by C. M. Kane
Brohan’s eyes narrowed. ‘And just how do plan to get it from a secure facility?’
‘I’m going to steal it of course.’ She said unperturbed.
Brohan’s jaw dropped. Gathering his thoughts he continued his questioning. ‘Alright, let’s suppose for a moment that I believe this will work and you manage to get the Ithacian White. There’s still the force field and your nanites to contend with, and they aren’t going anywhere.’ He leant back in his seat, grabbed his roll, tore off a healthy bite and started to chew. He still thought he had won.
Tae smiled at him sadly. ‘I don’t believe the force field will be a problem. We are dealing with a highly intelligent god from what little I can find on him. He has no need for the force field while the volcano is quiet. It runs off crystals and the life span of those is around fifteen hundred years with continuous use. I don’t know how many of his ships crystals survived, they may be huge but they’re also pretty damn fragile once they’re hooked up.
I think Loki is going to be conserving power to play it safe, and turning it off when he has no use for it, like now. I think he’ll just use any crystals he has left to keep the oxygen scrubbers working, and for any sleepers he may have. Unfortunately after all this time any crew not in the sleepers will be dead. I don’t know what shape Loki will be in, but every ship carries a minimum of five sleepers for emergencies, so there’s definitely still hope.’
Brohan nodded ‘I agree, but you’ve still got the nanites!’
‘Yes’ Tae said. I know they’re not going anywhere and that leaves me only one alternative.’ Brohan stopped chewing. A puzzled look crossed his face, quickly followed by one of horror as he comprehended what she was planning. ‘No!’ he shouted in shock. ‘No I forbid it. I will not train you. I will bloody well go to your father before I allow you to do that.’
Tae’s chin rose and her eyes narrowed. ‘You gave me your word Brohan so you will do no such thing. This is the only way around the nanites. I can’t get rid of them as you so eloquently keep pointing out, so I’m going to do the only thing left to me. I’m going to turn the damn things off!’
Brohan jumped to his feet. ‘If you do this, and I have no doubt you have already organised it, then you have to realise you will start to age immediately. People will see, they will notice, and it will only accelerate the longer you take to reach the volcano. This is madness, Tae.’
He was right of course. She’d found the entry port earlier this morning in Thortown’s main hospital computer and had figured out how to get past the restrictions to study a nanites life and death cycles. After some very surprising research she’d gained access to her own file and had simply swapped birthdays with that of a, Mrs Elizabeth Graham of Ballan. The elderly woman was due to turn eighty the day the Island began. It was easy really. She had no idea the process was triggered by such a simple program until she’d snooped.
‘No, it’s not’ Tae reasoned. ‘Listen. If they deliver us at one of the three drop-off points that you’ve shown me on the map, it should take me between three and seven days to reach the volcano and melt the rock. According to my research, five days after I switch them off will put me at around thirty-two or thirty-three years of age. Every day there after my ageing will start to hyper- accelerate, so I will want to be there no more than five or six days. I’m hoping that when I free Loki he’ll be able to switch them back on for me. If not, then I’ll ask him to find and free Jase and my mother, and kill every bastard involved in their kidnapping!’
She smiled gently. ‘Brohan, “I’ve thought long and hard about this and I can live with these choices, but I can’t live without ever trying. I would die inside. Jase is still alive. I can feel him. In here,’ she tapped her chest, ‘and here,’ she tapped her head. ‘We have always had a connection, Jase’s probably trying to think of a way for him and my mother to escape, but we both know I’m their best hope. As for anyone noticing me, how could they? My vid-ball will be gone and my nanites deactivated. I’m going to be running from anyone else out there, the chances of anyone seeing me are negligible, and so what if they do? How would it matter?’
Brohan was grasping at straws now. ‘When they realise you’ve destroyed your vid-ball and they can’t locate you with their scanners, the relay techs will know something is wrong and contact the WLE, they will still send in hunters for you, you’ll be lucky if it even buys you a day.’
