One more time, the Duchess wakes up. "Ah, I feel as though I sleep as much as the dead... That was a nice little sunbeam, however." Kittington gets up to her feet and looks towards the sunset and then towards the DuSolliers. "Where did her Holiness, Lady Massri go? I suppose I should keep better sort of track of these things via some kind of helmet cam... I do not possess such an attachment however."
Mimi finishes rubbing the oil into her doubles back; looking around to Duchess Meowselsworth she curtseys. Looking rather foolish as she has no skirt, to hold the hem of.
Mimi answers;
Cassie is face-down half asleep with the massage and alcohol, whilst Mimi rises to get Meows the drink Cassie rises; "Hi." she weakly replies.
Slowly yet without hesitation, Vorian nods. The very idea of what he was agreeing to terrified him, but it was what he had asked for.
"If that is what is necessary, then yes, please."
Rashida approaches Vorian, and the arm holding the Was Scepter bifurcates, a golden arm of glowing energy emerging from the flesh. "Quick is best," the being says, suddenly plunging the incorporeal arm straight into Vorian's chest.
The sensation is painless, yet terrible. Icy fingers grasp the very core of Vorian's self. His muscles all seize, including his diaphragm, so breathing is impossible while is mind is free to take it all in, racing helplessly as his need to breathe increases.
A few dozen heartbeats later, the grasp on his soul loosens and the icy fingers drift away.
"Interesting," the being remarks in that strangely echoing voice, turning away and pacing much like Rashida does while thinking, "Lord Ritter, a grave wrong has been done you, one which not only affects the connection between your self and your body, but which will make it impossible for you to reach the afterlife, no matter how you are judged."
It stops pacing and turns to regard Vorian with its all-black eyes. "It was a vile deed. There has been too much tampering with souls! It shall be stopped. My servant will help with worldly matter as she can while I figure out what can be done to save you, and who has interfered in my domain. Patience, Lord Ritter. I will contact you soon."
The glow around Rashida fades. She totters and almost falls when the scepter she is leaning on shrinks back into the form it had in Vorian's case. She regains her balance and gazes at Ritter with some concern. "Are you... are you well, Lord Ritter? I saw everything, of course, and more than you could. I am so sorry. She will find something to save you, I'm sure. Can you tell me any more of what happened, and where? What did you find there? I shall do my part to help, but we need a place to start."
Seemingly shaken, she takes a seat on a small but luxurious cabin chair near the door, still holding the scepter. The golden serpents on her forearms shift as if uneasy.
Perhaps just as shaken as Rashida if not more, Vorian staggers backwards, before dropping into a seating position on his bedside. The sensation had been terrible indeed, but it had been surprisingly gentle compared to his last encounter with such forces. Perhaps I was too hasty in comparing the two... he ponders, gasping for breath. While he catches his breath, he nods in response to Rashida's question.
"Yes... I feel fine... I think," he says with a forced grin, trying to make light of the awkward situation. He had not thought that she would be in control of her senses while the goddess was in control. Now she knew his secret – even his most trusted men thought he merely had a crippling illness of some sort. Others saw his “treatment” and tacked it down to a drug addiction. It was not far from the truth, perhaps. And now she was asking for more. If I want to have a chance… then I do not have a choice.
“I do not know what it is I saw that day,” he begins, wiping some sweat off his forehead with the back of his glove, “After finding the Sceptre, I ventured deeper into the tomb alone, certain that there was more to be found. It was in one of the passageways that I first saw it. I thought it was human at first, but it phased through solid rock as though it were air, and looked like a corpse.” Frowning, Vorian grips his arm and looks to the ceiling. “Perhaps I should have ran immediately, but I felt frozen to the spot. That’s when it touched me…”
Vorian sighs, looking to Rashida again. “It was some time before I considered the thought that the so-called ‘Curse of Anubis’ was real after all, but this… this goes beyond that, does it?”
