“Travelling like this is strange,” Anna said. “I’m used to strange, with anything related to Jason, but this is up there.”

Their vehicle looked like a flying saucer, flat and round, with smooth lines and a sleek white exterior that tapered at the edges. What propelled it through the air, however, was not alien science, magic or magitech. On the top were a pair of recessed handles being gripped by Taika, currently in the form of a giant golden eagle. He shot smoothly through the air like a rocket, the vehicle gripped in his talons.

The custom vehicle was designed to improve the mana efficiency of Taika’s bird form and create adaptive planes of force that improved aerodynamic performance. As a result, what should have been a burden didn’t impede his ability to fly, even enhancing it under some circumstances.

The interior was something between a hotel suite and a private plane, with one half of the saucer being a semicircular lounge area. The other half was divided between stowage, sleeping cabins and a bathroom. The passengers were Anna, Rufus and Gary Sharpton, a young leonid.

“Is this not how people travel out in the regular world?” Gary asked.

“In a UFO being carried by a giant bird?” Anna asked. “No, it’s not. I thought that would have been obvious, given that you designed this thing. I know you’ve spent most of your life in an astral space, but you’ve studied aircraft design, have you not?”

“Surely people don’t still use aeroplanes, right?” Gary asked. “Just adding some magic to them is way less efficient than a ground-up redesign that incorporates magitech from the outset.”

“You realise that we’re flying in what amounts to an over-elaborate bucket,” Rufus pointed out.

“Yeah, but that’s just me cheaping-out on propulsion,” Gary said. “The original design was a dirigible, but replacing it with a giant bird is the obvious choice. If you have one available.”

“Yes, completely obvious,” Rufus said. “Are you sure you should be tweaking the design after what happened with the first prototype?”

“It’s going to be fine,” Gary said. “This prototype is much more reliable than that one.”

“Given that the bottom fell off that one mid-flight,” Rufus said, “I would certainly hope so.”

“Hey, that was a valuable result,” Gary said. “Because of that, we figured out the material degradation issue with the mana conduits.”

“By having the bottom fall off,” Rufus said.

“It’s not like there was anyone in there. That’s why we test prototypes: to isolate and correct errors. It’s going to be fine. There’s zero chance of anything going wrong.”

“Then why did you insist on being brought along in case something goes wrong?”

“Because you wouldn’t have let me go, otherwise. Also, I lied about the zero percent thing. But it’s going to be fine, trust me.”

“After you just admitted to lying and deception?” Anna asked.

“Exactly. I admitted to it. I’m an inherently honest person. It’s like when my mum told Rufus I could come on this trip. That was definitely her and not an illusion created by my friend Brian.”

Anna threw a wide-eyed look at Rufus, who gestured for calm.

“He’s messing with you, Anna. It was his real mother.”

Gary flashed a toothy grin, showing off a mouthful of lion teeth.

On the side table next to her chair, Anna’s phone beeped a notification and she checked it.

“We’re in Australian airspace,” she told them, then sighed. “I’m not entirely convinced that just turning up is the best approach.”

“It was your idea,” Rufus said. “You said that we need to contain the information as best we can. Deal with the onsite director personally.”

“And that’s all true,” Anna said. “From what I know about Lenora Coleman, she’ll play this objectively. Do what’s best for the situation, not any particular country or group. If we go through the process of entering the country legally and getting permission to visit the site, we’ll be dragged into a swamp of interest groups and political games before we get anywhere near the director.”

“Then what’s the issue?”

“This approach doesn’t come naturally to me. I was brought in to ameliorate Jason’s bolder instincts, and this…”

“Is exactly how Jason would do it,” Rufus finished. “I heard that Yumi argued against this approach.”

“She did. But Jason hired me to work for him, not the clan. He was very specific about that. While my role is to present approaches he wouldn’t normally consider, he will ultimately do things his way. We had a less-than-ideal meeting, after which we sat down again and clarified a lot of things. What he wants from me, and what I can expect from him. Taking this approach, just showing up at the artefact site with no warning, is to demonstrate that we can. When he gets here, Jason intends to walk a line on which he accommodates the authorities of Earth without being subject to them. What we’re doing here — the way we’re doing it — sets a tone.”

“How do you anticipate the various powers of Earth responding to that?” Rufus asked.

“Not well. The whole approach is predicated on Jason having the power to tell them to go jump, regardless of what they try. If he can’t make the world accept that he’s untouchable, it’s all going to go wrong. And they won’t accept it, not completely. Part of my role is to make it go the least degree of wrong we can manage.”

