As KuroMa was being driven to the Bikko police station–Erutoru’s police station was currently under renovation and did not have any free cells–Detective Danshaw was singing along to an old tune. Kuro couldn’t stand the sound of his singing voice, but there was little he could do about it; his hands were still cuffed behind his back (making his trip very uncomfortable).
For Danshaw this was a great opportunity to show off how great he was. Little crime ever happened in Erutoru. For months he had been bored out of his mind. His only real case was for Mary Sue’s missing cat, which had find itself up a tree. To catch a fire performer without a license to perform and one who had been involved in destruction of property to boot! He might even be promoted!
It was a great day.
Danshaw wasn’t the only one having a great day. Many miles to the west of Erutoru lay the capital city of Crim. This city was the biggest in all of Iwote and even had the remains of an ancient castle built ontop of a giant cliff. In the center of the city lay the most prestigious university. It was every student’s dream to end up here, and every professor’s dream to teach here.
For professor Dr. Taylen Zenos his dream had come true at the early age of 29. He was standing in front of twenty selected engineering students, writing on a chalkboard while he was giving a lesson. Taylen brushed a wandering strand of silver hair away from his thick opaque goggles covering his blue eyes, leaving smudges of chalk on his face. He took a deep breath “And if you apply PI as the force you will understand that the feasibility of airships is simply a pipe dream.” Student scribbled notes in their notepads feverishly. Suddenly a loud bell rang. “All right students, make sure you read chapters eight and nine and do sections A and B for homework.”
The students exited the building as an elderly, tall lanky man wearing a brown fedora, white suit and thick glasses entered. “Ah, Taylen” he said, his voice shaky from his age but confident. “My boy, I must first say that you are absolutely loved by your students.”
Taylen dusted his hands off and extended his hand for a shake. “Dean Brown, how very nice of you to visit me.” C.B. Brown had been the dean of Crim’s university for as long as anyone could remember. Rumors began that perhaps C.B. Brown was really immortal and that he would never retire.
“They’ve done it.” C.B. Brown’s tone was very firm and serious. “The boys down in Silverstone have discovered the lost blueprints of Blazebone.”
Taylen’s mouth fell open. Everyone who was anyone in engineering had heard of Blazebone’s ancient flying device–the very thing he had just taught his students was impossible. It was in every major ancient history book, a gigantic boat-like device that was able to fly across the sky using impossible physics and mechanics. The blueprints to the device were lost in a great war that took place a millennium ago.
“Every major engineer in the last 500 years has attempted to rebuild it and all have failed.” C.B. Brown chuckled. “I, myself even attempted it. Oh sure, I was young and stupid back then but in my arrogance I thought I could succeed where others had failed. In any case, what was I saying?” He regained his composure and continued. “Oh yes. The boys in Silverstone discovered the ancient blueprints in an ancient cave. They are well preserved. I received word of it this morning.”
“Do you know what this means, sir?” Taylen’s face was positively glowing at the thought. Speedy travel across the globe; exploring the whole world from the skies. Nothing was impossible with the ability to fly.
He took a step closer. “The president has decreed that we use the blueprints to rebuild the ancient device immediately. The very best engineer must be on this case.” There was a twinkle in his eye.
“But that would be you, sir.”
“Oh pishposh. Sure, there may have been a time in my youth that I would have gladly traveled the world but I am too old for grand adventures. Therefore you shall go in my place.”
“But my classes, sir.”
“Oh don’t worry about those Taylen. I shall have Professor Reloq handle it while you are gone.” He was silent for a moment then added “please tell me you will do it.”
Taylen turned around and started to erase his chalk board, thinking deeply on the matter, but reached his decision quickly. “Of course I’ll do it.”
“Fantastic! The blueprints are being delivered on train by armed guard to Bikko. Here they will be taken to the research center five miles south-west of the city. I want you there to escort the blueprints to the center personally.” He reached into his suit and pulled out a train ticket. “Fare’s taken care of.”
Taylen took the ticket and smiled. “Thank you sir. I will prepare immediately.”
And prepare he did. He adjusted the straps to his favorite pair of blue overalls, overlaying his favorite brown shirt and was ready to strap on his handy-dandy toolbelt and head out the door when he heard his doorbell rang. He then heard his personal maid Tori answer the door.
“Dr. Taylen” he heard her call out, “it is your mother.”
Quickly he ran down the stairs to meet his mother, a middle aged woman who also had silver hair wearing nurse’s scrubs. “Taylen, darling! How good to see you again.”
“Hi mom! Please come in.”
“Dean Brown sent me a message that you were on your way out to help with the biggest discovery of this century.”
“That’s right.”
“Well darling, I really only came over here to give you this” she handed a small box to him. “It’s medicine in case you get sick.” She paused with a smile then considered how to bring up her next words. “Taylen, I want you to be very careful. Activity of the Mokashi Bombers terrorist group has really picked up in that region.”
“Oh please” he said. Every time you turned on the radio there were always reports that the Mokashi Bombers were on the rise, that they would blow up every major city on Iwote. “It’s all a bunch of rubbish” he said. “The bombers haven’t done anything in the last five years, ever since they attempted to blow up Eyi’s city hall. Besides, what would they want with an ancient blueprint that would require a team of the best engineers on the planet to understand?”
“Well still” she shook her head. “I don’t like the thought of you being in danger.”
“I won’t be.”
“Good. Well, I’m needed back at the hospital. Have a nice and safe trip dear.”
With a kiss on the cheek, Taylen himself was on his way out and headed to the train station. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on those blueprints.
