Sail by Moonlight


    “We don’t talk about it, but espionage has long been the dark secret of the Cape community. Almost any hero, from the whitest of white capes to the grimmest of city avengers, must wear the hat of detective from time to time.


    “Those same skills serve well in the world of espionage. It doesn’t help that black capes, and more than a few avaricious grey capes, are very easy to recruit for sabotage or theft missions funded by some flavor of intelligence service or corporate interest. This leaves even those who would ‘never’ work as spies operating as, at the very least, counter-intelligence operatives.”


    “All that, and that’s before we get to talking about those enhanced who enter the shadowy world of espionage on their own, and vanish into the darkness as though it were a warm quilt surrounding their shoulders. There’s a reason I’m paranoid.”


    Tom Clancy, at the release of “The Cape and the Crow” 1999.


    Three days, and a few rounds of golf, and the paperwork had all gone through. Penny had contacted several companies and finally found one to arrange a temporary crew, so she could observe and learn about the ship from a more skilled skipper, and so Elizabeth could relax on her new boat.


    Elizabeth happily stepped on the newly christened Serenity; her hair pulled into a loose tail, and wearing a pretty white and yellow sundress. The luggage had been sent ahead so all she had to carry on was the cooler full of snake eggs. "I am so happy to get to sail a bit, I love the ocean. I bet you’re excited to get behind the helm aren''t you, Penny."


    "I won''t lie, I kind of am. I''m glad she has such a shallow draft too, there shouldn''t be a problem nuzzling her up to the boat dock. Much deeper and that might not be true."


    “Push comes to shove we could have dug the dock out more, but yeah I am glad don’t as well.”


    "I checked early on, just in case. Fortunately, with the bulkhead it''s not flush with the shore, technically. And we''ve got all her kit stocked. Sadly, not going to be as luxurious as when we have Anzy on board. That girl is going to have damn near as many kitchens as she has of, well, her."


    “Let me put the eggs in my cabin with their heater and we can go meet our crew."


    "Sounds good."


    Solaris plugged in the temporary incubator making sure the box was secure and wouldn’t be knocked over if they hit any waves. Then went back to Penny, shall we head to the helm?


    "Definitely." They went up the art deco stairs, and through the top deck to the bridge, where several people were waiting.


    "Hello and thank you for coming to crew for us on such short notice." She looked over the new crew, her eyes sticking to her captain, as she failed to fight down a smirk. "I am sure we are going to get along like family."


    "Oh, I don''t doubt." The Captain said, with an identical smirk, setting off alarms in Penny''s head. He looked oddly familiar too.


    “This is Don Dean, our engineer. He''s going to be staying on for a few weeks to teach your own mechanics how to treat this girl’s motors." His accent was the same educated English as Solaris as well.


    "Hello Mr. Dean, the Mechanics at home are Levi and Erica, though our cook Anzi will probably want the go over as well."


    "Of Course, Miss. “ Dean replied


    “Let me introduce Faye Jennings, she''ll be our steward and cook for this trip. Garrett Rowland here will be our deck hand. And Ella Chang will be serving as the evening officer of the watch and my xo. I''m sorry, first officer. Navy, don''t you know." The captain said with an ironic tone.


    “A pleasure to meet you all. I hope you find the Serenity a comfortable berth. And what should I call you Captain? I would like to invite you to dine with Penny and I.”


    "Oh, how silly of me. Howard Spring, and I appreciate the invitation."


    Penny raised an eyebrow, then made an "Oh" sound as the coin dropped on who she was looking at. Then she rolled her eyes. Only Solaris heard her mutter "Spooks" under her breath.


    “Well Captain Spring. I think I''m going to go to the front deck and enjoy a glass of wine while you cast us off and get going.” Her blue eyes were sparkling with suppressed laughter.


    "I''ll get us underway, and then we can discuss if there''s any stops you want to make on the way to New York." He nodded. "Well crew, let''s be about it."


    Solaris stopped at the bar, grabbing a cold bottle of white wine and a pair of glasses then walked out and sat on the plush couch on the bow. She opened the bottle and poured a glass taking a deep breath of the ocean air then sipped the wine. "We are where you wanted us to be Father. Together at sea."


    The bow thrusters pushed the Yacht off the dock, and the main engines kicked in easily, pushing the Serenity forward, into the blue water of the Florida seas. Carefully the long yacht guided through other traffic until it was several miles offshore, only the barest hint of land visible as the sun began to reach the end of its daily trip.


