ShipTeaser

  Sitting outside a café, a little to the north of where Hyath and I had been while ierritory of Princess Eleanor, I was sipping a coffee, trying not to pay attention to the stares of passers-by. Well, we are quite the eye-catg group. Even making an effort to blend in, with hats, sungsses and other accessories, we attracted notice, sidering we had a hulking, muscled man like Grulgor, as well as some incredibly beautiful women with us.

  “So, here we are, Aki.” Shiro was saying, a smile on her face, her dark eyes hidden behind a big pair of suhey didn’t really suit her, but then again, Shiro looked good in anything. “What’s the py?”

  “A good question.” I mused. “Well, for once, hopefully we are being proactive, rather thaive. If we had a Ring Gate, that might make our choice easy, but we don’t, and even if we did, if something happens here ierial, we’d be screwed. But yes, proactive.” I repeated.

  “Indeed, we ot-not wait for matters to slowly e to a head.” Shaeu, earing a wide-brimmed hat to shade her doll-like features, as well as a more Western-style dress than her usual yukata, pointed out. Her small hands were clutg a coffee as well. “We have many-many demands on our time, and while I do appreciate your efforts to save troubled females…” her lips twitched into a smile. “… we ot-not travel halfway around the world and put all our own pns on hold, just-just for her. If she was not-not one of these Princesses Tsukiko spoke of, at least.”

  “I dooo not like her.” Hyath, in the modest maid outfit, muttered. She was wearing a coat over the top, and sungsses, so she looked simply like a pretty young woman with care taken to dye her hair in vivid, colourful streaks. Even so, passers-by shivered unsciously from the aura she was giving out, as she was in a foul mood. “If she was tooo die, it would serve her right for spitting ooon what Akio has given her.”

  “No, she listened, at least a little.” I shook my head, exasperated. “I think in a way it’s praiseworthy to always believe in your friends. A little stupid, sidering, but worthy of praise. After all, I believe in you all, right?”

  Shaeu, Shiro and Hyath perked up at that. Even Grulgor stood taller, muscles bulging under his suit. The only one who seemed out of pce was Na, who wasn’t in disguise, as there was no need. Fortunately, as Haru-san’s Chosen Hero, she could now uand Japanese, but I spoke to her in Mandarin when I could, as it seemed to ease her ay. Though sidering her crimes, that’s probably unneeded courtesy. No, there’s no point holding it against her during this mission…

  “Of course you do, Aki.” Shiro snorted. “Though if you think about it, Shaeu, Grulgor, Hyath, Na, me… we’ve all been e some point, right? Though I’d argue it was Tan, not me, who attacked you. I’m the only one who would rather have died than hurt you.” She boasted, and Shaeu sniffed.

  “Do not-not be foolish. After all, you accepted Tan, thus responsibility lies with you. You are not-not aer than us!”

  “I’m gd everyone is so rexed we banter.” I said, drawing their attention bae. “But seriously, we o resolve matters quickly. Ideally, taking Max Power and Mary Stuart into custody would be a good start, Shaeu, you use your befuddling winds, buffed by Shiro, to easily make them spit out the truth.”

  “Grulgor thinks it will be difficult to find them. Surely it will not be so easy.” the troll interjected, showing off his higher intelligence. Shaeu snickered at Grulgor tributing to the versation, but his point was good.

  “Yes, Yasaka-san might be able to give us some clues when he recovers, but from the way Max Power, or whoever repced him, seemed to give us misleading nonsense when the Book of Providence was asked, I’m not vinced. No… I have another pouched on it briefly on the flight over, right?”

  “Force their hands.” Shiro said, nodding. “If we start causing a situatiohey believe that their pn to get to Eleanor is in dahey’ll be forced to act, and sinobody knows we are here or what we do…” she cpped her hands together loudly. “… the trap is sprung.”

  “Yeah.” I agreed. “But we have to decide on just how to pull that off. A lot will depend on what Hyath do.” At my words, she stood straighter, face hidden behind her sungsses radiating pride.

  “I dooo it! Although, they will nooot live without a suitable source of nourishment.” She warned, and I nodded.

