"STEAM LONDON" Game Thread

[Nigel Wetherby]

"Christ almighty it's dimmer than a creationist's view on Aether physics in here..." Grumbled Patrick, rummaging through the cylindrical container at his side He drew from this case a small, round, copper-colored ball. He flipped a tiny switch and within seconds, an incandescent fountain of white, sparkling fire illuminated the room. A third party let loose a shriek of pain as he clutched his eyes.
George smirked and prepared his firearm. "It appears as if we have guests...." Said Patrick with an indidious grin on his face.
I will not begin to interpret the horrors that followed by the hand of MR. O'landry, I will only specify that it involved 3 feet of twine, a tootpick, and a lime-green sweater vest, and a jar of blackberry prezerves.

Patrick clapped the dust from his hands, George looked sickened. "That was by far...the most...unnervingly efficient thing I have ever seen."
"Working with pirates, one learns a few tricks." Patrick sternly replied.

[Stella Gaslight]

"So I see" George said.  "We better get back to the Captain it will be easier if we all attack tougher."  He stopped half way up the stairs doubling over as the aether's pull started to rip him out of Emma's body.  "Damn it." He muttered trying to fight it off.  It was too late the battery was almost spent and without it's help he couldn't hold on. 

He grabbed Patrick's shoulder and did the most foolish thing he could think of.  He decided to trust the Monkey with Emma's safety. "Listen I can't hold on for much longer.  When I go it is going to take Emma a little bit to come to her senses.  Here."  He pressed a sealed bottle in to the monkey's hand.  "Make sure she drinks all of it or it won't stop the nausea and the pain  She might fight you a bit and I don't blame her it tastes like year old coolant looks."  George had lost all of the bravado he charged in to battle and was looking worn through with worry.  "Take good care of her O'landry or I swear to god I will find a way to hunt you down."  With that the battery died and he was gone leaving Emma's still body sprawled on the stairs.  Patrick realized George had called him by his name for the first time and the serous duty that came with it. Alone in the glow of the copper-colored ball he watched Emma for signs of life, weapon aimed out in to the darkness. No one would get by him.

[bluestocking]

Lakshmi neatly emptied twenty-four rounds into the boarding parties, all four arms moving in concert. There was no time to reload; she dropped the gun belt as dead weight and drew the large bent-bladed knife from the small of her back and a narrow dagger from a boot-top.

"I have to get those cables cut!" Ben shouted.

She nodded. "I weakened two of them - see, there and there - with the .45. They're under enough tension that if you can take out the other one, I think they'll snap."

"How on earth to do that, though?"

She looked at the discarded aethercannon. "That thing?"

"Out of power, no idea how to recharge it, and Patrick's in the engine room somewhere. I'm not enough of a marksman to wing the third cable; think you could?"

She considered the angles. "Not really, and I'm out of ammunition, anyway."

"Damn. Let's deal with those boarders, at least, but we'll have to figure out a way to cut ourselves free - and sooner would be better than later."

[T.Taylor the Third]

Meanwhile....A dashing man in fashinable clothing leaves printshop carining poster and glue. he is totaly unaware of the drama unfolding high above him...He pastes the posters all along his winding route home oftan on prominant monuments smileing slightly....as he nears his home he mutters "hmh..Sought by prominent people it says...the police mabe..okay i need a job, a hiest or adventuere..i have hidden theives, assaisins and other unsavory guild marks on my poster, people looking for that will see them and contact me....I hope. and i can always make weapons for people like it says in my poster" he steps back to admire his handy work, having glued the poster over a mural of the queen. it says

ATTENTION ALL THOUSE IN NEED OF SCIENTIFIC HELP!
HIRE THOMAS TAYLOR, SCIENTIST, INVENTORE, WEAPON EXPERT AND EXPLORER EXTRODINARE
HE CAN EASILY PROVIDE YOU WITH ADVACED WEAPONS, THE BEST OF THE AGE,
ASK ABOUT HIS ELECRIGUN
HIS SURVISES ARE SOUGHT AFTER BY MANY PROMINENT PEOPLE
COME TODAY
142 Baker St. Upper London

"well I didnt lie about my self"
He continues down the street and turns down a side alley and quickly makes his way home.

