Starfinder

THE BLACK SHIP

BY THE TIME MOTH REACHED the aerodrome his lungs ached from running. In his mad dash to get away he raced through the streets of Calio’s old section, cutting across the busy marketplace filled with vendors, and then at last to the north side of the mountain, into the flatlands where the aerodrome stood. In the shadow of a docking pylon he came to a halt, resting against the concrete structure to catch his breath. His eyes scanned for anyone who might have followed him. Overhead came the whoosh and buzz of speeding dragonflies. Two massive airships had already moored near the hangars, tied down by steel cables. The airfield was noisy with activity, but the empty stretch of land between it and the city was quiet.

Moth bent forward, putting his hands upon his knees to catch his breath. Leroux was dead. That was all he should be thinking about, and yet… and yet…

Questions zoomed through his brain. Fiona’s grandfather wanted something, but what? Moth thought of Lady Esme. Where was that blasted bird? And where was Fiona? He needed to speak to her, find out what was going on.

Moth peered around the pylon. He had never seen the aerodrome so busy. On the main strip outside the hangars a contingent of Skyknights gathered near one of the airships. Passengers poured through the open doors of the ship’s control car. The Skyknights looked resplendent in their blue dress uniforms, their jackets stiff with starch and studded with brightly polished buttons. Along the side of the airship draped a long, scarlet banner, the standard of Heres, a city in the far south of the country. Moth suddenly remembered what Fiona had told him about the meeting her grandfather had arranged. The governor of Heres was probably aboard that airship right now.

And yet there was no sign of Rendor or his men. Moth paused, wondering about his plan. He had no place to go, and really only one friend he could turn to for help. He scanned the group of pilots for Skyhigh.

No sign of him.

Moth took a deep breath, combed his hair with his fingers, then stepped out onto the field. Up ahead loomed the main hangar, one of a dozen such buildings lined up like soldiers on the south side of the aerodrome, all constructed of the same gleaming metal with rounded roofs to accommodate the giant airships. The main hangar was also where Skyhigh’s platoon barracked.

With so much activity going on, Moth didn’t expect anyone to care much that he’d arrived. He was late for work, but if he grabbed a mop or bucket no one would notice him. He hurried inside, entering the gigantic hangar through one of its gaping doors. Skyknights and their squires threaded through the dragonflies and crates of machine parts. Moth glanced around for Skyhigh. Out on the strip he could see the dignitaries milling near the airship.

“Moth!”

The shout made Moth jump. He turned to see Major Hark striding toward him, his body wrapped in a perfectly tailored uniform.

“Where you been, boy? We’ve got people coming. I need you to start on airstrip two.”

Major Hark didn’t notice Moth’s rumpled clothes or sweat-stained face. His tense expression revealed the pressure he was under today. For a moment Moth stared blankly at the Major, wanting to beg his help. But he could not. He couldn’t trust anyone now, only Skyhigh.

“I’m sorry,” he told Hark. “I couldn’t get here any sooner. Stuff at home—”

“Save the excuses and get to work, will ya? There’s another ship coming in and I have to get the strip brushed down. Just get your broom and get out there, check?”

“Yes, sir,” Moth answered. “I’ll do that. Have you seen Skyhigh anywhere, sir?”

“Skyhigh’s getting ready to fly escort,” snapped Hark as he turned back toward the crowd. “Don’t get underfoot.”

Moth gave a curt reply, then sighted Skyhigh walking out toward the airstrip. He waited until Hark was safely away before he bolted toward his friend. Unlike the others, Skyhigh was dressed for flying, his helmet nestled in the crook of his elbow. Moth came up behind him, snagging his sleeve.

“Skyhigh, wait!”

Startled, Skyhigh quickly tugged back his arm, annoyed until he noticed who had grabbed him. “Moth?”

“I have to talk to you,” said Moth. He glanced around, wanting no one to overhear them.

“Can’t. Not now,” replied Skyhigh, and kept on walking. “The dragonfly’s waiting.”

Moth followed him out onto the gravel-paved field. He could see Skyhigh’s craft at the end of the strip. Out to the east a big, black spot was moving against the blue sky, getting slowly closer.

“Skyhigh, hold on,” Moth urged. “It’s important.”

“Later,” Skyhigh called over his shoulder.

“Please!”