Rashida grimaces and glances at the open door, then rises and closes it, leaning against it as she thinks.
"We believe so, my friends and I. As you have seen, the 'gods' we Massris channel are real, whatever they may be. A half-century ago, some of the Massri priests, those who perform our rituals and return to life the ones who can channel those gods, came to believe that this world may be a... battleground?... for Heaven, or wherever these beings reside. The preponderance of returning gods were not particularly friendly to mankind. Some priests grew suspicious."
She licks her lips nervously and lowers her voice. "So I was prepared by a certain faction of priests to be a, uh, spy of sorts. Once I was placed into this body, I was to gather information about the other Children of Gods and learn their plans. To our great good fortune, the body I inhabit channels a deity devoted to fairness and justice and upholding a code most would call benevolent."
Rashida toys nervously with the collapsed staff, tracing some of the shapes floating upon its surface. "Unfortunately, I evinced no particular powers for a long time and was not brought into the councils of the others. But what Rahiji - or his duplicate - revealed told me that the priests' fears were true. The others who have returned, at least some of them, plan to... well, it won't be pleasant. I must stop them. What you have endured is but the tip of the iceberg. Part of your soul has been ripped away, Vorian, which should not ever happen. Somebody is capable of creating creatures which can do that. Somebody is capable of trapping souls in inanimate bodies. Somebody seeks to usurp the powers of Ma'at, of Osiris, of Thoth. Perhaps you are correct and Anubis seeks his former powers. But it may be much worse. And Earth is to be their battleground by proxy, its inhabitants their cannon fodder."
"The goddess is grateful to you for revealing part of the conspiracy and will do what she can to help, but it will require discovering who stole your sheut - your shadow - and why they want it. Without it, you are incomplete and your connection to your body is disrupted. If you were to die, the other fractions of your soul could not leave your body and reunite in the afterlife, but would remained tethered to it as you decomposed, animating the corpse but not sustaining it."
She offers the staff back to Ritter. "Lord Ritter, we must keep you alive, for all our sakes."
Mimi moves over to the bar and starts mixing up another drink, carefully measuring the quantities by sight and shaking them vigorously with expert precision.
Cassie rolls over and pulling her swimsuit up she rolls off the recliner to a crouch upon the deck. Keeping in Mimi's blind-spot, Cassie stalks closer the golden reflected light softly playing across the curves of her body. The pale swimsuit seems to shimmer in the deck as she gets closer, ready to pounce....
Mimi places the drink upon the counter for the Duchess, oblivious to the French-woman's approach. Then Cassie suddenly jumps and starts tickling her robotic twin; Mimi squeals in shock. Then starts laughing as Cassie's elegant fingers play down her flanks knowing all her twins ticklish spots. Mimi drops the cocktail-shaker under the continued assault; which Cassie catches in the crook of her knee. Mimi doubles up with laughter; "Merci, mercy."
Cassie stops a cheeky grin upon her face; looking down at the doubled up Mimi. "So now are we going to dye your hair." Cassie says before giving her an apologetic hug.
Kittington leans in over the drink to start lapping it up, offering a played, "Thank you." even while her mouth is occupied. The Duchess glances back off, to watch the sky for any other airships that might be around. "Sometimes I have considered dying my fur. The colouration around my eyes make me out to be some kind of bandit, which is contrary to what I want to put forward. Still, dyes around the eyes, that doesn't seem wise."
"No, you are right. Although we'll have to dye Mimi's eyebrows, you know collars and cuffs." Cassie says softly looking at her twins hair; "But you look really cute with the dark fur, enhancing the eyes. They really pop."
Mimi adds trying to be helpful.
"That is an awful lot to absorb, Lady Massri," Vorian says with a wan smile, massaging his knee apprehensively, "I was so sure that I had been afflicted, but to have had something taken... it is somehow more violating." When Rashida offers him the sceptre, he simply shakes his head. "It is rightfully yours, more so than it ever could be for me. I see now that its power thus far has only served to repel those unworthy or incapable of wielding it. It is of no use to me."
