Rashida frowns in puzzlement. "'Minx'? Who or what is that?" She points out lake denizen swimming nearby. "Look at all those teeth!" Despite her dress, she sets a brisk pace down the long, long tunnel.
"I wonder if the people on the lake can see this lit tunnel shining in the depths?"
A slow flush creeps across her cheeks; "Squirrel here calls me Minx. Isn't it cute." she flicks her hair over her face. Keeping up with Rashida's pace, she looks to the ceiling with a barely concealed shiver.
"I hope not, that's a lot of water above us." her voice hold a querulous note.
Clousuk stops scrabbling along the vent system when somewhere above him a "Hello?" echoes.
"Qui est là? Who iz zpeaking à moi?"
"Look!" Alyce gasps from atop a beam, pointing down to the stage where Ysillith has torn great gashes, then disappeared into a trap door, "Drake, everyone is going down there. Should we go help?" She has to yell to be heard over the orchestra and singers, who have resumed their performance with the force of fear.
Ralph sighs softly when Cassie lays her head on his shoulder, the urge to snuggle up to her and take a little sleep was pretty strong despite how unfeasible it is at the moment. With a nod he says to her "Yeah I cin see why, he ain't exactly da cuddliest blue meanie."
He accepts the bottle from Cassie, and gets a couple of pills from the bottle considering them for a moment. He's come accustomed to not trusting things given to him especially drugs, too many times he's seen someone get slipped something that really screwed them up. He immediately feels somewhat ridiculous knowing Cassie wouldn't give him something like that. Swallowing down the pills he gives her a bit a of a weak smile. "Tanks sweethart"
Chuckling softly he shakes his head "Dat's silly yer da bootiful one, but 's nice ta know y'ain't payin me ta fight. Course if sumtin happened ta ya den I ain't gettin paid. 'sides sumhow I gots kinda 'ttached ta ya."
Ralph speeds up a bit to keep up with Rahida's pace and confirms what Cassie told the other woman "Yeah 'm Squirrel, and she's my Minx" He says it as if those are their proper names rather than nicknames, but not implying that Rashida is wrong by calling her Cassie.
Ysillith saunters along at the rear of the group, her eyes taking in details but seeming not at all distracted by the view 'outside'.
"Here...how far away d'ye think we are from th' docks where I first came ashore?" She asks, then turns her attention to Ralph.
"Here, young'un. If that stratch is gettin' too annoyin' fer ye, i've somat what'll sooth the ills..." she offers.
Patting her hand against her side, without touching it, she agrees; "Oui, I had some rubbed on me earlier. It was very..." Cassie smiles coyly.
The dark feeling in her stomach, quelled by the banter and Rashida's shining presence next to her. Ysillith's strong arm nearby also is reassuring.
Vorian wrinkles his brow when he hears the terrible French accent. It sounded somehow familiar. With one hand resting on the pommel of his cane, he cautiously moves to look deeper down the steep incline, steadying himself with his other arm.
"I am Vorian Ritter. And you are?"
Drake looks down where Alyce is pointing and sighs with ill constrained concern. He looks to the young lady curiously, "Weren't you the pretty lady who wanted to go home before and avoid all this mess?"
"I still want to, believe me. But there are killer robots in the audience and the Tesla field is still up, so I can't get out. And we're balanced on beams above the stage. I guess we can huddle up here for a while. Do you think they'll let everyone go when the performance is done? From what I hear, it's almost over." She steps delicately after Kittington, following carefully through the maze of beams. "I can stay here if you want to go after your friends. It sounds like they may be in trouble. I promise I won't stir until it's safe to leave. You don't have to stay with me up here."
Rashida reluctantly stops and takes a look at Ralph's shoulder, wincing at the sight. "I hate the delay, but it may let the others catch up. And you need to be as healthy as possible if we have to take on Wowbagger, 'Squirrel'." She glances uncertainly between Cassie and Ralph. "Squirrel. Minx. Very cute."
Turning to Ysillith, she nods. "Captain, if you can help him, please do so. We don't need a liability if it comes to a fight. And speaking of fights, if anybody has a spare weapon, I'd appreciate one. Something simple. I'm not trained to fight, but how hard can it be?"
