The New World

[The Corsair]

-Arch-

His men had purpose, something they'd lacked for too long. Business was good around Vancouver, lots of pirates, but they needed variety. The whole time they'd been with this ragtag group of Europeans and US military he'd felt like there was some kind of greeter good they were fighting for, like it was all of America at stake. Falko seemed to have things mostly under control but it was clear he was scraping by and generally as lost as anyone else.

[Augustus Longeye]

Julius wasn't hopeful. It was a big place, and they were after one man. Still; they couldn't do nothing. He felt out as far as he could, trying to get the 'biggest' radius he could. He felt humans wandering around, animals pattering up and down, but nothing out of the ordinary.

[The Corsair]

Falko stayed behind to keep watch patrolling the skies this time.

-Scratch-

He wandered through the city at first, then realised he'd have to be a little more active in his search. He wandered what this had to do with him while he searched. It wasn't his quest, sure, but around the others he felt intrinsically driven to do what he could. His timidness meant he struggled to show this willingness to help bit still it was there strongly. He hadn't felt this motivated since he had to rescue his sister... He'd given up his wife to get his sister back, it showed a level of conviction Scratch simply didn't have day-to-day.
He returned to the ship later having found nothing at all. Whoever the Alchemist was, he wasn't a well-known man...

[Blindwalker]

Finally arrived at Providence. Hugo stood up on the top deck, breathed in the cool air. "Well men, I have some information for you." He marched along the deck. "Falko, the leader... I think... has a lead to finding this man called 'The Alchemist'. They say that he may be in there nearby towns or areas. We need to find any trace or any rumor, as it may be crucial for our mission. The airships are keeping watch from the skies, and we need to get down and search the town there. Any questions?"
"Yes sir," said a newly enlisted soldier, "Will we be traveling in groups?"
Hugo scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Yes, it seems logical to do so. Sort yourselves in groups of... three."
Everyone shuffled around to get in their groups, quickly and quietly.
"You three," he pointed a group of 2 privates and a specialist, "Your with me. Everyone, take your own supplies, and currency with you." He walked around the groups, passing everyone a set of non-army clothing. "You'll need to wear these. No one is allowed to have any firearms, apart from a revolver, but one person in your group may carry a rifle. You must have a knife with you at all times. You may not interact with other people unless it is absolutely necessary, whether a life or death situation or it concerns anything to do with the mission. Remember that our main goal is to find 'The Alchemist.' Now everyone, MOVE IT!"

[Augustus Longeye]

Julius too had wandered the city, finding nothing. He did, however, notice that some people seemed to be slightly.... fuzzy. He could still perceive them through the ground, but the earth didn't seem to react properly to them. Then he realised; people who had been touched by Aether had an effect. It didn't matter if they had manifest powers, or even done it consciously, but a brush with Aetheric energy left them radiating it...
He suddenly had an idea, and returned to Falko.

[The Corsair]

-Tommy and Kevin-

Like the others, Tommy and Kevin had found nothing. After a day of wandering around asking whoever looked approachable it was apparent that nobody in Providence had heard of the Alchemist...
They, like the others, returned in mild defeat.

-Falko-
Falko had patrolled the sky with Rosie fir the day. He looked down to see Julius returning. No doubt he'd have something to say...
He landed the Falcon down and stepped out to talk with Julius.

[Augustus Longeye]

"We can single him out!" Falko looked puzzled, and Julius realised whilst he'd been talking to himself in his head, he'd only filled Falko in on the end result.
"Right, people who have messed around with Aether, or even just been near someone else who has, get charged slightly by it. We've been charged a lot I would guess, but even the smallest amount means that you feel different from the ground. All we need to do is find a way of magnifying my earth sense and look for the proverbial 'bright lights' that are people who work with Aether a lot. We go for the brightest and eventually we'll get him! Probably."

[Man of Steam]

Alex wandered around Salem, looking at the various esoteric goods for sale. He was sure most were fake, but he couldn't be sure. He had realized that his ability would be useful here, as anyone who they would be looking for would be sure to have a strong aura. He looked out over the assembled people, trying to be as discreet as possible. Nobody's aura really stood out to him, they were all the same faint colors. Spying a bright burst of color around a person, he stood up from the bench he was on, and began to follow the person through the crowd.

[The Corsair]

He didn't totally understand Julius but that was only because he didn't understand how Julius' powers  worked.
"As far as extending that power goes we have those beings that talked to us over Texas ad Gebbert is working on some devices that could be adapted to give you more power... The only problem is we won't see him until we're back in New York. We might as well head to our final destination tomorrow morning and see if we catch him there. If not, we go back to Massachusetts once we have Gebbert."

[thefrozenwulf]

"if you say so, Kat, but i wouldn't trust him yet."

[lazarusofartemis]

Kat huffed. "Well then, let's see what the others have to say. I would suggest us all to go see him. He seems kind enough. With a lovely family. And perhaps good knowledge."

[Blindwalker]

.