[Nigel Wetherby]

Patrick Opened the cork of the strange concoction, holding the bottles mouth to his nose curiously and quickly pulling away, a sickened look on his face, the sour, acrid reek made him nauseous beyond recognition. "This swill's supposed ta cure nausia!?" He looked down at Emma and began to gently pat the sides of her face. "Em? Emma come back to us..." He said with a bit of a worried tone.
Emma groaned deliriously, staring up at the red-haired young man who's eyes darted between her and the dangers outside.

Patrick suddenly and quickly pressed the vial of sheer vilenes to her lips, she pushed away for a moment, but Patrick managed to He pinch her nose to assure she swallowed the entire contents of the bottle. After a quick slap across the cheek, Patrick was assured she was fine by the sheer stinging of the slap.
"Glad ta see yer kickin' Miss Em! George placed ya under my care, and I aint about ta' anger someone who could kill me without even seein' 'im." He said holding his revolver into the darkness.

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma blinked hard rubbing her fingers over the bridge of her nose trying to dispel some lingering double vision.  "That never gets any more pleasant but at least it works. Sorry for hitting you." He handed Emma back her glasses as she sat up shakily.  "I take it since you have your weapon out we have yet to see Black's backside?"  Patrick briefed her on what had happened while she was out.

 At news of the borders Emma froze, nervously starring out in to the darkness.  "I think we will be all right if we can just make it back to the aetherphone in the lounge.  With George to scout ahead we should be able to toss the borders and get out of here."  She was obviously frighted but trying to sound brave for Patrick.  He helped her to her feet and she was reluctant to let go of his hand.  She stayed close to the glow of the copper-colored ball, handling blunderbuss/gatling gun like a club.

They reached the top of the staircase when Patrick heard what sounded like people coming their way.  He motioned for Emma to get behind him.  Patrick aimed his pistol at the direction he heard them coming from and Emma tried to do the same but she didn't quite know how to work the sights. She could hear the sound of boots on wood getting closer now.

[Stella Gaslight]

(We jump back in time some weeks ago to London leaving the Boheme hanging in peril for a moment)   

Nathanial Walker had the worst nights sleep he could remember in decades.  Every time he closed his eyes the man vanishing replayed itself in his mind.  If he didn't try to find some answers he wasn't going to sleep tonight either.  The problem was he had no idea where to start.  Sighing he started for Bucer's Quill maybe someone there could help point him in the right direction. Nathanial had made it half way down the street when he spotted a freshly pasted poster.

ATTENTION ALL THOESE IN NEED OF SCIENTIFIC HELP!
HIRE THOMAS TAYLOR, SCIENTIST, INVENTORE, WEAPON EXPERT AND EXPLORER EXTRODINARE
HE CAN EASILY PROVIDE YOU WITH ADVACED WEAPONS, THE BEST OF THE AGE,
ASK ABOUT HIS ELECRIGUN
HIS SURVISES ARE SOUGHT AFTER BY MANY PROMINENT PEOPLE
COME TODAY
142 Baker St. Upper London

At first he wanted to call such plainly exaggerated tails false and be on his way but then he stared to think that this Mr. Taylor person might be just what he needed. The vanishing man must have left some trace behind and maybe this scientist could find it.  If Mr. Taylor turned out to be no help all Nathanial would just go back to his first idea.  He hailed a cab and told the driver the address from the poster.

Nice place he thought admiring the lion's head knocker on the white front door and the well tended window boxes.  He knoked and waited to see just what this so called sicentist looked like.

