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Axel Higgs sat on a terrace in Istanbul, an unlit pipe in his teeth, apparently dozing in the afternoon sun while he contemplated the next leg of his route. Six years on, the Masters’ trail had gone cold; he’d found no trace of them in the Aegean. Should he continue into the Levant, or swing north towards Kiev? As always, he sat with his back to the wind, so that he could detect anyone who tried to sneak up on him.
Instead, he caught a scent which he’d begun to fear he’d never smell again. It was coming closer. Even if they were about to have his hat for being out of Mechanicsburg, he’d take it gladly. He pocketed his pipe.
A broad hand fell on his shoulder. “Hoy. You look familiar.”
The voice, too. Axel looked up at – yes! – Barry Heterodyne. He was dressed in worn adventuring gear, a pair of death rays holstered on his belt and a large bundle on his back. His expression was cautiously hopeful, and a smile tugged Axel’s lips in response. “So do you, Sir.”
“Come on, let’s go catch up.”
Axel followed Barry through Istanbul’s streets. He didn’t expect the news to be good (where was Master William? ) but for now, he was under orders again, and he savored it.
They arrived at a dingy inn room; Barry took out a gadget and waved it around. “Room looks clear to me. Higgs?”
Axel did his own scan by ear and nose. “The room is secure, Sir.”
Barry sat heavily on the bed. “Bill didn’t make it. Lucrezia killed him; I killed her.” Axel closed his eyes briefly in grief. Barry unstrapped the bundle from his back, revealing a sleeping child. “This is their daughter Agatha. What Lucrezia wanted to do with her – ” He shook his head.
This wasn’t the cheerful Barry of the Heterodyne Boys’ adventures. Nor was it quite the grim and focused Barry who had led Mechanicsburg through the attack on the Castle. He was tired, the way a soldier who’d been on campaign too long was tired.
“We ended up in Tibet, not sure how, and I had to wait until Agatha was old enough to travel safely. Had a lot of time to question a lot of things. Did Bill and I really fall that far from the tree? Did we ever do any good, or were we out heroing for our own amusement? Did we stop the raiding because it was the right thing to do, or because it was too easy? And – did certain people encourage our distance from the Jägers in order to cut us off from support? You would have been ideal for fighting the slaver wasps. I only brought it up to Bill once.”
Axel leaned against the wall with a faint smile, despite the serious subject. Heterodynes always came back, and they always came through. Though this sort of self-reflection was more typical of an emerging Jagergeneral than any of the Masters; the Heterodyne equivalent of a General was sure to be exciting.
Barry continued, “The news coming out of Europa was dire; I had no concrete plans, no idea who to turn to. And then I spotted you, and I knew I’d found someone I could rely on completely.”
And Axel would raise a mug to the Dyne Goddess for that bit of good fortune. (The Heterodyne was back. ) “Why all the guilt, then, Sir?” It wove through his scent like a discordant bitter note.
“Bill and I did treat you all horribly. It feels too much like taking advantage.”
The answer to that was simple; Axel took a knee in front of him. “That’s not a concern, Sir. You are the Heterodyne, and we are yours to command.”
Barry laid his hands on Axel’s shoulders. “Well, I am the Heterodyne and I’ll be concerned if I want to.” (The Heterodyne had come through. )
“As you wish, Sir.”
“Hmph.” Barry’s expression turned thoughtful. “Hmm.” This might be the first time he’d claimed the title aloud. “HmmmMMmmmM̶̨͖̕M̵̙̺̯͐M̶̯̏M̸̘͈̟̍͂m̵̙͌͛m̷̬̰̀m̷̭̪̓Ḿ̵͇͍̺̗̭̉̓M̷̛̤̬̞̋̀̂͒m̷͊̒͜m̷̨̧̛̫͇̹̮͐̾̆m̸̡̉̂͊̑͠M̵̙͎̲̪̜͖̆̏̈́̄̚M̴͖̖̣̳̰̜̓͠M̵̲̭̫͊̿̀̆͠ …”
Axel had heard a lot of Heterodyning over the years, with many different results. To see one of the Masters go so deep into the Madness Place without moving a muscle was disconcerting even by his standards. Barry’s eyes drifted closed, and his fingers didn’t so much as twitch against Axel’s neck. (Not the safest position to be in, but he wouldn’t move for all the world.)
He was certain that Europa’s fate was about to be decided. The song started low and meandering, floating between ideas. The note steadied, strengthened, the sound of plans coming together – rose to a crescendo – and abruptly cut off.
“Axel.”
“Yes, Master.”
“How soon can you have a squad of Jägers here – enough to keep watch and move fast?”
(The Heterodyne wanted Jagers at his back.)“Got a long-range transmitter, Sir. Gkika will have them moving by dawn.” Axel considered the distances. “Six days to rendezvous.”
“Make it happen.” Barry breathed deep and straightened. “Were you on important business?”
“It’s done now, Sir. Where are we going?”
Barry picked up his niece. “Home. I’ve got a bell to ring.”