Pulling the Clutch purse up she retrieves her dark lace fan. Casssie snaps it open and wafts her face with the soft breeze trying to cool down her reddening face. She then pulls upon one of the ebony vanes and a silver blade is pulled free.
"Here you go." she offers the blade to the Goddess dark handle first. With a good 5 inch stiletto blade, Cassie nods. "It's not much but..."
'It's not like I use these, they are just in case.' she thinks to timid to say.
Rashida nods as she accepts the hilt. "It's better than nothing. At least I can pretend to be a threat. Thank you, Cassie," she says solemnly, "Once 'Squirrel' is treated, we can be on our way." She folds her arms and taps her nails impatiently, stiletto in the one hand.
Ralph furrows his brow and looks towards Ysillith "If by scratch ya mean da large hole in my shoulda. Yeah it's kinda annoyin, but I tink 'll pass on whutever it is yer tryin ta give me... I ain't really trust tings like dat when I ain't know whut's in em."
When Rashida comes to take a look at his shoulder he slowly shakes his head "It's umm.. not 's bad as it looks. I tink da bleedin's stopped now" it hasn't "An wit whut Minx gave me I shouldn't be dat much of a burden... I just can' use dat arm much..."
He looks towards the stiletto blade given to Rashida and smiles a bit at Cassie "Ain't suppose ya gots a foil hidden in dere, I had me some fencin trainin when I wuz young. An' if we's goin up against a supa strong, blue, fuzzy, immo'ral alien... I might need sumtin too."
Rashida looks Cassie up and down, noting how the fabric drapes tightly over the other woman's curves. "I don't see how it is possible for a sword to be hidden in that dress, 'Squirrel'. But if you have training in the arts martial, this will be of more use in your hands than mine." She offers the stiletto to Ralph hilt-first across her forearm. "Make certain you can use it, though. We should be in the best possible shape to take on the alien Wowbagger. Accept Ysillith's healing. Cassie did. She seems fine." Her dark eyes hold his solemnly as she pauses a moment. "Please."
At Palph's comments Yasillith simply puts a hand on her hip.
"Bah! I've been stabbed, sliced and run through. That last one were a worry, I can tell you. Damn shadow demon thing seemed t'have me number up an' all." Ysillith remarks casually. "Now, ye don't see me harpin' on about it, hey?" She explains.
"So then, what I have is called 'Elf's Kiss' an' t'is only three doses I have left. It'll certainly cure those wee tads of scratches," She indicates Ralph's shoulder and Cassie's sprained wrist. Though Ysillith does gloss over Cassie's real amount of injury.
"BUT!" Ysillith warms, "There's one side effect of this stuff that's right nasty! So...d'ye wish t'be cured of yer ills...or don't ye? Say now since I in't wastin' somat I'm not going to get any more of!" Ysillith waits for the others reply,even as she works on opening the inner door.
"Also, who's given some though as to where abouts in the lake we are? Close to said wharf where i came ashore, d'ye reckon?"
'Fencing Training?' the French-woman wonders for a second how Ralph got the lessons, but she's quickly distracted with concern for his injury. Seeing that he must be suffering for her rash charge, she bites her lip in thought.
"True, you want to be careful what you put in your body. I do have a bandage though, the doc can look you over?" Cassie pulls a pale stocking and a wad of cloth for the clutch, before she offers to help with her emergency care.
Cassie looks to Ysillith softly; "Save it for yourself, if Squirrel wishes it not. Just in case... I think the wharf should be a mile that way." she points slightly behind and to the right. "We are directly under the lake." she looks up ominous as a large pike drifts overhead.
Ralph listens to Ysillith yammer about being stabbed and whatnot and raises an eyebrow "Uhh ok, an' I been shot so I guess dat puts me one up on mosta dose cept maybe run trough. An' I ain't said one worda complaint bout it, jus' ain't no scratch."
Accepting the blade from Rashida he nods "Tanks... 's a bit shorter 'n I'm used ta, but should be ok... course can' say whut good it'll do 'gainst dat Joe. Will ya be ok witout sumtin dough?"
