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Michael Harrel: INT. Evelyn's father's office. Sparling, carrying a sheaf of papers, enters Professor Higgenbotham's office to find Evelyn and her father seated on the floor amid scattered mechanikal devices, a half-empty bottle of Enlightenment-approved gin on the floor beside them. She tosses the papers at Evelyn's feet. "Doctor Higgenbotham, I think I might finally be starting to understand you."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Impossible," she gathers the papers. "But if you really are, can you explain myself to me…"
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling grimaces. "Wonderful—I'm sure it'll be much easier to talk to you when you're inebriated." To the elder Higgenbotham, she says, "Dr. N. Higgenbotham, I presume?"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She looks through the papers.
Michael Harrel: Prof. Higgenbotham stands up clumsily. "Yes, my dear, may I help you?" He offers his hand.
Sparling ignores the man's hand and points to the papers. "You can explain why I've been carrying an encrypted copy of those plans around for the past ten years, and nearly been killed several times for my trouble. And you can do it without incoherent chatter, or technobabble, or rambling about antlions?"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Without antlions, what's the point?" She continues to flip through.
Michael Harrel: "Well, what is it?" he says, putting on his spectacles and glancing at the papers in Evelyn's hands. "Some sort of…plans for a large, self-sufficient enclosed residential area. A prison, perhaps. Though why it's cylindrical in shape is beyond me. I have no idea why you'd be pursued for it; it doesn't seem to have anything to do with me."
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling rolls her eyes and kicks the corner of the professor's desk in frustration. "Your *name* is on it."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Some of the work is fairly advanced."
Michael Harrel: "Wait, go back," says her father as she flips past a couple pages.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Flip,flip, flip
Michael Harrel: He suddenly turns pale and grabs a page away. "Oh, my. This, here…I did this." (It's the page that Eason couldn't decipher.)
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Oh, this is actually quite intersting," she notices some of the internal structures and so forth. She sits up, "It gets really interesting in here," she points to the middle.
Genevieve Sparling: "And what is this, exactly, Doctor?"
Michael Harrel: Prof. Higgenbotham pauses. "I don't believe I caught your name, Miss…?"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "That's the captain, but Dad, this bit about the empyreoplasm, don't you think—"
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling glowers. "I'm Captain Genevieve Sparling, and I'm the only thing that's kept your very interesting and advanced whatever out of the Enlightenment's hands. Some of my very good friends died for those plans, and I want to know why."
Michael Harrel: "Well, I can only speak for this particular part of it, captain. It's an anti-gravity device that I have been developing for the past twenty years as part of the Cosmological Exploration Committee. Ten years ago, my work up to that date was stolen, and my copies were all destroyed."
Genevieve Sparling: "Anti-gravity," Sparling echoes, considering the implications.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "I'm an airship…" Evelyn says happily.
Michael Harrel: "I was forced to essentially start from scratch," says the professor. "I'm only now nearing completion of a reproduction of the original theoretical work."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "I helped."
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling regards the younger Higgenbotham coolly. "I'm sure."
Michael Harrel: "It cost me tenure that year, which went instead to that deplorable Dr. Hallsey." He glares in the direction of Dr. Hallsey's office.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She looks up at Sparling, "I can make this."
Genevieve Sparling: "Over my dead body, Doctor."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "…" Evelyn weighs this in her head.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling sees the wheels turning. "Don't even consider it."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "…"
Genevieve Sparling: "I survived the attention of a Gentleman In Black for ten year to keep this thing from becoming three-dimensional, and I'll be damned if I let you construct it."
Michael Harrel: "But surely you can see the benefits that space exploration would bring!" says the Professor. "We could fly to the moon, or to mars or venus! Why, with this device, there would be no more need for wars. There would be enough space for everyone to live peacefully."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "…or we could make bigger weapons…"
Genevieve Sparling: To the elder Higgenbotham, she says, "There would be no more need for wars on the ground, Professor."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn pulls a page out from the back and shows it to her dad.
Michael Harrel: (It's page with the energy cannon on it.)
Michael Harrel: Her father reads the paper, and suddenly gasps in horror. "Oh….oh dear. Oh good lord, what have I done?"
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling seems satisfied. "That's the reaction I was hoping for."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "…I can do this…"
Genevieve Sparling: "No."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn is already making internal calculations.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: Luka, Newton, and Daniel. They strolling back through the courtyard toward the building on which the Aether is docked. Daniel tugs on Newton's sleeve and indicates that he wants to let Luka go ahead a little in order to speak with him privately. "I think we need to go back," he says in a low voice.
Newton Falk: Newton looks at him, then at Luka. He slows his steps without taking his eyes off Luka. "Why?"
Michael Harrel: "We left that Fortenbrite fellow alive. That was a mistake. I've been thinking."
Newton Falk: "Sure it was. However there's an important fact in play here."
Michael Harrel: "What's that?"
Newton Falk: "We're the good guys. At least, I am." Newton thinks a moment. "At least, I've decided to be. You?"
Michael Harrel: "I'm a werewolf sometimes, myself. But listen. The MIGDMP has three outstanding warrants for Luka's arrest. One of them is based on that man's existence. As long as there is enough of him left to throw into an incuvac chamber with some of Luka, they will continue to come after her. Without him, they've lost a third of their reason to chase her. Think about it."
Newton Falk: "I have. It doesn't matter if there are a million folks who've been offered a night with Luka by the Enlightenment. The problem is the Enlightenment itself, and until we take care of that none of us are safe. So set your goals higher if you intend to handle this situation by killing people."
Michael Harrel: "Maybe it's the fact that I'm partly a monster, but I don't think the two options are mutually exclusive, Mr. Falk."
Newton Falk: "Ok then, how about this. Premeditated murder should be premeditated. Chew on that for a bit." He speeds up to fall in step closer to Luka.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: Prof. Higgenbotham's office. "They had us working separately on the various components," says the professor. "They told me it was to be a tool for exploration. But this…clearly, they were going to use it as a weapon of war. The ULTIMATE weapon of war, rather."
Genevieve Sparling: "I'm not sure what dismays me more, Professor: that the Enlightenment came up with this idea, or that you believed them when they said its purpose was benign."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Not everyone has had your life, Captain," Evelyn says still staring at the papers. "We're a prominent family in the scientific community. Until recently, everything was peachy…"
Genevieve Sparling: "Well, I suppose I live it so no one else has to," Sparling sighs.
