The Big Al
Meteorologist
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Welcome to my latest work. Actually it was what I had originally planned to do but only got around to it recently. Whatever. Just read it and please leave your feedback.
Chapter 1: The Part-time Princess? * The Road to Being a Better Queen
Even Saginaw City, a community as far from the Blessed Flames in the Flame Kingdom as dry land could get, couldn’t remain in winter’s grasp forever. More than a week and a half into spring the capitol of the Water Drop Kingdom was shedding its winter coat of snow and the trees that had sat bare for months had the faintest sign of buds appearing on their branches. The crystal clear canals that crisscrossed like streets between the white and blue onion top roofed buildings were finally free of ice and the gondoliers had wasted no time retaking them, ferrying passengers through the city.
However, what passed for warm in this northern burg in the early spring was a heavy, chilling rain that wasn’t freezing on contact. Pedestrians traversing the sidewalks on the canals’ banks hid under umbrellas. The gondolas had covers protecting their passengers while their gondoliers were clad in colorful raincoats and hats. Everyone was bundled up against the cold, soggy air that while above freezing was still bone chilling.
Rising into the dreary, gray sky was the castle of the Water Drop Kingdom. Much like the other structures of the city it was a complex of white towers with blue, onion top roofs. Two smaller towers sat on either side of the larger, central tower and water cascaded from its large, bowl like base into the expansive moat that descended in steps away from the complex.
* * *
In contrast to the chilly, soggy gloom outside, the interior of the castle was warm and bright. Princess Milro stared out one of the large floor to ceiling windows looking out onto the city. The light inside seemed to make the landscape outside all the more dreary.
A watermark like reflection of a girl in her mid-teens with long, light brown hair sat on the window in front of the city and clouds. She appeared Human aside from the beige, beaver like ears nestled in her hair in front of the small, curled teardrop shaped crown sitting elegantly on her head. She was a dainty thing, slightly shorter than average and slight of build wearing the blue, long-sleeved bodice and white, bell skirt traditionally worn by the princess of the Water Drop Kingdom. The reflection stared back at her with violet eyes quivering with worry.
But the reflection couldn’t feel like she did. Her stomach refused to settle and the feeling of apprehension filled every corner of her body. She gulped dryly and clutched her delicate hands in one another.
She turned away from the window and to the pair of blue double doors opposite it. Beyond them were representatives of the six most aggressive races in the Water Drop Kingdom if not the entire Mysterious Planet. They were at odds over a vein of phosphorous spanning their territories and she would be presiding over the negotiations.
It didn’t take her mother long to find her a first duty since graduating from the Royal Wonder Academy. This must have been a big vote of confidence in her. She had spent the past four days making sure she knew everything she could about the races involved, the arguments in the conflict, and any other information that might be prudent. Still, she couldn’t shake her uncertainty. ‘What if I’m not ready?’ She thought to herself.
She gulped dryly in an attempt to calm herself down. ‘You’re over analyzing yourself Milro.’ She told herself in her mind. ‘If Mother believes you can handle this then you can.’ She walked up to the doors that slid apart with the hiss of hydraulics as she approached.
Beyond was a large, circular room with open water surrounding the floor that extended from the doorway. In the center was a large, circular table where the representatives were already seated. On her left were the representatives of the Gulls, Aquarians, and Deep Ones and to her right the Gators, Lobster Men, and Polar Bears. She hesitated at the sight of the powerful individuals. She loosened her body and walked in as casually as she could and took her seat.
“So, let’s begin.” She said in her quiet, timid voice.
* * *
Queen Yamul stretched the last morning stiffness from her body as she walked to her office. It felt like a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulder now that Milro was home. She could finally work on more pressing matters as her daughter could help her with affairs of state. As the large Beaver approached the doors to her office she heard a shrill scream. She spun around to see her daughter in a dead run towards her. The frightened Princess of the Water Drop Kingdom ducked behind her, clutching her white cape.
“Don’t let him get me.” Milro cried.
“Who?” Yamul turned back to her.
“Him!” Milro pointed in front of her.
Yamul faced forward to see Colonel Claw of the Lobster Men storming down the hall towards them. “Come back here you little twit!” The two and a half meter tall crustacean roared. He raised his powerful, brown pincer and snapped it loudly in the air.
“What happened?” Yamul asked her terrified daughter.
“I don’t know.” Milro whimpered. “He said I wasn’t speaking loud enough. I said I was sorry and he went after me.”
As Claw came nearer she ducked further behind her mother. “What should I do?”
“First of all get out from behind me.” Yamul said in her naturally powerful voice.
Milro complied, timidly coming out from behind her. She entire body trembled as the Lobster Man finally reached them.
“Stop shivering and look him straight in the eye.” Yamul ordered.
Milro tried her best to stop trembling or at least make it less noticeable. She looked up at the massive crustacean’s beady green eyes on the sides of his brown head. He glared down at her.
“Now grab his antennae.” Yamul said.
“What?” Milro exclaimed.
“Do it!” Yamul barked.
Milro grabbed Claw’s two long antennae and held them together in her hands. She expected him to rear his mighty body back to rip them from her grasp. However, the Lobster Man stopped moving and fell silent.
“Pull him down to your eye level.” Yamul instructed.
Milro did so, pulling his head by the antennae with surprising ease down almost a full meter to her eye level. She could see the rage burning in his eyes even more vividly. She was ready to runaway and crawl under a rock.
She looked helplessly to her mother. The Queen of the Water Drop Kingdom was calm watching all this. “Yell at him.” She ordered.
Milro looked back at the enraged crustacean she was gripping the antennae of. She gulped dryly and raised her voice to barely talking loudly. “Is this better?” She asked.
The rage in Claw’s eyes subsided and his jagged mouth then formed into a smile. He raised his pincer causing Milro to flinch away. But he only tapped her gently on the shoulder. Milro let go of his antennae allowing them to part and the Lobster Man to stand up straight again.
“You have you’re work cut out for you Yamul-sama.” Claw turned away, laughing softly.
“What just happened?” Milro said in dismay.
“Lobster Men will frequently posture to probe a new acquaintance.” Yamul explained. “By answering their challenge in kind you show that you respect them. Acting submissively is considered an insult. And grabbing their antennae messes with their equilibrium.”
Milro looked at her mother. Despite all her preparation that had escaped her. In her first move she had made such a terrible gaffe. She looked at the departing Lobster Man and then her mother. She heaved a sob before running away in the opposite direction.
“Milro.” Yamul called after her but it was no use. She heaved an exasperated sigh and tugged her light blue blouse down to straighten it.
* * *
“God damn the Royal Wonder Academy to Hell.” Yamul summed up her thoughts to Jerome Spigot sitting opposite to her. She stabbed her fork into her salad and shoved what she picked up in her mouth.
Everyone else in the cafeteria stopped what they were doing and looked to their angered queen seated at a small table. Spigot tugged at his shirt collar which suddenly seemed to tighten around his neck. The smaller Beaver cleared his throat.
“Ma’am you can’t speak like that.” He murmured.
“Why not?” Yamul said after swallowing and dabbing dressing from the corners of her mouth with her cloth napkin. “I’m a queen, not a saint.”
With some shrugs the other occupants returned to what they were doing.
