Dead Air

by Ash, C. B.

  The stairs emerged into a wide loft with a rack of parts along a wall, a secondary forge, and a small door out of the room on the far side from the stairs. Forgotten crates sat scattered around the room with the occasional canvas sailcloth idly tossed over a box. While people moved around the room to find a place to settle, the dim glow from the lanterns threw a wild dance of shadows among the blacksmith tools. The darkness retreated to hover behind the cobwebs that stretched from the forge to the soot-stained wooden ceiling. Of all of them, Moira slowly wandered the room the longest, a faint smile on her face. She paused to inspect the forge with the practiced eye of an expert before she turned to locate a place to settle down in the loft.

  "At least she be feelin' a wee bit more cozy." O'Fallon commented quietly to Krumer when the orc entered the room.

  Krumer closed the trapdoor to the loft behind him. "Indeed. I, for one, am glad for it. At least one of us should have a measure of comfort, even if it may be fleeting." The first mate started to say something more, hesitated, then lowered his voice to a rough whisper. "O'Fallon, at first chance we need to talk. It's about Carlos. I suspect …"

  Anything more the first mate might have whispered to the quartermaster was lost as Tiberius addressed the group. Beside him, the gray-furred mountain lion circled its friend slowly.

  "Thank you for your trust. We should be safe in this room. The zombies have not made their way here, so far that I've seen." The young man crossed the room to a pile of canvas near an anvil. Tiberius sat heavily onto the folds of sailcloth with a sigh. Once he was seated, his mountain lion companion padded over and stretched out peacefully by the young man's side.

  Adonia checked the crate she was about to sit on. Satisfied that it would support her weight, she eased down onto it. "And for that amigo, I think I speak for us when I say we are grateful." Many of the others in the room nodded or voiced their own agreement. Adonia frowned in thought, then leaned forward a little. "However, I would like to know something. How did you come to be here? You don't dress typical of one who works aboard a relay station."

  Tiberius cleared his throat with a shy smile. "Ah, that would be because I don't. I'm a visitor like yourselves, caught up in all this trouble."

  "So when did your ship arrive? When we made port, there wasn't any other ship moored at the station aside from the wreck of the La Paloma." Krumer asked curiously.

  The young man cleared his throat. "Just before yesterday eve'." His voice was steady though his eyes flicked away from Adonia's yellowish gaze. Tiberius shrugged. "Our ship had to make port. It had to put in for repairs."

  Arcady shifted his position on Thorias' shoulder. "Fascinating. The zombies forced away your ship and shipmates then? That would mean these creatures have been here for quite a few days."

  "What?" Tiberius looked at Arcady in surprise, as if he had not noticed the clockwork insect before. He smiled thinly. "Oh, well, yes. I've managed to stay away from them most of this time. This shop is an excellent hiding place. I had hoped to ask for passage out on your vessel. I'd gladly work for my keep."

  Krumer and O'Fallon exchanged a suspicious glance. The young man's admission seemed plausible, too plausible. Something about it or the young man's mannerisms bothered the pair of them but neither knew what. Likewise, neither were willing to comment over it ... yet. Both were interested to see what else he was willing to add to his story.

  Adonia, however, was not content to stay quiet. She narrowed her eyes in thought, then asked, "You must have arrived early in the evening. I arrived on the La Paloma yesterday, but we saw no ships. In fact, when we arrived we saw no one at all."

  Tiberius met her gaze again and paled slightly. "I was in hiding. I tried to warn you. I wanted to. But there were those zombies wandering about. When your ship exploded, I feared the worse. That was a terrible hole it gouged in your ship's side."

  Adonia gave him a bright, predatory smile while the yellow in her eyes reflected the half-light of the flickering lanterns. "I do not think so, amigo. If I might say, you do not lie entirely well."

  Tiberius began to sweat. He rubbed his eyes with his left hand while his right idly petted his lion companion. "I ... I don't know what you mean."

  Adonia's eyes took on a harder look. "I did not mention any explosions."

