"STEAM LONDON" Game Thread

[ShredsnPatches]

Jennifer wore a silly smile as she drank her tea. Patrick's ministrations were making her feel much better - and strangely flustered at the same time. Just a glimpse of his thin, freckled face and her own face burned.

She noticed the others in the room laughing at a joke or something amusing, and hauled her attention back to the present. Emma was looking highly entertained.

Concentrating furiously on looking at her teacup, she asked aloud "So what happens now?"

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

"I think, for now, you should consider getting some sleep" replied Hudson. "The crew can look after final repairs and lookout duty."

"I think I would like to help with those, sir." said Elisha. "I'm not very tired at the moment." He paused

"By the way, would you happen to have any means of long-range communication aboard the ship?"

Before the Captain could answer, Trip spoke up. "Well, actually, you could help me test a model of long range messenger drone I've been working on...oh, but you would need to have the beacon number of an engineer who also uses the system..."

"That would be fine" replied Elisha.

Later he sat in the small cabin he had been provided. The small messenger drone lay on his bunk, a small metal sphere, with airbag deflated. Luckily there was a tiny desk suiting for his purposes. He thought for a moment, then began writing rapidly.

"Dear Lily,

I have some unfortunate news I would like you to relay to Captain Canning. While over China, the passenger ship I was aboard was shot down by pirates. I have managed to land on board a friendly airship. However, this disaster will probably increase my travelling time considerably. As such, it may be some time before I can reach London and procure the parts. The Captain may have to send someone else (I advise by an Atlantic route) to London. I will attempt to get to London as well and will contact you when I have arrived. Please tell everyone I'm sorry for the delay.

-Elisha "

He paused, pen hovering. He frowned. Suddenly, he scrawled a post script.

P.S.-Please do not worry. I am sure I will arrive in London safe, if not on time. The parts are holding up well. Thank you."

He rolled the note, sealed it and placed it in the drone. Entering the sequence of numbers, he inflated it, opened the porthole, and let it loose into the cold night sky. He watched it for as long as it could be seen. He then exited the cabin and went to the deck to find the Captain and help with repairs.

[Stella Gaslight]

The lights came up as night fell on The Boheme.  They were dimer but at least they weren't flickering any more.  "Well dinner is a good idea and then those going on watch later can get some rest.  Patrick if you aren't too busy can you help me make a parts list for the aether stacks? London is a long way off and we could use the extra power. "

As shadows deepened in the mountains bright white lights chased them from the hidden airship dock. Captain Hieronymus Black watched over the repairs on his ship with hatred and admiration. He had underestimated the crew of The Boheme and that was not an error he would make twice. Black stormed in to the communication's room limping slightly from where Patrick's blade bit his flesh.  Banks of ticker tapes and wireless consoles flowed from an odd device in the center of the room.  It was one of the first things Emma had invented while aboard she called it a failure but while it was running there was no such thing as a secure frequency.

Black scanned the latest print outs it was all favorable news.  His agents in china were set and now all that was needed was for the Boheme to land.  The trap would snap and he would have his little mouse and that annoying flea of an engineer.  She would have to be punished for straying.  The flea would die before her eyes and with him gone she would fall in line will very little fuss.  Emma always had been a timid little mouse.

[Nigel Wetherby]

"OW!" Patrick slapped his neck, crushing a small, insignificant creature from his neck as he jotted down the list of various components and parts. "I think that crazy blighter with the sword gave me fleas!" He rubbed his neck and examined the parasite. "Oh wait, it was just a spider..." He wiped the crushed critter onto the wall as he continued his observations.

"So Em'...what do ya think of that new girl?" He pondered as he scrawled down 'Aetheric batteries' And 'fortified Aetherium capsules'.

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma wrinkled her nose at the spider.  She wasn't one to scream and run from creepy crawlies but heartily disliked having them crawl on her. "She seems incredibility nice and I wonder if she would like to learn some science with us.  Miss Sheehan seems rather intelligent but I think we will have a better idea of what she is like after she has had a rest.  Her face looks like it still smarts not to mention the bruising.  I am rather amazed she wasn't snappish or angry.  I know I tend to get a bit grumpy when in pain." She amended the list with new fan drives and exhaust vents for the new stack.  "I am sorry George was so rude but I think it may mean he accepts you.  Normally he gives anyone that wasn't me the cold shoulder but somehow you got him talking."

She looked up at him with a devious smile.  "You know since we are sharing a room the subject of if what Miss Sheehan thinks of a particular red headed engineer just might come up and if George were to overhear and say something about it, well neither of us is responsible for his being a gossip right?"