"At any rate, this is not a pressing concern, least of all to the others. We still have Von Ryuko to worry about," Vorian pushes himself off the bed, flexing his joints to work out the remaining tension, "I have been able to ward off the symptoms thus far. My method isn't elegant, but it has served me well. And if my survival is as crucial as you say it, then I will do my best to stay alive." He recalled the debacle back at the landing pad, where he had nearly given up on living. What would have happened had Ferrus Lupus managed to kill him? I will have to give the Duchess my thanks. "I look forward to being complete once more, but I can wait a while longer."
"So, what is this University you spoke of?"
Possibly rather foolishly, because of all the alcohol both young ladies have already consumed, Cassie gets out her scissors and a bottle of peroxide from her bag. With deft fingers, showing that only Cassies judgement has been affected by the cocktails, she starts to work upon her doubles hair.
Using the sink at the end of the bar to dye and wash Mimi's hair Cassie gets to work with the make-over.
Rashida smiles warmly at the discomfited nobleman. "It is Zeppelin University, my alma mater. Nothing unusual or supernatural. There should be a means for me to contact my allies there, though we did not think it would be so long before I... arrived there. In the meantime, the Bodensee - Lake Constance - is a good place to do some digging about Von Ryuko. It's social enough that you and Cassie and Taraz can use your networks, but not so busy that there are likely to be assassins lurking at every turn."
She turns the scepter in her hands, looking at it thoughtfully. "I cannot use this, except when the goddess is in control, but it may be a good idea for her to have it at hand when needed." Holding it formally in across both palms, she bows to Ritter. "I thank you on behalf of my Clan for restoring what is ours. And I vow to you not to allow this to be used for the detriment of this world, but to combat the evil which has arisen within the Massris."
Straightening, she opens the door and steps through, leaving it open. "I shall stow this securely, Lord Ritter. My thanks." At her quarters, she locks the staff in a gilded steamer trunk, wrapping it in soft linens, then looks perplexed for a moment. "By all that's holy, I'm hungry again! Maybe I shall find Taraz in the dining hall." She exits, searching out food and love.
"I suppose it is," decides Kittington, on the subject of her 'mask' fur as she watches the makeover progress. Humans look so weird with that little tuft of fur growing out of their heads. And their brow whiskers are so short and bushy. What funny animals... How will they know whether they can fit in tight spaces? I should offer help. The feline Duchess seems rather amused with her own thoughts. "If you require any assistance, please let me know."
Mimi says whilst Cassie rubs her damp scalp with one hand and samples a drink in the other.
"There we are. We are definitely going to make you look really pretty as a blonde. We can surprise the fellows." Cassie carries on dyeing that hair and snipping it.
Rashida saunters back to the hot tub area and takes a seat on a deck chair, daintily nibbling finger foods from a plate. "Is this a makeover, Cassie, or a disguise?" she asks the ersatz beautician, "I checked with the captain and we have about a day until we reach our destination. I hope everyone brought passports - legitimate or otherwise. Those Germanic types are so meticulous about Passkontrolle. What are everyone's plans once we arrive? I shall send a message to the Massris and explain we are in pursuit of Von Ryuko, then try to contact my old friends. And you...?" she asks of the ladies assembled.
"I have my electronic helmetcat passport handy, it should be enough. Countries have finally stopped begrudging helmetcats for being unable to carry very much," remarks the Duchess. "Once arrived, I suppose I will try and get a hold of anyone I know in the city to help us. I might also give Mittens my coordinates and hope that I do not regret it..."
Mimi spins around in her scarlet bikini, her hair billowing and then holding the shape when she stops. "A make-over....do you like it?" Cassie asks biting her lip hopefully. Although she knows Rashida's aesthetic is different to her own bold clothing choices, she trusts her friends judgement and there is a slight catch to her voice of worrying. 'Have I done the right thing, I think she looks nice....of course....' Cassie cuts of any self-critical thoughts before they surface, by taking another sip of her drink.
