Jupiter threw himself onto the starboard outrigger platform, Breeze scrambled next to him. But Maggie tumbled towards the stern as The Jupiter lurched, angled upwards, and swung to the right. The flying boat still had speed on but now turned away from the pylon. The huge wooden structure barely ripped past to the left of the outrigger.

‘What magic is this?’ a manisaur boomed close by.

Jupiter pushed Breeze and Maggie back to the centre of the hull, and slid towards the helm and mainsheet rope. In front of him, at the rear of the outrigger, a manisaur hung. Their broad shoulders tensed and then, even as he pulled himself aboard, Jupiter recognized the sailor Gan.

Maggie again pushed at the kheel to keep them airborne. Breeze got the idea and spun it even faster.

‘Not magic,’ said Jupiter. ‘Just strange science… I’ve not quite worked it out yet.’

‘Magic then.’ Gan said. ‘Can this magic get us to the flight-works?’

‘Where is it?’

Gan pointed, and Jupiter saw a bulky wooden structure on the water with a pylon mast extending high from the centre. The rebel skyship flew across the edge waters of the harbour but not towards Gan’s outstretched hand. The pylon mast became clearer in the gloom as they flew closer. Lit only by navigation globes, and the increasing light from the rising moon, Jupiter could see a web of ropes strung from the top of the pylon to other, even taller pylons on the Vanukam shore. In the growing winds huge skyforts swung high on these pylons, and even as Jupiter watched they moved back and forth.

‘The flight-works supply the skyforts and the rest of the fleet with flight-engines and the zharaqsa crystals to run them.’ Gan saw how Maggie and Breeze worked to spin the kheel. His aura flashed with uncertainty. ‘The energizing crystals are there, and is what makes skyships fly. How does this vessel do so if it has no zharaqsa?’

‘Look,’ said Maggie. ‘The rebels have been captured.’

The rebel skyship flew lower in the sky, and close to the water. Jupiter saw a galley had taken hold of the dangling ropes, and the skyship drifted no more. Manisaurs swung down from the skyship to the galley.

‘They’ve been taken in tow by the navy watch. But they will put up a fight.’

‘The rebels have lost?’

‘No. The main battle will appear to be there, but it is not. Though with the loss of that skyship it is now vital we cut out at least two new vessels when we attack Vanukam.’

‘And the flight-works?’

‘A further distraction only.’ Gan stared at Jupiter. ‘Can you get us there? Will this magic take us?’

Jupiter felt the wind blowing. He knew that more than just boat speed caused the pressure of the wind. The storm had closed upon them and soon gales would descend upon Zenska and the Narushkam. He scanned their position — the wind, their heading, and the trim of the boat. The Jupiter sails were full once more, but the sail’s luff bubbled because he had eased the sail out to slow their speed. He had no intention of crashing into anything else tonight.

‘To do what?’ Jupiter eased the sail in a little. ‘A distraction?’

‘Perhaps. But we had always intended to destroy the flight-works after we had taken a skyfort. Destruction of it would reduce any enemy counterattack by the skyforts as their flight power dwindled.’

‘Is it safe?’ asked Maggie.

‘Nothing in life is safe human.’ Gan chuckled. ’To take breath is to risk all. We shall, so aim high and achieve.’

‘That sounds like another Eoth saying,’ Jupiter said with a groan.

‘I can even translate it I think…’ Maggie took a breath then said…

‘Phanzhaqara shaqa Qharaqa, shaqa vahai'asho.

Sha'Naru zhavisho, vahai'asho zhami.’

‘Just stop it,’ Jupiter said. ‘Next you will be kissing and going again…’

‘It’s a poetic language.’

‘Now you’re just getting weird with this language thing.’

‘Tulanvarqa — connexion… it’s wonderful. I’ve never experienced anything like this.’

‘You think?’ Jupiter rolled his eyes. ‘Maggie thinks everything here is like a bonkers dream that she expects to wake up from… but never do. I’m not sure she’s wrong.’