Yamul jabbed another dressing drenched leaf of lettuce and pointed it at Spigot. “She was there for five years and she’s no more prepared to lead this country than the day she left.”
“Perhaps you should suggest they add ‘Lobster Men 101’ to the curriculum.” Spigot replied. “And I remember a certain queen-to-be putting the Human representative in the hospital with a broken arm during her first negotiations.”
“He groped me.” Yamul stated in her defense.
“You must have liked it since he’s now our prince consort.” Spigot laughed a little as he took a bite from his biscuit.
“It’s not just that.” Yamul threw down her fork and massaged her temples which suddenly felt tense. “When I look in her eyes I see that same uncertainty and lack of self-confidence. She’ll be expected to lead the most volatile country in this planet and I’m afraid she’ll cave in under the pressure.”
“That’s something a century of schooling couldn’t solve.” Spigot swallowed.
“I know.” Yamul replied. “But I don’t have the luxury of living a long life. Once she’s twenty-six that’s it, she’s queen. I’m afraid a decade is not enough time to groom her completely.”
“Now that she’s back here living in the Water Drop Kingdom and meeting its citizens will help her.” Spigot said. “I’ve found real life makes the best teacher.”
The proverbial light bulb went off in Yamul’s head. “You’re a genius.”
“I am?” Spigot asked. He then stated. “Of course I am.”
Yamul pushed out her chair. She grabbed her salad and walked for the door.
“Where are you going?” Spigot called after her.
“…to the archives.” Yamul answered as she left. “Hold all my calls for the rest of the day.”
* * *
Despite the excitement, Milro slept soundly that night. She was surprised to find a summons to her mother’s office when she awoke the next morning. She immediately worried she was going to scold her for what happened at the negotiations. But not complying would only make matters worse. After washing and dressing she went to her mother’s office as ordered.
She stepped timidly through the doorway into her mother’s office as the blue double doors slid shut behind her. It was a long, oval shaped room with open water surrounding the curled teardrop shaped floor. Aside from her large chair and there was no furniture and very little decoration, leaving a large open area between the desk and door. One the walls were large, transparent columns through which water flowed up.
Yamul preferred her office over the audience chamber to handle affairs of state. Milro could count on one hand the number of times her mother even entered it. Milro also knew seeing her in her office meant she had serious business with you. The uneasiness returned but she tried to her hardest not to show it.
Her mother was sitting behind her desk at the far end against the morning light pouring in through the large bay windows behind her. To figures stood in front of her desk to either side of her. Milro immediately recognized the older, silver haired, half Beaver maid as Marcy, the head of the castle’s maids and her nanny since she was a baby. The smaller beaver opposite to her was Spigot, the Master Chief Engineer for the machine of the Water Drop Kingdom.
“You wished to see me?” Milro asked in a very small voice.
“Yes.” Yamul sat up in her chair.
Milro looked away as her ears drooped over. “This is about what happened yesterday.”
“It was an honest mistake.” Yamul replied. “You’re not the first person to misread a Lobster Man and God knows you won’t be the last.”
“But I should have known.” Milro said. She was relieved she wouldn’t be scolded but it didn’t erase her blunder. “How can I be queen of this country if I don’t understand its people?”
Yamul bobbed her head in a gentle nod. “A commendable attitude for a future queen. A leader should know the people she is expected to lead.” She stood up motioned for her daughter to come to her desk. As she did the Queen of the Water Drop Kingdom came around and hugged her. “And know that you are my daughter and I love you with all my heart. I will do everything in my power to make sure you don’t take the throne unprepared.”
“I know Mother.” Milro wrapped her slender arms around her mother’s powerful frame.
Ever since Milro understood she was next in line she had doubted her ability to rule. But Yamul groomed her with life’s lessons. Although she seemed too strict to others, Milro knew it was to prepare her for when she took the throne. To her, it was the most loving thing her mother could do.
“That’s why I did some research and I think I might have found a solution.” Yamul returned to her seat.
Spigot grumbled something incomprehensible under his breath.
“What do you mean?” Milro asked.
Yamul sat up in her chair and rested her arms on her desk in front of her. “Before the academy it was tradition for the heir to the throne to spend a year in service to the country. During peacetime it was as an engineer for the Machine of the Water Drop Kingdom. If you agree, we could begin that tradition again.”
“You mean I would work on the equipment that makes the clouds for the Mysterious Planet?” Milro exclaimed.
Spigot couldn’t hold his tongue anymore. “Absolutely not!” He protested.
“I have to concur with the Master Chief on this one.” Marcy agreed.
Yamul looked at the two standing in front of her desk. She was use to hearing them bickering with each other as the engineers and the castle maids frequently clashed over various issues. It was rare for them to agree on anything.
“You two have a problem?” She asked.
“Yes.” Spigot answered. “Do you have any idea what passes for an engineer nowadays?”
“Last time I checked our equipment hasn’t been this well maintained in over seven hundred years.” Yamul answered his questions. “Your current crew’s performance has been excellent.”
“It’s not their performance we’re worried about.” The silver haired maid said in response. “While hard and diligent workers, the engineers are the most vulgar…”
“…violent…” Spigot added.
“…disrespectful…”
“…indecent…”
“…rude…”
“…mean…”
“…ill-tempered…”
“…sarcastic…”
“…cynical…”
“…apathetic…”
“…bunch of larrikin hooligans in the entire Mysterious Planet.” The two stated at the same time.
“I can’t in good conscience allow Milro-sama to be associated with such people.” Marcy added.
“You two have always had a flare for the dramatic.” Yamul said in response. “They’re not that bad.”
“They’re worse.” Spigot turned to Milro. “I’m telling you this is a bad idea.”
Milro looked away and went into her thoughts. She was shy and timid. Her worst fear about being queen was she wouldn’t be respected by the people of the Water Drop Kingdom. What would it say if she declined because she was afraid of the engineers who served their country’s very purpose?
And she was also curious. Despite living in the same building that housed the machine of the Water Drop Kingdom and actually visiting the Cloud Management Room on several occasions she knew next to nothing about it. Not long after she was old enough to understand the country’s duties she was sent to the academy. She found it a little embarrassing he knew so little about the purpose of her country.
“Mother,” she finally said, “I agree. I think it would help me understand our country and prepare me to be a better queen.”
The maid and engineer let their jaws drop and hang from their joints.
“Please Milro-sama,” Marcy pleaded, “don’t do this.”
“I’m not a child anymore.” Milro replied. “I have to take responsibility for my future.”
“Alright then.” Spigot growled. “If that’s your decision. We’ll start with issuing you a uniform and assigning you to a shift.” He turned on his heals and sulked for the door. “Come with me.”
* * *
Spigot led Milro down to the quartermaster’s office. Milro looked around her as she stepped in. It was underwater with large windows of transparent aluminum looking out into the moat. Various kinds of fish swam by, oblivious to the observers behind the glass.
The office looked more like a general store with articles of clothing and various goods on shelves or hanging on hangers. Sitting behind the counter was a larger Beaver worker with her feet resting on the counter and her muzzle buried in a comic book of some kind. As Spigot entered he cleared his throat loudly to get the quartermaster’s attention. She sat up and laid her book down.
“Can I help you?” She asked.