[T.Taylor the Third]

Bang Bang...the knock On the Door woke Thomas from his half sleep in the large arm chair. "A knock?" he thought drowsily, than it clicked and he jumped up, "someone is answering my ad" he thought as he made his way around strange boiling beakers and an intricate backpack to the door.
He Opened the Door in a hurry, sending the papers piled on a near desk flying. The Man at the door was of average hight with a well living attitude to him. The dark circles under his eyes spoke to nights without sleep.
Thomas thought he look familiar but Couldn't place him, until he spoke.
"Mister taylor i presume?" the man said, "My name is Nathan Walker, and I own Walkers Books down on tinkers row. I have a problem and I wonduring if you could help me."  An image of the man lunging at him flashed through thomas's mind, "ah..yes..um..well what can i do for you?" thomas winced to himself at what seemed such an obvious cover.
Nathan Also seemed to remember thomas from someware, "well i rent a  office above my store and it was robbed a few nights ago, and i cant understand how it was done, so i was wondinring if you could take a look,"  Thomas laughed inwardly at that and thought it very ironic Walker should come to him for help,"well, that seems more a Job for detective Holmes, He lives just down the street," he dearly hoped that the man would go away. "well Holmes is a bit..odd, i think." said Nathan" and he couldn't say how this happend, you see the thief vanished before my eyes."

Thomas took a deep breath"well than why don't you come inside."
Beckoning Walker in. when walker had entered rhomas look around the street and than shut the door to the cold night air.     

[Stella Gaslight]

Nathanial sat on a squishy armchair near the fireplace. "You see Mr. Taylor some years ago I rented the office above my shop to a Miss Lighton.  She opened a scientific consulting business that seem to be going well for her until she left one night and never came back.  I got a letter from her about a week later asking me to hold her mail, lock her office up and not to open it again for anyone unless she was with them in person. 

Now Miss Lighton was rather odd and I didn't think much of the request until a few weeks ago when I received another letter asking to ship out the contents of her lab and office to somewhere in Russia of all places.  There were other odd things about it too now that I think of it.  She always called me Nick, said I reminded her of her brothers but the letter referred to me by last name only and there was no mention of her late partner Professor Lewistine.  I have only known her a few years but not a day went by where she didn't mention him. 

I ignored the letter and thought nothing of it but then a few nights ago I heard something moving around up stairs. I thought maybe Miss Lighton had come back so I went up to check. The door was still locked tight but I could see a light moving inside.  I unlocked the door and caught a man rifling thought her desk.  He looked up at me blankly and then vanished like the cheshire cat.  The hands he was holding papers in was the last thing to go.  I have never seen anything like it.  I left the odd lamp he carried and the papers he had been holding and locked the door behind me.  I couldn't think of anything else to do.

Something has happened to Miss Lighton, something that is bringing danger to my door step and I want to know what.  Because of her scientific background I thought someone like yourself could be a help.  So do you think you are up to the task?"

[T.Taylor the Third]

as Nathan spoke Thomas toyed with shooting the man, but decided that would create more trouble than it would solve. he suddenly noticed that Nathan had finished talking, "I think I may be able to help, let me grab some things and i shall go now."  he quickly gathered up some small knives and stuck them in his pocket, he also grab a working, if bulky, electrigun and his new, smaller unfinished Aether ray along with the parts to finish it, these he stuck into the odd looking backpack, for appearances he also took a visual enhancer and a note book and pencil. Grabbing a bowler from his coat rack, He turned to Mr.Walker, Who was rather taken aback by the flury of activity Thomas had just displayed,"alright lets go," Said Thomas "oh Um alright" the flustered Nathan lead the way and haled a coach, soon they had arrived a tinker row.

