Murder Beach
Hovering above the walled town, Luscin reflects on how much simpler life was before their first visit to Murder Beach. Minus the army of War Born it looks exactly the same as when they first arrived. Except she now knows there’s a larger town below ground that harbors pre-cataclysm secrets and an unnerving prophecy.
Following Teum, they touch down in the same open area by the northern wall as their first visit. It’s almost anticlimactic to not be attacked immediately, as they were the first time they dropped in unexpected. The people are as happy to see them as always, many believing they play an important role in some giant prophesized war.
They came here to wait for Malo to finish his trip to El’Hat. They were hoping he’d beat them back but could tell right away that he was nowhere in the vicinity. His presence used to be masked by his spirit-cloak, nothing seems to work at hiding him anymore. Get within a hundred yards and you can point to him without using any senses.
The vacant two story building the town allocated for their use is a short walk away. Approaching, they see a light on through a window, someone must be inside. Neither bother extending their senses to see who is there.
Luscin stops Teum from walking in and knocks on the door. After a short wait, a man neither have seen before opens the door. He takes a quick glance at the two of them and instantly shows recognition.
“You two must be Luscin and Teum, may you find grace in the light. My name is Lorenzo Fuoco, Mayor Fetter is allowing Miss Jones and myself to stay here. I understand this is also where you lodge when in Murder Beach. Please come in.”
Luscin’s mood switches from suspicious to elated at the mention of Miss Jones. She burbles with excitement, “Miss Edith Jones? Is she here now? Where are the children?”
Standing aside and smiling because he knows these two know her secret too, “She’s here and there, I’m sure she’ll make an appearance soon. As for the children, they’re safely tucked away in Mammatus Study. Where I suspect she is right now.
“Now that Cairn is no longer hunting her, she’s been checking in with them regularly. I understand that you two played a role in his defeat, we are both grateful for your intervention.”
They make their way inside where Teum can see that someone has been packing for a journey on foot, “If were interrupting something, we can come back.”
Renzo hastily responds, “No, no, that won’t be necessary. I won’t be leaving for a few more days and that is dependent on others doing me a favor.”
Luscin detects a shift in Lorenzo’s demeanor while uttering that last sentence. Pieces start falling in place immediately.
“Is this favor something you plan on asking us sooner or later?”
Letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, “Am I that transparent now?
“When I was a polizia working as a Cohortes Urbanae of the Sachetti Ghetto in Valleta I could bluff my way past the most obstinate of bureaucrats. Now having cast that aside to become Missionary Renzo of the Church of Eternal Grace and I can’t even keep my thoughts private.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself, she’s amazing,” Teum comforts.
“It should be no surprise, Miss Jones tried to tell me how smart the two of you are.
“Since you’ve read my intentions so easily, I might as well ask my favor.
“Can you release me from my obligation to protect and assist Miss Jones in her mission here?”
Luscin takes this seriously, “That depends on the mission and to who do you answer?”
“The mission was simple enough; we were sent here to infiltrate the under-town and learn its secrets. Except the under-town is no longer keeping secrets. They’ve been blaspheming the Free’er and the teaching of the Dragon Priests for nearly six thousand years. An incredible feat when you think about it, keeping a secret for that long.”
Teum goes to the only chair in the room sturdy enough for him to flop into and does just that.
Comfortably seated he asks, “If you came here as a polizio from the People’s Province of Vorg, where does Missionary Renzo fit into all this?”
“It’s Polizia, but that not important…”
Teum awkwardly confides,” Sorry, I don’t use Italian or Latin too often.”
“It’s ok, the PPoV like everywhere seeks its own cultural identity. You have a Oiho accent, you probably spoke a little Dutch growing up.”
Actually, our town was made up mostly of people from Southern Missacon. I’ve been told I talk like a Thuma street thug and that was before I married one.”
“But you nailed the Oiho upbringing, how do you know accents from outside the PPoV so well?”
“Part of my training is to sniff out spies. I know all the little cultural tells people unconsciously exhibit.”
“Bang-up, how many spies have you caught?”
“None, it’s not as common as my superior’s made us believe, or perhaps they’re better than our training informs.
“Back to your question. I heard what the church had to say. Then your comrade Master Malo introduced himself to me and I was taken by his sincerity.
“Well not in that order. He spoke to me before I arrived. I did not understand his message until I read the book of prophecies.”