"Vorian joining us?" she asks whilst digging through her bag and producing a deep blue passport.
Mimi says bouncing across the deck, her golden hair glittering as the warm reflected light sparkles around them. she volunteers.
"Once we are there, I have some contacts at the theatre and amongst certain nobles. I should be able to find out what contacts Von Ryuko has had recently with various courts." Cassie replies. "Although it has been a couple of years since I visited."
Mimi asks the Helmet-cat, whilst getting another round of drinks and serving it up.
she muses sipping on the sweet red liquid.
Vorian sits in his room quietly, still ruminating on his discussion with Rashida. Contrary to what he had said, the matter of Von Ryuko seemed almost trivial compared to the dilemma he had been posed with. What was a mere man to a god? So why were they even after him? Vengeance? Justice? It is because he is a mere man that we pursue him, the noble decides, plaintively looking to the empty slot that once held the Was Sceptre, Killing a being of flesh and blood is a trivial task. Nonetheless, my jubilation would be short-lived if I don't recover my Ichor.
The promise of the goddess had roused a glimmer of hope in Vorian's heart, but he was all too aware of his waning reserve of draught, the only thing that allowed him to live on with a fifth of his soul missing. The aristocrats' list of enemies was only growing, with his own priorities moving further and further down. How much longer before he became a bedridden wreck again? Before he became a godforsaken undead? The convictions of noblesse oblige were all too tempting to breach, but he had sworn to help the others any way he could. ...this doesn't change anything.
Finally stirring, Vorian leaves his room, prepared to face the other nobles once more. He is sure to announce himself as he walks into the hot tub area, still fully dressed in his battle-worn outfit.
"So, I hear we are heading to Ger...man...y?" Whether it was the sight of attractive women clad in swimsuits or the sudden appearance the striking blonde, something caused the nobleman's words to fail him. Smiling, he seats himself nearby, nodding to Cassie and Mimi. "Pardon my rudeness, but which lovely lady got the makeover?"
she says spinning around in the vermillion bikini; her pale skin standing out against the cloth.
Enjoying being useful, Mimi pours out a martini glass for Vorian before setting it down on the wicker table beside him. Goodflesh has broken out over Mimi's damp skin as the cool high-altitude air has taken some heat from her body. She looks longingly towards the hot-tub.
Rashida raises a glass to hide a smile, then replies placidly to Vorian's first question. "We'll land in Germany, yes, though Switzerland and Austria both border Lake Constance. Don't let those citizens hear you calling them Germans. I don't know how long we will stay, but it's an excellent place to have airships repaired. They have a long tradition of ship-building."
"After that, I do not know where we will go. I am interested in exploring where you found that little trinket, Lord Ritter, but I am certain others wish to track down Von Ryuko first. That may be our best bet. Our issue can wait - I think - but the Baron may be planning something worse. After all, we do not know his ultimate goal, and he seems to be tangled up in things my goddess is upset about."
"Thank you," Vorian says warmly, taking a sip from the martini. It was hardly his usual choice of beverage, but it was certainly pleasant enough. He eyes the barely-clothed replicant, still amazed by how its anatomical perfection - had he not been told, he would never have guessed that she was a machine.
"Rather close to home," Vorian says with a grin, setting his martini back on the table, "My lands are in Bavaria, up in the Alps. Not beyond our reach, though I am hesitant to risk going there. I am not fond of nasty surprises. Not to say that there is anything particularly useful there; most of my practical possessions are on my ship. Though with any luck, I should be able to contact my protege... assuming he isn't still mad at me, anyway. We had a bit of a fight before I headed out for the ball."