Michael Harrel: "But why didn't you destroy these plans when you found them?" says the professor.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling gives the professor a withering look. "When I first came into possession of the plans," she explains, "they were in the form of a single page of code, and thus I had no idea what they were. My comrades and I had no way to translate the paper. The people who gave them to me said that if they were acquired by the Enlightenment, the world would end. Soon after, I discovered that as long as I had the document in my possession, I wouldn't be shot on sight by Enlightenment agents. So, in addition to being the albatross around my neck these past ten years, those plans have kept me alive, in a sense."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Captain, if the resistance was to get their hands on this, the Enlightenment would be, as the Russians say, fucked. Only they say it in Russian…"
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling begins to gather up the pages of schematics and descriptions. "Doctor Higgenbotham, NO ONE is going to build a mammoth spacecraft that can destroy the world with a beam of concentrated energy, whether or not they oppose the Enlightenment. I will not allow this abomination to exist."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "I could make a smaller one…"
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling fumes in silence.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "We can change stuff around. We could make it a one manned craft, maybe even just a suit. Or maybe just the gun…it can be changed…"
Genevieve Sparling: "And use it for what, Doctor? To destroy the Enlightenment, end the war, free the world from tyranny… and then what? Would you dismantle it? Beat it into a plowshare?" Sparling stacks the papers and eyes a bunsen burner on a nearby table.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Sure…"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "What happens afterwards is irrelevant, sort of. The point is, we have the technology!"
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling grunts an approximation of a bitter laugh. "The means justify the end, then?"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Of course!"
Genevieve Sparling: She shakes her head. "Just because you can, Doctor, doesn't mean you should."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "…what the hell does that mean?"
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling sighs and turns to go. "I'll go burn these in a place where the ashes won't be pasted back together afterward. Say your goodbyes, Doctor; we're leaving within the hour."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn looks lets the Captain go, but reaches after her sadly. The captain does not look back.
Michael Harrel: Cut to: Commercial
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Michael Harrel: INT. The Past. Tesla University, Isaac Newton Memorial Library. Evelyn is studying for her doctorate, surrounded by dozens of thick science textbooks. Michael Harrel: There's a man wandering the library aisles looking at various books at random. He spies Evelyn and stops to watch her from one of the aisles. Michael Harrel: Eventually, he straightens his hat and walks straight past the table where Evelyn is sitting. Her eyes barely move from her books to glance at him as he passes. But afterward, they trail to where a crumbled bit of paper has been dropped as he passed by. The man walks straight to the library exit and leaves the premises.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She nonchalantly grabs it. She reads it!
Michael Harrel: A location and a time are all that is on the paper. She reads it, then pops it in her mouth and swallows it, glancing around somewhat furtively to make certain no one has seen. She smiles and goes back to her studies.
CUT TO: The present. Daniel, Newton, and Luka arrive at the Aether. Felix greets them on the bridge. "Is it to be another hurried departure?" he asks.
Newton Falk: "No doubt," Newton takes his seat. "Dibs on Captain if she never comes back."
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling enters the bridge. "Good effort, Mr. Falk, but Felix has seniority." She has secured the papers in a locked trunk in her quarters before heading for the bridge. "It's been two hours; is anyone hiding on board in anticipation of shooting me?"
Newton Falk: "Capt. on the bridge," Newton says, "And we're all very greatful for that."
Luka Arlexi: Luka brushes some dust off of her shoulder. There's a faint scent of singed brick around her. "Not that we know of, Captain."
Michael Harrel: "Ah, Captain," says Felix. "You surprised me; generally wailing police sirens herald your return. I've made all preparations for the inevitable hasty retreat."
Genevieve Sparling: "There's still a chance, Felix—we're waiting on Doctor Higgenbotham. And she'll likely be in a foul mood. If we're lucky.
Newton Falk: "We aren't away yet"
Luka Arlexi: "I'll go… make sure the engines are in order." Luka exits.
Newton Falk: "Watch out for people hiding on the ship!" He calls through the speaking tube, "I mean it!"
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling glances from the retreating Luka to Newton. "Eventful trip?"
Luka Arlexi: *She has a small bandage wrapped around her arm, from where the blood was drawn.
Newton Falk: "Eh, the werewolf didn't feel like he killed enough people. Oh, and Luka lost a boyfriend."
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling quirks a brow. "Well, I discovered that I've been carrying the plans to a doomsday device in my waistcoat for ten years. Top that, Mr. Falk."
Newton Falk: "Did I ever tell you about the second time I needed my left foot reattached?"
Genevieve Sparling: "… You win."
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: Prof. Higgenbotham's office. "Here," says Prof. Higgenbotham. "You should take all of my research. If the Enlightenment gets hold of any of this, there's the chance that they'll finish the work, even at some point in the future.'
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Thanks, Dad," Evelyn takes the papers and hugs her father goodbye. Tell mom I'm ok and don't let anyone else know you've seen me. Especially not anyone wearing a bowler hat."
Michael Harrel: "Be careful, Evie. Don't let that captain of yours draw you into any crazy crusades."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "…sure, because that's how it works," she mumbles. "Ok, Dad. She's really a terror," Evelyn fakes a sniff.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The ship. The engine room. As soon as Luka enters the room, she senses that something, somewhere, is amiss.
Luka Arlexi: Luka stops, taking a careful mental catalogue of what was where when she left. She pulls out her wrench.
Michael Harrel: A bolt that was sitting on her desk has fallen onto the floor: someone has definitely been in the room since she left.
Luka Arlexi: "I've had a very bad day," she mutters. "I will make yours worse, if necessary." She leans down to pick up the bolt. Frowning, she remembers her stash in the floor. She opens it, checking that the contents are still present.
Michael Harrel: It's all there still; it doesn't seem to have been touched.
Luka Arlexi: Luka flicks on the speaker horn. "Captain… We may have a visitor."
Michael Harrel: In the bridge, nothing comes over the speaker horn. "What course, Captain?" says Felix.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling sighs; she's been avoiding that question. "We're running out of places to go. Might as well toss a stone onto the chart and take us where it lands."
Michael Harrel: Evelyn enters, stage right.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "We're going to London," she says firmly but with a bit of nerve in her voice.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling eyes Higgenbotham cautiously. "And what could possibly be waiting for us in that part of Mechanus, Doctor? Besides a smoldering pit."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn looks so serious, "I have to go back to Tesla. It's time I graduated…"
Newton Falk: "Doctor," Newton turns around in his new-matic chair, "are you try to kill us all?"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "No," she states simply, as if it were a valid question to ask.
Newton Falk: "Elaborate."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Not right now?"
Newton Falk: "Then when?"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn shrugs and then goes to her room.
Newton Falk: "Capt.?"
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling shakes her head. "I suppose it can't possibly be more dangerous than anything else we've done lately, and after this trip we can add it to the list of places I'll never return. Felix, set a course for London."
Newton Falk: "I can't believe we're doing this…" He says taking switching the controls to 'Slow Ahead'.
