Worldship Files: Cityships

by Erik Schubach

  Worldship Files: Cityships

  By Erik Schubach

  Copyright © 2020 by Erik Schubach

  Self publishing

  P.O. Box 523

  Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026

  Cover Photo © 2020 Digitalstorm / Intueri / Dreamstime.com licenses

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, blog, or broadcast.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  FIRST EDITION

  Chapter 1 – Proximity

  I bent back under the incoming pike blade, feeling the magic it was imbued with as I spun away, lashing out with a butterfly kick. Even with my Scatter Armor enhanced strength, it was like kicking a ceramic-alloy wall when I impacted under the Greater Fae's arm, where it wasn't protected by that infernal Mithreal armor.

  Delphine of House Kryn, captain of the Queen's Guard rolled her shoulder then narrowed her eyes at me. Good, she felt that one. She just shrugged off the last three blows, including the one where I almost shattered my fist on her jaw in a glancing blow as she pulled back out of the way.

  Growing up on the world... the Worldship, Leviathan, us humans learn all about the Fae and the other preternatural species of people who populate the ring stacks. We humans being among the most fragile of species need to be aware of the differences between us and the others.

  But what we are taught I have found is woefully understated. As an Enforcer in the Brigade, I've had more exposure to more races than most, and it is my experience that we humans are woefully weak and breakable compared to even the delicate-looking Fauns.

  And when it comes to the Greater Fae, not much is known except what is in the history files in the databases and what is taught in school, since it is rare for a Greater Fae to venture below the A or B rings to interact with the rest of the world.

  One thing I found out the hard way when I was almost killed by a rogue Fae Lord, is that when they taught us that Fae are stronger than Humans, it was the understatement of the eon. Their grips are powerful enough to snap bones like twigs. I, unfortunately, learned that fact first hand. And Lord Sindri hadn't even tried when he did that, I'd hate to test just what an enraged Fae was truly capable of.

  Delphine smirked, her long silver and purple tresses flowing behind her as she circled me. “Not bad, Shade. That is four unanswered touches for you.”

  “Touches? I've been going all out here. That last one was my best shot.”

  She cocked an eyebrow and attempted to sound genuine as she said, “An admirable strike. I've never been hit so forcefully by a human.” But it sounded like an adult telling a child their scribble art looked good, even though the Greater Fae could not lie. Not to mention the fact she's never been hit by a human before as she guarded Queen Mab's palace, Ha'Real, where humans were generally not allowed... so it was true no matter what.

  I said blandly, “Gee, thanks.”

  She slid her hands to the very base of the pike as she performed a whirling, sweeping attack, extending her reach by six feet, the blade slashing past in a blur, alternating high and low as she spun toward me.

  I leapt over the first strike and then ducked the second. The third I just dove at her spinning like a corkscrew, the blade grazing my SAs and sparks flew from the magic scattering charms built-in, and just as my outstretched fists were about to strike her throat, I stopped moving.

  Her pike clattered on the flagstones of Ha'Real's courtyard as I dangled in her grip. She actually looked semi-impressed as she said while placing me down in front of her. “I hadn't expected you to turn your retreat into an attack. Your reaction speed is improbable for a Human. Is it your armor using some sort of predictive algorithms?”

  Shaking my head and sighing as I tried to not pant from all the exertion, I supplied, “It's all me, Fae-girl. One hundred percent, grade-A Human.”

  She shook her head dubiously. I know she didn't believe it. Like the other preternatural I spar with, she couldn't believe a mere human could dodge their strikes. I used to believe it was because of all the years of constant training with races stronger and faster than humans that honed my reflexes. Turns out it was by design. My entire genetic makeup was a failed experiment. But it made me more human than your average Human.

  Before she could say anything else I inquired, “Can I go to my office now? I don't know why you insist on attacking me every time I come to work.”

  The woman accepted her pike when I flipped it up to my hand with my toe. She said, “Because I enjoy the challenge of trying to strike you. I still do not know how you, a Human, were able to best a Fae Lord, and have to see for myself.”

  I muttered as I stalked past, frustrated with these daily challenges at the gates, “Get your jollies some other way, I'm always late because of you.”

  My Sprite friend buzzed over from where she had been sitting on a decorative topiary bush with her arms crossed over her chest to stand on my shoulder, holding onto my hair for balance while she squeaked out, “Why do you always challenge the null Human, and never me, you overgrown Big?”

  Delphine cocked an eyebrow and said, “Because I wish a challenge, I'm not a pest exterminator.”

  I sighed heavily as I squinted my eyes in mock pain. In a stream of dust, faster than a blink, Graz was hovering inches from the Captain's face, her little needle-sharp blade a hair's width from the tall woman's eye. “Call me a pest again, you dumb Big. I dare you. I'd love to see how long it takes for your eye to heal once I slice the stupid out of it.”

  The Greater Fae, like I was the first time I witnessed her speed, looked impressed, holding statue still with that tiny blade threatening her eyesight. She said, “It seems you have bested me, Sprite. I offer my apologies for discounting your prowess.”

