The Library, Part 37
Sitting in a nondescript office within One Vanderbilt, Commodore V. stares at his new secretary. He wishes the Witch had not absconded with the last one, she was one of the better secretaries to do the job, for him at least. On the desk in front of Commodore V. is a printed report.
The report details what happened to the thirteen peers who currently sit at the top of the matrix of control keeping the bulk of Humanity under lock and key. The remaining Private Owners now think of scattering to the four winds, hoping to avoid or the inevitable clash with the sunny arrivals.
"There's no point to running." Commodore V. tells his new secretary, "There may only be one ship that we see right now, but there will be more soon enough."
"Sir, some of the others are asking what you plan to do about . . . the situation outside." The new secretary asks.
Commodore V. doesn't provide an answer. There are no windows and no natural light in this office, it is cut off from the sun altogether. The report on the desk details some early reports from around the city and the awakening of tens of thousands of laypeople to their latent magical abilities.
People are casting large amounts of spells in their homes and in the streets, some lack even basic control and throw energy around violently. Reports of the destruction of private property are already hinting at billions of dollars in damages, and it has only been a couple of hours.
The crewmembers of the Central Sun still knock on doors, awakening everyone who's paths they cross. All attempts to stop them are neutralized by the forces of the Central Sun. The private security and magical forces at the beck and call of the Private Owners are all in disarray.
Commodore V. knows the truth as well, though these crewmembers wear peaceful faces in the sun, they dress for war in the shade. Staring down his new secretary, Commodore V. cannot let the memory of his old secretary go; a thought mobilizes him.
Standing up from his desk, Commodore V. says, "My old secretary is still presumed to be with the Witch, yes?"
Taken aback the new secretary answers, "Yes sir."
"And as far as we know, the peers still have the Witch under contract, correct?"
"We no longer can verify any contracts. We lost that capacity with the arrival of the Fey and we have not gotten it back. The Fey no longer walk the streets during the day, but their trees still stand in every city around the world. The Central Sun is leaving them alone for now."
"Though they may not see eye to eye on much, the Fairies and these Central Sun types have a similar goal regarding Humanity and our rule. Both are a direct threat to us. Given some of what's already transpired I strongly feel more forces are on their way. The sharks smell our blood in the water."
"What do you wish to do?" The new secretary asks.
"Simple, I'm throwing a Hail Mary. I will bring the Witch to heel myself and command her to fight for us once more. She will clean up this mess for us or die trying. I will not let her win her freedom from us and live."
The new secretary's eyes grow wide at Commodore V.'s words, "Sir, it's too dangerous. Last we saw she was beamed aboard the smaller ship that liberated one of our most heavily guarded prisoners on Wards Island. She and her compatriots were seen working with the Fey. We don't know. . ."
With a wave of his hand the new secretary feels her throat close shut. She can no longer speak.
Commodore V. says, "My old secretary is still with the Witch, I can feel it even across the boundaries. That damnable goddess of the crossroads getting free cannot strip me of my connection to that which belongs to me. Wherever they are, I can open a door to them through her."
With another wave of his hand Commodore V. says, "Bid my personal witch start preparations to open a human portal to my old secretary. Find me a suitable sacrifice for opening the door on this end. Go."
The new secretary's throat opens once more, and without a word she nods at Commodore V.'s command, retreating through the office door.
Onboard the Second Sun First Born, Leonie walks with purpose through the passageways, led by the two medical personnel and trailed closely by the two armored servitors. Leading Leonie through a door, the two medical personnel flank the inside of the entryway, allowing Leonie to fully enter the room.
With the servitors staying on the other side of the boundary, Leonie stops for a moment, and sensing a large buildup of energy casts a defensive spell just prior to four beams of light striking Leonie from the ordinal directions. The defensive spell holds.
"What is this? Release me now." Leonie commands.
One of the crewmembers speaks, "We now realize the shadow within you is no mere shadow, you carry something far more substantial . . . and powerful. We will send you home, to the Central Sun so you may bask in the healing light, burning away all soul fragments you carry."
Before Leonie can give rebuttal a new voice enters Leonie's mind, the familiar voice of the Witch, "I told you I will have you back. I will free you. You are my apprentice, and no force in this universe or any other will stop me. The Central Sun will take you in. Let them."
"What? Why?" Leonie asks the Witch in their mind.
"Because you will not submit to them, they will submit to us. I will work on my end, and when I am ready I will meet with you. We will exchange gifts and the real work will begin. Trust me."
Leonie takes a big breath in and out as they lower their defensive spell. The four ordinal beams bind Leonie in place, preventing them from moving.
The crewmember to previously speak says, "Thank you for your cooperation. The Central Sun eagerly awaits your arrival."
Up in high orbit, innumerable ships painted white emblazoned with the yellow symbol of the Central Sun anchor between the Earth and the Moon. From the armada, a smaller ship detaches and descends towards the Earth, following the arc of the planet until arriving in the skies over New York City.
The smaller ship settles in above the Second Sun First Born, and a single beam of light shines down onto the larger ship below. Leonie and the two medical crewmembers disappear from the bowels of the Second Sun First Born and arrive in an identical room aboard the smaller ship.
Both crewmembers accompanying Leonie smile, the one having remained silent for as long as Leonie has known them speaks, "Welcome aboard the Heaven of the First Day. Your journey to the Central Sun shall be a bright and pleasant one."