Newton Falk: "Make sure the werewolf has a fresh needle of drugs," Newton calls into the speaking tube, "We're all going to die in London!"
Michael Harrel: Luka is waiting for the response to her call, when the light indicating a request for engine power comes through.
Luka Arlexi: Luka sighs, and moves to start up the engines.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn walks into her room and unbuttons her top button looking around for the place to hide the papers.
Michael Harrel: The first thing she notices is that her room is empty: there's no one there.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn turns on her heel and runs out of her room. "The strumpet has left the ship! The strumpet is gone!"
Michael Harrel: The Aether has already begun pulling out of the dock.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling strides hurriedly to Higgenbotham's quarters to see for herself. "дерьмо."
Michael Harrel: Felix and Newton look at each other. "So…are we still going to London, then, or what?"
Newton Falk: "I'm afraid so…"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn runs to the Engine room.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The past.
Michael Harrel: Evelyn walks through a crowded night-market, blending into the crowd. She ducks down an alley and through a doorway, and finds herself in a small apartment. It's a quite lavish apartment; with many expensive wall-hangings and incense burning and a table with a meal already prepared and wine from the 17th century.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn's eyes widen, "Well, you certainly spared no expense."
Michael Harrel: And the man from the library was sitting at the table, but he stands as the lady enters the room.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "I wonder, how did you hide the cost? Did you order 'new beakers'?" She walks over to him.
Michael Harrel: "It's a secret. I can't tell you," he says, and smiles at the corners of his mouth.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She smiles back. They embrace and kiss.
Michael Harrel: He sighs happily, "Soon you'll graduate and then we can make ourselves known to your parents…and then Nigel will kill me…"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn gives a short laugh, "No, no, they love you…"
Michael Harrel: "Now anyways," he twists his mouth up in an amused smirk.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Well, the science is tricky, but I think I can bring you back," she says jokingly, cuddling up to him. They kiss again.
FADE TO BLACK
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: THE PRESENT. Evelyn bursts into the engine room.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "The chained lady…Rossy, She's gone. Is she here?"
Luka Arlexi: Luka stands up from her examination of… something. "She may have been in heresomeone wasbut she's not in here now."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Damn."
Luka Arlexi: "Have you looked in the cargo hold yet?"
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling is already on her way down the ladder, pistol drawn.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "No," she departs to look there.
Newton Falk: On the bridge:
"Hey Felix, you ever get that feeling that you're missing something really important? Something happening right under your nose?"
Michael Harrel: "Captain?" Felix is calling down the corridor. "Should we still be heading for London??"
Genevieve Sparling: Before reaching the bottom of the ladder, Sparling shouts back, "As long as we're airborne, Felix, we're relatively safe. Stay on course."
Newton Falk: To himself "I'd debate that…"
Michael Harrel: The cargo hold is a virtual maze of crates and supplies. There are dozens of potential hiding places, not to mention all the scaffolding supporting the recent repairs to the hull.
Genevieve Sparling: Pistol at the ready, Sparling walks slowly down the widest aisle between crates. "Rosser," she calls, "show yourself and I promise I won't shoot." Under her breath, "Much."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn runs back to her room to get her harpoon gun.
Michael Harrel: In between the second row of crates, she finds Rosser. Quite dead. A simple, clean hole through the forehead.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling deflates a little, but keeps her pistol aloft.
Michael Harrel: "Captain Sparling, I'd advise you to lower your weapon and surrender," says an unfortunately familiar voice.
Michael Harrel: Evelyn returns to the ladder with her harpoon gun. She hears the captain and someone talking, below.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She climbs down the ladder as quietly as she can.
Michael Harrel: Evelyn ducks behind some crates, while Genevieve looks gravely around for the source of the Gentleman's voice.
Genevieve Sparling: She smiles bitterly. "Surely by now, you know that doesn't work on me." She turns to face the Gentleman/men.
Michael Harrel: It isn't clear where the voice is coming from. "Of course not, captain. Your stubborn tenacity has been a thorn in my side for these ten years past. But if not for yourself, at least consider surrendering for the sake of your crew. You were willing to do so back in Old Sicily, and I would advise considering it now."
Michael Harrel: A dark shape passes behind Sparling, too quick for us to see what it looks like. She turns just in time to miss it.
Genevieve Sparling: "It's not my willingness you need to worry about, old chap. Now that the others know what you're after, do you think they'd turn it over to you without a fight?"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn is sneaking trying to find the gentleman.
Michael Harrel: "It's not a question of fighting, Captain. Your continued resistance annoys me. I shall commence the killing of your crew, and then yourself, unless you surrender immediately."
Genevieve Sparling: "One of you against all of us?" Sparling scoffs. "This cargo bay doesn't have that many places to hide. And we're in flight—you boys may be nigh impervious, but can you survive a fall from four kilometers up?"
Michael Harrel: "Easily. But you delay the inevitable. Commencing program 23a."
CUT TO: The bridge. Nothing much is happening there.
Felix's body suddenly jerks forward. He grabs the Autopilot from under Newton's chair, and bashes Newton in the back of the head with it. Newton falls forward over the controls of the airship.
In the cargo hold, everyone suddenly feels their stomach turn as the ship quickly loses altitude.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling grabs the edge of a crate for support. "You, er… programmed my ship?" she guesses.
Michael Harrel: "That was your pilot, captain. I wonder who will be next? Your navigator? Your medical officer? Not Miss Romanov, of course, she's far too valuable, but she might be incapacitated…"
Genevieve Sparling: "I dare you to try anything with the 'medical officer'," Sparling snorts.
Michael Harrel: "I choose…Miss Higgenbotham."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: The Gentleman steps out from behind a crate. She jumps up cocking her gun. He sneers at her. "You think that-" Without any further word play, she fires the net at him. It knocks him back a few feet. Walking towards him she fires a harpoon. It pins him to the ground. He is a bit surprised. She cocks the gun again and fires a other harpoon while still advancing. It hits him in the leg. Still walking closer, he opens his mouth as if to explode again. She cocks again, puts the harpoon end in his mouth and pulls the trigger. His head shatters. Without hesitation, she throws down the gun and pulls out a scalpel and a wrench. Immediately she drops to one knee and begins perfoming an incredibly fast autopsy, pulling pieces out she knows to be important. Finally, after a pile of shiny and slimey metal parts are lying on the floor next to her, she takes a deep breath.
"I think I got him."
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling watches all of this, her expression changing from astonishment to trepidation until it settles on disgust at the dismantled Gentleman.
Michael Harrel: It was not the Gentleman that has been following her all this time, however.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling turns back to the main area of the cargo bay, pistol brandished. "Unless you'd like to endure that yourself, I suggest you abandon this little venture."
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The Engine Room.