"Protege?" says Cassandra, leaning into the handsome adventurer, choosing a nearby sun-lounger. "I am surprised, surely that's for more mature gentlemen?" She smiles at him, whilst Mimi bounces over to the hot-tub sliding in with a soft sigh as she warms up.
"Am I not mature?" Vorian says playfully, raising an eyebrow at Cassie, "I do have a particular set of skills that the next generation could find quite useful. There is no use in waiting until I'm white-haired and brittle-boned to pass them down." Leaning back in his chair, he chuckles to himself. "Yes, young Hansel Algora will soon become twice the man I could ever hope to be."
"Perfectly aged, I would say" she replies with a quirk of her eyebrow and leaning in to pat his arm softly. "I'm sure you are very skillful...." she leves the words hanging with a cheeky smile upon her face. 'Hmmmm, I wonder..."
"Twice the Man! That sounds excessive." Cassie flirts outrageously, Mimi sniggers softly at Cassie's behaviour. Mimi nearly slides under he water as she tries to stop the laughter.
Speaking to Mimi, the Duchess says, "Mittens? She is a lovely kitten. Black and white. Her fur is very shiny and she has bright green eyes. She can be a little impetuous and distractable at times, but she has a good heart. I am just hoping she retains a good mind... I do not know what happened based on the message I received, but I'm not sure that it's good..."
Mimi smiles moving around the hot-tub; the bubbles tickling her body as she laughs. despite not meaning to suck up, the beautiful feline noble engenders such a feeling of warmth that the robot is compelled to compliment. 'Could it be in my programming, did Master Von Ryuko make sure I would flatter the important Duchess? Ol' Whitey'd know.'
Mimi says flushing knowing exactly where she would be (watching the gentlemen on there backs...after being KO'd by Cassie).
"Vorian knows it's all just good innocent fun, he is a gentleman." the Frenchwoman compliments putting a hand upon his shoulder; her tone obviously respectful and pleased.
"Duchess, I am sure Mittens will be fine. If she has inherited any of your intellect, then I am sure she'll be fine and find us." Cassie gets up and with her drink slides into the tub, spinning around to lean against the sides rather than being seated. With a sigh of contentment, she watches the clouds slip by. "We are making good time! Anyone care to join us?"
"Any other day I would be glad to, but I'm afraid that this is the only outfit I have on me," Vorian says with a frown, poking at his ragged leather suit. He was sure that he would have a chance to purchase a new one wherever they landed. "Besides, the swimsuit I found in my room looked absolutely ridiculous."
Rashida throws her head back and laughs. "Lord Ritter, I fear you would not make a good Massri!"
Cassie joins in the laughter and then her mind starts to wander trying to visualise Vorian in a ridiculous swimsuit. She leans back against the pale enamel sides trying to keep her head above the water as she laughs appealingly. "The day goes so fast, to think I can see the sun setting soon."
Chuckling heartily with the others, Vorian leans back in the chair.
"Well, it's only natural. If I didn't know any better, I'd say we slept through most of it. We have a busy day coming our way."
"Ah, as I said, I am not really at home in the water, otherwise I would join you. And Lord Ritter, I'm sure you'd look perfectly shiny in whatever swimsuit you were given," says the Duchess cheerily. Is shiny a compliment for a wet human body?
Cassie twirls her hair around a finger absent-mindedly; "Yes, shiny."
Mimi asks the brunette.
Blushing Cassie replies; "I was going to spend an hour or two in the engine room. If that's what you meant."
"And on that note, I believe I will retire for the night,"Rashida smiles, and toasts them all informally, raising her glass before draining it. "Please make yourselves at home and ask the crew for anything you may need. We should be in port in two days. In the meantime, enjoy the lack of attempts on your lives - I hope."
Cassie spends a while more flirting with Vorian before going down to the engine room. Of course she puts on a robe and some more clothing; although she wishes to encourage and congratulate the engineers not give them heart-attacks. She keeps working on the engine making sure that nothing else has been sabotaged and making sure the engine is settled in. Quickly bonding with the remaining engineers, she even manages to convert the navigator who has a slight technical bent.