“We need a female uniform Chantal.” Spigot answered. He then turned to the Princess standing next to him and grumbled. “Milro-sama has been hired on as an engineer.”
“You’re joking right?” Chantal tried to keep from laughing.
“I wish I was.” Spigot mumbled under his breath.
“He’s not.” Yamul walked in.
“I see.” Chantal stood up. “Well could you come over here Milro-sama?”
Milro walked over to the large Beaver as she ran her hand through blue dresses hanging in the row. “You have such a small frame.” Chantal thought out loud as she thumbed through them. She found a size she wanted and pulled it out to rest it against Milro. “This should work.” She grabbed a paler blue underdress, shawl, bandana, medallion decorated with a blue, curled teardrop, and a pair of ballerina flats.
“There you go.” She handed them to Milro. “You might want to try it on.”
“Right.” Milro carried everything into a changing room.
Milro shed her Princess finery and slipped into the dresses. She wrapped the shawl around her shoulders and tied it in a knot over her chest and fit the medallion over it. She wrapped the bandana over her hair, pulling her ears through their slits and tying it behind her head. She slipped on the shoes and tied the shawl’s white ribbon in a bow to complete the outfit.
She looked in the full body mirror to see a peasant girl with the same hair and eyes looking back at her. It felt a little strange. She had frequently seen the engineers going about their business in the castle but it never occurred to her she would be one of them.
“Very nice.” Yamul said as she emerged. “How does it feel?”
“It’s so light and flexible.” Milro answered as she straightened it.
“The outerwear is made of an engineered fabric designed to be lightweight and durable.” Chantal said. “It’s waterproof, windproof, and flame resistant but allows moisture to escape and breathes.”
“It’s a little big.” Milro pulled up one of her sleeves.
“We’ll have a full set better tailored and sew on the mission patch.” The quartermaster turned to the Queen and Master Chief Engineer. “I’m assuming she’ll be working on the cloud making equipment.”
The two nodded in response.
“What shift should I assign her to?”
“Epsilon.” Spigot answered.
“Alpha.” Yamul gave her own answer.
“Ma’am,” Spigot turned to his queen, “Epsilon Shift is my best. The crew is experienced and well disciplined.”
“Alpha Shift is where the newest engineers are assigned.” Yamul said in response. “Milro will be treated like any other rookie. She is to receive no special treatment.”
“Milro-sama,” Spigot whimpered, “are you sure you still want to do this?”
“Yes.” Milro nodded. “I won’t disappoint you.”
“That’s just great.” Spigot sulked out. “I should have seen the message on the calendar that said ‘Welcome to the Year of Hell’. How could this get any worse?”
* * *
The Windmill Kingdom was best known for its fertile pasture lands and majestic mesa country where the castle was located. However, its most awe inspiring and perhaps most fearsome region was the Eastern Badlands. Centuries of relentless abuse from water and wind alike had deformed its orange and tan landscape that only the hardiest of plants could gain a foothold.
It was an oddity in the otherwise welcoming and unthreatening Mysterious Planet. It was so desolate it made the desert of the Moon Kingdom seem abundant with life. Even the Windmills that were plentiful throughout the other regions of the Windmill Kingdom were sparse here.
It confused them why Maelstrom would summon them to such a remote location. But Waltu, Talia, Copter-Bot, and Tumbleweeds arrived at Windmill 31 as requested. One of the Doggel maids greeted them and led them through a hall in the windmill.
The sky-blue furred, spaniel like maid looked back at the group following her. Waltu was a diminutive Walrus wearing a red aloha shirt. Talia was a Cawcaw resembling a peregrine falcon wearing a black halter-top dress. Tumbleweeds was a giant, humanoid Handstand Scorpion and Copter-bot was a chrome plated android with an art deco helmet style head. She didn’t know why her master wanted this group but it wasn’t her business.
Waltu wrapped his tongue around one of him stubby tusks to lick it. It was a compulsive behavior he had when he was absorbed in thought. “I wonder who this Maelstrom guy is.” He turned to Talia behind him. “Do you know?”
“I do not.” Talia answered. She stared at the Doggel gliding through the air ahead of them using her long ears like wings. She wore the purple dress and white blouse worn by maids in the Windmill Kingdom. “But if he can afford personal servants all way out here he must be rich and powerful.”
The maid flitted to a door and grabbed the handle. “My master will see you now.” She said politely as she pulled the door open.
The four shuffled in through door and she closed it behind them. The small, dimly lit office was cramped and cluttered with barely enough room for them to stand in front of the desk. Filing cabinets overflowing with papers sat against one wall and the only light came from a lamp sitting on the cluttered desk. Behind the desk and in front of an old map of the Mysterious Planet’s interior surface was a high backed, dark leather chair.
In that chair sat Maelstrom. He was a Human probably in his forties or perhaps early fifties with hints of grey in his slick, black hair. Both his nose and head were long and slender with a full but narrow mustache.
Talia immediately recognized him. But not by the name he had given. “Baron Zephyr?” She said.
“Correct.” The man answered dispassionately.
“But why’d ya call yurself this Maelstrom feller?” Tumbleweeds inquired with a thick accent. “And why’d ya have us come all the way out here?”
“I prefer to keep my anonymity.” Zephyr/Maelstrom said with the same dispassion as before. His looked at each of the four with his beady, dark eyes that betrayed no emotions. “I brought you here to make you all an offer.”
“Offer?” Copter-Bot asked in his high hitched, electronic voice.
Zephyr nodded. “I could use your talents with a little project I’m walking on.”
“Project?” Waltu repeated as a question.
“The Conquest of the Mysterious Planet.” Zephyr answered. The calmness of his demeanor ran a chill down their spines.
Waltu coughed a laugh. “You’re not the first to think they can take over this planet. And we all know what happened to the last.”
“Roman was a fool.” Zephyr snapped, smacking his desk with his palms. Finally emotion entered his eyes in the form of fuming rage. “He thought he could make a deal with the devil and paid for his error. And he lacked vision.”
“And you don’t?” Waltu retorted.
“Tell me.” Zephyr stood up and walked calmly to another map on the side wall over a dilapidated sofa. “What do you think is the most valuable commodity in the Mysterious Planet? The jewels and precious metals from the Jewelry Kingdom? The crops from the Seed Kingdom?” He turned back to the four. “No. The most valuable and most powerful commodity is what affects the lives of every single resident of our planet every second of the day. The weather.”
The four stood there in silence.
“The Mysterious Planet is unique within Terran civilization as here the weather is a production of industry instead of nature.” He clenched his fist as his ambitions sang loudly in his mind. “With the systems that make the weather think of the power I would wield.
“If a country dared to rise against me I could choke them with drought or drown them in flood. I could bury them in a blizzard or level them with an outbreak of tornados. There’s not a force that could stop me.”
“That’s great ‘n all but where do we fit in?” Tumbleweeds asked.
“Obviously I need to commandeer the Windmill Network and machine of the Water Drop Kingdom first.” Zephyr answered, his mouth pealed into a cruel grin under his mustache. “I need both muscle and brains to do that and that’s where you come in. If you help me succeed I’ll make sure you have high positions in my new world order.” Zephyr closed his lips into more of a smirk. “So. Are you in?”
The four huddled.
“This guy is psychotic.” Waltu mumbled, hoping Zephyr couldn’t hear him. “I say we get out and fast.”
