“Here you go, brother,” Kyle said, handing it over; Gage accepted it wholeheartedly.
“Thank ya,” he said with a beaming grin.
“Who else is here?” asked Adrienne, still smiling.
“Nathaniel Cole insisted on being transferred to the ship,” Om replied. “So he is down on Deck Three. His teammate Sean is still bedridden, so he is the sole lead operative we have. Ty, I hope you are okay with me placing him in your room, so he would be closest to your supplies and care. I remembered that your trunk is still aboard.”
Ty smiled gracefully.
“Of course I don’t mind at all,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I’ll head down now and check on him; if nothing else, get a quick nap in myself.”
Om nodded.
“Gotta give that guy props,” Gage said as Ty made his way for the door. “Hey Ty, can ya tell him I’ll be down for a visit later, after ya both rest a while? I don’t think I’m gonna be able to get much rest myself.”
“You got it, Gage,” Ty replied.
Om watched as Ty reached the door, opened it, and headed down below.
“He is still reeling from the loss of his brother,” Om said quietly to those still gathered. “Though he tries to put on a brave and solitary face, please make sure you all make it known that he is definitely not alone.”
“Certainly,” Ady and Joey said in unison.
Om could not help but smile at what he saw in front of him.
“I am most proud of you all,” he said, turning to begin a slow walk toward the base of the stairs leading to the navigation room. “The team has managed to remain vigilant in the face of absolute terror. Not only as a small group, but as a uniting factor across all of these different species on such a large scale.”
“It’s easy to do with folks like this on your side,” Gage replied, falling in beside Om as he walked. The rest trailed behind, listening.
“It isn’t just that though,” Om continued. “Beings often unite, but hardly ever does that endure. You see, you have managed to stay loyal to each other, despite the attempts of outside forces threatening to pull you and all you have built apart. It brings me great joy seeing this; people staying true to friendships forged, not being swayed by empty promises or brought down by despair.”
Ady and Joey held each other’s hands as they walked, agreeing with Om.
“I think we managed to form friendships that will stand the test of time,” said Joey.
“I agree. There have been plenty with their own shady, personal interests trying to subvert this entire effort; the department heads for example. They never had any interests in mind other than their own, failing to see the big picture. Because of that, things could have gone very, very badly, the stress all this negativity leading to mistrust instead of unity. However, because of you all, we have so far prevailed.”
“Damn right we have,” Gage said, glancing over to the Fullers, who grunted in agreement. “Against them and anyone else who’ll likely come up to take their place.”
“That is great to hear,” Om stated, reaching the steps. He turned on the spot toward Gage, his four legs shuffling quickly. “Thank goodness you all did not let this success go to your heads, either. We are all vulnerable, no matter how much we think that we may be invincible. Often many fill their own heads with prideful lies which do more harm than good, burning the bridges that took so long to build.”
“You sound like you’ve given this a lot of thought, Om,” said Adrienne uneasily as she gazed down toward him.
Om let out a sigh. His large eyes looked up at her, sparkling with tears of memory.
“Indeed I have,” he replied soberly, grasping at one of the handrails as if what he was about to say would overburden him, “and every part of me wishes that I hadn’t been given the opportunity. I will tell you more when there is time, but what I mentioned was something that my own people could not manage to accomplish back on my world and as a result, it all fell during our very own apocalypse.”
The hair on the back of Gage’s neck stood on end at the revelation. He could feel the very air charge with astonishment, affecting everyone else too.
“Y-your p-people?” Gage asked, flabbergasted. “Who…”
“Are there more of you?” Ady cut in with her own inquisitiveness.
“Where is… was your world?” Joey asked, piling his question atop the rest.
Om did not reply to anyone, for even if he wanted to, a beeping noise cut through the tension.
“Ah, that would be the signal for us to depart,” Om said very quietly, glancing across the collectively upset faces longing for more answers. “As I promised we will revisit this subject when we all come out the other side victorious. In the meantime, focus on the mission ahead, for it will not be an easy one by far.”