[lazarusofartemis]

Kat couldn't be bothered waiting for Yuri's decision. If they weren't going to go see George Black, then she would go by herself.
Alex hadn’t returned to the ship yet, so Kat decided to take another walk around the village. Besides, the sun wasn’t about to set just yet.
The village was so incredibly primitive and simple, it bored Kat. Where as in San Francisco it was filled with colorful shops and interesting people, there everyone seemed like sheep.
Just for fun she picked some coins out of passer’s pockets, paid children to go steal fruit for her and even raided some unwary villager’s bags.
She entered a simple looking shop. It was filled with dull colored old fashioned clothing. She spotted a camel dress and wandered to it. Kat felt fabric, playing with the idea of buying the dress. The color reminded her of John’s hair.
“Are interested in that?” as voice asked. She whirled around and saw John. Speak of the devil…
She took a deep breath. “Maybe. I don’t usually like dresses.”
“Is that the reason you are dressed like a young gentleman?” he asked with a grin.
Kat shrugged. He reached over her and pulled the dress off the rack, along with a matching ribbon. John strolled over to the shop clerk and paid her. Ekaterina was stunned.
He smiled at her as he handed the pieces of clothing to her. She shook her head.
“No, I can’t accept this. That dress was very expensive,” she said quickly.
“Take it. If you can help me, than you won’t have to feel so guilty.”
“How can I help you?” she asked, taking it gingerly from him.
“You have powers, Kat. Maybe you could drive away those pestering villagers,” he said as he exited the store. Kat followed him.
“I guess I could try,” she said, looking at the angry mob by the inn.
She handed John the dress, ribbon and satchel of random things she had stolen.
Kat took a deep breath and focused on the mob. A soft wind blew and a memory flashed past her. Before she knew it, an old ugly woman was pushing her way past the crowds. She stood in front of them all and smiled.
“I am Baba Yaga!” she screeched in Russian. “And I will eat you all!”
The crowd stared at her in confusion. Baba Yaga gave a horrible cackle, and then raised her hands in the air. Kat felt shivers down her spine.
The inn suddenly went up in flames. Villagers screamed and pushed at one another, trying to get away from the building. The door flung open, and a deep, morose shadow slithered out. It was huge creature, chasing the villagers away and driving them elsewhere.
“Kat? Kat?!” she heard someone call. She felt a warm hand shaking her shoulder.
She snapped out of her projection and almost slipped and fell. There was no fire, Baba Yaga, shadow demon or villagers by the inn.
John pulled her into a hug. She could hear him laughing.
“Thank you!” he said. “Thank you so much! I do not know what you did, but that was incredible.”
He let her go and his face was beaming. Kat couldn’t help but smile back.
“You are amazing, Ekaterina Volkova,” he said.
She felt her heart beat faster, but she also noticed the disappearing sun.
“I must leave now,” she said.
“Wait, before you go, I have something for you.” He handed all her belongings back and also gave her a folder that Kat had noticed he had.
“What is this?” she asked. She stared curiously at the folder, then into John’s eyes.
“It’s about the angels in New York,” John said, lowering his voice. “Personally, I have no idea what they have to do with aether, but this might help.”
“Thank you,” Kat said, still looking at his eyes.
Something came over her and she couldn’t help it. Kat grabbed John’s shirt collar and pulled him down, giving him a mere kiss.
“Good bye,” she said. She quickly turned and ran back to the ship.
Ekaterina Volkova had not felt so surprisingly joyous since the day she discovered the piano.

[Augustus Longeye]

"Of course, that makes the most sense. Unless you've found anything interesting here shall we head off?"

[The Corsair]

"Sounds good. Connecticut gentlemen. Set a course for Hartford." He announced to the men.

--

Rosie already had a flight plan that meant she could lock the controls in the right direction giving them some time alone away from the wheel while the others got set. She was beginning to find this kind of life a little comfortable. Granted, she hadn't yet had the 'normal' life of her own she'd envisioned when she ran away. It was becoming normal to fly places spending time with Falko, who she increasingly saw a future with, and secretly saving the world. She almost didn't want the next step in life to arrive.

They were all in the air by about midnight after a quick refuel and they began the journey to Hartford...

[YetAnotherMatt]

Group two continued their patrolling, but evidence was thin on the ground. Bay nine had exhausted most of their supplies of rarer materials, but they now had large stockpiles of the cylinders, weaponry, communication devices, and even the odd 'enhanced' round for the Raptor's magnetic cannon.

Testing on everything but advanced cannon rounds had proceeded well. Soon he would transfer a couple to the Raptor for him and Fergus to test fire.

--- ---

"Enemy scout sighted sir."

"Active defence systems online. Prepare to engage."

[Thebeastyness]

He had been practicing his power for months now and he believed that he had, once and for all. Fully mastered his power. He had found out one more thing throughout his training though. With a lot of focus and concentration he could age certain things from a very short distance (he had figured this out when he had wilted a very small plant). But now after all this training it was finally time to face Mr Smith; all he had to do was look for the only building standing then follow it.

