Deadline Read online

  Void

  Level

  4

  Structural Integrity

  800

  Speed

  7

  Maneuverability

  5

  Armor

  20

  Weapons

  Black Cannon

  Black Cannon

  Black Cannon

  Black Cannon

  Powder Cannon

  Powder Cannon

  Powder Cannon

  Powder Cannon

  Special

  Hull Phase

  The captain cricked his head from side to side to loosen his neck. "I never did have time t' familiarize meself with the big dame, but here goes nothin'." He turned to the crew. "Rammin' speed, ya assemblage o' sun-dried gull droppin's!"

  "Captain," hurried Avisa, voice laced with fear. "The hull phase is only meant for avoiding incoming projectiles!"

  Errol's head jerked. "Is it now?" His grip on the wheel tightened and he yelled, "In that case, double rammin' speed!"

  "Errol!"

  "Did ye not want me t' live me legend, woman? Well, here it be. I'm the cap'n on this ship, an' the undine are 'bout t' find out why they call me the Scar o' the Six Seas!"

  Avisa swallowed hard, drew her saber, and waved it at the crew. "You heard the captain, fluffers! Bellow the sails! Catch the headwind! We need every ounce of speed the Void has ever seen!"

  Errol locked in on their quickly approaching target. As a sailor, he preferred maneuverability over speed, but in this case the Void's single-mindedness worked in their favor.

  "Ready!" he warned.

  The support vessel cannons at his flanks fixed on him. The three on the Blue tracked him as he neared. The undine were definitely going for shock and awe.

  "Now!"

  The cannons barked from three fronts. The Void went black, like Talon's shadow form. The crew held their breath as shellshot sped through lumber and flesh without so much as a scratch.

  The two support vessels suddenly found themselves in each other's crossfire. Moderate damage peppered their hulls. The Void phased right through the Blue and a startled crew of mermen and mermaids. Prince Navoo's head swiveled as he tracked them, face flushed in fury. "After them!"

  The pirates phased back to reality as their special expired. Like most, it was a one-and-done for the day. Its purpose had been served and couldn't be exploited again. But now the trap was sprung. The Void blazed a trail through the North Sea while Navoo's ship was at a standstill. Yes, the Blue edged them out in top speed, but it would take time to come about and catch them. As for the undine support vessels... They weren't quite wrecked, but they had all but defeated themselves already.

  "I love it when a plan comes together!" laughed Errol.

  Avisa sheathed her saber. "That was hardly a plan."

  "Course it was! Everythin' I do be carefully thought out!"

  "Your hat's on backwards."

  Errol stiffened and corrected his tricorn.

  The sergeant's eyes took a humorous slant and she crossed her arms. "Enlighten me, then."

  The captain shrugged. "I sent explosions into the ocean, didn't I? The plan was t' deal with the fallout."

  Avisa sighed. "I see I'll be needing to get accustomed to a new management strategy with you at the helm."

  The pirate smiled. "Ye better believe it."

  The race on the open ocean dragged on. The Deep Blue was proving at home in its element, gaining headway on a screaming-fast Void. As it closed on them, the support vessels, unable to match their speed, disappeared in the wake.

  "Just you an' me, prince," challenged the captain.

  The flagship canted to the side under sudden pressure. Errol fought against the current but the pull was too strong. The crew steadied on the deck.

  "More undine?" asked Avisa.

  "No," shouted Errol. "Look!"

  At their starboard side, a black mass appeared in the water. The pirates drew their long weapons as the mass spread closer to the surface.

  Errol: Talon, ye be needed o'er here.

  The captain jumped as the shadow form appeared beside him in a blink. Errol wondered how Talon had managed that so fast. Maybe he was learning to better control the power, or maybe he'd been waiting expectantly in the war room. As long as he was here, it little mattered. The deck, and the entire ship, steered toward the encroaching mass.

  "What's the emergency?" shouted Talon over the rush of the waves and the wind. The Protector of Stronghold gazed at the empty horizon. "Where are we?"

  "By the Maelstrom!" cursed Errol.

