Void Star

[Keeper]

10.15 am Worldline Helios II (UNIC DESIGNATION; C17483)

The air smelt oddly of cinnamon as the wind picked up, carrying scents from the south.

A tall woman with long wavy blond hair and golden tanned skin emerged from a dark pool of water surrounded by green plants and grasses and those in tum surrounded by tall palm trees.
The green patch was in stark contrast to the vast desert around it.

Water ran in rivulets down her face and glistened on her skin. She stepped onto the hot sand and allowed the sun to bathe her in warmth. It felt so good to wash and swim in the open instead of the cramped shower on board the Polaris.

“Oh, my!” a voice to her left exclaimed. Harriot ‘Hettie’ Brockelsby let out a shrill scream of fright instinctively turning to the sound but also covering her nakedness as best as she could.

"I'm so sorry!" Andrey Kidd said and turned to face the other way.
Audrey was slightly shorter and stockier than with black hair cut to shoulder length and almost permanently tied back in a pony tail.

"It's alright. And we're both girls. No harm done, Just let me get my things on."

At that moment heavy footfalls were heard as someone crashed through the undergrowth.

A man, tall, broad shoulders, with dark brown medium length hair and a neat stubble beard burst out of the foliage.

"What?” he urged, then seeing Hettie bending to pick up her clothes exclaimed, "Oh Sweet Jesus" and pivoted on his heels to face away too.

"What the hell, Zach?" Hettie asked in exasperation.

“Well, how the hell was I supposed to know you were… naked?” Zachary Sabbath asked the trees before him. “I thought something had come out of the water and was trying to eat you, for Christ's sake!"
"Yeah, it did! Me!"
"So I see, and now cannot unsee. Anyway ship's prepared, ready to go when you're on board. Oh, and Doctor Murphey said he'd like help with something. Apparently it's not something I can help with.”
Hattie quickly dressed. "I'll be night with you."

Zachary Sabbath made his way back through the lush vegetation. The green stopped as though someone had drawn a line in the sand that the plants dared not cross. But as he crossed it, he was hit by the dry intensive heat that instantly brought him out in a sweat.

The Oasis was in a depression in the desert and Zach had to climb the steep side. As he surmounted the edge of the cater (that's what it reminded him of) the vast desert was revealed, disappearing into the hazy distance in all directions, rolling orange-yellow dunes as far as the eye could see.

Breaking up the monotonous vista was a strange looking Vessel, a cross between ship and aircraft. It had three hulls, the port and starboard being rounder at the front and the central hull bigger than the other two being almost square, a great wall of windows spanning two decks that offered the pilot and crew a superb view.

The two outboard hulls contained the engines that turned the numerous propellers mounted aft and also the large cavernous tanks that held lighter than air substances which gave the ship its lift.
blue

All three hulls were red, although many areas were patched and there were many scrapes and dents showing testimony to how rough her journey had been. Her name was Polar's and to Zach Sabbath she was home.

There were six of them living on her at the moment, himself, Hettie, Audrey, Dr. Murphey, Robert (Bob) Lomax a geologist, and Deitrik Lens, a botanist. Hettie served as the quartermaster and pretty much made sure the shop and crew ran smoothly, as much as Zach would never admit it was her. Audrey was Polaris’ chief engineer. She knew the ship inside out, almost as well as Zach did.

Zach climbed the steps into the Polaris and made his way to the bridge and started firing up systems. Hettie, Zach's life long friend and co-pilot came in moments later, slightly dishevelled from her rapid dressing. "We're not in that much of a rush,” Zach smiled at her.
"I know, but this is the exciting bit. I can do my hair later," Harriot replied.

Zach nodded acceptance and did a quick check through the vessel, making sure everyone was accounted for.

The port engines whirled and sputtered into life. Then the starboard followed suit.

Zach eased a lever forward and the Polaris began to lift from the Ground.
The propellers turned and the unusual airship eased forward, climbing into the blue sky.