  “Hopefully what I retrieved before we left should cover that. If it works, a lot of our problems will disappear.” As we were talking the sound of sirens could be heard, and several ambunces raced past. Sihat was a daily occurren a rge city we paid it no mind and tinued pnning.

  “We don’t know if Max Power really has exerted some sort of mind trol on everyone. So we want to avoid killing where possible.” I looked at Na. “Your skills will be invaluable. You’ve learo do what the Judge of Death was doing with your powers, right?”

  She nodded weakly. “I trap people in barrier bubbles. Though as he found out, it isn’t impossible to escape…”

  “It doesn’t o be…” I said, more ambunces screaming down the road past us, sirens bring, followed by a military truck. Around us, people were looking at their phones, and panicked murmurs were spreading, so I motioned for everyoo be silent.

  “… have you heard? The Tower of London was attacked by terrorists…” one man was saying to his wife.

  “I know, it’s not a joke. The BBC is showing footage from outside the Pace as well. Don’t look, it’s horrible. To think a grandchild of the Queen could be so horribly maimed…”

  “Aki, you don’t think…?” Shiro began, fumbling for her own phone. More ambunces, police cars, fire engines and military transports were r towards tral London, and overhead helicopters were flying. No way. How we be too te? This time we pnned ahead!

  “… ses live from Bugham Pace.” A female reporter from the BBC was saying. “… before he could be put into the helicopter and airlifted, Prince Henry’s mutited body was seen as a gust of wind blew the bhat was c him away. Some… no, all viewers will find the following footage distressing.”

  Prince Henry? Hurt in the Pace? He must have been in the Boundary. I warned him about that, and Eleanor knows the risks, so… Footage came up on the s, and it was of two paramedics rapidly carrying a ed body, only for the wind to blow, and as they stumbled, the b revealed a pale, horribly burned prince Henry, one arm missing at the shoulder.

  “Damn, he looks worse than I did.” Shiro said softly, and she took off her sungsses, meeting my eyes. “Tan thinks those burns are tainted with adherence, just like mine were.”

  “In that case…” I stood up. “Looks like the situation has turned for the worse.” Behind us, the TV in the café was now on, dispying the se at the Tower. It was cordoned off, surrounded by ambunces, police, and a number of soldiers. Though the press couldn’t get close to the Trounds, it was still possible to see the dead bodies being carried out. This makes Kyoto look easy to cover up. It’s not like they say the Pri attacked by terrorists ihe pace, and if he’s healed, who would believe it done by sce? “… let’s go.” I urged them to follow me. “Looks like as always we’re a step behind, but this time, at least it’s only a siep, and we’re on the se as shit is going down.”

  “It’s a real shame.” Shiro iserated me. “Our pn to catch the mice with a threatening cat and some tasty cheese retty good. You’re being quite the pnner, Aki.” Before I could retort, I caught sight of a man talking to the polid soldiers on the s. He was young, and I had caught a glimpse of him at Princess Eleana. He’s one of her party, right? Donovan, I believe? He exged some words with the defensive cordon, and I was obviously uo hear them, as the camera crew were ied in other matters, and then he ast, running towards the Tower.

  “We should move. Our pns may have ged, but what we must do has not-not.” Shaeu affirmed.

  “Right. The question is, just what’s going on ierial? We should send…” my words were interrupted by the news anchor oV, who looked shocked, before saying in a grave voice. “We bring you breaking news, the Queen and Prime Minister are holding a joint press ference regarding the matter of the Tower of London and the fate of Prince Henry.” Phones around us started beeping, and all of the British were getting alerts delivered to their phones with a link. “It seems that the prototype Emergency Alert system is being used, every citizen who watch should.”

  The sed anchor spoke. “This is unpreted. I think history is being made today, a grim oo match the eleventh of September, or the seven-seven attacks. No, evehe Queen never…”

  “I have to stop you there. The broadcast is going live in five. Four. Three. Two. One.” Phones lit up around us, and every TV s was dispying a haggard-looking Queen, her expression pletely at odds with the sly cheerfulness of when st I had seen her. Beside her, his bluster goood the blonde Prime Minister, looking grave and solemn, and oher side, a man I didn’t reise, in full military uniform. Subtitles then came up, referring to him as General Carter, Chief of the Defeaff, and highest military officer in Britain.

