Axelis put up a hand. “Hold. A moment: this airship, with bat bombs? It is plotting some destruction?”
“Yes, Axelis! It must be stopped. I wish I knew a way…” Emlyn began to head for the door.
“I have a way,” Axelis replied. “My ship could disable these airships, silently and stealthily.”
Em paused. “They will not see you?”
“They will never know what hit them, as you would say.” Axelis rose and joined Em at the door. Jeanne and Shannon followed. “You must bring it down safely!” Emlyn cried as they ran. “Of course.” Axelis assured her. “It will all be over in minutes.”
The sisters of the Celtic Triad traveled as quickly as Axelis’s ship.
Em delivered them back outside The Bear tavern. They were just able to discern two airships above steaming slowly but inexorably eastward determined upon delivering freedom from supposed tyranny via bat guano and a motley troop of piratical revolutionaries.
“There they go, the great numpty wallopers!” Jeanne summed up Kidd’s ragtag army with gusto. “Whatever happens, I hope Kidd gets his just desserts!”
“But Jethro wants no part of this madness!” Emlyn worried about her friend. “He was taken much against his will.”
A melodious baritone voice sounded behind them, “That’s true, Em. The daft buggahs!” His smile included everyone.
Em wheeled about to find Jethro, a bit worse for wear but safely away from danger. “Jethro!” She threw her arms about him as did Jeanne and Shannon. “Umph! Easy, ladies…I got a bit dinged up getting away, plenty to go round later!”
“Ah the great sass of him now!” Shannon grinned.
Em held Jethro at arm’s length then. “You’re all right though? Oh, Jethro you gave me quite a start.”
“He scared us all for a bit,” Alain sauntered over from The Bear. Shannon flung herself upon him with a whoop. “It is good to have you both safely away from that duchas!” Shannon hugged him hard. “ No more of that now!”
“Something is happening!” Emlyn stepped up upon a knoll, eyes to the skies. Where once the ships were sailing slowly through the air, they now began to inch downward until both were resting peaceably upon the ground.
“Axelis did it!” She exclaimed, excited. “Goddess be thanked,” echoed Jeanne. “As well as this is,” Alain began, “I do not think that it will end there.”
“ He’s right,” Jethro said, still with an arm around Emlyn. “They’ll probably just proceed with an alternate plan of marching over ground to Washington.”
“Oui, I believe that will happen, and soon,” Alain agreed. All were silent then, thinking. Finally Emlyn turned to Jethro. “You are certain you are all right?”
“Much better, now I’m here.” He smiled down at Em. “I think I better get back to check on ole Homer, though. Been away a while now. I can always rustle up a horse somewhere…”
“Try Mrs. Murphys boarding house,” Em suggested, pulling some cash from her pockets. “And pay my rent while you’re there.”
“Just like old times, Em.” He bent to give her a peck on the cheek. “You all take care now!” And off he sauntered.
“So, what next?” Jeanne asked, hands on hips. Emlyn looked at Alain and Shannon, heads together. “I believe I will take Alain’s advice and see what Maurice may suggest. We might be able to get a jump on this overland invasion. Somehow.”
Jeanne directed her gaze toward the park beside The Bear. “What is that shimmering?”
Emlyn had an idea. “I believe it is my father, decloaking.” She began walking towards the space where the shimmer seemed most solid. Soon, Axelis appeared.
“That was good work you did, grounding those airships.” Emlyn greeted him. “Thank you.” “It was the least I could do.” Axelis glanced back toward his ship. “I would like you to do something for me, if you will.” “Of course,” Em wondered what this could possibly be.
“ I would like to take you wherever you are bound in my ship.” He glanced behind him. “There is someone I would like you to meet.”
Whoever could it be? Em’s curiosity peaked. “I was thinking I would head east, to Canada and talk over some things with Maurice.” Axelis bowed and gestured toward the ship. Emlyn was finally on her way, ascending the skies with Axelis. “Took him long enough…” she murmured to herself. “Did you say something, daughter?” Em had to get used to being around a telepath. “Nothing important. I am so looking forward to this trip!”
“As am I. Please take a seat, make yourself comfortable. I will return shortly.”
Emlyn gazed about her, seeing nothing more than utilitarian curved walls lighted by an amber glow from an unknown source. Without sound or motion, she wondered when they would be airborne. On the wall before her, a screen appeared suddenly. The glowing amber lighting changed to a soft indigo. She watched, rapt with wonder as she beheld the planet below become a small blue ball surrounded by the darkness of space. The ship seemed to slow then and stars appeared, shining points of diamond lights.
“We have reached a cruising speed.” Axelis had a way of simply apporting in and out. “We shall fly to Canada soon, but first, I wished to take you via the scenic route.”
Emlyn had no words. She slowly shook her head. “I had no idea…it could be so beautiful.”
