2. Vampires who can survive without oxygen, and who won’t go blood-crazy and kill everyone.

3. Trained astronauts and scientists. (Magic users, if possible!)

4. At least two doctors.

5. One poet or writer (for sending stories back to Earth).

Chapter 19

I ASKED JENETA TO equip us before we left, so Talulah and I could preserve as much of our strength and magic as possible.

She began by replacing one of Lena’s bokken with the same version of Excalibur we’d used before. Lena kept the healing scabbard, and I took the healing cordial for myself. Everyone else was also equipped with healing magic of one form or another.

Jeneta then conjured up potions from The Complete Short Stories of H. G. Wells. The story in question was “The New Accelerator,” and the potion would essentially give us the ability to stop time while we retook New Millennium.

She also supplied us with a set of ballistic vests. Kevlar with ceramic plate inserts should slow down Kiyoko’s enchanted ammo. There were a handful of other goodies, including my compact mirror gateway, which Lena had returned to me. I tucked everything into an old messenger bag I’d borrowed from Jason.

Talulah had a Bluetooth earpiece in her right ear, and a large keyboard-looking thing made of plastic, chrome, and LED lights strapped across her shoulder like an electric guitar.

“Hacker’s best friend,” she said, noticing my gaze. “Cyberpunk has the best toys. This should help me pinpoint the system hosting the IAS software and keep Kiyoko occupied.”

We gathered in the backyard to say good-bye, where we found Bi Wei standing in the shade of a weeping willow tree, watching the birds. Before anyone could react, Lena was bounding across the yard to greet her with a hug. She dragged Bi Wei over by the hand to introduce her to the rest of our group.

“I’m glad your people are safe,” I said. “And doubly glad for your help, thank you.”

Bi Wei smiled. “Given what Lena told me, this sounded like it could be as educational as our last collaboration.”

“Educational.” I snorted. “That’s one word for it.”

Physically, Bi Wei was much the same as I remembered. Young and physically slight, she wore a sleeveless purple dress with gold and blue lines curling about in fractal designs. Large designer sunglasses covered her eyes.

Magically, she was all but unrecognizable as the woman Lena had helped to draw forth from her thousand-year imprisonment. After so many years in isolation, the Students of Bi Sheng had chosen to establish a permanent telepathic connection, ensuring that they would never again be alone. If one were to die, their memories and experiences would be preserved.