by Tony Corden
Atherleah, you have taken the form of Katil Sıçan, a giant rat who features in Orc mythology as the harbringer of death. Katil Sıçan was supposedly a favoured pet of Olme, Goddess of Death. The vambraces have each added 50 A and 50 C to your statistics. Your clothes and belongings will be restored when you return to your human form.
Leah began to take a few tentative steps and found that she naturally fell into walking on all fours and using the tail for extra balance. She wrinkled her snout and discovered that she was able to identify the presence of several other animals within 500 paces upwind of where she was. One of those scents was getting closer rapidly, and with both her natural and increased agility she scampered to the left just as a set of dragon claws rent the area she had just vacated. Leah screamed in her mind, "Mìng! Stop! It's me. I'm the rat."
She was just in time, as Mìng had somehow changed direction within several body lengths and was preparing for a ground assault. Then it took several minutes for Leah to explain the sequence of events. After they had both settled down, Leah spent an hour getting to know the body and trying to use her heightened sense of smell and her now acute hearing. At the end of this period, she changed back to her human-elf form and was surprised to see that the rat retained the outline, although the hart had been returned to the position of primary figure.
For the rest of that day, Leah and Mìng made their way slowly down into the long wide valley. They fought several other razor-tailed forest rats, a carnivorous plant with slashing tentacles, a large cat with the ability to fade from sight and a two headed serpent, it had a head at either end of a long thick body and was called a forest amphisbaena.Leah used her sword, the axe, and her whole range of spells, eschewing further use of her ability to feed. Finally, after a full day, they found a large overhang which Mìng could defend by herself and Leah logged out of Dunyanin.
CHAPTER TWELVE
December 12, 2073 - Part 4
When Leah appeared in the Tower, she intended to log out and check if there was news on her mother. She paused when Gèng and Dr Roberts appeared. Leah sighed and sat on the sofa. “I assume you are both here for a reason. I’m almost certain you’d be smiling if the news was positive. What is the problem?”
Dr Roberts sat on one of the other chairs and said, “Gèng sent me a copy of the latest images of your neural activity. She explained her theory and asked for my advice. I’ve been here for some time looking at the sequence of events and bouncing ideas around with Gèng. Leah, I think Gèng has made an accurate assessment of the situation and correctly described what is happening. She also gave a brief overview of the reasons you give for continuing to manipulate your brain as you are. I asked to talk with you because I believe it is more complex than Gèng described and then if you decide you must continue, I have a suggestion to make.”
“OK. So, how is it more complex?”
“Gèng’s theory explains a lot of the activity, but I think the activity we see around your corpus callosum and your somatosensory cortex do not only indicate a generalised increase in connectivity. They also evidence that your system is creating specific connections to enhance the way you sense the world and how you react to the data you collect. These connections are more complex and will allow you a faster and more diverse range of actions. They will allow you to receive, understand and appropriately react to new sensory information much more quickly.
“I was observing your neural activity when you took the form of that rat. It showed intense activity in those two areas, and within a short period, you mastered how to think like a four-legged creature. This included using a tail and understanding all the additional olfactory messages. I’ve done research in this area, and your speed in transitioning from a new experience, through the assimilation process, to achieving fluid and natural action was three times faster than anything I’ve seen before and almost ten times what I think the average is. Gèng explained a little of your experience in cyberspace, I think this was what triggered the neural changes.
“I suggest you allow the swelling around your brain to reduce before making any further foray into cyberspace, or even before you beast-walk again. Gèng suggests that you’re unlikely to listen to my advice because you are under a time constraint. Unfortunately, there is more to this than just those changes. I’m concerned about the stress this will put on you personally. It was only a week and a half ago that you suffered from major changes to your neural architecture and a highly traumatic event which initiated the post-traumatic symptoms that brought you to me in the first place. You need to take things easy for a while. Once the doorway to any mental illness is opened it never really closes all the way.”
Leah sat quietly, thinking through what was said and how to respond. Finally, after a minute or two of silence, she said, “I appreciate your concern Dr Roberts, and I agree that if that were all it was, then I would take your advice. Unfortunately, there are things you aren't aware of that change the scenario. When I put these into the equation, then I have no choice but to continue along this path. You said you have a suggestion if that was the case, what do you suggest?"
"Can you share the bigger picture?"
"I could, but you would need to agree to total confidentiality. That includes the possibility that I will tell you something which you believe obligates you to report me to the authorities. Can you promise, even under those circumstances, that you will keep what I say a secret? Remember, when it comes to administering justice I believe in repentance and restitution before forgiveness and re-integration. I also believe in retribution when either repentance is absent, or restitution is impossible."
"I see...I don't think I could make a promise like that these days. I did when I was younger. It was when the lure of a highly paid government position convinced me to sign all sorts of agreements. My soul is still stained by both by what I saw and what I did. I learned that keeping a foolish or an ignorant promise will never outweigh doing what is right. At least you have the honour of telling me the situation up front. No, I'll remain ignorant.