Ralph is trapped by Rashida's eyes as she looks into his, he can't think of how he can possibly say no to her now, but he really doesn't trust this concoction of Ysillith's she could be trying to slip him anything. He lets out a slow breath just about to accept when Cassie saves him.
With a smile and nod towards Cassie he accepts her offer of bandage "Tanks Minx, dat would be good, it'll help ta stop da bleedin if ya don't mind helpin me wit it." At the mention of the doctor Ralph sighs and nods "Yeah... Chuck an' Kit be'er be ok, he's gonna git it if sumtin happens ta her... 's my fault she got dragged inta dis." he starts to fumble with a shirt button trying to get it undone so Cassie can bandage him, though not doing terribly well with only the one hand it would probably be easier if he just tore it, but it's the only shirt he has.
Seeing his attempts and the slight look of pain he tries to conceal the French-woman moves forward; "I hope it is not too persumptuous of me."
She moves over to him and starts unbuttoning his shirt, carefully as not to disturb the wound. For a second there eyes meet; there is a hint of trepidation, sorrow to match the smouldering look.
Her face flushes as she remembers him in the baths, the sheen of water across his shoulders. The hollow of his collar bone so inviting... Suddenly her little finger brushes his chest and there's a screaming white agony; her mouth forms an O and she gasps for a second whilst she regains her composure.
That moment is all it takes to remind the vixen that she is undressing a man in a tunnel with 2 other ladies. And of the damning words of Wowbagger and of her past...
Her hands act a bit more clinical and she removes Ralphs shirt, still though she bites her hair in nervousness.
Ralph nods and ceases his attempts with his shirt when Cassie comes to help him. "Tanks sweethart, I guess fightin wit one hand's eas'er den strippin wit one." The combination of sorrow and a bit of firey passion in her eyes was a bit confusing, she looked sad when she was dancing with him too. A flash of pain as something brushes over his shoulder causes Ralph to wince, and ends his train of thought.
Cassie's gasp of pain doesn't go unnoticed, Ralph leans in to talk quietly to her.
He is slightly disappointed that Cassie turns more clinical and less affectionate, but it was much more appropriate, this wasn't really the time to be getting caught up in her attention.
Cassie leans into his good shoulder as she puts the compress and stocking bandage on.
Standing back to admire her handy-work she looks to Rashida; "Do you want my pistol? If I attack him hand to hand, I won't need it." she comments forcing her voice to be light, knowing the folly of conflict.
Rashida cocks her head at Cassie, staring at her without emotion as she considers. Finally she blinks and shakes her head 'no'. "We are safer if you are armed, just as we are safer if the Captain has her staff and 'Squirrel' has a blade. Let's go forward and see what we can see. I am not helpless." She nods her thanks at the offer, then spins and trots down the long glass tunnel.
"I do not see the alien. I fear we have lost him, or will be stuck at the end of this tube. I hope they do not have the means to flood it," she muses as they hustle down the corridor.
Taking her pistol back from the Golden Goddess with a nod. 'I know she is not helpless, although I wouldn't want her to harm anyone. That's a job for people like me.' she thinks solemnly as a compliment to her friends temperament. Following she trots down the tunnel, the sharp click of her heels upon the floor.
Deep down Cassie is glad by Rashida's words, for she feared she could not stop him. Or worse still that she would, but he would end up dead. "It wouldn't, he wants to play with us. Not kill us out of hand - he wants us to suffer."
Ralph sighs softly at the woman leaning into his shoulder and whispers to her
"Tank fer da help Minx, feel be'er awlready." He gets his shirt back on, but leaving it unbuttoned deciding that was more trouble than it was worth. He tests out the stiletto blade making sure it will do for him, and seems to be satisfied with it. Seeing they've started off down the tunnel again Ralph hurries to catch up with the ladies.
The clean tunnel echoes as they move down it, the subtle clack of natural movement. As Ralph follows he gets a good view of Cassie's exposed back, the warm cream of her flesh criss-crossed with the silver chains of her necklaces. She turns as to him; "Nope!" and sticks out her tongue with the white pill on it before turning back to Rashida.
From up ahead there is a soft sound a little rasping sound...