  Ok, why did that sound so much more genuine than when she attempted to compliment me?

  Graz growled and sheathed her blade then buzzed back to sit on my shoulder, her eyes narrowed, “Damn straight.”

  I muttered to her as I strode to the doors of the palace, “Can you go one day without getting your little ass in hot water?”

  “What is it with you and my ass? And did you call me little?” She patted the hilt of her blade and I rolled my eyes. I swung open the doors and hoped Ha'Real was in a good mood today. Sometimes we would have to navigate through a maze of corridors, going up multiple levels and down more to get to my office outside of my girlfriend, Princess Aurora's lab. And sometimes when the palace was feeling generous, or afraid of Queen Mab, the doors to my office were right inside the entrance.

  Today... was the worst option, after passing the front doors for the third time while making random turns in the corridor, the damn palace was feeling playful. Ok, I know a building can't really have moods or be playful or vindictive, but the palace was saturated in magic that resonated with all of the magic users inside of it, so who's to say it hasn't gained a little sentience of its own, like the AI that ran the Leviathan had?

  I sighed and laid a hand on the wall. “Come on, you know I love you, but can I please get to work? I've got news for the Princess.”

  Coincidence or not, at the very n
ext left I took, was the doors to the office I shared with Rory's personal assistant. As I pushed the doors open, I said under my breath, “Thanks.” It's better to be safe than sorry after all.

  I waved at the awkward Fae in one of her impeccably pressed white business outfits as she sat behind her desk, straightening the notepads she has never had to use... yet. “Hi, Nyx.” One day my Rory will need something from her, and Nyx will either have a heart attack or execute the request with the enthusiasm of an exploding star.

  The woman almost tittered as she waved back. “Good morning, Knith. Wonderful day, isn't it?” Her lavender eyes were bright and earnest as ever. I winked at her as Graz zipped over to her to fist bump Nyx. It always looked so silly, what with their size difference.

  I asked as I moved to the right side of the cavernous space where my messy desk was, “She in?” Again I felt guilty that they had commandeered half of the antiseptically clean space when they assigned me as liaison to the Winter Court in my capacity as a FABLE representative. I was a slob for the most part and I felt as if I were sullying Nyx's pristine office.

  She looked at me with curiosity painting her face, lips smashed to one side as she stood. “I'm not sure. She might be.” She laid her ear on the door to the lab and listened intently.

  I smiled at her as I just walked up to the door and swung it open as I knocked on the door jamb. “Knock knock, lady.” The guards under heavy obfuscation spells in the corners looked resigned when they saw me seeing them. Then I just stepped through the ward, pushing through it as it tried to cling to me, my armor sparking and my bare face tingling.

  Graz just zipped through unscathed. Aurora looked up from where she was performing some sort of ritual over a large beaker. Turning discs of intricate silver lit runes surrounded the beaker in dizzying patterns, her will shaping the spell-work that was light years beyond the understanding of any other race. The entire room buzzed with unimaginable power, the power of creation, the power to bring entire armies to their knees. Then with an implosion that sucked the sound out of the room for a moment, it was all gone and she smiled in success, looking so deceptively innocent.

  She said in that lilting voice, which set off the tuning fork in all the best parts of my body, “Hello Knith, Graz.”

  As I strode to her, pulled in by her glittering lavender eyes and the porcelain skin all Fae had, I asked, “New research into Fae reproduction?” I nudged my chin to the beaker before I stole a quick kiss from her.

  She looked confused then glanced at the beaker and said, “Oh, no, no, no. My lemonade was too bitter. I just sweetened it a little.”

  I blinked at that then rolled my eyes, “By the gods of the cosmos, woman. Just use sugar like a normal person.”

  She got a mischievous look as she pointed out, “But I'm not normal.”

  Graz landed on the beaker and pulled a handful of the liquid up to her mouth and slurped. Eyes widening she helped herself to more, even as Rory brought it to her lips for a sip of her own. “Ahh. Just right.” Then she brightened, “Would you like me to make you some?”

  I chuckled, “While I appreciate the offer, no. I don't need you warping the fabric of time and space to make me a drink. And besides, you Fae never do anything for free, I'd probably wind up in indentured servitude for some bitter lemonade.”

  She countered with a playful smirk on her lips, “Oh come now, Knith Shade of the Brigade Enforcers, if I was going to make you an indentured servant, I'd at least sweeten it a little for you.”

  My lips quirked in a restrained smile. She like using my full name like that frequently, a quirk of hers that should make me wary, since with many forms of magic, knowing someone's true name gave you power over them. I wasn't worried though, as she had me wrapped around her little finger anyway, not to mention that the name I was assigned at the reproduction clinic is not the name I call myself.

  Why did she have to be so cute when I wasn't sure if she was being serious or not?

  I cleared my throat and changed the topic. “So tell me again why you tuned your wards to allow Graz in but left them up for me.”

  She moved around the workbench and hopped up to sit in front of me, her feet kicking idly. “I've told you a dozen times already. You know I enjoy watching you defeat my spells with your partial magic immunity.”