Michael Harrel: Luka, exiting the engine room on her way to the bridge, runs into Daniel. "What's going on? I thought I heard an 'Ugh!'"
Luka Arlexi: "Something bad; I'm not sure. I think N-Mr. Falk may be in trouble." She keeps heading for the bridge. "Rosser's missing, too." She's carrying a long piece of pipe.
Michael Harrel: They both head for the bridge. Newton and Felix are both missing, and the autopilot is in place, pointing the ship in a downward direction. Behind them, Felix exits Newton's quarters and heads toward the cargo hold carrying a gun.
Luka Arlexi: Luka swears. "Do you have any idea how to fly this thing?" she aks Daniel.
Michael Harrel: He shakes his head. "Where 's Newton?"
Luka Arlexi: Luka chews on her bottom lip, hefting the pipe. "I'm going to find out. But first…" She removes the autopilot, tries to adjust the heading so that it's mostly even, and resets it. "I'd tell you to find someplace safe and lock yourself in there, but I have a feeling you wouldn't listen."
Michael Harrel: Daniel sighs. "At this rate, we may need the captain to buy me some more clothes."
Luka Arlexi: Luka pats him comfortingly on the shoulder. "It could be worse. The Enlightenment could have gotten further with the programming, and you might've killed me." She exits the bridge.
Michael Harrel: Daniel suddenly pounces on her, knocking them both to the ground!
Thus, the enormous explosion from the engine room that follows immediately narrowly misses the both of them.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The cargo hold, rocked by the explosion.
"That was your engine room, captain. But don't worry, I have it on good authority that Miss Romanov was safely out of harm's way before the explosion. With a little luck, though, Mr. Aldridge may have gotten a bit charred."
Out of the corner of Genevieve's eye, she sees Felix stepping quickly down the ladder.
Michael Harrel: He ducks behind a crate.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn is still sitting where she was before.
Genevieve Sparling: Emboldened by Felix's arrival, Sparling stalks down the rows of crates, still looking for the hidden Gentleman.
Michael Harrel: Felix waves to her. He mouths, "Well, this is fun."
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling gives him a small, but very genuine, grin. To the Gentleman she calls, "This kind of clandestine hunting is hardly the Enlightenment's style. Surely you could have just found a bigger airship than ours and shot us out of the sky. Again."
Michael Harrel: "You're right Captain. Enough of this mouse and cat game."
Five gentlemen casually emerge from various hiding spots around the bay. One, Sparling's gentleman, is twirling a cane, another has an umbrella draped jauntily over his shoulder, one puts away a pocket watch he was holding, one is wearing tinted glasses, and one has a monocle, which he is swinging around his pointer finger before placing it over his eye.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: Newton's dream sequence.
A topless Daniel in werewolf form is jumping on a trampoline.
Newton Falk: "This ain't right…"
Michael Harrel: The scene shifts:
Luka Arlexi: Luka stands there, arms crossed. "There's not enough alchohol in the world to get me to wear that. Or brain damage."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: The Autopilot zooms by in a cape. Stars flow out behind him. Hecan't see an expresssion, but he knows that it's happy.
Newton Falk: Newton turns and sees the Aether. For whatever reason it seems quite a bit smaller, and yellow. He puzzles on this and climbs aboard. It's much larger on the inside.
Michael Harrel: It turns into a telegraph booth, still larger on the inside than the outside.
Newton Falk: Newton wanders around as though he's looking for something. He reaches the speaking tube and opens it. "Stop that bloody music!"
Newton addresses the man, "Nice shoes. Can you tell me what happened to the back of my head?"
Michael Harrel: Newton wakes up.
Newton Falk: "…bloody hell. Felix? Felix!" Newton looks around, realizes he can't see straight. "I'm pretty sure the guy in the striped suit said you tried to kill me. But I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt." He tries to focus his eyes on the Autopilot, the controls, or the window. "Damn. This isn't the bridge at all."
Michael Harrel: He stumbles out of his quarters, nearly tripping over Luka and Daniel, who are picking themselves off of the floor. The hallway is looking somewhat blackened by the recent explosion. The ship is losing altitude again.
Luka Arlexi: "I just FIXED ALL THAT!" Luka looks as though she wants to cry. Or strangle someone. Or both!
Newton Falk: "Bloody hell…"
Luka Arlexi: "Newton! You're alright?"
Newton Falk: "No. I think I left the back of my head on the bridge."
Luka Arlexi: "Where's Felix?"
Newton Falk: "I feel soft where my brain wants to be, and my eyes don't want to look at the same thing at the same time." He seems distracted. "And I think they got to Felix."
Michael Harrel: Two more agents step out of the Captain's quarters. One of them has a riding crop, and the other one has a pipe.
Luka Arlexi: "You've really got to be kidding me…Я плохо себя чувствую…"
Michael Harrel: "Miss Romanov," says the one with the pipe. "Please step away from the expendable ones. I'd hate for you to get hurt by this."
Newton Falk: "Daniel, would you please take off your belt and force feed them their own asses while Luka walks me to the bridge?"
Michael Harrel: Daniel tugs his belt loose with a "thwip".
Newton Falk: "There's an image I'm glad is blurry…"
Luka Arlexi: Luka tightens her grip on her pipe. "I'm getting so tired of all of this." She takes Newton's arm and places it over her shoulders, leading him carefully back towards the bridge.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: Commercial
Michael Harrel: THE PAST. Evelyn is walking back to her dormitory after spending time with her lover, who I don't believe we've given a name officially as of yet. As she passes by some shrubbery, three large figures jump out from behind the plants, put a burlap sack over her head, and jab her with a tranquilizer!
CUT TO BLACK, then, a quick shot from Evelyn's POV as the burlap sack is pulled off. She is in a dingy basement somewhere, a single glass lantern swinging slowly back and forth above her head. She's been tied to a chair.
There are two steam guards and a gentleman in black in the room. "Ah, Miss Higgenbotham, I am, ah, pleased to make your aquantaince," says the gentleman, leaning forward on his umbrella.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Who are you? Why have you taken me here? I've done nothing wrong!"
Michael Harrel: "I think you know that's not true, my dear," says the gentleman soothingly. "But we thought that we'd give you the opportunity to confess. It'll go much easier on you if you do."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. I know there are a lot of Higgenbothams," there are not, "so I can understand how you'd be confused. Now, if you please. Take me back to my dormitory."
Michael Harrel: "You're an intelligent woman. Think hard and see if you can remember what you've done. No? All right. I'll be back later to see if you've managed to think of anything." He exits, nodding to one of the steamguards before he goes. The steamguard knocks Evelyn out with a conk on the head.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: Evelyn, in the present, in the cargo bay, looking over the tops of the crates at the men in black around the room. Sparling appears to be in the center of the group. None of the gentlemen seem to have spotted Felix yet.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling, for her part, has a rather incredulous expression on her face along with the hint of a rueful smile, and has not yet lowered her pistol.