Once again  Nathan lead the way, "this is my book shop, and up here" he said walking to a flight of stairs "is Miss Leighton's office" they proceed up the stairs and Nathan opened the door revealing a cluttered but neat office, a strange lamp sat glowing on the desk beside a pile of papers that seemed out of place on the desk, "So this is that Odd lamp you spoke of, and these are the papers, eh?'' Thomas looked them over with all the care he imagined a person who had never seen them before would. the Papers were detailed drawing of a strange mechanism, "I say, Do you have any idea what this might be?" He asked Nathan. Of course he knew perfectly well what it was but he wasn't going to revel that to Nathan just yet.

[Stella Gaslight]

"Miss Lighton did a lot of repair work for the factories and shipyards around here but her personal line of experimenting was wave mechanics through the aether.  I think she described the device she was working on as a converter with a super saturated battery.  She was trying to improve on the aether generator that killed Professor Lewistine.  The poor thing thought that somehow she could bring him back if she perfected it.  Her first letter hinted that she had made some sort of brake through but she never said what it was."   Nathanial was staring to think this might not have been such a good idea.  For all he knew Mr. Taylor could be in on the whole thing.  "So what do you think it is?" he asked suspiciously wishing he had some sort of weapon.

[T.Taylor the Third]

Thomas had made up his mind to kill the man, ''he suspects, if he doesn't know, that it was I who was here, trying to find those papers, to think i had them in my hand only to leave them because this Buffoon startled me"thomas thought"if i can recreate that converter and battery, i could have a near unlimited power  supply, i could easily power my backpack, my guns, everything!"
this all took no longer than it takes a gun to fire.
Thomas answered as his hand crept in to the pocket, containing his special throwing knives, "Well, I'm not really certain but it seems that one could create near unlimited power with it and.." with that his hand shot out and 2 small knives emerged from it at high speed, one hit Nathan in the thigh and one in the arm, the power with which they were thrown knocked the man downand to his astonishment he found he could not move, " ugh...yu..Wat did...you do to...me.."  he managed to choke out , his worst suspicions confirmed " I knew i shouldn't trust this man but he seemed so nice..."
Thomas calmly took the papers he had not maneged to retrieve on his last visit and placed them in an inner pocket of his coat, " Knives dressed with the venom of a little known viper from east India, you will be paralyzed for several hours as least, time which you can think about how i am about to do this,"  thomas took his knives from there places in Nathans body and after wiping them on the mans shirt returned them to his pocket, he than stood removed his back pack and set on the desk, he pushed a few buttens and set a pointer on what appeared to be a map of London. he then donned the pack turned to Nathan And said simply "Goodbye"  gave an elegant bow and Vanished.   

[T.Taylor the Third]

A man Materialised in a dark alley many streets away from Walkers bookstore, He was about 12 feet off the ground, "not again" he said as he bagain to fall. He landed Hard. when he finally struggled up he said to himself " Thomas, that was a foolish thing to do, He knows were you live and what you look like all he has to do is call the boys in blue and i'll be in jail sooner than...Id better get home" with that the young man took of at a dead run.       

[Stella Gaslight]

(One last bit in London  from me before going back to the ship.)
He sat in silence, blood clotting, wounds aching and unable to call for help but that was temporary and he could endure. Thomas didn't know it but he had broken the one rule the inventors and madmen of Tinkers row kept above all others. An outsider had stolen from them and their would be no peace until what was taken was returned and the thief was dealt with. 

As harmlessly eccentric as they seemed now has soon as the news went out mobs would form to hunt the streets for  Mr. Taylor.  Weapons unlike anything yet witnessed would not be sheathed until the offender was caught and put to their justice. 

Nathanial bide his time plotting until the venom passed and he could unleash the unhinged fury of Tinker's row.  Soon the smug smile would be struck from Taylor's face and he would rue the day he set foot on their street. 

