by Kyle West
“Of course,” I said.
“I apologize if it seems I’m taking people away from you,” he paused. “Actually, I am taking people away.”
“It’s necessary,” I said. “It will make things harder for us, but this needs to be done, too. Ultimately, I’m hoping the Eastern Kingdoms can come together.”
“It will be tough, but of course, it is possible.”
“It needs to be more than possible, Nabea,” I said. “You need to believe it can happen.”
“I do,” he said.
“I’ll be helping however I can,” I said. “We’ll return as soon as possible. The truth is, though, I don’t know when that will be. There’s still so much to do.”
“I understand,” Nabea said. “But having Tellor here, along with Samal and Ret, will make my job easier.”
I nodded. “That’s all I need to know.” I put out my hand. “Good luck, Nabea.”
He looked at my hand, laughed, then drew me in for a giant, almost crushing, bear hug. “We’ll miss you. Be safe.”
“Same for you.”
He drew back, thankfully, before Ret and Samal gave me their own hugs which, if not bear-like, were at least bearable.
“Be careful out there, Shanti,” Ret said. “Truth be told, your path seems like the more dangerous one.”
“You’ve come a long way since our initiate days,” Samal said. His face seemed sad. It was a far cry to how he’d treated me when we first got acquainted. Where before he’d only seen a weak girl who couldn’t make the cut, now he saw someone he respected. Someone he could even take orders from.
“We’re doing this for Isaru,” I said. “I still have to go after him. And to free him from Shal’s control, if that’s even possible.”
The others nodded gravely.
“He’s our friend, Shanti,” Nabea said. “But if it comes down to a fight . . . fight him as you would an enemy.”
I almost got chills from that, probably from the seriousness of Nabea’s demeanor.
“I’ll do what I must,” I said. “That’s all anyone can do.”
I waited for everyone else to say their goodbyes. Within a few minutes, we were escorted out by the crown prince himself.
When we reached the ship, he reached out a hand.
“It’s been good, Shanti. All of you are welcome at any time. If there is some point in the future where you can come help us . . . then come. But I will not hold out hope. I know that you have a lot to take care of.”
“We’ll do our best to return,” I said. “I promise you that.”
When we boarded the ship, it felt emptier than before. I was committing three people to who knew what, and if anything happened to them, that would be on me.
I’d have to make do with what I had.
“Prepare for liftoff,” I said. “Let’s get back to hunting dragons.”
As everyone took their seats, I headed for the flight deck.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
FOLLOWING THE DRAGONS’ TRAIL OF destruction was not difficult. In the wake of their flight path were left burning farm houses, ruined villages, and toppled buildings. They were like a swarm of locusts, ruining everything they touched.
“What’s the next big city?” I asked.
Elder Isandru and Fiona stood behind Pallos and me on the flight deck.
“The port city of Savannah,” Isandru said. “Almost due east of here.”
I pressed the touchscreen, scrolling through the menus until I’d found the map. It no longer could position the ship; the satellites that had done so were nearly four hundred years old and no longer functioning. The map still worked, though, even if the cities and Bunkers were out of date.
“Can you point to it on the map?”
“About here,” Isandru said, pointing. “South of Charleston. It’s in the Republic of Santee.”
“What about Tenise?” Fiona asked. “Could the swarm have gone there?”
“I doubt it,” I said. “If Abena is right, then Tenise and Kachar were working together.”
“Savannah it is, then,” I said. “It’s not far, according to this. Atlantea, unsurprisingly, seems to correspond to Atlanta on the map. It’s probably an hour away.”
“And our plan for engaging with the swarm?” Isandru asked.
I used the LCD to take stock of our munitions. “Two thousand rounds for the turrets, good for up to four minutes of sustained fire. No missiles, as I thought.”
“Odin is too small to carry them,” Pallos said. “It’s my understanding that missiles and warheads were kept on the other spaceships.”
I knew Pallos had to be right.
“Can you explain what those do?” Fiona asked. “For those of us that don’t have memories from four centuries ago.”
“Sure,” I said. “The turrets can fire up to five hundred bullets per minutes at high velocity. They can engage automatically or be aimed at a single target manually. In automatic mode, they fire on the nearest threat if it matches the profile in the system. Basically, if it looks like a dragon and flies like a dragon, it’ll fire.” I was just remembering something. “Makara did most of the programming, usually without telling the rest of us about it. Let me see if I can dig into the files . . .”
Memories were flooding back. I was remembering people and situations I’d only had mere flashes of until now.
“There was Ashton,” I said. “He . . . taught us both to fly this thing. How to run it. I wish I could remember all his lessons. Anyway, the programming seems to be telling the autocannons to fire on any dragon in range, which is exactly what we want.”
Pallos watched intently, seeming very interested. Fiona, too, watched, but only seemed more confused.
“If the Shen catalogued this ship, as Pallos has said before, more bullets could be manufactured for the turrets someday.”
“Yes,” Pallos said. “We are aware of all the schematics and loadouts of each of the spacecraft created by the old United States. Even with the Collective’s resources, it’ll be a long time before new bullets and parts can be manufactured for the Odin.”