    Solaris let any remaining stress slip into the ocean as the land fell away. She headed back in placing the glasses on the bar and headed back for the bridge. "How is it going, Is the Serenity running smooth as she feels above?"


    "Oh, she''s in good shape. I doubt she''s got more than a hundred hours on her since her overhaul. Plus, she''s old enough to have had the problems chased out of her." he said, "And with the computers and sensors employed on her now, we''ll know when something comes up."


    “Good. Now to other business.” She hugged him tightly. "I knew you were not killed in a boating accident. Father would have raised himself from the grave."


    "Bah, anyone who assumed that was true deserved what they got. No, but for numerous reasons, not limited to but including boredom, I needed to go off the grid. I''d have come visit sooner, but the damned Russians are being Russian, so I''ve been busy monitoring some things in the black sea."


    "When are the Russians not being Russian." Solaris said with warm fondness in her tone. "I knew you would show up when you could. God, it feels good to see you."


    "And you, dear sister. Though this trip will be the only time for a while. I wanted to make sure to make contact and get you the dossiers on who you''d want or need to know about, but with everything in Ukraine I want to be there in case someone needs to subtly violate nearly a century of "supers don''t" when some idiot Rusike decides to do something stupider than usual."


    She smiled, "You were always the trouble twin, well we have a few days to get caught up before we get to Islip, just like before.” she said fondly. "How have you been?”


    "I won''t pretend it''s been constant glory for the last several decades. Coming along the long way has had severe ups and downs. I removed myself from the professional sphere, so to speak, when the cold war started getting particularly stupid. Everyone was so focused on if the Americans and Russians were going to pop off, they didn''t pay attention to the "smaller" issues. As if the different groups of villains and larger threats like the burgeoning cartels weren''t an issue of note. I mean, look up Pablo Escobar sometime."


    "I think I saw something on You Tube about him having hippos." Solaris said shaking her head. "I know things were going stupid, that''s why I was trying to expose McCarthy as working for the Black Hand. I was hoping it would help de-escalate things at least a little. I mean Russa was completely embarrassed by the German air lift. It wasn''t the worst time to try and calm things from our side."


    "Calming was not something either side was good at. Not until the eighties and then the USSR collapsed in the Nineties. you can imagine the flood of spooks who needed a new employer that found interested parties in both the conventional criminal and the motivated cape community."


    “Meaning some of those assets are now in your pocket, since even if you gave up the Family titles, I know Mother and Father would have made sure you were taken care of, not to mention whatever you stole from the Nazi''s and their allies during the war. Apparently guns from that time period are very valuable."


    "I might do a bit of contract work, from time to time, and perhaps have assets to make that very profitable and widespread." he chuckled. "And I may have misused the occasional explosive charge to get into a Kraut safe, yes. I technically live on St. Kitts, under a different name of course."


    Solaris laughed. "I am glad you are well, and you haven''t changed. Still my naughty little brother."


    "One of us has to have a good time, though you''re doing well. I suppose you haven''t found the cause yet. Don''t hurry, cause are a dime a dozen now a days."


    "I''m still acclimating, But I''m finding things to keep myself busy, I am working on getting everything together to take care of the Manor and get it updated. And I’m starting a garage for You Tubers and my staff mechanics.”


    "Oh dear, you''ve been back for only weeks and already know about YouTube. You always were a progressive." he chuckled. "And since you went through the Academies, you''re halfway to forming a team, as well. And yes, that''s not your plan, dear sister, but something will happen, and you''ll lead them. Just like with Chimera."


    She chuckled. "Probably. I think it''s more likely they will be their own team once they are used to being out in the world. They just need to learn to use their wings." You know me I can’t help but mentor people."


    "You were always good at it." he nodded. "That being said, I better head back to the bridge and change things over. You did buy a good boat, hell this is a ship in all but name. You''re going to be hard to pin down once you have a full crew of your own for it." he chuckled.


    "Well, both of us have itchy feet. I''ll see you at supper?"


    "Of course, especially since I am sure Penny is going to want to grill me." he chuckled. "For the record, the whole crew are picked by me, and are people who work with me in other ways. The engineer is just that, though he does custom work for covert operations designs. Not quite a toymaker, but a few Tailors use his services."This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "Well, that is useful, it’s always handy to know people I’ll make sure to get their numbers. My Fledglings just adopted a baby Toymaker into their group.”