[ShredsnPatches]

Jennifer shut the door and leaned her forehead against it for a moment. Having followed the perfunctory directions she had been given to Emma's cabin, she was once again dizzy.

Bed. Yes. I need to sleep.

She struggled for a few minutes with the laces of her hob-nailed boots, before slipping off her plain dress and folding it as carefully as her concussion would allow. Then she slid into the bed in her chemise, and a few moments later was peacefully asleep, hugging her pillow and utterly dead to the world. Her plait fell over the side of the bed and landed on the bundled up dress.

[Nigel Wetherby]

"O-of course!" He said as his face reddened. "But be sure to slip in a few good words about said engineer if possible?" He asked with a bit of a smile and a distraught look of terror crossed, due to the fact that the intanigble being known as George would doubtlessly be very unforgiving with his details of the engineer.

[ShredsnPatches]

Some time Jennifer blearily opened her eyes. Everything hurt. Her muscles were stiff and sore, her face hurt to move, and she had no idea what time it was. Slipping back into her dress, she padded barefoot out of the cabin and decided to explore the rest of The Boheme.

[Stella Gaslight]

Dawn was braking as George drifted in to the stairwell between the cabins and lounge.  Emma had never made it to bed instead she had fallen asleep beside Patrick on the floor of the lounge.  He had picked her up and laid her on a couch before going on watch.  George watched her sleep illuminated by the blue glow from the atherphone on the table and the weak sunlight just starting to creep in the window.  He had done a lot of thinking about Emma and Trip and he was willing to let it be after he saw the look on her face when they touched hands.  If she was happy his opinion didn't matter much right?

 "Good morning Miss Sheehan."  He made her jump slightly as she wandered in to the lounge.  "You are looking much better today."  The box on the table paused as the engines' whine changed in pitch.  "We are coming in to port just now if you look out the window to your left you can see Shenjing coming out of the mist.  The captain squeezed every bit of speed of speed from the engines to get us here safely."  Jennifer thought it was odd to be talking to a box but the voice was rather pleasant.

She watched as large ornate buildings rose out of mist banks like a city in the clouds. They sunk beneath the haze and docked.  "Em." The lump on the couch stirred a little.  "Emma come on it is time to wake up."

"Don't wanna, go away." Emma mumbled trying to burrow her face in to the cushions.

"Emmaline Merryweather Lighton."  George said in a high voice.  "You get your lazy bones out of bed this instant."

"I'm up mom, I am up."  And she was sort of. Her eyes were still closed and her words came out as a grumble.  "Wait, George?  Didn't I tell you to stop doing that."

"You also told me to have you up as soon as we docked no matter what."  This made her eyes pop open as she sat up suddenly.

"I promised the captain I would help secure the ship."  Emma was off and running. She called out good morning to Jennifer on her way out the door.  There was a group of rather official looking people waiting at the end of the gang plank and Emma wondered if the port authority in Kabul had forwarded their fines.

One if them stepped forward and spoke in lightly accented English. "Emmaline Lighton?"

"Yes?" Emma was rather confused what could they want with her?

The man in front of her pulled out a badge.  "You are here by under arrest for the murder of Wong Pi and the suspected deaths of six others including George Lewastine."  Emma stood there eyes wide with shock as he came forward to cuff her absolutely dumbfounded. 

[Nigel Wetherby]

Patrick yawned as the round metal ball from his 'awakening device' (A rather complex rube golberg device involving a live frog and several yards of twine) jarred him from his wonderful dream of swashbuckling adventure, and a delicate irish woman in his muscular arms, her hands pressing his buttery slab of glistening, diamond hard pectorals. However the fantasy was quickly ended as his automatic tea kettle awoke and poured him a cup of earl gray, which he quickly drained and headed deckside to check up on things.

His eyes widened as he saw the policement readying themselves to handcuff Emma. He quickly drew a miniature aether gun from his bed-robe pocket. It was no bigger than a galvanic lucifer, but the issunboushi packed quite a punch. "What the blurdy hell is goin' on here!?"

[Stella Gaslight]

Patrick's voice helped bring Emma back to her senses.  She took a step back and looked at the man before her suspiciously.  "Patrick they say I murdered some one named Wong Pi, George and four others."  She turned to face the officers. "You must have the wrong woman.  I have never been here before and George Lewistine is very much alive." 

The lead officer was very calm.  "We have an entire restaurant full of witnesses and we were able to pull a fingerprint off the weapon that I have no doubt with match yours."