Michael Harrel: Sparling's Gentleman (the one with the cane) is pointing the cane toward Sparling as though it is some sort of firearm. "Now, Captain, I believe this is the point where you realize the futility of your situation, and you decide to come peaceably."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn sticks her tongue out at a Gentleman across from her.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling obviously grasps the futility of the situation, but doesn't seem to care. Her smile has grown a bit wider. "After ten years of following me, you still expect me to 'come peaceably'?" She spits in the vicinity of her Gentleman's shoes and cocks her pistol. "Not without putting a few holes in you lot. It won't kill you, I know, but it'll be an inconvenience, and at this point I'll settle for that."
Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn picks up her gun.
Michael Harrel: (The one Evelyn has stuck her tongue out at is the one with the monocle. he twists the monocle a little, and the outline of the lens flares red. He waits for a signal from the leader.)
Michael Harrel: "I suppose I should offer Miss Higgenbotham a chance to surrender as well," says the leader, "though her history indicates she'll be every bit as stubborn as you, Captain. What do you say, Miss Higgenbotham? I'll even through in a diploma, make your lie about being a doctor legitimate in the eyes of authority."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn laughs like he has just farted.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling's eyes flicker to Higgenbotham; she is not exactly surprised, but the feeling of vindication is strong enough for a reaction.
Michael Harrel: "Very well," says the gentleman.
Michael Harrel: The gentlemen open fire. The cane isn't a gun, but it does fire some form of electrical arc. Sparling jumps and rolls into the alcove where Rosser is lies. The monocle fires a yellow blast which burns holes in three rows of crates on its way to Evelyn, who jumps out of the way just in time. The blast wave follows her. Meantime, the gentleman with the dark glasses has taken out a small derringer, which he aims at Evelyn and fires. Evelyn's jump takes her directly between the gentlemen, and they manage to shoot each other. (The derringer's bullets appear to explode upon striking organic material). Felix fires shots at several of the gentleman, but despite having the element of surprise he somehow misses all of them (bad roll, I guess). The gentlemen ignore him, focusing on Evelyn and Genevieve. Meanwhile, Sparling grabs Rosser's body, and hoists it so Rosser's head appears slightly above the top of the crates. While the gentlemen fire at Rosser, Sparling ducks around the corner and shoots at a strap holding several metal tanks of hydrodynamic fluid above the gentleman with the pocket watch. The tanks collapse on the gentleman, breaking most of the bones in his body.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The other battle on the top deck. Luka helps Newton into the bridge. The ringing in Newton's ears has almost faded. Meanwhile, Daniel charges in Wolf-man form. The gentleman with the pipe inhales deeply and then spews a stream of liquid fire from his mouth. It strikes Daniel's on the arm, and his fur catches fire. The other gentleman hits him with the riding crop, which crackles electrically. Daniel manages to grab hold of the leg of the pipe-wielding gentleman, and twisting his head he rips it off at the knee (there's a metallic wrenching sound, and blood and purple fluid spill everywhere).
Luka Arlexi: Luka helps Newton to his chair, swearing the whole way. The ship shudders. "I need to get back to the engine room…"
Newton Falk: "They shouldn't use fire. At least, not on the bit he's going to hit them with…"
Luka Arlexi: "Will you be alright here?" She realizes, having said it, that this is a stupid question.
Newton Falk: "You do know they are in the only hallway that leads to the engine, right?"
Luka Arlexi: "No," she smiles humorlessly. "That little fact had escaped me." She looks back at the rather gruesome mess Daniel had made of one Gentleman, and winces.
Newton Falk: Newton looks at the autopilot, pulls it out and sets a few switches. The Aether dips a bit then continues on a slightly upward path.
"I set the autopilot. We can climb up the observation deck and repel down the back of the envelope." He holds up the rope that's always under his chair.
Luka Arlexi: Luka stares at him.
Newton Falk: "What?"
Luka Arlexi: Luka shakes her head slowly. "Nothing." She looks back at the hallway fight. "Let's move quickly."
Newton Falk: Newton opens the hatch that leads to the oberservation deck ladder.
Luka Arlexi: "Is now a bad time to mention that I don't like heights?"
Newton Falk: "Yup." He says taking some string out of his pocket and tying it to the back of the hatch before closing it behind him.
Michael Harrel: Daniel, in flames, has almost been driven to the door now; though one of the gentlemen is having to hop his way over to keep up, leaning against the wall to keep his balance. The pipe has fallen to the floor some ways back.
Luka and Newton exit the bridge onto the observation deck, where the wind whips past them, howling. The ground is looking unfortunately close at the moment.
Luka Arlexi: Luka swallows.
Newton Falk: Newton ties the other end of his spring to a grenade he pulls from his pocket, then he attaches a smaller bit to the pin and ties it to the rail. He looks at Luka with a weary smile.
Luka Arlexi: "You'd better hope Daniel doesn't come through there first. Though I imagine doorknobs are hard to operate with claws."
Michael Harrel: Instead, Daniel crashes through the window to the *left* of the door. He sails over the railing and grabs hold of the edge at the last moment.
Newton Falk: "Keep moving." Newton pushes her toward the stern.
Luka Arlexi: Luka glances back, worried, but keeps going. "Rope?" She holds out a hand.
Newton Falk: Newton hands her the rope.
Michael Harrel: The gentleman with the riding crop, affixing his bowler cap back into a neater position, steps carefully out of the window, dusting off his jacket, which has several claw holes in it. Daniel is struggling to pull himself back onto the deck.
Newton Falk: Newton turns around to face the gentleman. "Luka, get to the engines and see what you can do. If the Capt. or I don't make make it back to you, concider crashing the ship. We might die, but we'll take down a whole slew of these bastards with us. Make it easier for the next bunch of idiots to make a difference…"
Luka Arlexi: "If that explosion was any indication, I might not have to crash it on purpose." She pauses a moment, and then hugs him, before scrambling up onto the railing going around the side of the ship. "Keep an eye on Danny for me," she yells over the wind.
Newton Falk: Newton locks eyes with the gentleman. "Ok, you bastard." He readies the Autopilot. "Are you ready to require maintinance?"
Michael Harrel: In response, the gentleman flicks his riding crop into Daniel's fingers, which are clutching the railing. There's a crackle, and Daniel yalps lets go of the railing. He sails off to the side of the ship and falls, howling.
Newton Falk: "Electricity?" Newton tightens his grib on the rubber handle.
Michael Harrel: He's holding the autopilot in his left hand. As Luka turns to crawl along the scaffolding, she sees three large dots in the sky behind them, surrounded by many smaller dots swarming around them.