‘There’s a saying about that,’ Gan said and he opened his mouth with what Jupiter expected to be another warbling sing song.

Instead Jupiter said — ‘Life is but a dream within a dream.’ The others looked at him in wonder. ‘What? It’s from one of my mother’s favorite songs… or a poem… she used to quote that to me all the time.’

‘Very profound,’ said Maggie. ‘I just didn’t expect you to come out with wisdom.’

‘Will this strange craft get me there?’ said Gan. ‘Will you risk to take me to the flight-works?’

Jupiter grinned. ’We’re already in trouble. What could a little more do us?’

‘Jupiter…’ Maggie said. ‘How is this getting us home?’

‘If it gets us on a ship to Qhayanpa then we will be closer to home. Poetry and pretty words will not.’ Jupiter hauled in the sail, they picked up speed… and promptly turned in a circle. ‘Even if this is a dream… it’s real enough for me to take seriously.’

‘The flight-works are that way,’ Gan said.

‘Jupiter. This is a very bad idea. Why should we even trust this manisaur?’

‘I’ve no rudder,’ Jupiter said.

‘See? You can’t even steer. Let’s get away from here as fast as possible.’

‘Can you do it human?’ Gan’s eyes flashed frustration and impatience.

‘There might be a way. Gan stay in the middle of the boat, next to the imp. Maggie, you and I will need to move around the boat… to help steer and balance the sail. Breeze. You keep spinning the kheel.’

Gan’s aura flashed surprise when Breeze at the kheel spun it up faster.

‘Maggie, we’ll have to steer it like a windsurfer… by tilting the sail to balance the force of wind in a way so we turn.’

‘What’s a windsurfer?’

‘A sailboat without a rudder. Move to the front… that’s it.’ Jupiter leaned forward as well. He eased the sail, and as they began to turn away from the wind he leaned backwards, altering the fore and aft angles and so The Jupiter straightened up on a new heading.

’Stay where you are everyone. Let me do the moving.’ He pulled the sail in again to speed up… but The Jupiter turned and lost way. The sail flapped.

‘Human…’

‘The name is Jupiter.’

‘Joopah, boat master.’ Gan said this with some sarcasm flashing in his aura. ‘You are no master of your helm.’

‘Give me…’ Jupiter tried again, balancing and straightening the direction of heading. He turned to head towards the flight-work pylon once more. And with a little wobble and drift… ‘Faster Breeze…’ The Jupiter began to gather speed. Jupiter had to continually adjust the sail angle, and the tilt of the boat about the kheel. He worked out it would be useful to be able to move the mainsheet fixing across the width of the hull rather than in one point. In this way he managed to keep the heading steady while increasing speed.

‘We should get down into the water, easier to steer.’

‘Well done Joopah,’ Gan said. ‘Now if only the imp would stop playing with that light. We need to get it hidden.’

‘That’s how we fly,’ said Maggie.

‘We won’t be able to cover it,’ Jupiter said. ‘Though it is not too bright I think.’

Gan harrumphed but said no more. Instead he stared at the kheel and the actions of the imp. Jupiter got the impression the big manisaur had many questions. In the dim flicker of blue light of the kheel he could see the manisaur’s aura changing, as if he talked to himself. But it could have been a trick of the light.

‘Aim for the right side, and put us in the water,’ Gan said. ‘This is a boat? It can float?’

‘Yes. It works best in the water… or the rudders do at least. Ease up on the kheel spin guys.’ Jupiter eyed the waters. ‘Let’s land her in the water…’

‘Phazhaqava shaqarun…’ Maggie sang, but hummed the rest once she had seen Jupiter’s eye roll. ‘Kiss and go…’ she mouthed at him.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Jupiter concentrated on trying to keep his craft level and moving where he wanted. He left the kissing and going to Maggie.

‘I’ll have to work out a better way to steer when in the air.’

‘I believe we will not be seen. Too much attention is on the skyship and the galley.’