By the time she goes to bed, the French-woman has managed to use her charms upon them and gain their trust and friendship (as well as an offer to warm her bed - that she gracefully turns down).
The next day she spends partially in the engine-room as well as on deck. She makes sure to stretch and practise her dancing/ fighting. In the bright midday sun, she swirls and cavorts. Cassies bruising and knife wound appears to be better, by the time they get to the airfield in Germany she will look normal and healthy once again.
That afternoon she also climbs into the rigging, and watches the clouds from the comfort of atop the balloons. The thrill-seeking French-woman makes sure she has an exciting time, whilst checking everything for security, stability and damage.
Upon the second day Cassie gets up early practising her German and putting on a sharp skirt suit.
She enjoys the tickling bubbles of the spa for a while glad that her skin has a different elasticity. Eventually she bounces out and goes to the bridge to check with what everyone is doing. Mimi spends most of the night, watching out and helping with the piloting.
Early the next morning Mimi is up an waiting outside Rashida's room. 'I did promise to take care of her.' Mimi thinks awaiting Rashida getting up, ready to follow her like a lost puppy.
It activates as it is picked up, sensing the dark coolness of nighttime and knowing that the warm, strong fingers now dropping it into a pocket were not its mistress', nor its master's. But the mistress was nearby and well and not objecting. It returned to dormancy, having been given no other instruction.
The hallway was dark, lit only by dim emergency gaslamps, when the door to the Massri suite cracked open quietly and Taraz slipped out noiselessly, dressed in dark clothing and carrying a small bag. He stopped short when he saw Mimi standing motionless in the shadows.
"You are Mimi." The whisper was a statement, not a question, and he stood a moment staring at her, obviously deep in thought, then seized her by the wrist. "Yes, you could be... useful. Come with me. We're leaving right now. The rest will be fine, and I've left a note explaining everything." With that harsh whisper, he strode off, tugging Mimi along behind. "We're close enough to land that the ornithopter will carry us both there safely. We have things to do, my young friend, things that will only endanger the rest if our alliance with them is known."
Stood alone in the darkness Mimi is outrageously happy, never in her wildest dreams did she believe she would be free of Von Ryuko. Slowly she closes her eyes, recollecting how kindly Cassie treated her and the look in Vorians eye. 'So different to the lecherous Baron Von Ryuko, that was admiration from a gentleman. Today must be the best day ever.' her thoughts show just how lonely and miserable her existence had been.
Then the door cracks open and instantly her eyes open fully. Taraz leaves the room he shared with Lady Massri, Mimi looks down coyly as he speaks. Her mind a whirl; 'He wants me.... not Cassie or Lady Massri and I get to fly The Ornithopter!" she thinks misinterpreting his words.
With a skip she follows along after him; but her thoughts catch up to reality. 'Even if he doesn't love me, I'll help and protect him. Maybe it'll be safer too.'
Taraz jogs quietly through Ament's halls, flicking his fingers once at a loitering Serv-Bot, which hustles off in response to the signal. Once he is sure Mimi is following, he releases her wrist to scramble up the ladder to the open deck where the ornithopter is secured. Tossing his bag in a stowage compartment, he starts freeing the anchoring cables. "Get in and get it ready to fly," he orders brusquely.
A row of Serv-Bots forms next to the 'thopter while Taraz casts off. A few clamber into the ornithopter in response to his imperious points in their direction, vanishing into nooks and crannies in the body of the machine. The rest scatter back into the Ament.
Taraz then climbs quickly into the passenger seat. "I have things to consider. Take us north. Once we get visual bearings, I'll direct you further." He fastens his harness, frowning, and settles down to brood while Mimi pilots.
The silver Ornithopter, flits away into the nights sky. Just another sparkling star against the background of black.
The morning dawn comes...
....Mimi's bed lays unused, the borrowed clothes still in the dresser....
