by Marty Chan
The assassin sported an improvement to his new body. The amputated arm had been replaced with a metallic hand. Gears and coils ran up the iron gauntlet all the way to gears at the elbow, and a copper shoulder mount stabilized the contraption. The fingers curled into talons, operated by tense wires hooked to a series of gears running along the forearm.
“General Ning S-S-Shu, it is-s-s good to s-s-see you again. And who might your companions-s-s be? I don’t think I’ve had the plea-s-s-sure,” he spoke slowly, relishing the sound of his words.
The familiar sibilant speech grated on Ehrich’s nerves, reminding him of their past encounter. Surely, Kifo had not forgotten their last meeting and was feigning ignorance now.
“What is the assassin doing here, General Xian?” Ning Shu asked.
“The s-s-same as you, General Ning S-h-hu. S-s-serving Ba Tian.” His metallic arm whirred and clicked as he slipped the enigma box back into his pocket.
“What happened to your other body?” she asked.
“I grew tired of it, and I finally acquired the means-s-s to adopt a new form,” he said, toying with the medallion around his neck, almost taunting Ehrich with the display.
Ehrich stared at the rust-coloured Infinity Coil, so named because of the infinity symbol on the front. Nested within the twin loops of a sideways ‘8’ was a myriad of tiny gears. Ehrich knew this device better than anyone because he had worn it for two years. He had inadvertently taken the Infinity Coil from Kifo during their first encounter in Ehrich’s home world. If not for Kifo, Dash would not have been possessed and dragged into this dimension, and Ehrich would still be stealing apple pies from his mother’s cupboard instead of risking his life on this enemy airship. His hands twitched as he fought the urge to lunge at Kifo, snatch the medallion, and free all the souls the assassin had trapped inside it. Amina grabbed his elbow and kept him in check.
Ning Shu raised herself to full height. “Kifo, you serve the House of Qi.”
“Of cours-s-se, General. That is-s-s what I meant.”
Xian stepped forward. “I believe you will want to follow your father’s last wishes.”
“What do you know of his last command, General Xian?”
The general pointed at Kifo.
“I was-s-s there when he gave them. I was-s-s with him on Devil’s-s-s Island when we tried to take Demon Gate.”
Ning Shu straightened up, wanting to refute the assassin, but she remained silent.
General Xian commented, “Ning Shu, your absence means you’ve not been privy to the plans in motion.”
“I am remedying that now,” Ning Shu said.
“I’m curious, General. Where have you been all this time?”
“I had my own mission.”
“Your father did not speak of any mission,” Xian said, pressing the issue.
“No one else was to know. My father knew where I was and what I was doing. I answer to him and him alone.”
“Unfortunate that he is-s-s not here to s-s-settle this-s-s matter,” Kifo said.
“You are not of our kind, so you might be forgiven for your ignorance, but I speak for the House of Qi in my father’s absence.”
General Xian replied, “And I was speaking for the House in your absence, General. I obeyed your father’s wishes, and I am curious about where you intend to take the army.”
Ning Shu hesitated, glancing back at Ehrich and the others. Had Kifo already exposed them to the generals? She changed tactics.
“I had not learned of your sudden meteoric rise in the ranks. When I left, General Ling Po served as the steward for the House of Qi.”
“He does not understand your father’s wishes as I do,” Xian said.
“I want him here. He will put an end to this nonsense.”
General Xian feigned a smile. “The dynamics of power have shifted, General.”
“Do I need to remind you that you’re speaking to the House of Qi?”
The older woman didn’t back down. “I am loyal to your father.”
Kifo snickered. “S-s-such an awkward moment.”
The two women glared at each other.
“The House of Qi would not consort with outsiders,” Xian accused.
“We are her allies,” Mr. Serenity proclaimed. “Just as Kifo served her father, we serve Ning Shu.”
“Why should I believe you?” General Xian asked.
“Ask your scouts,” Ehrich said. “I saved them from hunters. I have kept your airship a secret. And I’ve given nothing away about the exoskeletons under the Hudson River.”