“You got it, Jiminy,” Gage replied, resting a hand on top of Om’s head.
Adrienne tried her hardest not to react, but like a reflex she cocked her head to the side and sent a frigid look of disapproval Gage’s way.
“Gage,” said Om quietly, catching some of Adrienne’s cold gaze, “I am unsure if you know this or not, but I positively hate it when you do that.”
“Oh, I know ya do,” Gage answered and with a smile, he took off below the deck.
Adrienne was dumbfounded and looked to Om with a brisk shrug. Om merely shook his head in response, climbing the stairs to the navigation room, accompanied by Seth and Kyle.
A short time later, the Odyssey’s engines rumbled and she set off away from Front Street, flying east across the city and out to the ocean. The Homer joined them, the damage she received in Paris repaired. Together, the ships set course for the Mediterranean where they would rendezvous with the rest of the attack force, the largest the world had ever seen.
IT WAS STILL dark when the Odyssey and Homer arrived above the island country of Malta, the sun not due to appear for just over another hour. The streets that passed below as the ships continued eastward were illuminated by dim streetlamps, enhancing the color of the yellowish-tan Maltese architecture.
Gage had been on deck for the last two hours, having been unable to sleep for the entire ten-hour journey. Though he was tired, his eyes managed to stay wide open with angst; each second that passed brought them closer to the point of no return.
Gage, we are already far past that now, he told himself as Joy trundled out from below deck.
He had a cup of coffee in each hand; one for each of them. Handing the milky brown one over to Gage, they both took satisfying sips as the Odyssey approached what looked like a mass of twinkling stars hovering above The Grand Harbor.
“Stars are still out in force,” Joey observed.
“I don’t think those are stars, J,” Gage replied, squinting his eyes to get a better look at what was coming up. Sure enough, he was right.
As the pinpricks of light high above began to dwindle into a bluish-gold haze, the source of the twinkling stars ahead started to come into view. They were from a host of contraptions – fanciful flying machines of all shapes and sizes, built by the most ingenious minds of the Order and beyond. Some were powered by the wind like the airships, while others moved by means of magic, steam, and half a dozen other forms of locomotion. Yet no matter the vehicle, they sailed effortlessly through the Mediterranean skies, carrying an untold number of soldiers inside.
Gage’s heart swelled proudly at the sight, and if that weren’t awe-inspiring enough, then the massive number of flying beasts that joined with the fleet should be. They came in like a hurricane, wings churning a windstorm of their own. There were mostly cockatrice, along with gryphons, perytons, manticores and more. All were armored in some way, carrying an equally diverse assortment of riders with weapons on their backs.
“Never in my life…” Joey began, awestruck at something even more stupendous. The grip on his mug loosened and it tumbled far below into the sea.
Immense troop carriers were soaring past, the massive platforms dangling fro
m the great talons of dragons. There were two beasts per structure and as they flapped their mighty wings on toward Megiddo, Joey’s heart fluttered.
“G… did you see that?”
“I can't help but see everything man,” Gage answered. Whatever fears were keeping him awake were now driven away by the majesty of what he saw. “We might actually stand a chance of winning this thing.”
The Odyssey slowed and two beasts broke off from the front of the swarming throngs, whirling through the air to land right on the quarterdeck.
Gage set his mug down on the wooden planks and started walking toward the closest creature; Joey joined him. It was a majestic winged horse, whose coat glistened even in the dim light like pure snow. It whinnied loudly, flapping its powdery wings at their approach.
“Whoa there,” said a calming voice. “Gentlemen, if you value your lives, I wouldn't step any closer without a bow.”
Gage hesitated, seeing a gorgeous, smooth face peek out from behind the horse’s head. Her long and golden hair was topped with a delicate crown.
“I… forgive me Princess, I mean Queen Meriden,” said Joey nervously. “It's been some time…”
“The bow isn't for me, Joey Mosley. Rather, it's for the mount. I gather you must have banged your head pretty hard during return trip from the Otherworld and forgotten some lore?”
Joey gave Gage a long look out of the corner of his eye, half-smiling as he took a gracious bow.
“You could say something like that Your Majesty,” he stated; the mount seemed satisfied and calmed down. “But that's a long story. For now, please, welcome aboard the Odyssey.”
Meriden dismounted, the wind rippling through her light green dress like a fluttering leaf.
“Thank you, Joey,” she said, extending a well-manicured hand.
Joey took hold of it, gently kissing her fingers before she moved across to Gage. He did the same as she regarded him thoroughly from head to toe.
“You are quite an amazing individual, Gage Crosse,” she told him. “Not many have been able to achieve what you have, rallying so many to a single cause, especially bearing the burdens that you have. It is with great honor that my forces come to aid humanity in their darkest hour.”
“And we are damn sure honored that ya have,” Gage replied.
As the two of them continued, Joey noticed a large man getting off the horse, landing on the deck with a heavy thud. He must have ridden in with the Queen, but with his face hidden by one of the beast’s wings, Joey couldn't make out who it was. The man was arguing with a few leather straps on the side of the creature, trying to remove what looked like a sledgehammer from a long sheath.
“Dax?” Joey called out on a hunch. “Hammer, is that you?”
The short man paused, pushing the wing out of the way, revealing his chiseled face and trim beard.
“Joey Mosley!” he replied excitedly, waving a massive arm. “It’s definitely me. You’re looking well, man; so much better than when we last saw you! Care to help me get this stubborn thing out of here?”
“Sure, sure,” Joey said, giving the horse a cursory bow as he breezed by.
Rounding the wing cautiously – which still managed to give him a few hefty slaps to the face – Joey noticed Hammer was looking even more massive than he remembered. Being roughly the same height, Hammer had to have at least fifty pounds more muscle on him.
“Jesus, Hammer. Remind me never to get on your bad side!”
“Why’s that?” Hammer asked, always innocent, thinking something was wrong.
“Because, I want to avoid getting eaten!” Joey replied jokingly, sticking his tongue out as he worked on undoing the knotted straps.
“Oh! Well, you have nothing to worry about,” Hammer replied with a smirk. “You're far too scrawny now; wouldn't even be enough for one meal.”
Both men fell into a round of well needed laughter, noise from the other mount cutting its way in.
“Hey!” came a curt Irish voice. “Watch yourself, you big gobshite!”
“Oh whatever,” said another one. “I would, if I could actually see you in there.”
“Ooooo, look at you! Grown enough balls to be taking the piss!”
Joey looked over to Hammer questioningly, undoing the last of the difficult straps.
“It's Brandon and Brennan,” he answered, finally freeing the sledgehammer. “They obviously get along really well.”
“Oh shut up, you wee wanker.”
“I'm not the type for layin’ boots, but you're managing to tempt me real good.”
A few moments later, Brandon had dismounted and made his way round the cockatrice, followed closely by Brennan, who was eyeing the mount’s protective eye straps.
“You keep running your gob, Brandon and I may take them straps off and let the lad give you a nice, long stare.”
“Oh, really now?” Brandon retorted.
“Well hey, you two!” Joey interjected before things got out of hand. “Great to see you both again!”
Seeing Joey seemed to do the trick, both man and leprechaun shifting from anger to happiness.
“Joey! My God, man,” Brandon said, giving him a mammoth hug. “So fecking glad to see you up and about! You were a wreck when we last saw you.”
“I sure was! I heard about everything that went down and really can't thank you enough for your help during the rescue. You were even transfigured into a goblin, right? How was that?”
Brandon made a shushing noise, but it was too late. Brennan had heard and was sniggering.
“Moving on,” Brandon stressed, “I've definitely improved my spell casting; done loads of practicing, so shouldn’t catch any of your shirts on fire this time.”
Brennan laughed maniacally.
“Oh shut up, you wanker,” Brandon hissed at him.
“Fine, fine,” Brennan said as he slowed his laughing to a crawl. “It's good to see you again, Joey. How's your other half doing? Marcus?”
Joey cast his eyes to the deck, shaking his head slightly.
There was no need for any words, as Brennan understood what had happened. He removed his tiny leprechaun helm, dipping his ginger head in sadness.
“So sorry to hear that, laddie,” he said. “He was a great man, lost before his time.”
“It's certainly sad,” Joey replied, “but everything happens for a reason, right?”
“Aye, it does.”
Just then, a horn sounded and another ship, small and nimble, was pulling up beside the Odyssey. It was of a design none of them had seen before; intricately carved out of wood and trimmed with gold, its bow was shaped like an eagle’s head, the hull following with sweeping aerodynamic lines that swooped into a long and graceful tail. Jutting out from both sides were large, flapping sails, connected to the ship via pivoting metallic joints.
The bird-like vessel slowed, then came to rest as the tip of its starboard sail barely touched the deck of the Odyssey. Guardrails then appeared on the top of the wing, rising like a candle melting in reverse, forming a narrow walking bridge that connected both vessels.
Several shapes appeared on the deck of the strange ship, their details still obscured in the low light. One of them stepped onto the wing-sail, precariously walking across the bouncy fabric holding tightly to the railings. As it approached, both Gage and Joey had smiles form on their faces.
It was Henry who crossed first, looking positively un-Henry like decked out in full battle gear like an operative. Even his automaton was uncharacteristically vibrant; its inner lights caused a soft blue glow in the darkness. As he stepped from the sail onto the deck, Henry’s legs wobbled and he became overbalanced. Joey quickly reached out as he started to falter, helping to stabilize him.
“Quick moves, Joey. Thank you; I’m not as young as I used to be. That said, if you would please: the next time the Council says they plan to take their ‘magnificent and traditional’ method of transportation to a rendezvous point, remind me to run in the opposite direction,” Henry ins
isted. “Though she is stunning, beauty only runs hull-deep with the Águila; she’s one rough and noisy contraption. Hellish if you’d pardon the comparison to what we’re trying to avert.”
Joey grinned; there was something about Henry that morning – his demeanor, the outfit, hell, the entire scenario the found themselves in – that made everything about the situation all the more real…. and frightening.
The rest of the Águila passengers started to file across the sails and onto the Odyssey’s decks.
“Ship’s getting a bit crowded,” Joey whispered to Gage as Allete and Timothy crossed over, both nodding as they moved over to the far guardrails.
Tyrol lumbered across next, his tall body covered in a shimmering, tortoise shell-like armor. His hooves clattered across the wood deck and before long he was standing in front of Gage and Joey, his tall horns like the spires of a dark tower.
“So,” he growled, “now that we aren’t confined in the Council chambers back at HQ, are you ready to learn a few things, Gage Crosse?”
“Maybe,” he replied with a smarmy smile. “That really depends on what you’re referring to, Tyrol.”
“I believe you put it as: ‘kicking demon ass’,” Tyrol said gruffly, “to which I will gladly show you how it’s done.”
“Challenge accepted,” Gage said, patting the beast’s great arm before continuing to join the rest.
Quileth came across next, leather armor replacing his normally flowing robes. He was followed closely by Evans, who had donned an operative’s uniform and gear. The two monsters looked at their friends with admiration, receiving the same in turn.
“So it all comes to this,” Evans said to Gage. “A far cry from the woods of Pine Springs or even the stage at the Assembly, isn’t it? Who would have thought the moment I entered that hall and my life was spared by your decision, that we would be standing here months later, together, on the verge of battling the very forces that threatened to tear us all apart?”
“It is kind of amazing when ya look at it like that, ain’t it?” Gage replied, taking a long, hard look at Evan’s face. There were definite signs of fatigue looking back at him, expected considering all they had been through.
Running on Empty (Journeyman Book 6) Page 14