....beside Lady Massri, the ruffled sheets lay empty and upon the pillow a note....
....Cassie stirs, the old nightmares returning. She rolls out of bed and draws a dressing gown tightly around her waist...
The Golden Airship approaches the beautiful city of Friedrichshafen, part of the old Country of Württemberg, home of Graf Von Zeppelin. Upon the leeward side of the Alps, the magnificent City stands upon the crystal blue Lake Constance. Burnt Red roofs contrast with the sparkling spires of the airship masts.
Slowly the Golden ship glides in the morning light, pulling towards the docks. The navigator pulls the ship into the waiting home...
As they come towards the airfield, Alessandra and Jin stand upon the deck holding hands. No-one had seen them out of their cabin for the past few days. The wind whips at her chestnut locks; "Sorry we haven't been around much..." her words laden with emotion.
"Jin & I have been talking...." She continues; "There's a few things you need to know:" she pauses dramatically squeezing her Loves hand tighter.
"The Masonic organisation has been compromised; Von Ryuko and his backers are killing all of us. My contacts are dropping like flies..." her face is stoic but Jin puts his hand softly upon her shoulder. "That's one of the objectives of his Ball, together we foiled that! But the knowledge that we have locked away in vaults around the world - it cannot fall into the wrong hands. I am one of the last Guardians!" Their is a certain pride in her voice.
Jin looks to the group and says commandingly; "We have decided that we are going away to Switzerland, I will protect Ally. We would like to stay with you especially now....but we cannot." He looks to Alessandra, the look that passes between is the merest reflection of the nights they have spent debating the future.
The Mason continues; "However, look to this address it is one of our contacts and safe-houses in town..." She holds out a crisp white card with ornate golden calligraphy.
Cassie picks up the card, looking at the writing. Her mind is instantly taken back to the night she danced with Andrezi. The magnificent Ball in Russia; 'How did I forget Lord Haigh? Or that Dame DeVries was there? Surely, the Countesses diamond that I took was not that memorable.' "Lord Haigh, the jeweller is in town?" Cassie asks.
"Yes, he has premises and there's a gentleman's club he frequents." Alessandra replies.
It was dark and cold and quiet. Rashida stretched out a hand, finding only cold covers. She listened for a moment, but there was no sound - no breathing, coughing, running water.
The emptiness of the suite woke her completely, and she stretched to touch the gaslight and bring it up. The note on the pillow and its accompanying rose made her smile, until she opened and began reading. Her smile froze as she hastily scanned the missive, then she leaped from the bed, threw on a white robe, and dashed out the door.
The ornithopter was gone. She stood and looked out at the night until pale light began to rise in the east. She finally turned and descended to her cabin, there to reread the note and prepare for the day.
A couple of hours later, cleaned up and refreshed, she joined the others on the deck to hear Alessandra and Jin's proclamation. Dry-eyed and expressionless, she nodded as they explained, but said nothing, instead playing restlessly with the golden serpent around one tanned forearm.
Cassie plays with the pale piece of linen, flicking it through her fingers like a professional card-sharp. She looks across to the empty deck near the prow of the gondola; her mind slowly going to the rumour she had heard from the engineer earlier.
She drifts towards the Egyptian woman, "Are you alright?" she asks softly a manicured hand touching the ochre skin of Rashida's arm.
"He's gone, Cassie." Rashida takes a deep breath, holds it for a second, then releases it in a long sigh, murmuring softly to her friend, "It's up to us to work on Von Ryuko from this side. And don't mention that Taraz was with us... or, if you do, make him into an enemy, a betrayer. That's what everyone outside our little group must think, for his safety."
Her heart sinks and tears form in the corners of her eyes; the French-woman remembers her first love - guessing that this is Rashida's. 'She has more composure than I. So strong, much stronger than I.' Her fingers gently press against her friends arm; attempting to be reassuring.