Even as capable as the Odin was, the swarm could still overwhelm it with sheer numbers. In my head, I didn’t see how the battle could be won, even with the advanced technology.
The Hyperfold was the true source of the swarm’s power, and until we found a way to destroy it, there was no other option.
“Smoke on the horizon,” Pallos said.
Peering ahead, I could see that he was right. I suppressed the fear forming in my stomach.
“The swarm is there,” I said. “I can feel it.”
“What’s the plan?” Fiona asked.
“We attack,” I said. “And hope for the best.” I turned around to face her. “Get Mia and Isa in here. They shouldn’t be kept in the dark.”
Fiona left to get them. We were still too far to see any dragons, but within minutes, we would be upon the city.
“Pallos, take over,” I said.
He looked at me, startled. “What? The battle will start soon!”
I unstrapped myself from the seat to show him I was serious. “I’m going to need all the concentration I can get for what I’m about to try.”
“We need you to fly!” Pallos protested.
“You’re more than capable,” I said. “I’ll be back in five minutes. If anything happens before then, I’ll be in my cabin.” I turned to the Elder Prophet. “Elder Isandru . . . I’ll need your help. Follow me.”
Before anyone could protest, I was out the door, and Isandru followed me out.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
WE STOPPED WHEN WE WERE both in the wardroom. I couldn’t believe what I was about to ask, but I needed to know.
“There’s no way we can stop these dragons, Elder.”
He nodded gravely. “I know. What do you propose to do about it?”
Something told me he already knew what I was going to ask.
“I have an idea,” I said. “I’m not sure if I�
�m strong enough to pull it off. Or even if it’s possible.”
“And that idea is?”
“Something like what I tried in Northold, except there I wasn’t completely successful. I came close, but nothing happened in the end except my near death.”
“You want to try to tether the swarm directly?”
Tether was a good word for what I was trying to do. I’d done it to a few crawlers in Northold, and only for a limited time. But all I needed to do was reach Isaru . . . or barring that, take him out. Even if that wasn’t possible, I could cause the dragons to fight amongst each other.
“We don’t have enough bullets, Elder,” I said.
He nodded but didn’t offer anything else.
All I could do was ask. “I want the truth, Isandru. Would Aether allow me to push myself beyond my normal abilities?”
The Elder Prophet remained silent, and from that silence, I already knew the answer was yes, and I could see that he was reluctant to tell me that.
“Normally, Aether is an addictive substance,” I said. “I’ve never ingested it personally, although I’ve been covered in it—once during the Sphere Priests’ ritual, and another time while being healed in Shenshi.”
“It will not be the same, Shanti. While the Aether only touched the surface of you, here it will be running through your blood. The effect will be far more powerful, and will directly modify your ability to connect to the Xenofold. I cannot guarantee your safety if you want to do this . . . but if you truly wish it, I will not stop you.”
“Could it work, though?”
“I don’t know.”
It wasn’t the answer I wanted. “What does Aether do, exactly? How does it amplify someone’s power?”
“You want me, an addict, to describe how it feels to you?”
I nodded. “I need to know if I’m to go through with this.”
Isandru closed his eyes, as if meditating. When he opened his eyes, they were sad. “There will be the rush . . . and then the elation and easing of all worries and pain. You will feel the power, as if you have fire for blood, and you will think more clearly than you ever had in your life. But for all that power Aether gives you, the source of that power is the Hyperfold. It carries an evil taint. In the end, you will find that you do not use Aether, Aether will use you. When the rush subsides, you will be hollow, feeling the world is dull, unable to ever experience simple beauty again.” Isandru looked at me sadly. “I would never wish that upon you, Shanti. Be careful with your intentions. Noble as they are, reality won’t care a bit for it.”
“The rush, as you call it, it lasts two hours? Would there be so much damage from just one dose?”
“The euphoria lasts about that long, yes, with a moderate sized dose. Larger doses are more difficult to control for a non-user and will cause nausea and hallucinations. A small dose might give you a boost, but it won’t be enough to make a difference. If your connection to the Xenofold is widened with Aether, you must draw less from it as soon as you feel your connection retract. Otherwise, you risk damaging the very thing that makes you Elekai. Therein lies the danger of Aether. It is something impossible to explain unless you have experienced it for yourself.”
“You think I shouldn’t try, then.”
“I know you shouldn’t. But I also know your importance. I’d save you over the entire city of Savannah. Savannah may fall, and many other cities, but if you are lost . . . then all else is.”
“I can’t let the city fall, Isandru. I want to do everything I can.”
“You cannot save everybody,” Isandru said.
“I know I can’t,” I said. “But I can try.” I reached out my hand. “If you are willing to part with a vial, I would like to use it.”
Isandru sighed deeply, waiting a long moment for me to change my mind. In the end, he reached into his cloak pocket. When he handed it over, he didn’t let go for a long time, as if he was fighting himself to allow the act to happen.
When it finally fell into my hand, the vial was warm, and the pink liquid swirling and glowing.