The Skyknight stopped. Turning, he saw Moth’s face twisting with emotion, on the verge of tears. “Moth?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Leroux’s dead.” The words simply dropped from Moth’s mouth. “And when I got back to the apartment Governor Rendor was there tearing it apart. He’s taken everything. Now he’s looking for Lady Esme…”

“Moth, go easy. Leroux? I just saw him last night.”

“This morning,” Moth explained. “He must have died in his sleep. When I woke up he was in bed, just lying there.” Moth took hold of Skyhigh’s arm again and pulled him toward the wall of the hangar, out of sight. “I went and got the doctor. After that I went up to Mrs. Jilla’s. When I got back to the apartment Fiona’s grandfather was there! There were men with him, and they were ripping up everything—the walls, the floors. Then Governor Rendor came out and wanted to know about Lady Esme. He said the apartment belongs to the government now. All our stuff!”

Over Skyhigh’s shoulder, the black spot from the east came steadily closer. Moth could hear a distant thrumming as it approached. Skyhigh shook his head in confusion.

“Why would the Governor take your home?” he wondered aloud. Then he looked at Moth, his eyes filled with sympathy. “Leroux… Moth, I’m sorry.”

There hadn’t been time for Moth to grieve. There still wasn’t. “Skyhigh, I think Fiona’s grandfather might be after me. He’s looking for Lady Esme. Maybe he thinks I have her.”

“Do you?”

“No! She must have flown off somewhere before Rendor got there.”

“He’s not just looking for Esme, Moth. If he’s ripping up the walls…”

“And the floors and the furniture!”

Skyhigh’s eyes flicked toward the approaching black mass. Moth realized it was an airship, bigger than any he’d seen before, with two engines suspended from its superstructure and fins along its tail, swept back like a shark’s.

“The Avatar,” pronounced Skyhigh.

Moth’s mouth fell open. He had heard about the Avatar, the newest airship in the fleet. She had taken her maiden flight less than a month ago, setting a record from the yards at Kerre to Capital City. But the Avatar wasn’t a passenger vessel. Rendor himself had designed her. With armored flanks and platforms filled with guns, she was the world’s first lighter-than-air warship.

“That’s why Rendor called the other Governors here—to show them the Avatar,” Moth guessed. “You think?”

“Don’t know. But I’m supposed to be flying escort for her. I gotta get up there, Moth. Quick.”

“Skyhigh, I don’t know where to go,” said Moth. “I have to hide. I have to talk to Fiona, see if she knows anything. I can’t let Rendor find me.”

Eager to get to his dragonfly, Skyhigh puzzled over the problem. “All right,” he mused. “You can’t stay here. And you can’t go back to the apartment.”

Moth looked at him anxiously. “Where, then?”

A light flickered in Skyhigh’s eyes. “I know a place.” His voice dipped to a whisper. “The barn.”

“That rusty old place?”

“Yeah, it’s perfect,” said Skyhigh. “No one goes there ever. I know, because that’s where I go when I want some privacy. There’s even blankets there already.”

Moth’s nose wrinkled at the thought. The “barn” as they called it wasn’t a barn at all, but an abandoned hangar from the old days of the aerodrome. It had quickly grown obsolete, unable to house the newer, larger airships or to take the pounding of winters on the mountain. It was also set back from the rest of the aerodrome.

“Maybe,” said Moth. “You’re sure no one goes there?”

“Trust me, nobody’s ever bothered me up there.” Skyhigh gave a wink to show his meaning. Not surprisingly, he was popular with Calio’s ladies. “Use the west side door,” he told Moth. “It looks rusted shut but it’s not. When you get inside you’ll see a little loft for storing supplies. That’s where the blankets are. There’s some candles up there, too.” Once more he glanced at the approaching Avatar. The ship was clearly visible now, stalking toward the city like a thunderhead. “Listen to me, Moth. You wait there in the barn for me. I’ll get there as soon as I can but you wait, got it?”

Moth nodded. “Yes.”

“Don’t stick your head out or come looking for me. I’ll find out what I can from Fiona and be there as soon as I’m able. I’ll bring you some food, too.”

“All right,” Moth agreed, but his stomach pitched with apprehension. “I’ll wait for you.”

Skyhigh smiled, putting his hand on Moth’s slight shoulder. “We’ll fix this. Just stay safe until I get there.”