"Can't you make it hotter in here?" complained the Master Inscriber. "And what is wrong with this meat? It isn't even raw! You guys are savages for putting heat on meat!"

Adam groaned and, not for the first time, used the Rift Menu to dampen all sound coming from the inscriber's cell. It was larger than the ones he kept the Red Clan in and had been modified to mimic the structures found on the floating base.

It surprised Adam when the Drathan had agreed to his terms, with only a few changes. The invader had required Adam to sign a [System Contract] to ensure he didn't go back on his word, which Adam was fine with considering how straight forward the language was. He didn't have to be Tom to see tons of loopholes in it that he could exploit if needed.

With another groan, Adam looked at the desk he had placed in the hallway between cells. It had stacks of papers on it, once more poorly drawn and annotated from the memories he had seen within the inscriber. Along with tons of new runes, he had also tried documenting the materials used to empower them, most of which didn't exist on Earth.

The papers, if close to accurate, represented a treasure trove of knowledge and power gathered by one of the top races over centuries. If Adam's vitality was any lower, he might have suffered a permanent hand cramp trying to write and draw it all. He also regretted that he needed less sleep due to the vitality increase given by having a class and triggering the titles, making it possible for him to spend even more hours each day doing this tedious work.

For almost two weeks, nearly nonstop, he had watched memories and written down any knowledge he gained. It was grueling and monotonous, and a bit disturbing when encountering some memories, even if it gave him more of an understanding of the Drathan, their worlds, and the magic that they used. Only the visits from the girls had dulled his desire to run from it all and leave Jackson and documenting knowledge behind.

As much as Adam had respected the Arcane Obstructor, he had no like or respect for the Master Inscriber. It was unclear which was more representative of their race, even having watched the Drathan through the inscriber.

For some reason, Adam sitting outside the inscribers cell for days on end had inflated the invader's self-worth even more. The putz was all too happy to brag incessantly while also demeaning the natives, spurred on by the misconception that Adam was documenting his words. The inscriber was so self-focused he didn't even notice the memories that played in his mind while Adam watched them.

Now, finally…FINALLY Adam had gotten all he could, or would, out of the Drathan. He was ready to head back without skipping on his duty to Jackson and humanity.

The worst part of the last two weeks was that he never got to take his new island for a spin.

Adam shared a lot of his own spoils with the rest of the army. Most of the things he kept for himself were because he would use them more effectively. Yet, the island base he claimed for his own. He made it quite clear to Carmichael, Davian, and especially Tom, Randall, and Joseph, that the floating base was his. No one had better use it without his permission.

The attitude Adam displayed had taken everyone by surprise, and when Carmichael said he was being childish with his insistence, Adam had Jordan Lane build an enlarged kids fort on it. A sigh was placed by the Runic Control Orb that read, "For Adam's use only. Don't touch my stuff!"

Unfortunately, that was all moot because Adam had quickly learned that to drive the island, other than up and down, required special classes. No humans had those classes either and it would take a while to find someone capable of learning one.

Adam had been a hair away from a rampage right there, much to the terror of the Master Inscriber who had informed him of it. That Drathan had been too smug when pointing out that the Drathan methods were beyond what other races could manage. Fortunately, Brittney and Abbey had talked him down. Lucas suggested checking with Garrett to see if there was another way to navigate the mobile base using different methods. After all, they had made jetpacks.

With a touch of hope, Adam stood from the desk and piled the stacks of papers into a box. Then he headed back to the floating island to see what headway they made.

***

"This part was thanks to me," crowed Tom as he stood tall and praised himself.

He stood next to a giant steering wheel, a fancier version of what you might find in the helm of a nautical ship in pirate movies. Adam reached out and turned the wheel, a little surprised that there was no resistance.

"Is this how you steer?" asked Adam, his question directed to Garrett and Golgarn.

"Uh, no," said Garrett. "That would be daft. There's a control room over that way. For now, our propulsion uses a bunch of larger versions of the engines we used for the jetpacks. They're more fuel efficient than anything previously on Earth, thanks to the Leputi's alchemists."

"It's amazing that we can even combine our old technologies with the magical methods used by the rest of the races," said Alissa.

Craftsmen were moving all around the area, and the previous buildings had been removed by Jordan Lane to make room for a few human friendly structures.

"Of course, once more you haven't given us much time to set things up," complained Garrett with a bit more hostility. "We placed 12 of the jets around the island, like the markings on a clock, just to prove the concept. The island will be slow to move until we improve the method or think of another. It also takes at least 8 people to helm the damn island in the control room."

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"Have you tried it out yet?" asked Adam excitedly, even as he pretended he was steering with the ornamental wheel.

Garrett sighed dramatically and then everyone in the area pointed to the eight-foot-tall sign that was decorated with plenty of skulls and crossbones. "Don't touch my stuff!" it read. Adam nodded approvingly.

"Since you were kind enough to hold off, now seems like a great time to try it out!" said Adam enthusiastically.

"I'll call over the techs who know how to steer," said Garrett, "and the rest of us will get off this hunk of land."

A firm hand was placed on both Garrett and Golgarn's shoulders as they turned to leave. Adam smiled at them, a bit too predatorially.

"You don't have to leave," he said with a smile. "We'll all have a great time."

