Michael laughs heartily "Oh we only got here due to a shot in the chest after some Indians tipped over our train. So just a little detour, pay us no mind it was only a small hiccup in our journey. He he." He smiles at Hellstrome.
Michael then listens to what Hellstrome has to say with great intent, occasionally nodding.
He then claps his hands together rubbing his hands together after the explanation. Oh so we get to our destination, have a grand adventure and witness and epic moment in history .. oh well, you can count me in for this! I don't know about you fellas."
Michael slaps William on the shoulder who has been following him diligently through all this. "Sounds fun don't it, less dangerous then some of our other jobs." Michael turns to Hellstrome again. "Oh forgive me, this here is my dear friend William Grieve, he don't talk much but I wouldn't have anyone else watching my back."
With a simple nod of compliance, T.J. remains quiet. It seems rather serendipitous that they should end up here, but he's quite thankful for it.
"Are there ways we can earn our travel? I may not have the know how, but I'd be willing to work a bit while you're helpin' us."
Hellstromme listens to your introductions, but his attention seems to have been caught once again by his clipboard as he distractedly flips a couple pages and peers at something.
"Yes, certainly Mr. Beauchamp. There's no shortage of work around the place, even with as many men as we have; tunneling through a mountain is no easy task. Buckner will find something for you to do to make yourselves useful." he replies absently. "Yes, I think the folks back east will be in for quite a shock. It should be a good show. Now if you'll excuse me..."
"Lets leave the good doctor to his work shall we. I'd be interested to hear a bit more about the circumstances of your arrival." O'Malley says, leading the way to the door and holding it open for the rest of you. The dull roar once again envelops you, and it takes a few moments to adjust to the noise again. O'Malley shuts the door behind him and smiles at the two burly guards.
"Dr. Hellstromme was kind enough to provide me with a tent. I'm afraid it doesn't help much with the noise, but it should give us some privacy at least." he offers, once again leading the way around the caboose. Once past the bulk of the train the are able to see the rest of the camp, such as it is.
The track ends a few feet beyond the train's engine, and beyond the tunnel continues off into the darkness. Between is a level area with four tents in two pairs, one pair larger than the others close to the train, with the other pair being some distance from the rows of bedrolls near the edge of the illuminated region. On the opposite side of the tunnel are arranged a dozen or so small, collapsible tables each with a few chairs, arranged around an iron stove atop which bubbles a large pot of savory smelling food. On the largest of the tables is laid the badly burned black man Raveneau brought from the train's wreckage, with Raveneau and a grey-haired man talking nearby.
Hrm! Well my friend. It is quite simple really. We got shot up!" Michael replies to O'Malley as they walk towards the tent.
"Not by guns mind you, one of us might have died. Oh no, it was our good old friends. The natives of this here land. I don't think they liked our steam contraption, knocked it off its rails." Michael shrugs.
Michael scratches his head a bit thinking. "I think that's it, oh aside from Mr.Grizzly, the big robot thing on the way here. I take it one of you fine fellows had a hand in him being there?" Michael laughs.
"I have to ask though, we staying here till morning or some such? Seems like a camp site you've got going here. No other trains going to come by on the tracks and ram you off?" Michael jokes. Michael knew the group on the train checked the time tables and saw there were no trains coming past here for days, or he hopes anyway.
T.J. bows slightly at the waist, thanking Hellstromme in spite of his absent attention. "We will seek out Buckner then. It will be good to feel useful."
"The Indians derailed the train?" he asks, surprised and somewhat skeptical. "How'd they manage that? What brings you good folks to California anyway?"
When Shrewd mentions 'Mr. Grizzly' it takes O'Malley a few moments to decipher his meaning. "Oh, you mean the automaton? Just part of Hellstromme's security; you wouldn't credit it but even down here we've had occasional problems with 'wildlife'"
The group arrives at the tents, and O'Malley holds open the flap. "Make yourself comfortable. Will your other friend be joining us?" he asks, looking towards Raveneau.
T.J. should he attempt to locate Buckner, is informed that the foreman has accompanied the crew back down the tracks to repair the roof where the posse made their ingress to the tunnels. He is encouraged to "Take a load off while ya can."
The sawbones meanwhile withdraws a syringe and a couple bottles from his bag, finally selecting one and injecting Elias in the arm. "That'll help him rest'a bit eas-yer. Ah'll see 'bout getting 'im settled." he reassures Raveneau, checking Elias' vitals once more before shuffling down the tunnel and speaking with some of the workers. He returns then to the stove and gives the pot a stir, seeming to have forgotten about Raveneau.
Raveneau watches the sawbones at work, making sure of Elias being well cared for before nodding satisfaction and moving off in search of the others again.
Raveneau is able to join the others across the way, they seem to be being entertained by the famous reporter of the Tombstone Epitaph, Lacy O'Malley.
Michael puts his feet up relaxing on a nearby chair if there is one. "Oh so what wildlife is there down here that an Automaton would need to fight against? Some rather big gribblies no?"
Michael tries to hazard a guess but maybe O'Malley might tell him what kind of creatures are down here.
Making his way to where the others are, Raveneau dips his hat at O'Malley "Much obliged to your doctor..." before looking for something liquid "Ye got anything worth drinking?"
Taking the advice offered, T.J. nods and returns to the tents where the others were lead. He's eager for the chance to relax again, though he doubts his mind will find much ease in this situation.