“Mr Asano is definitely going to convince them,” Gary said. “I can’t wait to meet him. I bet he’s crazy awesome, and I mean crazy. Mrs Tilden, have you heard all the stories about him?”

“One or two,” Anna said.

“Nigel’s story about him killing a city full of vampires with blood rain?”

“Yes.”

“And Rufus’ story about him killing two cultists with feminism? Rufus had a sword fight in that one where he had a trowel instead of a sword.”

“That, I haven’t heard,” Anna said. “A trowel?”

“It was an evil trowel!”

“You’ve heard that one,” Rufus told her. “Gary frames it quite differently in the retelling. But yes, it was an evil trowel.”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

“And the time you did an air drop raid from flying ships on the secret base of an evil religious order. They stole a submarine in that one!”

The enthusiastic teenager happily continued, not noticing the look shared between the two adults.

***

“Mrs Tilden, Mr Remore and Mr Williams are looking to have a meeting, Director,” said Cassie, Lenora and Barry’s assistant.

“They want to set up a conference call?” Lenora asked.

“No, Director,” Cassie said. “They’re downstairs.”

“Downstairs? They’re in the building?”

“Outside, with security,” Cassie said. “They just kind of turned up. In a flying saucer being carried by a bird.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Lenora asked. “Is this some kind of prank?”

“Uh, no, ma’am. The flying saucer is still out there. The bird turned out to be Taika Williams, who turned back into a person.”

“He does have the power to turn into a giant bird,” Barry said.

“No one was exactly sure what to do with them,” Cassie said. “Or how they got this close without tripping any of our alert magic or other security systems. Security Commander Higgins scrambled his team and sent word to notify you while he locked everything down.”

Lenora pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes in frustration. She drew a sharp breath and let it out slowly, then schooled her expression and opened her eyes.

“Just the three of them?” she asked.

“There’s one other man, as-yet to be identified. He’s not human.”

“One of the transformed,” Barry said. “Almost all of them went to the Asano clan as refugees, so it’s not odd to see one with them.”

“He’s a lion man,” Cassie said, her expression growing slightly embarrassed. “He’s super adorable.”

Her expression went back to blank professionalism at a glare from Lenora. Barry, standing behind Lenora, gave Cassie an encouraging nod and rolled his eyes in Lenora’s direction.

“Let’s go,” Lenora said, heading for the door. “Barry, you said Terrance Tilden is still in the Media Relations office?”

“He is.”

“Call him. He may be useful when in dealing with his sister.”

As she led the way to the elevator, Barry pulled out his phone.

“Deputy Director Sinise,” Terry answered cheerfully. “To what do I owe the pleasure? Is this related to the kerfuffle happening outside? Security won’t let anyone near it.”

“Your sister is here.”

“Annie? That’s quite the saucy development. She didn’t come alone, I take it.”

“Taika Williams, Rufus Remore and one unknown.”

Barry heard Terry all but leaping from his chair.

“Rufus Remore is here?”

“Yes.”

“In person?”

“Yes.”

“Is he wearing a shirt?”

“Terrance…”

“Could we get security to confiscate it? As a precaution.”

“Have you even finished your sexual harassment seminars from the last thing?”

“I got back from the last one on Thursday. I can’t believe they made me fly to Adelaide for the damn things.”

“I can’t believe you’re still employed.”

“It’s my mother, you know. She does not like scandals to involve the family. Covers up everything she can get away with. She was livid when Anna scooted off to join the Asano Clan. I was the one who got to tell her, which was a delight. She actually threw a shoe at me.”

“Just meet us downstairs,” Barry said, and glanced at Lenora while they waited for the elevator. “And do behave yourself, Terry. The director just learned that you weren’t fired the last time, so if you don’t, she’s going to do something to you more permanent than your mother can fix.”

“Okay, thanks for the warning, Baz. Best behaviour.”

“Mate, you’d better, or Nora’s going to rip us both a new…”

Barry saw Lenora’s expression as she listened to the call.

“Just don’t, Terry. None of your nonsense today.”

***

Leaving the lobby elevator, they found a small crowd of workers held back from the main entrance by a security cordon. The security team, their magically enhanced tactical gear including full helmets, formed a stern and faceless line. Several people noticed the arrival of the director and deputy director and immediately approached. Barry stepped forward and tried to warn them off, with little effect.

“Anyone who doesn’t go back to their workstation right now,” Lenore declared, “will no longer have one by end of day.”

The assemblage quickly took to the stairs and elevators, except for Terry.

“They’re still not letting me get past,” he said.

