"STEAM LONDON" Game Thread

[ShredsnPatches]

Uh-oh... this may be more than I bargained for! Jen thought worriedly. Then she looked at Patrick's face. He was radiant with excitement and pride, and she couldn't bear to think of making that expression leave his face. Whipping out the blue ribbon from her pocket, she whirled her long plait around her head and sewed it in place with the ribbon. Undoing the buttons on the cuffs of her sleeves, she rolled them up to the elbow. When all was safely out of the way, she grinned at Patrick.

"I'd like to see how it works! Where do we start?"

[Stella Gaslight]

"You know I think I would like to meet her someday.  When George lost his body in an accident I lost use of my right arm.  So far it has not been much of a problem because George can use applied Aetheric resonance to move it around but after he gets his body back I am going to have to come up with another solution."  They walked in to the lounge just has the Captain was setting out tea and some interesting biscuits the Italians had stocked the ship with.  Emma attacked the tray in a rather unladylike way realizing how very hungry she was. Trip laughed and they settled down on a couch together.  They sat at opposite ends at first but then Emma got bold and scooted right next to him.

After a handful of biscuits Emma wiped the crumbs from her face and turned to look at Charles.  She had never met him before but he had known her name.  George was sure his reasons were sinister but Emma much preferred to think of him as a good samaritan.  Either way the question of his motives would have to be asked.
"Please don't take this as me being ungrateful but I do want to know why you would risk so much for a stranger. I was also wondering how you knew my name when we first met."  She smiled to try and soften the questions but it was rather obvious Charles wasn't going anywhere until they were answered.

[sir charles of tayle]

"I had met you old freind named Nathaniel Walker, he seemed to have gone crazy..." Charles replied.
 
"But that still doesent explain why you saved me"  Emma said quickly hoping no one would bring up nathaniel,she wanted to know how much Charles knew.

"It was a freindly gesture towards a crazy man, who was a very close freind of mine" Charles lied ,"you see he was convinced you were in the presence of some horribly dangerous and evil person, your freind mr.taylor to be exact"

[Nigel Wetherby]

Patrick pulled out a small pitch pipe from his toolkit and began to sing in a heavy tenor voice.
The tour began with a full walktrough of the inner workings of the carborator of the massive engine.
Sixty minutes later the tour rose to a B sharp as he escored her though the magical real of aetheric stacks and coolant. A good four hours later, Patrick ended his tour with a surprising A above High C as he guided her along the fuel lines of the ship. Finally coming to a halt as he slid across the floor, somehow finding a way to find a word to rhyme with "Line blockage"

[ShredsnPatches]

Jen couldn't help but laugh. The tour had been surprisingly informative, not to mention hilarious. Patrick grinned and finished his sung tour with a flourish.

"So. Tea?" Jen offered with a smile.

[Nigel Wetherby]

"That sounds great!!" The rather pumped up irishman cheered.
"Er....I mean...That sounds wonderful and it would be an honor to accompany you to tea." He said in an attempted Tawdry accent.

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Elisha raised his eyebrow. "Trip? Dangerous and evil?" He laughed.

"Well in case you didn't notice" said Charles frostily "he did hold me hostage with a shotgun." He turned to Trip.

"I was kind to you that time" he hissed "Try that again and I'll break your arms."

From the way Charles had rescued her from the prison, Emma didn't doubt Charles could easily break Trip's arms.

"Look" said Elisha, stepping in to defuse the situation "I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding. Trip was very worried about Emma at the time. Now as far as I know, Nathaniel is still on this ship. From what I've heard, you are correct in assuming he is..."crazy". Which is why you shouldn't believe what he says about Trip."

Elisha noticed Emma was becoming uncomfortable with the talk on the subject of Nate. He suddenly had an idea.

"Say, Charles...if you're an old friend of Nate's...maybe you would want to take him? I'm sure you could find an asylum for him back in London."

Suddenly Hudson spoke up. "Charles...how exactly did you know Nate?"

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma was beginning to feel a bit torn on one hand she felt very sorry for Nate's current state of mind but on the other hand his ramblings about Trip were going to make things much harder when they got back to london. How many people had he spread that nonsense to? She looked up at Trip who seemed to be calm and collected.  Emma smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.  She would help hin clear his name.  Her time in prison had taught her how frustrating being falsely accused of a crime really was. 

Black was alone in the hanger, his rage had driven all the crew to take shelter as far from their captain as they could.  Her face taunted him every time he closed his eyes, that special smile that had been for him alone kept melting in to Patrick's laughing face.  He let lout a deep grunt and tossed a box of bolts aganst the wall where it burst with a pleasantly loud noise.