“Baron Zephyr is Minister of Meteorological Affairs for Windmill Kingdom.” Talia replied. “If anyone knows anything about weather it is him.”
“But he’s talking about it like it’s a weapon.” Waltu said in response.
“Listen,” Tumbleweeds chimed in, “something tells me he’s doin’ this regardless. Ah’d rather be with ‘em than agin ‘em.”
“I agree.” Copter-Bot concurred with the Scorpion.
“Then it is settled?” Talia asked.
The others replied with a nod. They broke the huddle and turned back to Zephyr.
“We’re in boss.” Tumbleweeds answered for them.
“Excellent,” Zephyr said as he returned to his seat at his desk, “I already have your first assignment.”
“What do ya want boss?” Tumbleweeds asked.
“The machine of the Water Drop Kingdom is controlled through a series of command codes only known by the engineers maintaining it.” Zephyr explained. “With those codes I could control it remotely. Get me them for me.”
“You can consider it done Zephyr.” Talia said assertively.
“And from this time forward,” Zephyr said, against dispassionately, “call me Maelstrom-sama.”
* * *
Milro’s room was dark except for the digit clock with the time glowing in green numbers. As it switched from 4:44 to 4:45 the radio switched on. “It’s quarter to five.” A chirper male voice came from the clock. “So we’ll pause here for station identification. You’re listening to 1350 AM WATR, Saginaw…” The voice was cut short as Milro switched the radio off.
She turned the radio clock to face her. She sighed and threw her covers off. She had to report for work by six o’clock so she would have to get up early every morning. She went through her morning routine as she usually would, brush teeth, shower, brush hair, and apply makeup, though not as extravagantly as should as a princess. Lipstick and a little mascara and blush would do.
She then threw on one of her uniforms. It had been tailored to fit her better but still looser on her body than her typical outfit. Probably to be more comfortable and provide a greater range of motion she thought. Sewn on the left shawl pocket, under the zipper with a teardrop shaped pull was a circular patch with a lower case alpha over a picture of the castle’s tower belching out a cloud. She straightened the small bow in front of her mirror and left for her first day as an engineer.
* * *
It felt strange walking through the castle at such an early hour. Although it was fully lit it was deserted and quiet. Through the windows Milro saw that Saginaw City was in the same, pre-dawn state. The buildings were dark aside from a few scattered lit windows and exterior lights. Occasionally she passed someone to remind she was not the only person awake.
The fancy breakfasts she had with her family seemed to be a thing of past at least five days of the week. She found the castle’s cafeteria deserted, not even the chef was in yet. So her first breakfast as a worker for the Water Drop Kingdom was a bowl of cold cereal.
With her much altered morning routine behind her Milro walked to the briefing room where she would receive her assignments for the day. As she approached the doors labeled “Briefing Room” she paused. She remembered what Spigot and Marcy had said about the engineers. She couldn’t help but feel a little apprehensive. But she couldn’t go back.
As she entered she was greeted by the ethereal yet familiar sound of harp playing and singing. Much to her surprise Naginyo was sitting on the desk at the front of the room. He was dressed in a blue duster coat and wide brimmed, cone shaped hat worn by the male workers.
In front of the desk were rows of tables making it resemble a classroom. On the walls were several schematics and charts mostly of types of clouds, machine parts, and sensing equipment of some kind. Several female engineers of many races were scattered through the room swooning over Naginyo’s singing.
“Just the sight of your beautiful face,” the mint haired minstrel sang as he ran his long fingers delicately across the strings of his harp, “makes my heart patter like the light rain.”
“Naginyo.” Milro said, causing him to stop.
“That is correct.” Naginyo answered with a melody in his voice.
“But I thought you were a spirit sent by Princess Grace.” Milro said. “Why are you here and wearing that uniform?”
“After my mission was complete I was free to live my life as I pleased.” Naginyo replied. “I needed a living and found the ladies of the Water Drop Kingdom to be my best audience.”
“Nagi-sama!” The girls all cheered at once.
“That makes sense.” Milro smiled weakly.
Naginyo returned to his singing and the girls once again fell into his sway. However, the two other males in the room were not as impressed. A young Aquarian with blue hair rested his chin on the table and a Beaver was lying on the table apparently asleep.
“I don’t know why I come into work early.” The Aquarian grumbled.
The Beaver snored in response.
“You said it Harv.”
“Excuse me.” Milro said politely to them. “Is this the briefing room?”
The Aquarian youth looked up to her and then at the ring on her left ring finger. “Damn.” He cursed. “Why are the cute ones always taken?”
“What?”
“Never mind. It’s always a pleasure to meet a new face.” The aquatic Human stood up to be head and shoulders taller than her and extended his webbed hand. “My name is Glauca Leroy, Engineer Third Class.” After his colleague snored he added. “And that’s Harvey Benson.”
“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Glauca.” Milro shook his hand, remembering that the Aquarians put their surnames first.
“Mr. Glauca is my father.” He released her hand. “You can just call me Lee. What’s your name?”
“It’s Milro.” She answered.
“Milro?” Lee repeated. “As in Princess Milro?”
Milro nodded. “I’m spending the next year in service to the kingdom.”
Lee examined her inquisitively. Milro realized she looked very different from when she first left for the Royal Wonder Academy. Along with maturing into a young woman, she had allowed her hair to grow out and now reached halfway down her back.
“So you are.” Lee nodded. “Well, welcome to Alpha Shift.”
He then elbowed Harvey. “Say hi to the Princess Harv.” He muttered through clenched teeth.
“Hi to the Princess Harv.” Harvey yawned.
“What’ wrong with him?” Milro asked.
“Harv is always sleepy.” Lee answered as the Beaver rolled over on his back on the table.
The two heard a grunt. A large female Polar Bear stormed into the room. She grabbed a chair and jumped into it, crossing her arms and planting her feet on the table.
“And Tammy Frost is usually mad about something.” Lee then whispered in her ear. “I’d keep my distance.”
More engineers of over a dozen different races resembling mostly aquatic or semi-aquatic creatures filed in as the clock approached six. Milro watched as the room filled. After five years of seeing Humans almost exclusively at the academy it was refreshing to be immersed in the rich diversity of her country.
There was even a Delphine. The dolphin engineer was intertwined in a device that suspended him in the air and surrounded his body in a chrysalis of water. From the base extended two robotic arms likely tied directly into his nervous system. With a flick of his tail, the engineer swam through the air to hover over a chair up front.
A male half-Beaver entered. He had a flame red mullet and ice blue eyes. Milro probably wouldn’t have paid more attention to him than the others if he hadn’t loudly declared. “Have no fear, Bret is here!”
“There goes the neighborhood.” Tammy said in response.
“Good morning Sweetie.” Bret kissed her on the lips.
The Polar Bear pushed him off and grabbed him by his shirt collar. “Don’t ever kiss me again!”
“You say that everyday.” Lee chimed in.
The Polar Bear gave Lee an inappropriate hand gesture covered by a [GYU!] bubble.
“The boss man comes.” Naginyo plucked his harp.
Everyone took their seats as Spigot walked in. Milro sat up straight in eager anticipation. The first day of this grand experiment was about to begin. Spigot climbed up on the stool and looked at the engineers sitting quietly in front of him.