Below, the oasis receded and became just a mere blemish on the sand coloured landscape.
This really was one of the bleakest worlds they had visited.

"We have a hit!" Andrey called out from a console to the rear of the compartment.
Zach handed control to Hettie and peered into the Viewer. Odd colours and lines appeared on the screen. To most they would be meaningless but both Zach and Audrey understood the signs well. There was a gate ahead, some hundred miles off by the strength of the signal. It proved their readings from the previous night.
Zach fire-tuned the sensor. "It's not particularly big,” he said aloud and a giggle from beside him made him shake his head.

"Umm, yeah! I'll get the amplifier ready,” Audrey said and climbed up a ladder to the next deck.

Zach returned to the pilot's seat and pushed the throttle forward, taking the yoke and turning the ship to a bearing of north-north-east.

Two hours later the airship approached a rock formation jutting up from the sand like an aging castle with crumbling ramparts and part-fallen towers.

For over an hour Zach had steered the Polaris towards the gate without the need for consulting the scope. He could sense the gate, and all he had to do was close his eyes and open his mind to it and he would know which direction to aim the bow.

He brought the ship low, drifting slowly towards two great pillars of rock.
Audrey was in the amplifier chamber and with the aid of goggles that made the gate appear as a bright yellow and orange orb hanging between the two rock pillars.
She aimed the projector dish.

The Polaris’ lights dimmed as power was taken up by the amplifier.
Zach watched as the gate flared and pulsed, energy being drawn into it by the beam, and being pulled into this this realm from the space between realities.

Eventually the gate's energy became significant enough to expand it, and it flared with blueish energy and sparked with lightning around its periphery.

"Hold tight!" Sabbath called out as he pushed the Polaris forward.

The transition through the gate was bumpy, as always, rattling the whole ship. Something crashed to the deck in a compartment aft of the bridge.

"Shizer! Zat is my fault,” Deiter said for no real reason other than to let everyone know that it was nothing to worry about.

Then they were through to the space between worlds.

"Everything looks good," Hettie said as she checked over dials and gauges.

They were now in "The Space Between Worlds."
It looked like swirling blue-red clouds that sparkled with electrical energy. But it was possible to navigate through the clouds, which formed pathways and tunnels and the Polaris pressed on. This bit was always a spectacle and all six crew members looked out in wonder, even though they had done this many times. Zach suddenly pitched the Polaris upwards and banked to starboard.

"New gate," he announced.
Hettie grabbed the controls again as Zach went to a map table and wrote down the co-ordinates (they weren't really co-ordinates. They were more a set of turn-speed-time readings, but they called them co-ordinates for ease).

He returned to the controls.

"Okay! Let's see what the next world has to offer! Everyone ready?" He slowly approached the gate. Again from this side it was visible to the eye, but it didn't seem to need the Amplifier to accommodate the size of the Polaris.

More sparks, the ship lurched, and then it was through......

[arcanus]

British Etherworks Offices, 122 Porter Street, London (Brunel Earth)
The fourth floor of the office building was somewhat more lavishly appointed than the lower three, which were utilitarian and practical, the open layout of clerks, accountants, secretarial staff and managers.
Instead the upper floor resembled a gentleman's club, a comfortably sized lounge replete with gull wing armchairs, strategically placed near fire places or windows depending on the occupants desire for warmth or scenery, the room had several entrance doors, senior staff verses staff or visitors, the latter initially placed in a waiting room at the top of the public stairs.
On the other side of the lounge double doors opening into a larger board room, this room where BEs board were assembling, gossiping, gawfawing and filling the air with cigar smoke.