“Nor should they,” Lenora told him. “If and when you are needed, you’ll be let through.”

He opened his mouth to protest, looked at her face and wisely closed it again. Lenore watched him for signs of rebellion for a moment, then nodded.

“Cassie, stay here with Tilden and report everything he does or attempts to do.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Lenora led Barry forward, the guards parting to let them through.

“Commander Higgins is waiting for you, ma’am,” one of them told her.

“Thank you, Morgan,” she said as they passed through the cordon.

“How can you tell them apart in those outfits?” Barry whispered.

“Shush,” she whispered back.

They crossed the lobby and exited through the main doors. Security personnel, guns held but not raised, stood in a line watching four people. In front of the line were the on-roster gold rankers, a British man from the Network and one from the Chinese government. They were both warily standing off with Williams and Remore, who were much more casual. Remore was relaxed, with his hands in his pockets. Williams was eating a slice of cake and had an icing moustache. They stood between the other members of their group and the gold-rank security members. Behind them was the flying saucer they had arrived in.

Outside of the ring, Higgins was in his normal security uniform, not tactical gear.

“Honestly, ma’am,” he said without preamble, “I didn’t know what to do. They just showed up. The city is restricted, but nothing that would stop Remore or Williams. I mean, even this is theatre. Our gold-rankers couldn’t handle either of them, let alone both.”

“You had best take care with your mouth, Higgins, lest I close it for you,” the English gold ranker said.

“Everyone stand down,” Lenora said. “Out of the way.”

She strode through the group to stand in front of their unexpected visitors.

“Is this really what you thought was the best approach?” she asked. “Circumventing our security protocols to come here directly?”

“That’s my bad,” Taika mumbled from around a mouthful of cake. “I sensed some magic, but I didn’t realise it was meant to be security. The standards are a little different in the clan. We have that continent-spanning vampiric empire to deal with and you have what? Journalists? People selling scammy water filters?”

Annabeth Tilden stepped past him with a sigh.

“We do apologise, Director,” she said. “We genuinely had no idea of the security arrangements here.”

“You could have reached out in advance,” Lenora pointed out.

“That might have been a bad idea, in light of what we’ve come to share. Preferably inside, away from…”

She glanced at the gold-rank security members.

“…public spaces.”

“Director,” the Englishman said, “we must be included in any—”

“‘Must’ is a strong word, Lord Willoughby,” Lenora cut him off. “Your role here is security. My role is to determine in what context security needs to be employed. Since I deem these individuals a non-threat, and you couldn’t do anything about it if they were, I will thank you to stand down. Along with the rest of our security forces, Commander Higgins. Maintain a low alert, do a full security sweep and compile a report on potential approaches to preventing this situation from repeating itself. Is that understood?”

“With respect, ma’am,” Higgins said, “protocol says they can’t be declared a non-threat until we’ve done at least basic checks. Make sure they aren’t shape-shifters. Inspect their vehicle. Determine the identity of all members of the group. Human and otherwise.”

“You mean Gary?” Taika asked. “He’s cool, bro. Also, he won’t have any legal identity outside of the clan. And I can tell you now that I am a shape-shifter. I can turn into a humongous eagle, which is sweet, plus I’ve got this whole birdman situation going on. In an awesome battle-form way, not a jump-off-a-pier kind of way.”

“Taika, please stop helping,” Anna said.

“I’m going to waive the security screening,” Lenora said. “That is within my authority as director.”

“That’s up to you, ma’am,” Higgins said, his tone telling her exactly what he thought of that idea. “If you do so, however, I am required to notify all member groups of the situation. Preventing me from doing so is not within your authority.”

“Given that your security force is supplied by the member groups,” Lenora said, “trying to keep a lid on this would be pointless, so you might as well go ahead. But first, stand down your people.”

There was some more back and forth, but before long, Lenora and Barry were leading Taika, Rufus, Anna and Gary inside the building. Higgins let the group past the cordon, now only holding back Terry and Cassie.

“Annie!” Terry called out, but his eyes were locked on Rufus. Lenora raised an arm to point right at him.

“Not another word,” she warned. “Deputy director, take Mr Tilden and sit on him until such time as we need him.”

“Of course, Director,” Barry said. “Come along, Terry. We’ll take the other elevator.”

“G’day Terry,” Taika said with a wave. “Long time.”

“Cassie,” Lenora said to her assistant. “Get ready to triage the mass of calls and meeting requests that will already have started to pour in.”

“Yes, Director.”

Lenora turned to look at the four interlopers.

“We’d best continue this in my office.”