"My suggestion is to have Gèng reprogram some of those nanites to target the corpus callosum and make some artificial nano-tubule bridges, or conduits, between the two hemispheres. Your body is already attuned to using artificial pathways, and it may grow neurones through these bridges instead of needing to force a pathway to make its own connections. This will reduce the swelling and hopefully the long-term trauma."
"Gèng?"
"I've already talked with Dr Roberts about the necessary programming and with your approval can begin building the bridging connections within several hours."
"OK, Gèng, please go ahead and have them start. Don't use them all though, as I have another use for them that I'll share after I have a short break." Turning to Dr Roberts, she said, "Thank you for your advice and concern. I would definitely accept it if there weren't, what I believe are, mitigating circumstances. I have to go now, but please feel free to stay and discuss things with Gèng."
Leah exited the Pod and discovered the headache was still present, albeit a little less intense. Conner was in the kitchen, and she ate with him, discussing his training with the fighting sticks and listening to his complaints about the bodyguards. Afterwards, she left him to clean up and headed back into the Pod.
Geng was waiting, and Leah said, "I've been thinking of the download from the Annoyance, and I'm worried that whatever the information is, it could be malicious. I was thinking of downloading the data after we retrieved my mum but now I think we need to get it beforehand just in case things don't work out and I have to hand over the Annoyance. I want you to prepare some isolated data-storage sites in the Pod that I can download to directly. Also, for redundancy can you isolate a number of the memory nodules you've built into my spinal cord or skull just in case the plan was to store the information on Mahigan's chip or some child-chip she's had implanted."
"I can, but why do you need the nanites?"
"I don't just want them isolated with code. I wan
t them to have one, and only one, possible connection point for input and output."
"I'll have them begin work immediately. Where are you going now?"
I'm going to see if I can find out anything more about Catherine. Then I'll probably take the pirates to Aeolipile and see about raising a crew for the Tempest."
With that Leah made her way via the SPIDER to the portal to Pneumatica.
Leah arrived in the guest room Tedrick had prepared for friends, though Leah doubted he had any real friends. When she opened the door, she found two of the ex-pirates standing guard. One of them said, “Good morning, Captain Charlotte. Both Major Daniels and Mr Wilks have passed the word that they would appreciate a word with you, at your convenience.”
“Before I ask you to escort me, might I enquire concerning your names and positions?”
The guard who had greeted her said, “My name is Andrews, Captain and that there is Weevil. Well, ‘is real name is Wendelson but all have called him Weevil ever since he came aboard as a young maggot. We’re both Able Airmen, Captain.”
“Well Andrews, I thank you for watching over my quarters, and you also, Wendleson. Now, if you would, please escort me to Major Daniels.”
They led Leah out onto the top of the mesa which formed the Tempest’s Nest. Ian was standing with Mr Wilks and staring into the distance at a thin column of smoke rising from a hilltop in the distance. As she approached, both men turned and dipped their heads in acknowledgement of her presence. Ian said, “Captain Charlotte, it seems to me that you have some inexplicable ability at knowing the most propitious time to make an entrance. Mr Wilks and I have been preparing for a retaliatory attack by Mr Emmerson’s forces. We have just received the signal—that smoke on the horizon indicates that his forces are headed this way.”
“I see, and what have you to propose?”
“As I see it, Captain, we can run, thus protecting those we have freed, but we would lose most of the prize as there is no room on the Tempest for anything besides the people. Our second option is to defend this base as we have a good supply of armament, but I assume the Emerson’s have a thorough knowledge of the defence arrangements for this site and have brought sufficient forces to overpower it. Our third option, the one both Mr Wilks and I prefer, is to take the attack to those who approach. I believe we can defeat them in the air.”
“Mr Wilks, do you concur?”
“Yes Captain, I have polled the men, and without exception, they do not wish to forego their share of the prize without a fight.”
“Gentlemen, I appreciate your willingness to defend this base, but you should know that I value your lives and that of those poor souls who were enslaved here far more than any share of the loot. Should we go to meet the pirate fleet and be overcome, what options do we give those who remain here? Shall we abandon them to fate and the possibility of further enslavement? I am content to wager my life and fortune on the game of battle, but I am loathe to wager the lives of those who have nothing to gain and everything to lose.”
There was silence from both men as they pondered the words. Finally, Ian nodded and said, “Neither am I captain, neither am I.”
They turned to Mr Wilks who said, “Aye, Captain, I understand. But what if they were able to escape by another means? What then would you say?”
“If that were possible, Mr Wilks then I would order you and my men to ready the Tempest for battle.”
“When the Nest was being constructed much of the material was transported on an old dirigible. Rather than sail it back to Aeolipile, it was deflated and stored in one of the storage bays. The gondola was repurposed as guards’ quarters. I think we could reattach the balloon, inflate it and have all the non-combatants away within hours. If the Tempest were to advance on the fleet, there would be enough time to evacuate.”
“Major Daniels, please prepare the Tempest for battle while Mr Wilks shows me the balloon and gondola. Should they be suitable, as described, then I intend to depart inside fifteen minutes. Mr Wilks, show me the balloon.”