General Xian’s eyes widened at the mention of the exoskeletons. “There is much to consider here.”
Ning Shu held up the jade tael. “This is the only thing you need to consider, Xian.”
The general didn’t blink. “You will be treated in accordance with all the trappings that symbol entitles you to, but your accomplices do not enjoy the same protection.”
“What are you going to do with us?” Amina asked.
“My men will prepare quarters for you.”
“Where they go, I go,” Ning Shu said.
General Xian flashed a thin-lipped sneer, her first since Ning Shu had appeared on her airship. “As you wish.”
The quarters Xian had in mind were the brig. Ehrich and Mr. Serenity found themselves together in a cramped cell. Ning Shu and Amina shared one farther down the corridor.
Ehrich tested the door. Bamboo shafts interlaced with one another in a criss-cross pattern. They could bend, but they wouldn’t break. The only way out was to pick the lock. Ehrich reached down to his right shoe and sprang open the heel to pull out his lock pick set. He approached the lock, but as soon as he inserted the tension wrench and the hook pick, he sensed something was wrong. This lock was neither European nor American in design. The ship had been built in the Orient, and the mechanism had a completely different design that did not rely on pins within the lock. Instead, the lock required a set of long prongs to be inserted into the keyhole at the same time, but at various locations. He dug around the lock, but to no avail. He didn’t carry enough picks to access the mechanism.
After several failed attempts, he stepped back from the door and sat on the hard cot beside Mr. Serenity. “So close to Kifo, and now I’m thwarted because of a lock.”
Mr. Serenity patted him on the leg and consoled him. “At least we know where he is. A small victory is still a victory.”
“Tell that to Dash,” Ehrich mumbled. He thought of his brother, hooked up to Mr. Serenity’s cryogenic chamber in Purgatory, the underground sanctuary for the survivors of Ba Tian’s wars.
Two years apart had worn on Ehrich’s conscience. He blamed himself for losing his brother, but when he learned that Kifo had possessed Dash and taken him to this dimension, Ehrich’s guilt sharpened into a dagger of hate. He wanted his brother back, but he needed Kifo to suffer for the years he had stolen from Dash.
Mr. Serenity tapped the wall with an erratic rhythm. Three beats. Short one. Longer rap. Multiple raps.
“Is this really the time to make music?” Ehrich asked.
“Shh,” Mr. Serenity said. “Listen.”
Faint knocking replied to the man’s tapping.
“Amina’s all right,” Mr. Serenity said.
“How do you know from this?”
“We devised various codes to communicate with one another. A tapping code for when we are separated. There are beats and pauses we use to spell out letters. Takes a little longer, but we have the luxury of time. If people were within earshot, we would switch to saying code words so enemies can’t guess our true communications.”
Ehrich raised an eyebrow. “How does it work?”
“We use certain catch phrases, so the other person knows we are sending a code. For example, ‘you’re the apple of my eye’ means ‘someone is watching us.’ If I want you to pay attention to someone, I might say “dear me” for a woman or “my stars” for a man. Once you know the code words, you can string them togeth
er in a sentence that sounds innocent to the unsuspecting ear. Now, shush.”
He tapped again and waited. A series of knocking replied.
“She and Ning Shu are all right, but Ning Shu is worried about what has happened to the old steward, Ling Po. Hold on.”
More knocking.
“Ning Shu believes General Xian might have killed the man so she could assume the reins.”
They listened to another series of taps.
“Someone is coming.”
Ehrich rushed to the door and peered through the tiny window. Footsteps rang out along the corridor. A door opened. A gasp.
“General Ling Po!” Ning Shu’s voice cried out.
“In the flesh, General. Let her out. The others too. All of them.”
Soldiers came to Ehrich’s door and swung it open. He and Mr. Serenity stepped into the corridor. General Ling Po stood as tall as General Xian, but he was a plank of a man, thin and reedy. His long yellow robe was slit open at the legs to reveal golden flared pants that bore a thigh band of throwing stars. His long black queue of hair hung to the floor. Scars cut across his wizened face, but he had a brilliant smile.