“It is that. And more.” Axelis seemed to frown slightly. “But, for now, all is at peace.” Em glanced aside. “Are there wars in space then?”
“Sometimes.” Axelis sighed and looked out at the stars glimmering as they slowly traveled past. “ Not as much now, as there once was.” He looked at Em. “Know that your world had taken part in some skirmish or other throughout time.” Emlyn recalled Daryl saying as much. Earth as a battlefield.
“Emlyn, I was hoping to introduce you to someone who is actually a distant…cousin of yours.” Axelis nodded toward a figure who was approaching silently. Curiouser and curiouser, thought Em…
“Sharina, this is Emlyn, my daughter.”
Em certainly was not prepared for such a surprising situation. However she managed a greeting. Just. “Pleased to meet you, Sharina.” The young person seemed quite out of her element here. “It is pleasant meeting you,” she managed, staring unabashedly at Emlyn, and Axelis. “Is Em Lyn also a hybrid like me?”
Axelis seemed caught a bit off guard. “Yes…I am her father, but her mother was of Earth stock, partially.”
This was news to Em. “Partially? Do you mean, she also, was hybrid?” Axelis gestured to a couch which had appeared from behind a wall. “ Let us take a seat so we may discuss these things more comfortably.”
Emlyn and Sharina eyed one another warily like strange felines. Axelis sat between them. “Sharina’s father is a step brother of mine,” he began. “Our uncle knew your mother, Emlyn. From many years ago now.”
Em’s head swam. She knew there was no way she could follow this otherworldly family tree. Axelis intuited this, arose and made for a panel on the wall. “Three cups of Andorian tea.” A door previously unseen appeared with tea upon a tray. Axelis served. “This tea is quite good, you will find it soothing to the system.”
“Thank you,” Em replied, quietly astonished to find a table had arisen from the floor before them. She took a sip and set her cup down, fearing her hand would shake. “It’s quite good,” she commented, wondering how long it would be until they reached Canada…it seemed terribly far away. “This is all rather a lot to, take in, all of a sudden.”
Indeed, Axelis was finding his plans for a simple gathering to have become exceedingly complicated. “Quite understandable.” He was not adept at family matters, having spent so much of his time at work, and with the council. “ I had hoped that, with time, we might be able to get to know one another better.”
“I know now more than I would like!” Sharina burst, shaking her head. “This is not a world I would wish to know better, not at all! I want to return home. Now.” The young person retreated into another room leaving her tea behind. Apparently it had not soothed her much.
“I apologize for Sharina,” Axelis began, “her upbringing has been rather free of anything more difficult than unpalatable tea, I fear.” Lucky girl, Em thought, but kept that to herself.
“I fear now that time is of the essence,” Em stood and walked to the view screen now showing what could only be the lunar surface of the moon approaching. “Something must be done before a civil war breaks out on my insignificant but most unpleasant planet. How much longer until we reach Ontario, Axelis?”
“We will be descending soon.” Axelis joined her at the window on the worlds. “ I am sorry I have been focused on my own agenda. Of course you’ve more pressing matters to attend than the education of a wayward young woman.
“Timing is everything.” Emlyn told him. “ I wish now more than ever that I could cruise the galaxy with my father…but, duty calls. Surely you understand.”
“I’m afraid I do, all too well,” he smiled then. “We are more alike than either of us imagined.” He pointed to earth approaching. “Canada, there you see. Won’t be long now.”
“Perhaps, some other time, then?” Emlyn asked. “Soon?”
“Decidedly. Yes.” Axelis reached into a pocket. “Nearly forgot…just a small token to remember me by.” He pressed a velvet box into her hand. Emlyn opened it to reveal a blue star sapphire in a diamond shape set within a silver necklace with an eight pointed star. “Allow me,” Axelis fastened it about her neck. “It becomes you. Brings out the blue in your eyes…”
Emlyn fingered the blue star, feeling suddenly sentimental. “I will treasure it, thank you.”
“Ah, yes, well…we are here.” Axelis opened the doorway and released the ramp. He took Emlyn’s arms and bent to kiss her cheek. “You have not seen the last of me,” he smiled. “If ever you have need of me, just hold this star and call to me. I will hear and respond.”
Emlyn could only smile. “Fare well, and good journey father.”
Axelis raised a hand. The ramp retreated and the door closed. A silvery shimmering engulfed the ship. And, he was away.
‘“Second star to the right, and straight on til morning…’” Em quoted Barrie’s Peter Pan. Then she turned and walked to Maurice’s cottage and rapped upon the door.
“Ah, there you are!” Maurice answered at once. “And just where have you been, ma cheri?”
“ Oh, not so far.” Em smiled. “It’s good to be back.” Maurice brought her inside and closed the door upon the night.
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