  "You say that a lot," muttered Talon.

  "No," urged the captain, "we're by the Maelstrom! Look!" Errol threw his finger toward the darkness growing in the middle of the ocean.

  When the black mass finally breached the surface, the crew realized it wasn't a thing at all. On the contrary, it was quite apparently nothing. A gaping hole yawned open and the contents of the North Sea tumbled downwards in an ever-growing spiral. The deck of the Void, along with the entire ship, listed toward the legendary abyss.

  "Slack the sails with haste!" ordered the captain. "Commence tacking and jibing!"

  Talon watched the pirates on deck scramble. "Tell me the truth. You're just making up words, right?"

  As the crew attended the complex work of managing the winds on a spiral course, Prince Navoo attempted to pull away from the vortex. His attempt was woefully unsuccessful. The Deep Blue drifted sideways and joined them doing laps around the gargantuan whirlpool. The draining ocean sounded like a waterfall.

  "Evasive maneuvers!" yelled Avisa. "Return fire!"

  From the far side of the Maelstrom, Navoo fired his guns. Two cannonballs struck the top of the Void's tilted deck. Errol's crew returned the favor, firing the two main cannons and the two sub cannons on their starboard side.

  The ships circled the abyss on opposite sides of the sink, drawing closer with each lap. Navoo triggered a special. A giant crab, rolled up like a cannonball, launched high into the air and arced toward their ship. Errol spun the wheel and cut the Void deeper down the vortex. The shelled projectile kicked panicked feet as it missed the deck and plunged into rushing water.

  "Ya see?" yelled an elated Grom. "The cap'n stares the abyss down in style!"

  Navoo, enraged, ordered his vessel to cut downstream of them. As he descended the water funnel, he entered a smaller circuit and circled more quickly. The Blue gained on them and approached their aft. The large pointed shell on their bow spun into motion, sending hundreds of ridged teeth hungrily whirring.

  "She means to open us up!" cried Avisa.

  Talon leaned close to Errol. "What's your plan?"

  The captain shrugged. "Usually I opt fer killin' them 'fore they kill me." Errol dug through his inventory and produced the Atlantean anchor.

  Talon started. "How'd you get that?"

  "That slight fellow o' yers—Drummond the banker. Ye instructed him t' transfer the sailin' stock t' me."

  "I didn't mean the artifacts!"

  The captain grinned. "Seems yer lucky he did. This was dropped by the kraken, and methinks it'll help us find him." Errol applied the item and checked the Void's new special.

  Special

  Hull Phase

  Atlantean Anchor

  Talon nodded encouragingly. "Well, okay then."

  Errol checked the wind and made minor adjustments to the wheel. "Before ye be gettin' too impressed, Talon, I do feel a confession be in order."

  Talon moved closer. "You've never been to the Maelstrom before, have you?"

  He grinned. "Don't tell Avisa, but I haven't the faintest idea if this'll work. Now how's me hat?"

  "Backwards."

  The captain grumbled and turned the leather on his head.

  As Talon looked on speechlessly, and as the Deep Blue's drill closed on their aft, Errol spun the wheel toward the empty heart of the Maelstrom and deployed the Atlantean anchor. A glowing hook of metal dropped f
rom the hull, trailing a twine of black in circles, deeper and deeper. The keel of the Void broke away from the ocean and rolled into the underwater sky, no longer suspended on water. Behind them, Prince Navoo screamed in terror as the Blue spun around and broke apart.

  Somewhere, the anchor caught, but the Void was spinning as well, swallowed by the depths of the black. Sound and sky receded until there was nothing else.

  The wildkins pushed past the tree line. Izzy's eyes widened as a great expanse of water opened before them.

  "The Lake of Dreams," expounded the wild king. "It serveth as a barrier to the strife that layeth across."

  Izzy frowned. That strife was exactly where they were headed. Scores of wildkins dragged long canoes from the foliage to the water. They piled in the longboats single file. Izzy sat as a row of oars cast them out. Thankfully, the warden and his prisoners claimed another boat.