[thefrozenwulf]

yuri saw kat running back to the ships, and wondered where she had been. she was carrying a dress, some ribbon, a satchel, and a folder for files. "where did you go? he asked.

[lazarusofartemis]

"I went back to the town," she said with a large smile. "George Black's son gave me this...I think we should take a look at it. Preferably when everyone's here."
Kat yawned. "I am so extremely tired. It would be so kind of you to let me sleep. We can take a look at everything tomorrow."
She retired to her bed, put her gifts away and fell asleep immediately.

[The Corsair]

They arrived in Hartford at about 7 am, thankfully less early then they did in providence.

Once all of them had gathered around the landed ships, as was almost standard practice now, he gave a quick set of instructions, not that they overly needed them...
"Same plan, we ask around for him. If we find nothing then it's back to New York where we wait for the others."

[thefrozenwulf]

Yuri was suspicious of the people Kat had met. he thought that he should probably contact falko and talk with him about it, but he had no idea where he was.

[MWBailey]

 

Master Gill had hired a man of russian ancestry, a glazier (windowmaker), to build windows for a bunch of upscale cottages in Shropshire. Fergus had listened to the folktales that the man's parents had passed down to him. He told the old stories to ease the tediousness of the work, while Fergus helped with the waste carving and heavy sawing of the numerous raw wooden pieces from which the man made the myriad intricately-pieced window sashes, muntins, and other interlocking pieces of the whole. Fergus thus knew about the rudiments of the Baba Yaga legends, and at least a few of her exploits. HE had also heard about teh ruckus in town, and greeted Kat when he saw her approaching the ships.

"Top o' th' evenin' to ye, Miss Kat, an' welcome back," Fergus said from the cargo bay gangway of the Raptor, where local workmen and stevedores were loading the anvil and portable forge he'd located. Apparently the local blacksmith had seen the 'magical' display and sold Fergus the items, practically forcing them on the Irishman in his haste to move elsewhere.

"Did ye foind out anythin' useful? An' sure an' it's a foine thing, ye bein' alright 'n' all," he said with a knowing wink. "I 'eard tell they was a foire an' a witch runnin' amuck! Strange toimes we 'ave these days, aye? Just make sure she dinna leave 'er mortar an' pessle layin' aboot, I'd 'ate tae 'ave someone trip an' fall!" He said, winking again and chuckling.

[Man of Steam]

Alex followed the person with the aura, and saw him give something to Kat. He found his way back to the Raptor soon after, where he intended to talk to the rest of his companions.
Seeing some people already at the hanger, he went into a speech he rehearsed.
"Look everyone, I think we should check in with the other group, I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired not finding any leads."

[The Corsair]

Just as he was about to leave to search Hartford, Henry Skarssen ran out from the landed Implacable.
"Mr Hoogenboome! We have received a transmission from the Hammer. They're in Salem and haven't been anywhere else. We may have quite a wait in New York unless they return after checking Salem. How should I respond?"
He thought for a short moment.
"Tell them to finish up whatever is happening in Salem and return immediately to New York afterwards. We need to regroup fast. Mr Rowe has a way of finding this man."

He decided to stick around while the transmission was sent back to the Hammer. When captain Skarssen re-emerged from the Implacable, it was again at a run.
"Mr Hoogenboome! After sending the message a transmission was received from New York. No reports of angels thankfully but apparently an unidentifiable fleet has been spotted about a day's flying away from the city! "
Oh god. Was his only thought as he yelled to the others to get back in their ships. New York was in danger and they were the only people who had experience in fighting this threat from the air. New York needed them.

[lazarusofartemis]

She woke up later in the night, feeling rather groggy. Kat didn't feel tired at all and could hear Alex speaking by the hanger. She pulled herself out of bed, grabbed the folder from under her pillow and stumbled out to where her crew were.
"G'evening, fellows," Kat said with a yawn. "Why are you all up so late? Well, I'm guessing you all are too bothered by this to go to sleep."
She showed everyone her folder, then she opened the brown parcel and pulled out an envelope. She picked it up and tore it open.
Dear Kat,
I hope that you are reading this not longer after I have given you this folder of information. This is a very important message. Please read this carefully as I will say it only once. Do not come back to the inn. You are in great danger. You may not know this, but my father is not a very good man. His intentions are only evil and he wants to hurt you and your friends. Father has been studying aether for years and years, but he has never gotten near any evidence of it. He is desperate. Now that you are your friends have arrived, he will do anything to be the man who knows the most about aether in the world. Please, do not return. Instead, may you meet me at 2 o’clock in the morning, two blocks away from the inn, by the antiques store. I will give you copies of my father’s findings. After that, you all must leave as soon as possible.
Love,
John
Kat ran back to her bed and grabbed her sack of stolen goods. She dug out her stolen watch. It read five to two.
“To the village, men! Go!” Kat yelled.