Building Steam
It had taken some time for the people of Keeper's Gateway to become accustomed to the ship that floated just outside the many-walled fortress. It wasn't just the irregular design of the ship, a sleekly built thing of such ancient material and yet so much more durable than most any ship of their day. Granted it was an impressive looking thing, glimmering in the sun with outstretched sails that were rumored to have once been the leathery folds of dragon wings. No, what was astonishing and abnormal about the ship was that it did not float in water but in the sky.
The Aeir'ekkys, as it was called, was the last of the Atlantean airships. In the Sunken City's prime, this was the king's flagship, sailing through the sky at the head of mighty armadas of great aerial warships. Unarmed, the ship was designed to be light and swift, able to carry its king away from diplomatic meetings gone awry. Of course, its last king was capable of far more destructive force on his own than his entire fleet was combined.
Aboard the deck stood a man of many colors. His hair was bright and pink, his tunic as blue as the sky and the cape slung over his shoulder so brilliantly yellow it angered the eyes. But his smile was always genuine and his temper rarely raised. This was Captain Cidariko Tamoris, former chief engineer and commander of the Atlantean air fleet. He looked out across the mountains that flanked Gateway's sides, and his lips turned to frown. From behind him a hand fell to his shoulder and he turned with a start. His surprise gave way to a quick bow of his head, one hand raising in an old and forgotten salute. "Dyn Kha'radas. I was not expectin' you."
Ganatal smiled and returned the salute. Like the airship, they were the last of their kind. "You know you need no formalities with me, Cid."
"Aye. Old habits are hard to break. You are still my king, whether you hold the title or not."
"As you say."
"Your wolf not joinin' you up here today? He seems t' have taken a liking t' visitin' the ship. Can't understand why..."
"Sharn's been spending his time lending a hand helping Treyp recover. Sometimes I really just don't get him. One minute he's a beastly killing machine, and the next..."
"And the next he's still the same, only not so busy with th' killin'."
Ganatal shrugged and approached the ship's rail. He looked out just as Cid had been earlier. "She's resting lower today."
Cid nodded. "Aye. Been holdin' back on chargin' the core. The Orichalcum stores are starting to run low and before too long..." He didn't feel it necessary to finish. His king would know the consequences.
"We'll need to set her down at sea. Give her a full anchor."
"Thinkin' the same thing. We'll need t' keep the Orichalcum in reserve for when the ol' girl is actually needed."
Ganatal gave a nod and turned around to lean his back against the rail, bending himself enough to produce an audible pop from his spine before stepping away. "If only there were some other way to produce Orichalcum."
Cid sighed. "'Twas Atlantis herself that gave us that. Her place in this world and all that' went with her." He shook his head. "If we're t' keep the Aeir'ekkys skybound, we'll need t' find another source o' energy t' give her wings."
"Another source of energy..." Ganatal stroked his chin in thought, but it was Cid who jumped in first.
"I've... Been experimentin' lately. Workin' on some means o' new engines functionin' similar to the ol' Orichalcum drives."
Ganatal lifted an eyebrow.
"Seems boilin' a pot o'water is enough t' power a small engine. Get a full boiler goin', large sized an' all, an' you might just get a full ship t' go."
Ganatal laughed aloud and swatted his friend on the back. "You're talking about steam, Cid. Steam. You're crazy."
"It's a plausible idea, my dyn Kha'radas." Cid shot him a grin. "I think I could make it work."
With a smirk, Ganatal turned to him. "Alright. I'll put you on that. Get the Aeir'ekkys out somewhere safe and start development on a steam-powered engine. If you can get a single-man unit running, we'll get to work redesigning the ship."
Cid's grin grew broad. "I'll be needin' supplies."
"Whatever you need, just ask. I'll see you have it. I can't imagine water would be too difficult to obtain."
"Many thanks, dyn Kha'radas."
Ganatal smiled and clapped both hands to Cid's shoulders. "Just get the old girl a new heart, Cid. Keep her alive for as long as you can. That's all I ask."