Author's note: This chapter presumes that you are familiar with Kerrik Wolf's story, Into the Fire and uses characters and situations from it with his permission. If you have not read it, you should.
Disclaimer:
Pokemon is a copyright of Nintendo. Pokègirls and Pokèwomen come from the Pokewomon Forum at http://disc.server.com/Indices/169881.html.
"Wild Horses and Pokègirls" is the creation of Metroanime.
C&C, MSTs are welcome E-mail:
"Chief of the watch?" the sonar operator called, "We have an intermittent contact, not our watch-sub, and not a swarm of Pokègirls."
"Range and bearing?" the young lieutenant asked as she walked over to look at the display, "This is the new towed array?"
"Yes, ma'am. It might be a bug, or it might be a real target."
The lieutenant reluctantly picked up the phone. "I'm not going to bet either way," she told the operator, "Captain, we have an intermittent contact on the towed array. Yes, ma'am."
"Start a track on its appearances, range and speed," the lieutenant said.
"Already done ma'am."
"Maybe it's the rest of Typhonna," the lieutenant said, "We've already beat off Cocooner."
"More like Hild, ma'am."
"Oh yeah, you were part of that group," the Lieutenant said, "What was she like?"
"Like Miss MixMaster, ma'am, just like her," the rating didn't look at the blushing officer.
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The Third Guards marched the decks of the Des Moines. A small collection of kits followed, most tried to walk in step, but then had to run a bit to keep up. Antoinette stared then smiled at their marching song. She turned to Miguelito. "I think I know who taught them that one."
The small man listened, laughed and nodded as the powerful unit marched past. "They sing very well."
The sergeants sang the cadence,
"See the jolly monster, sleeping by the sandy shore,
Dreaming his dreams by the azure blue sea,
And he dreamt, as he slept, of Tyrannodames inviting him:"
The entire formation added,
"Please come a waltzing, Godzilla with me!
Waltzing Godzilla, waltzing Godzilla, please come a waltzing Godzilla with me!
And they sang, as they stomped through the vacant streets of Tokyo,
Please come a waltzing, Godzilla, with me!"
The sergeants picked up the cadence as the rest of the formation fell silent as they marched,
"Underneath the pines trees, right beside the silver lake
There lay the monster, big and green!
And we sang as we ran through the burning streets of Tokyo,"
The entire formation added,
"You'll come a-waltzing Godzilla with me!
Waltzing Godzilla! Waltzing Godzilla! Won't you come a-waltzing, Godzilla, with me?
When you come into town, you kill everything for miles around!
Won't you come a-waltzing, Godzilla, with me?
Waltzing Godzilla, waltzing Godzilla, you'll come a-waltzing Godzilla with me
And we sang as we ran through the burning streets of Tokyo,
You'll come a-waltzing Godzilla with me!"
The formation dove off both sides of the ship to practice swimming in their battleforms and to hunt for food that bled and fought back. Some of the older kits dove off the side with them. The ship began leaving most of them behind, but a few swam alongside to give the others a beacon back to the ship.
"I think the local Megami are also having an effect on them," Miguelito said and glanced at the red flag with the eyepatched 'Hello Kitty' face.
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"If you don't mind my asking," Kelvin said as he approached the metal plate on the stand. The blast walls around them would prevent it from escaping what they did here. "If you can do this, why would you be afraid of Sexebi?"
"I can stop time, in a better way than your little spell," Hild admitted, in her natural form, and thoroughly embarrassed by it. "But she's still master. Ha. And my magic won't really protect me from her powers. Like she couldn't stand against my magic."
He looked at the inch thick foot square block of armor plate. "Trying to unsquishy me? How?"
"You keep putting yourself in harms way," Hild said with an odd mix of fondness and frustration, "It's instinctive, you Authors. Once someone realizes you won't hurt someone who isn't hurting or even planning to hurt you, they'll have an advantage."
"So as we stand between ticks of the clock, what am I supposed to do? That plate, heck a sheet of paper is as impenetrable as a mile of solid rock."
"Press down on it as hard as you can, in the center, several times."
His brow furrowed as he stared at her, then did as she asked, picking himself off the deck by pressing down in the center of the plate. When he'd done it twenty times, he stepped away.
"Now we go outside, and watch," Hild said and led him through the winding exit way that replaced a door neither of them would be able to close in their moment between clock ticks state.
"Watch," she told him as they stood before the transparency in the safety wall.
As time resumed, the block let out a bang and leapt five feet into the air to crash down to the deck.
Kelvin stared at the effect, while catching the reflection of Hild's broad grin in the transparency surface.
"The force you applied didn't go anywhere, and it was delivered, from the steel's point of view, with devastating speed. It's more like a machinegun, than a cannon. However, if you are between seconds, you can land as many blows as you wish, anywhere you wish, and then reap the benefits. Your hypersonic nail trick is fatal to anything but the hardiest of opponents. This will let you tailor the effect." She shrugged and grinned. "And you can do something theatrical with such an effect." She headed back into the test cell, but stopped as he followed. "Dammit," she said angrily and turned to face him, "And damn you! I didn't want to tell you this, I wanted to keep it a secret to - when you turned out like everybody else!"
"Hild," he said gently, "You are -"
"I'm under your protection for Sexebi, and Typhonna and probably NeoAtMuff as well! Do you know how humiliating that is! Some piss poor mage a 1st year from any academy could walk all over, and - I need you to protect me."
"As you've said yourself, as you've felt yourself, what I do would have an effect on Sexebi, and Typhonna. You are safe here, with us, not just with me."
"I don't need 'daddy' protecting me. Sukebe made us from what we were, and sent us out to fight, and then to die. He didn't care about any of us, only his first batch. Why should you care about me? You haven't really Alpha Bonded half your Harem, you can let your two precious Recognized fiascos walk around loose without angsting over them every second like a good New-Age Tamer. Why should I believe you care about me?"
"Because you know I do, because I'm the Author who does things right at the limit of what's possible. Because you are terribly lonely -"
"You made me lonely! I was fine as a vicious sociopath." She cocked her head. "You tolerate an evildoer, but not the chaos-clown, why?"
"What makes you more evil that Cocooner, or a Widow, or any of the other amoral Legendaries? You created the Hild breed, the Mazookie -"
"Mazouku."
"Maz - nookie, anyway, how does that compare with the Siberian Traps, or the asteroid that hit the Yucatan peninsula, or the Chinese-made plagues? I never said I didn't think you weren't malicious, but the most malicious thing on this planet is a bored teenager trying to get noticed."
"So I'm a teenager now?"
"None of the Legendaries ever had to grow up and take responsibility for anything. It was all a game to them. Now you, Evangelion, and Sexebi are in the same boat: you have something to lose, and something to gain, and you decided what was lost was worth the chains included in the 'what was gained' package. I'll take some of the blame for forcing you to be an adult, but not all of it. I may have forced you to accept the role, but how you live it is more your decision than mine. I don't puppet people, controlling their every move, or I wouldn't have the defiance and creative interpretations I have to deal with. Nor all the disturbing quirks. I want adult people around me, not perpetual teenagers, that means you can be angry, sad, frustrating, needy, or anything else. But you're stuck being an adult about it."
"So you admit, you remade me over in your own image, or the image that you think I should be."
"I admit you sensed me doing it, and so did the Captain."
"Then when am I free?" she asked pointedly, "When can I just walk out of here, turn my back on all of you and never think about any of you ever again?"
"Right now if you wish. You can fly and teleport. You have spells to alter your memories. You can even spell yourself so you'll ignore anything you read or scry or hear about me."
"You know I can't just leave without your - oh, no, I'm not falling for that little trap! If I say I can't leave without your permission, and I stay, then you've got all the leverage you need to tell me I made my own decision."
"Or you could have decided for the moment. Not forever."
"You really don't understand Pokègirls and what you and the others have done, do you?"
"Evidently not."
Hild sighed, shook her head and marched into the test cell.
Inside they put the block back on the stand. "Now, just pound your fist on it, like you would on a table or hard surface. Rhythmic and steady, fifty or a hundred times."
"We're moving too fast to set up a harmonic, unless it's hypersonic, in the terahertz range," he said as he hammered the stone, like he'd pound a table.
"Like I said, you're applying energy. In your time frame, it's like you would clap along to a song, but from the steel's point of view, that energy is being delivered over an extremely short period of time."
"Could I punch through?"
"Maybe an eye or other soft tissue," Hild said, "But what you're really doing is transferring energy of motion. More a blow that a blast."
"That's a hundred." He stepped away and massaged his hand.
"Let's go outside, and I'll let time return to a relatively greater rate." Hild led the way. A moment later they stared at the armor section as it deformed under load, and then sprang into the air, hitting the ceiling, before falling to the ground with a clang.