Jupiter turned away to the left, to port, towards the galley and skyship. The sound of fighting came to him now, and when he listened now more manisaur cries came from the main dockland. The sounds were like the worst fight amongst seagulls or cats he could have imagined. There were no words, or even familiar sounds, he could understand. Almost like the roar of a football crowd, but made by tortured cats. Perhaps it were the seagulls doing the torturing.

‘Onto the water now,’ said Gan. ‘And I saw your trick with the sail. Lower it again.’

The Jupiter’s rudders touched the water, and Jupiter smiled, now glad to have positive steering again. He lined up a direct run to the flight-works.

‘What are you going to do?’ Maggie said. ‘Are you some sort of soldier.’

‘Lana-Lankhaka… A marine…’

Though Jupiter understood the meaning the word meant more like water-stand-tall. A water warrior. He ran The Jupiter forward in a spray of water until they slowed.

‘We Lana-Lankhaka from Karakatun — The Constellation, were to capture the flight-works by stealth. I and my crew were on ropes ready to drop onto the flight-works when we got tangled. Confound this cyclone and the dying trade winds.’ Gan snorted. ‘I will have to go alone.’

‘I will come with you.’ Jupiter nodded.

‘A human? I think not. You have no head for heights.’

‘Try me…’

‘And you do not understand Lankhakadha, the warrior’s way. Nor Vishaalun.’ Jupiter saw Gan’s aura just visible in the dim light of the flight-works glowglobes.

‘Vishaalun… your aura? I’m not as good as Joopah here.’ Maggie laughed. ‘But I’m learning.’ She secured the halyard rope to the mast.

Gan considered this. ‘You are unlike any humans I have met, and you speak strange. There is something not right with you.’

‘We are from Earth,’ said Maggie. ‘Kiwis even. You’ve not met anything like us before.’

Gan fell silent. Then continued. ‘Indeed no. If you are nuvra, yet with connexion. Your craft flies like Nakheviq herself, and you travel with Aramqhami…’ The large manisaur stared at Breeze with something like contempt and fear. Then his aura flashed too dim and fast for Jupiter to understand but he got the sense of resignation and acceptance.

‘If fate is on your side…’ Gan turned from to Breeze to Jupiter, as his aura showed calm once more. ‘Then I would have you on mine. I was to have my crew with me but you will be crew enough I think. We must disable the fleet if our rebellion is to have any chance of defeat. Our intelligence says the flight works is a weak spot. We must take advantage.’

Gan’s auras flashed. Jupiter glanced at Breeze. The imp spun the kheel still. He would be tired from all that work. Jupiter got the sense Gan needed to know he understood the risks involved.

‘Yes,’ said Jupiter. ‘I understand. It’s dangerous…’

‘Jupiter…’ Maggie said shaking her head.

Jupiter ignored her. ‘But if the success of the rebels means we can get home.’ He stared at Maggie then. ‘We have to help Gan.’

‘Phanzhaqara shaqa Qharaqa,’ Jupiter recited. ‘To take breath is to risk all.’

Jupiter sealed the seriousness of the moment as he nodded to Maggie.

‘Phazhaqava shaqarun…’ Maggie replied. ‘We kiss and go…’

Jupiter brought the boat skimming close to the wooden structure, and Breeze slowed the kheel. They touched the surface and they slowed as they settled into the water. Gan sat poised with a paddle.

Jupiter understood then the nature of the huge hulking structure. A skyfort, had been grounded, and a pylon built atop it. The hulk had then been extended and built upon until only part of the original hull remained visible. He steered under the bow and saw there a figurehead, a teko teko, carved so it appeared to curl up and around the bulbous front of the old skyfort.

‘Along here.’ Gan paddled The Jupiter to a landing. He steadied the boat as everyone got off. Jupiter thought about removing the kheel for safety, but he wanted to sail away. Soon.

‘Breeze.’ Jupiter tied the outrigger to a ring set into the wood of the landing. ‘Keep watch. Don’t follow.’

Come… Keep Safe… Stay Safe...

‘No. Stay here. Keep The Jupiter safe.’

Breeze did not look happy.

Gan flashed an aura that Jupiter could not catch. Breeze made a farting noise.