    "Oh, useful. Assuming they don''t burn your shop down."


    "My manager made sure the shop has the best insurance." she said with a laugh


    "Good!"


    A few hours later Solaris Penny, and ‘Howard’ joined at the dinner table. Faye dropping odd the first course, a light Asian inspired fish soup, and fluffy croissants dripping with butter. “Thank you, Faye, this smells delicious.”


    "Thank you, please enjoy. The next course will be ready when you are." She slipped back into the galley quietly.


    "So, Penny. How''s working with my much older sister?" Hugh asked, eyes dancing.


    “A bit like being employed by a hurricane. But a lot of fun.”


    “I may have taken her shopping; you know the way Mother taught us too, and it is bizarre I am both older and younger than you at the same time.”


    "Yes, well, you were frozen, not time traveling so you''re still older. And I''ve not physically aged much. A little bit of crow’s feet." He gestured to the grey at his temples. "I died my hair for this. No one takes a ship captain seriously without some pepper in their hair."


    “It does make me you look more like Father… did they live well? I was frightened to try and look anything up on them.”


    "Oh, they made it well into their dotage, though they pushed the house on me early so they could retire to the Virgin Islands. They got a nice condo and both passed in the seventies, about a month apart. Father first, Mother I think simply due to boredom after he was gone. Both in their sleep."


    “That is good to hear,” Solaris said, relaxing a bit as a secret worry dropped away. “I don’t remember that in the real estate portfolio, sold that to yourself?” she asked, giving a small, delighted gasp at the soup. “Oh, this is perfect for a day at sea!”


    "I admit, I did." he chuckled. "But to be fair, I waited till I was sure I''d need safe houses. And to be honest, it wouldn''t really suit your taste. It was very much Mother''s place, and your taste didn''t quite mesh with hers."


    “No, she was a bit fussier than father, I just wanted to make sure it was with the family. Do you know if any of the old retainer families are still with the Manor? I haven’t gotten in direct contact with the village yet.”


    "It''s being maintained by Morris''s grandson, Thomas. He''s aware I''m still around, as I check in, and he''s thrilled that people are going to be coming to do the old place up. He followed family tradition, a stint in the Para''s. He did a military stretch in very specialized teams and came home. He also owns the local tavern."


    “I was hoping some of the old families were still around. I remember us filching tarts for Morris from the cook, so he’d let us sneak out and play. Since he owns the Tavern, is he likely to come back on as the Butler?”


    "He might not, but his son may. He''s currently in the Army, did a stint in the SAS, did his time in Afghanistan. I know he''d have the talent. I hear you found a chef, and footmen aren''t quite as necessary as they used to be. Technology caught up with a few of the old jobs. The groundskeeper’s family is still around, but they now do gardening all over the village, and even on the mainland thanks to the Ferry. They even still do the old home."


    That’s good, at least it won’t be a total tangled mess. And I would argue that a good cook is completely necessary.”


    “She made stew and was banned from the kitchen.” Penny said dryly.


    "Our cook tried to teach her to bake. Twice. Fortunately, only father was a casualty, and he recovered a couple of days later."


    "Oh please, as if you never did something to put father to bed. I remember your sixth form report."


    "The teachers were out to get me! Smuggle beer into the dormitory one time, I swear."


    “One time?” Solaris said dryly, “more like every weekend and twice on Saturdays.”


    "It was not twice on Saturdays. Michelson did the second trip."


    "Right. Don''t trust him near the silver. Got it."


    “Solaris laughed. He only made silver bullets with the good silver once. He had to work in the stables a month after that.”


    "Now, my dear Lady Dreadful, I''ve sent a few items to your Tailor, to redirect to you once you contact him. I know you haven''t finished your suit, and I''m aware of the harder it is to acquire items." He said, looking at her. "I understand you bought a pair of the Gumshoe Mecha-frames that came up for auction when Elitelligence folded?"


    “How the hell did you know that?” She said sitting up, both annoyed and painfully curious what wonderful, horribly illegal thing he’d sent to the Tailor.


    "It was a public auction, technically speaking." He said mildly, answering absolutely nothing. "And don''t panic. I didn''t have anything shipped that wasn''t legally transported by the means employed."