‘I know’ Tae said. ‘But by then I will hopefully have enough distance on them to be able to make it to the volcano, just like you’ve planned. If I get there it will only take a minute to set the Ithacian White. Five to seven more minutes and the rock is gone. I know there’s a lot of ifs and buts here Brohan, you don’t have to tell me. Unless you can think of something better then it’s the best I can come up with, especially in three days’ she said, her old grin back in place.
Brohan sat back down with a huff. She’s done it, he thought, stunned. Her plan was brilliant, risky and most likely doomed to failure, but bold and so totally unexpected that there was actually a slim possibility it could work. That was if she managed to steal the Ithacian White as she claimed she was going to.
Well, Shit!
Brohan lifted his gaze to hers. ‘So what the hell are you just standing there for? Get running.’
Tae laughed and set off.
CHAPTER 8
It took until the day prior to the Gathering before a workable plan to steal the Ithacian White was finally put forward. Surprisingly neither Tae nor Soola had been the ones to come up with it. It had been Valaria.
Tae had spent the previous two weeks either running, eating, studying or fighting. Brohan had pushed her hard, but she was starting to feel less stressed each time she ran, and her knife fighting skills were improving rapidly. Brohan still said that she would get slaughtered within thirty seconds if she went up against a trained warrior, against a human however, she might do some serious damage before she died. She was also learning more about the Island, where the streams and waterholes might be found, what plants she could eat if she found them, and what was to be avoided. She also learnt the most direct routes to take from each of the three landing sites, and what landmarks to look out for. Fortunately there was no wildlife to be concerned about, so that was something to be grateful for.
Brohan had informed her he wanted her to sleep either up a tree or underneath some of the dense clumps of ferns that she had seen when she watched the Island, and only after scattering as many small twigs and branches around the area as she could. That way, hopefully, she would hear the twigs breaking and wake up if someone were trying to sneak up on her while she slept. But her most daunting task by far would be scaling at least one cliff, if she were dropped at either the first or second landing sites.
‘It’s about twenty to thirty kilometres from the volcano. You will be tired, but it’s only around one hundred metres high, an easy climb.’ Brohan had said casually.
Tae‘s only thought- Oh crap no! She didn’t see how that would be possible, her secret fear was heights, and it was a doozy. Apart from Jason she’d told no-one about her weakness, for that’s what she saw it as, weakness. She didn’t mind bugs, spiders or snakes of any description, but anything over five or so metres and she started getting seriously weird. Her legs would go weak, her stomach would knot, and she would get cold shivers down her spine. Very soon after she would be either be sitting on her arse, or crawling on her hands and knees as fast as possible away from the offending view. When she eventually admitted her phobia to Brohan, he went very quiet and checked his map again.
‘You can follow the escarpment for half a day, there is an embankment that rises steadily to the top again, and then you can double back. It will add another day, so you’re going to have to be making some serious time.’ He looked up, a worried expression on his face, ‘Anything else I should know?’ he asked.
Tae shook her head, as far as she knew, heights were it, but Brohan kept going over the map as if looking for inspiration
. She had never felt so useless or ashamed in her entire life. Here he was doing everything he could to help her, and all she was doing was letting him, Jason, her mother, Loki and Miss Bayfour, down. ‘I’ll try the cliff first,’ she said.
‘You’re sure, Tae? If you’re going to freeze half-way up then that’s it,’ Brohan said.
She lifted her chin defiantly. ‘I won’t freeze, this is too important. Besides, the cliff’s only about half a day from the volcano right? And who knows, I might end up at landing site three so the cliff won’t even come into contention.’ Brohan just smiled at her, coughed a little, and lowered his gaze back to the map.
That afternoon she had walked back with Soola to her place, going over wilder and wilder ideas on how to steal the Ithacian White. Soola had told her mother, which Tae reassured her she was fine with, at this stage any help would be welcome, but they too had discussed it with no luck. She was starting to get desperate, the Gathering was tomorrow, and she was no closer to a plan than she had been the night her father had told her about the Beastie. When they arrived at Soola’s place she was surprised to see Valaria sitting on the couch, a cup of her favourite lemon tea in her hands.