Kolmodor Ptachekov actually had the gall to try and tell him what to do.  If the Russian market for technology wasn't so well paying he would have shot the man and been over with, it as it was he had to accept more direct Russian involvement in his recapture of Emma and The Boheme. Ptachekov had insisted that he was just looking out for his masters investment but Black knew he wanted to take control of both the Boheme's package and Emma for himself.  He didn't know that his wireless was being effortlessly tapped and the code generator he was so proud of was a vastly inferior version of one of Emma's older designs.  Black had always retained the best of Emma's inventions himself.  He smiled The Star would be ready to fly by morning and Emma couldn't escape him for long.

[ShredsnPatches]

Laughter rang out from the galley, and Jen and Patrick burst into the room, laden down with tea, biscuits covered in jam, and affecting the most ridiculous posh mannerisms and accents they could concoct. Plonking the tea down on a table, they sat down and began to drink.

"Pinkies out? Pinkies out! Spiffing!" Jen spluttered and collapsed into fits of giggles again. Then she noticed the quizzical look on the faces of Emma and Trip.

"Hello!" she chirped. "Emma, I'll take a look at your leg in a few minutes if you like."

[Stella Gaslight]

Emma smiled she had played games like that with her brothers back in Boston. There was a pang of home sickness in her chest.  She hadn't written in so long they must think the worst had happened. I will post a letter next port we land in. Emma decided.

"That would be wonderful Miss Sheehan Thank you."

[sir charles of tayle]

"Oh me and Nate? We go way back" Charles lied, " I used to buy books from his book store all the time, in fact thats just how I met him, at his bookstore getting a book about the art of judo, written here in china I belive"

"Oh I see so you live in london? Thats odd I dident evan catch a hint of a london accent""

"Yes I try to have no accent at all, makes it easyer to fit in places, now I am feeling a little tired I think I will now retire to my ship for the night, i'll see you all in the morning!"

With that charles left the room and climbed abourd his ship.




               Trip awoke with a black glove covering his mouth and a sharp pain in his left arm, looking around all he saw was black.
"Yes thats it, sleep mr.Taylor, there wil be none of that in your prison cell when we get to london" Charles whisperd into Trips ear.  He easilly lifted Trip from the bed and took the limp form his ship and without a sound they shifted off on there trip to london.

[sir charles of tayle]

Dear miss lighton.

I am sorry to leave in such a rush I have taken your friend mr.Taylor with me, he is wanted in london for killing 2 elderly gental men with a gun,and 3 more were trampled by tripping over there bodies in the large crowd chasing him.  I am sorry but I have concrete proof he is giulty, do not try to pursue us bye the time you wake we will be half way to london(as I have taken the time to drug you all,terribly sorry about that too, the headach will go away in an hour or two) Thank you for your hospitality to me on the boheme and now I must say goodbye.

                           Charles Tayle
                          London spetial opps.

[ShredsnPatches]

In Emma's room, Jen blanched and grabbed onto the wall to steady herself. Through the fuzz in her mind she could hear Emma say something.

"What?"

"I said, that feels much better. Jen, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Emma. Just a little light headed. Your leg should be right as rain tomorrow."

She quickly gathered up the remnants of the root she had used on Emma's leg, tidied away the bloodstained bandages and the bullet she had removed from the wound. Then she removed her boots, undid the ribbon attaching her hair to her head and fell back fast asleep on the bed, her plait dangling on the floor and her face deathly pale under fast-yellowing bruises.

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

"NED! Oh GOD Ned! My leg! I Can't move ned! Go! my arm...oh dear GOD! Ned, get out of here!"

The dream was far too realistic this time. Of course, it was a true memory, making it all the more horrible. He saw himself being blown to pieces over and over, laying on the cold snow of Unalaska. He saw his Captain, rush out onto the field, pick him up carry him, running, back to the Steel Breeze. What was that mission for again? Documents...papers...some plans.Some sort of Demon Engine. They never did find out.

Three ships, sent by the Queen to raid the Yellow Fortress on Unalaska. One made it back. The raid had gone well...intense firefights on the ground...but then...the ground buckled and the Omarsmerti had appeared. The captain of the Achilles panicked and tried to lift off without his crew...The digging machine grasped his ship and tore it in half. The Bulldog and Steel Breeze got off the island, the Bulldog carrying the precious plans. From what Elisha heard later, it's envelope suddenly and mysteriously deflated...they never found a piece of wreckage.