As the group move cautiously down the tunnel, in the flicking light of the spirit lamps. Pale illumination reflects off the dark tunnel forming hoary ghosts that follow the figures as they quietly trudge down towards their fate.
Soft rasping sound gets more distinct. In the shadows between the bracketed lamps, there lays a small figure sat back against the wall. In the air there is just a hint of iron, the bitter tang of blood. Coming from the man is his soft rasping breath, the grey lab-coat is stained a dark crimson.
Rashida hisses and rushes to the man, kneeling beside him and prodding him softly on an unbloodied shoulder with her fingertips.
"What is going on in the lab? Tell us and we have the means to heal you." She waved at Ysillith to come forward with her healing draught. "Tell us what goes on there and we will save you."
Ysillith walks along at the rear of the group, though her eyes occasionally seem to grow distant. As if she's trying to listen to something only she can hear.
Upon coming to this new wounded figure and at Rashida's promoting, Ysillith frowns when the Goddess suggests using her meager potion on some wounded strange fellow.
Ysillith shakes her head to clear what ever fugue had come over her, steps closer and kneels down to examine the fallen stranger., deftly flicking her skirts out of the way as she does so.
"Hmmm....He's been given quite the work out..." Her hands move patches of clothing, fingers gently exploring wounds and creases...
"Buggered if I'll be wasting 'Elfs' kiss' on this one..." One hand slipping into the pockets of her coat to eventually produce a vial of faintly glowing green liquid.
"Besides, with 'Trull tonic', ye don't have t'stop a person from convulsing..." She quickly pulls the stopped and administers the sluggish syrup into the man's mouth. Then hods said mouth and nose closed to force him to swallow.
After but a brief moment, the injured man does convulse slightly, feeble hands batting at Ysillith's strong arms, though he stills and when the captain removes her grip his breathing is smoother and less labored.
"Well....they want to up-chuck it less..." She admits ruefully.
"The blue man, he's gone crazy. Turning on the Mark I's and arming them." he hoarsely whispers.
Shaking slightly; "I think he means to.... *cough* *cough* the labs, you must stop him. The Portal." the Scientist blinks softly.
Ysillith frowns..."Well..if these 'Marks' are about the same as that thing we fought in the alley..." Her words trail off. She looks to Rashida and Cassie,
"I can always give him another dose?" She asks/suggests.
"Ah! You are not zee mist phan-tome! Zis is good! Bien sûr!" comes the cry. "Ztay where you are! I, Investigator Clousuk, will be zer shortly."
Vorian hears a sudden scrabbling of claws. The sound seems to come closer, but then suddenly a loud SQUEEEEEEAAAAK indicates whatever clawed limbs were approaching no longer seem to be able to keep their purchase and are sliding away. A loud undignified clunk! is heard at the bottom of the downward opening.
"Merde! I cannot climbz to you! It iz too zteep." The voice of the kobold sounds very plaintive.
Clousuk...? That kobold from the League? Vorian recalls, suddenly able to identify the voice. He had only been around the small inspector briefly. Cassie had been talking to him... what was he sent here for? Frowning as he debates on whether or not to trust him, he slips his cane out from under him.
"Alright, I am going to lower something for you to grab onto," he calls down, as he lowers his cane down the ventilation shaft. He makes sure to grip it below where the handle of the concealed sword meets its scabbard. "Can you reach it? I will pull you up if you can."
Rahisda shakes her head. "Von Ryuko's proxy said that the things in the alley were Mark III's. This man said Mark I's. Earlier models, they won't be as tough, but are probably less predictable." She gives a little shrug. "That's if he follows standard model naming protocols. He's crazy. What's to say they will be anything at all like we expect?"
Ysillith nods, "Well...lets hope there's either less flesh or less metal on these Mark I's. The better to deal with them." And Ysillith grins,
"Hey! If they've been given weapons, the fight will be that much easier." (^_^)
Ralph watches as the injured man is roughly forced to swallow some eerie green glowing liquid, it looked like something out of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He was again thankful to Cassie for saving him from whatever Ysillith was going to give him.
Furrowing his brow at the man trying to talk to them, he doesn't seem to be making any sense. Rashida and Ysillith seem to have an idea of what he's talking about for these Mark I's at least. "Means ta whut? yer not makin any sense."