  Sighing in resignation I said, “I've got some exciting news, and President Yang has requested that in my capacity as liaison to the Fae, that I request an official presence of a high ranking Fae lady or lord to attend a briefing in Leviathan's flight control center.”

  She perked up at that. “And you're requesting me instead of my mother?”

  Graz squeaked out, “She's avoiding Queen Mab. Her mark has almost faded away, so Shade is hoping the Winter Lady forgets.”

  Rory looked closely at me and smiled again. “Ah, I knew your lips felt different. Your upper is only half that alluring blue ice now. But you know, mother doesn't forget anything, and you can't avoid her if she has her mind set on it.”

  “One can only dream.”

  Then my girl actually teased me, “Doesn't look like you've been successful in avoiding Titania though.” My cheeks burned almost as hot as the living flame of my lower lip, the Summer Lady, Titania's mark. It was humiliating and embarrassing to be marked by both of the Fae queens, and doubly so that they both chose to reinforce their marks by cornering and surprising me with a kiss out of nowhere.

  “Well dream on, Knith.” Then she prompted. “Did the president state a preference?”

  I grinned with smug satisfaction. “She may have implied the Winter Queen was the representative she was expecting, but her specific words were 'a certain high ranking Fae'.” I shrugged like it were out of my hands. “Loophole.”

  She laughed heartily then giggled. “Are you sure you aren't Fae?”

  “You sequenced my genes.”

  “Fair point.”

  Then her brow furrowed. “Does this briefing concern the approaching ships?”

  Feeling mischievous I prompted, “Is that an official question? If so, then... yes.”

  She crinkled her nose sourly. “Well played.”

  Showing no mercy I asked a question in our endless game of eking information out of each other, which sometimes plays out quite seductively, “Are there any races on board who can weave a spell without being in close proximity to their target? And as part of that question, if so, then which races?”

  She sighed. “Another case? Fine. Besides a very few of the Greater Fae, not in the manner which you are implying. A couple of races can affect the subject of the spell, with a focus, something belonging to the subject. The Elves, and the Will-o'-the-wisps...” She hesitated and furrowed her brow in thought. “And I suppose a few offshoots of Human practitioners... Bog Witches or Vodou Queens would be able to, but those are dark and fetid magics.”

  I quickly tapped into a virtual console. “Mother?”

  In the tinny and robotic tone the Leviathan's onboard AI used around the Greater Fae, she spoke from the emitters in the room. “Processing.”

  I growled out, “Come on Mother, you know you already have the answer, stop pretending to be slower than an Acari data tablet. We all know you're the fastest computer in existence.”

  She was silent for a moment before stating in those mechanical tones that, if you knew her as I did, still had a slight tinge of smugness from my compliment. “Last known Vodou Queen, Earth, 3014 years pre-exodus. Medjine Augustin. Three minor Vodou practitioners on the world, one in Remnant, hull number TL-176. One registered Bog Witch, Madeline Brigham, Gamma-Stack D-Ring residence.”

  I muttered in smug victory, “Got ya!”

  Then I gave Aurora my full attention. “Your turn.”

  She furrowed her brow. “You aren't even going to investigate the others I...”

  “No need. The victims of a strange sickness that seems magical in nature and is resistant to treatment are all citizens of Gamma-D
. Will-o'-the-wisps all reside in the protected lands of the A-rings, and no self-respecting Elf would be caught below the C-Rings. Plus Humans like me are statistically seven times more likely to commit crimes on the world.”

  My silver and lavender haired beauty inclined her head, smirking in appreciation as she asked, “Not my next question, but isn't that racial profiling?”

  I shrugged. I knew we humans had more proclivity to dabble in the amoral side of things than most of the other races on the Worldship. Did I like it, or the fact that it was true that I was racially profiling my own kind? No. But I also lived in our brutal reality. I actually miss cases like this, as I don't get a chance to flex my investigative muscles much in the FABLE office. I only got this case dropped on me because the connected family in the D-Ring, who had contracted the untreatable disease, swear it had to be the Fae.

  Not liking that part of me, I prompted as I reached out to cup one of her exquisitely pointed ears, “Ask your question, wench.”

  She leaned into my touch and almost purred provocatively as I rubbed her ear between my fingers, knowing it drove her crazy... in a good way. She moaned out, “Specifically, what is the briefing about?”

  I smiled and looked toward the anterior bulkhead of the A-Ring we were in. “Engineers say that the approaching ship's communications should be able to penetrate the high radiation fields emanating from their engines, just about when they enter the maximum range of our Ready Squadron.”

  She nodded, brow furrowed in deep thought. “And when will that event occur?”

  Now I smiled and shared as I looked at the ship time displayed on the archaic mechanical timepiece adorning her wall, “About an hour from now.”

  Her eyes snapped wide in excitement. I thought that might be her reaction. “Care to join me in the flight control center as we attempt contact?”

  She hopped off the table and bounced on her toes like a child anticipating opening presents on Exodus Day. “I would love to represent the Winter Court in such an auspicious event.”