“I apologize for your treatment,” he said. “This would have never happened if I were the steward.”
“What happened, Ling Po?” Ning Shu asked. “How did Xian seize control of the Council of Arch Generals?”
He embraced Ning Shu. “General Ning Shu, it is good to see you again.” He whispered, “There are ears everywhere.”
Ning Shu pulled away from her friend. “How long has it been, Ling Po?”
“Too long. Come. You must be starving.”
He led the group away from the brig. The soldiers fell in step behind Ehrich as Ling Po led them to his quarters at the rearmost part of the gondola. He closed the door, shutting out the soldiers, then he motioned everyone to sit. “I don’t have much to share, but I was able to secure a few rations.”
Ning Shu waved off the offer to sit. “Ling Po, what has happened here? This is madness. Why would Xian deny the seal of the House of Qi?”
“It is a long story.”
“Tell me.”
“Your mother was a strong woman. I see much of her in you, Ning Shu. I swear I never thought anyone would replace her in your father’s heart, though some have tried.”
“Xian.”
“She’s a devious one. She is the type who whispers in the shadows to bring down her opponents.”
“Do you think she caused you to lose your stewardship?” Ning Shu asked.
“Only your father can answer this question.”
“How do you explain her sudden rise to power?”
“I don’t know, Ning Shu, but I do know that though she has the title of steward, she acts as a ruler. I suspect she was no fan of your return. Don’t misinterpret me, Ning Shu. I’m glad you are back, but at this point we need your father to set things right again.”
“Don’t count on it, Ling Po. I fear the humans have captured him.”
“I still don’t understand why he took such a small force to take Demon Gate.”
Ehrich knew the answer. Ba Tian was too ashamed to let the generals see that his own daughter had turned against him. He had gone alone with a small force because he wanted to limit the number of people who knew the truth about Ning Shu’s rebellion.
“George Farrier promised Ba Tian access to Demon Gate,” Ning Shu said. “As commissioner of Demon Watch, he would have been able to turn a blind eye to Ba Tian. Probably not so much to an invading force.”
“Yes, the human traitor. Your father put too much trust in him. Do you think he double-crossed Ba Tian?”
“It’s a possibility,” she lied. “He could be in the prison right now.”
“I suspect this is why Xian is leery of your allies. The optics of a member of the House of Qi consorting with outsiders might be hard for the soldiers to accept. She may use that to press her authority.”
“The generals accepted Kifo,” Ehrich pointed out.
Ning Shu shook her head. “My father forced the generals to accept Kifo. His ability to disguise himself and slip into other dimensions as a scout gave him a purpose. General Xian is most likely keeping Kifo alive out of fear of angering my father.”
Ling Po drummed his fingers against his chest. “When Ba Tian returns, he will settle accounts, unless she is able to change the regime to eliminate the power of the House of Qi.”
“The generals will not allow that to happen,” Ning Shu said.
“The climate has changed much since your absence. I would not have expected to lose my stewardship to Xian either.”
“She doesn’t possess enough power to oppose the House of Qi directly,” she said.
Ling Po glanced down at the floor, “She wouldn’t stand up against Ba Tian, but she may use your friends as an opportunity to challenge you. They are your weak point.”
Ehrich cleared his throat. “Actually, I think we might be her greatest advantage.”
“What do you mean?” Ling Po asked.
“We have a problem with the optics, so let’s change the perception. We need a meeting with Xian. Can you arrange that, Ling Po?”
“Please, General. Trust my friends,” Ning Shu said.
He scratched at his chest, considering the offer. Finally, he agreed.
v
Hours later, the group convened in General Xian’s office. She occupied the huge desk in the middle of the room while Ling Po motioned the soldiers to leave the room. Kifo perched on the divan, drumming his metal fingers against the arm of the chair and plucking at the fabric, one strand at a time.
Ling Po addressed his colleague. “I called this meeting to entertain a proposal from General Ning Shu’s allies.”