"You'd be better off aiming for joints, or the foot the weight is on. Unless you want to kill, then the nails are the better option."
"I could hit them from several angles as well."
"Better concentrated in one direction. Getting a blow like that form several directions could damage something. Better to hit someplace soft, and let her fall in pain, or retch her guts out, than risk deep hemorrhages or a broken neck."
"Understood, thank you."
She grimaced, but managed, "You're welcome."
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"Are you absolutely certain?" Janus asked the senior staff of the cruiser and the Galvis Bay. With him were his own Harem, Miguelito with his Harem, and the Tamers and alphas of the others.
"Yes," the Captain said quietly, "I can't believe that we could expend that kind of firepower, and not get her."
"Cocooner is a Legendary," Hild said, still disguised as a StarMystic, and likely fooling no one, "They can be hurt, but killing one is difficult. They are wise enough to retreat from an attritional battle. If you can't kill one quickly, they'll get away to fight again another day. That's why this ship never claimed any. And there's no proof it's Cocooner, it just makes the most sense."
"While I understand that," the slightly weepy Megami said. While she was not a full-fledged member of the crew, she was the best precog and retrocog in the squadron. "It doesn't seem like Cocooner's style. I looked at the other operations she participated in. She doesn't send her troops in like this. She just creates her breeds, and leaves them to do what they are programmed for."
"You're certain of the time?" Janus said thoughtfully, as he stared at the ceiling and smiled.
"Within a 30-second period, yes," the miserable Pokègirl said.
"Then I have a suggestion, Captain." Janus stared at the ceiling, and sounding like that was where he actually was, not in his body among mortals.
"I can't wait to hear this," the Captain said rolling her eyes.
A faint smile formed on the lips of the prognosticating Megami as she looked at the others, who seemed to be accepting her word at face value. Even making plans as if what she'd told them was reliable fact. She smiled more as they waited.
"Oh it's just a bit of theater," he said airily, lazily waving one hand, "And it may save us a lot of trouble. Maybe even deal with the problems one of your unspoken allies will be having."
" 'Unspoken allies'?" the XO asked nervously, "What do you mean?"
"I don't mind you planning for your future, I just ask you harmonize those plans with me while I am here. This should fall into that category," Janus said and grinned. When he leaned forward, the thump of him reincorporating fully into the world could almost be heard.
"We invite someone here for talks," Miguelito suggested, the grin spreading to him.
The Captain and the other officers just stared at them. "Why would anyone want to be here, when we are attacked?"
Janus sat up straight and stared at the Captain. His irrationally gleeful expression and some hints of the otherworldly vistas he'd been among moments ago made her recoil. "Are we going to be attacked, or is the attack merely landing here?" he asked and grinned, "The young lady just predicted the attack, not that it was aimed at us." He waited for her to nod. "I assume you don't have any enemies willing to launch such an attack. Mine are the Sanctuary Goths, who are right now distracted, divided, and concentrating on other Authors. The other is the Celestial Alliance."
"So we invite them here?" the XO shouted in disbelief.
Janus shrugged. "Oh course. And we defend them," he said, still grinning, "They won't be attacking us while they are negotiating." He shook a finger at the XO. "Not only isn't it polite, but if we're still talking, they'll assume they're still winning. 'A true victory is to make your enemy realize they were wrong to oppose you in the first place.' They won't attack in midlecture, they don't just want to win, they want to evangelize and convert. 'To force them to acknowledge your greatness.'"
" 'Then you kill them.'" The Captain started laughing, and the entire group began shifting their stare from him to her. "It's perfect. Even if they are after you, we can always tell them they are after them. I doubt that the current leadership has the entire Alliance sewn up yet. I will respond and ask them to come, to . . . negotiate." The smile turned feral. "It will also be good to let them know what they'll be facing."
"What if they are attacking, as a diversion to capture him?" Hild asked.
The Captain stared at her coldly, but still smiled, "I doubt anyone alive could take something you treasured away from you. If they try, I actually pity them."
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"What are you thinking?" Angie asked as she laid on her Master's chest. His slow, steady breathing after they made love relaxed her, and she idly played with one of the hairs on his chest as he thought.
"Just that, in some ways, I've become what I fear more than anything," he told her.
She frowned as her good mood evaporated. She hated when he turned his cynicism against himself. "How? A kind man forced to fight? You haven't slaughtered entire nations, or cities. The few you've killed were trying to kill you."
"Manipulation. I did it and hurt Eko and Kay. I did it more gently, but on purpose to Maus and Warden. I really used it on Rainbow, Blossom and Cheryl. Then there's Hild . . . and the new leadership of the Celestial Alliance. Someone accused me of creating characters who could talk a donkey out of its legs. But I've always been able to have people trust me. I'm not really comfortable weaponizing my gift this way."
"Then don't do it," she told him and snuggled against him, "Or remember that the alternatives are worse. You are serious about reforming them."
"Of course, if they're sincere, it takes one of the big targets off the playing field. That leaves just Sanctuary, and NeoAtmuff, and whatever killed Typhonna, and whatever stirred up these attackers . . . and half the Leagues."
"You could just blot out the sun," Angie suggested, "Like an eclipse, on a day when the moon is no where in the sky. Then let your demands be known."
He nibbled her ear in response, sending her to frantic pleased squirming. "You aren't taking me seriously."
It took a while after he stopped for her to answer. "I want you happy. Besides, you don't want Jen to respect you."
"I don't want Jen to evolve, and an Everstone is no answer. The Redeemer is less flexible that a HyperDoll, and I prefer her looking out for me racing over a cliff, which I have a tendency to do, if you hadn't noticed."
Angie had noticed, but stayed quiet.
"I know what the Celestial Alliance is, I know they're weak, confused and vulnerable right now, and mainly because of us. But I'm still not comfortable tricking them. If for no better reason than how they'll react when they find out."
"What makes you think the attackers won't be aiming for them?" Angie asked, "That Megami sensed the attack, but not who or why. You, my Master, are predicable that you'd pull a stunt like this. So it's entirely possible the future she saw, was contingent on the Celestial Alliance's leadership being aboard this boat."
"Ship."
"Ship, boat, it's all the same. They'd be here, because you invited them. We'll be attacked, because they are here. And you'll have the Alliance owing you a massive debt, for saving their leadership, in the hopes of redeeming them. If you do to them, what you did to Cheryl, you'll put them out of action for months, even years. You may even turn them around. Or get a large number to defect to the Thornies. Like Sanctuary, some will want to live up to the hype, no matter the reality."
"You're probably right," he told her, then kissed her brow and hugged her, "I just needed to hear it."
"I'm organizing a new plan, of each of us getting a couple days with you, rather than the daily tradeoffs."
"Why the change?"
"Your bonds with us are weak, and many of the others were . . . more than a little jealous of the bonds Kerrik's Harem had with him."
"I'm not him," her Master replied, "I don't open up as easily."
"With a longer time with each girl, maybe that will change. Having all of your girls more strongly Alpha-Bonded will be helpful, and healthful for them. Delta-Bonds might be better, and . . . we're all wishing for Recognition."
"That's rare, and even I haven't figured out how Clarice and Hannibal managed it."
She looked up at him and frowned. "You're part of that too, you know."
"I don't feel I was part of it," he admitted, "It just fell into my hands." He bowed his head. "I didn't earn it."
" 'The Universe isn't fair, sometimes it's not fair to your benefit.' Don't you think after all you've been through, you deserve at least one easy victory?"
"Coming back from the dead probably used that up."
She hid her frown at his doom and gloom attitude, even his gentle stroking behind her ears couldn't clam her mind. "What are you worried about?"
"The future," he said flatly. He sighed, but was silent for a while before speaking, "What next? Defeat the Celestial Alliance, which secures that flank. Take on Sanctuary? If I fail, we die. If I succeed . . . what? Rulership, or maintain the pantheon? Where do we live? In the Sunshine League and fend off challengers and groupies? Another League and worry about harassment from their government? Sanctuary? No chance. Go to some other world? Kerrik and Micah were planning to do that, but . . . I can't, not in good conscience. I can't go home, I can't stay on this ship forever. I go to any League my troubles multiply. I go to neutral territory, I get all the troubles, from all the Leagues, and none of the benefits. I don't see a way out. Not one that's as good as it is now."
"Only you could make surviving against a Legendary, then overthrowing the two most authoritarian realms on the planet sound like a bad second choice," she said angrily.
"I worry," he explained listlessly, "It was how I earned my bread . . . back home."
"Sorry, Master," she told him.
I just hate it when you get like this, she didn't add.
She lay in companionable silence until he rolled over on his side, a signal he wanted to got to sleep. She slipped over, in front of him and held him. Maybe that Blessed Widow's idea isn't so far fetched after all. He'd quit worrying about something, she thought as she listened to him fade off into sleep.