    “Right, there are all the loopholes in that sentence.” She sighed. “Lemme guess, my bosses Spook brother got a full work up on me?”


    "Well, I am sure I don''t know everything." he said, waving a hand airily. "It''s not as though your UNLOC or Coast Guard records list every birthmark or scar." he assured her.


    “Right.” Penny rolled her eyes, “well I haven’t disappeared yet so I must have passed muster.” she said dryly. So, all these crew mates are yours, right?”


    “Hugh, don’t tease Penny, she’s not used to your level of incorrigibility.” Solaris said as she summoned the next course. She was beginning to wonder if this was becoming a rather strange flirtation.


    "Yes, though not from the more shadowy parts of my stable of friends. They are more support than true provocateurs."


    "Elizabeth, is it okay that I don''t trust your brother?"


    The blonde hero giggled. “Of course, dear! He is completely untrustworthy until he chooses to be,” her voice was full of affection.” once he chooses to be, neither Hell nor Heaven will stop him.”


    "Oh my, such glowing praise." He preened. "In truth, you seem a good match for my sister, so I have no desire to see you harmed, and every reason to see you armed. Oh my, that rhymed! Still, it''s quite true."


    “He can get you the best toys. He got a lot of my gear, at the beginning of the Cold War.”


    “Actually, you would know, do you know where my super gear ended up?”


    "Some of it, yes. I''ve arranged for what I can acquire to be delivered. Some of the more obscure or esoteric items went to the Kennecott Mine vault."


    “Meaning I will still need to go to Alaska for my utility belt. Bother. Well, that’s probably going to have to wait for spring.”


    "Well, I''m sure Alaska in Winter has its charms... Cruises to see glaciers for example. Going to the Interior next to a glacier does seem a bit ill advised."


    “Yes. That is a bit too fortress of Solitude for my liking.” Solaris said.


    "Ironic, since you did it first." Hugh observed, as salad was brought out, a delicate champagne vinaigrette for a dressing on assorted greens. "Well, either way, the least I could do is send a few gifts, now that I''ve made contact. I''d hate for all those birthdays to have passed, and you get to hold it over my head." he winked.


    “Dear lord… she laughed. “Are you still getting deliveries of whiskey and comic books. I remember I set those up for auto delivery to one of your drop boxes. Superman for your birthday and Batman for Christmas”


    "A drop box that wasn''t common knowledge, and that I still maintain. I get literal crates of the bloody things. Ask me about some of the odder features of my home, let me tell you." he laughed. "Because of her, I have a specialized library section in my home for comics!"


    “Oh, you love them.” Solaris said with a laugh. And I never knew when you were going to get things, so it had to be nonperishable and not too big.”


    "If only everyone had such foresight."


    "So, you’re a spy. I get that. But have you been working all this time? Your entire life, “


    "Not as such. Oh, I worked for the Ministry, sorry MI5, for most of it but for a good part it was as a trainer and supervisory officer, nothing in the field or even all that interesting." He said. "It kept me in, but didn''t really satisfy, but left me able to go home at night, and up to the Manor from time to time."


    Solaris nodded. “Thank you for that. I know you never wanted it, but you protected it for me. I assume you faked your death after mother and father passed?”


    "Of course. Father would have tracked me down and boxed my ears! And find a way to make it hurt! I''m an idiot, not a fool."


    And as good as you are his contacts were probably better.” Solaris teased. “Oh, thinking of odd hobbies, my baseball collection is apparently ‘museum’ quality. Isn’t that funny.”


    "Not really, not knowing how Footie fans are, at any rate. Americans are particularly rabid about sport."


    “The way some things have increased in value is just insane, I can’t even use my old travel trunk because it’s too valuable. And I must divide everything by ten to get an idea of what the cost and value of things means,


    "Except cars that doesn''t work because the spectrum of prices is far wider, and electronics got cheaper." He nodded "And then the addition of computers as a must have item. I am not certain you can order a bloody pizza without a screen now a days."


    “I make Marcus or Penny do that. Though I almost have Siri trained to do it. They got the tv so I can control it with my voice, the remote is more complex than a bloody fighter jet!”


    "When did you, oh, yes, I remember now. You were involved in stealing a few of the German''s early jets weren''t you. I hadn''t known you''d flown one. Or did you get to play with a toy after the war?"