  “This is bad…” Shiro whispered, and beside her Shaeu agreed.

  “Indeed. It does not-not take Fht to know that something is about to ge. But…” she looked at me as the Queen was about to speak. “… it ges nothing for us, does it-it? We know what we must-must do.”

  I nodded, as the Queen spoke. “To every citizen of Britain, and to those of you watg around the world, it pains us to speak of this, but we must…”

  No, it does ge nothing. It might make our task here harder, but… if we don’t have to tread softly… I’m fident we handle anything. Eleanor, you idiot. I just hope you listeo us, and hang on…

  ********

  “How did it e to this?” The Queen said, her expressiofallen. “Henry… will he live?”

  “His wounds are incredibly grave, but the bleeding was stopped by quick thinking from Princess Eleanor.” Her private physi said. One look at the Prind an emergency airlift in a fully equipped medivac helicopter was arranged. “The burns though… they don’t look like anything I’ve ever seen. With Princess Eleanone, and Melissa Masters so hysterical she was uo expin anything… just how did the Prince suffer sujuries? I fear he will never recover.”

  “He will.” The Queen decred, despite her trepidation. “As for what happened, you’ll soon know. The Prime Minister and Chief of Staff will be here shortly, where we will fess to the world, and ask for aid.” This is a betrayal of the iional agreements made with our allies, but… this is the only way. Uhe Japanese in Kyoto, where there was a clear scapegoat, here we have nothing. But… The freak gust of wind that exposed Henry to the press seemed almost fated. Now that he had beehere were only two outes. And I choose the ohat lets Henry live his life. Akio Moonstone Oshiro. I have seen the reports on his miraculous healing abilities. Felt his skills personally as well. He… he save Henry, ’t he? And if he does, then Henry would have to go into seclusion for as long as this secrecy sts. Besides… it is not just Henry at stake. Eleanor, my favourite granddaughter…

  General Carter burst in, in full dress uniform, his expression matg hers. He saluted the Queen, as Head of State, before letting out a soft sigh. “The situation is a disaster. Some of our soldiers have been incapacitated and several of the Gods’ Chosen have fled the testing site. There were no fatalities, fortunately, but our pursuing forces were uo track them. The rest… they have goo slumber, all but a few, who attacked each other. It’s madness.”

  “It seems we have been careless, over-proud.” The Queen sighed, a tear streaking down her wrinkled cheek. “We did not wish to think, just like our dear granddaughter, that we would be betrayed.”

  “We could have those in our custody … dealt with.” General Carter said chillingly. “It wouldn’t be the first of these Gods’ Chosen we’ve had to put down for acts against the is of the publid Great Britain.”

  The Queen shook her head. “How we? Those who assaulted the troops and fled, we have some grounds to have them arrested, and even shot if they resist, as legally, we believe we could make a case that their powers t as armed resistance. But those that have gone merely to slumber… what if they are rushing to aid Eleanor, and we deprive her of needed help, the sequences of that disastrous?” Those of us who are not Chosen, we uand so little. Foolish Henry, even if he was able to step foot inside Avalon, that is not his world. But it is a world we must protect… even at the cost of Eleanor’s life, my life. The ges, but the duty remains the same. As a Monarch, I ’t make the choice that puts the Tower in jeopardy. But as a grandmother, I wish… “… without Gods’ Chosen, we are uo protect ourselves from what will e. Perhaps when we speak…” The Prime Minister is making calls, preparing for a ference. And more importantly, calling for aid. Though it will be many hours, perhaps a day, before it arrives. And I only pray that is not too te.

  Her thoughts ing, the Queen tinued. “… freely to the public, we will discover more, those brave souls who will choose to aid us, aid Britain. But if we sy those who protect us carelessly, even to save my precious granddaughter…” her face fell. “There are no guarantees. Perhaps if ourns to us from Avalon, revealing the truth of the situation, matters be managed.”