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The Captain paced nervously as the leader of the Sisterhood's observers waited more patiently with her in the Captain's day cabin.
"She's late," the Captain said.
"She is being asked to do something never before attempted on this scale," the Sisterhood observer commented, "Opportunity plus preparation will be necessary. This may be the most important set-piece battle for the next hundred years, maybe for the last hundred. And we all want our side to win."
"You might remember that we aren't 'our side'," the Captain said, "We're allies. We want many of the same things, but we primarily want to be public, and you want to be hidden. There will be some friction in maintaining those two goals."
"Still, Ilumatar will come soon, and she'll be ready."
"Sophia will be ready to help. I just wish we could get Kerrik and Micah here, that would definitely put us over the top."
"We'll manage with what we have. This won't be achieved by overwhelming power, or the war would not have gone as it did," the Sisterhood observer said politely.
"If you'd quit covertly checking your watch, you wouldn't have to cover your nervousness about her being late," the Captain teased.
"I was more wondering about the clocks, five of them and all have the wrong time."
"When you're trying to break Megami of this insane love of order, slapping their hands for 'fixing' some clocks is a good place to start. As well as teaching them about personal boundaries."
"How do you do that?"
"The last person who 'fixed' my clocks, earned a month cleaning toilets, with her toothbrush," the Captain said, "And she was never positive that no one had switched those toothbrushes on her."
"That would do it."
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The Dameosaur in the lodge listened to the arguing, bickering, and threats of mayhem among the group, and for once had no problem not reacting. They're worse than the High Council, and their power to punish a misstep is more immediate, she thought, schooling even her thoughts to keep her contempt for such bickering in check.
The retinues of these great leaders lay prostrate on the reed mat floor and offered whispered, terrified prayers to whatever powers they knew, that something would protect them from their goddess' wrath at her fellow goddesses.
The Dameosaur knelt, Edo-style, and watched patiently. Her skills at manipulation hadn't been needed, the powder keg of these . . . powerful ladies, had been touched off by each other within moments of the discussions beginning. It had gone steadily downhill as she explained the Celestial Alliance's possession of NeoAtmuff, that Legendary's mission, and the recent betrayal of Sanctuary by the Alliance. At least it's not the actuals, just their avatars, she thought as the priest and priestesses of the trio of bird Legendaries acted more like angry roosters than the elegant and sublime powers that were reputed to be.
"Honored Ladies," the Dameosaur interrupted, "You have been over that topic once, and could agree on nothing. Perhaps you need a more . . . mortal, solution to the problem." She blanched as she felt the full awareness of the trio fall on her, even filtered through these puny humans, it was formidable, but she continued, "If you were humans or ordinary soldiers, you would just capture a few of the enemy officers, and question them. It is not a slight to your powers to pursue . . . mundane goals, while you debate a proper course of action."
"A sideline," the male said in satisfaction, "Agreed."
The two priestesses also nodded.
"I offer a gift, for your sound, and mundane advice," the man grinned and it was all the Dameosaur could do to not to slice off that smug self-certainty. "A group of slavers will land shortly on my island. On the south side. They have much advanced equipment. I give guides for you, and your dozen concealed bodyguards, and leave to kill all of these slavers however you wish, as long as they do not pass the treeline. Once they do, please leave it to our hunters."
The Dameosaur smiled and bowed. "The lady is too gracious."
And not above pointing out she knew a lot more than she let on. But orders are orders, and I am eager to kill, she thought, And a pack of humans and their slaves capturing more for slaves . . . should prove very entertaining. And good eating. She left the trio to continue their pointless arguments about a battle three centuries past. She also left behind the shocking prospect of three Legendaries terrified of one.
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The airship detached from the mooring mast of the submarine, and climbed away. The crew of the sub struck the mast below, while the officers stood far forward, to discuss the change in orders, and the coordination of their attacks.
The crew watched sullenly as their fate was decided by people they would never meet, and discussed by people who cared only for the mission. None of the crew were eager to speculate on their fate. The miasma of uncertainty lay heavy on them, while the officers cared only about their reward.
It was not a happy ship as the last of the mast was returned to storage and the sea closed over the crew who knew they were doomed, and the officers who thought of their rewards.
A high-flying figure in a white leotard took what she had seen and headed back to the cruiser to report.
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"Lady Hild?" the mad Megami-Sama entered her quarters after a brief knock.
The Legendary looked her over, felt the unbridled power of the creature, and her almost palpable link back to her creator. This thing in front of me should be evidence of why you don't mess with Authors, my Author especially, she thought as she accepted the intrusion.
"Yes, The March Hare. It seems you have undone my greatest and most foolish work. I cannot express gratitude, but I do not retain malice for it."
"That crazed rabbit was the genesis, and the mad one who masquerades as sanity," the Megami-Sama said politely, "Did more to forward it on than I."
Two more who should cause the hackles to bristle at the mention of him, she thought, but kept her features pleasant.
"I wish to exchange several spells, and perhaps, offer my assistance and insights. The chance to interact with a mage such as yourself is a rare chance, one I have been neglecting."
What could she possibly teach me? Hild bristled, then remembered the Blessed Widow breed.
"I doubt you could teach me any new spells, but your insight into the ones I have may prove very useful," Hild offered diplomatically, and smiled as the woman smiled at her.
"First I offer my gift: the removal of the link to the Cosmic Awareness from the body of a Megami or Megami-Sama." She handed over a copy of her notes.
"Aren't you afraid I might use such a trick on you?" Hild asked, raising an elegant eyebrow.
The woman actually grinned at the thought. "Stupid Fuzzbutt would stick a cookie, or something else in someplace uncomfortable, and spark its return. You and I both know that."
Hild shuddered at the paean of love and friendship the idiot had subjected her too. "I think the drool stains will never come out," the Legendary complained.
"And I have to live with that," The March Hare said, "Short of what was done to Janus, even you would be hard-pressed to match that torture."
Hild considered for a moment. "Difficult, but not impossible, and definitely not worth the effort," she admitted.
"My reasoning exactly. There are legends of you using a spell to return the pain of your injuries tenfold on your opponents," The March Hare said, "I don't think you have considered the implications of that."
Hild flickered between intrigued and irritated. "Do tell."
"As you command," The March Hare said politely.
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She glared at him as he dressed in his cabin. "Why should I go?" the StarMystic asked, having settled on her true identity.
"Two reasons, first, I asked, and it will mean you're working with the rest of the group. Second, because all of us are going over, save Eugene and a couple of guards, so you'll be all alone." He noted her discomfort. "Wondering what we're all doing. If we're having fun. If we're having sex. If -"
"All right!" she shouted at him, "I'll go. What are we teaching these sad sacks?" Hild asked.
"Taming, as well as scheduling and performance."
"Why didn't you tell me it was about Taming?" she asked, "And don't say 'Because you never asked.'"
"I didn't want the subject affecting you going or not. If it had been engine oiling, I'd still want to have you with us." He turned to face her, and smiled. "Part of this is a reward to the ones who made most progress, the rest is a whip to get better progress out of the rest," he told her, now the smile became a grin, "And your reputation has preceded you."
"What, as a wanton submissive slut?"
He shrugged and asked seriously. "Better than your other reputation in a ship full of Megami, don't you think?" he asked and hid the grin she knew was bubbling at the surface, before leaving her to pack her meager belongings.
She looked at the few changes of bland clothes, and compared them to the opulent finery, grand art work and dozens of cushions that adored her various lairs. "And why don't I kidnap them all back there every night?" she asked herself, as she considered the far more interesting and lively cushions of Roxanne and Aurora. The colorful beauty of Hannibal, The March Hare, and even Stupid Fuzzbutt. And the soft, warm cloth and elegant stitching of the clothes Cheryl, the LoadMaster and Antoinette had made specifically for her. "Being, in love with these - people - is a stone bitch. And I should know." She closed the Pokèpack and followed her Harem sisters.
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Antoinette rolled her eyes as the large PsiDyke and Miguelito continued chatting in courtly Castilian Spanish, her fluttering her fan and alternating between a coquettish youngster, and a great lady of the manor seemed to drag out every bit of the gallant gentleman in Miguelito. Although it bored Antoinette to tears.
The Blessed Widow waited nervously. She was obviously trying not to fidget with her newly restored parasol.
She's a pretty thing, I hope her new Master will cherish her as much as he should. I wish I could help the one staying behind to integrate with the rest of the Harem, Antoinette thought deeply of the girl who only Janus seemed to trust, She seems like a good girl, and if Hild's breakdown is any evidence, she is a legitimate and free gift. It seems a shame that the others can't trust the girl. I only wish I could, aswell.
