Ch7.59 Revelations

 

The moment Sky exits the cells, Somrak moves to stand chest to chest with him. Well, chest to upper abdomen. “Time for us to talk.” 

Sky looks down at his former partner. Just after the torture, Sky got to spend more time with Somrak off the job than he’d ever done before. He’d become used to Somrak’s new face. Lyria, Alma’s mother, had healed Somrak’s wounds, and she had not held back from healing the old, old scar that Somrak never talked about. Sky had grown used to that unmarred countenance over the past several weeks. The loss of the scar made Somrak look younger, and it seemed to remove a shield he had long held up before himself. 

But this Somrak is like the one Sky knew from their long off-blues partnership. That had been another thing that had opened up their hearts toward one another. Though Guardia partners often become closer than brothers – indeed, eventual marriage is not unknown, and Sky has heard of one case where a partner underwent a magical sex change in order to be with a partner who was only attracted to one gender – there had always been a wall that kept Sky and Somrak apart. But that is because they were never true partners. Sky has always been a sort of slave, a captive of the Guardia, given the choice of working as an agent or rotting in prison. Or, more likely, being given over to oblivion. Even death would not be enough, for Sky’s soul could not be allowed to return to Hell, memories intact. Sky does not know how Somrak would manage that, but he knows that Somrak must be capable of killing him, and somehow preventing his soul from escaping. A magical artifact, perhaps, or maybe even one of his tattoos. 

In a situation like that, how can either of them be true partners? But the Somrak Sky knows has been relieved of that duty. By dissolving their partnership, by sending Sky to Three Rats Station, the Commander has allowed the two of them to achieve a closeness they could only find in brief moments before.

Sky nods to the scar-faced fire god. “In the alley.” He looks over at Aliyah. “Constable? I appreciate the trouble you went to, finding these. But I’m afraid they don’t quite fit.” He hands her back the shirt and trousers she brought him.

“Dang, sir, sorry about that,” the athletic woman says. “I ain’t bad with a needle and thread, you know.”

“Thank you. But we’ll need to move soon. Ser– Corporal Machado? Sergeant Somrak and I will be right back. Have someone keep an eye on the prisoner, but we also need to get ready to head out.”

Somrak crosses his arms, not happy at being made to wait while Sky issues orders, but unable to gainsay what he recognizes as necessary precautions. He looks hard at Machado, who says, “Yes sir. When you say ‘we’…”

“I mean all of us, yes,” Sky confirms, his voice low. He switches to Batepapo, the local blend of Urbia and Brazilian Portuguese with a fair dollop of Hindi, a dash of Haitian French from a neighboring ward, and a sprinkling more that he can hardly place. “I cannot leave you Popula behind. The next group that attacks will be Dei for sure, maybe even Sikari.” He sees the burly Corporal’s eyes widen in fear at the mention of the half-legendary creatures.

The three mortal cops, Edison Machado, Aliyah Kaur, and Cala Lamore, are all fluent in the local language. The two women turn pale and look at each other. Machado just stares at Sky for a moment, then says to his Constables, “You heard the Sergeant. Aliyah, keep watch on the prisoner. Cala, stay with the Senator and his family, and make sure they’re ready to go. I’ll gather what we need.”

Any questions they have about how this stranger knows the Three Rats lingo are left unasked for now. Perhaps they just figure they have more important things to worry about, which is true. Perhaps they think that knowing whatever language he needs to is one of Sky’s divine powers. Or maybe he just looks too intimidating to ask – or just too weird. He is, after all, still dressed in nothing but a pair of black tights.

Sky glances over at the Senator and his brood. Dion is holding the baby, looking very tired but on the verge of giving him to Alma and coming over to insist on some answers and do you know who I am?! Alma, leaning against Dion for comfort, is watching Sky as if she knows there is something he’s not telling her, that maybe the little mission she sent him on bore fruit after all. And the Bunnies are all asleep, May cuddled up against Dion, Cherry and Merri in each other’s arms by leaning against Alma, all looking, despite the balm of slumber, scared and miserable, innocent mortals caught in the middle of god business, which is never a good place to be.

Sky looks back at Somrak, who looks like he is close to exploding. Which in Somrak’s case is meant literally. “Come on,” Sky says, tilting his head toward the kitchen. “I’ll explain everything.”

Somrak starts in on him as soon as they are in the alley and the door closes. “What in blazes do you think you’re doing, going off like that without saying a word?” His voice is hushed but angry.