"This is just a big misunderstanding I didn't do any thing.  I haven't left the ship since Kabul any of the crew can tell you that.  Patrick can you please get the aetherphone from the lounge.  Maybe Prof Lewistine himself can help sort things out."  Emma was staring to get nervous she really didn't want to go to prison again.

[Nigel Wetherby]

Patrick quickly sped off and grabbed the Aetherphones, returning with his streamlined design as he held out the Aetherphones. "George! Talk some sense into these loonies!"
George's voice became very audible through the Aetherphones. "We suggest that you do not arrest Miss Emma here, as I am alive and well...To a point anyways. Our dabbling in Aethercraft resulted in this mishap, this is no fault of her own! She has been on the Boheme this entire ti-" His speech was cut short when the aetherphones were blown apart by one of the officer's revolvers.
Patrick's chest becoming the next target.
Rounds were fired.
Patrick fell.

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma looked absolutely horrified as blood spread on Patrick's shirt " Oh no, oh please no.  Come on get up Patrick please.  Patrick I am sorry." It was a tiny whisper that grew louder with each word.  She ran to his side in what felt like slow motion.  He was alive but she was too distraught to remove his clothes and find out the extent of his injures.  "Lakshmi , Ben anyone help!  They have shot Patrick."  She screamed her throat raw as the officers tried to pull her from his side.  Emma fought them with teeth, nails and desperation.  Her vision blurred with tears and lack of air from her hysterical crying.  Eventually they pulled her away kicking wildly her voice a ragged inarticulate wail. She nearly took a chunk out of the man that tried to cuff her and she broke free twice but each time they hauled her back.  The last thing she saw as they forced her in to the lifts was Miss Sheehan rushing to Patrick's side looking shell shocked.

[ShredsnPatches]

"Patrick!!! PATRICK!!!!!" Jennifer cradled the skinny Irishman in her arms, ripping his shirt open to inspect his injuries. What she saw drove the blood from her already pale face.

I promised never to do this again... but I have no choice

Quickly she worked to remove the bullets from Patrick's chest, growing frantic as the bleeding became heavier and Patrick's face turned a terrifying shade of grey.

Come on... don't do this to me, Patrick!

Jennifer slipped her hands into the pocket on her dress and pulled out a small leather bag filled with herbs. Loosening the strings of the bag, she slipped out a long, white root and crumbled it over Patrick's chest.
Closing her eyes and placing her pale hands over the wounds, Jennifer began a low, throaty hum.
The bleeding stopped and the wound closed over - now looking like it was a week old.

Patrick opened his eyes to see the bloodied bullets on the deck beside him, his destroyed shirt soaked with blood and Jennifer cradling him in her arms. He was just in time to see Jennifer sway and collapse on his chest in a faint.

[Nigel Wetherby]

Patrick coughed violently, spitting out the blood that had filled his lungs from the shots. He looked back at the bullets, then the unconcious healer, then the lift. "Bloody hell, that was me best shirt, wait I think that was me only shirt...That aint important! Jen! Jen!" He shook the young woman who lay on his chest.
Slowly, conciousness returned as her eyes opened only halfway. "They took Em' Jen!" Jen slowly drifted to unconciousness.  Patrick grabbed for issunboushi, aiming it carefully at the bloke who shot him and pressing the trigger. The sound of twenty very irate grasshoppers filled the air as a bolt of white light formed a hole in one of the policeman's chest.
The others quickly took cover behind the raised walls of the lift.

[Stella Gaslight]

Patrick was dying and it felt like part of her was too.  It was all her fault if she hadn't asked him to help he would still be all right.  She couldn't even ask George if Miss Sheehan had been able to help him.  Her atherphones were lying in pieces on the deck of the Boheme.  Emma was numb and let herself be cuffed there was no more reason to resist.  All she had ever done was put the Boheme and it's crew in danger they would be better off with her locked away.  There was a strange chirping noise and several of the policemen forced Emma to the floor. 

She laid there under their bulk feeling sorry for herself until she herd someone call her name.  Emma held very still listening.  It was Patrick's voice, he was alive! She started to thrash under her human shield.  "No Patrick don't I am not worth it."  Emma croaked out but her voice was too weak to carry far.  She was very good at wiggling out of dog piles, growing up with four older brothers that liked to roughhouse had helped improve that skill by leaps and bounds. 