Lady Constance Varr entered the lounge looked into the board room and snorted, turning her attention to her older brother sat in an armchair at the opposite end of the lounge from the boardroom, Lord Gabriel Varr barely looked up at his sister from his scrutinizing the financial times.
"Gennevieve why don't you pop yourself over their by the window where they will bring you some tea"
"Must I cousin" replied the younger woman accompanying Constance
"Well if I could trust you not to say something entirely inappropriate or socially destructive, I would mercifully let you go shopping or a walk in the park, but that simple is not the case is it!" Constance replied sternly
"Yes I suppose so, but it's really not my fault, Connie, it isn't I just excel at speaking my mind"
"I rest my case, off you go, tea is on the way" Constance watched Genevieve set herself amongst the chairs beside one of the main windows, where a Steward promptly appeared and set the table for the forthcoming tea set.
"Good afternoon Gabriel, not even a greeting for your sister I see" she said turning her attention to Gabriel
The latters eyebrow and mustache twitched in annoyance "I was letting you get rid of that irksome creature" he replied folding his paper "Wouldn't want her thinking I am remotely interested in anything she has to say, bloody liability, she'll never get married"
"Stop being grumpy and harsh, you might be greying but your not that old" his younger sister chided, Gabriel shot her a venomous look

"Before we go in, I want to talk to you about mother"
Gabriel scowled further annoyance crossing his face "What about mother, I have a hundred things to think about or do, including wrangling this group of gasbags" he retorted glaring at the board members "Without adding further distraction or headache"
"Yes poor you, must be terrible with all that inheritance and everyone giving you money"
"Have you quite finished, that inheritance is largely tied up in enterprise and the contributions keep it all going, I'll remind you we were very nearly destitute had I not got hold of things, and much of my time is occupied by preventing one reputational or social assault on our good name or another, think of all those people who rely on us for homes and food on their tables"
"Constance looked about her at the somewhat old but still impressive decor, yes slumming it aren't we" she winked as she looked back at Gabriel
"Right that's quite enough, whats your game winding me up before a meeting!"
"Its good for you, your sharper when you are angry, but its Mothers Society shenanigans that I want to talk with you about"

"What now" he replied
"People are talking about how young she's looking, the Scandal Sheets have a character of her that drinks blood, its quite shocking it looks just like her"
"Constance you without doubt one if not the brightest of our family, and that's considering little brothers savant like ability with machines, so in Twenty years when haven't we been the subject of scrutiny, gossip or in the Scandal Rags, Zachariah's even been in a Penny Dreadful of all things!"
"Yes but this is different, she's a woman in her sixties who looks in her thirties, she looks a similar age to me"
"Jealous are we" it was Gabriels turn to annoy his sister
"Stop being petulant, you just look like your sulking not being witty!" she shot back
"This Chinese remedy she's been taking, she's not alone its the latest fad amongst the Society Mares, Lady Madeley takes the same thing and looks younger, even the Queen isn't adverse to it!"
"Yes but none of those people are Varr's are they, none of them are gossiped about and she really is not helping, if anything she's got worse she's openly sparring with Lady Madeley, and the Madeley's have much deeper pockets than we do!"
"So what would you have me do, tell her to stop taking it that she should resign herself to old age and decrepitude"
"Of course its good to see her healthy but wouldn't it be more helpful if she was a little more discreet"
Gabriel chuckled and grinned "You are talking about our mother, does that sound like her in any way"
Constance signed "Well no, but if you are already having to shield the Varr Family name she cannot be helping, now can she"
Constance patted her older brother on the arm, squeezing it as she made her way off toward the Board Room, the board members whilst greeting her also gave their usual derisory looks at a woman being sat at the table, Constance for her part responded by telling them to open a window to let the smoke out, chastising them that it was a place of commerce not a bordello.

Lord Gabriel Varr allowed himself a small smile and mentally conceded that she probably had a good point about mother, he would have to think on the best way to tackle that particular problem, think upon it very hard

[arcanus]

British Etherworks Offices, 122 Porter Street, London (Brunel Earth)
Lord Gabriel Varr took his seat at the head of the board table, Constance taking her palce to his left, Mr Pendricott to his right for notation.
The board took their seats with a degree of faffing and grumbling, which was odd given the entire reason for their being in the room was to sit down for this very meeting, he gave the timewasters a hard glare before calling the meeting to order.