[T.Taylor the Third]

Thomas was  packing his things, getting ready to move when he heard a commotion outside, he glanced out the window and saw a large crowed of men and women all caring strange weapons, he was forced to duck back down as a blazing blue bolt of energy burned through the window and into the wall opposite.
it only took took him a few moments to figure out why they  were after him,
" Nathan" he said with clinched teeth, He Ran over to his backpack and began shoveling things in, his pockets were soon bulging with weapons, money and anything else he could lay hands on. he put on the backpack and grabbed a small round device, he pushed some buttons on it, set it gently on the floor..and than he vanished.................


the Mob was about to reach his door when an enormous explosion rocked the foundations, inventors were thrown every direction weapons flying.

a man Appeared in the street only a hundred yards from the inventors just as the explosion transformed his home into a blazing inferno, silently cursing himself for not replasing the batteries in his pack,"This is TOO CLOSE to them" he thought.
he tried to look casual as he  walked away, he failed.

"There he is" yelled Nathan who, knowing about the telaportation unit, had kept his eyes peeled for any one just appearing.
Soon the whole crowed was chasing after Thomas, who as he ran fired of random blast from his elecrigun, two of them hit an elderly gentleman, He fell not to rise again.

Infuriated at the death of the old man the crowed put on more speed, as did Thomas. " Got to find lily find lily find lily" he kept saying to himself "Shes at the Docks" Soon the entire mob was nearing the docks, the mobs size had grown as police men joined trying to stop the mob, and anyone who just loved a good brawl started into the mob as well.

Thomas ran and vaulted the fence surrounding the docks , no small feat, He made bee line for a sleek aethercraft, he ran up the gang plank just as the mob breached the fence (they cut a hole). "LILY!!!! GET UP WE GOTTA GO!! NOW" Thomas yelled,  a young lady who looked slightly younger than Thomas ran out of a door and started yelling at him " WHAT DO YOU WANT YOU IDIOT?!?!?" Thomas pointed at the angry crowed that was almost to the ship, the girl's eyes got big, than she spun around and started yelling orders for her crew, for she was the Pirate Captan Black Lily.
 a crew appeared from various holds and quickly  got to work, the crew consisted of both males and females....the mob had reached the gang plank just as the crew was pulling it up, some of the younger inventors jumped onto it and charged up to meet the foe, While the older ones started shooting at the ship it self, But to no avail, all the bolts that hit the gasbag bounced off its metallic hide. the young inventors fought hard  but were soon subdued  as the beautiful air ship pulled away from the docks and headed of into the night.
The Captan Had the inventors thrown over board but not from a hight high enough to kill them, then she turned to Thomas and said.....       

[trilian42]

or rather Shouted "WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT, DID YOU KILL SOMEONE AGAIN!?"

Thomas was rather cowed by that and he maneged to say "no, no I just stole some planes for a battery thing and hurt some one, and not even bad."

Lily was Rather incredulous but she did believe him, after all she had known him for a long "So, what do you want?" "well I want to Go with you wherever your going "  "We're Going to China, Thats a long way just to escape some angry old men." "Yeah Well, I have to build that battery and see if it works and if it doesn't, well, i think you can make a lot of trouble for him," "Or HER"  "alright sorry, or her."  Thomas Decided it was time to change the subject, " So I see You built her exactly to specifications on the plans i got you huh?"

Lily Was always ready to praise her ship, The Bloody Flower "Yes and its the fastest ship ever, Just look at her sleek lines and Beautiful crafts man ship.
and the Skin for the gas bag, It deflects any thing thats thrown at it, did you see how those shots just bounced of oh it was..." She Noticed Thomas wasn't
Paying attention, "TRIP, ARE YOU LISTINING?" Thomas Grinned at her use of his familiar name, "do you have any food, Lil?" Grinning a maddening smile.
" I hate him some times and yet i love him, but he is my..." her thoughts trailled of as she answered with a wry smile " you haven't changed at all, have you? still thinking about your stomach before personal danger." Thomas scoffed at this " Ha Personal Danger is that some sort of threat? you know you couldn't hurt me." lily was forced to agree "well, no, come on lets go and eat."

