive me captain.” Yates nodded. He turned and gripped the railing tightly as he took a deep breath. “What’s wrong with you maggots? You are not men,” Yates cried. “You are not women. You are an unstoppable force. And we will be reckoned with!”
There was a sudden rhythmic thudding as the people on the bridge began stamping their feet.
“Abandon hope
The Iron Rose
Comes forth to claim her prize.”
The crew began singing in unison, syncing their movements to the beat of their song.
The Iron Rose lurched yet again as one of the weights holding it down was severed.
“Captain.” Yates turned away from the brass tubes. “We have reports of boarding parties breaching the hull.”
“Understood.” Jezebel nodded. “Tell the men not to engage and report enemy positions.” She turned and looked to Sophia and the others. “You three.” She reached down and unhooked her cutlass from her belt and tossed it to Madilyn who caught it with one hand. “Time to pull your own weight. Show them that they are not welcome aboard my vessel.”
“You got it Captain.” Sophia smiled, grabbing her cane and using it to salute Jezebel. She reached out and tapped Madilyn and Tara on the shoulders as she ran for the door.
“Should I really be coming with you?” Madilyn asked as they ran down the corridor of the ship, hooking the cutlass to her belt as they ran.
“Is Knighty saying she can’t handle it?” Tara asked, bringing up the rear.
“No,” Madilyn rolled her eyes. “But I don’t want to be getting in your way either.”
“You’ll be fine,” Sophia assured. “Tara will do her best to draw their fire but you will need to protect me.”
“Protect you?” Madilyn frowned.
“Even us Immortals need protection every once and awhile.” Sophia looked back behind her, flashing Madilyn a smile.
“In front of you,” Tara called
out in warning.
There were a squad of soldiers standing further down the corridor heading towards them. The soldiers were in the same full armored outfits that they had been in back in New Dentin, gas masks and all.
“I got this,” Tara said, pressing her middle finger and her thumb together as she extended her arm.
“Not aboard our own ship,” Sophia scolded, holding up her cane and focused her energy into the glass handle.
“Fine,” Tara said, lowering her hand. Reaching behind her back, she drew out two small curved daggers, twirling them in her hands.
The soldiers began firing and Sophia released her built up energy, the shots stopping as they hit an invisible magic wall that she had placed in front of them.
“Magic user,” one of the soldiers called out. “Anti-Magic gas.”
There was a loud hissing sound as smoke began to fill the tight corridor of the airship, hindering any visibility.
“That’s our cue,” Tara said, brushing past Madilyn and darting forward.
Madilyn drew her blade and began to charge behind her. Pushing past the effects of the gas, Sophia enveloped Madilyn’s cutlass with her magic, giving the blade an orange hue.
Tara easily downed the first soldier, sinking both knees into his plated chest and driving her dagger into his throat. Then used his chest as a spring board to launch herself at the next soldier. Madilyn moved around them staying low to the ground and making herself as little of a target as possible. She did not have much room to swing the cutlass but she had enough.
Focusing her energy into the blade, she sliced the shoulder and chest of the soldier in front of her. Her knight’s skill combined with Sophia’s enchantment allowed the blade to slice through the armor with minimal effort.
Madilyn then felt a heavy weight on her back as Tara used her as a spring board, jumped over her diving toward the soldier in front of Madilyn. The soldiers realizing that they were too close for rifles, switched to their short swords which were ideal for these tight spaces.
Turning her body to the side, Madilyn leveled the tip of the cutlass and pointed her toe at the next soldier take her fencing stance and lunged forward. The soldier tried to deflect her blow but Madilyn easily danced her blade around his and jabbed the tip into his throat. Pulling it out, she moved passed him to the next soldier.
Not dissuaded, the remaining soldiers bunched together, forming a wall with their armored bodies. It was Sophia who made the next move. Twirling her cane in her hand, she brushed passed Madilyn and Tara and locked her arm around the sword arm of the middle soldier. Pressing her back into his chest she bent over and launched the man over her shoulder, throwing him onto his back with a loud clang. Tara was already on top of him, stabbing him in the throat with her knives.
Sophia did not stop moving, using the gap she had just made, she slipped herself behind another soldier, reaching under his arms and wrapped her ankles around his, holding him in place. Madilyn lunged forward stabbing him through the heart, not worrying about going too far and stabbing Sophia. She would live after all.
The remaining soldier took a swipe at Madilyn while she withdrew her blade, but Tara was already there, her dagger slicing through his wrist guard as she grabbed onto his arm and coiled her legs around him like a snake. She then struck him in the throat with the heel of her boot. They both fell to the ground, Tara never releasing her grip on the soldier’s arm. Pushing her hips up, there was a loud cracking sound as the soldier’s shoulder popped out of place.
The soldier let out a single cry of pain before Tara brought down her heel onto his throat, crushing his windpipe.
“You alright?” Sophia asked, moving up to Madilyn.
“I’m fine,” Madilyn assured, sheathing the cutlass.
“I’m good too,” Tara said, pushing the body off of her and rising to her feet. “In case you were concerned.”