"Antoinette," the girl said quietly, "I want to thank you and the doctor for - tolerating me."
"My dear, we all care about you." She tried to lie, but the girl deserved the truth. "It's just that we loved someone else more."
"Yes," she said and smiled sadly before glancing down at her hands, "I hope I can be a more agreeable member of my Master's harem. Has my, counterpart gotten a name yet?"
"She hasn't chosen one, and none offered seemed appropriate. I'm afraid Janus is quite stubborn about Pokègirls choosing their own names."
"He's adamant about a certain amount of defiance." She perked up slightly. "I wonder if anyone has put that to him, in that way," she asked.
"Probably not," Antoinette replied, and noted that both Miguelito and Carmen had stopped chatting.
"Ready to go my dear," the large Pokèwoman asked.
"I believe so, ma'am," the Blessed Widow bowed her head and said.
"I'll look forward to more witty anecdotes," Carmen said as she and the girl vanished.
"She is . . . not what I would have expected," Miguelito admitted as he relaxed slightly, "And she's typical of what Janus would create. I doubt there's anyone on this ship who's a match for her."
"Janus and the others should be aboard the Galvis Bay by this time."
"Further reinforcing my statement," Miguelito said, "And we should be going as well." He walked down the corridor to find the LoadMaster.
Antoinette glanced at Voltaire, and the pair followed.
------------------------------
The Captain of the Galvis Bay seemed overjoyed to see them as they appeared. "I was beginning to think you'd all forgotten about us over here."
"No Captain," Miguelito assured her, "And I apologize for the delay. I thought they'd leave and let us catch up."
"Just making sure the ones who didn't make the grade knew they were getting their noses rubbed in it," Jen said, and glanced around.
"They are being kept away from you, and Sabrina," the Captain said.
"Cleaning toilets?" Jen asked.
"Cleaning barnacles I think," Janus said quietly, "But we're here for more pleasant pursuits."
"How do you clean barnacles off a ship in the water?" Jen asked, then glared at Voltaire when the latter elbowed her in the ribs. Jen frowned at the stern look the girl gave her.
"I and my crew, were hoping we hadn't been forgotten," the Captain amended.
"Don't worry Captain," Sabrina said, "They've put a guard on me." She smirked at Janus. "It seems to be the de rigeur accessory for people with certain - accouterments."
"You have our most profound apologies for what happened," the Captain said, then glanced around and noticed who else was missing, "We've got a long way to regain some other people's trust I see."
"Considering what the Alliance did to him," Janus said, "I'd think so."
"Could Kerrik's Svetlana, and your Manifesto really have had that effect on people?" the Galvis Bay's XO asked.
"Most of the members of the community, although less true of the Authors, are college-age, and stuck in the mode of wanting to try anything, so any moralizing is evil. So they paint the Celestials as enemies, and the Infernals as misunderstood. When they're older, and have things of their own to lose, they'll quit being so libertine, and they'll accept that certain rules and their enforcement are in place for a reason. Having the right to drive drunk stops being fun when a drunk wipes out the car you have to replace, or puts your kid in the hospital. And the moral outrage at less than universal acclaim of some marvelous, world-saving idea that costs you most of your precious free time, stops being so attractive. They'll have a more balanced view of many Celestials then. I still had other Celestials, and even other Megami who didn't fall into that category."
"It's spooky to hear someone talk like that." The Captain shivered. "I am omnipotent, as long as the community agrees."
"Such is the community of writers. Consistency is something that can only be expected from some. And consistency from writer to writer, you won't get it."
The Captain looked at the StarMystic. "Don't worry, I don't have too many dom-types, but I have a few exotic tastes you might want to try."
"I can do dom," the StarMystic told her arrogantly, getting a grin from the Captain and XO.
"Then that's fine for them I'm sure," the Captain said, "The main course will be later."
"Perhaps literally," Janus said as he shuddered. The group laughed and headed inside.
"I think we can keep things moving," the XO said.
"Where's the guy who wrote Manifesto?" a Megami who could have given Jen a run for her money in the extravagant curves department asked disappointedly.
"Hiding," Amanda said sternly, "Too many trying to prove he's wrong have ended up proving he didn't go far enough."
The Megami took the hint and retreated.
"One more twittwat thinks she can muscle into the Harem to prove he's wrong, and I'll start feeding them to the Tyrannodames," Amanda growled.
"They know tainted meat when they smell it," Shadow agreed, then explained, "Letting him look is fine, forcing him to sample is bordering on rape."
"There's a word for someone who tries that with MY Master," Jen growled.
"Chum," Hild added.
"They aren't my chums," Janus said.
"Can we throw him overboard?" Amanda asked, "Just once?"
------------------------------
The officer of the day for the Des Moines' sickbay noted the thoroughly pissed off Angel approaching. She looked like she been mixing red paint with her hands, when it exploded. A moment later, the Pokègirl's nose told her that it wasn't paint covering the Angel's arms up to the elbow and spattered all over her dress, hair and face.
The Angel sat two bloody Pokèballs on the desk. The Megami looked at the Angel's beatific smile with some worry.
"Officer, I would like to inform the Captain that from now on, crew-Megami entering my Master's quarters need written authorization from the Captain or XO. If she has a problem with this, she can call ahead, and we will discuss it. Like two reasonable Celestials."
"Yes, ma'am." The Megami didn't look at her, finding the two gently-rocking Pokèballs dripping blood on the desk less disconcerting. "Anything else? Do you need healing?"
"Oh no," the Angel said cheerfully, "But they do. I'd recommend starting with a Level 5 healing cycle." The Angel reached into a pocket in her dress and put two human hearts beside the balls. "Putting these back in first, would just cause all kinds of problems. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, ma'am."
------------------------------
"I think my mom's patience with that, and the teasing about her name is wearing thin," Shadow explained, "She picked her name to honor her new Tamer, and to show she understood him. And approved. I think he needed her approval, especially after what he had to do to rescue us."
"If AILF beats the crap out of Megami," Cheryl said, "I'll be interesting to see if my lessons helped her or them. I'd bet her, the crew needs to pay better attention."
"I think the militant nice was what got him started in the first place," Amanda explained.
"They didn't need that dear," the StarMystic told Amanda.
Amanda turned. "I know that."
"What's her name?" the XO asked.
"Oh," the StarMystic replied,
"I'd like to know more about who they're carry along with what they need to finish the job," Brian said, then stared at the stunned expressions around him.
"AILF," Shadow replied as she glanced away from Brian, "It was in honor of Eugene's, thorough appreciation of how well my mother has retained her ample figure and beauty, even as a mother."
"I'll help," Brian countered, "But Typhonna, Cocooner, Hild, and NeoAtmuff, I want to be done and go hide someplace boring."
"Angel I'd Like to Fuck?" the XO asked nervously.
"WAAH! He thinks his Harem is boring!" The BattleAngel tugged on her ear-like pigtails. "Sorry, force of habit."
Shadow stared at the once-Bunnygirl who was giggling. "Exactly," Shadow said.
"Boring is good," Janus said, "I like boring. Pretty girls waiting on you hand and foot. Interesting philosophical discourse in the evenings. And nothing trying to kill you. Nice and boring," he said.
"You are insane," the StarMystic told her Master.
"As long as I'm not AU, that's okay," he replied offhandedly.
"That kind of boring I could learn to live with," Jeremy said as he stared at a pack of under-aged and barely-legal Megami, who were staring at him like a raw steak. "Oh, boy," he lamented.
"I think we should start the tour now," the XO said as she shook her head to clear it.
------------------------------
The Blessed Widow walked the corridors of the Des Moines. The Megami are polite, and that's all, she thought as she approached the sound of a pack of kits, only to find them gone when she raced up to where she heard them playing. I should have gone with, she thought morosely, He trusts me, but he's the only one who does.
She stalked deeper into the bowels of the ship. If this were an adventure story, I'd find a deep monster and in a dramatic fight, slay it, and earn the adoration of the crew and my Master's Harem. But this isn't a story like that. The Megami have already killed anything dangerous living in their bilges, and it will take time for them to accept me. She briefly considered her two dead sisters. I wonder if it was more merciful, to die in their Masters' service, rather than be rejected by if not their Masters, his Harem.
She realized she had walked to the bow of the ship, and there was no place else to go. "Might as well turn around." She waited, and listened. "I said 'I might as well turn around!'" She listened. "Universe can't take the hint and lock me in, so my Master has to send his entire Harem to search for me, and in an epic moment of pure love, he finds me when no one else can. And we embrace amid the cloud of shiny sparkles." She glanced around as she walked back to the ladder. "You deserved that you old bastard, turning your stomach after ruining my rescue scene." She chuckled.