  Startled, the young man looked around at the others that now stared at him. He gestured at Krumer. "He mentioned the wreck ... "

  The Charybdian woman crossed her arms. "The word 'wreck' can mean many things, an explosion is very specific. Also, last I knew, we are not able to see any of the ports very well from here. How can you know anything of the hole in the La Paloma's side?" She paused and took a slow breath. "Tiberius, many of those who traveled with me fell to either the assassins who scuttled us or to those monsters in the darkness. Some of those that are gone were my friends. I wish desperately to sit and grieve for them, for deep down their loss feels like a tear in my heart, but I cannot risk even a moment to grieve with the rest of us still in danger. I suggest you begin to tell us some truths, not fables."

  For a long moment, Tiberius sat deathly still. Finally he sighed, his voice ragged and broken. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, but this was not supposed to be this way. I'm not even supposed to be here, none of us should be."

  Krumer sat forward, his concern mixed with a deep interest over what Tiberius meant. "Tiberius, I think you should try again. The truth this time."

  Tiberius glanced at the orc then looked down at his hands. Krumer saw the internal struggle on the man's face. Some war of confidence raged, one that would not settle easily. Finally, Tiberius seemed to come to some sort of resolution.

  "I did come on a ship. However ... you didn't see it, Madame Salgado because ... I was stowed away on yours." Tiberius said carefully with a gesture to Adonia.

  Adonia's eyes narrowed with an ugly, cold look. "So ... you are in league with the assassins who set the explosions?"

  "No! We wouldn't have ever done any of that!" Tiberius stammered and put up his hands quickly, as if to ward off some invisible attack. The motion was so sudden, the mountain lion at his side looked up then glanced around the room. Convinced nothing threated either itself or Tiberius, the beast settled back down, only this time its eyes glinted watchfully in the half-light. After two heartbeats, Tiberius likewise calmed down as well.

  "I'm trained in weapons but I hardly ever got to use them, until now that is." He explained slowly. "I'm merely a scholar. You would call it an archeologist, I believe?"

  "Archeologist?" Moira echoed. "If that be true, why are ya here? Nothin' worth diggin' this high in the clouds."

  "No, not here." He closed his eyes and sighed. "Oh gods, I'm making a mess of this. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. I should just come out and say it." Tiberius cleared his throat. "Where I am from, we have followed Dr.Von Patterson's studies with great interest. Myself and others have been researching similar texts that involve that same ruin. The only difference is that we wished to remain more anonymous about it. When he mounted his expedition to the mountains, myself and a few of my cohorts were dispatched by the universitas ... pardon, I mean university ... to meet with Dr.Von Patterson. Our goal was to do so quietly. However, we underestimated the travel time to find him. When we eventually did manage to find his campsite, it was quickly determined we were not the only ones interested in his work."

  "Tiberius, please forgive me for being overly curious, but a question if you don't mind." Krumer asked.

  "Certainly," The young man replied.

  "Your dialect, are you from Italy? I thought I detected a faint accent?" The orc asked.

  "Uhm.. yes, Italy." Tiberius said after a moment's hesitation.

  Dr. Von Patterson suddenly twitched in a flurry of spasms that interrupted any more questions. Slowly the archeologist quieted down. Concerned, Thorias turned to check the doctor's health while Carlos sat up, alert to assist. While he checked Dr. Von Patterson's pulse Thorias half-turned so he could speak over his shou
lder to Tiberius. "You mentioned 'others', who were these others?"

  The young man shrugged. "We never knew. They dressed in dark clothes and kept to themselves. The man we believe to be their leader only appeared once early on, then left. We weren't overly concerned until they pulled a large amount of weaponry from their own packs and supplies."

  "Why didn't you come forward to Dr.Von Patterson then?" Adonia asked, her curiosity having taken some precedence over her anger.

  "We tried, but Dr.Von Patterson had already left the camp for the ruins and we were caught in the ambush at the camp. All of my companions, except for my mentor, lost their lives there. They were butchered before they had a chance to say much of anything. Only my mentor and myself managed to run to the forests. We were still searching for a safe place to hide when we came across your ship in that clearing." Tiberius gestured to Adonia again. "It was sheer luck your captain had offloaded those crates of cargo for whatever reason. We slipped aboard using those."