As they walked of deck some of Lily's crew wondered about the man who was able to wake their captan and not get impaled with a sword, some of the more observant ones noted a similarity of attire and mannerisms along with strikingly similar faces.   

[T.Taylor the Third]

that was all a week ago..

Thomas is trying to build the converter and battery

BOOM

its not working

"Trip!" Captan lily runs to his cabin smoke pores out through the door.

"I'm fine" says trip as he stagers from the cabin" just a minor problem"

"Oh, Whats that?"

"IT WONT WORK!!!"  Trip (Thomas) collapsed on the floor "*sigh* are we soon to be in china?"

"in a few days, maybe a week"

"OK...Oh hey look what i found among those papers its a picture of some one with what i believe is the working machine.  on the back it says Emma."

"Emma?"

"thats miss lighton, she and her deceased partner invented that thing but i cant make it work...
maybe if i could find her a could 'Persuade' her to confide in me plans that would work. hmm"

"Persuade?" Lily smirked

"Hey,  I can be very persuasive and after all the Lady's love me."

Lily admitted the truth of this than said. "When We dock in China are you going to stay with the ship or leave and search for this Emma Character?"

"Ill probably start looking for her and when i find her i plan to play the gallant man of science shes always dreamed of,...do you think she Has dreamed of a gallant Man of science?"
   
"oh Most defiantly"

[trilian42]

"its to bad thats not what she is getting!" mumbled the captain, "so u plan to sweep her off her feet and make her fall in love with you?" she said allowed.
"precisely!" trip (thomas) answered
"wont work!" she said flatly.
"and why is that "captain?" he said captain with a teas in his voice.
"because you have a sick personality thats why not!!!" she grimaced, "you have absolutely no heart!!!! if you did i of all people would know it!! I'm the one thats a pirate!!!" at that moment her bosun called for some help at the helm of their craft and thus the conversation ended.

[T.Taylor the Third]

Thomas Followed the captan out on deck and there beheld a sight worth remembering, two air ships engaged in air combat, well three if you  counted the odd contraption being towed by on of the zeppelins
"what should we do captan?" the bosun ask "engage?"

"hmm,i think we should just-" she was interupted by Trip "attack the pirates, they seem to be winning and i just love spoiling peoples day..(he realized Lily was looking rather minicing)..um..Please?"

Lily tried to suppress her smile but to no avail "Ok we shall attack the ship that shot the grappling hooks, Which one is that bosun?"
the Woman looked through a telescope "its the...on on the right, the name on it is the eastern star."

"Black's ship? Well i think i will enjoy this after all" lily said. Trip was rather confused by this "who's ship?"
"oh just an old rival, last time we fought he won but i think this time shall be differint."

Captan Black Lily Looking every inch the pirate queen started yelling orders that would let them broad side Black
   "roll Out the ElectriCanons and the  Queens Pride" she yelled, This caught Trips attention "electricannons? didn't i give you those?"
 "yes Yes you did and they have proven so affective I use them almost exclusively,"  she said
-"but whats the Queens Pride?"  he said
"well what other weapon did you install? hmm?"  Trip got rather excited about this "you mean...the Grick? why'd you Change its name?"

"well the Grick is just not good name for a female pirates weapon."
Trip rally wasn't interested  in the name "Let Me fire it Please,"

in the center of the deck a panel split open and an enormous Gun  slowly rose out of the bottome of the ship, the loud *CLANG*  of the clamps closing to hold it in place told them it was ready to fire

shaking her head and thinking she was totally right about him having no heart she said "sure, Better Get Ready We are almost there," Trip ran to get behind the giant gun ready to fire it,

Lily Gave one last Order Before her ship came up beside Blacks " Raise the Skull and Crossed Lilys"

with that they engaged combat.   