He allowed Pendricott to reazd the minutes from the previous month before pausing, there was an unspoken point of order that frustratingly had to be completed every single meeting, Constance fixed Mr Bawldry a look "Mr Bawldry I can see you ahve the same look of freigned shock as to a woman being sat at proceedings, the same woman who has sat here diligently for the past 5 years, must we go through your rather antiquated views this session!"
"Of all the impertinence muttered Bawldry in his customary outrage"
"Never the less, the point still stands" she replied
"Yes lets dispense with any further time wasting gentlemen, Constance is here by right and because I ask her to be here because of her sharp mind and valued council" Gabriel fixed Bawldry with a stare challenging him to go into his usual whinge about women, which he silently declined from accepting

The meeting was predictably dull it largely being an exercise in the Investors or their representatives (as some present were agents) to gripe about returns, costs of business and in a very roundabout way that they wanted more, it mattered not how well things went, they always wanted more.
The past few months had been difficult, the Khyber Peninsula War was impacting confidence in British liquidity, rather than everyone squaring their shoulders and displaying some backbone, the Society Circle instead turn upon each other, which caused further turbulence, throw in deliberate rumourmongering and speculation and it could be rough.

Investors were rarely pragmatic enough to accept the rough with the smooth, gleefully splashing the cash whe they were up and then demanding the same irrespective of conditions when it was bad, the challenge at the moment was costs, due to the Americans being devisive and ramping up costs at the same time they knew it was more costly for merchants to move things cheaply from the orient and India.

Gabriel listened but started to switch off, thinking about a good stiff drink at the club, but the ever watchful Constance delivered a painful kick with her pointed boot to the side of his foot, glaring at her, she recounted that Mr Bludwell had asked why Varr Core was not contributing more and shouldn;t the younger Varr brother be doing more.
"Mr Bludwell, I am unclear what your preoccupation with Zachariah is, you are fully aware that Varr Core is an independent entity from British Etherworks, that is cleary written in the T&Cs, as such its obligations to BE are that it covers its overheads and pays for Zachariahs active share of the Trust, which it does"
"I understand it has recently had to withdraw funds however, Lord Varr, so not so self sufficient" replied Hawksworthy who was an astute if troublesome board.
"Funds which were its to draw upon Hawskworthy, you are confusing matters in the Dividends percentage being reduced, any enterprise has to use working capital at times and investments by their nature rise and fall, conversely I am happy to provide a percentage more aligned to an average rather than a straight percentage when things become good again, should we consider that!"
The observation was quite literally like setting a bomb off on the table, Gabriel sat back watching the arguement build, before standing and walking to the window, the day was quite sunny and he drew in some marginally cleaner air.

The rabble had now inevitably turned on Constance and veered off to what was she doing to placate the Circle, then lamblasting her that being a woman whatever she was doing clearly wasn't good enough.
A sharp note from his pressing a key on the rooms piano drew abrupt attention, he remained standing as to loom over the men, however what unnerved them the most was the fact that a wide smile had cross his mouth and his eyebrow was raised, they sat in silence waiting for whatever this curious turn of events would reveal.