Sky leans back against the door, letting his shoulders sag. He looks up at the night sky but sees no stars. Clouds have moved in. He guesses it must be around three in the morning now. “I don’t know, to tell the truth. You see, I just met this Lady Alma, what, an hour ago? But apparently she asked me to do her a favor and go looking. Or…she asked the me of this world.”

Somrak, standing across the alley from him, blinks at this, and then his eyes narrow. He moves swiftly, slamming his hand against Sky’s chest, pushing him hard to pin him against the door. His hand is hot and growing hotter, and Somrak’s mandala-like aura flickers into visibility, flames around his head and shoulders that hint at tigers and phoenixes. “All right, buddy, you have about one minute before I decide what to do with you, so if you want to live, you better start talking.”

Sky, who was expecting this, does not resist, and stays calm. Though Somrak’s touch is rapidly becoming painfully hot, Sky keeps his hands down, resisting the urge to grab Somrak’s wrist. Keeping his voice steady, he explains, “I am Tuma-Sukai, but not the one you know. I think…I fell here from another timeline. Another Insula, a mirror of this one. And I can only assume your Sky is there now.”

Somrak’s hooded eyes stare into Sky’s. “You have any proof?” 

Sky knew this would come. “About six years ago, in my world, we liberated a shipment of slaves bound for a very nasty party where they all would have been eaten by the gods who’d purchased them. Eaten alive. It was a near thing, us catching it. There was a child among them, and he clung to you like barnacle to a boat’s hull. He just wouldn’t let go of you. And you wouldn’t let go of him until you were able to hand him over to his parents. About two hours later, when you and I were having a drink, you just started weeping. I held you. We didn’t say a word. Not then, not ever.”

Somrak’s jaw works, shaken by the revelation. He drops his hand and takes a step back. “Right. Now the rest of this crazy tale. Spill it.”

Sky straightens. He takes a look at the red mark on his chest, shaped just like Somrak’s open hand. Fortunately, it is already fading. “Right…from what I can put together, Lady Alma asked your Tuma-Sukai to go explore a nearby cave complex, as a result of a dream. Meanwhile, in the other world, I’ve been living in that same cave complex, recovering from serious injuries, under the care of the residents. I discovered a pool, got…scooped into it, and on coming out found myself here. I explored the caves, looking for the residents, but they’re gone. One of them left behind a pile of bones and a memory-ghost, though. I came here, looking for the Guardia station. I noticed the assassins and foiled their attempt. And beyond that…I don’t know much. Oh, except that assassin we have? She was a friend who died saving our lives in that other world. Yours and mine.”

Somrak just stares at him through all this. Then he snorts. “Yeah…sounds likely…” He pauses, thinking it all over, then curses in his own language, Flametongue, which sounds like sap-filled logs popping and exploding in sparks in a raging fire. “Great, just great. Just what I needed, to add to those two indoor flowers and their kids that keep running off or freezing in terror when I need them to move.” He turns, balling his hand balled in a fist and punching the wall. “Fates! What else, huh? What else…”

“Calm yourself, Somrak,” Sky says gently. “The others might hear. Now tell me, is Saira right in saying that the Archon Nekh is alive?”

Somrak turns back to Sky, voice perfectly level. “What, you’re going to tell me that on the other side he’s the one who’s dead and that other one, Math, is still alive?” He looks at Sky’s expression, then rolls his eyes. “Great. Mind you, there’s not a single Archon that isn’t a self-righteous bastard but at least Math let the Guardia and the Commander be. Nekh tried to put the Commander in his pocket as soon as he got in charge. And when the Commander refused, that damned buzzard just seized control and started a civil war. We – my Sky and I – suspect it’s Nekh who’s coming after these two.” He jerks his head toward Dion and Alma. “Just to wipe out the whole family.”

Sky nods. “Nekh controls both sides. The fighting is merely cover for taking out all opposition, and to have him emerge looking the hero after he kills off most of his now-inconvenient criminal organization. We’ll be back to a God Emperor system in a week.” He closes his eyes, thinking how fast these things go, when they go. “Or I should say, you will be. But since I know how Nekh died on my side…maybe we can come up with something.”

“Oh?” Somrak’s interest is piqued. “Nekh has some kind of vulnerability?”

“Not exactly. On my side…those two killed Nekh, you see. The Lady and the Senator.”