‘Shh. Keep quiet,’ Maggie said. But Jupiter grinned at the imp.

Gan ignored them and moved up the landing steps to a gallery that ran along one side of the huge grounded skyship. He drew a long knife from his belt.

‘No violence,’ said Maggie. ‘We have to try to do the job without bloodshed.’

Gan did not put his knife away, instead he tossed Jupiter a short club. He found it did not quite balance right, then again, he only had a single thumb on his hand. Gan motioned, and then crept along the gallery towards up a set of notches set into the side of the hull. Jupiter followed, motioning for Maggie to stay put.

The notched steps were no problem for Gan but since the side of the hull sloped outwards the marine almost hung upside down as he crept higher. The gallery stopped short of the notches so Jupiter had to make a large step, or small leap to get onto the lowest step. Jupiter leaned out, hands on the hull and stretched a foot to the first notch.

As he transferred his weight to his hands he stepped across. Jupiter thought the danger not too extreme. Sure. He felt like he was about to fall off, even though water lay underneath. Except when there was The Jupiter to hit.

His hand reached up, found the next step, and he moved on up.

Maggie shook her head. ‘I think I will stay here… with Breeze.’

Gan flashed his aura and Jupiter nodded. He continued his slow way up the curving side of the hull, and tried not to look down. A dark hatch loomed above and Gan disappeared through. A second later his head popped back and he flashed an aura just visible in the light of the rising moon.

’Stay put.’ Jupiter understood this even without words.

Jupiter nodded but the Lana-Lankhaka marine had gone already. He had counted to thirty and began to climb again when Gan’s head popped up. An aura flash…

‘Follow.’

And Jupiter did just that. He paused but took in the view before he entered the hatch. Across the dark water to Vanukam, the docklands were now full of furious activity. The wind had picked up and Jupiter guessed the cyclone would arrive not far into the night. Fires and bright lights moved amongst the docks, and around the skyforts. Though no real sign of battle reached him beyond the shouts in the distance of manisaurs being roused to action.

Inside the hull all Jupiter saw remained dark, and quiet, for now.

‘I have silenced two guards. They do not expect any to attack here. The imprint of the Emperor is strong for many, and they obey. It is their weakness and our strength even as they believe otherwise.’

‘Gan. I have no idea what you’re talking about. I just need to know where are we going next and what to do once we get there.’

Gan flashed his aura, and he was back in stealth mode, quiet and the image of deadly intent. They crept along a central corridor. Gan signaled a stop.

‘You shall go left, and I right. If ever you need to escape… retrace your steps. I can not come to your aid. You are on your own.’

‘What am I to do?’

‘You are to provide a distraction, make a noise. Trip over something. You humans are good at such. Draw attention away from me and I will enter the storage vault.

‘You have a key?’

Gan raised his knife — more a short sword now that Jupiter had come close. ‘I can be persuasive if I have the odds with me. You will provide the odds.’

‘Great. What will they do with me?’

‘Nothing unless they catch you. Do not be caught. Now be off. Count to thirty and then start to make a commotion.’

Gan disappeared. Jupiter took the left passage, and listened. He heard the low murmur of manisaurs ahead, and ran up towards the light. Around a corner, three manisaurs sat on their weird bench like stools, at a table. A warm orange glow came from a group of globes hung from the low wooden ceiling.

‘They’re playing cards,’ Jupiter said under his breath. ‘Seriously weird how gambling…’ Just them he heard a noise behind him. He ducked his head back.

‘Must be a count of thirty by now,’ Jupiter muttered. ‘I sure don’t want to be caught.’

A scuffling noise came again. ‘Just a rat, or whatever vermin they have on this planet…’ The sound seemed closer. Jupiter searched for something to throw at the three manisaurs. His hand tightened on the club in his hand.

He took a deep breath, raised the club to throw, and was pulled to the floor with a bang. With his breath knocked out of him he was confused at first. At the noise shouts erupted from the three manisaurs at the table, along with a familiar warbling chutter.

