The Key of Astrea

Waypoint Instruction

Outside the Department of Transportation, Jenny rubbed her hands together and hugged herself against the cold. Silky clouds formed a canopy that reflected the reds, blues, and greens of the fireworks. Yellow light spilled from storefronts and reflected off the rain-soaked cobblestone streets. The paraders had abandoned the plaza, but a few brave musicians remained to serenade the tourists.

Lin led Jenny and Kensei down the landscaped path to the Waypoint gazebo. She pointed up at a majestic stone cathedral lit from below by powerful lights. It was the second-tallest building in the plaza, next to the Department of Transportation. The cathedral's towers pointed up to heaven, and a huge dome stood eight stories tall. "Waypoint travel paid for that, and most of this plaza." Lin looked at Jenny. "The same Church that condemned the Roma and drove—"

Jenny shook her head. She didn't want Lin to tell Kensei that she was Roma, because she didn't want to be teased for being a Gypsy.

"—Astrea and her people away," Lin finished.

Did he suspect? Jenny glanced at Kensei. No, how could he? Her black hair was short and spiked with a red streak on one side, and she kept out of the sun so that her brown skin was more pale than other Roma.

Lin cleared her throat and continued. "After finding the first key, Astrea soon discovered the other seven original keys. Her people rapidly grew wealthy from their magical transportation devices. This got the attention of the Catholic Church, which held authority in Europe at the time. They claimed that the Waypoints were a gift from God and the rightful property of the Church. Astrea's clan were Roma, and in Spain, they lacked even the most basic human rights. The Church mobilized a task force, and over the course of three days, those seven keys were stolen, and the bearers were found dead.

"The Catholic Church was now free to increase tolls to build more forts, missions, and cathedrals. Meanwhile, Astrea's clan went into hiding from the Church, until one day they heard of a fort that had been abandoned by the church. Astrea's clan saw this fort as their salvation. They fled from Spain and took refuge in the abandoned fort. Of course, that's all in the past. Today, Cabin owns the Waypoints."

"Why would Cabin want them?" Jenny asked.

"For use in off-world travel."

"Wow." Kensei looked up to the sky. "That would be incredible. Imagine, visiting the moon, or Mars, or even Titan in an instant."

Jenny wondered how he could see anything behind those sunglasses at night.

"That's the idea." Lin nodded. "With the Waypoints, we could support off-world colonies, or transport people and goods to and from a spaceship."

The two Songbirds, Pat and John, nodded to them as they neared the gazebo. Nearby, Aindriu stood alongside a solidly built man in his thirties. The man saw them approach first and turned to face them. The man had shaggy brown hair and a clean-shaven face. His leather jacket was well worn, as were the rest of his clothes. He clutched a shopping bag from Penwales Coffee Roasters in a big fist.

"Hello, Aindriu," Lin said. "Is this Jack Spriggan?"

"It is." Aindriu turned to face Lin. "Yeah, it is. Jack, this is Lin Yuan Song, Jenny Tripper, and..." Aindriu gulped as he looked at Kensei, causing his Adam's apple to warp the thick scar encircling his neck. "Umm."

"Kensei Drake," Jenny spoke up for Kensei.

"Nice to meet you," Jenny said as she held out her hand. Jack had stubby fingernails with dry and cracked cuticles, she noticed.

"Welcome to Cabin, Jack," Lin said. "It will be good to have another pilot around." She looked at Aindriu. "Any sign of Trey or Sadi?"

"No." Aindriu's blond eyebrows lifted over his gray eyes. "No one's come through since Sadi left."