“That… may not be soon enough, Kell,” Moonlight said.
“My lord,” TwinSoul said, “Moonlight has recovered some disturbing intel. It appears that the Set has discovered the relationship between harmonium and trellium. Beyond that, they’ve been experimenting with long-range delivery devices. They’re prepared to do something stupid.”
“Not so much stupid as desperate,” Kelsier said. “They know that Autonomy has declared this entire planet anathema. The Set is fighting for survival the only way they know how: by trying to destroy Elendel, to prove to Autonomy they can rule the planet. I thought we had more time though. Why now?”
“No idea,” Moonlight said. “But there’s talk of a new ashfall. I’ve never heardthatbefore. Plus, we have aphotohere of a destroyed city. Maybe… they tried it out somewhere else, and photographed the results? At any rate, it implies something more than bombing Elendel.”
“There have always been two plans,” Codenames said. “Autonomy wants to do something catastrophic to the entire planet—the ashfalls could be their plan for that. But the Set is hoping to prove it can dominate the Basin, and that the more extreme measure isn’t needed. Like cutting off a finger to prevent the infection from spreading.”
The room fell silent, Marasi feeling overwhelmed. They spoke of the end of a planet,herplanet, as if it were something that they’dknown wasa possibility for some time. But then again, she wasliterallyin a conversation with the Survivor… so…
“Sir,” she said. “Um, Lord Kelsier? I believe they are close to launching this bomb. I intend to stop them, but I’m just one woman. I wouldn’t mind help. Anything you can offer.”
“I don’t have the luxury of holding back,” Kelsier said more softly. “I shouldn’t have left for the South. I thought Saze would stop it before it got this far… We need to do what he cannot. Miss Colms, you have our help. Codenames, how many full Ghostblood agents do we have in Bilming?”
“Um…” Codenames said. “Only us three. Everyone else is in Elendel or on assignment elsewhere in the field.”
“How quickly can we get the Elendel agents to Bilming?” Kelsier asked.
“Not quickly enough,” Moonlight said. “They’re all embedded, so we’dhave to use dead drops. We could have them roused by early evening, maybe late afternoon, but they would still be several hours away in Elendel.”
“Send them to my sister,” Marasi said. “She’s trying to facilitate an evacuation via the Elendel government.”
Kelsier sniffed softly. He didn’t seem to have much respect for the Elendel government. “Codenames, you take Dae-oh and see to it. I doubt the field team needs a philologist for this mission. Also alert our members around the Basin. Shri Prasanva, I hate to pull you from your quiet evenings of scholarship, but I fear we’re going to need your help.”
The elderly TwinSoul stood up straight, then bowed to the floating head. “We are eager to serve, my lord. Silajana sends his regards, and wishes he could send more of his aetherbound to aid in your fight.”
“I appreciate the sentiment,” Kelsier said. “You and Moonlight are to assist Miss Colms. In fact, I think it is time to do something drastic. Take the stores of purified Dor. The Command is ‘Respect.’ Authorize the other cells to access theirs as well, and pass the Command to them.”
Codenames gasped. Marasi had no idea what purified Dor was, but even Moonlight seemed impressed.
“Do what you can,” Kelsier said. “I will try to accelerate my arrival, but the truth is that I don’t know how much I can do. I’m traveling over water, and so can’t go much faster than I currently am. Dropping things to Steelpush off doesn’t do much with an ocean underneath you.”
“We will stop this, my lord,” TwinSoul said. “Whatever is happening, we will interrupt it. You shall arrive back in Elendel to find a pristine and welcoming city.”
“I’ll settle for the normal dirty, grouchy city, TwinSoul,” Kelsier said. “Go. I’ll see if I can shake Harmony out of his stupor. At least he sent Dawnshot; that convinces me the threat is real. Anything that makes Saze take action these days is to be considered significant.”
The face melted back into the sphere, and the communication was over. The three immediately burst into motion, going in separate directions. Marasi decided to stick with Moonlight, who rushed to a different room—which required opening another mystical lock. Inside was an armory that would have made Ranette delirious with glee. Guns on the walls, vials of metals in racks, glass knives and dueling canes. A large chain-fed machine gun and some explosives.
Moonlight ignored it all, rushing straight for a safe in the corner. It had no combination or locking mechanism that Marasi could see, though as she peered over Moonlight’s shoulder the woman put her hand on the front and said, “Respect me.” Some mechanism inside clicked, and the door opened.
“Another… what was it… Identity lock?” Marasi asked.
“No, this is even more secure,” Moonlight said. “It’s a lock that is Awake, and can tell from your Intent if you’ve been given a passcode or if you’ve stolen it.”
A lock… that was awake? As inalive?
Inside were only three items: a trio of identical glowing jars, big enough that you’dhave trouble carrying them in one hand. The glow was similar to the sphere that had followed Codenames, but more intense. Each jar outshone the room’s electric lights.
Moonlight took one, the light shining on her face, and turned it over. Awed.
“What is it?” Marasi whispered.
“Concentrated Investiture,” Moonlight said. “Unkeyed from any Identity. This is an energy source that can power things like your Metallic Arts.”
“Those are powered by the gods.”
“Exactly,” Moonlight said. “This power comes from a god’s corpse. Two of them actually, intermingled. It’sexceptionallydifficult to recover. The things that you could do with this… well, thatIcould do with this. You’donly be able to use it as a hyperefficient replacement for your metals. Youdon’t know how good you have it here on Scadrial, being able to power your abilities with something so common.”