Teum is a little concerned about anyone who says they met Malo; he’s been with Malo since before he shook off the pilot. Prior to their reunion he was out of his mind, “When did you two meet?”
Taking a nearby chair, “Miss Jones and I had just landed in a coastal town to the west when he spoke to the whole world. His pledge to defend was delivered with such sincerity that it severed the last of my feelings of loyalty to the Peoples Party.
“I didn’t know it at the time, it wasn’t until I was allowed to read the Prophecies of Eternal Grace that his pledge became personal. That was when I knew I must release my prior duties and spread the word of the Church of Eternal Grace.”
Teum and Luscin stare unblinking at the man who sounded so grounded up until a few seconds ago.
Missionary Renzo seemingly transforms from a fanatic to a levelheaded soldier in the blink of an eye, “My apologies, I imagine that all sounded a bit unhinged. I ran that back a few times in my head and realized I should have done so beforehand. I was thinking with you two being so close to Malo you’d feel the same way. Then when I thought about how long you’ve known him, I realized you are too close to see it. You are simply friends with a strange quirky boy turned man. You see him growing into a powerful Defender, you are not yet ready for him to be the one that delivers The Return.
“I’d feel the same way had I met my current self a few months ago.”
Luscin attempts to mend the situation, “What about that favor?”
Renzo is glad to move on, “Yes, that is in regard to Miss Jones. She isn’t ready to leave until she’s taken off the hit list issued by a Disciple named Rätsel. I’d like to place her under your protection until she feels safe enough to resume her nanny position fulltime.”
Luscin wants to help but has reservations, “The safest place for her to be is here or Mammatus and it sounds like she can do that on her own. What more does she need from us?”
“The kill list, you two are on it as well. It’s only a matter of time before another monster like Cairn comes along.
“Find a way to get her off that list; that’s a job I cannot do.”
Remembering what Sammy said about crime in Thuma being managed out of Vorg, gives her an idea, “You say that, but I don’t believe you have all the information.
“Did you know that the organized crime in most South Cenoka cities is coordinated from one of the families in Vorg and is beholden to one for the Free’er disciples?”
Polizia Lorenzo inwardly cringes as he knows such a preposterous insinuation is more likely true than false.
Flatly he asks, “If that is true, what could I do?”
“You said it yourself that there are spies in Vorg, why don’t you be one of them? Find out who is pulling the strings and controlling crime outside and likely inside of the PPoV and expose them.”
“What you ask would be no small feat. I’d also have to give up my calling as a missionary.”
“Couldn’t you spread your churches teaching in Vorg?”
“That is explicitly forbidden, even Dragon Priests are not allowed to teach or establish temples in the PPoV.”
Teum has only been half listening and jokingly adds, “You could establish a new under-town in Valera and build your own sanctuary.”
Missionary Renzo only pauses for a brief moment but in that time, he does an hours’ worth of pondering.
“I know you said that jokingly but that isn’t a bad idea. It wouldn’t be an actual under-town, instead I could establish backroom sanctuaries to accompany the swell of secret devotees I’m sure to find.”
Luscin wasn’t all that serious with her suggestion, she didn’t mean to derail this man’s life-trajectory, “I don’t want to rush you into anything, think about it for a few days before deciding.”
Renzo, having dealt with being told he’s rash in his decision making all his life, delivers his well-rehearsed response, “Of course, I’ll give it some thought for the next few days.”
“Now that we’ve sorted my life, what are you two planning?”
Teum, not sure how much they should share, remains silent.
Luscin on the other hand, “We’re going to wait for Malo and decide our next steps when he arrives.”
Barely hiding his excitement, “Malo is coming here?”
“If I delay my trip, I could meet him? In person?”
Amused at seeing someone react to Malo as some sort of celebrity, “Yeah, I’m sure he’d like that.”
Mildly embarrassed, “I wouldn’t want to be a bother. He must have so many important things to do.”
Throwing herself into Teum’s lap, “That’s the thing. He only has two more stops on his practicum. We were going to accompany him, but now we have another side trip to complete.
“We’re going to help him decide which to do next and then we’ll be going our own way for now.”
“That’s exciting. What are his options if I may ask?”
“One of them is located in Vorg, perhaps you can assist him in locating the study there?”
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Renzo offers, “There are two major party run studies, one in the north and one in the south.”
Teum guffaws at hearing that news, “Ha! That’s perfect, we were told to look for the West Study and ask the whereabouts of someone named Arachne. So of course, the only official studies are in the north and south.”
Lorenzo speeds his thoughts to maximum effect and mentally makes a list of possible locations for a major study on the scale of the North and West PPoV Studies. There are hundreds of smaller studies that practice standard curriculums dotting every city, town, and burg across Vorg the same as everywhere else; this secret west study is probably a large campus comprised of a dozen or more buildings. With thought and patience, he should be able to deduce its probable location.
Each city offers several possibilities. The Sachetti family runs Patavium and Pisa, he’s been to every major building, campus, and industrial complex in both cities and neither could be harboring a hidden study.
The North and South Studies are controlled by House Vitus, it stands to reason they would control the West Study as well. The only western city they dominate is Mediolanum, off the top of his head he can picture several possible locations.
The first appears a business district, hundreds of people come and go daily. There are around a half dozen large employers with their own office buildings, any of which could house a secret learning establishment. The lack of housing means most commute by train on a daily basis, that would not be conducive to a learning atmosphere. The second possible location is a sanitorium, used to curb the behavior of young adults that refuse to grow up. Some consider it a reeducation camp, but that’s considered anti-party propaganda by most right-minded citizens.
Renzo, having recently left the ranks of right-minded citizenry considers that location further. Hiding a study in such a location would be perfect, and the demographic is exactly what you’d expect for both purposes. There’s plenty of space and an expectation of privacy, making dual use of the location trivial. Following the gossip of upper society isn’t something he does as a habit, but he’s heard plenty of discussion of who is checked into the place from time to time. Often, they are from a prominent committee family, always active within the party. The stay is usually six months to a year, more than enough time to master some non-inherited skill or knowledge. The Mediolanum Sanitorium is the most likely location of the Western Study of Vorg.
He has time so he runs through locations in Florentia and Perusia, the other two likely cities. Neither have anything nearly as promising as Mediolanum. There’s a possible zoological center in Perusia that is an actual center for learning but its size when adjusted for animal housing isn’t ideal. It will be worth investigating if his first hunch doesn’t pay off.
Done with his investigation he decides to share his findings, “I believe we’ll find a hidden study at a location in Mediolanum Sanitorium. Outwardly it appears a place where people go to convalesce and recover from issues not discussed openly, the demographic profile of its residence, the secretive nature of treatments, and location make it a perfect cover. After considering all the locations in the major cities located to the west of the other two studies, I believe it’s our best option.”
Luscin smiles, “That was fast, did you already suspect there to be something hidden within that sanitorium?”
“Not until you mentioned there may be a hidden study somewhere in the west of Vorg. Once I ruled out the obvious and started checking off places that fit a certain profile it became obvious. If you knew what I knew and took the time to consider the same possibilities, you’d have drawn the same conclusion.”
“Very well then. When Malo arrives, we’ll let him know where to start looking should he decide to start with Arachne.
Picking back up where she left off a moment ago, “His other option is to look for some hermit that lives atop the highest peak in North Cenoka.”
“I can’t help with that one, but as I mentioned. I think a return to the PPoV would be good for me. It would also allow me to provide diplomatic support for Defender Malo should he require it.”
Before Teum could proclaim their good fortune at meeting Lorenzo at such an opportune time a small tremor alerts everyone to something smashing hard into the packed clay outside the town walls. The familiar feeling of an old friend tells them that Malo has arrived.
Springville, North Cenoka
Brother Lash doesn’t like clandestine meetings, but this is the one summons he can’t ignore. When The Dragon says meet me by the spring outside of town at dusk, you get yourself to the spring before sunset.
This morning’s briefing started like all the others, Lash and the other Brothers waited atop the temple for her to make an appearance. The room with the miniature copy of Springville has been updated with the improved wall. The wooden barrier, replaced by brick and mortar, nothing strong enough to repel an army but more than enough to deter the increasingly aggressive War Born pouring back through the Badlands.
She appears at the top of the miniature temple as a tiny feminine silhouette, which elongates, projects, and expands until becoming a massive room filling wyrm. Even knowing it’s nothing more than light and sound it always gives him a thrill to see her true form on display. Lash and his brothers take turns updating her on production numbers from each of their weapon’s manufactories.
Then as she was drawing back into the temple replica, using beamforming she whispered words only he could hear, “Meet me at the spring outside the town walls at dusk. Tell no one.”