[trilian42]

they closed in on blacks ship "ready the canons!" she said with a hint of enthusiasm for she truly was looking forward to this battle, for She knew that she would win!  The Bloody Flower came up beside Black's Ship,

"Fire!" She yelled as only a Pirate can, her Cannons roared and bolt of electricity tore into the Eastern Star, the damage Looked quite bad but to Lily's Trained eye, the damage was superficial.

though she would have loved to not use the queens Pride at all just to make trip mad She was not that petty
She walked over to him  "Trip" she said " I'm only using you because We need to cripple the Eastern Star and The Pride is the best way, understand?" Trip Nodded "alright than you only have two shots before the battery is drained, Make them count."  She ran and took the wheel, turning the drifting vessel back tord the Star  " You Ready ? on my mark...FIRE."   

*VRWEERIIIIE*

the Queens Pride roared, Rocking the Airship violently and temporarily deafening the crew.  Lily's vision swam as the sonic impulse from the Pride went over her and Slammed into the  port side engine of the star.

Trip walked over to lily and was grinning with unbridled enthusiasm "Yes that was incredable!"
Lily Looked at his grinning form and than at the horrible damage to the star " You are dispicable for enjoy such whilesale death and distruction,"
Trip was rather confused by this "uh....What? but your a Pirate you make a living enjoying it"
Lily Gave him a burning look and stalked over to her first mate.

[Nigel Wetherby]

The door to the engine room was ripped open. A massive man stood in the doorframe, his hands were those of automitous prosthetics powered by aetherium, and resembling bronze, skeletal claws. Patrick gave a deep and shaky gulp as he held out his revolver.
The massive man stepped aside, and a familiar captain stepped foreward.
"Ahhhh if it isn't the cabin boy who would be an engineer...Heh, I should have fed you to the Sky-krakens when I had the chance....Give me the girl, an I will consider letting you captain this ship....think....Patrick O'landry, captain of the Boheme....."
Patrick looked back at emma and roared back, "NEVER!!"

[Stella Gaslight]

"Foolish boy you will be meat for the krakens yet." Capitan Black gave the man with the metal hands a nod and he advanced. Emma stepped out in front of Patrick, gun aimed firmly at the large man's head. This was her fault and she wasn't going to let them lay a hand on Patrick. "Step back or I will shoot." 

He obeyed but Black himself stepped forward blocking her shot.  "Come back Emma.  I just want you home safe with me."  His voice changed becoming soft and kind.  The type of voice people would use to soothe frightened animals. 

Black smiled at her looking the same way he used to when he would surprise her with gifts or an afternoon of amusements.  She couldn't help but think of that clear and cloudless night over Spain were they waltzed beneath a endless starry sky.  Emma could almost hear the sweet tones of the music box they had danced to.  A faint blush rose to her cheeks remembering his chase kiss.  It had been her first and she had hoped it would never end.  He held out his hand and she wanted to take it.  It had been good with him once.  They had loved each other but that felt like ages ago and now he was here threatening her friends.

"No." She said

"What?' Black said anger ebbing in to his voice.

"I won't go back to that pack of lies.  You can't fool me any more."  She was getting angry too.

He stepped forward and struck quick as a cobra pulling the gun from her inexperienced hands, tossing it aside and griping one of her wrists.  "Come with me now or I will blast this ship and everyone on it out of the skies." He raged.  Emma opened her mouth to say something and was interrupted by the sonic impulse from the Pride plowing in to The Star.  Using his distraction she pulled herself free and lunged for the discarded gun.

[Nigel Wetherby]

Her lunge was met with a sharp strike across the cheek, leaving behind a red mark. Quickly, the captain drew his rapier and held it to her chest. "I assure you, my pretty, i wont kill you, but you will be in quite some pain on the way to my infirmary should you attempt to do that again! Now i suppose i'll have to punish you for that little attempt....I suppose you can work with just one eye!"
With a mighty thrust, he lunged foreward.