  “It’s a great shame that the military hasn’t developed any Gods’ Chosen of hough sadly, it seems to be a game of numbers, and our Armed Forces have reduced in scale year-on-year of te. So we ’t be surprised.” General Carter said, letting out another long sigh. “If we had trained military Gods’ Chosen, they would be able to report ouation clearly and we could respond. Fighting blind, when both ally and enemy is unclear, and each loss is irrepceable… we need intelligence.”

  “Supposedly, that is what our foolish grandson was doing, reaissanot that we were able to get much out of Melissa, the pirl. She is sedated and a doctor is watg her. It is no surprise.” It must be horrible. Apparently Henry’s arm and leg are there. They have put them on ice, but they are beyond saving. Eleanor’s healer did the best she could, but…

  The Prime Minister entered, his expression tense. “Your Majesty, we are ready, your media team are assembled. Are you sure about this? I’ve made the main call myself, and have Gerard making other tacts. I’ll say, it didn’t go down well, but… well, no time, I’ll tell you afterwards!” he said, taking his post beside her, as did General Carter.

  The crew quickly positiohe cameras and microphones, while a servant tried to do the Queen’s makeup, since she was looking so haggard and dark-eyed, but she waved her off angrily. There is no time for such foolishness, not when my granddaughter and the try itself is at stake.

  “Your Majesty, we’ll be going live in Five. Four. Three…” the Queen took a deep breath as her Press Secretary ted her in, steeling herself, the Prime Minister and General beside her, and she looked at the camera. I will owe Britain’s allies a great debt for this, but the secrecy is slowly beginning to shatter anyway. I am simply the first to speak of it openly. Perhaps that is arrogant of me. Other tries who have little diplomatic retions with the West may have already started moving… Taking a deep breath she spoke to the people of Britain, no, of the world.

  “To every citizen of Britain, and to those of you watg around the world, it pains us to speak of this, but we must be ho, and no longer hide the truth. You are surely aware of the terrible events that have occurred at both the Tower of London and at the Pace today. reciate all your outps of grief for the brave people who have lost their lives, and randson Henry. As you may have guessed, Henry’s injuries are no act. Even now, as our son and daughter-in-w rush to be beside him, your prayers are wele.” She paused, letting her grief show. No more hiding matters.

  “We are at a crossroads. By we…” She managed a smile, finding some small, bitter humour even iuation now. “…. We do not simply refer to ourselves, but the try, you the people, and the Monarchy. We o longer cover up the truth. We have had a solemn duty for as long as we have borhe . Just as our father did, and his before him. Even when Britain ged hands, before even there was a unified Engnd, a United Kingdom with Sd, Wales, Northern Irend, our Royal family, every Royal family, had this duty, unbelievable as it was. We found it hard to believe, despite the records. Yet it is true.”

  She took a long breath, feeling the eyes of the world on her. “It is hard to fathom, in our , ordered world. We press a button, and there is light. Turn a faucet, and there is water. eak to someone half a world away, no, even outside the world, if they are floating high above us oernational Space Station.” Her words were powerful, assured, despite her grief, as she realised that this might have been the moment she was born for. And my burden still pales pared to Eleanor’s. Be safe, my granddaughter. I pray that your friends will stick by you…

  “But sce is not all there is. No, it is merely a way to uand the world, and there are other ways, other powers.” She gestured, and her Press Secretary sent some files to the BBC. “We have no doubts there will be scepticism. But rove it. Show it to the world. This is about more than just us. Long ago, there were powers beyond our uanding, of Fae, Spirits and Gods….”

  Her words tinued, expining that the powers merely faded, the Spirits and Fae retreating to another world parallel to ours, that tained more of this energy, a shallow pool left over from the boundless seas of Avalon, in which the Earth was noebble cresting the surface, dry yet now beginning to absorb more moisture. As she talked, even her own staff struggling to believe it, she moved on to Eleanor, and the truth.

