Secrets Revealed on Departure (40)

“So much left to do before I can rest for a bit.” I muttered to myself. I walked slowly to the dock area to find three-quarters of Circe's followers already set to board the ship once it docked. Tears filled my eyes at the sight of so many now fearing the one they came here to follow. A noble being turned into a great monster to her own people because of her mental collapse. I knew my life reflected hers in many ways but I had my Brothers and Sisters to help me through my crises of honour and the Ley'ä'Luna as my counsel above all others. I had at times questioned their motives and suggestions but still followed them as my inner compass guided me for the sake of the Fallen Ones.

“Most are not even bothering collecting their belongings.” Sert informed me. We stood at the land edge of the dock. Meli was behind us helping more to reach the dock to escape once the Leviathan arrived. “I am sure you have warned captain Balthis of our situation here?” he added hesitantly.

“He will be arriving before nightfall to collect all of us.” I replied softly. “Help me collect a few rum kegs since I did mention buy him his drinks here.” I added softly. I did not wait for a reply before drifting away to search for libations for this trip home.

I knew both Meli and Sert watched me as I seemed to walk casually around the tents without a care in the world. I returned in a few minutes with a cask on each shoulder. They remained silent as I returned for more. I chuckled as I noticed nearly at the same moment they did that three of the late comers carried a pair of cask to the docks with them. After three trips and another three or four escapees helping, we had a nearly two dozen casks of rum sitting ready to be placed on the Leviathan. “That might be enough to sooth Balthis over the extra work he and his sailor will be forced to do.” I stated. I stood once more with Meli and Sert by the dock.

“I must ask how the Leviathan can travel as quickly as it does?” Meli said to me. Sert nodded his agreement as I felt the curiosity rising in them.

“It is best that somethings remain as unexplained mysteries.” I responded quickly. “In simply terms, you are not ready to discover that answer just yet.”

“What if we insist knowing before we set sail again?” Sert remarked. I nearly told him he could stay here and wait for Circe to reawaken but thought it would be a cruel joke.

“You may discover the truth once on-board as we limp away from here.” I replied in a whisper. “So many extra people may force the issue to come to light.” I continued softly. “If not, the explanation will be given once we return to Atlantis.” I promised them. They sighed at me but nodded their agreement to my terms. As twilight touched the sky, the Leviathan appear gliding very slowly toward the dock. The desert bloom flew on the main mast while I stood sensing the tension of the crew upon it. They did not speak as they loaded everyone with their belongs on the ship. They glanced around them frightened and nervous as they moved. I waited with my friends to board last as Balthis stood on the deck waiting for me.

“We must have words.” Balthis stated with false calmness. “If they are clear in your heart, bring them along to the engine room immediately.” he added quickly. He turned and walked away without any other comments. I grumbled at his retreating back before turning to face my companions.

“Come.” I ordered under my breath to them. They followed me below deck and directly into one of the rooms that had been barred to them on the earlier voyage. Sert and Meli froze as they entered the engine room. I could read the feeling of entering an Atlantian technical laboratory as they spotted the glowing crystals that sparkled in the room. They could see as easily as the others present the flow of energy bouncing along Lockey's engine to power the devices in this room and throughout the ship.

“You did not warn them?” Balthis asked with a smirk wrinkling his bushy beard. My companions eyes finally moved to spot the dusky skinned version of an Atlantian standing beside the captain. “Lockey.” he stated. She nodded toward them politely.

“Not the best moment for introductions.” she added sadly.

“What is the problem here?” I growled at them. Balthis sighed as he motioned Lockey to speak.

“The crystals are not registering properly.” she explained quickly. “Some are acting over charged while others are behaving as if they are fully spent.” she continued angrily. She kicked at the engine causing sparks to play between some of the crystals. “All of them should be showing a half charge right now.” she concluded.

“It's the proximity to Circe's node causing this.” I replied gruffly. “Once we get into clear seas, everything should return to normal.” I added quickly. Lockey shook her head as she handed me a Lemurian tablet with engineering information blazing on the mirrored surface.