Margarete looked at them nervously as they came into the room, but before she could say a word Valaria spoke. ‘I couldn’t help but overhear your little problem with that Ithacian White you’re thinking of stealing.’ She smiled sheepishly. ‘Well I’ll be honest, I was eavesdropping. I can’t help myself sometimes, it’s what I do to keep myself occupied. Anyway Tae, I may have thought of a way for you to get some.’ She then leant back and sipped her tea unconcernedly, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. Tae made her way over to the couch and sat down, deftly avoiding the area with the bad spring by sitting as close to the armrest as she could manage.
Soola followed and sat on the chair opposite them both. ‘I don’t understand. What’s going on? Mum?’
‘Not yet, Soola’ Valaria interrupted. ‘I’ve invited one more guest, and then we’ll talk.’
Soola stared at Valaria wide-eyed, while Margarete kept sending little apologetic glances Tae’s way, all the while Tae sat there, horror-struck. What if Valaria had called the WLE? Everything would be finished before it had started, and now she had dragged Margarete and Soola into it. Perhaps if I made a full confession and said none of them knew what I was planning, or that I blackmailed them into it she thought desperately. There was a loud authoritative knock at the door and both Tae and Soola jumped in fright.
‘That will be our guest’ Valaria said calmly. Margarete walked over and opened the door
Tae immediately sagged in relief. ‘Brohan? What are you doing here?’ She asked.
Brohan strode into the room and looked around. ‘I received a call from Valaria who asked if I could come over because you needed my help urgently.’ Brohan turned to Tae. ‘What’s this all about?’
She shrugged and held up her hands. She was intrigued now that she knew it was her warrior master they had been waiting for.
Valaria patted the couch next to her. ‘Come sit down here and I’ll tell you all about a little idea I’ve had for getting Tae that Ithacian White she needs, you know, the stuff that’s under lock and key over at chemical factory.’ At Brohan’s startled look she continued. ‘What can I say?’ She opened her eyes innocently. ‘I like to watch people, over the years I’ve found it useful to know things about them. Sometimes it can come in quite handy, like now for instance.’ Brohan fixed her with a quelling look and Valaria smiled unconcernedly back. ‘Now do you want to hear my plan or not, because we’re going to need your help if we’re to succeed in pulling of this little heist.’
‘Go on.’ Brohan crossed to the couch and sat down, before immediately leaping to his feet again, swearing. Tae suppressed a grin as she remembered the rampant spring in the old couch. Brohan eyed her suspiciously for a moment, before crossing to the only other spare chair in the room, ignoring Margarete’s stammered apologies, and seated himself carefully. He leant forward and waited.
Valaria smiled at him. ‘Comfy now are we?’ At Brohan’s scowl she started. ‘Cliff Thomas comes in here once a month for a little,’ she coughed delicately, ‘treat, as he likes to call it. I made sure he missed last night. I had asked Margarete to tell him I was indisposed for the evening. He was most put out.’ She smiled again.
Brohan huffed with impatience and Valaria looked at him triumphantly.
‘Oh, did I forget to mention that Cliff works night security at the chemical factory where Tae’s father works?’ She paused to buff her nails. ‘The research division to be exact, he’s always bragging about how he’s allowed access to all these high security sections, and what a terribly important man he is.’
Brohan became very still. ‘What have you got in mind?’ He asked.
Valaria continued, smiling. ‘You know you’re around the same size as him? I swear, apart from that hair of yours, no-one would know the difference if you two boys were to swap clothes. I was thinking, perhaps you might give me a ride over there tonight so I could make it up to Cliff, seeing as he’s been such a good customer and all.’
‘You mean sex.’ Tae blurted out impatiently. ‘But he’d know, and he’d tell the WLE We’d be right back where we started, unless we kill him.’
Brohan nodded. ‘She’s right, and if I kill him they will immediately begin a search, to see if anything’s been stolen.’