“General Ling Po, your allegiances are clear,” she said, leaning back in her mahogany chair. “Fascinating.”
Ehrich stepped forward. “We have a problem. We don’t know who is in charge. You think you are, and Ning Shu believes she is. I think we can all agree that if Ba Tian were here, we wouldn’t be having this debate.”
“True,” Ning Shu said.
“I suppose. But he isn’t here. Most likely, he’s rotting in a prison on Devil’s Island.”
“Yes, and that is where I believe I can help you. I can break Ba Tian out from the prison.”
Xian leaned forward. “You have my attention.”
“I once worked for Demon Watch. I can sneak you past the defences on to Devil’s Island and help you break into the prison.”
General Xian glanced at him, her head turned to one side. “Forgive me if I don’t jump at the opportunity, but George Farrier vowed a similar promise and now Ba Tian is missing.”
“I understand you might not trust me, but you trust Kifo. If I could sneak your assassin on to Devil’s Island, he might be able to possess one of the hunters and open a cell door or two.”
Kifo shook his head. “Your plan s-s-sounds-s-s dangerous-s-s to my health.”
Ehrich smirked. “I won’t let you out of my sight.”
Ning Shu grabbed her jade tael, flashing it for everyone to see. “My father’s return is paramount. I am surprised the steward would not think of a rescue earlier.”
“Without the exoskeleton machines, we control no means to storm their fortifications.”
“Now we have the means to slip past their defenses, but you still don’t act,” Ling Po said, pressuring Xian. “I question whether you truly care about Ba Tian’s well-being.”
She glared across the desk. “We have been betrayed once by an outsider, yet you would so willingly trust another.”
“If it meant the return of Ba Tian, yes.”
She narrowed her gaze at Ehrich as she pulled up the sleeves of her purple robes to reveal scars tracking up her arms. “Why would you risk your life for Ba Tian?”
Ehrich launched into his gambit. “Kifo. I want him. He has something that belongs to me. Or more accurately, someone. He possessed my brother, Dash, and n
ow he has trapped my brother’s consciousness in the Infinity Coil.”
Kifo hissed. “S-s-still pining for the little one?”
“I want my brother back.”
“And you think you can forc-c-ce the general to do your bidding. I will releas-s-se the boy when I have no us-s-se for him.”
“You don’t control his body anymore,” Ehrich argued. “What good is he to you?”
“Possess-ss-ing his-s-s s-s-soul means-s-s I can control you.”
Ehrich stiffened. The assassin was a master of extortion and manipulation. He tamped down his anger and forced a smile.
“The body you control now doesn’t suit you, Kifo. The lack of an arm must hamper you. And the appearance means you can’t hide among the New Yorkers. You are as much an outsider to them as anyone of Ba Tian’s soldiers. What good are you in that form?”
“This-s-s body has-s-s its-s-s merits-s-s.”
Ehrich turned to Xian. “Listen, I know the layout of Devil’s Island. I might even help Kifo slip into the new commissioner’s office. How would you like to trade for Thomas Edison? With Kifo taking control of him, you’ll have the Demon Watch leader in your pocket. You can open the prison, free Ba Tian, and take control of Demon Gate in one simple tactical move. All it will cost you is the return of my brother.”
Ling Po let out a low whistle. “A small price to pay, General Xian, for the return of Ba Tian and control of the portal. I like the notion of taking this sector without losing any more of our soldiers. We could order Edison to re-open the Tunnel Project so our soldiers can acquire the exoskeleton machines.”
Ehrich pointed out, “The risk is all mine. I fail, you lose none of your men, except for Kifo.”
General Xian shook her head. “Do you take me for a fool? Once this boy has Kifo, he will never return.”
“Do you wish the Council of Arch Generals to hear your argument as to why you would not want to rescue Ba Tian from the prison?” Ling Po asked. “To be quite frank, I’m puzzled as to why you would spurn such an offer.”
“I don’t trust him.”
Ling Po scratched at his chest, considering. “You are correct, General Xian. Perhaps it would be wise to give the boy some incentive to return. His companions?”
