Part 4:
Onboard the LAD, we watched as a rugged castle came into view.
The structure stood bold and fierce on its perch above the world.
A mammoth cloud, nearly as wide as the castle itself, hovered above the roof and ramparts.
The cloud lingered as if held by invisible moorings, unmoved by the winds blowing across the sky.
As if the very garishness of the structure held nature at its command.
The structure stood bold and fierce on its perch above the world.
A mammoth cloud, nearly as wide as the castle itself, hovered above the roof and ramparts.
The cloud lingered as if held by invisible moorings, unmoved by the winds blowing across the sky.
As if the very garishness of the structure held nature at its command.
Dale blinking us inside seemed the easiest form of entry.
Del said no.
We couldn’t predict the scene we might encounter; it was a variable we could not safely assess.
Del preferred to do it the old-fashioned way.
The old-fashioned way involved a prismatic suit, spectrographic goggles, and the dubious talents of Renee Bourjean.
The Down Wolf pulled a shiny bodysuit from his pack.
The suit’s circuitry distorted its wearer’s appearance, producing an effect akin to invisibility.
“I work for one the most advanced agencies in the world,” Del said, “and we don’t have access to tech like that. I won’t ask why you own such a thing.”
“Some men pursue golf. Others prefer yachts and the sea's spray. I’ve chosen stealth as my hobby.”
Shandoleesa handed him goggles and gloves.
Renee directed us to a small screen that displayed images as seen from the goggles.
“The area is guarded by a laser spooler,” Renee said. “Trip a single beam, it signals an alarm.”
A glance at the screen showed red lasers crisscrossing the castle, random shots in all directions.
“You sure you can make it?” Del asked.
“I shall relish besting his defenses.”
Del said no.
We couldn’t predict the scene we might encounter; it was a variable we could not safely assess.
Del preferred to do it the old-fashioned way.
The old-fashioned way involved a prismatic suit, spectrographic goggles, and the dubious talents of Renee Bourjean.
The Down Wolf pulled a shiny bodysuit from his pack.
The suit’s circuitry distorted its wearer’s appearance, producing an effect akin to invisibility.
“I work for one the most advanced agencies in the world,” Del said, “and we don’t have access to tech like that. I won’t ask why you own such a thing.”
“Some men pursue golf. Others prefer yachts and the sea's spray. I’ve chosen stealth as my hobby.”
Shandoleesa handed him goggles and gloves.
Renee directed us to a small screen that displayed images as seen from the goggles.
“The area is guarded by a laser spooler,” Renee said. “Trip a single beam, it signals an alarm.”
A glance at the screen showed red lasers crisscrossing the castle, random shots in all directions.
“You sure you can make it?” Del asked.
“I shall relish besting his defenses.”
Renee kissed his wife goodbye and powered up the suit.
The shimmering blur made us blink with slight vertigo as he began his approach.
Renee slipped his body between two beams and twisted his way through a third.
Every move seemed considered, careful, yet fluid.
He advanced as if a ferret exploring a maze.
Twisting his frame at odd angles without once losing elegance.
His pace was patient yet never slow, the excursion reaching beams of spiderweb complexity.
Weaving between the lines of light, a final, impeccable stride found him emerge victorious.
“No special powers?” the Lark asked. “That’s all just him?”
“His yoga methods give him moves the circus would envy.”
Renee reached the castle walls and inspected the ornate design.
He removed tools from a pouch and chiseled off stone pieces, uncovering a hidden panel.
Working the controls, the grid of lasers soon vanished.
The Down Wolf waved us over.
“I should get you a teaching job at the academy,” Del said.
“Thank you, Agent Ford. But I’m much too fond of sleeping late.”
The shimmering blur made us blink with slight vertigo as he began his approach.
Renee slipped his body between two beams and twisted his way through a third.
Every move seemed considered, careful, yet fluid.
He advanced as if a ferret exploring a maze.
Twisting his frame at odd angles without once losing elegance.
His pace was patient yet never slow, the excursion reaching beams of spiderweb complexity.
Weaving between the lines of light, a final, impeccable stride found him emerge victorious.
“No special powers?” the Lark asked. “That’s all just him?”
“His yoga methods give him moves the circus would envy.”
Renee reached the castle walls and inspected the ornate design.
He removed tools from a pouch and chiseled off stone pieces, uncovering a hidden panel.
Working the controls, the grid of lasers soon vanished.
The Down Wolf waved us over.
“I should get you a teaching job at the academy,” Del said.
“Thank you, Agent Ford. But I’m much too fond of sleeping late.”
We entered a damp alcove filled with paintings of armed riders on horseback.
Small clouds milled around us, never interfering with our movements.
Our advance led to a library, with more clouds now floating among the books and shelves.
We progressed down a hall until entering a grand ballroom, packed even heavier with cloudy denizens.
“Stay right there, please,” a voice commanded. “Consider your choices carefully.”
Out stepped a man dressed in a silk shirt and pants. A metallic control band covered one wrist.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” he began, “my name is – ”
Jossen reached to scratch his cheek, causing the man to punch at the controls on his arm.
A cloud turned to rock and just missed crushing our ally.
“Forgive me,” said the man as the dust settled. “Quick motions make me quite tense."
No one moved at all.
“As I was saying, my name is Lord Cumuli. But you may call me … the King of Clouds.”
Small clouds milled around us, never interfering with our movements.
Our advance led to a library, with more clouds now floating among the books and shelves.
We progressed down a hall until entering a grand ballroom, packed even heavier with cloudy denizens.
“Stay right there, please,” a voice commanded. “Consider your choices carefully.”
Out stepped a man dressed in a silk shirt and pants. A metallic control band covered one wrist.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” he began, “my name is – ”
Jossen reached to scratch his cheek, causing the man to punch at the controls on his arm.
A cloud turned to rock and just missed crushing our ally.
“Forgive me,” said the man as the dust settled. “Quick motions make me quite tense."
No one moved at all.
“As I was saying, my name is Lord Cumuli. But you may call me … the King of Clouds.”