Of anything he’s said so far, Sky knows this will be the hardest one to sell. Somrak’s deep belief in the Fates has stuck with him since childhood, undercutting his cynicism just enough to keep him from drowning in it. But even Sky has to admit he wouldn’t buy it, either.

Somrak blinks, then looks at the wall behind Sky as if he could see the loving couple through it. He blinks again. “Pull the other one. They couldn’t kill a steak on the grill. He’s useless and she’s afraid of her own shadow unless someone forgets to address her properly. He pretty much guides her along as he pleases.” His facial expression and tone of voice make clear his annoyance at this, bordering on disgust.

Sky smirks, thinking about how deeply his Somrak in love with the Alma he knows, and how this Somrak is so much like the one he knows. This Lady Alma might be very different, but wasn’t she born the same Alma? She has the potential for being just as strong as Sky’s dearest friend. “I wonder if that’s how it goes in private, with this only the public mask. And where I come from, they are both dear to you. And to me. And Alma is in charge of Three Rats Station.” His smirk blossoms into a grin as he looks at Somrak’s shocked expression. “She’s been your commanding officer briefly. And you hers.”

Somrak frowns at all this. “And you’re sure these caves you’re talking about aren’t filled with some powerful hallucinogenic gas or something?”

Sky shakes his head, his grin disappearing. “I only wish it were such a simple explanation. But the Fates are all bound up in this.” He cannot be sure how often he has been a plaything of the Fates. Once, long ago, Sky was told by the Oracle that he is free of Fate, but he keeps being entangled again and again. “Without Fate playing a hand, I’m sure you’d never have met them here. Nor ever have come to Three Rats.” He looks at Somrak sharply, a thought occurring to him. “Whose idea was it to come here?”

“Commander’s. He told us to head for here, yesterday. No reason why, but we just assumed it was because it was well out of the way. We lost contact since then. Then word that Headquarters was attacked, destroyed. I imagine he’s gone off grid.” Somrak looks melancholic, and Sky can imagine why. The Commander has been like a father to him, the closest thing to a father that Somrak ever had. And Mrs. Finch, the Commander’s mortal secretary, is very dear to Somrak, and to Sky as well. 

After a moment, Somrak asks, “Any ideas on how long you will be here?”

Sky thinks it over. “I have some experience of pathways between worlds, but never like this. They often open on some trigger. This one was right at midnight, I think. So perhaps it will open then again. But for all I know it is seasonal rather than nightly, or it could require a perfect alignment of stars…” Anguish creeps into his voice as he realizes how little he knows. It is possible that there is no way back, that the Tuma-Sukai of this world will have to step into that life in Three Rats, and that the Sky of Three Rats will be permanently stuck here. “I want to help, Somrak. I really do. But I have people back there. A family…”

“A family?” Somrak looks like he is growing tired of all the surprises. “How did you manage that in the offblues – right. Never mind. You’re going back to the caves at midnight. Meanwhile…any epiphanies?”

Sky has none, but he does have a straw to grasp at. “Have you heard of a God Striker? That’s what Dion used to break Nekh’s defenses.”

Somrak shakes his head. “New to me. Where did he get one?”

Sky mulls it all over. “You know, Lady Alma’s dream told her that Tuma-Sukai would find something to save them in the caves. In my world, the God Striker was lost at the bottom of a pool there during an attack on the Oracle. Perhaps…the same happened here. I need to return there and look for it, just in case. Perhaps I missed it.”

“Only one thing, though. There are no Oracles in this world.” Somrak points out.

“Someone is sending your Lady Alma prophetic dreams,” Sky ripostes. “Maybe it’s our Oracle. But maybe yours is around somewhere after all. The ghost I met was the Oracle’s priestess. She told me, ‘Help her’. I think the Oracle was living in that cave up until just a few months ago, when the priestess was murdered and a powerful item called the Pearl was stolen. The Oracle could have been taken as well. And if she is still in this world, we need to find her.” He glances around, listening for the assassins he is sure will be arriving eventually. “This place is compromised. Saira knew where it was, so Nekh will as well. We need to move before a second attack comes. We should relocate to the caves. They could be compromised too, but we can’t discount the possibility that your Sky might return at midnight with something to help win the war. And if I’m not there to switch with him…he might be stuck there.”

Somrak sighs in exasperation. “Great…but you’re the one explaining to these snobs that their fine clothes are about to get damp.”