by Eli Ingle
“Offline,” reported Quimby.
“Speed of Sound?”
“Offline. We’d need about ten minutes to fire it up.”
“How long until the nukes hit us?” asked Tink.
“About three minutes,” replied L’aroche.
“Can we outrun them?” asked Laurie. The group turned and stared at him. “Just trying to think about all the options,” the Captain said quietly.
“Load the anti-missile firing solutions,” Tink commanded. “We’ll take as many out of the sky as we can. No point in going down without a fight.”
Rigel watched as the pilots pulled up weaponry screens on their monitors and pushed buttons. The sight was strange after having watched them run off to different parts of the Persefoni and Koyla to man the guns themselves.
“Targets locked,” said L’aroche. “First wave launched in three, two, one.” She tapped the screen and Rigel watched as a dozen small missiles fired up into the sky.
Moving over to the window, Rigel and Rona stared with horror as the missiles soared in an arc back toward where they had just fled. The nukes were now in sight, rising up out of the city. Several of Tink’s missiles collided into one, causing a bone-rattling explosion over the landscape. Opal and L’aroche sent more barrages toward the nukes, but for every one they hit, another slipped through.
“Come on Tink,” said Laurie, putting a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “There’s got to be a way out of this. We always had a trick up our sleeve. There must be something – an escape pod, a teleport?”
Tink looked at him and smiled. “Not this time, my friend.”
Rigel could not accept it. Something in his brain just could not comprehend that in less than a minute his life would cease to exist. That there would just be nothing left. How? Why? It was not fair. It was not right. And it just could not possibly be true!
“Looks like you’ve failed us for the last time, Captain,” L’aroche said to Tink, smiling sadly.
Opal had abandoned her post and was sitting hugging Quimby. Amidst the terror, Rigel did not even notice the wedding rings they were both wearing.
“Do you think we could stop them?” whispered Rigel to Rona.
“Do you think we could?” she asked.
“No.”
“Neither do I. One … maybe. Anymore, no chance.” As of late, they could barely light up a room with their power, never mind stop a barrage of nukes.
“Hold your fire,” commanded Tink. “We’re not stopping them.”
Rigel looked at Rona and she at him. He realised how much he did not know about her. The thought was strange considering the circumstances, and yet all the starker for it. Tears leaked down from his eyes as looked at the wonderful friend he realised he barely knew.
Tink sighed, the fight gone out of him. “Where would you all like to be when it happens?”
“Well, we’ll be dead for a very long time,” said Laurie. “I think I’d like to be outside if that’s the last thing I’m going to see.”
“Alrighty then.” Tink pressed a button and the doors of the airship glided open.
The group made their way out silently. Rigel realised he was not so afraid of dying (although he really rather would not); rather, he was more upset at how short his time was being cut. There was so much he had wanted to do, so much he had not done and so much he did not yet even realise he wanted to achieve and here he was, about to die before he realised any of it.
Outside, the air was still, bar the faint trembling rush the nukes were making.
“There’s not much to say in a situation like this,” said Tink. “I estimate we’ve got about sixty seconds. For me, there’s nothing more to say than what a privilege it’s been to have you all in my life and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Rigel barely heard what the mechanic said.
“I’m sorry kids,” said Laurie, standing behind them and putting a hand on their shoulders. “Thanks … for everything.” He was crying.
“Don’t worry about it, Laurie,” said Rigel.
“Yeah, you’re the best,” smiled Rona.
Ten seconds? Less?
The children instinctively turned to each other and spoke at the same time.
“Rona I—”
“Rigel I—”
The nukes exploded.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The world filled with blinding white light. Whatever sensation he had been expecting – pain, melting, fire – was absent. Only the blinding white light filled the world.
Am I dead? He thought. And yet, how could he think if he was dead?
Time passed; he was aware of the concept but not how long he was there. He heard none of the others around him.
The haze cleared, slowly at first. He barely noticed as forms in the world became clearer. He realised he was on the floor and Rona was lying in front of him. Clambering onto his elbow he peered around. Everyone was alive. Signs of movement were coming from all of them. Coughing as he brushed the dust from his jacket, Rigel rolled over and saw that even the ships were intact. What had happened?
In front of them was a smoking crater. Staggering to his feet, Rigel moved to the edge and looked down. In the centre was a person, glowing a pure, dazzling white. The figure seemed to sense Rigel looking down at it. It turned over and looked up. Rigel could barely make out the features amid the glow emanating from it.
“Hello,” the man said. “I’m Albireo, the last Light One of your five. And I know where the weapons you are seeking are.”
The air seemed to grow still as Rigel looked down into the crater. The explosions in the city grew faint and the roar of the airships’ engines sounding little louder than flying insects.
Albireo. A Light One. The last Light One. Rigel’s head was swimming, whether from the knowledge or the excess radiation he was not sure; maybe it was both.
The man was standing, still giving off blinding light, although as Rigel watched, it was already starting to fade.
“Hello, Rigel,” Albireo said. “It’s been a while.”
Rigel and Rona were staring at him, dazed expressions plastered across their faces.
