Rip soon found himself heading outside toward a line of three heavy steam trucks, puffing patiently at the curb.

A message from his implant popped up.

[You are now sharing a team mission: Explore the Chelsea Septic Station and learn the Septic Rats’ secret.]

“Yeah, that about sums it up.”

A total of six teams combined for this operation. He walked alongside Robert Chance, who had loaded up his rucksack full of dynamite and had a Tommy gun strapped over one shoulder.

The infiltrator smiled at him and said, “We’ll go in fully prepared this time, mate.”

Rip nodded, feeling grateful for his new interspatial wallet when he saw his friend loaded down with stuff.

Earlier, checking in at the Venture Society’s central office, Rip found very little left in his account. But he still had enough to make one last trip to the marketplace, where he picked up a couple of knives and a few other items that might prove useful.

He felt a twinge of concern about his dwindling funds. The interspatial wallet took out most of his balance, and he felt a twinge of regret about that.

But only a twinge. And it all but disappeared when he saw everybody else groaning under the weight of their supplies for this mission.

Besides, he thought, another successful mission should replenish his funds.

Out loud, Rip said, “What brought this on? I was late to the hearing.”

“The boffins think the Septic Rats were down there prepping items for enhancement. That clear stuff we saw them painting on things helps inanimate objects absorb luminiferous aether, evidently. Or so the theory goes.”

“You know, I’ve been meaning to ask why the Lyceum doesn’t do more enhancements on items. It seems the Germans and Austrians have a monopoly on that. And maybe the steam vault personnel, based on that wrench I liberated from Gretna Green.”

He patted the special pocket inside his jacket where the wrench rested, having decided to leave it out of the wallet. He wanted fast access to it in case he needed it.

Chance said, “It takes a long time for the crystals to recharge. We’re lucky to be able to enhance one person a day. And the Lyceum has only the one site. So, no one wants to squander a charge on a lowly inanimate object like that wrench. There are too many people waiting to get enhanced. You were lucky, by the way. The king put you at the front of the queue, bumping off some poor sod from their spot.”

“Okay, that makes sense. I didn’t realize there was a limit like that. I’m starting to see why more people aren’t enhanced, then.”

They climbed into the first truck and sat along one of the benches along the wall.

Sharp climbed in, the baron nodding hello and sitting on the bench opposite them. Twig entered next, taking a seat by Chance.

Then Hilda and Liza came in. Their faces lit up when they saw Rip and they sat down to his right.

“Hello,” Liza said, sitting next to him.

He got his first close look at the attractive members of Sharp’s team. Liza had very pale skin, which made the features on her face stand out, particularly her dark eyes and ruby red lips.

On second look, Rip noticed her eyes were heavily dilated at the moment, seeming to drink in the sight of him.

Something felt off, though. He could not put his finger on just what seemed to be wrong. While he thought about it, Hilda’s head bent forward to look at him, too. He noted she had the same shade of pale white skin.

“You girls don’t get out in the sun much, do you?”

They both laughed, as if this was the funniest joke they had heard in quite some time.

Bixby entered next and he moved to sit down by Sharp.

He was followed by Blair, who made a beeline for Rip and plopped down between him and Liza, squeezing between them both. This earned her a literal snarl from both girls.

She said, “Oh, I’m sorry. Are there too many people on this side? Come along, Ripley.”

She stood and pulled Rip over to the bench with the barons. Liza and Hilda glared at her, their eyes practically dripping with hatred.

Rip said, “Whoa. I’m sure we can all get along. It’s just a short ride.”

The girls harrumphed, but they eased up on their looks of death.

For her part, Blair studiously ignored them, acting as if the two did not even exist. She held onto Rip’s arm rather possessively, he thought.

Finally, one last person entered. Everyone looked up to see Lord Humphries, the black-robed member of the Lyceum. Rip recalled his questioning in the hearing, and how he was convinced Rip really did hail from another world.

The man’s long, distinctive sideburns seemed to wave like little black sails as his head swiveled, taking in everyone at once. He moved to the side with the barons and sat to Bixby’s right.

“Lord Humphries, I presume you’ll be the Lyceum’s representative in this matter?” Sharp said.

“Indeed. If there are any luminiferous-enhanced objects, I intend to identify them and retrieve them for study. It’s not likely a subterranean gang can teach us anything, but if they are working in cahoots with greater forces, perhaps some useful knowledge can come out of this.”

“We will do our best to shield you from harm, Professor,” Bixby said. “Although safety is never guaranteed on these outings, you understand.”

“Oh, I fully understand. But have no worries, Baron. I am enhanced, after all. And I have a few tricks up my sleeve, should the need arise.”

Someone shut the door and knocked twice on the metal paneling. The truck lurched into gear and rattled down the cobblestone streets.

“We should have headed back sooner, I suppose,” Bixby said.

Sharp said, “It’s hard to marshal a force quickly, without fully understanding what we’re facing, old chap.”

“Do you suppose they’ll even be there, still?”

“What I wouldn’t doubt is a room full of booby traps waiting for us. Fortunately, we’ve got several people going along with us who are quite skilled at sniffing those out.”

Before long the truck lurched to a stop. Someone opened the door for them, and everyone filed out.

All the teams assembled near the white marble gazebo. Bixby, Sharp and Humphries stood at the front, staring at everyone.

Bixby cleared his throat.

“Right. Expect the worse. Guns out, but hold tight to your weapons in case of magnets. Where we’re going is not far, and hopefully there will be no surprises. But let’s be prepared, just in case.”

With that, he pulled out a Tommy gun from his interspatial wallet, turned, and led the way down the steps.