With the transfer complete, the Heaven of the First Day pulls away from the Second Sun First Born and rises through the clouds back into high orbit, passing the armada and continuing into the depths of outer space.
The report details what happened to the thirteen peers who currently sit at the top of the matrix of control keeping the bulk of Humanity under lock and key. The remaining Private Owners now think of scattering to the four winds, hoping to avoid or the inevitable clash with the sunny arrivals.
"There's no point to running." Commodore V. tells his new secretary, "There may only be one ship that we see right now, but there will be more soon enough."
"Sir, some of the others are asking what you plan to do about . . . the situation outside." The new secretary asks.
Commodore V. doesn't provide an answer. There are no windows and no natural light in this office, it is cut off from the sun altogether. The report on the desk details some early reports from around the city and the awakening of tens of thousands of laypeople to their latent magical abilities.
People are casting large amounts of spells in their homes and in the streets, some lack even basic control and throw energy around violently. Reports of the destruction of private property are already hinting at billions of dollars in damages, and it has only been a couple of hours.
The crewmembers of the Central Sun still knock on doors, awakening everyone who's paths they cross. All attempts to stop them are neutralized by the forces of the Central Sun. The private security and magical forces at the beck and call of the Private Owners are all in disarray.
Commodore V. knows the truth as well, though these crewmembers wear peaceful faces in the sun, they dress for war in the shade. Staring down his new secretary, Commodore V. cannot let the memory of his old secretary go; a thought mobilizes him.
Standing up from his desk, Commodore V. says, "My old secretary is still presumed to be with the Witch, yes?"
Taken aback the new secretary answers, "Yes sir."
"And as far as we know, the peers still have the Witch under contract, correct?"
"We no longer can verify any contracts. We lost that capacity with the arrival of the Fey and we have not gotten it back. The Fey no longer walk the streets during the day, but their trees still stand in every city around the world. The Central Sun is leaving them alone for now."
"Though they may not see eye to eye on much, the Fairies and these Central Sun types have a similar goal regarding Humanity and our rule. Both are a direct threat to us. Given some of what's already transpired I strongly feel more forces are on their way. The sharks smell our blood in the water."
"What do you wish to do?" The new secretary asks.
"Simple, I'm throwing a Hail Mary. I will bring the Witch to heel myself and command her to fight for us once more. She will clean up this mess for us or die trying. I will not let her win her freedom from us and live."
The new secretary's eyes grow wide at Commodore V.'s words, "Sir, it's too dangerous. Last we saw she was beamed aboard the smaller ship that liberated one of our most heavily guarded prisoners on Wards Island. She and her compatriots were seen working with the Fey. We don't know. . ."
With a wave of his hand the new secretary feels her throat close shut. She can no longer speak.
Commodore V. says, "My old secretary is still with the Witch, I can feel it even across the boundaries. That damnable goddess of the crossroads getting free cannot strip me of my connection to that which belongs to me. Wherever they are, I can open a door to them through her."
With another wave of his hand Commodore V. says, "Bid my personal witch start preparations to open a human portal to my old secretary. Find me a suitable sacrifice for opening the door on this end. Go."
The new secretary's throat opens once more, and without a word she nods at Commodore V.'s command, retreating through the office door.
Onboard the Second Sun First Born, Leonie walks with purpose through the passageways, led by the two medical personnel and trailed closely by the two armored servitors. Leading Leonie through a door, the two medical personnel flank the inside of the entryway, allowing Leonie to fully enter the room.
With the servitors staying on the other side of the boundary, Leonie stops for a moment, and sensing a large buildup of energy casts a defensive spell just prior to four beams of light striking Leonie from the ordinal directions. The defensive spell holds.
"What is this? Release me now." Leonie commands.
One of the crewmembers speaks, "We now realize the shadow within you is no mere shadow, you carry something far more substantial . . . and powerful. We will send you home, to the Central Sun so you may bask in the healing light, burning away all soul fragments you carry."
Before Leonie can give rebuttal a new voice enters Leonie's mind, the familiar voice of the Witch, "I told you I will have you back. I will free you. You are my apprentice, and no force in this universe or any other will stop me. The Central Sun will take you in. Let them."
"What? Why?" Leonie asks the Witch in their mind.
"Because you will not submit to them, they will submit to us. I will work on my end, and when I am ready I will meet with you. We will exchange gifts and the real work will begin. Trust me."
Leonie takes a big breath in and out as they lower their defensive spell. The four ordinal beams bind Leonie in place, preventing them from moving.
The crewmember to previously speak says, "Thank you for your cooperation. The Central Sun eagerly awaits your arrival."
Up in high orbit, innumerable ships painted white emblazoned with the yellow symbol of the Central Sun anchor between the Earth and the Moon. From the armada, a smaller ship detaches and descends towards the Earth, following the arc of the planet until arriving in the skies over New York City.
The smaller ship settles in above the Second Sun First Born, and a single beam of light shines down onto the larger ship below. Leonie and the two medical crewmembers disappear from the bowels of the Second Sun First Born and arrive in an identical room aboard the smaller ship.
Both crewmembers accompanying Leonie smile, the one having remained silent for as long as Leonie has known them speaks, "Welcome aboard the Heaven of the First Day. Your journey to the Central Sun shall be a bright and pleasant one."
With the transfer complete, the Heaven of the First Day pulls away from the Second Sun First Born and rises through the clouds back into high orbit, passing the armada and continuing into the depths of outer space.