“But you won’t remember, of course,” he said, climbing out of the crater and dusting himself off before looking around. “Where are the others? Zeph and Iselt?”
“Dead.”
This stopped him and a pained expression crossed his formerly cheerful face. “How?”
“Frivlok.”
“I see,” Albireo sighed. “Then it seems I’ve come much too late. Although perhaps with still enough time to make a difference. We must have a conference immediately. I trust you two to select the most appropriate people to join us.”
“Okay,” said Rigel, impressed at the organisation he was seeing. “Laurie, Erdiz, Jhoan, and Tink can you come here please?” They walked over, mistrustful expressions and outright fear as they looked at Albireo. “We need to talk. Is there anywhere we can go?”
“We can use my captain’s office,” Tink suggested.
“Excellent,” said Albireo, “please lead the way.”
Giving an order for the crew to remain on guard outside, Tink stepped into his airship and led them to the back, where there was a roomy boardroom, covered with flight charts and newspapers. Rigel could just make out a desk and sleeping quarters at the far end of the room. Clearing his papers away, Tink sat at the table and indicated that the others should do the same.
“I’ll be brief,” Albireo said. “I’m sure there are endless questions you have and I will answer them as soon as I can, but right now there is a threat in that city that needs to be destroyed without hesitation. It’s my understanding that the Commander is actually posing as the Mayor of the city. And if my knowledge is correct, he has been posted alone whilst Frivlok and the others head to another location.”
“Sorry, who’s the Commander?” Rona asked.
“You really have forgotten everything
, haven’t you?” Albireo said. It was not really a question. Rona remained silent. “No matter. Frivlok would like to think he has two seconds in command: the Commander and the Shapeshifter. In reality, they are of equal power, bound together by ancient laws. As a unit, they are almost unstoppable. Alone, they are vulnerable. To take out one would be disastrous for the whole. While the Commander’s city is burning, we need to strike with immediate force and attempt to assassinate him. Tell me, do you have your keys?”
“I have mine,” said Rona, patting her jacket pocket.
“We haven’t found mine yet,” said Rigel.
Albireo nodded as if this was of no consequence. “I know the location so you need not concern yourself with it. I have my weapons. This is how the process will go. We launch an assault on the city, attempting to kill the Commander. If we are successful, we move on. If, after twenty-four hours, he still evades us, we move on. Our main priority is to gain access to your weapons. Are there any questions?”
“Yes,” said Rigel.
“About me, and you and the rest of us and what happened and why I know so much and you know nothing?” asked Albireo, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smile.
“Maybe.”
“I will do my best to answer all of that later,” Albireo said. “For now, we must launch the assault while his city is in disarray. Agreed?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent. Tink, is it? Would you be willing to sacrifice one of your airships?”
“Not really.”
“For the good of our worlds?”
“If you insist. What would you have me do?” the mechanic asked.
Albireo told them and watched with amusement as their expressions were first incredulous and then amused.
“Will it work?” asked Laurie.
“If it doesn’t, it will show we’re a force to be reckoned with. I believe they currently view us as a nuisance that they could eradicate if they chose. Even if we don’t succeed, I think this will show that they should be taking us a lot more seriously.”
“Are you feeling up to this, Laurie?” Tink asked him. “So soon after being shot?”
“I’ll do it,” Laurie replied, grim. “Or die trying.”
“Alright,” said Tink, “man your battle stations.”
The roar of the engines drowned out almost all the other noises on the flight deck. Tink and Laurie were piloting the heavy container ship towards the central tower in the city. Albireo believed this was where the Commander was stationed. The Light One was standing on deck with the pilots, watching their progress.
“Engines at full speed,” Laurie said, pushing a lever forward.
“Gun batteries set to automatic,” Tink said. With a whine as they were set into position, the guns began firing shells into the city, automatically reloading themselves. Had his mind not being set on other things, Laurie would have wondered at this – no such technology had existed before on any ships he had flown.
“I’d make your moves, gentlemen,” Albireo said, his arms crossed and his eyes fixed on the rapidly approaching tower.
Tink pressed a button and a whine of machinery filled the air – the cargo loading ramp being deployed.
“Are you going to survive this?” asked Laurie.
“The crash?” asked Albireo, surprised. “I just got hit by a nuclear warhead. If that doesn’t kill me, I’m sure I can survive an airship crash.”
Laurie nodded and slapped him on the shoulder. “Good luck then.”
Tink nodded and they ran off together towards the cargo hatch. The ship rattled as it picked up speed, hurtling towards the tower with the guns firing.
“This is living, Tink!” shouted Laurie, strapping on his parachute as they ran. “Oh how I’ve missed this!”
Tink laughed as they charged toward the back of the ship.
“Go, go, go!”
Running along the ramp they dived off and out of the ship and over the city. The heat from the engines buffeted them backwards, sending them spinning and flying back in the direction of Rigel and the others. Spinning in the air, Laurie watched as the ship collided with the tower and exploded, sending huge chunks of stone and smoke into the air. They were falling rapidly and pulled the cords, sailing out across the city, heading back towards the group of airships on the ground, laughing and laughing.