  O'Fallon frowned while he remembered what he had found in the La Paloma's hold. "Ye na be the only one ta be usin' the crates. There be several busted open. Though Ah did be findin' the one ye used, laddie."

  Krumer stirred from his own thoughts. "Tiberius, what did their leader look like?"

  The young man closed his eyes and thought a moment. "He was tall and thin with what I think you would call an 'aristocratic look'. His vest, shirt and all his clothing looked expensive. Even the wool long coat he wore. His hair was dark and cut short. His eyes I remember best. They were very gray and cold as if he could stare through a person. He had hurt his hand at some point because it was in some strange brace."

  Moira frowned. "That be soundin' ever so familiar," she commented aloud.

  "Did he wear a signet ring?" Krumer stood then rummaged about the room until he found a forgotten piece of charcoal near the forge. With this, he made a crude sketch of a family crest on the wooden floor. He retrieved one of the lanterns and held it close so everyone could see the drawing. "Did it bear a mark like so?"

  Tiberius squinted at it. "I think so. It was hard to see."

  Krumer nodded sagely at the young man's answer. "Arcady, you showed me something like that once, did you not?"

  The clockwork insect perked up and nodded. His wings buzzed for just a moment from dozens of tiny gears while he stretched. He cleared his throat, much in the manner he had heard Thorias do before he would speak. The static-laden sound echoed for a moment in the clockwork's voice box. His usual mechanical echo that punctuated his dialect reverberated faintly with each word. "Yes, Mr Whitehorse. It belonged to Archibald RiBeld."

  Chapter 13

  Moira sat bolt upright from surprise. "RiBeld! That'd be all we'd need. What's that bugger got ta do with all this?"

  Krumer shook his head. "I could not begin to say. Though I trust it's nothing good, especially if he discovers we are involved. From what I understand, he holds grudges quite a long time."

  Tiberius shifted his gaze between the two. "You've met him before?"

  "Yes indeed." Krumer explained. "At that time he was intent on kidnapping two children as part of some scheme to extract money. Specifically, they were his children." The orc gestured to the pale figure of Dr. Von Patterson resting on a mound of canvas.

  O'Fallon stretched, then leaned back against a crate. "RiBeld be na end a' trouble, that be for sure. What do ye think he be diggin' for this time?"

  Krumer sighed then looked off into nothing while he thought aloud. "Money perhaps? Leverage over someone? Hard to say."

  "Perhaps he's just after the statue?" Tiberius suggested. "He mentioned for his men to look for one."

  The others in the room exchanged a look. Adonia cleared her throat. "You know about the statue?" she asked cautiously.

  "The Statue of the Mystic? Yes, I do. It's rumored to be a solid jade statue." Tiberius explained. "As it was written, the ones that first settled the ruin brought with them a mystic. The mystic had a small shrine he carried with him where he kept a jade statue. The statue supposedly granted him 'great insight into the deeds of men'. Nothing was recorded of how or where the statue first came from. Only that it was made of jade and in the shape of some creature. A drake I think." He then gazed at Adonia. "You said it looked like jade? So you've actually seen it?"

  "Yes." She gestured towards Dr. Von Patterson. "He was carrying one with him when I found him in the forests. The statue was a soft green very much like jade. The eyes were a white stone with a glassy kind of green gemstone for the inner eyes. It is beautiful, but still a little disconcerting to have been staring at you at night while people are chasing you. Also, it was shaped like a drake sitting on a rock."

  Tiberius nodded. "That would match the descriptions I've read. Even the disconcerting part."

  Krumer cast a sidelong glance at Tiberius. "You know quite a lot about this statue."

  The young man shrugged. "As I said, you would call it archaeology. I've studied the writings, what few there are."

  "Well since you have, what was this 'insight' that ..." the orc started to ask when another violent round of seizures gripped Dr. Von Patterson

  "Oculus! Acer oculus censura!" The doctor said with a quivering voice before he silently succumbed to the seizures for a half-minute. Thorias quickly loosened the top button of Dr. Von Patterson's shirt then, with Carlos' help, eased the doctor onto his side to help the man breathe. Once the seizures passed, the archaeologist resumed his dazed, fitful state where he occasionally mumbled in incoherent whispers. Tiberius watched the entire episode thoughtfully.

