Chapter 2

The following day I spent time with Mage Roxanne going over the various possible approaches to the Orc cluster of Earths. Each one had issues with the possibility of them tracking us and leading them back to our cluster.

“Melanie says there’s no evidence that they can detect phase shifts, but lack of evidence isn’t proof and my gut feeling is that it leaves us too exposed,” Roxanne sighed after we’d butted our heads against the various methods proposed.

“Just a thought. Why don’t we do a portal from Loegrian space as it’s off what Verenestra calls the realms of the single path and there’s definitely no evidence that they have discovered the side worlds,” I replied thoughtfully.

“That’s true and we can send scouts in to the parallax Earth via a hidden portal to prepare a base for us and cross over to the back of their cluster from us.”

“The other method would be to do it from the home world of the Fae and use a tachyon port to come in behind their cluster.”

“No, we don’t want to give them ideas, John, particularly if we’re underestimating them. I very much doubt they’ve their own version of Loegria, but I wouldn’t put it past them to be able to detect tachyons.”

“That’s true,” I nodded.

“As it is, their technology is formidable and we need to be wary of it.”

“Beats me how what are basically a bunch of barbarians have such high tech,” I mused.

“That’s one of the things on our list of things to find out. Certainly, according to Galadriel’s notes, the average Orc isn’t much above a barbarian warrior. But their overlord types have abilities that have the Loegrians scratching their heads.”

“Yes, they have a lot of classes from plain old mace wielding grunts to a scientist class who seem to be very knowledgeable indeed.”

“I suspect a group consciousness or hive mentality, though there’s no evidence of them having telepathy or other Mage attributes,” Roxanne posited. “But it might be something else entirely.”

“Yes,” I nodded.

“Still, the plan is to get in and out without being discovered and observe. Not to start a war.”

“Discovery would almost certainly start one.”

“Yes, so let’s be careful and go over the plan again.”

“Yes, Mage Roxanne,” I sighed.

“First off, we have a second Seer, Vǫlva Lagertha of the Æsir has been assigned to us. Our Seers are updating theirs in certain techniques and vice versa on the understanding that such information is not used against each other.”

“The Seers have a moral compass that makes the Mage one appear somewhat lacking,” I said with a wry smile. “Along with a disturbing sense of humour when questioned.”

‘I heard that,’ came a mental giggle from Abi.

“True though,” chuckled Roxanne.

‘It prevents silly questions. Mages should think for themselves.”

“Your boredom threshold is far too low,” I replied with a grin, matched by Roxanne’s.

‘That too,’ came her infectious giggle.

“Never alone when you’re married to a Seer.” I laughed out loud.

“True John, but you must be used to it,” Roxanne replied.

“Not even close.”

‘You love me really.’

“That I do, my love, that I do.”

“So Loegrian space,” Roxanne stated, bringing the conversation back on track.

“Best bet as far as I can see from reviewing the others.”

“Agreed, John, I’ll inform the committee tomorrow. We also need to sort out the numbers and what, if any, weapons we take.”

“Original plan was for fifty, take it that’s changed?”

“Yes, the more we study the Maraú-Uxuí’s reports the more the numbers increase, from study groups to defenders.”

“More numbers, more chance of discovery. Shame the Seers can’t scan across universes any better than we can.”

“Aye, but it is what it is. Currently we have two Seers; eight medic Mages, who are also there to study the Orc physiology; twenty Loegrian Special Forces for defence along with ten of their top scientists cleared for this mission; twenty of our own Mages in a study group; along with ten each of the Æsir, Murians, Azurans and Craebh Ruadh; ten wolves and ten Nosferatu. The Gorgons wanted in, but their power probably won’t work there, but we’ve permitted them ten as guards. In addition, Teali is bringing a sanctum along for defence as well as Tu’tar and nine other Mazdani. We also have a Rutasi Mage along as an imperial observer and four Veda who are curious about the Orc technology and willing to put up with humanity in order to examine it.”

“What of the Fae?”

“Talshish hasn’t given me any numbers yet, but probably not many, just some scholars and a few scouts.”

“Their scouts are good, particularly with maskirovka,” I replied using the Russian word for large scale disguising of items that you did not want observers to know what they were.

“Yes, I hope we won’t need it, but I have a sneaky suspicion we will.”

“Hope for the best...”

“And plan for the worst, yes, John.”