------------------------------
"It must be the League plants causing all that trouble," the XO said as they walked away from one of the three 120mm radar-directed anti-aircraft batteries. "I wish I could show you the three rotary guns, but the radars sometimes cause sterility in men. And I have no desire to be lynched."
"Maybe not, the Celestial Alliance definitely has spies among the groups," Miguelito said, "They aren't completely incompetent."
"Just fixated," Janus agreed, letting his Harem herd him more quickly away from the guns.
"You're assuming that they don't have the complete control of the organization, this rump," Amanda said, drawn into the political conversation.
"It isn't that," Miguelito explained, "The Celestial Alliance was a group of people who casually loathed each other, they were just too powerful for the others in the group to ignore. So they all tolerated one another. With that safety valve of the high-ranking members all gone, the second-tier are jockeying for position. It's not inconceivable that they'd send a peace envoy, and another faction would send an assassination team."
"How did you discover that?" the XO asked.
Miguelito looked around embarrassedly. "I brought the Francinesteins that they made out of the remains of the Alliance leadership in, and asked them," he admitted, looked around sheepishly, "I had The March Hare, Hannibal and Hazel there as well. They were . . . quite accommodating." He looked around and stamped his feet. "We only had tea! Everyone was on their best behavior!"
"We aren't laughing at you, doctor," Janus said, "It's just that you are being the consummate gentleman, who also has some real steel."
"We just had tea, and talked about things," Miguelito said defensively, his anger apparent.
Janus held up his hands, signaling for the subject of 'how' to be dropped.
The others looked around at each others.
"More likely that one group will send a capture team, and another would send a spoiler team," the StarMystic said.
"Or you're assuming that they'd be after me," Janus countered, "It could be the Celestial Alliance just taking out rivals, like Amanda said."
"The real truth is we don't know," the Captain said, "And while it's fun to speculate and spin stories, that's all we're doing."
"Captain to CIC, immediate," came the panicked voice over the 1-MC.
The Captain picked up one of the internal phones. "CIC, Captain, what's the trouble?" she asked, and went white, "Sound battle stations, flank speed, set zigzag pattern, inform the cruiser of the situation and our intentions." She hung up the phone and turned back to her guests. "The sub's turning towards and accelerating."
Miguelito and Janus followed the Captain and the XO, while the others hurried to their typical battle stations. The StarMystic trailed her Master into the smaller CIC of the modified freighter.
"Deploy the towed array," the Captain ordered, "Zigzagging won't help much, but it will give is something outside the noise of the hull."
"We've commenced zigzagging and I've rung up full speed," the XO reported, "I'll head up to the bridge."
"Do it," the Captain replied as she concentrated on the limited information she had.
"Metal," the StarMystic said distractedly, "Fast, wires behind, I don't think they're after us. At least not yet."
"Can you put up a shield, cut the wires and detonate those torpedoes at least 1000 yards from any of the ships? Well, except theirs."
"The wires, yes, but what's the 1000 yard limit for?" she asked.
"Depending on the depth and warhead, any closer and it might crush the hull like a grape," he told her.
"Wires are - it's too far away," she admitted.
"They've launched evasion devices," the sonar operator reported, "It's going to be close."
"I - think - " the Star Mystic said, "Not a thousand yards. Sorry."
"The torpedoes have detonated," the sonar operator reported, "No breaking up noises . . . engines have stopped." She paused, concentrating. "I can't be sure, but - they aren't blowing ballast." She looked at the officers. "I think they're going down."
"Dammit," the Captain said.
"Don't even ask," the StarMystic said, "It's too far, and they're too heavy."
"I wasn't going to ask you," Janus said, then looked at the Captain, "I was going to ask her."
"What? Try and lasso them with an anchor chain?" the Captain asked angrily, "I don't like losing any more than you do . . . what are you thinking?"
"All a sub is, is a pressure vessel with an engine. This transport has the same firebrick fired turbines as the cruiser, and probably the sub. She doesn't need air, and she has a nice flat bottom." He turned to the Star Mystic. "That's our lifting surface, and the engine is our drive. All we need is a pressure hull."
"That's beyond - my abilities, but not all the Megami aboard's abilities!" the StarMystic said enthusiastically, then paused and glared, "I HATE it when you do that!"
"Miguelito, get anyone not needed to sail this ship together and concentrating," Janus ordered, "With the Captain's permission of course."
"Granted."
"Get them together, we reinforce the hull and put a bubble over us."
"I'd like to point out there's a sub with torpedoes out there," the Captain said.
"You let them worry about that," Miguelito said as he headed for the hatch, "Torpedoes do what you tell them, or they chase what they've been told. Other than that, they aren't very discriminating."
"The man does have a point," Janus said.
"Why do I put up with your insanity?" the StarMystic asked.
"It's boring otherwise?" he offered.
------------------------------
"On the 1-MC, dive, dive!" the Captain ordered, and watched as the waves surrounding her ship surged upwards against the bubble that separated them from the sea. Watertight integrity had been set throughout the ship, and the cruiser had been informed of what was taking place. But they hadn't been allowed enough time to deny permission.
The Captain shuddered as the sky vanished above her, replaced by the sea. Darkness soon engulfed all light as the ship descended under the power of her own engines. "I'd feel better if we were alone," she told Janus, "And that our ballast was something more real."
"Better it be theoretical," he replied, "If something happens, we'll float of our own accord."
The faint strains of the Navy Hymn wafted up, as if emanating from the ship's plating itself. Hild returned to her place at her Master's side.
Something else I don't want to think about, the Galvis Bay's Captain considered, Am I more worried about one of history's most evil Legendary being aboard my boat, or that the man who broke her, being aboard?
"Sonar?" she asked instead of the questions plaguing her.
"Towed array functioning properly. Sunshine League vessel is below and slowly descending. I don't have her attacker," the operator replied.
"I wish we could tell them help's on the way. The water here is deeper than crush depth. I can imagine what they're thinking right now," she confided.
"What's crush depth of that class?" he asked.
"About 1200 feet," she said, "Assuming she's a later design. Some of the older vessels, it's as little as 200."
"How long have we got?" he asked.
"About eight minutes," the sonar operator reported, "We'll arrive in three." She cocked her head. "Captain, we're getting funny noises from the cruiser."
"Let me hear," the Captain ordered and picked listened through the headphones, "I never heard anything like that."
------------------------------
The airship had been shredded by the shells from the cruiser's main guns. The proximity fuses had detonated them well short of the target, but the shrapnel tore the gas bags to pieces. The rockets that had already been fired landed on the Des Moines' deck and exploded, disgorging their collections of Pokèballs, and releasing the girls therein. But too many of the rockets had been shot down, or missed the zigzagging cruiser completely. The rest fell as the airship fell. The overwhelming invasion was left under strength, and disorganized.
The Blessed Widow watched the explosions from the VT shells of the 3-inch guns scythe through a pair of GunValkyries. She faced an Amachamp. The huge Pokègirl drew four long chains and set them spinning, somehow managing not to entangle them. A HyperBeam carved through the Amachamp's head and the girl fell. The Blessed Widow watched a Megami capture the casualty, and move on. The Third Guards had boiled up on deck and many took their battleforms to fashion a gunline. The five-Pokè fire team fired, then lay down as another team discharged over them. The invaders fell back instantly under such withering fire. Where the 20 mm guns could fire, they did. The apparently exposed mounts proved to be less exposed as lightning, fire and ice washed over them without touching the gunners.
This is insane, the Blessed Widow thought as she tore the arms off an Espea who'd already been hit with gunfire. She dropped the girl and a capture beam took her away. The teenaged Megami capturers stayed near and behind the Tyrannodame gunline. They should have aborted when the cruiser started its wild maneuvers. You don't attack someone who already thinks they're under attack. They're too ready to fight back.
She let the Amazon-chan hit her, grabbed the girl's long hair and pulled her off her feet. She swung the screaming girl in a huge circle as she waded into a knot of defenders who were trying to coordinate. The Pokègirl made an excellent flail, until a Gunbunny blew her in half. The Blessed Widow hosed down that girl with lightning, and moved farther astern.
------------------------------
Eugene watched for anyone trying to flank or snipe AILF, Sam or Tai as the trio continued to batter the few attackers who still tried to storm the bridge. He kept his head down and shouted warnings. The shock of the 5" guns rattled him as the flight-capable attackers tried to flee.
I hope the stern and center are doing this well, he thought as he threw another Pokèball at a fallen girl, Somebody is going to get rich today, and maybe it's me. He caught another Dragon-type and hoped it wasn't a Dracass. The Gynadose that fell practically on top of him was hit by a capture beam. The ball rocked slightly, then more violently.
"Too bad," he shouted as he threw the ball overboard, letting the ball release the girl underwater.