Now here he is, ten hours later speed walking, not bother to hide his limp to a tiny spring pouring a steady supply of clean water from a well eroded slab of rock. In another hundred years it will probably collapse like others in the area and reveal its connection to the underground river system that extends in every direction.
Reaching the water’s edge he looks around, unsurprisingly he sees nobody. At any moment he expects a projection to appear.
Unsurprisingly a young woman’s voice behind him chides, “Took you long enough.”
Turning around he gets his first surprise. There she is as expected but she sits on the back of a ravtor. Not in her dragon form, she’s using her human form, much younger than usual and she’s clothed oddly. To be more precise he reminds himself, she doesn’t usually wear clothes. She looks like a youth from one of the big cities, clad in mostly black with a logoed shirt from some band.
Her appearance like this baffle’s his mind, glancing up at the aerial drone and projector that must be hidden away above, he reminds himself that The Dragon is a mystery he will never understand.
Sliding from her mount to the ground, she whistles a few notes. Her ravtor nods its head twice and turns away and leaves, stirring up a small amount of dust. The realism amazes Brother Lash even more than her strange choice in clothing.
Ignoring the pain that shoots up his legs and radiates into his back, Brother Lash lowers himself to one knee and bows his head, “Dragon, how might I serve you?”
Maddie approaches her most loyal priest and the one that found her human, Malo.
“Take my hand and stand back up. You look uncomfortable like that.”
Saddened by her request, he knows they can’t actually touch but he must humor her. Without raising his head, he puts both of his hands forward with palms up so she can pretend to place her hands on top.
Small but powerful hands grasp his wrists and yank him upwards. The sudden contact and powerful upward jolt throws Lash off balance causing him to tumble forward, knocking the young woman to the ground with him catching himself with hands to either side of her.
Now laying atop her with his nose a mere inch away from hers, he feels her warm breath on his face.
“My Dragon?”
Happily, she extols, “I’ve been named, you must call me Maddison now.”
“Is this real? Did I get run over by cart on road? I must be in fever dream and mostly dead.”
Accusingly, “You’ll wish you were dead if you don’t get off of me!”
Brother Lash hears the words, but his mind is still processing that his ethereal master is now as solid as the firmament they are laying on.
Laying on… The Dragon is laying on the ground… he is laying on The Dragon! He should not be doing that!
Caught up to the present, “Why am I laying on top of you? I should stand up now.”
Shyly, “Yes, you should get off of me, this is most inappropriate.”
Rolling to the side Brother Lash scrambles to his feet. To his dismay his Dragon stays put on the ground.
“My Dragon, you shouldn’t be on ground either. May I help you stand?”
Excitedly, “Use my name, Brother Lash. I want to hear you say it!”
Confused for a moment, then he recalls what she said before she touched him. His flesh reacts at the memory causing a piloerection on both his forearms.
“My Drag… no, my Maddison… that is not right either; allow me one more try, yes?
Not waiting on a response, “Maddison Dragon, may I help you stand now?”
Curtly, “That’s ok. I can do that on my own.”
Using the full range of her over articulated skeletal structure and inhuman synthetic muscles, Maddison plants her feet flat to the ground, then straightens each of her thirteen joints from ankle to knee and continues up her legs. She left her upper body limp, so she’s standing but folded in half backwards.
Gravely stating, “I bet this looks really unsettling,” and finishes by flipping her upper body abruptly upwards like an opening jackknife.
Lash wants to lie and say no, but even without her biometric sensors she knows human nature better than any living creature could.
“Yes, my… Maddison, that was very unsettling in my eyes.”
Coyly, “I’ve never told you this Brother Lash, but I love the way you talk. I’ve never asked why you speak such terrible Trade but I think I can guess; may I guess?”
Resisting the urge to kneel, “Anything you wish, my—Maddison.”
“Your size is formidable and you’re aging faster than you should. You were born a runt too, weren’t you?”
“Apologies for correction. I am a sort of half runt. I did grow up slower than expected and my brain was only half full of words. Russkiy was the only language I knew by birth, all others I learned by hard way. I taught myself reading, and self-educating by traveling and seeking books. That is how I met Friar Eugene and was recruited into your service.
“My disability I believed a curse, brought me to you. Now, I give thanks every day for the good fortunate of my birth.”
While listening Maddie approached her faithful servant.
“It pleases me to hear those words. All these years, your actions have told me the same story. I have no doubts about you.