"No, see, you don't understand," bumbled Garrett as he trembled under Adam's grip. His eyes darted around, looking for an escape. "I have…things…that need doing…you know, back in my workshop. So much to do and so little time. I'm sure you know how it is."

"Of course, of course," said Adam as he rubbed his hands together excitedly. "And yet what is more important than testing out our air capabilities? Now then, weigh anchor! Man the helm!" he shouted through the Rift Menu.

"This isn't a boat, darling," said Andrea.

Craftsmen and the people working on the flight system scrambled to get to their places. Adam stood in the center making sure that Garrett and Golgarn didn't leave.

A non-combat mage who regularly worked with the crafters approached the Runic Control Orb. By feeding mana into the orb, he was able to increase their altitude, while a group gathered in the control room to coordinate the jets placed around the island. Adam activated and placed Rift displays around the room so they could watch from all directions, including above and below.

"Which way are we heading, General?" asked one of the helmsmen.

Adam's eyes grew sharp, and he smiled with a gleam that made everyone shiver.

"West. There's a friend there that I want to reacquaint with."

***

It took an entire day for the slow-moving land to pass through the Sentinel's territory. The jets that they used for propulsion moved the island slower than a car would have driven even before the [System] came.

The group controlling the steering and propulsion practiced while floating above their Tennessee territory. They tested out speeds when using different combinations of the spread-out jets. Changing direction or making smaller adjustments were difficult at first, but Adam was assured that with practice they would become more effective at it.

Meanwhile Garrett led a group of his engineers and smiths to monitor and check on the engines. They worked the whole time, using Rift displays to even look at the insides of the jets while they were operating. Points of heat and friction were notes as they sketched out future designs they wanted to try.

Once the island passed outside of their territory, Adam began his own tests. Since the floating base was part of his network even when freely floating, he tried summoning things from other bases in their territory. Jordan Lane's observations showed that it used more power to transfer items, but it did work.

When they tried portaling people to the base, there was a hitch due to the movement, but nothing that would harm or threaten the people coming through.

Several times they also passed over invader bases. In those instances, they had transferring capabilities shut down as the base went into defense mode, just like with sieges. The rest of the Sentinel bases stayed normal, showing that overlapping territories only caused the war mode on the mobile base.

Garrett gave Adam a few concerned glances as Adam portaled in about 70 soldiers and classes that controlled beasts, all equipped for combat. He also looked with concern over the 27 wing suits that were transferred from the workshops from Jackson. Adam just gave him a wink and a smile, as if he wasn't doing anything wrong.

"Just checking things," was all Adam would say when people asked what he was planning.

When nothing else needed his attention, Adam transferred a few sofas next to the control orb. He relaxed with Andrea and Alissa while watching displays that showed the world around them, from the skies to the ground. He cackled wickedly when they flew near invader bases, and he could see them pointed at the floating island in fear.

They probably assumed there were Drathan controlling things. Eventually they would find out otherwise.

***

Adam placed his hand on the snout of one of the Torquin. Never having seen them from close, Adam inspected the winged beasts. Their skin was thick and rougher than his analogy of them being a winged gecko indicated. Other than the shape, they looked more like dragons.

Their teeth were pointed and while their toes were slender with bulbs on the ends, they did have dangerous claws. The wings made noise even as they moved around in their stables.

As Adam stood in front of one to see it from that perspective, the creature opened its mouth and a long tongue flicked out from it. A sticky mucus covered it as it splatted onto the front of Adam's chest armor.

"Eww!" complained Adam as he began to back away. The tongue stuck firmly, so Adam tried to pull it off.

"Don't tease my babies!" snapped the Chief Torquin Breeder. He threw a punch at Adam, who dodged it, even limited by the stretched-out tongue he couldn't get off his chest.

The Drathan in charge of the flock had refused to leave with the others after finding out the Torquin would be kept by the humans. He insisted that they required different care than the beasts kept by other races. Only people with specific skills, according to the Chief, could ride the Torquin, once more disappointing Adam. The jetpacks had been fine, but having a flying mount would have been great too.

A temporary employment contract had been signed by the Drathan beast handler, which was how he survived being around Adam. Both of them knew the agreement was very limited, but it was the best they could do since Adam wanted expertise in the valuable resources that the Torquin represented. Also, Adam didn't want to waste more time sifting through memories and documenting a second Drathan to get an understanding of the Torquin. This seemed like the best option at the time, even if the Chief Torquin Breeder held very little respect or consideration for the humans.

***

After five days of traveling, with supplies arriving and people coming and going to check out the mobile base, Adam magnified a display to show the mountains in the distance. A few holes released smoke into the sky, showing them where their destination was.

"I should no be joining. I be no fighter," said Golgarn, as he struggled to put on a flight suit modified for his size. "Staying here be the better option."

"Not unless you want me slaughtering the Unklarns that I find since they're still invaders," responded Adam without even looking at him.

Golgarn swallowed hard and touched his throat, remembering Adam's hatred when he had placed that monstrous sword against it during their first encounter, and the change of Adam's demeanor after signing a contract.

With a sigh, the Unklarn nodded. "Aye. I'll be going down with the screechy one to get contracts signed."

"Do you think they will?" asked Adam.

"They no be having a choice, if any be left alive," grumbled the short man.

"Good. Then let's get down there. Time to find out who has grown more. Me…or Sgolkr."

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