"Yes, I understand." her voice is hoarse and heavy. Cassies thoughts race and slow.
Rubbing her eyes; "Oh, the wind is strong. I must have something in my eye." she says out-loud. Inexorably the airship docks at the pylons of Friedrichshafen.
The ice cubes in the small glass rattle as the whiskey pours down. The moment the flow of alcohol stops, the disheveled scientist snatches up the glass and downs the beverage with one swallow. Vorian raises a brow, having not even set down the bottle yet. At the older man's beckoning, he reluctantly fills the glass once more.
"So you were trying to get to the airfield so you could escape... but got lost in the underground passage during the power outage." Summing up what he already knew was about all Vorian could do to coerce Whitey, but his cooperation had waned considerably as the hours dragged by. Thankfully, the whiskey proves to be key to the effort.
Whitey is considerably more serene by his eleventh glass, leaning back against his chair, brooding. Patient as always, Vorian sits and waits, growing weary of the rapidly depleting bottle. To his relief, the scientist seems to come to his senses.
"Magnificent, isn't she?" he asks abruptly, his breath heavy with alcohol.
Vorian frowns, caught off guard by the change of subject. "Excuse me?"
"The replicant. She was on this ship, was she not?" Whitey asks rhetorically, taking a slow sip from his glass, "She was perhaps my greatest creation; the whole lot of them were. De anima. Machines that held not just the form of humans, but souls. Alive in every sense of the word. I had conceptualized the theory years ago, but my colleagues called me mad!" His mood turning for the worst, he swallows the rest of his glass' contents, ice and all. "None of the Universities would give me the funding or resources."
"But Von Ryuko did," Vorian postulates calmly.
"Of course. I'm sure you've heard, the man is richer than God! Everything I asked for, he provided," the scientist proclaims, before staring a Vorian for a moment. His mouth twists into a grin. "Your genetic material was the easiest to come by, Lord Ritter. You sent your blood right to us, begging for help in finding your 'cure' or whatnot. Von Ryuko is rich, but he is not one to look a gift horse in the mouth either. Madam DuSollier's was a close second, though. The old Baron obtained it himself; one dance was all it took. The others were considerably more difficult though. I recall Lord Rorenson's material was particularly desirable."
Vorian glares at him, again met with feelings of violation. "That is all well and good, Doctor, but it does not matter. Taraz destroyed your and Von Ryuko's pawns, and the last is on our side."
Whitey suddenly bursts out with laughter, pounding the table with his fist repeatedly as Vorian watches on in bewilderment. "You poor fool! You still don't understand, do you!?" Reaching over, Whitey grabs the whiskey bottle away from Vorian and takes a mighty swig from it. Draining it in seconds, he tosses the empty vessel across the room, sending it colliding against the bars of the brig. The bottle explodes into hundreds of pieces, which are sent skittering across the floor. Whitey stands abruptly and begins to shout even more loudly. "What he is after?! What he was trying to accomplish with all this?! Why he chose the lot of you?! "
The scientist's final words never leave his mouth. In an instant a crimson splash bursts from his eyes, ears and mouth, splattering blood all over the table. Even as Vorian moves to catch the collapsing man, he knows that it is too late. As he holds the dead scientist, the crewman that had been on guard duty suddenly bursts in, looking upon the scene with even more bewilderment than the noble.
"Go tell the others," Vorian commands darkly, looking upon Whitey's blood-covered face with a grim expression. What remained of the triumph he had felt from the night before vanished, and any claim he had of understanding their nemesis was now in flames.
Listening to Alessandra's explanation, the feline's tail twitches lightly back and forth and she says, "I do sincerely wish you both well... I apologize for anything I had said. I was hurt, I suppose... Thank you both for your aid."
After falling silent to let the tall ones speak, she projects, "I have MeowMail... It's encrypted, so I'm going to be a few moments," says the Duchess von Meowselsworth, piping up softly, keeping under a chair.