She sputtered as the surfaced, caught a massive lightning bolt, and began to sink. One of the Megami re-caught her.
You pay your money, you take your chances, he thought, and caught two terrified Guntits. AILF looked at him, shrugged and headed off to pound someone else. She's starting to like beating people up almost as much as Downy, he thought, then watched her snap a Demoness' neck. A capture beam had no effect on the resulting corpse. Maybe too much, he thought.
------------------------------
"Grond All-Nighty she's right on top of us!" the sonar operator shouted, terrifying every Pokègirl in the CIC, "Turning towards!"
"Get ready," the lone human calmly told his Pokègirl. The other Pokès looked at him fearfully.
"Torpedoes in the water, range 700 yards, bearing 170, 174 relative, three, no four targets," sonar shouted.
"Full speed," the Captain ordered, she looked at the man and got a nod, "Hold course."
The Talker shouted the orders to the ship.
"Give me range and speed on those weapons," the StarMystic said quietly
"500 yards, bearing 178 to 172 relative, 35 knots."
"450 yards, holding at 35 knots."
"What's the range to that sub?" the Captain asked, gaining a measure of confidence from the man's eerie calm.
"800 yards, she's leaving."
"Hard aport, let's circle around," the Captain ordered, "Rig ship for impact."
"300 yards, 35 knots."
"Deploy your decoys," the Captain ordered. The StarMystic nodded. Her Master stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders. She leaned back into him. "Let her know when range has opened to 1000 yards."
"Decoys deployed," the StarMystic said, echoing her Master's dreadful calm, "Wires are cut."
"Who cares how close they are? Let's just crush them," one of the crew muttered.
"That shield collapses and we get crushed like a grape," the chief of the watch told her, "Who'd we forget to fuck to get you on this ship?"
"They missed," the Captain said as she looked out the porthole at the trails of bubbles passing by outside. She looked at the man, who shrugged, "You are crazy."
"Range now 1000 yards," sonar reported, "There they are, here are the torpedoes, and this is us," she pointed out to the StarMystic who stared over her shoulder, "They've circled and are clear of us."
"Give us exact ranging and speed on our weapons," the Captain ordered.
"900 yards, 35 knots and holding. They've realized something's wrong, and increased speed. 800 yards, 35 knots and holding. It won't be enough. 700 yards, torpedoes now at 40 knots, 650 yards, speed 50 knots. 600 yards, 60 knots." Sonar glanced over her shoulder, then looked back at her screen, having seen the near-Feral hatred branded on the woman's face as she willed the kill. "450 yards, 70 knots."
"Back to our base course, let's get after our friends," the Captain ordered.
"They're launching countermeasures," sonar reported.
"Metal," the Star Mystic said hatefully, "So it doesn't matter."
The rapid fire explosion of all four torpedoes shook the ship.
"That's, why a 1000 yards," the man told the CIC crew.
"Damage control, report all damage to CIC," the Captain ordered on the 1-MC.
"They missed," the StarMystic said angrily, "They had a shield some 20 meters from their hull."
"There's breaking up noises from their ship, ma'am," sonar reported, "You got them."
The woman seemed to relax, then grew a little embarrassed.
"We got the sub, we're back in the rescue business," the Captain added, "Congratulations to us all."
The woman perked up as they all heard the cheering throughout the ship.
"Sonar, anything from our lost lambs?" the Captain asked.
"No ma'am, but they were further away than we were," sonar replied, "They should be all right."
"No one blames you for killing someone who was trying to kill you and your family," the man told the StarMystic, having never moved from standing close behind her with his hands on her shoulders.
"Can I turn that into a Taming?" she asked impishly.
"After - we're back on the surface," he said and hugged her, "I need you wide awake and ready, when we catch this sub."
"By the time we're on the surface, I'll have the entire crew to choose from," she teased, "Maybe you can't feel it, but I can."
------------------------------
The Des Moines' Captain stood beside the pedestal mounted binoculars, looking over the teams collecting Pokèballs, and the Tyrannodames and Boobfin who were collecting the remaining loaded rockets from the sinking wreckage of the airship. "We'll need a way to keep that sub afloat," she told the XO, "Have engineering crews and portable pumps ready, and the sickbay."
"Yes ma'am," the XO replied, "What are they feeling down there? Since you seem to be there, and not here."
"Fear, quiet terror, resignation," the Captain reported, "Fear is ramping up, I think they're getting close to their crush depth. Must be an older sub."
The XO nodded.
"They're going to die bravely," she added, "No panic." She turned and headed into the CIC. "I'm going to listen on the sonar."
"Understood," the XO said.
------------------------------
The Captain had displaced the helmsman for this. She wanted the Galvis Bay under her fingers as they tried this tricky maneuver. They'd matched the angle and decent rate. Just slip her under, she thought, Yeah right.
There was a scraping that would have meant the ship being hulled or grounded under any other circumstances. "Take us up slowly," she said quietly, her orders relayed to the team controlling their ascent/descent. "Damage?"
"Damage control reports no damage," the XO replied, "What's holding us together is holding. And holding them tight."
"All right. Ahead 2/3d, let's get out of here. But let's not get greedy. Helmsman," she said as she stepped away, letting the other Megami take the wheel. She picked up the microphone, "On the 1-MC." She waited a moment before telling the crew, "We've got them, and we aren't going to lose them. Well done. Well done all of you."
The grins around the bridge told her she was not alone in her feelings.
"With your permission, Captain?" Janus asked.
She smiled, and handed him the mike. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is what it feels like to earn your win. For those of you who decide to return to depending on the Celestial Awareness for all your answers, you will never feel as good as you do right now. For the rest, there are challenges ahead, and this feeling will follow. Think about that." He handed the mike back.
The Captain hung up the mike. "You set this up," she accused.
"I took advantage of it," he said dismissively, "I didn't fire those torpedoes, but I took advantage of it."
"You are crazy," she told him.
"True, but I'm going to be too busy giving out a reward to feel too worried about it." He headed back to the CIC where the StarMystic waited.
"And the CA wanted to mess with guys like him?" the helmsman commented, "I think somebody else is crazy."
The Captain nodded.
------------------------------
He looked across the carnage that had immediately followed the Galvis Bay's descent into the depth.
"The airship had dropped out of the sky without being seen or detected," the Blessed Widow told him, "And disgorged a heavy assault team."
"I'm beginning to think that Hild was right," he mentioned as he looked at what was left of the force that had moved against them: high-firepower, heavy assault Pokègirls. Dracasses, Demonesses, a Gynadose, Warrior Nuns, as well as a collection of Guntits, Gunbunnies, and Mini-tops. "Right under our guns. They couldn't have planned a worse time to make their assault, nor a worse position."
"We got that alert that brought me up on deck," she said, "The sub closing in. Maybe they thought they could attack us together."
"They believed guns wouldn't work on Pokègirls," Jen said carefully as she walked up to the pair.
"I know I killed her, barely old enough, yet so full of hate," the Blessed Widow said of the corpse that lay at her feet, because she refused to move away from her. The Gunbunny looked barely old enough to have entered puberty, let alone finished. "They weren't Ferals, or Level 5'd and thrown out of the airship. They knew what they were doing, or thought they did."
"I don't think she was expecting you - " Jen's proud boast died as swiftly as the girl had, "She could have run away, or surrendered." She looked away from the stoic Blessed Widow.
"I want to know who sent them. I want to know who expended them, on this useless attack," their Master said quietly, "Someone is being persistently stupid, and I want to know whom."
"None of the Tamers aboard the airship survived, but the Captain has a forensic team going through their gear, but most of it is very high-end civilian stuff."
"Which practically screams 'government', because free mercenaries and pirates don't have the money for that, unless they work for the government."
"What about a corporate group? Some of them have cash," Jen argued.
"They wouldn't be so picky about only having civilian-available gear," the third officer said, "They'd have bits and pieces of military-grade stuff, because it wouldn't point back to any government in particular."
"I don't want to know how you know that," Jen said as Hild replaced her as his close-in guard.
"They only had the plans for the assault in their minds," Hild said, "Maybe Kerrik could dredge more out, but . . . "
"I'll go look later," he said, "If any of them have anything to say after they pass over."
"This isn't your fault either," Hild told him, "The tensions have been there, you Authors just let them loose, probably before they could have built up to far worse levels before exploding. What was that line about the tree of liberty needing the blood of patriots?"
"I don't think that included brainwashed Mamelukes," he replied, "How many aboard the sub?"
"Some minor injuries, and the damage control parties are doing their best. But the crew doesn't want us aboard," the third officer reported, "Although I think their captain wants to adopt you." She smiled, and all of them were glad he could manage a smile in return.
"I take it the party aboard the Galvis Bay is still going on?" he asked.