Luka sighs. "That… can't possibly be good."
Michael Harrel: "Please don't surrender, Mr. Falk," the gentleman says. "It would deprive me of some amusement."
Newton Falk: "Sick fucker. But you know that already."
Michael Harrel: Newton ducks under the gentleman's first blow, hitting him in the side with the autopilot. The gentleman brings his knee into Newton's stomach, sending him reeling back.
Cut to: The cargo bay.
Sparling and Felix have met up near the ladder; Evelyn is pinned down a ways away behind a metal column and is constructing something out of the pieces she pulled out of the dead gentleman. There are two of the gentlemen still more or less standing: Sparling's gentleman and the one with the monocles, who has had most of his outer layer of skin burnt off and has a gaping hole in his chest. His monocle has also cracked.
Michael Harrel: "We gonna make it, Captain?" says Felix.
Genevieve Sparling: Between shots, Sparling replies, "Three of us against against five of them and we've done well enough for ourselves. I hope Mr. Falk and Luka have had the same luck up top. What happened before you came down here?"
Michael Harrel: "The controls were sabotaged; Newton set them aright but then there was an explosion just after I got down here. Don't know what happened then." The audience sees, but Sparling doesn't, the speck of blood just behind his hairline that indicates a recently acquired scar.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn is ducked behind the pillar. She is fashioning something out of the parts from the decimated Gentleman. With a few more twists and turns she lobs the the makeshift weapon at the monacled Gentleman. It lands at his feet.
It explodes.
The gentleman also explodes.
He is dead. Like, for real.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling grins upon seeing this, and concentrates her fire on her Gentleman.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn yells over the din, "I think it's time we made some tea!"
Michael Harrel: Felix shoots in the gentleman's direction and misses. "Dammit. Sorry, captain."
Genevieve Sparling: "You're a navigator, Felix, not a soldier. You can't do much about poor aim when you're stuck on an airship eleven months out of the year." As she says this, Sparling pauses to reload her pistol.
Michael Harrel: "No, captain. I mean…I'm sorry." Felix turns his aim to the reloading Captain. She's only managed to put one bullet in her gun. "I'm afraid I need you to drop the weapon, Genevieve, or I will have to shoot you."
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling becomes very still. "Felix… What the fuck is this?"
Michael Harrel: With his free hand, Felix pulls his hair away from the red scar on his head. His eyes are actually pained, but his gun hand is steady. Steadier than it's been during the rest of this fight, certainly.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling hasn't looked this crestfallen since she saw the remains of Pavel's warehouse. Her lower lip might be trembling a little. She slowly sets her pistol down on the cargo bay's deck plating and raises her hands. "I'm to blame for this," she murmurs. "Whatever's left of you in there, Felix, please forgive me."
Michael Harrel: There's a tear trailing down Felix's cheek as the Gentleman floats over to them. "Miss Higgenbotham," he says with nary a sign of emotion. "If you value your Captain's life I advise you to lay down your myriad technological marvels as well. You've all managed to escape our clutches before; you may as well wait to do so when I'm not fully prepared to instantly have your captain slain by her most loyal of followers."
"Two seconds, Miss Higgenbotham."
"One."
"Zer—-"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She's thinking, faster than any normal human being should be able to. She drops her wrench and holds up her hands.
Michael Harrel: "Very wise, doctor. Perhaps your mind is actually sound after all."
CUT TO: The past
Michael Harrel: Evelyn is partially conscious on a rusty operating table. Two gentlemen are discussing her situation. "…Her mind constructed a variety of fascinating defences," says one. "They actually troubled us for a time, but eventually we overcame them at the cost of destabilizing the entire mind-structure."
"You've driven her mad, then," says the other. The first nods.
"Quite so. She should also be fully within our power, with only a 0.0004% likelihood of her mind repairing itself through natural means. And the chance of it repairing itself without causing the entire structure to collapse completely….would be so small as to be inconvenient to discuss without the use of scientific notation."
"Very well, you may release her back to the college, with instructions to report in at regular intervals."
"I'll send word."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn gives an involuntary sob.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The present. Newton is being driven back toward the edge of the deck by the gentleman. He's sustained several shocks from the riding crop and is bleeding from a wound in his forehead. The sun is slowly sinking into the sea behind them. The Gentleman raises his riding crop.
"You'll never win you know. We do not yield."
Newton Falk: "Neither do I," Newton says, raising the Autopilot. "Plus… I'm not left handed."
Newton kicks the Gentleman in his gentleman parts and switches the Autopilot to the other hand. However he isn't as clever as he thinks and almost drops it. As he recovers the gentleman, unaffected by the low blow, sweeps Newton's legs from under him.
"Chop-socky?!?" Newton yells as he tumbles over the edge.
"Quite." Says the gentleman curtly as he straightens his bowler hat.
Newton tumbles over the gunwale for a moment, but the Autopilot catches on a mooring line. It plays out and he begins swinging in an arc that takes him under the ship and past the keel. Where he sees a now human Daniel hanging limply fromanother line.
"Daniel." Newton says as he swings by.
"Newton." He replies weekly.
Newton reaches the apex of the swing and grabs another line hanging from the rigging. Using the lines he gains speed on the back swing and a tighter arc.
"Newton."
"Daniel."
He rockets over the side of the side he fell from, the gentleman had only a moment to react.
"Wot?" He doesn't do very well.
"My regards to the ground!" Newton says as he wraps his legs around the gentleman before falling back. He quickly lets him go and watches him fall as he swings back under the ship.
"Welcome back." Daniel says, looking up from the line he's hanging from.
"You alright?"
"I've been better."
Newton looks up at the stern of the ship and the loading deck there.
"Wanna go help Luka?" Newton asks.
"I thought you'd never ask." Daniel begins to climb back up the rope and the two of them make their way carefully and slowly to the back of the ship.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The engine room. Oh, it's looking bad; there are flames, and a gaping hole where bits of the engine used to be.
Luka Arlexi: "There should not be an entrance here," Luka notes with a sigh, climbing in through the gaping hole. She looks around, trying to take stock of the engines through the smoke and a few persistant fires.
Michael Harrel: The induction coupler is half way through the reflow array. There's a huge hole in the pressure stabilizer and the fuel oil lines are all leaking. There's also an odd scraping sound from the hallway, but the smoke makes it difficult to see out of the room.
Luka Arlexi: Luka grumbles, opening the hatch to her little hiding spot of squirreled away items and reaching for a few spare tools she keeps there. "Next Gentleman I see is going to find his face repurposed into a new venting prop. Keep blowing up my engines… Я плохо себя чувствую…"
Michael Harrel: The smoke parts enough to show the next gentleman she sees, or rather half of it, though it seems to be growing a new leg. For now it's scraping forward on its hands and knees, and it has a glowing pipe clenched between its teeth. "Surrender, Miss Romanov," it growls around the pipe.