Ian set off at a run, shouting orders, while Leah followed Mr Wilks toward the storage bays. Everything was as Mr Wilks had described and after leaving eight men and two officers behind to prepare the evacuation, Leah and the Tempest lifted off thirteen minutes later, headed in the direction of the rising smoke.
The Nest was leagues behind them, but still visible when the news was passed to Leah that the pirate fleet had been spotted in the distance. Since leaving the Nest, Leah had been quizzing Mr Wilks and Major Daniels on how such battles were fought and seeking their advice and suggestions regarding tactics for the upcoming battle. Five minutes after sighting the fleet, Leah was handed a note detailing the size and configuration of the enemy. Altogether there were eight airships with crews similar in size to the Tempest. In addition, over thirty, smaller, single or double crewed aircraft were approaching. Mr Wilks explained that most of the smaller fighter style craft were crewed by Aether-Worlders and were known to attack without concern for their lives, often disabling ships through suicide attacks. None that he knew of had ever been captured. They would fly straight into the ground rather than surrender.
Leah ordered the Tempest to climb above the approaching fleet and stood watching, wondering how she could rescue Catherine.
She said, “Gèng, can you ask Akia if people under compulsion have any freedom of action?”
“She says that as it depends on the orders. After I explained the situation, she said that it was most likely that Catherine had significant freedom for self-expression, otherwise she would be unable to fly the aircraft. It also explains her callsign and logo.”
“Contact Sharon and ask if she had a name or sign similar to CT Hang. Something that Catherine would recognise. Also, contact Tesfaye and tell him to get ready to send people to an address we give him. Also get Wilson on board.”
It was several minutes before Gèng said, “Sharon says she never did but that Catherine used to tease her when she was young because she struggled with the ‘sh’ part of her name. She would say her name was ‘Saron’. Catherine changed it to Sauron and used to tease Catherine about being the Dark Lord from Lord of the Rings. Catherine would scribble an eye on Sharon’s forehead when angry. Sometimes she would pretend to have a ring on her finger and tease Sharon that it was the one ring that would destroy her.”
“What did the eye look like?”
“It was stylised. She’d draw it in red and have the iris vertical like a cat instead of horizontal, apparently from an old 2D classic they watched once.”
“OK, have her send me an image of it.”
Leah turned and said, “Mr Wilks, would you please pass the word to the Boatswain that I have a task for the Sailmaker?”
It was only a matter of minutes before the Sailmaker appeared and Leah gave instructions for the making of a new flag for the Tempest. She wondered what Tolkien would have thought of her flying under Sauron’s banner.
As the pirate fleet approached, they began to spread out and climb as no one was keen to lose the high ground so early in a fight. Mr Wilks had explained that although the Tempest was almost impervious to enemy fire, it needed to be careful of attacks from directly above and below. He also shared that Mr Emmerson had most likely prepared for such an eventuality and the pirates would have armament coated with Maxwellian Bronze.
Major Daniels had loaded the Tempest with almost every piece of weaponry and armament stored at the nest and Leah expected that more Maxwellian Bronze would be expended in this battle than any other in the history of Pneumatica. The sailmaker returned with a large flag hastily painted with a vertical red eye. The paint was still wet and it looked like the eye was bleeding. Leah said, “A creditable flag. Please have it raised and pass the word to Major Daniels that he may commence the attack at his pleasure and have the surgeon’s mate to attend me.”
Within moments the Tempest’s guns rang out, and the battle was joined. Soon Delores came on deck and said, “How might I assist you,
Captain?”
“Delores, I assumed you had departed with the others. I called for the Surgeon’s mate.”
“My assistant is already at work attending to some of the minor injuries that occur on board ship. I am here by my choice, Captain. I, like you, wish to see an end to these pirates. How may I help?”
“I wish to render an enemy pilot senseless. Have you any mixture that I might use?”
“Do you wish to medicate their food or drink Captain?”
“No, I was thinking of it being flung toward them in a bladder or a projectile that they might breathe it in, or otherwise be influenced by it as they attack.”
“Might I inquire why, Captain?”
“Just as the Aether-Worlders in the hold were captives, so too are many of the pilots who attack us now. I wish to save at least one, and maybe more.”
Delores slowly nodded her head and said, “I shall prepare several mixtures and return.”
As Delores left, there was a loud crash, and the whole ship rocked. Leah looked around and could see one of the masts had been hit and fallen. It had fallen at an angle and would have fallen free except for a few lines which still connected it to the ship. Two of her men were clinging to the top gallant yard. Several sailors were already cutting the mast loose without regard for the men, but she decided she could not sacrifice them so easily. She stood to issue orders, but before she opened her mouth, Mr Wilks directed men to throw ropes to the men. She slowly sat down, and Mr Wilks said, “Captain, leave this to the men and me. We know you have much to learn about life aboard ship. I promise we will sacrifice no one cheaply or without cause. You are captain, your job is point us where to go.”
Leah nodded and said, “Aye, Mr Wilks, and thank you for the lesson.”