He stops and glances over at Ysillith, 'Did she just say arming our enemies makes the fight easier? Is she just crazy or...' His mind starts working trying to piece things together Hang on... she didn't join in until the blue meanie left. This lab man seems to have something important to tell us, but after she force fed him that green poison looking stuff he can't seem to get it out, she also says giving our enemies weapons makes things easier for her... could she be in cahoots?'
At the unpleasant thought Ralph looks worriedly from Rashida to Cassie "So... whut 're dese Marks? Dey like people in armour?"
The singing and music in the auditorium swells rising as the performers hold their final notes in a beautiful rising crescendo. Strangely the audience seems entranced by it. The terrors of the previous moments seemingly forgotten. Frau Gretel Stuptmann looks this way and that examining the various people. They seem not to see her even as clockwork machines and spirit robots rush around cleaning up any signs of the carnage. Medi-doc machines are being wheeled out, having served their purpose since the people's cuts, bruises, and breaks were mended thanks to a technology that almost no one else in the world knows exists.
Repairs to the various damage machines and stage decor is being completed at record pace. Gretel was not sure why it had taken the Serv-Bots so long to get started after they went understage, but after a brief explosion which punctured the lower stage wall, the small clanks had suddenly begun their work as expected. Gretel couldn't help but feel relieved as the stress of what could have been a disaster faded away.
The performance concluded and the magic of the Clockwork Theater manifested. The colorsteam filled the auditorium and soaked in the grand applause and the high emotion brought about by the artistic performance only possible in high culture. Gretel could feel the vibrations as Viktor replenished himself and retreated back into the depths of the Clockwork Theater.
She exhaled and the tension left her. She had known the assassination attempt would be a problem. She would have to make sure her wrath was very evident during the next meeting.
Gretel left the auditorium as the audience began to get to their feet. No trace of clockworks, spiriteks, or death evident anywhere...
The demonstration of mortality before her eyes stops the noble lady. She bites her lip feeling useless, yes she could do first aid but nothing like that.
Patting Ysillith softly on the shoulder in gratitude of the ladies amazing concoctions. The words make no sense to her; having not heard of any specific Mark I's or what type of machinery it is.
'Alley? They fought something?' Cassie looks over Rashida carefully and sees no sign of injury, then turns to Ralph with a shrug. 'He needs more help... I am not sure if I can call Drake..., but I can.' Reaching into the clutch the French-woman produces a small sphere it glows brightly with a red-light. She places it near the injured man to try and draw the attention of others from whence they came.
"I haven't heard of them." she says softly placing her good hand upon Ralph's uninjured arm.
"Hmmm..?" Ysillith remarks, obviously distracted by observing how her remedy is effecting the patient.
"Oh...these things? They're...constructs. The one's I seen here are more flesh over metal than the usual cobbled together shamblers I be used to ...um...dealing with." She frowns, "Though, if they've got th' same range of versions available, we might be in a spot of trouble. The fist of a steam-thrall will ruin yer day, sure as some one who can poke a sword through ye." Ysillith gently examines the injured person's wounds, nodding seeming satisfied with the potions results. She offers the gentleman assistance in standing,
"Come on now, luv. Lets get moving an ye can gab t'us about whut's goin' on about th' place."
Drake bites his lip hard enough that it bleeds and he continues to do so, deep in thought while the performance continues. Long minutes go by while his eyes are fixated on the stage. He shakes his head as he is not happy with leaving Alyce alone and not happy leaving his newfound friends alone to fight that Wowbanger creature whatever the humanoid was.
He looks back at Alyce and the queen with trepidation, "I do not want to leave you two alone but they may need help down there. It will probably be dangerous to stay here alone now. I do not trust that those robots will not come up here to get rid of problems or to clean up as these beams are not even dusty. You two will need to come with me. I don't trust leaving you alone; however, I need you to follow my directions. It will be safer for you to be with me." He says while looking from one to the other.
Ralph shakes his head after Ysillith's explanation understanding even less as he doesn't know what the cobbled together shamblers are and the rest of what she says seems to be based off of them. "Umm right... tanks fer clearin dat up."