Luka Arlexi: Luka stiffles a slightly hysterical sounding giggle. "You cannot be serious."
Michael Harrel: "I assure you I am serious. Deadly serious," says the gentleman.
Luka Arlexi: "So am I." Luka pulls a grenade out from her pocket, and pulls the pin out with her teeth. "And this place is covered in leaking fuel and oil. So this is how things are going to work out, друг. You're going to help me fix this ship, or," she inclines her head towards the live grenade, "there's not going to be enough left of me for you to report back to your masters, even if you should somehow survive. The Enlightenment does not smile on failure, I understand." She spits the pin out of the hole in the Aether. "Do we have a deal?"
Luka Arlexi: BREIF FLASHBACK—Luka hugging Newton. Luka takes one of his grenades. PRESENT-"Vitality is, after all, necessary to efficiency."
Michael Harrel: The pipe falls out of the gentleman's mouth.
Luka Arlexi: "Excellent."
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The cargo bay. Dr. Higgenbotham and Sparling are both kneeling with their hands on their heads. Felix has the gun on them, and the gentleman is almost — almost — smiling.
"Now, captain. If you would be so kind as to direct me to the location of the plans you've recently had deciphered?"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "You don't need them."
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling looks sharply at Higgenbotham. "Doc—Miss Higgenbotham, I know this isn't saying much, but never in my life have I more urgently wanted you to close you're bloody mouth."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "I can build it…I can improve it…Take me to London and leave this ship and everyone on it alone."
Genevieve Sparling: Upon hearing the last part, Sparling says, "Oh."
Michael Harrel: "I'm afraid we don't trust you enough, Miss Higgenbotham. Besides, you're not even really a credentialed doctor of anything. And you've somehow managed to break out of our conditioning once before. So no…I don't foresee us requiring your expertise. Captain Sparling, the plans?"
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "I killed one of you easily enough. I was unaware it required a degree…"
Genevieve Sparling: "The plans' ashes are scattered about the landscape we've just crossed," Sparling lies. "You're welcome to go look for them."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn smirks.
Michael Harrel: "Felix, search her," the gentleman says.
"Stand up, please, captain," Felix says to Sparling.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling rolls her eyes, but complies.
Michael Harrel: Felix pats her down, but doesn't find anything. "Very well," says the gentleman. "We shall start at the bridge. Up the ladder, if you please. You first, Felix."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "It's easier just to take meee…" Evelyn singsongs.
"Efficiency…"
Genevieve Sparling: As she follows Felix to the deck above, Sparling says to the Gentleman, "If you'd spent enough time interrogating Pavel before you reeducated him, you'd know he taught me to carry a dispatch on my person at all times. If I don't have it, it's gone—surely that half-positronic brain of yours has that much of a capacity for logic."
Michael Harrel: "Efficiency is not having to worry about rescue missions or retaliations. And as for you, Captain, the mere fact that you're so keen on convincing me to stop my search is reason enough for me to continue it."
Genevieve Sparling: "Then by all means, proceed with the time-wasting."
Michael Harrel: As they all climb onto the top deck, the engine room door is closed, but there is the sound of someone at work within. Otherwise there doesn't appear to be anyone on board the ship at all.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling cranes her neck to see the bridge; she spots the broken window and sighs. "Bollocks, I just had that repaired."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "At least we're not plummeting to the ground anymore."
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling grunts her assent.
Michael Harrel: "To the bridge, ladies," says the gentlemen. "Felix, check the engine room. If it's Mr. Falk or Dr. Alderidge, shoot them; if it's Miss Romanov…just shoot her in the leg so she can't run anymore."
Michael Harrel: He motions the women on to the bridge while Felix ducks into the engine room. A few seconds later they hear a shot. This time, the gentleman does smile, rather smugly in fact.
"Blast," he says as they reach the bridge. "I can't imagine what has become of Mr. Falk's rope. I was going to have one of you tie the other up with it."
Genevieve Sparling: "And what a shame that he took the Autopilot before setting the autopilot," Sparling agrees.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Don't act like you know us!"
Michael Harrel: "Felix? I need you back in here," calls the gentleman. But there is no answer from the aft of the ship.
CUT TO: The engine room.
Luka Arlexi: Strips of black suit-coat are tied around the fuel lines, some of which are still leaking (but only barely). The hole in the pressure stabilizer seems to have been sealed off using a very distinct bowler hat and some of Reinhold Gold's Waterproof Oxi-Caulk. The reflow array has been replaced with what looks to be a cannibalized piece of the same type from some Ferroustech IV power armor. There is also a shining, good-as-never-used Chekov brand steam exchange manifold complete with Vermillion Lady induction couplers, none of which bear any serial numbers.
A very surprised Felix has just been stopped from shooting Luka by the now re-legged Gentleman, who is lacking a coat and a hat. She wipes her forehead with her free hand, and grins in a manner reminscent of Evelyn.
"Welcome to my engine room." She turns to the Gentleman. "What have your friends been up to?"
Michael Harrel: The gentleman is sulking just a tad. "While you were keeping busy in the blood lab, we snuck on board and reprogrammed Mr. Cleary. We sabotaged your engine and your communications tubes, and then several of us hid in the cargo bay. I assume that most of your crew has by now been killed, although Sparling is no doubt alive enough to show us where the plans for the doomsday device are kept."
Luka Arlexi: "Right. Because they're that easy to kill."
Michael Harrel: "By the way, Mr. Cleary, she has a live grenade so I advise you to make no sudden movements."
Luka Arlexi: Luka pats the Gentleman on the cheek with her unoccupied hand. "See? I told you we could be friends. Felix, drop the gun, please."
Michael Harrel: The gentleman sighs. "Do it, Mr. Cleary." Felix drops the gun.
Luka Arlexi: Luka kicks it out through the hole in the side. "Now, let's go visit the rest of our friends. Shall we? Gentlemen and navigators first."
Michael Harrel: As they shut the door behind them, Newton and Daniel swing in through the hole; Newton has caught the gun as it fell out of the hole. "Need any help, Luka?" says Daniel. "…Er…Luka?"
Newton Falk: "Lovely. Wanna go back out and wait till they get back to swing in?"
Michael Harrel: "We could go around the ship, swing in through the bridge…that'd be a good entrance…"
Newton Falk: Newton drops back down the hole.
Michael Harrel: Daniel follows.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The bridge. Looking down the hall, Sparling, Higgenbotham, and the Gentleman watch as the door to the engine room opens and Luka follows Felix and the Other Gentleman out.