He had awoken later, awoken to lift his arm to his face and see that a little of his humanity had gone to the machines...

Elisha awoke, sweating, his head pounding. He hadn't remembered going to sleep...what time was it...? He looked at his right arm and saw yellowish bruising. Drugs. He tried to get up. Still too difficult. His fevered mind began to clear. Charles!

[Nigel Wetherby]

Patrick approached the dozy wiccan, checking her for a fever just in case. "Ye look like ya need some shuteye, C'mon." He picked up the older young woman, hoisting the young woman over his shoulder like a sack of flowe, blushing beet red as he carried her to her quarters.

[Stella Gaslight]

George watched as Charles took Trip away.   George knew he should wake Emma that very moment and tell her but he had spied on Charles and his proof was real, or was indistinguishable from real.  She would hate him if he kept silent and he would hate himself too but to speak would brake her heart.  She was sleeping peacefully sprawled next to Jen.  He was about to tell her but then she smiled and he couldn't bare making her cry.  George decided to wait until morning secretly hoping things would sort themselves out before then. 

[ShredsnPatches]

Jen half woke to see Patrick standing over her, beetroot red.

"Patrick? hmm??"

[T.Taylor the Third]

Trip awoke in a small, unfamilier cabin ,a livly raggtime music played through what seemed to be mini-gramaphone hornse mounted on the walls. Trip tryed to get up and found he was tied to the bed. "dont try and escape youll only hurt yourself," Charles said from the chair by the door. "Charles? what are you doing, were am i? and what the devil is that music!?" trip exlamed "What you dont like raggtime? this is the maple leaf rag by scott joplin, one of my favorite american composers"
Trip just stared at charles for a few seconds "Yeah .....and im were?"  "oh! forgive me you are a prisoner aboard my ship, im taking you back to london to face trial for two murders mabe more, numeruse felones, and theft of preiuse artifacts from the queens privet musium" 
trip sighed " well most of that i probly will be convicted for...even though i only killed out of diar neccesity,....though the theft is new to me....hmm..well i knew my past would catch up to me eventualy... just wish i could have said good bye to emma"   

[Nigel Wetherby]

Patrick backed away, stumbling into his desk and knocking several various tools and weapons over. His face looked as if it would melt clean off from overheating. He pressed up against the wall a bit. "Erm...I should...tea...make...get..." His aquardness had returned  as the young man had gotten just a glimpse of braziere strap when he laid her down.
Jen was unaware of the fact, and approached him slowly. "Patrick?"
Patrick's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he fainted.

[Stella Gaslight]

George was talking to himself and his voice was buzzing around her head like a swarm of bees.  Emma woke slowly with a spiting headache, sleep didn't seem to want to leave yet. The grogginess faded and his words stared to make more since. Emma was wide a wake in moments.  "What do you mean Charles took Trip!"  She yelled as Jen was trying to bring Patrick around.  "Why didn't you wake me up?  We could have saved him."  Emma struggled out of bed and found Charles' note pinned to her sleeve.  She fell back, whatever Charles had given them lingered and made her dizzy.  "Patrick please get up, Charles has kidnapped Trip and they are all ready to far for George to run to."  Emma felt something like tears pricking at the corner of her eyes.  He was gone just like that.

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

Soon the whole crew was awake and feeling like fools. Charles had incapacitated them and taken Trip with frusturating ease. They headed for London at full speed.

"Even if we can get to London" said Emma, fighting back tears, "How on earth will we find him in time?! London is huge!"

"I'd assume they'd take him to one of the most secure prisons." replied Hudson. "Would be difficult to find him, harder to break him out."

Elisha sat silently. His feverish nightmares had shook him deeply. He wished the rest of his crew was here. Ned would know what to do. Lily would know what to do. He idlely wondered if she had recieved the message he had sent her with Trip's messenger drones. Suddenly he stood up, an idea flashing through his head.

"Wait! I have an idea!" He ran to Trip's temporary workshop, the crew following him in bemusment. Now where had Trip put those when he had let him use one...

He found the messenger drones in a pigeon-hole cabinet. He pulled one out. "Hopefully Trip still has his homing device on him...Emma, do you know what his system number for these was?"

"Y-yes." said Emma.

"But what use is that?" said Patrick "The thing will just fly off! We can't help Trip by writing him a nice letter."

After the drone was prepared, Elisha took it to the bow of the ship. Hanging precariously off the front of the ship, he tied a rope tightly around the drone, affixing the other end to the bow of the ship. The drone flew speedily off...and jerked back, tethered to the ship. It began a steady tugging on the rope, at an angle.