  Adonia shook her head sadly. "Ever since I took him away from the ruins, he has had small outbursts. A few words as if from some light delirium. Ever since we've arrived at the station, he's been shaking as if he's taken a fever and ranting. These seizures ... they are new."

  Krumer noticed the change of expression on Tiberius' face. "You recognize what he says?"

  The young man looked up, his thoughts broken. "Yes, yes I do. I'm surprised. He speaks the language so ... fluently. It roughly translates to 'the sharp eyes of judgment'."

  With Dr. Von Patterson relatively quiet and no longer convulsing, Thorias and Carlos eased the doctor onto his back again. Thorias looked at the rest of the group. "I do not like how this ... ailment for lack of any better term ... is progressing."

  O'Fallon nodded. "Ah agree. It nae look healthy."

  "It isn't." Thorias said flatly. "Seizures are not something to take lightly."

  Krumer cleared his throat. "Tiberius, have you any idea what it means?"

  The young scholar shook his head slowly. "Not exactly. I remember my mentor said something once about the mystic being an arbitrator of sorts."

  "An arbitrator?" Thorias mused. "A barrister then, after a fashion."

  "Similar, yes." Tiberius replied.

  O'Fallon turned the idea over in his mind. "Sounds like he be hintin' at us bein' watched, though."

  "Watched by zombies." Moira said sourly.

  O'Fallon shrugged. "Aye, but we still be watched." The quartermaster then puzzled over a thought. "A'course can a zombie be watchin' anythin?"

  Krumer ignored the quartermaster's dark humor. "Tiberius, do you remember anything from Sapienza's libraries that mentioned any more about this statue?"

  Tiberius hesitated. "Oh, well no. Books on that section of history in the university's library were rather sketchy."

  Krumer nodded and kept his surprise hidden. How could the Sapienza, also known as the University of Rome, have a poor selection of information over Roman history? It should not. In fact, it should have a well stocked selection of information. He wondered if the young man was referring to books about the old Roman ruin itself? The orc thought that was possible. Still, Krumer's instincts yelled at him that Tiberius was not, in fact, from Italy.

  Carlos suddenly broke the short silence and shattered Krumer's trail of thought. "That's all good and well, Señor, but what do we do with the 'now', eh? What is, ho
w you say, our 'plan'?"

  The orc gave the Spaniard an irritated glance. "It is still primarily the same from my own view, with a few changes." Krumer held up a hand and counted off the list on his fingers. "First, we warn the Griffin. Second, we locate this statue. Third, we get Dr. Von Patterson, his statue and ourselves off this station and away from RiBeld and these creatures. Fourth we locate someone to help deal with the ... problem ... on this station. My own preferences tend towards the Belgian military for the last one."

  Carlos returned Krumer's irritated glance with one of his own. "Señor, I could not care less about that statue, but if it means we leave this accursed place, then I'll be with you."

  Adonia looked around at the others. "Since we've no idea where this statue is. How will we find it?"

  Krumer thought a moment. He sighed when no ideas readily came to mind. "I don't know, yet."

  Just then Tiberius' companion growled in a low, guttural tone. The big cat lifted its head. Its eyes scanned the room while its furred ears turned forwards, then backwards.

  Arcady's wings fluttered a moment with a light buzzing sound. "We are not alone. Something is nearby."

  O'Fallon sat up slowly when he heard it as well. It was a faint sound, almost a whisper. Like the sound made when rough cotton or canvas cloth has brushed against a piece of metal. Carefully, he reached for his sidearm. "Ah be hearin' it now. Somethin' be movin' about, tryin' ta be quiet."

  From outside the room, the sound echoed again. This time it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Quickly and quietly, O'Fallon drew his sidearm. Krumer and Tiberius both moved carefully over to the trap door. Everyone else sought cover as best as they could find behind crates or even the old forge on the far side of the room. Krumer gazed at Tiberius.

  "Ready?" The orc whispered. Tiberius nodded in reply. Krumer reached for the trap door.