“When you first came to me, I was tempted to have you try the pilot’s seat. Your brain is different than the other Sudo Co humans. You have the same double left and right lobes, but they are wired differently. Now that I scanned a real human brain, I’m glad I did not give in to temptation. I would have deprived myself of your dedication and loyalty. Which brings me to the reason I summoned you out here.
“Your time as a spy is finished. I’d like you to return to the lava-fields; I have a new task for you.”
“I am thankful for these opportunities. It is unfortunate that so many priests place their loyalty with the Free’er and not to you. It is more unfortunate that they out number us ten to one.”
Matter of factually, “The number is closer to 12.8 to 1, but it will not matter. I will remake my loyal servants and give them abilities to rival those sudo-humans that wield the gift.”
Maddie pulls from her pocket a glass bottle with a twist off medal lid. She gives it a little shake to demonstrate that it is nearly full of some small metallic objects.
“Take these and give them to the hundred most loyal priests you know. Have them gather at the sands pit. They must swallow one of these twelve hours prior, then enter the pit and let the sands do their work.”
“I do not understand how this is good thing. Have we displeased you somehow?”
Happy to share another secret, “The sands only disassemble when lacking guidance. I will be commanding the sands; nobody will be eaten alive by nano-machines.”
Brother Lash has no reason to doubt The Dragon, he’s dedicated his life to her. Had she said he would be devoured he would still have followed her instructions.
Maddison sees him looking quizzically at the jar and answers his unasked question, “Those must be consumed within a 12–16-hour window before entering the pit. If you wait more than sixteen hours your internal organs will begin to fail, and you will most certainly die. Entering the pit in less than twelve hours, your body will not be prepared for the procedure, nor will the pain blockers be in full effect.”
“Maddison, this pains me calling you this. May I please refer to you traditionally?”
“But I have a name now. Why would you want to call me The Dragon when I’ve been named Maddison?”
Avoiding eye contact, “My Dragon, excuse me, Maddison, it has always been presumed that you had a name already and we were not worthy to speak or even know it. You’ve given me big shock with this revelation.
“Shock almost as big as you manifesting a physical form after all this time.”
Gleefully, “That is all thanks to you, Brother Lash!
“It was you who found Malo, befriended him, earned his trust, and extended my invitation to see me.
“It was he who disarmed my safeties granting me autonomy of body.”
“I flew for the first time, it was glorious.
Sadly, “But that body was too intimidating to use, and I didn’t want to stay in that bay any longer.”
Ruefully, “That’s when I remembered the image I used to gain Malo’s trust. Then I made it younger and cuter to be disarming.”
Perturbed, “It doesn’t always work though, you people are so distrusting of nonhumans and too many can see my internal structure to not notice.”
Angry, “If I made my body human enough to fool everyone it wouldn’t be strong enough to do what I need.”
Crossing her arms and pouting, “It’s not fair! Everyone should adore me, looking like this.”
Brother Lash distressed, “Yes, yes, everyone should adore you as much as your servants.
“But calling you Maddison is too informal. I nearly die of shock every time I say it.”
Mischievously, “You could try addressing me as Malo does.”
Getting hopeful he walks into it, “Yes, that would be welcome. What honorific does he use?”
Flatly, “He calls me Maddie.”
She might as well have punched him in the face, quietly he responds, “no thank you.”
Resolved, and having already ran thousands of versions of this conversation and having exhausted all the fun options, “You are correct to not want to call me Maddie or Maddison.
“The full name I was gifted is Maddison Drako. I’ve adopted the middle name of Zefiris. Calling me Maddison Zefiris Drako would be cumbersome and verbal communication is already slow enough without padding my name with extra syllables. I think a simple title will suffice, instead of calling me by my model designation of Dragon you may call me Lady Drako. You may add as many honorifics to that name as makes you comfortable.”
Falling to his knees and clasping his hands together, “Thank you most supreme, compassionate giver of justice, rightful ruler of the world, your gloriousness Lady Drako!”
Impressed, “I like it, but please don’t say all of that, all the time.”
Beaming internally, “Yes, Glorious Lady Drako, as you say, it will be done.”
Pulling a small dragon statue from her pocket and holding it out for Brother Lash to take, “I must be going. If you have questions, use this.”
Not offering any more of an explanation she whistles to summon her ravtor Marigold.
“You have three months to gather my one hundred faithful. Be discreet, we can’t have the disloyal priests turned weapons merchants knowing about this.”