"Turn the ship!" called out Elisha. "If we can get this thing going in a straight path, we know we're pointed towards Trip. Hopefully we can overcatch Charles before he makes London. Let's hope this ship is fast enough!"

"Now that is some ingenious thinking" said Hudson "And trust me...I know how fast my ship is"

The Boheme roared into the skies, following the directions of it's tiny mechanical guide, swiftly eliminating the miles left until London. Emma hoped they could reach Trip in time.

[Stella Gaslight]

"If we can get in range"  She sniffled "I have fuel boosters that can up our speed considerably." Emma rubbed the tears from her eyes glared at the note in her hand.  She didn't believe a single hateful thing he had said about Trip. Emma wondered if he was after one of Trip's inventions like Black was after hers.   How much of what Charles said at tea was a lie?  What kind of person where they dealing with?  She couldn't think of a way to answer her own questions. "I bet he was lying about Nate too."  She muttered and then smiled it was a long shot but any thing was worth a try at this point.  "Elisha could you come with me please.  I think we may be able to learn more about that Charles person from Nate but I don't trust him not to try something if I go in there alone and Patrick just seems to get him upset."  Hopefully Elisha's appearance would discourage any acting up.

[Vancouver Air Privateer]

"I'd be honoured to do my best to help" said Elisha. He followed Emma down into the hold of the Boheme. This area was dusty and filled with old parts. The room Nate was in was at the very back. Elisha unlocked the heavy door. Nate sat in the darkness at the end of the room, illuminated by the frugal lighting. Emma stepped forwards.

"Have you finally decided to set me free?" said Nate. His eyes had a wild look and darted furtively around the room. "Who's this?" He looked over Elisha's privateer gear. "Another of the pirate scum you keep company with?" Suddenly Nate softened.  "Please Emma" he said "I know these men have corrupted you, but there's still hope. Come! We can still escape. We'll murder that wretch Trip and be back to London in no time."

Nate's crudeness and mention of Trip angered Emma. Tears formed at her eyes and she lashed out. "You sick man! What on earth has become of you?! Trip is a good man and has been kinder to me than you have! Stop lying!" Nate growled and suddenly sprang forward. He had almost reached Emma when Elisha grabbed his arm and pulled. Elisha's vice-like grip caused Nate to spin into the side of the room. Nate's madness giving him strength, he pulled away a loosed board and swung it at Elisha. Elisha caught it, then jerked his left knee upwards into Nate's stomach, causing him to crumple. He let Nate see him crush the board in his hand with contempeous ease.

"What deplorable behavior in front of a woman." said Elisha dryly. Nate spat at him. Elisha gripped Nate's throat with his left hand and lifted him up. Nate spluttered and coughed.

Elisha tied Nate to a chair and seated him at a table in the hold. He stood behind him. He could see Nate shift uncomfortably in his presence. Emma looked sadly at Nate. "Nate...you don't know how it pains me to see you like this." Nate looked up at her, a queer mix of spite and concern in his eyes. "Now look Nate...I need to ask you some very important questions about someone who you may know. I would very appreciate it if you could be truthful.

"If not, I could encourage you" Elisha said politely. Nate turned at looked at him with venom and terror. He turned around to Emma.

"I don't want to resort to that Nate." said Emma "Now I just have some questions about a particular person you may know..."

[ShredsnPatches]

Patrick hung at the other side of the room, trying very hard not to look at Jen, and still red-faced. He couldn't get the image of the brassiere strap and pale collarbone out of his mind any time he looked at her. Running to the galley, he came back with his face closer to normal colouring, and a teapot filled only with hot water.

Jen for her part, didn't notice either the torn dress that was so discombobulating Patrick at all, or the skinny Irishman's strange behaviour. Still fuzzy-headed from working on Emma's leg, she was now trying to think of a way to help out.

[Stella Gaslight]

"Nate do you remember a man named Charles?" 

His face was blank at first and then he scowled. "Stupid man, his justice was weak.  He didn't deserve that airship." 

Emma had not considered this as a possable reaction.  "You stole his airship?  The one that got curushed by the air krackens?"

Nate snorted and went off on a rant.  "Came to me after the scum said he wanted justice.  Got him all fixed up and then he showed me a yellow streak a mile wide.  Arrest the scum, like that was a fit punishment. I left him behind. Weakling."  Nate spit and then started to go in to one of his rants on justice.  It was obous they had gotten all the information they could out of him for now.  Emma turned away she hated this.  She wanted Trip back to hold her hand and she didn't even know if he was all right.