  “Our beloved granddaughter, Eleanor, she was one of these who a God has chosen. The Green Man, one of the oldest beings to walk Britain in ages past. Nion is a… troubling… thing. We have no wish to bee embroiled in a debate oher these are truly Gods or not, or what is righteous. What we know is they are powerful. And though their blessings, a handful of us have bee powerful too. randdaughter is a superhero.” She smiled bitterly. “Still a scared cry-baby at times, but she has grown remarkably, and I am happy to see it. Sadly though, she has a cross to bear, carrying our burden, that of Britain. If we do nothing, that which protects Britain will be lost, and randdaughter and those who fight for our cause will perish, leaving us alone and unprotected in the new world. We ot allow this. So we implore you all…”

  These are the most important words I say. “… set aside yer, yreed, yrief, your envy. Work with us, not against us. You may be angry, or hate us, but we have the best of iions. If you wish to hurt Eleanor, as a grandmother, I say… please. Relent. This is your Britain, your world. We implore you, if we do not all work together, then we will fall together.” She stood and bowed humbly, showing her sorrow at the necessary lies until now.

  “I am General Carter, Chief of Staff for the Military. Needless to say, this is not a prank, nor a misuanding. Allow me to brief you on some urgent particurs…”

  As the Queen sat dowally exhausted, the Prime Minister leaned in. “Good job, your Majesty. I think you covered everything. It’s unbelievable, but sooner or ter people will accept it. The footage you released of Eleanor testing her abilities should aly some doubts.”

  “We have done her a disservice. Keeping her skills secret would be of be to her, but as a Royal, she has to make many necessary sacrifices. We pray…” her lip wobbled, her distress pin. “… that is the only sacrifice she has to make. Do we have any news on what is in Avalon?”

  “Not yet.” The Prime Minister shook his head. “However, I do have one piece of wele news.”

  “Oh? We could use some good news now, and a lot of brandy. But we will not drink until Eleanor and the Tower is firmed safe.”

  “Well, hopefully you crack the bottle shortly. I’ll be right there with you, your Majesty. I spoke to my opposite number, Prime Minister Abe in Japan. Apparently Akio Moonstone Oshiro should already be in Britain, along with some panions.”

  How surprising. “Did he say why? And… how did they get in without your knowledge?”

  “He says it rivate matter, and apologises for the stealthy entry. sidering the circumstances, we hardly pin at the insult when we are seeking aid.”

  “There are only two possibilities.” The Queen said, her expression pensive. “Either they are behind this e at the Tower, which seems unlikely, as we think it is rather strahey then would have admitted anything, and it does not fit their efforts to warn us of this disaster and prepare us, or…” hope surged inside her. “… they are here because they were waiting for this to happen, and are ready to aid us!”

  “I think so. If we could use them even to get some crity ouation, we could use the military to put dowraitors, we have most of their sleeping bodies, though not all…” The Prime Minister said.

  “We dare hope for more. Ask for aid, beg for it. We will pay any price to save Eleanor and what the Tower protects, and to preserve as many loyal Gods’ Chosen as we . We will even allow those who aid us the ce to see if any of the treasures we have hoarded from all over these isles are patible with them.”

  “What if they want something else?” he asked quickly, seeing as the General was finishing and it would soon be his time to speak.

  “Then we will grant it, so long as those three things are not promised. Go, speak quickly.” As the Prime Minister grabbed his phoepping aside, the Queen adopted a stony, regal poise, though behind that perfect mask, her thoughts were rag…

  ********

  All around us there roar, people looking at their phones or televisions in disbelief. Arguments were breaking out, and people were spilling out of shops and homes into the street. While the General was talking, detailing a little about Gods’ Chosen, footage was also pying of Eleanor, vaulting a wall and running at a speed that would shatter all world records in sport, as well as other, older images of her regeing injuries duriing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

  “So, looks like the cat’s out of the bag, not trapping the mice.” Shiro snickered, though I could see worry in her eyes. “The situation must be bad if this is the result. It’s going to cause havoc all over the world, especially ba Japan, right?”

  “There’s no way that Kyoto won’t be seen for what it was now. The public were angry, now they’ll likely be aggrieved we lied to them.” I said, ed. But that’s for ter. “The situation is shit, so we o respond. We’ll find a pce to ehe Boundary, and then we’ll head for the Tower there. But…” I remembered that Donovan was ierial. “… we need someoo head to the Tower here. Just in case. We need information, and he’s a prime source.”