The clang of steel filled the air. A curved sabre's blade diverted Captain Black's rapier's path.
Patrick held the sabre tightly, George's words echoing in his head, fire burning in his chest.
"You'll not lay another hand on her...." Said Patrick, his voice voice trembling just a moment, then becoming steady with the steel beams of duty and goal.
"For her sake....I will NOT fail!!"
"You always were a fool, boy..." Sneered the captain.
"I learned from the best." Replied Patrick, an unsteady smirk across his pale face.
Amidst the chaos of battle, the swabbie and the captain had become locked in combat, swords clashing, sparks flying.

[sir charles of tayle]

BOOM!
Nathaniel jumped out of bed at the sound thunder close enough to shake his windows in their frames which had rudely awakened him from his already bad dream.  He was jumpy these days and nightmares recalling the day Taylor got him with knives and left him paralyzed for hours were common.  It was horrible being paralyzed, things happening all around you seeing and hearing them but completely helpless to respond.  Nathaniel had decided it was almost worse than death. He had taken to avoiding sleep to spend his nights plotting.  Taylor would rue the day he decided to take on Nathaniel Walker.  If only he had a transport he could give chase to the horrible thief.

"rap rap"

Nathaniel checked his dressing gown pocket to be sure the small pistol he had taken to carrying with him everywhere was still inside and went to the door thinking. "Now what kind of fool would be our paying visits on a night like this?" He opened the door to another lighting and thunder strike, the flash made the back lit form not much more than a tall slender black shadow. 
"Mr. Walker I presume?" asked the man in the black trench coat.

"err,umm who?"  Nathaniel fumbled very unnerved by this character, half wondering if he wasn't still dreaming.  The man waited patiently for Nathaniel to compose himself, "Errr, yes thats me." he finally managed.  "May I come in?" asked the man.

Nathaniel realizing that it was after all raining, as much as he wouldn't like it he should let the man come in where its dry "Oh yes of course, come get out of this beastly weather." said Nathaniel opening the door wider and beaconing the man in.  He made sure his pistol was ready to fire and seated the dripping man just out of reach. Nathaniel arranged himself in the chair across from him aiming his gun at the other man ready to fire at the slightest inclination of trickery. "Hello my name is Charles Tayle, I understand you had an acquaintance with a Mr Thomas Taylor?"

"Acquaintance is not the word I would use."said Nathaniel voice thin and sharp with anger. He was already getting worked up about it again "The little thief took some plans that were entrusted in to my care for a energy source and a very powerful one too.  I tell you sir, if I ever find an airship I will track him down and at the very least paralyze him like he did me if not make sure he is properly ventilated. Miss Lighton trusted me and I want those plans back!" His smile promised a short life full of sharp things and splatters of red for Taylor.

 Charles decided he had come to the right place.  It sounded like Mr Walker would be willing to join him on the hunt. "Ahh yes I see you have many things begrudging Mr.Taylor ,I too have my reasons to want to catch him." said Charles

"Yes but I cannot do anything unless I can somehow get use of an airship to track his miserable hide across the globe and I don't know how I could do that when I can barely afford this house I am living in!"said Nathaniel sadly.

"Mr.Walker" said Charles,"I have an airship".

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma felt a near overwhelming need to cry but refused to give Black or the man with the metal hands the pleasure of seeing her brake down.  Her face stung where he had hit her and she was still recovering from being ripped from her body but that was nothing compared to the painful realization of Capitan Black's true feelings.  She wanted George's voice in her ears,to run away and hide and to forget her time aboard The Star. 

Every time she tried to edge near the gun the man with the metal hands would step closer.  She knew if he grabbed her with those talons their would be no braking free.  The copper orb had rolled off in to a corner leaving her in darkness.  She backed in to a corner wishing she could walk through walls like George. As she touched the wall she heard an odd sound like glass hitting glass. 

Emma broke out in a smile, she wasn't useless yet.  "Battery." She screamed hoping Patrick would understand  and squeezing her eyes shut.