“There’s never been a major pandemic on Gomorrah. When it comes to virus protection and the like, this place is actually ahead.” Itzel gestures at a nearby hazmat suit.
“Oh, please,” I say. “We don’t get pandemics thanks to the likes of hygieia and better sanitation. Earth is not ahead.”
“We’ll take hygieia devices with us,” Valerian says. “But since the virus in question will most likely be airborne, we need masks too.” He turns to Itzel. “Bailey needs a mask now as well. So do the rest of you.”
“What?” Felix asks just as Ariel bursts out, “Why? Who?”
Valerian and I fill them in on our encounter with the seer.
“I can’t believe things are so bad that Nostradamus got involved,” Felix says. “The proverbial shit is about to really hit the proverbial fan. On an epic scale.”
Ariel nods grimly. “Some kind of apocalypse is coming.”
Itzel looks like someone crashed her favorite spaceship. “I should’ve known that being your friend would one day bite me in the ass,” she says glumly.
Of course. Nostradamus said my friends need to come with us on this mission. I’ve been too self-absorbed to realize what that means for the people in this room.
“I doubt he meant you,” Felix tells Itzel. “Seers can’t predict a gnome’s future.”
“Not directly,” Ariel says. “But should we risk everything by not having her come?”
Wow. They’re taking Nostradamus’s words even more seriously than I did.
“I’m sorry about that,” I say. “He didn’t elaborate much, so if you guys don’t want to—”
“I’m going,” Ariel says firmly.
“It’s a chance for me to test out my new suit,” Felix says, a lot less firmly.
“If you do go, you’ll be handsomely rewarded,” Valerian says to Itzel before turning toward Ariel and Felix. “That goes for the two of you as well.”
Itzel perks up. “Rewarded by you or the Senate?”
“Both,” Valerian says. “And the Earth Councils too.”
Felix and Ariel exchange impressed glances.
“I have a feeling we’ll be able to work something out.” Itzel bends over the mask in front of her with renewed enthusiasm.
Valerian checks his phone. “I have to go make some arrangements. The Councils have assigned you protection. They’re waiting in a limo outside.” Turning, he heads toward the exit.
“When do we start the trip to Necronia?” I call after him.
“In a few days,” he replies over his shoulder.
“What?” I look at Ariel and Felix. They both shrug. “Where do I stay in the meantime?”
Valerian stops and gives me an exasperated look. “Your bodyguards should keep you safe anywhere.”
“How about you crash with us?” Ariel suggests excitedly. “We have an unused room at the moment.”
“And there’s a domovoi at our place who can kill anything that might get inside,” Felix adds. “Also, our doors and windows are bulletproof.”
Huh. I wonder if the latter is something Bowser set up for Princess Peach, the original occupant of the room in question.
“Perfect,” Valerian says. “We’ll meet back here. I’ll text you the details.”
With that, he strides out.
“Text who?” I ask the remaining crew.
“Me,” Felix admits. “We’ve been working together the last few weeks.”
I level a look at him filled with pretend annoyance. “So that’s how you had the time to spill all my secrets to him.”
Ariel grins. “You’ve known Felix long enough to realize how big of a gossip he is. If there’s something you don’t want the world to know, don’t tell him.”
“I can totally keep a secret.” Felix’s unibrow seesaws on his forehead. “I never told anyone about—” Noticing Ariel’s death stare, he swallows audibly and mumbles, “Never mind.”
“Can you shut your pieholes?” Itzel growls. “I’m working.”
Ariel rolls her eyes. “Let’s go see who the Councils assigned as protection.”
She leads us out of the room and through the labyrinthine corridors into JFK, where an anorexic-thin woman is waiting for us.
“Thalia!” Ariel exclaims. “Great to see you again.”
“Thalia is a nun from the Jinto mountains on Voikomlya,” Felix whispers into my ear. “They’re amazing fighters.”
“Nice to meet you, Thalia,” I say reverently. “I’ve been to your world and met some of your sisters.” More specifically, I made dream connections to a couple of the warrior nuns so I could learn a bit of their fighting style, but since I never asked permission, I don’t mention that part.
At the mention of her order, Thalia’s thin face saddens.
“She’s exiled and lives here on Earth.” Felix further lowers his voice. “The reason she doesn’t say anything is that she’s under a vow of silence.”
“See? Gossip,” Ariel says.
Thalia takes out a phone and frantically types something out.
Ariel’s phone beeps. Looking at it, she smiles and says, “Thalia said something not-so-flattering about Felix, then suggested we follow her to the limo.”
The trip through the airport is uneventful, and when we exit, the palest woman I’ve ever seen is waiting for us outside. If she were human, she’d look to be in her late sixties, but I doubt human is what she is, as they rarely have such an unfathomable look in their eyes.