* * * PARTHIA – TOD * * *

Tod glanced out of his window at the busy harbour before settling down in front of the computer terminal. He switched it on and after a slight delay as it booted up called up the local map function. He flipped through the comprehensive collection of orbital photos. The maps were good and exacting when it came to the coasts and oceans but grew increasingly incomplete and vague the further they got from the sea.

He hummed quietly to himself as he zoomed in on a few possibilities. He didn’t want to be to far from civilization or too close to an existing dungeon. As he jotted down details of his top choices he realized he had changed in the last year, they were all coastal. Idly he opened another window and chased a thought down. He was surprised to find himself on the Earth web, shrugging he called up his email account. He deleted a load of spam, and after a horrified look, several messages from the DOD.

After looking blankly at the wall for long enough for his screen to go to sleep he dragged himself back to the present and called up the local wiki. He had to research his chosen locations to see if he could select the perfect location. Internally he half cursed Mary for refusing to tell him the best location for a new dungeon.

When he had managed to narrow it down to two possibilities he reluctantly saw why she had refused to suggest a location, both his preferred locations were in the temperate zones and would have snowy winters. He knew Mary well enough to know the snowy winters would have vetoed both his choices in her eyes.

Next Tod picked up his phone and called Moriarty. “Hey Prof, I have it narrowed down to two locations, could you give me some advice?”

“Certainly Tod, but remember my primary loyalty lies with Mother.”

“That’s OK. Also, how come you have internet access and how can my mobile work?”

Moriarty chuckled. “Tod, you have to remember Mycroft and I are AIs. And we’re not the only ones. Even Lewis was one. No way are we going to allow ourselves to be deprived of the Internet, or phones. Now what were your choices?”

“Just one more question, can I get internet access and reception in my dungeon after I create it?”

Moriarty just laughed; before finally saying: “Yes. And why don’t I arrange for you to visit your two choices. I suspect I know which one you’ll chose but I could easily be wrong.”

* * * PARTHIA – MARY * * *

Mary grinned crookedly when the US military delegation was ushered in to her throne room to be introduced.

« Hi Jo, Simon. Glad to see someone had sense. Sorry for all the ceremonial but my subjects expect it. By the way Tod’s fine. »

Meadows and Jo both jerked slightly in surprise as Mary’s voice sounded in their minds.

When the delegation had been shown out Mary got down from her throne and made her way out trailed by Drinna. Mary and Drina joined them in the bar. They found them chatting amicably with a Russian colonel and a Spanish naval captain.

“Afternoon ladies, gents. You interested in a little boat trip an’ exhibition. Can show you my proof of concept destroyer an’ its missile defence capability.”

“Why are you sticking with ships when you have airships like the one floating out there?” asked admiral Forrester.

“Two reasons, can pack more on a ship, an’ airships are kinda flimsy. Oh they’re very useful in their place, fast, good range but you don’t really want ’em in a brawl. They’re sittin’ ducks for a laser.”

“Laser? They are clumsy and heavy. You’re not likely to come across many,” suggested the admiral’s aide lt. Mendez.

Mary grinned again, “Sergeant Kyle, step up and show the lieutenant your laser.” Mary gestured to one of the open windows. “See if you can hit one of the seagulls up there.”

Kyle grinned showing his sharp fangs. The tiger folk produced what looked like a lightweight shortened WW2 bazooka from his storage device, dropped a round crystal in the firing chamber. He settled it on his shoulder, peered through the sights and activated his sure shot skill.

A bar of concentrated light came into existence for a fraction of a second and some feathers and scraps of seagull fluttered to the surface of the lagoon.

Kyle snapped a sharp salute and put his laser away before stepping back to rejoin the bodyguard detail.

Mary eyed the shocked military contingent and suppressed her grin. “Laser, a small one. All my guard carry one. I will admit ammo is restricted. The crystals are hard to make.”

« What a lie Mother, you can just create them by the dozen in your dungeon, » snickered Drinna.

« True. But I need some secrets. An’ a reason for making them prohibitively expensive should I find it necessary to sell any. »

After seeing the assembled military personnel and their dependants off on the Dark Sword under the escort of one of her paladins, the drow Swift Shadow, Mary returned to her throne room to greet her remaining visitors.

* * * PARTHIA – THE FBI * * *

The sight that met his eyes outside the windows of the huge reception room staggered Jerry. There was no doubt they weren’t on Earth any more. There just weren’t that many sailing ships left on Earth and that floating airship, he’d have heard of it if it existed on Earth. Then the sun had a slight bluish tinge.

And what was worse was the look on Assistant-director Markowitz’s face. It had been getting increasingly choleric with every page he flipped on that clipboard Helly had risked swiping after Clair had put it down before leading them through the last portal.

He returned to the group seeking familiarity. The Moon and Mars had been bad enough but this was truly frightening. A new world... an inhabited world... well the aliens had proved aliens existed but still, he had not expected to find himself on a new world. What about alien diseases... Then his eyes opened in shock.

“Sir... Sir the group that’s just come in via the portal, isn’t that X. The Russian agent we haven’t identified yet?”

“What... Ridiculous, he was reported in Tehran... Fuck, yes it is,” said Durrell, the man Claire had called minder two.

Markowitz ripped the sheets of paper from the clipboard and folded them roughly before shoving them into a pocket. He passed the empty clipboard back to Helly and said bruskly: “Well done, now get rid of that when you can. Did you see much of that?”

“No sir, just the top sheet,” replied Helly as she stuffed the clipboard back in her bag.

“Heads will roll,” muttered Markowitz even as he scowled at the Russians. “How the hell did they get hold of that transcript? That meeting was top secret, and it was held today! As for the personnel files...”

Jerry’s ears perked up and his brain started speculating. He really didn’t like the conclusions he was coming to. Whoever was running the girl had them bugged six ways to Christmas. He hoped it was the Navy, though he doubted it. He didn’t think the armed forces would be bugging the FBI, but it was possible. Jerry felt his latent paranoia stir.

* * *

Jerry trailed his superior as they were led to what could only be a throne room. The murals were well done and depicted an underwater scene with a sunken city and assorted sealife. Ms Silvestre was presiding on an elaborate throne. A very young elf girl with abundant green hair was acting as master of ceremonies.

Jerry was both impressed and dismayed by the fact that Ms Silvestre greeted every delegation in their native tongue. It irritated him that their records were wrong in so many details. The file he had perused only gave her English and basic Spanish.

The uniformed guards, mostly beastfolk, were armed with HK G3’s.

After the introductions they were ushered into a large dining room and bar area. They found their military colleagues or rivals hob knobbing with their opposite numbers. The assorted Earth military seemed to be getting on very well, something the FBI contingent found disturbing.

* * * FRAGATTA – MARY * * *

Mary put the final touches to her new palace. It was stupidly extravagant and ostentatious. She grinned up at the orbiting mirrors, Things were working out nicely, already she couldn’t see any ice from her new windows. The ice was retreating. The ocean was coming to life again. The population was small on Fragatta but the faith and prayers were a heady brew.

She looked to the South. ‘I can feel you Fatagn the slothful. Keep sticking around and I’ll have a real show for my visitors. That and send a message to your bosses that I hope they manage to understand. I don’t want them, or you, sticking their collective noses in my business. I’m recovering this place and setting up another world for Bluey to take over. And that’s more than those hidebound old fogeys have managed in god knows how long.’

She shook her head and verified that her latest spaceship was ready and that the crab folk crew were correctly briefed.