"Gentlemen I have a request, no more of a dictate, you see I have recently diverted my usual evening reading from a good book to reacquainting myself with some T&Cs, now it is very easy to lose track of all of the finer points across all of the documents, however it was a worthwhile exercise as I was reminded that many of you are agents representing Investors, however as agents your income is derived from commision derived from many sources, nice work if you can get it eh!" he smiled once again, a tigers smile
"Now one of those Commision streams is British Etherworks, which got me to thinking that your clients are frequently asking what can we do to be more productive, or more efficient or dare I say reduce costs" well over two thirds of the board looked uncertain, some exchanging nervous glances
"Now these Commision payments are I would safely say more than just turning up these meetings and to be honest you are also paid by your clients to do just that, so its a double payment if you see what I mean"

"Well you can't reduce them you need a board vote" said one in defiance
"I don't believe I said anything" replied Gabriel "But were I to say anything you would be well aware that as a principle shareholder, trustee and chairman I can make efficiency changes, such as introducing new fees for example"
Hawksworthy being sharp antipated the direction of travel instantly "What is it we can do to better support you Lord Varr"
"My dear Hawkesworthy I am glad you asked, Mr Pendricott nothing abridged about the next statements if you please"
"Ready when you are sir" replied the secretary not looking up from his notes

"Firstly a historical moment gentlemen, I will be appointing Lady Constance Varr as Deputy Chairwoman with immediate effect, you will sign the bottom of the minutes page to state you are all in agreement, to our present Investors you will understand that, that number of signatories is a motion carried if you decide not to sign"
"But what will the Circle say" said one in horror
"Well done, brings me to my next action, the Investor Agents will now play a more active role in managing gossip, conniving speculation, reputational attacks and equal efforts by the Hawks and Gossips to undermine us, we are raising the barricades gentlemen and you will be manning them, anyone who is unprepared, incapable or reluactant to play a more active role in your clients success, will of course be subject to a fee where we engage other agents to undertake this on your behalf, that will do for now, but gentlemen I would strongly suggest against aggitating your clients such a foolish move would be akin to shooting yourself in the foot and I have little respect for cowardice in the enemy!"

Gabriel let the stunned silence linger for an uncomfortable minute "Right I think thats the first good meeting we've had in quite some time, Mr Pendicott ensure everybody signs per the minutes before they leave, I am off to enjoy lunch to celebrate the appointment of our new Deputy Chair"
"Bloody good show" shouted Lancelot Hargreaves, the only Investor who was almost always on Gabriels side, being another former military man, the major stood whipped the sheet of paper off Pendicott, signed and then pointed to the other agents, a sense of defeat passing amongst them.
"Mind if I join you old boy" said Hargreaves "I would like to toast the appointment"
"You are very welcome Lancelot" replied Constance who had recovered from her shock

Gabriel noticed that even the present Investors signed the document and nodded, as the three left the building and decided to stroll to the resturant Constance turned upon her brother and punched him on the arm "You were planning that all along"
"Actually I wasn't, I'd thought about it, but your annoyed me and I had, had enough, griping about a little expenditure, wheres the speculate to accumulate!"
"So you made that up there and then"
"Well yes, you said I am sharper when I am angry"
"There's sharp and theres turning the tables on them, I haven't seen that before, when did you read the T&Cs"
Gabriel grinned "I didn't, pure bluff based on my annoyance with how little they do for those commision payments, wasn't difficult to work out that they wouldn't have read anything other than the page where it tells them how much they get paid and even if they do go back and check, nothing stops me imposing those fees now that they've signed the minutes"
Hargreaves burst out laughing which reverberated around the whole street and made passers by look "Knew you had it in you, you put your military hat back on"
"Anyway" Gabriel said "If they're quibbling about Zachariah buying some equipment hardly likely to pay legal fees, I'll have contracts drawn up first thing and then you'll visit them in person to collect the signed copies, I'd also like you to start a little rumour"
"What rumour" replied Constance both intrigued and wary
"That we are on the verge of a new big patent release, no details or timescales, they'll get wind of this before you visit, their greed will get the better of them and we'll get every new commision contract back, now if we were to suggest the new arrangement will greatly expediate this release, they'll be watering at the mouth none would risk walking away"
Turning the corner and spying the resturant Constance frowned "The glaring problem being we haven't got a new patent"
"Not yet, but I've written to Zachariah and lets hope he is able to work his magic to our advantage"