“Meditate before you use it,” he said. “It will guard you against the worst effects. This is a small dose for me . . . the only kind I take these days. Anything less than this and my body would begin to shut down.”
I didn’t see how it was possible, but Isandru looked even older in that moment, every line and wrinkle deeper, skin paler, gray eyes rheumy. He reminded me of someone else, from long ago . . . though I couldn’t remember exactly who.
“I will,” I said. “Thank you. I will try my best.”
“See that you do,” Isandru said.
“I will join you on the deck soon,” I said. “I need a moment to myself.”
“Take your time, Shanti,” Isandru said.
I went into my cabin and shut the door behind me. I looked at the vial, the swirling eddies of the Aether seeming to hold answers I didn’t have. I thought long and hard on whether to use it. But no matter how I sliced it, I felt as if it was my only choice.
I decided to be very careful . . . as careful as I could possibly be.
I unstopped the vial, and before I could have second thoughts, drained the Aether in a single shot. I then corked it and left my cabin.
As I walked across the deck to the ship’s bow, I felt as if I was floating.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
WHEN I REACHED THE FLIGHT deck, Fiona and Shara turned around to look at me. As soon as the former saw me, her eyes widened. “Shanti? Are you . . . all right?”
I felt the elation—and power—of the Aether flowing through my veins. “Yes, I’m fine. Are we getting close?” My voice sounded deeper and more powerful than usual—almost like a stranger’s, though this fact did not bother me.
Isa took a step backward from where she had been standing, behind Pallos.
Shara looked at me in disbelief. “She’s taken Aether.”
“It’s necessary,” I said.
“This fight will be impossible,” Pallos said, glumly. “Whatever you have in mind . . . it will not be enough. Just look.”
I looked out the windshield, my vision seemed sharper than usual. Ahead was the walled city, and beyond it, the blue ocean. Swarming above it was the dragon swarm, diving into city streets to attack hapless victims.
“It’s not impossible,” I said. “Engage, Pallos, and open fire.”
“Shanti . . .” Shara said, “I know you think you’re invincible right now. It’s the drug fooling you, as it has fooled me many times.”
“We have to get close for this to work,” I said. “Otherwise, there’s no point.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“Shanti, just try to think about this . . .” Fiona added.
“We can’t get any closer!” Mia said. “There’s too many.”
“We will!” I shouted. “We must! Or do you just want to run after coming all this way?” No one answered me. “Fighting and running are our two options. To me, leaving the city for the swarm is not a valid choice.”
The ship continued to hover as dragons wove and dove through the city streets, exacting their fury on a defenseless populace.
“The longer we wait . . .” I said, “the more people die. I have a plan. I think it can work.”
“Thinking it can work is not good enough,” Shara said.
Time was of the essence. The more that slipped by, the less likely this was to succeed.
Reluctantly, Pallos obeyed my order, engaging the thrusters to max, not remembering to call out a warning to my crew.
The swarm was nearing incredibly fast. None of the dragons reacted to Odin’s sudden acceleration, but within mere seconds, half of the distance had been closed.
Without waiting for Pallos, I accessed the LCD and input commands to engage the auto turrets. I slipped into my seat, not bothering to strap myself in as the guns opened fire. From outside, the screams of multiple dragons sounded in the air. Several dropped dead to the city below.
I retoo
k control of the ship from Pallos, veering sharply to starboard as the hull groaned in protest.
I gained some distance before bringing the ship back around to face the swarm. The turrets engaged once again. This time, the dragons were more prepared, splitting in all directions to avoid the bullets. All the same, several were hit, one spiraling down and crashing into a tall stone tower.
This time I didn’t turn away from the dragons. Proximity would make all the difference in how easy this was.
I shifted control back to Pallos. “You have the deck, Pallos. Keep us alive.”
I left for the wardroom. Mia called my name, but I paid her no mind.
I couldn’t let any of them talk me out of what needed to be done.
I unsheathed my katana and pressed the door release. It slid open, revealing dozens of dragons aiming straight for the ship like arrows, barely dodged by Pallos swerving this way and that. I held to the door frame to keep myself locked in the ship.
But I wouldn’t be holding on for long.
I heard footsteps approach from behind me. I turned to see Mia, along with Shara and Fiona, looking at me as if I were crazy.
Before any of them could get a word in, I spoke, “When I’m done here, I want you to get out with the ship. Tell that to Pallos. Do you understand?”
“No,” Mia said, her voice shaky. “I don’t understand what you’re doing, or why you’re doing it. Shanti . . . this is madness.”
I didn’t hear anything more. I sought Silence, entering it more deeply than I ever had before. The power was immense, as if I was channeling the energy of an entire sun. It coursed through me like a firestorm; I held it all with a strength that seemed impossible.
I directed all that energy at a single dragon flying right under me. The connection was forged, solid and strong. The dragon screamed as I took control of it.
It flew alongside the ship at a pace it couldn’t keep up for long.
It was now or never.
“Do what I say,” I heard myself say. “Do it now.”