Valaria looked over at Brohan smugly. ‘Well, that would be true if it was straight sex and all. But no-one will suspect a thing with what he usually likes.’ She grinned, and then dropped her fangs. Tae sat back startled. She’d had no idea Valaria was a Vampire. Although, looking closely, her fangs appeared far smaller and more delicate than any she’d seen before, not that she was an expert by any stretch of the imagination. And what on Earth did she mean? Brohan burst out laughing, while Margarete started giggling. Soola’s eyes went wide and her mouth formed into an O of surprise, but Tae still didn’t understand. ‘But if you bite him, he’ll still tell people you attacked him won’t he?’ she asked, bewildered. Everyone looked over at her in surprise.
Soola was the first to pipe up. ‘Not if he likes it Tae. Some men pay handsomely to be bitten during sex.’ She said before she started giggling.
Finally it Tae her exactly what Valaria intended to do. She was right, Cliff would be none the wiser if she accidentally took too much blood in her “passion” for him and he passed out for a short time. Tae could feel the blood rush to her face. ‘Oh. Oh right. ‘she said. Her face felt as though she had just ingested a thousand hot chillies. To cover her embarrassment she looked over at Brohan. ‘But I won’t put you at risk. I should go.’
Brohan stopped laughing and wiped his eyes, then looked back at her indignantly. ‘You think I’m not up for a little thievery girl? Or do you think I’ll be stupid enough to get caught?’
‘Oh no,’ she stammered, ‘I just …’
Brohan interrupted her. ‘Not everything has to be done by you Tae. You’ve got some damn good friends here.’ He cast an appreciative gaze over at Valaria, who was now rubbing her tongue suggestively over her small fangs. ‘This idea can work, and better still, if we do it right no-one will be any the wiser. Now tell me, do you know exactly where the White is kept?’
‘I think so’ said Tae. ‘I filched the schematics from the Architectural museums computer, it’s most likely in room 83-B, on the basement level. It’s the second door on the left as you enter from the lift. It’s the most secure of the rooms because it used to be some kind of vault. I figure it will be there as it’s easily the safest place to keep it. No-one is down there at night, but every door and elevator is coded. There’s also a security guard on each floor.’ She smiled ‘They are the only ones with the key-card to enter, and the code is changed every morning. The security guard also has an emergency button that locks everything down and nullifies the cards should he strike trouble. I guess it won’t be the type of trouble he’s expecting though’
She tilted her head to the side. ‘But why are you doing this Valaria? I don’t understand?’
Valaria stood and walked to the door. ‘Sometimes in life things happen to you that demand a response, no matter how long you have to wait to give it. Some god seems to have gone to quite a bit of trouble to keep your boy Loki where he is. I’m curious to see what type of trouble he’ll cause them if he ever gets loose again, besides, it’s the least I can do.’ She added mysteriously before turning to Brohan. ‘Pick me up at 2a.m. and we’ll scoot on over, it’s only about a forty-five minute drive in that little two-seat darter of yours. By the time he’s unconscious and you’re dressed, it’ll be around 3 a.m. when everyone is at their most weary. So, even if someone should see you on the monitors any little differences between you and Cliff shouldn’t be noticed. Just tuck all that hair of yours up under his cap.’ She looked him over briefly, ‘I do like a man with nice hair’ she added absently, before she opened the door and left.
Tae sat stunned, still coming to terms with the speed at which this had all occurred. The only thing she could think to say was ‘I never knew Valaria was a Vampire.’
Margarete looked over and shrugged. ‘She’s a half-breed. She doesn’t need blood as far as I know, although I think she can live off of it if need be, but she does get sore eyes and burns easily in strong sunlight like a full-blood.’ She frowned. ‘I never knew she’d been spying on me though. I’m so sorry everyone, I feel positively awful.’
Brohan stood up. ‘Be glad, that woman’s got a right good head on her shoulders. She’s come up with a working plan that is better than anything Tae has thought of.’ He looked over at Tae. ‘Yes girl, I knew you still hadn’t thought of a way to get the White as yet. You think I don’t see and hear you and Soola talking about it?’ He said as moved to the door. ‘I’ll be back here at two a.m. Tae, you’d better make sure you’re home tonight… just in case, I’ll see you tomorrow morning if everything goes as planned.’ Then he too strode out the door, leaving the three of them still sitting dumbfounded at the turn of events.