“Welcome to the work week.” He said.
To be Continued…
Chapter 1: The Part-time Princess? * The Road to Being a Better Queen
Even Saginaw City, a community as far from the Blessed Flames in the Flame Kingdom as dry land could get, couldn’t remain in winter’s grasp forever. More than a week and a half into spring the capitol of the Water Drop Kingdom was shedding its winter coat of snow and the trees that had sat bare for months had the faintest sign of buds appearing on their branches. The crystal clear canals that crisscrossed like streets between the white and blue onion top roofed buildings were finally free of ice and the gondoliers had wasted no time retaking them, ferrying passengers through the city.
However, what passed for warm in this northern burg in the early spring was a heavy, chilling rain that wasn’t freezing on contact. Pedestrians traversing the sidewalks on the canals’ banks hid under umbrellas. The gondolas had covers protecting their passengers while their gondoliers were clad in colorful raincoats and hats. Everyone was bundled up against the cold, soggy air that while above freezing was still bone chilling.
Rising into the dreary, gray sky was the castle of the Water Drop Kingdom. Much like the other structures of the city it was a complex of white towers with blue, onion top roofs. Two smaller towers sat on either side of the larger, central tower and water cascaded from its large, bowl like base into the expansive moat that descended in steps away from the complex.
* * *
In contrast to the chilly, soggy gloom outside, the interior of the castle was warm and bright. Princess Milro stared out one of the large floor to ceiling windows looking out onto the city. The light inside seemed to make the landscape outside all the more dreary.
A watermark like reflection of a girl in her mid-teens with long, light brown hair sat on the window in front of the city and clouds. She appeared Human aside from the beige, beaver like ears nestled in her hair in front of the small, curled teardrop shaped crown sitting elegantly on her head. She was a dainty thing, slightly shorter than average and slight of build wearing the blue, long-sleeved bodice and white, bell skirt traditionally worn by the princess of the Water Drop Kingdom. The reflection stared back at her with violet eyes quivering with worry.
But the reflection couldn’t feel like she did. Her stomach refused to settle and the feeling of apprehension filled every corner of her body. She gulped dryly and clutched her delicate hands in one another.
She turned away from the window and to the pair of blue double doors opposite it. Beyond them were representatives of the six most aggressive races in the Water Drop Kingdom if not the entire Mysterious Planet. They were at odds over a vein of phosphorous spanning their territories and she would be presiding over the negotiations.
It didn’t take her mother long to find her a first duty since graduating from the Royal Wonder Academy. This must have been a big vote of confidence in her. She had spent the past four days making sure she knew everything she could about the races involved, the arguments in the conflict, and any other information that might be prudent. Still, she couldn’t shake her uncertainty. ‘What if I’m not ready?’ She thought to herself.
She gulped dryly in an attempt to calm herself down. ‘You’re over analyzing yourself Milro.’ She told herself in her mind. ‘If Mother believes you can handle this then you can.’ She walked up to the doors that slid apart with the hiss of hydraulics as she approached.
Beyond was a large, circular room with open water surrounding the floor that extended from the doorway. In the center was a large, circular table where the representatives were already seated. On her left were the representatives of the Gulls, Aquarians, and Deep Ones and to her right the Gators, Lobster Men, and Polar Bears. She hesitated at the sight of the powerful individuals. She loosened her body and walked in as casually as she could and took her seat.
“So, let’s begin.” She said in her quiet, timid voice.
* * *
Queen Yamul stretched the last morning stiffness from her body as she walked to her office. It felt like a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulder now that Milro was home. She could finally work on more pressing matters as her daughter could help her with affairs of state. As the large Beaver approached the doors to her office she heard a shrill scream. She spun around to see her daughter in a dead run towards her. The frightened Princess of the Water Drop Kingdom ducked behind her, clutching her white cape.
“Don’t let him get me.” Milro cried.
“Who?” Yamul turned back to her.
“Him!” Milro pointed in front of her.
Yamul faced forward to see Colonel Claw of the Lobster Men storming down the hall towards them. “Come back here you little twit!” The two and a half meter tall crustacean roared. He raised his powerful, brown pincer and snapped it loudly in the air.
“What happened?” Yamul asked her terrified daughter.
“I don’t know.” Milro whimpered. “He said I wasn’t speaking loud enough. I said I was sorry and he went after me.”
As Claw came nearer she ducked further behind her mother. “What should I do?”
“First of all get out from behind me.” Yamul said in her naturally powerful voice.
Milro complied, timidly coming out from behind her. She entire body trembled as the Lobster Man finally reached them.
“Stop shivering and look him straight in the eye.” Yamul ordered.
Milro tried her best to stop trembling or at least make it less noticeable. She looked up at the massive crustacean’s beady green eyes on the sides of his brown head. He glared down at her.
“Now grab his antennae.” Yamul said.
“What?” Milro exclaimed.
“Do it!” Yamul barked.
Milro grabbed Claw’s two long antennae and held them together in her hands. She expected him to rear his mighty body back to rip them from her grasp. However, the Lobster Man stopped moving and fell silent.
“Pull him down to your eye level.” Yamul instructed.
Milro did so, pulling his head by the antennae with surprising ease down almost a full meter to her eye level. She could see the rage burning in his eyes even more vividly. She was ready to runaway and crawl under a rock.
She looked helplessly to her mother. The Queen of the Water Drop Kingdom was calm watching all this. “Yell at him.” She ordered.
Milro looked back at the enraged crustacean she was gripping the antennae of. She gulped dryly and raised her voice to barely talking loudly. “Is this better?” She asked.
The rage in Claw’s eyes subsided and his jagged mouth then formed into a smile. He raised his pincer causing Milro to flinch away. But he only tapped her gently on the shoulder. Milro let go of his antennae allowing them to part and the Lobster Man to stand up straight again.
“You have you’re work cut out for you Yamul-sama.” Claw turned away, laughing softly.
“What just happened?” Milro said in dismay.
“Lobster Men will frequently posture to probe a new acquaintance.” Yamul explained. “By answering their challenge in kind you show that you respect them. Acting submissively is considered an insult. And grabbing their antennae messes with their equilibrium.”
Milro looked at her mother. Despite all her preparation that had escaped her. In her first move she had made such a terrible gaffe. She looked at the departing Lobster Man and then her mother. She heaved a sob before running away in the opposite direction.
“Milro.” Yamul called after her but it was no use. She heaved an exasperated sigh and tugged her light blue blouse down to straighten it.
* * *
“God damn the Royal Wonder Academy to Hell.” Yamul summed up her thoughts to Jerome Spigot sitting opposite to her. She stabbed her fork into her salad and shoved what she picked up in her mouth.
Everyone else in the cafeteria stopped what they were doing and looked to their angered queen seated at a small table. Spigot tugged at his shirt collar which suddenly seemed to tighten around his neck. The smaller Beaver cleared his throat.
“Ma’am you can’t speak like that.” He murmured.
“Why not?” Yamul said after swallowing and dabbing dressing from the corners of her mouth with her cloth napkin. “I’m a queen, not a saint.”
With some shrugs the other occupants returned to what they were doing.
Yamul jabbed another dressing drenched leaf of lettuce and pointed it at Spigot. “She was there for five years and she’s no more prepared to lead this country than the day she left.”