"We'll have to send over a steaming watch of our own," the Third officer said, "Funny, you go over as a reward, then make the whole crew earn one. I don't think they need the Tamers who stayed over, but I think they're taking advantage of them being there."
"True."
"Oh, you got a letter right before all of this happened. With rockets full of Pokègirls dropping out of the sky, I think Eve couldn't leave fast enough."
"I don't blame her," he said, "Poor girl probably gets enough weirdness dealing with her own life, without adding mine."
------------------------------
Kelvin,
I heard through the grapevine that someone had decided I'm her dream date and that she wants to hook up with me. I don't think that either she or the people who thought this one up really considered the ramifications of facing someone like us in a place where imagination is the key to control. I must admit that I have always wondered how Typhonna would have fared against a group of Mark XXXIII Planetary Siege units and if this special someone wants to let me use her as a substitute for that legendary in tactical exercise with them, I think I'd have no choice but to oblige her.
Her physical presence is slightly more problematic, of course. If it is likely that she is to be released as part of the local defense, then neutralizing her becomes much more important than rescuing any captives that might be present. I'm sure you're already aware of this, but sometimes it helps to have someone else spell things out to allies who might be willing to lay down their lives in a useless gesture. The presence of someone so August means that anything else becomes insignificant until she is neutralized, so much so that until that point comes, everything around her must be categorized as collateral damage. Only after she's unable to operate should thought be given to what, if anything, can be salvaged from the surrounding wreckage.
But, while neutralizing her should be of paramount importance, the truth is that she is only one being and if the price for stopping her is the destruction of one of the few independent fighting forces on the planet capable of making a real difference, then that price is too high. There is simply too much that our allies can do that absolutely needs to be done to throw themselves away in any single endeavor. If nothing else, they can leave that nut until they have more and better hammers or negotiate her free withdrawal from the battlefield. While she is inherently dangerous and unstable, her sisters are just as dangerous and some are even more chaotic and the world has survived them for the last three centuries. It will survive her, too, if it must.
While I don't necessarily completely agree with our allies' moralistic outlook, I am willing to use it against them and therefore they should remember that according to their philosophical outlook sometimes the needs of the many do outweigh the needs of the few. There is a lot of good they have done and can continue to do as long as they're not destroyed as an effective fighting force.
Everything that I have said in regards to our allies I say again, but this time it is aimed at you and, more importantly, your personal retinue. You have effected real changes, ones that I cannot even begin to match, and there are many more that you can offer that will make this world a better place for everyone residing in it. Intrinsically, your life has no more value than anyone else's, although I suspect your retinue would vehemently disagree with that assessment, just as mine would if I voiced that opinion about myself around them. However, the knowledge you possess you should take steps to replicate in some format that can be saved if you are forced to die once more.
Scientifically speaking, the greatest contribution either of us has made since our arrival may be in helping Miguelito Carmen build something that will bring more happiness, laughter and perhaps hope into the world. Even though it will probably never be possible, I think I would like to have seen what he will do with what we have given him. To me, the Kerrik Wolf Amusement Park would be a much more pleasurable memorial than the Kerrik Wolf Memorial Cemetery.
And because of this, while the science is important, it is your knowledge of history that this world can never recover. Mine, too, but two individuals never know the same things and therefore your knowledge of history, strategy and tactics needs to be passed on, just as mine probably should be. After all, if the leagues had any idea of history, they'd know that treating Pokègirls like slaves will eventually spell their doom. While the Limbec pirates are an obvious and lethal offshoot of that program, they are not anywhere nearly as dangerous as the ones that still guard the lives of the leagues. They are condottieri who have not yet realized the power they wield. While ending the leagues as they exist is laudable, the devastation that will result from their current path may doom everyone together since there will always be ferals waiting with empty bellies to feed on defeated and victor alike.
I will end this with one more bit of news about the planned action against our foes. I have recently gained access to a precision device that should be able to neutralize the threat that is presented by that individual without destroying large amounts of the surrounding area. I have decided not to include further details in this letter because of operational security. We both know that while our allies have identified many agents of other forces within their ranks and purged what they could safely do so without offending some of those forces, the truth is that the possibility that they have found them all is vanishingly small. To that end, if you and yours are interested in this subject, we will discuss this in greater detail later.
I hope that you and yours are well.
Kerrik Wolf
Kerrik,
Mark XXXIIIs, I thought Miguelito gave you a copy of the siterip, or you've forgotten what Tai and Sam are, or were and can be again in dreams. They commented that your dream date lasted an unbelievably long time against them. Over half a second. Quite a bolo punch. We're developing a plan to neutralize or coopt some of our enemies. Something the Captain and my patron cooked up, since I did it to my friends, maybe I can do it to my enemies. Sometimes I wonder if my insanity is catching. But as you said, if it works: it becomes the work of a few minutes carefully disassembling machinery, then teleporting the machine into the sun, to end the threat. A risk worth taking.
Also, check your operational security. Through our unilateral admiration society, I learned that someone is looking into communication with Rudy Wells and Austin Drummond. There is practically no native who should have been able to make that connection, and none that would be on good terms with our travel agents. I suspect Austin's boss is going to start living an interesting life very shortly. She may want to spread the wealth. Say, you wouldn't be willing to shepherd and protect a snooty politician would you? There's also something going on in the Orange League, you don't suppose they got B-Smart do you? That would start things in an interesting direction.
Have you stirred up the Capitols recently? Their recent impromptu training exercises for the crew here have been very interesting. Both from a training point of view, and a money standpoint in terms of what can be sold back to the Leagues more friendly to the Des Moines. The Capitolines seem to have become very interested in capturing an Author 'of their own'. I think the Sunshine and Blue League would laugh themselves sick at the thought that you and I are their possessions, or even partners. If the Orangies got B-Smart, that would explain it. I haven't seen much activity in Capitol since the very early days, so they may be feeling left out. The alternative is the S-Goths are using the only coherent force they have left to strike where and as they can. But this smells like a Capitol-only operation: flashy, theatrical and ultimately pointless. I wonder if there are S-Goths in Theta, and how much fun they're having with their toy.
Back to our friends, I do have access to some techniques that should prove extremely disconcerting, if our laws of physics apply in the depot. I don't have a scouting report and the intelligence I do have was not gathered by people of a scientific bent. It could be that the matter is transferred into another state on entry, or worse that nothing material exists there at all, and all the constructs are mental or spiritual artifacts. If everything is just a complex energy harmonic, the whole thing could be smaller than a golf ball. Another reason to go and look, an even better reason to negotiate. We need to know, before we act.
As for the moralizing, I think I'm more to blame than the crew here. The Captain has a very clear grasp of cost/benefit analysis, and a long-term view of the situation. Recent events have reminded me that the days ahead may be fewer than the days behind, even if all the battles go perfectly. And that there is something, if not better, than more important, after death. It's got me somewhat morose as I try to reconcile knowing the answers, with faith. And the idea that in a greater scheme of things, victory and defeat are unimportant. And that personal defeat may even be preferable, as long as you learn and grow from it. I don't like losing, and I can see the attraction and the trap of living an idyllic life. It's a whole series of paradoxes that can only be answered an extremely uncomfortable way: that becoming a grown-up requires suffering that someone else can't whisk away. Either your suffering, or someone else's that you must knuckle-down and overcome. And that the benevolent higher-powers want that, want adults. And the more malevolent higher-powers want the life of ease. Of course the diabolical ones want the life of unrelenting agony, but that's another story. Dante's and Milton's I believe. Knowing that intellectually is one thing, knowing it personally is another, watching it play out on a tapestry so vast that deception becomes an impossibility is severely jarring.
Back on track. The technique for preserving one's knowledge, and more important, one's expertise (inferential reasoning) perfectly I know how to replicate. Alternately, Miguelito's technique that he used on both of us to record our experience with theme parks can be extended to other fields. Short of training an apprentice, and both of us have a likely candidate in our Harems, likely for the exact same reasons, there is no other way to preserve all we know and would bring to a situ-lution. As for the theme park, I'll cede that one to you. I'm beginning to see where my legacy will lie, and I'm not entire displeased with it.
The Pokègirl world as a concrete example of Santayana's famous warning gone unheeded? I suspect that is the defining characteristics of politicians and bureaucrats wherever humans walk. That and, there's never enough resources (time, money, or people) to do it right the first time, but infinite resources to fix it later. The possibility of a Mameluke uprising/empire is less likely in the Sunshine League, where Caesar's Prank demonstrated that symbiosis created the healthiest body politic. And as a final act of freedom, those who'd lived under the Legion for two centuries gave away their freedom to make a stronger nation. I suspect they'd still vote that way, even today.
Until reconnaissance is complete, I'd hold off on any special weapons. The possibility of subtly different physical laws still remains. The Navy is sending a floating dry dock that will be made available to us. It's being dispatched for another reason I won't reveal here, silent service don't you know.