  “I shall go.” Shaeu said, nodding. “I am more-more than capable of defending myself, and my winds will make all tell me what we wish-wish to know. I then-then rey information to whoever is watg your bodies, before joining you.”

  “That seems a good pn.” I agreed. With Shaeu handling it I’m not ed, she isn’t that much weaker than I am, I doubt any Chosen here is her match. Though there are other s, like the polid military cordon… As we headed through the rapidly-filling streets, my ph, and I could see it was Abe-san, Japan’s Prime Minister. Pig up, he unched into his words without a pause freetings or indeed a breath.

  “Akio-san, there’s no time. We’ve been tacted by Britain’s Gover, asking for aid. Politically, it’s perfect, though they already owe us for this.” His words tumbled out. “Despite the te hour, all the news stations in Japan are being bombarded with calls, as is every police station, the Gover… I was dragged out of bed as soon as this happened. Well, it was too much to hope that our news stations wouldn’t immediately run with su unpreted live broadcast from abroad. People are flog out into the streets, and the demonstrations are likely to fre up about Kyoto, a huimes hotter than before.”

  “I expected that.” I broke in. “Get to the point. We’re about to try and sort this mess out now. What do they want and what are they ?”

  “They want Eleanor’s safety and the Tower of London to remain in her hands. And if possible, to save the lives of as many loyal Chosen as possible.”

  “Loyal? That implies some are disloyal.” I said, and he ughed bitterly.

  “Apparently they ’t say for certain, but some of them attacked their guards and fled, while the rest have ehe Boundary without permission. They were administering psychological tests and interviews to try aablish if your s were valid…”

  “How about there?” Shiro tugged my sleeve, pointing to a small business hotel. I nodded, and we headed in, Shiro quickly seg us a room.

  “At least they were taking me somewhat seriously, but you ’t stop Chosen like that, not when they ehe Boundary. Sure, you have their Material bodies, but damaging them or killing them might turn out to be a mistake, if they were i after all, and responding to a crisis. Then no British Chosen would ever trust their Gover agaihat got out. Shit.” I swore wholeheartedly. At least we react quickly. That’s enough to be grateful for.

  “In exge…” Abe-san tinued. “They have access to some a relics, supposedly, and any of you who aid them will be allowed to see if you are patible with any of them. Then, there’s a lot of bes we get as a try…”

  “Try and hold out for not just us here, but a few more of us, like the girls, my sister, Ixitt, Haru-san… I don’t want to be seen as heartless, but if they’d have listeo us, this mess wouldn’t be as bad as it seems to be. So we are owed pensation.”

  “Oh, and the Queen would ask for Henry to be healed, if you .” He finished.

  “Yes, afterwards. It might take a few weeks, if it’s adherence burns, but I should be able to manage.”

  “Great. Well, there’s no sleep for me tonight.” Abe-san said. I could hear several female voices calling out in the background, a touch grumpy. “My wife and daughter are both going to give me hell. I’ll be on the phoh the British again now. if I get any information I’ll call.”

  “I’ll probably be out of touch, but sure.” I said. “So, do we know anything?” I asked. Shiro and Hyath had already jumped on the bed, Shiro calling oher as she gave us all the blessings of Anesidora, while Shaeu’s eyes were gleaming, her small fists ched.

  “They believe Max Power attacked the tower and killed the disguised guards there. Though they ’t be certain, the recs are distorted. And they’ve lost traary Stuart and her followers. Other than that, no.”

  “I see. Well, I’ll leave you to the task to put out fires in Japan then. Good luck.” I said, before hanging up. “All right, Shaeu, gor…” I grinned, giving them my instrus, as he waited behind. He ughed happily, and then I turo Na. “e o going. You’ll be earning your keep today…”

  With nervous, resigned eyes she y down beside Hyath, and moments ter her body was ay shell. With that I climbed io Shiro, after giving Grulgor my phone.

  “Grul knows what to do.” He grumbled. “When the princess gets back, Grulgor will join you. After making sure all is well.” Shaeu had leapt out of the room, and I could feel the tang of her befuddling winds in the air.

  Great. In that case… time to up this mess. And with that, I too ehe Boundary, just outside the area of Territory Eleanor had cimed…

  ShipTeaser