“Make sure everyone knows where the emergency portals are to the hidden portals, is one.”

“Yes, though the biggie is going to be our first port onto an Orc World with the Seers for a gestalt scan.”

“Yes, squeaky bum time,” I chuckled.

“Tell me about it, the Council have given the go ahead, but are not happy at all.”

“Only way to do a Seer scan is to have them there physically.”

“That’s what eventually swayed them; there really was no other way around it. Only one to object in the end was Clarence.”

“Why, am I not surprised,” I replied with a wry smile.

“Because you aren’t an idiot, John, unlike Clarence,” Roxanne replied with an answering smile.

“I’m presuming he’s preparing his ‘I told you so’ position?”

“In spades. He’s telling everyone that if we ignore them, they’ll ignore us.”

“He might be right, but if he’s wrong, then I’d rather check on a possible threat, than have to deal with them from a position of where we simply couldn’t win.”

“The rest of the Council are more or less of that opinion too,” she nodded.

“Common sense really, not that Clarence is noted for his common sense.”

“He also got told by Simon that he was not under any circumstances allowed to pull a surprise inspection on this mission.”

“Ye gods! Do you think he would?”

“Wouldn’t have bet against it, no matter the distance. As it is, he doesn’t have a clue about Loegria, save the name so won’t be able to access our base camp if that decision to go from there is ratified.”

“Let’s just hope he doesn’t go looking on his own,” I mused.

“Aye, he might be an arse, but he’s no coward. Still I think Simon’s warning will prevent him from trying it.”

“So, about a hundred and eighty of us?”

“Yes, John, though I’m setting a limit of two hundred just in case.”

“Can’t imagine who else, but it’s a hell of a lot more than fifty.”

“Aye, but we need to know if they’re a real threat or simply someone to keep an eye on occasionally.”

“Yep.”

The following day I was at the Council headquarters, an unusual happenstance for me these days. I was there to assist in the emergence of two people into Mages, though as yet hadn’t been apprised of any details by Mage Zola’s Emergence office. That I could still port in was unusual in and of itself as the ability was usually removed when the Mage involved no longer had the right to access the bubble under the Earth where it floated around on magma tides ... for want of a better word. However, both Morgana and I still had access as a sort of thank you for services rendered in the past, despite the attempts of Mage Clarence, on a regular basis, to have this revoked.

Mage Zola was waiting for my arrival, along with her team, which included Dorry as the focal point of the Seer gestalt for observation and Benjamin to sort out any mental health issues.

“Doubling up?” I asked after the formal and informal greetings.

“Yes,” Zola replied. “Twins of good character who were about to be sold into slavery as the victims of a very brutal, if rich, man.”

“Are we doing anything about him ... or the slavers?”

“Well he’s no longer rich and has severe health problems now, tying down the rest of his cash,” Zola replied with a savage grin. “The slavers just happened to find themselves in the midst of a police raid in Los Angeles and were stupid enough to draw weapons.”

“Good, we don’t often get the chance to do the right thing on our Earth.”

“That’s true, damned Accords.”

“Sponsors?”

“Mages Tom and Margaret have agreed to train them as part of their plurality in return for us emerging a child of the other partner in a few years.”

“Quid pro quo,” I nodded.

“Very much so John, though if they’d had children, it would be a right of theirs ... not that they knew we could do it ... officially that is.”

“Yes. Well, let’s see these young ladies and see where the pressure points are.”

Cara and Alexis were still fearful, though felt a lot safer than they did a few days ago. They were now dressed modestly and well fed, their health returned to them after being on the verge of starvation. Their history had taught them not to trust anyone but themselves, though they’d been powerless to prevent their seizure by a brutal gang of sex traffickers after the death of their father from alcoholism. They simply did not understand our people, though none had hurt or threatened them and they were amazed by the abilities we used in everyday situations, abilities that the young appearing woman who appeared to be in charge said we were going to give them. They suspected that this was but another plan to sell them on at a higher price to another bidder and the very thought made them shiver at times. Both flinched when the woman called Zola appeared again with a man and feared the worst.

“Relax,” Zola said soothingly. “Your torment is at an end, I promise. This is journeyman Mage John. He’s going to unlock your potential and allow you entry into a whole new world.”

Neither girl said anything, but their eyes betrayed them in the clear despair in them.

“No one’s actually told you much about us, have they?” I asked.