The officer that had charged her with murder was crouched by the door to the lift. He looked at her calmly like this entire turn of events was expected. "I have been authorized to use deadly force to bring you in if I must.  If you go out there I will shoot you in the leg to stop you and then I will shoot your little friend and make sure he doesn't get up again. If you are innocent you have nothing to worry about right? So why take the risk?"  Emma did not trust a single word coming out of his mouth but she never wanted to see Patrick in a pool of his own blood again.  She paused unsure of what to do.

[ShredsnPatches]

Jennifer's eyes opened. She was lying on the deck, and Patrick not far from her firing one of his improbable weapons at the lift. She could hear Emma faintly calling out from behind the door.

What do I do? I'm unarmed and barefoot...

The remaining policemen were distracted by trying to restrain Emma, Patrick was distracted by the remaining policemen, and nobody seemed to have noticed the shoddy construction of the lift...

Grabbing another gun from the bloodied engineer, she took aim and fired at a bolt on the underside of the lift. Unfortunately, her aim not being the most practiced, she missed the bolt and the section beside the door to the lift took the brunt of the damage. Out fell a very angry looking officer (and shortly afterwards, a very dead looking officer) , and a heap of thugs in uniform could be seen attempting to pin down a terrified looking Emma.

[Stella Gaslight]

"I am innocent and you know it let me go."  Every time she got up another officer knocked her back down. Luciérnaga was in her pocket but with the cuffs on she couldn't reach it let alone use it.  All she had to defend herself with were her steel toed boots and a well timed bony shoulder to the gut.  One of them whistled for backup and Emma tried even harder to get back to the Boheme before they could arrive.  She desperately tried to remember who had the key to the cuffs if she could get them off then she could help Patrick and Jennifer.

[ShredsnPatches]

Before either Jennifer or Patrick could react, the lift juddered into action and descended. Emma, still kicking and screaming, was loaded into a cart and dragged out of sight.

Jennifer dropped the gun and gently tugged Patrick's weapon out of his hand.

"Patrick! Patrick, come on. They're gone. Come on, we have to find the Captain, let him know what's happened and come up with a way of getting Emma back."

Her face suddenly flushed as she realised who she was talking to, and she quickly dropped his hand and stood up, wincing as a splinter jabbed her bare foot.

"Um... ahh... if you think that's a good idea... is it?"

[T.Taylor the Third]

"I think its a very good idea" said trip who had run out of his room moments to late to help "let s go find him shall we?

[Nigel Wetherby]

Patrick nodded. "Trip, Me and jen'll find the captain, We need ye ta keep tabs on Emma, There be an extra set of Aetherphones downstairs, hopefullly ye and george can get a bead on 'er." Patrick took Jen's hand, his stuttering gone, his confidence at full blast. "C'mon!" He pulled her below the deck. "Thank's fer savin' me skin up there." He said with a smile.

[ShredsnPatches]

"That... was the least I could do. You took care of me yesterday, remember?"

Smiling back, Jen couldn't help noticing how warm Patrick's hand was. She looked shyly at her toes for a moment, snapping her head back up to his face.

"So. We find the captain, what do we do after that?"

[Nigel Wetherby]

"Well he IS the captain, he's probably better at this sorta thing then we are..." He said ponderously. "Ta be honest, I figgered he come up with somethin'" His hands clenched a bit tighter around hers. Admiring how surprisingly soft it was. His pale cheeks pinkened.

[ShredsnPatches]

Jen tightened her hands in response, noting the callouses and rough skin from hard work and the strength behind them. A blush suffused her bruised face and she bit her lip, looking up at Patrick again.

"You're right. He's probably rescued crew mates from the hands of the British police a hundred times."

For some reason, she was horribly conscious of her black eyes and the slight swelling on her face. Not to mention the state of her only dress.

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma yelled and struggled until her body gave out and she was exhausted in to silence.  All the while the man siting across from her watched in amusement.  "I am Michel Bailey lead investigator on this case.  Now Miss. was all that fuss necessary?  You caused yourself a lot of trouble.  I am going to have to add both assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest to the list of charges against you "  She noticed him for the first time.  He was a kind looking man with iron gray hair with a gentle smile that made her deeply uncomfortable.  "Your lucky I am not bringing in your friends as well. But I don't think they had any idea what kind of woman they were traveling with." He spoke to her like she was a wayward child. 

"I am innocent."  Emma glared at him.

"I am sure you are dear.  The prisons here are full of the innocent."  He said the word like it was a curse. The cart pulled in to a high walled courtyard surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards keeping watch.  Emma was taken from the back and half dragged inside. They fingerprinted her, confiscated everything in her pockets, tore the goggels from her neck then tossed her in to a narrow stone cell.