“Perhaps you should suggest they add ‘Lobster Men 101’ to the curriculum.” Spigot replied. “And I remember a certain queen-to-be putting the Human representative in the hospital with a broken arm during her first negotiations.”
“He groped me.” Yamul stated in her defense.
“You must have liked it since he’s now our prince consort.” Spigot laughed a little as he took a bite from his biscuit.
“It’s not just that.” Yamul threw down her fork and massaged her temples which suddenly felt tense. “When I look in her eyes I see that same uncertainty and lack of self-confidence. She’ll be expected to lead the most volatile country in this planet and I’m afraid she’ll cave in under the pressure.”
“That’s something a century of schooling couldn’t solve.” Spigot swallowed.
“I know.” Yamul replied. “But I don’t have the luxury of living a long life. Once she’s twenty-six that’s it, she’s queen. I’m afraid a decade is not enough time to groom her completely.”
“Now that she’s back here living in the Water Drop Kingdom and meeting its citizens will help her.” Spigot said. “I’ve found real life makes the best teacher.”
The proverbial light bulb went off in Yamul’s head. “You’re a genius.”
“I am?” Spigot asked. He then stated. “Of course I am.”
Yamul pushed out her chair. She grabbed her salad and walked for the door.
“Where are you going?” Spigot called after her.
“…to the archives.” Yamul answered as she left. “Hold all my calls for the rest of the day.”
* * *
Despite the excitement, Milro slept soundly that night. She was surprised to find a summons to her mother’s office when she awoke the next morning. She immediately worried she was going to scold her for what happened at the negotiations. But not complying would only make matters worse. After washing and dressing she went to her mother’s office as ordered.
She stepped timidly through the doorway into her mother’s office as the blue double doors slid shut behind her. It was a long, oval shaped room with open water surrounding the curled teardrop shaped floor. Aside from her large chair and there was no furniture and very little decoration, leaving a large open area between the desk and door. One the walls were large, transparent columns through which water flowed up.
Yamul preferred her office over the audience chamber to handle affairs of state. Milro could count on one hand the number of times her mother even entered it. Milro also knew seeing her in her office meant she had serious business with you. The uneasiness returned but she tried to her hardest not to show it.
Her mother was sitting behind her desk at the far end against the morning light pouring in through the large bay windows behind her. To figures stood in front of her desk to either side of her. Milro immediately recognized the older, silver haired, half Beaver maid as Marcy, the head of the castle’s maids and her nanny since she was a baby. The smaller beaver opposite to her was Spigot, the Master Chief Engineer for the machine of the Water Drop Kingdom.
“You wished to see me?” Milro asked in a very small voice.
“Yes.” Yamul sat up in her chair.
Milro looked away as her ears drooped over. “This is about what happened yesterday.”
“It was an honest mistake.” Yamul replied. “You’re not the first person to misread a Lobster Man and God knows you won’t be the last.”
“But I should have known.” Milro said. She was relieved she wouldn’t be scolded but it didn’t erase her blunder. “How can I be queen of this country if I don’t understand its people?”
Yamul bobbed her head in a gentle nod. “A commendable attitude for a future queen. A leader should know the people she is expected to lead.” She stood up motioned for her daughter to come to her desk. As she did the Queen of the Water Drop Kingdom came around and hugged her. “And know that you are my daughter and I love you with all my heart. I will do everything in my power to make sure you don’t take the throne unprepared.”
“I know Mother.” Milro wrapped her slender arms around her mother’s powerful frame.
Ever since Milro understood she was next in line she had doubted her ability to rule. But Yamul groomed her with life’s lessons. Although she seemed too strict to others, Milro knew it was to prepare her for when she took the throne. To her, it was the most loving thing her mother could do.
“That’s why I did some research and I think I might have found a solution.” Yamul returned to her seat.
Spigot grumbled something incomprehensible under his breath.
“What do you mean?” Milro asked.
Yamul sat up in her chair and rested her arms on her desk in front of her. “Before the academy it was tradition for the heir to the throne to spend a year in service to the country. During peacetime it was as an engineer for the Machine of the Water Drop Kingdom. If you agree, we could begin that tradition again.”
“You mean I would work on the equipment that makes the clouds for the Mysterious Planet?” Milro exclaimed.
Spigot couldn’t hold his tongue anymore. “Absolutely not!” He protested.
“I have to concur with the Master Chief on this one.” Marcy agreed.
Yamul looked at the two standing in front of her desk. She was use to hearing them bickering with each other as the engineers and the castle maids frequently clashed over various issues. It was rare for them to agree on anything.
“You two have a problem?” She asked.
“Yes.” Spigot answered. “Do you have any idea what passes for an engineer nowadays?”
“Last time I checked our equipment hasn’t been this well maintained in over seven hundred years.” Yamul answered his questions. “Your current crew’s performance has been excellent.”
“It’s not their performance we’re worried about.” The silver haired maid said in response. “While hard and diligent workers, the engineers are the most vulgar…”
“…violent…” Spigot added.
“…disrespectful…”
“…indecent…”
“…rude…”
“…mean…”
“…ill-tempered…”
“…sarcastic…”
“…cynical…”
“…apathetic…”
“…bunch of larrikin hooligans in the entire Mysterious Planet.” The two stated at the same time.
“I can’t in good conscience allow Milro-sama to be associated with such people.” Marcy added.
“You two have always had a flare for the dramatic.” Yamul said in response. “They’re not that bad.”
“They’re worse.” Spigot turned to Milro. “I’m telling you this is a bad idea.”
Milro looked away and went into her thoughts. She was shy and timid. Her worst fear about being queen was she wouldn’t be respected by the people of the Water Drop Kingdom. What would it say if she declined because she was afraid of the engineers who served their country’s very purpose?
And she was also curious. Despite living in the same building that housed the machine of the Water Drop Kingdom and actually visiting the Cloud Management Room on several occasions she knew next to nothing about it. Not long after she was old enough to understand the country’s duties she was sent to the academy. She found it a little embarrassing he knew so little about the purpose of her country.
“Mother,” she finally said, “I agree. I think it would help me understand our country and prepare me to be a better queen.”
The maid and engineer let their jaws drop and hang from their joints.
“Please Milro-sama,” Marcy pleaded, “don’t do this.”
“I’m not a child anymore.” Milro replied. “I have to take responsibility for my future.”
“Alright then.” Spigot growled. “If that’s your decision. We’ll start with issuing you a uniform and assigning you to a shift.” He turned on his heals and sulked for the door. “Come with me.”
* * *
Spigot led Milro down to the quartermaster’s office. Milro looked around her as she stepped in. It was underwater with large windows of transparent aluminum looking out into the moat. Various kinds of fish swam by, oblivious to the observers behind the glass.
The office looked more like a general store with articles of clothing and various goods on shelves or hanging on hangers. Sitting behind the counter was a larger Beaver worker with her feet resting on the counter and her muzzle buried in a comic book of some kind. As Spigot entered he cleared his throat loudly to get the quartermaster’s attention. She sat up and laid her book down.
“Can I help you?” She asked.
“We need a female uniform Chantal.” Spigot answered. He then turned to the Princess standing next to him and grumbled. “Milro-sama has been hired on as an engineer.”