‘Breeze… you evil…’ Jupiter swore as he realized what had landed on top of him. ‘Almost gave me a heart attack.’ He pushed Breeze aside, but the imp had rushed forward. Jupiter got to his knees, and crawled to the corner to see. The card game had been abandoned when Breeze had descended upon the game. Now the imp threw cards and waging counters at the three manisaurs. Jupiter debated whether to join in or run, but then he heard running behind him. He came face to face with a startled manisaur who appeared to be straightening the weapons sash across their body.

Jupiter shoved the club into the belly of the manisaur expecting the guard to double over their breath knocked out of them. The manisaur bent over alright — but only to wrap their arms around Jupiter’s body in a good rugby tackle.

And it was Jupiter’s turn to be winded when he hit the ground. The thought came to him then the impossibility of knowing if manisaurs were even vulnerable to the same things as humans.

‘His head will be,’ Jupiter thought.

He raised the club to knock it sideways against his attacker’s head, but missed. The two of them rolled to the side and Jupiter twisted onto his feet followed by the manisaur.

‘Sorry about this. I only have to provide a distraction… if you’ll just…’ Jupiter raised his club.

The manisaur’s aura flashed as they realized there were about to be sconned on the head and they opened their mouth to cry out. Breeze slammed into them, knocking them sideways. The imp grabbed at Jupiter and together they ran back along the corridor.

Gan lay sprawled out on the floor in a doorway, an eery glow came from within the room.

‘What happened to you?’

The big marine remained unresponsive.

‘Oh great.’

Clutched in the marine’s hand lay a key, or what Jupiter recognized as much the same as the one Berg had used. It was a combination key and door handle.

‘You couldn’t get in?’ Jupiter said. ‘Why was that?’

Through the doorway a green light flowed from the corner and across the floor.

‘That can’t be right…’ He turned and saw Breeze wobbling. ‘Oh shit. Gas. They’ve booby trapped the store with gas.’

He held his breath as he watched Breeze topple over next to Gan. But he couldn’t help himself, he had to take a breath. A sickly sweet aroma like aniseed overwhelmed him, his head spun. He had to take another breath. He steadied.

’Seems to not affect me so much.’

Jupiter picked up the key-handle and ran into the room and the source of the light. The three guards lay on the floor. In the glow everything was the same horrible color. Rows of gleaming green faceted gems about the size of tennis balls were stacked on shelves behind broken glass. Their glow fill the room even as the stench of the gas filled his head. The doors hung open so Jupiter threw the key-handle to the floor.

‘The gas must have been behind the glass…’ Jupiter realized that Gan had broken the glass not realizing the gas would overwhelm him. Jupiter coughed and his vision blurred. ‘The gas is still dangerous to me. Just not as harmful.’

He gathered up as many of the gems as he could, tossing them on the floor, then picking up more. But he had no bag to carry them in. He unzipped his wetsuit, and stuffed the gems into corners next to his skin. The stretchy material bulged all over until his body had deformed in a grotesque approximation of his usual shape. He zipped up again.

The locker sat close to the centre of the downed skyship, and low down, near the water line. A row of iron bars was set across one end of the room with a strong doorway beyond.

‘Why are there iron bars inside the locked room? That does not make a lot of sense.’ Jupiter walked towards the bars but a noise from behind caused him to pause.

‘No time… got to get back to the others.’ He turned out of the empty ransacked gem room, and ran back to Gan and Breeze. He lifted the imp and carried him to the hatchway where a strong wind blew through. Then ran back for Gan. The large manisaur was heavy, but not as heavy as he would have imagined given their size. He slipped his hands under the big manisaur’s arms and dragged the big manisaur along.

‘Everyone says I’ve got hollow legs — I eat so much. But I'm sure you guys do have hollow ones.’ He had dragged Gan much of the way when Breeze slipped beside him and helped for the last part.

‘If you’re reviving Breeze, I guess those guards will be too.’ He and Breeze lifted Gan up to the hatch and were wondering how to get him down when they heard guards shouting.

Close, and getting closer.