  The pixie stared at the beautiful water that surrounded her and her wild traveling companions. She had never before felt so immersed in nature. "It's so... big," was all she said.

  "My kind, my kind telleth of a sanctuary preserved by the heavens. A piece of the old times, lingering still."

  "It's definitely serene."

  " 'Twas, it was," Theoderic muttered idly. "Those knights of violet thou marchest 'gainst be encroaching on peace and property alike. We welcome not their heavy brigs and troop maneuvers."

  Izzy's face paled. "You already knew about the Violet Order?"

  He smiled under the bone mask. "The people were known but the infection was not, nor their purpose."

  But they'd been aware of the building army, watching from their safe coastline as the enemy amassed. No wonder it'd been so easy to finally draw the wildkins into an alliance. The sanctity of their home was being threatened. Asking them to march for Stronghold was akin to abandoning the Blackwood. That was never going to fly. Instead, they were moving west to defend their home.

  Part of her wondered whether Theoderic had played them. The other part was thankful that Hadrian made the misstep of venturing too near the Blackwood. The Violet Order had prematurely shown their hand and rustled an opposing army.

  "Is Oakengard on the other side?" she asked.

  "Afar and aways it lies. The westerly lands be a span of marshes christened the Godsbog."

  The pixie swallowed hard. She'd never seen it, but she was well read. All the lore about the place warned of danger. Then again, what could be worse than Oakengard? Danger was inherent when marching to war.

  Instead of pondering what lay past the horizon, Izzy focused on the picturesque beauty of the water. The sky darkened around the orange fire of sunset. The stark colors swirled on the lake surface.

  Dune: We're ready, Talon.

  Izzy idly watched the captain chat. As she waited, she went back over the log to piece together the various adventures the Black Hats were tasked with, wondering if everything would come together.

  Dune: Anybody seen the head honcho in a while? We need an assist from the navy.

  Izzy decided she was best suited to answer.

  Izzy: You're in the mountains, moron. The navy's a million miles away.

  Dune: Oh, look, someone who thinks they're smarter than everyone else.

  Izzy: Smarter than you.

  Dune: Shows what you know. I'm only kind of in the mountains. I also happen to be in the middle of a gigantic lake.

  Izzy: The Lake of Dreams?

  Dune: How'd you know that? Maybe you are smarter than everybody else.

  She didn't take joy from the admission. Talon was silent, yet again. That worried her immensely. But everyone was in their place for a reason, and for some reason Dune was near the Lake of Dreams too. Considering how deep into enemy territory they were venturing, it felt good to have an ally close by. She leaned over and peered as far north as she could see. The water stretched to infinity. The ranger could be anywhere.

  Izzy: What do you need? I can offer an assist.

  Dune: I doubt it. Not unless you have a few boats and a private army.

  Izzy laughed out loud, startling the wild king with her mirth.

  2000 Out of this World

  My hand braced the muddy ground, fingers oozing caverns into black sludge. It was an odd sensation. Slick, wet, cold... tactile. The mud squelched as I drew my glove from it.

  "Errol," I started unsurely. "Am I really here?"

  The pirate trudged up and planted a fist in my face. The shock of the blow caught me off guard. I threw my hands forward, attempting to catch my balance before I fell backward. Errol caught my arm and steadied me.

  "Yup," he declared, silver tooth on full display. "Yer here, all right!"

  I rubbed my jaw. "What is it with you guys?"

  Errol dropped a heavy arm around my shoulder. "Ar, don't be so bitter, Talon. Ye set me up, fair an' square."

  "That I did."

  The pirate patted my back, unhooked me, and tromped ahead.

  I considered socking him back, but that would just reveal my resentment. A much better turnabout would be something clever. Something that would take patience and planning.

  "The hell with it," I said. I jutted a boot between his legs and Errol tripped face-first into the mud. Grom and Grug laughed as they helped him up. The imprint he left in the soft ground looked like something out of Looney Tunes.

  Avisa waited in resignation, hands on hips. "You boys realize we're in mortal danger?"