“You’re joking right?” Chantal tried to keep from laughing.
“I wish I was.” Spigot mumbled under his breath.
“He’s not.” Yamul walked in.
“I see.” Chantal stood up. “Well could you come over here Milro-sama?”
Milro walked over to the large Beaver as she ran her hand through blue dresses hanging in the row. “You have such a small frame.” Chantal thought out loud as she thumbed through them. She found a size she wanted and pulled it out to rest it against Milro. “This should work.” She grabbed a paler blue underdress, shawl, bandana, medallion decorated with a blue, curled teardrop, and a pair of ballerina flats.
“There you go.” She handed them to Milro. “You might want to try it on.”
“Right.” Milro carried everything into a changing room.
Milro shed her Princess finery and slipped into the dresses. She wrapped the shawl around her shoulders and tied it in a knot over her chest and fit the medallion over it. She wrapped the bandana over her hair, pulling her ears through their slits and tying it behind her head. She slipped on the shoes and tied the shawl’s white ribbon in a bow to complete the outfit.
She looked in the full body mirror to see a peasant girl with the same hair and eyes looking back at her. It felt a little strange. She had frequently seen the engineers going about their business in the castle but it never occurred to her she would be one of them.
“Very nice.” Yamul said as she emerged. “How does it feel?”
“It’s so light and flexible.” Milro answered as she straightened it.
“The outerwear is made of an engineered fabric designed to be lightweight and durable.” Chantal said. “It’s waterproof, windproof, and flame resistant but allows moisture to escape and breathes.”
“It’s a little big.” Milro pulled up one of her sleeves.
“We’ll have a full set better tailored and sew on the mission patch.” The quartermaster turned to the Queen and Master Chief Engineer. “I’m assuming she’ll be working on the cloud making equipment.”
The two nodded in response.
“What shift should I assign her to?”
“Epsilon.” Spigot answered.
“Alpha.” Yamul gave her own answer.
“Ma’am,” Spigot turned to his queen, “Epsilon Shift is my best. The crew is experienced and well disciplined.”
“Alpha Shift is where the newest engineers are assigned.” Yamul said in response. “Milro will be treated like any other rookie. She is to receive no special treatment.”
“Milro-sama,” Spigot whimpered, “are you sure you still want to do this?”
“Yes.” Milro nodded. “I won’t disappoint you.”
“That’s just great.” Spigot sulked out. “I should have seen the message on the calendar that said ‘Welcome to the Year of Hell’. How could this get any worse?”
* * *
The Windmill Kingdom was best known for its fertile pasture lands and majestic mesa country where the castle was located. However, its most awe inspiring and perhaps most fearsome region was the Eastern Badlands. Centuries of relentless abuse from water and wind alike had deformed its orange and tan landscape that only the hardiest of plants could gain a foothold.
It was an oddity in the otherwise welcoming and unthreatening Mysterious Planet. It was so desolate it made the desert of the Moon Kingdom seem abundant with life. Even the Windmills that were plentiful throughout the other regions of the Windmill Kingdom were sparse here.
It confused them why Maelstrom would summon them to such a remote location. But Waltu, Talia, Copter-Bot, and Tumbleweeds arrived at Windmill 31 as requested. One of the Doggel maids greeted them and led them through a hall in the windmill.
The sky-blue furred, spaniel like maid looked back at the group following her. Waltu was a diminutive Walrus wearing a red aloha shirt. Talia was a Cawcaw resembling a peregrine falcon wearing a black halter-top dress. Tumbleweeds was a giant, humanoid Handstand Scorpion and Copter-bot was a chrome plated android with an art deco helmet style head. She didn’t know why her master wanted this group but it wasn’t her business.
Waltu wrapped his tongue around one of him stubby tusks to lick it. It was a compulsive behavior he had when he was absorbed in thought. “I wonder who this Maelstrom guy is.” He turned to Talia behind him. “Do you know?”
“I do not.” Talia answered. She stared at the Doggel gliding through the air ahead of them using her long ears like wings. She wore the purple dress and white blouse worn by maids in the Windmill Kingdom. “But if he can afford personal servants all way out here he must be rich and powerful.”
The maid flitted to a door and grabbed the handle. “My master will see you now.” She said politely as she pulled the door open.
The four shuffled in through door and she closed it behind them. The small, dimly lit office was cramped and cluttered with barely enough room for them to stand in front of the desk. Filing cabinets overflowing with papers sat against one wall and the only light came from a lamp sitting on the cluttered desk. Behind the desk and in front of an old map of the Mysterious Planet’s interior surface was a high backed, dark leather chair.
In that chair sat Maelstrom. He was a Human probably in his forties or perhaps early fifties with hints of grey in his slick, black hair. Both his nose and head were long and slender with a full but narrow mustache.
Talia immediately recognized him. But not by the name he had given. “Baron Zephyr?” She said.
“Correct.” The man answered dispassionately.
“But why’d ya call yurself this Maelstrom feller?” Tumbleweeds inquired with a thick accent. “And why’d ya have us come all the way out here?”
“I prefer to keep my anonymity.” Zephyr/Maelstrom said with the same dispassion as before. His looked at each of the four with his beady, dark eyes that betrayed no emotions. “I brought you here to make you all an offer.”
“Offer?” Copter-Bot asked in his high hitched, electronic voice.
Zephyr nodded. “I could use your talents with a little project I’m walking on.”
“Project?” Waltu repeated as a question.
“The Conquest of the Mysterious Planet.” Zephyr answered. The calmness of his demeanor ran a chill down their spines.
Waltu coughed a laugh. “You’re not the first to think they can take over this planet. And we all know what happened to the last.”
“Roman was a fool.” Zephyr snapped, smacking his desk with his palms. Finally emotion entered his eyes in the form of fuming rage. “He thought he could make a deal with the devil and paid for his error. And he lacked vision.”
“And you don’t?” Waltu retorted.
“Tell me.” Zephyr stood up and walked calmly to another map on the side wall over a dilapidated sofa. “What do you think is the most valuable commodity in the Mysterious Planet? The jewels and precious metals from the Jewelry Kingdom? The crops from the Seed Kingdom?” He turned back to the four. “No. The most valuable and most powerful commodity is what affects the lives of every single resident of our planet every second of the day. The weather.”
The four stood there in silence.
“The Mysterious Planet is unique within Terran civilization as here the weather is a production of industry instead of nature.” He clenched his fist as his ambitions sang loudly in his mind. “With the systems that make the weather think of the power I would wield.
“If a country dared to rise against me I could choke them with drought or drown them in flood. I could bury them in a blizzard or level them with an outbreak of tornados. There’s not a force that could stop me.”
“That’s great ‘n all but where do we fit in?” Tumbleweeds asked.
“Obviously I need to commandeer the Windmill Network and machine of the Water Drop Kingdom first.” Zephyr answered, his mouth pealed into a cruel grin under his mustache. “I need both muscle and brains to do that and that’s where you come in. If you help me succeed I’ll make sure you have high positions in my new world order.” Zephyr closed his lips into more of a smirk. “So. Are you in?”
The four huddled.
“This guy is psychotic.” Waltu mumbled, hoping Zephyr couldn’t hear him. “I say we get out and fast.”