“I wasn’t,” Sophia said flatly.
“Repeat,” came Yate’s voice from all around them. “Boarding teams are making their way to engine room.” With all the sounds of fighting they must have missed the first time he had said it.
“You heard the man,” Sophia said, taking a deep breath.
They all darted off once again, Sophia taking the lead like before.
The fighting along the way was sparse. Most of the squads falling easily as they were plowed through by the rampaging Immortals and the knight desperately trying to keep up with them.
There was a sudden lurch causing them all to stop and support themselves as the Iron Rose suddenly grew quiet. The soft vibration that could always be felt suddenly gone still. The Magelight around them grew dim before going out altogether.
“What just happened?” Tara asked, looking around frantically, trying to spot a clue.
“We just lost power,” Sophia said.
“That doesn’t sound good,” Tara said. Though there was little actual worry in her voice.
“It’s not, because it means something has happened to the engine room,” Sophia stated. “No power means the Iron Rose can’t stay in the air.”
“Max is in the engine room,” Madilyn said. Her heart rate was starting to race as she began imagining the worst.
“Come on,” Sophia said, beckoning forward. “We’re almost there.”
Sophia took off running, a little faster than she had been before. The Iron Rose would not fall out of the sky immediately as it did not run fully on the Legendary Relic, however it would not stay afloat for very long, especially under battle conditions.
Sophia felt it before she actually saw it. When she turned the corner that lead into the corridor that would take them to the engine room. She felt a slight tingling on the back of her neck. She tried to stop herself but her momentum was too great and she collided into the magical barrier that blocked off the corridor.
“Not bad,” came a voice. The door to the engine room swung open and out came a tall woman with long dark hair, in a Trevelian Officer’s uniform. In her hands she was holding a copper encrusted gem, slightly larger than a fist. “You made it here faster than I thought you would.” She looked up at the three of them standing behind her magic barrier. Her eyes lingering on Tara “I suppose it was too much to hope that you would not meet up with Tara and see through my little ruse.”
“Stella,” Tara cursed, taking an angry step forward. “You impersonated me and then pretended to get captured.” She jabbed an accusatory finger out at the woman. “I will never forgive you for sullying my name like that.”
Stella stood there for a moment, speechless as she blinked her eyes. “As always Tara,” Stella said, her face completely deadpan. “Your priorities are inspired.”
Sophia and Madilyn also glared at Tara.
“What?” Tara shrugged.
“Why are you doing this?” Sophia asked, tearing her focus away from Tara and back to Stella.
“Because I needed this.” Stella held up the Legendary Relic in her hand. “Of course, my original plan was to lure the Iron Rose to a spot of my choosing in the ruins of Albion. But that plan went by the wayside when Knighty there had her little crisis of faith.” She shot a sinister stare at Madilyn that sent a shiver up her spine.
“Ha,” Tara laughed. “You call her that too.” She grinned, pointing at Madilyn. Sophia gave her a stern look. “Sorry,” Tara said, lowering her head. “I’ll be good.”
“So instead, I decided to capitalize on these so called peace talks, knowing that Allora would bring the Iron Rose, and by extension the Legendary Relic,” Stella continued. “All that was left was to set the lure and wait.”
“But why, Stella?” Sophia asked, placing a hand on the barrier. She was trying her best to make it look like a dramatic gesture, but in reality she was probing the barrier, looking for weaknesses so she could dispel it without having to resort to brute force. “Don’t you already have a Legendary Relic? Why do you need the Iron Rose’s?”
“Because I do.” Stella sighed like this was all a chore for
her. “I’ll tell you what. If you can find me before it’s all over, I’ll explain it to you then. Promise.” She released her grip on the Relic with one hand and used her finger to make a cross over her heart.
Sophia knew Stella was getting ready to leave and heeded to stall her a little more. She almost had the barrier down. She just needed to keep here there for a little while longer.
“Without the Relic this ship will crash,” Sophia shouted after her. “You will be killing hundreds of people.”
Stella paused, looking over her shoulder. “And?” The coldness of that one word cut deeper than any long given explanation ever could. Even Tara seemed taken back by it. When had Stella become so jaded? She had always held human life as important. She had never been shy about sacrificing the few to save the many, but it was always for the right reasons. Even if Sophia sometimes disagreed with her means.
“How can you say that?” Sophia gasped, her voice barely a whisper.
Stella did not respond as she started walking down the corridor and out of sight. A few seconds later Sophia was able to drop the barrier and Tara took off past her. She only got about four steps before running headlong into a second barrier.
“That hurt,” Tara cursed, staggering back, holding her hand to her face. “That’s it,” Tara growled, turning to face the invisible wall. “We are doing this my way.” She raised her hand like she had before, pressing her middle finger and thumb together.
“Look out,” Sophia warned, throwing her body over Madilyn to shield her from what was to come.
With a snap of her fingers there was a loud explosion that burst down the corridor. Sophia felt the heat of the blast on her back and even felt some of the flames brush past her face. Once the spell was over, Sophia turned around to see Tara darting off after Stella.