“It's not the node.” she added angrily. “I have already taken measures to counter the effects of it on our systems.” she added softly. I read through the list of modifications quickly finding nothing that should cause these problems.

“Why have you split the energy feed to the weapons instead of installing a secondary power source for them?” I asked softly. I felt and saw the stunned effect of my companions jaw dropping as they realized I understood the technology before us.

“We cannot install a secondary power source until we can find one that is compatible with our systems.” she replied quickly.

“So another hit and run trip to Lemuria.” I suggest with a chuckle. Lockey and Balthis glared at me in silence. “And you have installed shunts to redirect the power to needed systems while the energy flow is erratic.” I noted pensively.

“Yes and they are failing us.” she remarked harshly. “The shunted systems are registering at full while the one supposedly receiving more energy are listing as nearly deleted.” she explained bluntly. “We glided in on actual wind power!” she added anguished.

“Reversing the shunts?” I suggested softly. She shook her head as she frowned.

“Tried it when everything went down as we tried porting the ship here faster.” she returned. “Cross wired the power source of the experimental rift drive to jump us within sailing distance to Circe's Isle.” she continued. I sensed the complete exasperation and failure that she sunk deeper into herself.

“Pull it apart and rebuild it as it was.” I ordered bluntly. “We can use the sails to get away from here fast enough.” I added softer.

“If we run into a rift or a ship filled with those rift beasts?” she retorted. The Lemurian flame sparked against my taking command in her engine room. “Without weapons or defences, we will be dead in the water!” she howled at me. A little smile formed on my face as she rose to my challenge.

“I will deal with defences and fire-power.” I remarked as my smile became a vicious smirk. I held my hand before me as tendrils of black lightning and flames twisted around my fingers. “If it is not working, strip it bare and bring it back to the way it was when it worked Lockey.” I stated softly to her. “Sert! Meli! Assist our little engineer as extra hands to get everything back up and running properly.” I ordered calmly. They nodded wordlessly back to me moving to Lockey's side to receive her orders. I sighed before heading up to the deck with Balthis following and the tablet still in hand.

“You think she made a mistake?” Balthis asked me in a whisper.

“Everything I see here is sound and in perfect form.” I replied. I leaned against the rail looking at the wake against the hull of the ship with Balthis nearly sitting on the rail next to me. “But it was not working which may suggest something else was interfering with the systems.” I explained slowly.

“Back to square one then.” Balthis retorted with a shrug.

“She can return all these modification into place later.” I returned softly. “I will give you coordinates of another node area for her to run test in a safer place.” I continued. “Her ideas are correct but still something effected it somehow.” I remarked annoyed. “Stole a few casks of rum for us to have a drink once the systems are back functioning properly.” I added with a chuckle.

“You always keep your word.” Balthis returned chuckling with me. We stood at the mid-ship rail watching as the wind slowly floated us away from Circe's back toward Greek shores. I did wonder if I should simply ask Annianka mentally to bring these gifted humans to Atlantis for proper formal training. The conflict it would cause between the Council and Her Holiness would tear the island apart over a few dozen outlanders. I sighed as I dashed the thought from my mind.

“Do you think we should have left a guard or two in the engine room?” Balthis asked suddenly. He stood ramrod stiff looking toward the stairs leading below deck. “Your people and Lockey's are technically enemies after all.” he muttered. He reached out one beefy hand to pull me closer to him. “And you never know what might happen with all those stolen crystals around them.”

“The chance to see Lemurian technology up close and personnel will keep my people acting very good.” I reported with a small laugh. “It give them something truly important to report to Her Holiness Annianka once we return to Atlantis.” I continued with a shrug. Balthis sighed and grumbled. “Should not stop you from coming and going from Atlantis when needed to collect me or drop off my special family members.” I added in a whisper. He glanced at me stunned for a moment.

“It sound like you know her and the future better than the rest of us do.” he hazarded quietly. “Was she the one that place the 'dread bird's' name on your head again Melchia?” he asked louder. I glared at him in silence as answer. “I see.” he interjected with a knowing chuckle. We leaned once more against the rail and waited in silence for the ship's Lemurian systems to return to life.