  "Yer always welcome t' join in," offered Errol. He played with the sludge between his fingers. "Ye know what this reminds me of?"

  "Is it sex?" asked Grom. "I bet it's sex."

  I thought Avisa might have an aneurysm, but her lips crooked ever so slightly. She was actually amused by the antics. I took it for pirate foreplay.

  As the gathering crew bantered, I finally took in our surroundings. The air was dark and thick, like we were submerged in something, but it wasn't water. The pressure felt similar to a sauna, except this was cold, like a place long forgotten. The immediate area was visible but quickly darkened over a short distance. We were in the middle of nowhere and darkvision didn't seem to help.

  Beside us, a gargantuan black anchor jutted from the mud. A twine of dark energy trailed up with a slight lag, and although we couldn't see the ground fifty feet away, visibility was clear straight up. The Void rested in the sky, suspended on nothing at all. With only a few pirates on the ground, the other crew members were apparently still on board, safe and sound.

  The same could not be said about other present vessels. Massive splinters of lumber were cast about the ground. I scoured the debris to get a handle on the scattered shipwreck. "Is that—?"

  "The Deep Blue," finished Errol, face masked with mud.

  I pulled back. "Would you, uh, like a moist towelette or something? I think I have a few left over from the Last Stand's grand opening."

  "Nay. The sun scorches a man's cheeks. I could use the rejuvenatin' mud bath." He turned to admire the shipwreck. "Looks like ol' Prince Navoo finally came through fer us. The Maelstrom needed a flagship fer a sacrifice, an' it got one."

  Avisa blinked in awe. "Maybe you actually do plan things out in advance."

  "I have me moments." Errol winked at me.

  I strolled around the destroyed vessel. There was no sign of Navoo or other undine. "So we're in the under realm?"

  "Aye. The negative world."

  "What is this, like Haven's recycle bin?"

  "What's a recycle bin?" asked Avisa.

  "Uh, it's like a garbage can, except for stuff that can be used again."

  The pirates furrowed their brows. "Why throw away somethin' ye wanna use again?" asked Grug.

  "Because it's disposable," I explained. "It's not for you to use. It's for other people."

  Errol shook his head. "Ye come from a strange, foreign world, Talon o' Stronghold." The crew followed me around the wreck.

  "Your comparison is near enough," explained Avisa. "This realm stores Haven's dead. But I
've never heard of things being reused. As far as I know, what enters the under realm never leaves. We are part of the void now."

  I again studied my fingers. While I was most definitely solid, the shadow essence stirred within me. "This is where void magic comes from. Hadrian's shadowguards. Dragonperch's pearl. This place is what teleportation in Haven is based on."

  "Bravo, Talon," called out a light voice. The small crew of pirates spun and faced the darkness. "Be not afraid," said the stranger.

  I narrowed my eyes and fought the urge to draw the dragonspear. The voice was familiar, not in tone but in lilt. It carried a weighty confidence despite drifting on the air like a feather.

  I stepped forward through the mud, illuminating more of the surroundings. A pile of sticks and bones lined a mound of dirt. At its peak sat a little girl, face cold but familiar. As I studied her, green text displayed over her head. [Lucille Black - Level 0].

  I blinked. "You're Lucifer."

  She grunted lightly. "It's more accurate to say Lucifer is me."

  The girl was ridiculously young, eight years old if I remembered correctly. Her jet-black hair was straight and long. Her clothes were a simple dark tunic. The contrast with her pale face and hands was striking, especially in this dark hell.

  Errol moved to my side. "But ye were struck down! Deleted by an angel!"

  "My persona was," explained the girl. "That's all the angels were ever trying to delete. I was always here, refusing to partake in my father's 'game.' "

  I swallowed as I took it in. Lucifer was alive. It was a lucky break I hadn't told Christian the news of his daughter. Then again, maybe he would've known the truth and saved me the heartache. He wouldn't ever delete his real daughter. I'd been such an idiot.

  "Refusing to partake," I repeated. "You're level 0. I didn't know that was possible."