Albireo felt the impact as the ship hit and was thrown backwards but managed to avoid being hurt as the fuel cells caught fire and blew up the remains of the ship.
Stepping off the ruined flight deck and into the tower, he looked around and saw a pile of rubble and destroyed furniture moving slightly. He sensed that his prediction about the Commander was right – he was not the kind of man to run when he saw an airship flying straight towards him. Admirable. Almost.
The remains of a desk were thrown against the opposite wall and the Commander stood up, brushing himself off and cursing. He noticed Albireo standing in front of him and reached for his sword.
“You?!” he cried, pulling his sword and holding it out ready. “What happened to you? Why aren’t you like them?”
“Rigel and Rona, you mean?” asked Albireo, as if they were talking about the weather. “Unlike them, I didn’t leave. I never changed and I’ve been here since the end. I’ve been watching you and noticed how all your friends went off for some other mission, so I decided to pop in and say hello. Things fall apart pretty quickly when your parents aren’t around?”
“You insolent brat,” hissed the Commander and swung his sword in an arc aimed at Albireo’s head. Before it was even close, a sword that looked to be made entirely of light had appeared in the Light One’s hand and parried the blow. A flash of purple and white sparks flew as the blades collided. A thin stick of white wood appeared in Albireo’s left hand.
“It’s been a while since you had a fair fight, Commander,” Albireo grinned. “Feeling up to it?”
“Where did you get those?” the Commander said, eying the weapons. For the first time, he seemed to be unusually uneasy around the weaponry.
“I’ve been here a couple of thousand years,” Albireo said. “More than enough time to go treasure hunting, don’t you think?”
A groaning filled the air as the airship began sliding backwards out of the building. The structure shuddered, making dust and plaster rain from the ceiling.
“Think you’re going to have to redecorate the office,” Albireo commented. “Sorry about that. I’ll try to book an appointment next time.”
“Enough!” roared the Commander, bringing his sword around and striking three blows at the Light One, each which should have cleaved him in half. As it was, Albireo parried every blow, seemingly without any effort. “You wish to fight me? Very well. On the roof. Now.” With a wavering of the air, the Commander disappeared. Spinning on the spot, Albireo vanished in a flash of white light and reappeared on the roof.
The wind was stronger up here and the groaning building provided unstable footing. Seeing his opponent, the Commander unclasped his cloak and let it fall to the floor before slowly sidestepping. He was trying to force Albireo to face in the direction of the sun, but the Light One was not likely to fall for such easy manoeuvres. With a flick of his wrist, the light stick sent three sharp blasts of white light towards the former Mayor. The Commander spun his sword and sent the magic twirling out over the horizon before charging at Albireo. Their swords met and they danced back and forth, blowing and parrying. Despite being twice his size, the Commander did not overpower Albireo on strength alone. Each brought his sword around in a rain of blows, attempting to push the other towards the edge of the roof.
On and on they fought, back and forth with neither party gaining any ground or advantage over the other. Periodically Albireo would try to blast the Commander with beams of light but they were always deflected by his sword. When one attempt sent the light ricocheting back towards himself, Albireo ceased and began attempting to force the Commander to t
he edge of the roof. Every time one got close, the other increased the fury of his attack until they were back in the centre again.
Time seemed to grow still as they fought, but hours must have passed and eventually both combatants began to flag, their blows becoming slower and less articulate. Taking a breath, Albireo flipped backwards in a graceful arc and landed on the edge of the roof. The Commander, seeing a chance to end the fight, charged forwards. Touching his sword with the light stick, Albireo grinned. The sword gave off a blinding white light that made the Commander stagger backwards, clutching his eyes. Pointing the stick at the floor, Albireo sent a blast of light at the ground which exploded, blowing the Commander into the air.
“You rat!” he screamed. “You filthy rat!”
Flipping end over end, the Commander fell from the roof and plummeted towards the ground below. Albireo hurried forwards and looked over the edge, just in time to see the Commander blast the building with a black-purple heat, spin in mid-air and vanish into a cloud of black mist. The heat struck the side of the building, melting the stones and mortar in its path. The ground shook and almost immediately Albireo found himself slipping as the building fell sideways. Struggling upright, he ran forwards using the momentum of the descent to pick up speed. As he reached the end, he jumped and hurtled across the gap, landing on the opposite building in an awkward roll. The building collapsed on top of the fallen airship, crushing it flat. Amid the debris, a fire was breaking out. Albireo stepped off the building and floated down into the street, making his way towards the gate.
The fire was catching and the population of the city must have fled, for the streets were empty, bar the occasional body or destroyed robot.
As he reached the gate, Albireo tucked the stick away into his pocket and with a swirl of his hand, the sword disappeared.
Walking out of the city, he hurried towards the airships, where he was greeted by Rigel and Rona, both of whom had charged up to him.
“What happened? Is he dead?”
“Are Laurie and Tink alright?” the Light One asked. Rona pointed behind her, where Laurie was being helped out of the parachute straps by Opal, and Tink was covered with his parachute, gradually entangling himself further as he tried to escape. “They’ve only just landed? I was there for hours.”