We are well. Other than a nattering voice demanding I relay a challenge to Vanessa for a duel (with yourself and me as assistants/seconds) of barbeque. Since I would have to explain my place of residence back home to explain why it's funny, I have decided not to pursue it. Besides, since I don't barbeque vegetables, the Third Guard would be the judges and they know I'd be more likely to cook meat for them again, it would skew their judging. But I am strongly tempted to take my 'cut' of the sale/bounties and get the Marines some nice kattle to cook up. When the party is planned, I'll let you know. We'll make it a potluck. You didn't have any chilli as I recall.
Kelvin
P.S. Didn't Sif have gold hair that subsequently turned black? I think Clarice and Hannibal are going to beat someone like a redheaded stepchild.
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Kelvin considered Roxanne squirming and screaming as she trashed about. Groping her own breasts and kicking her legs, while her breath hissed between clenched teeth.
"I'd feel better if I was actually doing something," he told Aurora as he gently licked her breast and tickled her stomach while his slow gentle strokes set off both Farfuck'ds.
I don't think this is how this air-to-air tag was supposed to go, he thought of the events unfolding. Such a simple idea: since time and physical contact with Master is so prized, let the fliers play a game of tag/keep away. Of course, my weight, plus the added distractions I'd provide would seriously hamper the flier, and keep the hopes of a midair Taming in their minds. It was supposed to be highly competitive.
"She likes it rough," Aurora admitted as she lifted him onto her and wrapped her legs around him, holding him unmoving inside her, "I like it when you play like I'm squishy and need persuading."
"I never expected you two would wrap me up in your capes and race off at hypersonic speed, or that my new friend would help." He let her press his head tight against her breast. He bit her nipple ever so gently, and set Roxanne screaming 'HARDER!'
"I'm enjoying the meal," Hild explained as she sat cat-like out of the way of the gyrations of either FarFuck'd, "And I did suggest it, a Taming amid the clouds. I wanted to test the spell on two of the hardier members, before using it on others. Jen and Acer might like to use it, and Cheryl and Naomi."
"Fuck me hard I can't stand it, rip me open with your cock!" Roxanne begged.
"I think you've held still long enough," Aurora said, and used her legs to set a slow pace of long thrusts. Roxanne whimpered, squealed and thrashed about. "And Cheryl likes a little rough play herself, Naomi and Kay would be better."
"She feels ten-times what Aurora does," Hild admitted, "I should have used this on a few Seraphs, then fingered myself. It would have been hilarious to watch."
"I'm glad you're getting along," he said, vaguely disturbed by his Harem's tastes.
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The appearance of a dozen Megami in fancy dress on the stern deck of the Des Moines attracted little attention from the force assembled to greet them. That it didn't shock Kelvin, Cheryl, Jen, Hannibal and Clarice, shocked the newly arrived Megami. The group wore comfortable travel clothes and each carried a Pokèpack or two.
"What it this?" the lead Megami stammered.
"A demonstration of why Parity won't work," the Captain told her, "Mr. Choice was informed of what you'd requested, and was willing to enter into negotiations with you. You did say you just wanted to 'talk to him'. You can talk in the wardroom, or here on deck, just as easily."
The Megami feigned outrage made them look like birds fluffing their feather against the cold, rather than powerful Pokègirls.
"The Captain speaks the truth," Kelvin said, "We wanted to demonstrate why Parity won't work." He raised his voice to ensure all could hear. "I speak now as one of the creator/chroniclers of this world, we all knew Parity was a pipe dream. As an alternative, in the League I created out of several disparate visions, I created DBENS, where we would not be Master and slave, but Symbionts. We would also have the luxury of being let alone." He paused as he realized they were more flustered by the turn of events than had been anticipated. "You want to know the difference, right now, a human would either attack, or negotiate. You, however, want to walk over somewhere and come to a consensus. Parity would deny one or both of us that basic nature. I will not be your prisoner, my Harem, the Captain's rules of hospitality, and several of the mightiest Legendaries would prevent that. What I offer is a chance, a way forward. The powers that defend me, could be turned to your goals. I have an army the likes of which hasn't been seen since the Revenge War. I will soon have a fleet, of such a power that hasn't been seen in the history of the world. I have allies across the globe who have become everything the Sanctuary Goths feared they would. I have political forces who are well aware that we stand on the razor's edge, of total war, or a new day of peace and hope. You are not bound by the doctrines of the past. You want a better world, so does everyone aboard this ship, so do all my allies. We can form a coalition, work out the things we can agree on, the things we have to agree to disagree about, and the things we'll need time to experiment and analyze. You can have half a loaf now, ready, and yours for the taking. And time to plan to gather the wisdom to see if you really want the other half, or if bagels would be better for everyone. You can have this all, and in peace. Or you can have total war, where the soldier in the field is as legitimate a target as the worker on the job, and if some poor grandmother gets the chop, that's her tough luck. Have you heard of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?"
"I have," one of the Megami said, "It was terrible, inhumane - inhuman."
"Looking at it from 300 years removed, and sanitized for your protection, it does look that way. In the calculus of total war, the alternatives were a land invasion or a siege. The land invasion was estimated to produce 20 million casualties. Mostly Japanese civilians and conscripts. The Wehrmacht soldaten actually believed their ransom for the lenient terms the Anglo-Americans were forcing the Soviets to accept, was that the entire German army would be expended in the initial assault wave. They were to die to the last man to buy a brighter future for the German people. Truman was appalled at reports that any child over the age of 12 should be shot on sight, and that the number might have to be revised down, to six. As horrible as it was, those two terrible acts gave the Japanese the honorable way to surrender. Millions of lives were save, and Japan lived, becoming Edo as it is today. You're on the brink of those kinds of decisions. You don't have to be. The old leadership is gone. The path forward is entirely your choice. Go, talk among yourselves, decide if the future is worth a little trust, or if you want to be remembered alongside the other Fascists as being wedded to doctrine, instead of reality."
The ruffled Megami walked towards the fantail, whispering, then actively arguing amongst themselves. The Captain raised a hand and a mist surrounded them, blocking lipreading as the Megamis' own spells had blocked sound and telepathy.
"Amateurs," the XO said quietly.
"Captain," Hild commented from her disguise as just another crewPokè, "I have to hand it to you, this is a trick worthy of me."
"I noted the effect he had on you, and me," the Captain said, "And they said they just wanted to talk to him." She blinked innocent eyes at the Legendary. "They wouldn't have tried to lie to a fellow Megami, would they."
Hild rolled her eyes, as did a number of other Megami. The Captain wasn't sure if one of them was still the original Thornie who'd arrived earlier, or Lucifer herself in disguise. It doesn't matter, she decided, The plan is a good one. With Kerrik fighting an Orange League distraction, and Capitol focusing here, we don't need to fight on another front.
The crew waited, her visitors waited, and the Celestial Alliance's capture team/leadership debated and argued.
"How is it going?" Miguelito arrived with several trays of food, warm sandwiches, coffee and tea.
"Very well, sir," the Captain said, "You didn't have to do this."
The small man shrugged, but couldn't contain his grin. "Voltaire found one of your galleys lightly guarded, and I assure you, no one was hurt during the capture. We surrendered it back to your forces as soon as we finished."
"Thoughtful," the XO said, selecting a sandwich and coffee, "What about them?"
"The Pastries are bringing their meal. They're neutral so should be more trustworthy," Miguelito said as he, Voltaire and Antoinette moved through the crowd.
"A thirty-second window," Kelvin said as he glanced at his watch, "That's going to be cutting things fine."
"We could always discuss the battle between you and Kerrik that some of the others suggested," the XO teased, but kept her stern expression, "Barbeque against barbeque, for the bragging rights across the entire Pokègirl world."
"I don't think it would be a fair contest. I don't usually barbeque vegetables, and the Tyrannodames are political enough to know who might be feeding them all that meat again."
"I'd better get the crews shaken out quietly," the XO said as she left.
Kelvin glanced at his watch. "I feel like I should be Nimitz, with the Seventh and Third Fleets of 1945, waiting for the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. It's supposed to be a surprise, and it's looking like a one-way massacre."
"Don't forget that they might get lucky, and they might be part of these people," the Captain warned.
"A diversion? Not their style. They use political means to be subtle, a subtle direct attack is not their way. It might be your way, but you are trained in the operational arts."
"True," the Captain admitted, "Don't underestimate them."
He nodded and checked the disposition of his Harem, then the argument going on among the Alliance Megami.
"We just wait, and trust in those we've trained," the Captain reminded him.
"I'm not good at sitting beside a problem, and not being allowed to work it," he replied as they waited for the klaxon.