“Baron Zephyr is Minister of Meteorological Affairs for Windmill Kingdom.” Talia replied. “If anyone knows anything about weather it is him.”
“But he’s talking about it like it’s a weapon.” Waltu said in response.
“Listen,” Tumbleweeds chimed in, “something tells me he’s doin’ this regardless. Ah’d rather be with ‘em than agin ‘em.”
“I agree.” Copter-Bot concurred with the Scorpion.
“Then it is settled?” Talia asked.
The others replied with a nod. They broke the huddle and turned back to Zephyr.
“We’re in boss.” Tumbleweeds answered for them.
“Excellent,” Zephyr said as he returned to his seat at his desk, “I already have your first assignment.”
“What do ya want boss?” Tumbleweeds asked.
“The machine of the Water Drop Kingdom is controlled through a series of command codes only known by the engineers maintaining it.” Zephyr explained. “With those codes I could control it remotely. Get me them for me.”
“You can consider it done Zephyr.” Talia said assertively.
“And from this time forward,” Zephyr said, against dispassionately, “call me Maelstrom-sama.”
* * *
Milro’s room was dark except for the digit clock with the time glowing in green numbers. As it switched from 4:44 to 4:45 the radio switched on. “It’s quarter to five.” A chirper male voice came from the clock. “So we’ll pause here for station identification. You’re listening to 1350 AM WATR, Saginaw…” The voice was cut short as Milro switched the radio off.
She turned the radio clock to face her. She sighed and threw her covers off. She had to report for work by six o’clock so she would have to get up early every morning. She went through her morning routine as she usually would, brush teeth, shower, brush hair, and apply makeup, though not as extravagantly as should as a princess. Lipstick and a little mascara and blush would do.
She then threw on one of her uniforms. It had been tailored to fit her better but still looser on her body than her typical outfit. Probably to be more comfortable and provide a greater range of motion she thought. Sewn on the left shawl pocket, under the zipper with a teardrop shaped pull was a circular patch with a lower case alpha over a picture of the castle’s tower belching out a cloud. She straightened the small bow in front of her mirror and left for her first day as an engineer.
* * *
It felt strange walking through the castle at such an early hour. Although it was fully lit it was deserted and quiet. Through the windows Milro saw that Saginaw City was in the same, pre-dawn state. The buildings were dark aside from a few scattered lit windows and exterior lights. Occasionally she passed someone to remind she was not the only person awake.
The fancy breakfasts she had with her family seemed to be a thing of past at least five days of the week. She found the castle’s cafeteria deserted, not even the chef was in yet. So her first breakfast as a worker for the Water Drop Kingdom was a bowl of cold cereal.
With her much altered morning routine behind her Milro walked to the briefing room where she would receive her assignments for the day. As she approached the doors labeled “Briefing Room” she paused. She remembered what Spigot and Marcy had said about the engineers. She couldn’t help but feel a little apprehensive. But she couldn’t go back.
As she entered she was greeted by the ethereal yet familiar sound of harp playing and singing. Much to her surprise Naginyo was sitting on the desk at the front of the room. He was dressed in a blue duster coat and wide brimmed, cone shaped hat worn by the male workers.
In front of the desk were rows of tables making it resemble a classroom. On the walls were several schematics and charts mostly of types of clouds, machine parts, and sensing equipment of some kind. Several female engineers of many races were scattered through the room swooning over Naginyo’s singing.
“Just the sight of your beautiful face,” the mint haired minstrel sang as he ran his long fingers delicately across the strings of his harp, “makes my heart patter like the light rain.”
“Naginyo.” Milro said, causing him to stop.
“That is correct.” Naginyo answered with a melody in his voice.
“But I thought you were a spirit sent by Princess Grace.” Milro said. “Why are you here and wearing that uniform?”
“After my mission was complete I was free to live my life as I pleased.” Naginyo replied. “I needed a living and found the ladies of the Water Drop Kingdom to be my best audience.”
“Nagi-sama!” The girls all cheered at once.
“That makes sense.” Milro smiled weakly.
Naginyo returned to his singing and the girls once again fell into his sway. However, the two other males in the room were not as impressed. A young Aquarian with blue hair rested his chin on the table and a Beaver was lying on the table apparently asleep.
“I don’t know why I come into work early.” The Aquarian grumbled.
The Beaver snored in response.
“You said it Harv.”
“Excuse me.” Milro said politely to them. “Is this the briefing room?”
The Aquarian youth looked up to her and then at the ring on her left ring finger. “Damn.” He cursed. “Why are the cute ones always taken?”
“What?”
“Never mind. It’s always a pleasure to meet a new face.” The aquatic Human stood up to be head and shoulders taller than her and extended his webbed hand. “My name is Glauca Leroy, Engineer Third Class.” After his colleague snored he added. “And that’s Harvey Benson.”
“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Glauca.” Milro shook his hand, remembering that the Aquarians put their surnames first.
“Mr. Glauca is my father.” He released her hand. “You can just call me Lee. What’s your name?”
“It’s Milro.” She answered.
“Milro?” Lee repeated. “As in Princess Milro?”
Milro nodded. “I’m spending the next year in service to the kingdom.”
Lee examined her inquisitively. Milro realized she looked very different from when she first left for the Royal Wonder Academy. Along with maturing into a young woman, she had allowed her hair to grow out and now reached halfway down her back.
“So you are.” Lee nodded. “Well, welcome to Alpha Shift.”
He then elbowed Harvey. “Say hi to the Princess Harv.” He muttered through clenched teeth.
“Hi to the Princess Harv.” Harvey yawned.
“What’ wrong with him?” Milro asked.
“Harv is always sleepy.” Lee answered as the Beaver rolled over on his back on the table.
The two heard a grunt. A large female Polar Bear stormed into the room. She grabbed a chair and jumped into it, crossing her arms and planting her feet on the table.
“And Tammy Frost is usually mad about something.” Lee then whispered in her ear. “I’d keep my distance.”
More engineers of over a dozen different races resembling mostly aquatic or semi-aquatic creatures filed in as the clock approached six. Milro watched as the room filled. After five years of seeing Humans almost exclusively at the academy it was refreshing to be immersed in the rich diversity of her country.
There was even a Delphine. The dolphin engineer was intertwined in a device that suspended him in the air and surrounded his body in a chrysalis of water. From the base extended two robotic arms likely tied directly into his nervous system. With a flick of his tail, the engineer swam through the air to hover over a chair up front.
A male half-Beaver entered. He had a flame red mullet and ice blue eyes. Milro probably wouldn’t have paid more attention to him than the others if he hadn’t loudly declared. “Have no fear, Bret is here!”
“There goes the neighborhood.” Tammy said in response.
“Good morning Sweetie.” Bret kissed her on the lips.
The Polar Bear pushed him off and grabbed him by his shirt collar. “Don’t ever kiss me again!”
“You say that everyday.” Lee chimed in.
The Polar Bear gave Lee an inappropriate hand gesture covered by a [GYU!] bubble.
“The boss man comes.” Naginyo plucked his harp.
Everyone took their seats as Spigot walked in. Milro sat up straight in eager anticipation. The first day of this grand experiment was about to begin. Spigot climbed up on the stool and looked at the engineers sitting quietly in front of him.
“Welcome to the work week.” He said.
To be Continued…