Looking towards Cassie as her hand touches his shoulder the young man sighs softly "I guess we'll find out when we see em." Looking towards the sphere the French woman set down he wonders why everyone seems to have weird glowing things. "Whut's dat ting hun?"
Alyce watches the final scene of the opera with parted lips and shining eyes from the outstanding (though dangerous) seat on the overhead catwalks. She doesn't seem to notice the actions of the clockwork ushers or the Serv-Bots, only the glorious sounds of the music and the magnificent costumes. At the sound of Drake's voice, she shakes her head as if shaking off a strange dream, then smiles at him and nods. "Wasn't that wonderful? I suppose we should go now. I'll follow you anywhere, Joey... I mean, Drake."
Rashida glances uneasily at Cassie, her arms folded across her belly. "Ysillith and I were attacked by a group of men in an alley today. Only they weren't men. Baron Von Ryuko specializes in constructing machines that look like people, but aren't," she says tautly, "His proxy called the ones that attacked us his newest 'Mark III' models. That implies that there are a Mark II and Mark I somewhere, of course. These were tough, and indistinguishable from real people. They are quite as capable as people, moreso sometimes. Quite a satisfactory substitute for the real thing. Isn't that right, Cassie?" Her eyes don't meet the Frenchwoman's.
"Some things are unique whilst others are easy and you can create cheap knock-off's." she says quietly kicking her heels. Rashida's comment has slowly hit home, a growing knot in the pit of her stomach; 'No wonder the connection has been weakened.'
But with concern in her voice, she skims over Rashida's coffee skin; "You weren't hurt? Either of you?" she grasps the pistol tightly.
"Or expensive knock-offs," Rashida mutters before resuming her normal tone. "Ysillith was, but she seems to have recovered remarkably well. I suspect she used some of her own magic potions." Rashida glances slyly at Ysillith.
"And I echo 'Squirrel'. What is this new doo-dad you've come up with, Cassandra?"
Drake shakes his head when Alyce calls him Joey but doesn't say anything about it. Instead he digs into his coat and pulls out a couple of leather gloves, puts them on and moves along the bean to where it is back of the stage. He grabs a rope and gesticulates to Alyce to come over, "Hold onto me tight now. We're going for a ride."
The doctor grabs a rope which is connected to a sand bag and jumps, pulling the sandbag from the floor to the roof as the rope drops them down to the stage behind the stage props and scenery. He then walks about until he finds a trap door, opens it and goes down it, "Stay close and listen to everything I say. Do what I say when I say it. This is probably dangerous but it is better that we get to the others."
Holding up to softly glowing crystal orb; "This, oh,... it's just ball that changes colour. I thought we could leave it by the Scientist?" she looks down the long passage.
"Then, if anyone goes down into the basement - they'd see it through the open door and investigate." Cassie's tone is apologetic; "It's just a trinket, they are quite popular in Lyon."
'Oh.... Cassandra. She's upset with me; only Mater and my tutor called me that.' the French-woman thinks, knowing that she was drifting further away from the Goddess.
Rashida looks at the orb for a moment, then begins to smile, then laugh. "I've grown so accustomed to wondrous items that a simple light baffles me. Well done! At least those who follow will be able to find our way. Thank you." She turns to proceed, still chuckling, then suddenly stops to jab a finger at the scientist.
"You! What are we heading into, with the Mark I's? Do they have any weaknesses?"
The man gasps as he puts a hand out to meet Ysilliths' before shaking his head. "No, I'll stay here, if that's alright." he gasps still having some discomfort.
"You shouldn't go in there. Gods know I won't, even if it's in the company of some beauties." the smile turns into a wince.
He seems to finally register Rashida's query; "Their joints... not put together tightly...."
Reaching up he puts something into Ysilliths' hand and looks into her eyes with a desperate desire. "Here. Stop the Blue-man from getting to the generator."
Alyce clings tight to Drake's back, first offering a shoulder to the helmetcat in case she wanted a quick ride down on the rope, then drops off quickly once they land, crouching next to the trap door and nodding acquiescence to Drake's direction.
Cassie looks worriedly down both sides of the tunnel, she leans in and whispers to Rashida: