******Sarah******
The image Jack sent across was completely ludacris, only the few people in a twenty foot radius around me in the hangar were looking at me funny, but it was enough to snap me out of the memory he was sharing with me. I tried to grab back on but a shell had clamped down tight over even his outer thoughts, and all I could feel from him was confusion as he focused on where he was and holding back his thoughts. I could tell he was close through the link, he was right it was easy when you figured out just where to probe, and as I withdrew waiting to question him in person, I caught a last whisper-thin thought sneaking along the link, *What is this woman doing to me?*
Just then he walked in with a young man in an English Navy uniform followed by eight more Royal Marines. Four split off to cover other areas of the hangar but the rest continued straight towards the four of us behind Jack and the Navy guy. Outwardly he looked the same as he chatted with the young man, but even without the link there was something in his eyes that said something was wrong and I could feel Jimmy and Louis “stiffen” behind me as their own shields went up defensively.
His path was taking him near the tip of the wing, when he reached the nearest point, he stopped and said something to the man beside him and leaped to the top of the wing, easily making the impossible 15 foot leap. “Ladies and gents of the 1st! Listen up! Our pit stop has been extended and we will be holding off our departure for a few more hours. The prince has loaned us this hangar to rest in and will be providing us with some chairs, sleeping mats, tables and of course some tea. Take a load off while our English cousins watch our backs for a while. Rotating MP shifts by squad, let the marines tend to the fires for a bit.”
With that he jumped down and continued on toward me. By the time he reached us, a few other soldiers that had been on the plane had arrived as well. “What’s the word Marco?”
When Marco’s Italian accent replied from right beside me I nearly jumped.
“The wounded are healing up and resting in this tub’s med bay, should be up walking given 8 hours or so. How long do you figure our stay’s extended?”
“Four hours at the least, supposing Her Majesty is willing to let us leave after we talk, but knowing her 8 hours sounds about right. Let em know 8 hours minimum maybe more. Get a feel for which way they’re leaning.”
“On it Boss, and if I may, I know the English go on about how their teatime is like a lunch, but seeing as the stay is over 8 hours is there a chance of sneaking us into the mess for dinner time? I know some of the boys were hoping to get a late night meal when we got home but as that’s delayed, they’d probably appreciate a good meal.”
The young man in the Navy uniform spoke up at this, “If I may My Lord,” he said addressing Jack first, “I will be sure all of your men will have a go at the English Navy’s finest cooking. The mess can’t fit you all at once and my lads too, but we’ll fit you in in groups so as not to overload the cooks.”
“Thank you My Lord,” Marco said, “your hospitality knows no bounds.” He looked up to Jack who nodded and then disappeared around the nose of the plane.
“Romansky, what’s up?” Jack said to someone behind me.
“Sometimes the sky, sometimes the water. Sorry sir boats still get to me a little. I’ve gone over the plane, all receivers and transmitters have been disabled, black box removed and flight charts erased, it’s clean as a whistle and compliments of the UA, Admiral, a gift for your generosity. Lands pretty well on this boat, figure you might be able to make use of it.” A slight black haired woman said, in a Russian accent as she stepped up from behind Louis.
“A fine gift, we’ll call it the Red Raven in your honor.” The young man said.
*What is going on?* I asked across the link *I thought we were just dumping the plane and getting out of here.*
The silence from across the link was unnerving as Romansky blushed and said something unintelligible in a Russian mutter as she stepped back between Louis and Jimmy.
*Plans change* finally whispered across the link as he spoke up again. “This is Sarah, a friend of mine from the old days. Sarah, meet His Royal Highness, Prince Jasper, ninth in line of succession and Admiral of the Queens Navy.”
“For one who professes to hate his own titles so much Uncle, you certainly like to heap them upon others. A pleasure to meet you Sarah. He’s obviously told no one anything about you since those three look just as shocked to hear you’re an old friend.”
*Damn spoiled brat, always watching too much Sherlock and Doctor Who, everything is a clue to him.*
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“Did you just call him Uncle?” I blurted out. “Sorry, I mean it’s a pleasure to meet you too Your Highness.” *Should I curtsy?* “But seriously… Jack,” I stumbled over his name, “I thought your family grew up in Ann Arbor, I didn’t know you were royalty.”
*No, you don’t need to curtsy, and it’s another part of that long story I promised you. We were kind of closing in on it earlier.*
“Ohh,” the Prince said in realization, “You’re from those old days, no wonder they looked shocked. No, the relationship is both newer, and older in a manner of speaking. Dear Uncle Jack married into the family a number of years ago, and we’ve tried to look out for him ever since.”
“To that end your grandmother is forcing 2 of her Royal Guard on me.” He said, “Speaking of which,” he continued, turning to look at the four silent men behind the prince, “I suppose since you are wearing my crest she meant it to be the two of you.”
“Yes sir,” the one on the right said, as they stepped up to him in unison. “John, My Lord, and that’s Tom, sir.”
“Well John, that’s Jimmy and Louis, they’re your counterparts in my employ and call me Jack. Emulate them, you don’t have to be so rigid all the time in fact try not to be, or you’ll make me stick out. Boys, show John and Tom the ropes and keep an eye on that one,” He said, pointing at Diego,” the three of us are going to go have a chat. Veronica, come see me later, I’ve got a new assignment for you. Jasper, would you like to inspect your new plane? We can all sit comfortably in the cockpit. Sarah, Jasper here can tell you a bit of that story I promised from his perspective.”
“Excellent suggestion Jack,” the Prince said, turning and starting toward the back of the plane. “It all started a long, long time ago in a land… not too far away. When William de Normandy conquered England, it was said that a mysterious stranger always rode beside him. In those days he was called the Conquerors Shadow. After the war, he was Jack L’Ombres, foreign mercenary and King’s Guard, the Conqueror’s right hand man.”
By this time we had begun our ascent back into the belly of the Red Raven. “The new King decided he needed to marry his “Shadow” into the family to ensure he would do everything in his power to see Uncle Willy succeed. So he arranged a marriage to Æthelgyth, the granddaughter of Harold Godwinson, the first. Soo technically his descendants, if there are any mucking about any more, have a better claim to the throne than Grandma does, only problem is the whole not aging thing he has going on for him.”
“Yes that would be a problem, a monarch who rules one kingdom, with the majority of his subjects living a fraction of his lifespan, for a thousand years, that'd be enough to drive a man mad.” Jack said aloud. His thoughts seemed purposefully jumbled as if to cover up what he was really thinking. “That’s why I went traveling for almost four hundred years after Æthelgyth died. I had to distance myself from the throne so history could take it’s natural course. Who knows what I may have changed over the centuries. No need to worry about your claim to the throne though Jasper, all of my lines have died out from one thing or another.”
“What do you mean your lines have died out Jack? Are you really that old that you have wholes lines of descendants that you’ve outlived?” I asked incredulously.
“Yes.” Jack said simply, but the jumbled thoughts seemed to flash through a series of distinct faces accompanied by a deep sadness. At my questioning stare he continued with focused thoughts, *No parent should have to bury his children, yet I have had to bury children, and great grandchildren. It is a terrible burden to live as long as we do, and we are unsure how long that actually is. The oldest known one of us is right outside this plane, and he is at least 3000 years older than I.*
“Is he the one you wanted me to meet Uncle?” Jasper said out loud. Both mine and Jack’s head whipped around to look at him. “What?” confused.
“How old are you Jasper?” Jack asked.
“You know I’m 23 Uncle, you sent me a card.”
*How long have you been able to hear the thoughts of others before they said them?* Jack asked in a loud mental voice directed towards Jasper.
“I did what?!” Jasper replied aloud again.
“Ah Elizabeth is not going to be happy to hear this. I believe I’m going to have to request you be given leave of your post for a time kid.” Jack said. “You have just shown that you are one of us in truth my friend, you were hearing what I believed to be a mental comment to just Sarah. While politically this may be good it may also be extremely bad given the timing.”
Jasper stood up and started pacing the cargo area of the plane, obviously thinking hard about what this might mean. *What does this mean?* I asked mentally, trying to focus the thought to Jack. I must not have succeeded fully because at the other end of the cargo bay where Jasper was just making his turn, he stopped and looked over his shoulder at us.
*It means that to protect the line of the throne, no matter how far down the line of succession he is, Jasper is going to have to renounce his claim to the throne. He can maintain his titles and rank, but he can never become King, and his children can never become King. At least not of England. Queen Elizabeth will not force him to do it, and she would never mention it to him, but as a royal he should know his duty. Isn’t that right Jasper.*
*Are you listening in to my thoughts now Uncle? Yes that is right. What other grand insights do you have oh master of minds?* Jasper thought back at us with a sour tone to the thoughts.
*This was no more my doing than it was yours, Boy!* Jack thought back at him angrily. *I do not know much more than you yourself how this happened to us, but it is over and done with now, there is no changing what is. This is nothing more than an accident of birth such as that which conferred the title of prince upon you! Now sit down you’re making me tired.*
“Yes Uncle,” he replied, as he sat down, having continued to pace as Jack chided him. “I’m sorry I snapped at you, it was unfair of me. What else does this mean though?”
“It means our enemies will say we infected the royal family somehow, while our allies who believe the truth about us will breathe easier, once they’re sure there won’t be a monarch ruling one of the most powerful nations in the world for a thousand years. Which you have to think is a bit shortsighted considering how little we actually know of the mutations’ distribution throughout the world’s population.” Jack replied, seeming to talk to himself as he wound to a close.
“Now that it has started how do I make it stop? I keep hearing these conversations from people all over the ship, but I can’t seem to shut them out so I can think straight.” Jasper said.
Jack looked at me and grinned his infuriating grin again, “Well Jasper as your talent seems to run along the same lines as Sarah’s, I’m going to let her tell you how she does it so I can tell you both how to do it right.”
*Asshole* I pushed to him with a whisper thin thought across our link, earning a snorting laugh. “It’s hard to explain.” I said, thinking of how I blocked out the thoughts of others when I wanted some peace and quiet. “And you’re right, I probably am doing it all wrong, I can only hold it for so long until I get too tired. When I am consciously trying to mute the voices, I think of wearing noise canceling headphones without any music playing through them and focus on that sound of silence you get when the seal is complete and no noise whatsoever comes through.” I thought more on it, examining the mental barrier as I imagined it in my head and added, “I guess sometimes I’m able to just block a portion of it without really trying too much by thinking of a sieve, straining through them allowing the smaller thoughts to pass all the way through and out the other side and only catching the largest of the thoughts on the surface of my thoughts. I told you it’s hard to explain.” I shot inadequately, glaring at Jack.