    I flew Breakneck’s after he made his own after he flew one, we stole. It was rather fun to go that fast


    "Oh yes, his prototype. I understand you bought a business jet, but it does lack the visceral fun of a fighter. I''ll keep that in mind."


    “I had to buy a plane, have you flown recently, between the invasive security and the cattle like treatment, the future has destroyed the social joy of flying!”


    "Dear, I''ve flown Ryanair and Southwest. I''ve ridden more comfortable bicycles."


    “Exactly. I don’t have to do that, and I won’t. Though granny took out a full Bottle of tequila in less than 6 hours.”


    "Nervous flyer. I think we can allow her a foible. Lord knows Mother never adapted to the idea of flying."


    “No, father had the yacht redone for her after the war so she wouldn’t have to.”


    "Yes. I did have it put into dry dock, but it will need refit if it’s to be used. She is definitely not seaworthy and lacks any of the modern tools that make life so easy on this dear here."


    “I sent that to my project manager to put on the list of things to do. I might be able to use her to charter boat weddings or something once she’s done.”


    "A good use, or summer day cruises. Let the old girl do some work, but don''t strain her." He agreed. "I''m sorry some of the outbuildings were let go, but I just had no time to maintain them, and didn''t need them either. I should have torn them down, but they weren''t all that bad when I decided to go off grid."


    "I''ll figure it out, I''ll restore what I can, rebuild what I can''t. I have people out there or that will be out there shortly doing asbestos remediation and laying in new plumbing. My plan right now is to turn most of the outbuildings into vacation rentals. I also am going to research how to use the fields more profitably. Right now I am thinking of heirloom varieties of vegetables and such."


    "Might not be highly profitable but could be enough to keep up the old place. That''s about enough." He smiled. "Oh, I had a question, as your captain. You hadn''t outlined an itinerary other than heading to New York. Far be it for me to argue whimsical stops, but I thought I''d make sure you didn''t have other places to visit.”


    "Honestly no, I thought a nice private boat ride sounded relaxing before I see what the kids have gotten up too while I was away and will make the handlers for Pinnacle nervous since they still haven’t been able to reach me."


    “I like it.”


    "Ohh, I''ll have to swing wide when we get near Baltimore. Make them work at it, if they''re feeling pushy. Too bad I didn''t bring the equipment to repel boarders."


    The stewardess, who was delivering the meat course of a lovely lemon chicken dish snorted. "You didn''t." she noted. "Enjoy the entree."


    "Thank you, that soup is one of the best I''ve ever had." Solaris said "Yes, He called me down from New York, to basically throw his cock on the desk to remind me I am 70 years out of date and not fit to lead the Guardians as they are now. I managed not to put him in the harbor though it was very tempting.”


    "Sounds about right. The Guardians have had a problem with leadership since the Nineties. It''s a prestigious post, so fought for, but it''s also hard as hell so there''s a lot of people getting promoted above their competency. You know how it is, that''s when they stop where they are at."


    "And that''s ignoring politicians making a muddle of everything." Solaris said. Which is probably how someone who can’t talk his way out of a paper bag ended up the Face of the team." She made a face. "Feh. Let’s go back to more pleasant topics.”


    "He was politically insignificant while still being powerful. He''s a good man in a storm, unfortunately he''s not very useful outside of one."


    Penny took a sip of wine “What is your codename? I don’t remember seeing it, but I know you must have one"


    Hugh chuckled and smiled at Elizabeth. “My sister is the shining one, Solaris; I am the shadow reflecting her, I am Lune.


    Quilin was frustrated. His daughter vanished from his tracking, a fancy way to describe the parental monitoring app he’s managed to sneak onto her phone when she was distracted by other things in the family apartment, the last time she’d deigned to show up there.


    Likely it was to have her mother do her laundry.


    Either way, he’d been watching for days, when he could spare the focus. The problem is she seemed to insist on coming active when he was patrolling in the evenings, and even then she was all over the middle of Long Island, far enough from his preferred domain of New York City proper to make things awkward. Especially as he rarely used his hero-car on patrol in the city.


    Still, he had noticed an area she seemed to keep returning to and seemed to be near when her phone went back offline. He was eager to go check it out, while dreading what he might find when he did.


    Unfortunately, a small street war had broken out between a few street gangs in the Bronx, and that took precedence over even the car thefts in the short term.


    “Zoya, what foolishness are you caught up in, this time?”