Luka Arlexi: Luka waves the grenade cheerily.
"No sudden movements, please."
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling looks relieved. Behind her back she grasps a metal compass (the pointy kind, not the spinny kind), which she swiped from the chart table a moment earlier.
Michael Harrel: The gentleman purses his lips, annoyed. "Oh for crying out loud. Felix, shoot the engineer."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn turns and runs to her room, before anyone can stop her.
Michael Harrel: "I don't have the gun," says Felix. Felix shrugs helplessly.
Luka Arlexi: "Captain, Doctor, are you alright?"
Genevieve Sparling: "Besides the obvious, I'm quite well. And you, Luka?"
Luka Arlexi: She stands aside to let Evelyn pass. "I've been better. I made a new friend, though." She smiles as infuriatingly as possible at the Gentleman who helped her with her repairs.
Michael Harrel: "You idiot," says Sparling's gentleman to Luka's. "You couldn't even handle a little girl?" "Did I not mention she had a grenade?" says the other. "Bloody hell. My mission overrides your own mission. I order you to stand away from the door and activate your self destruct sequence."
Luka Arlexi: "Don't do it! I'm starting to like you." Luka wonders whether this is how Evelyn feels ALL THE TIME.
Michael Harrel: "Nonsense, my dear fellow," says the other. "My mission is authorized by the same level of authority as your own. Go activate your own bloody self destruct sequence."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn comes back with a jar of TEA.
She takes a sip innocently.
Luka Arlexi: "In fact, I think you need a name. I'll call you Khresah."
Michael Harrel: "This is outrageous behavior," says Sparling's captor. "I've spent the last ten years tracking down these plans, and I refuse to be defeated in the moment of victory by you, of all things. Mr. Cleary. Attack Luka."
Felix glances from gentleman to gentleman, unsure of whom he should obey.
Luka Arlexi: "Don't do it, Felix. You know what I'll do to you if you do."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Felix, follow your heart! Unless it tells you to hurt us…:
Michael Harrel: "…I think I choose to obey the one that doesn't get me blown up, if you please, sir," says Felix to Sparling's gentleman.
Luka Arlexi: Luka nods approvingly.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling glances at her Gentleman and tightens her grip on the compass, than jams it point-first under the Gentleman's jaw.
The first time Sparling was unlucky enough to trigger a Gentleman's self-destruct function, she happened to be paying very close attention. Also, years of aerial navigation has given her quite the knack for precision on a small scale. She directs the point of the compass to the spot where the other Gentleman appeared to have bitten down before exploding. As the metal tip hits home, the Gentleman begins to tremble, just a bit, and his eyes lose focus. He takes a step backward, and Sparling uses this opportunity to shove him farther, through the hole in the bridge, onto the observation deck, and over the railing in a spot where she knows no mooring line will catch him. As he falls, she leans casually on the railing and watches until he's a mere speck, and then a small fireball, in the distance.
Luka Arlexi: "See, Khresah? Aren't you glad you're my friend?"
Michael Harrel: "I hate you so much right now," says Khresah.
Newton Falk: "Hey Capt., this a good time for an entrance?"
Genevieve Sparling: "Oh, hello, Mr. Falk. We were just wrapping things up here."
Newton Falk: "Aww, come on Daniel, they had all the fun without us."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn hands Khresah the tea. She's really curious what it will do.
Michael Harrel: Daniel walks in and goes immediately to Newton's chair, where he pulls out the emergency pants and quickly puts them on.
Newton Falk: To Luka "Who's your friend?"
Luka Arlexi: "Khresah. He helped me fix the engine room."
Luka Arlexi: "Oh… and I owe you a grenade. Luka Arlexi: She holds it up.
Newton Falk: "You can keep it." He address Khresah, "How do we fix Felix?"
Michael Harrel: "Captain?" says Felix. "I'm afraid I'm getting all sorts of urges to grab the grenade and jump on it. Maybe someone could knock me out or something?"
Newton Falk: "Capt.?"
Luka Arlexi: Luka holds it close to herself. "Khresah, we need to have a chat. This way, please." She heads back toward the engine room.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling re-enters the bridge. "Sorry Mr. Falk, I'm doing this one myself." She takes a leg, still loose, from the chart table and wrenches it off, then clubs Felix over the head with it. "Stupid son of a whore. We'll get you right soon enough."
Newton Falk: "Damn… I was going to use this." He holds up Daniels belt which he got from the ahllway.
Michael Harrel: CUT TO COMMERCIAL
Newton Falk: Madison's Quality Line. For all your tying and securing needs.
Do you have this problem? (Image of a man chasing a dog, he screams in frustration) Solve it with Madison's! (Image of man tied up by family, police entering the scene)
Has this ever happened to you? (Image of someone reading a book called 'Basic Seamanship' trying to tie noodles together, throws them down in frustration) Solve it with Madison's! (Image of same man in navel uniform giving the thumbs up from the deck of a ship)
When life comes apart at the seams, hold tight with Madison's Quality Line!
(Image of Newton, hanging upside down from the bottom of the Aether)
"I'm Newton Falk, when I'm doing something amazingly daring, I trust Madison's Quality Line. Now available in light weight silk!"
Pause.
"Are you going to let me up now?"
Pause.
"Please?"
Michael Harrel: And now, back to Cogs!
Michael Harrel: The gentleman and Luka are talking in the Engine room. The gentleman is drinking the tea as they chat.
Luka Arlexi: "Let me assure you, Khresah. I like you. I don't want to let Evelyn disassemble you. I don't think I even want the Enlightenment to punish you… much, but all of that changes the moment you touch anyone else on this crew. You have a… purpose, I understand. Leave them out of it, and I will not take it personally."
Michael Harrel: "Say, this tea is…um…what's that word? Unbad?"
Luka Arlexi: "Good? Tasty? рай?"
Michael Harrel: "No, unthat. I mean, that, not. Yes. No. Does not…um…hmm. Something appears to be amiss." He regards the tea suspiciously, and then drinks more in spite of himself.
Luka Arlexi: "Really?" Luka eyes him up and down. "Fascinating."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn has been peeking in the room the whole time and her eyes are wide with fascination.
Michael Harrel: He puts the tea and saucer down. "You're a nice girl. What's your name again?"
Luka Arlexi: Luka blinks, and then smiles. "Luka." She offers him the hand that is not full of grenade.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "It's strange," the gentleman says slowly. "I seem to remember something. I used to have a wife…and children." A look of horror crosses his face, "They took me away. They made me into this thing. I remember…I'm free!" He looks excited. "It's been so long…I…can't believe it. You've freed me from the Enlighten-" BANG! The explosion sends the Gentleman sailing out the hole and through the air.
"…I guess it does explode," Evelyn says standing up. Luka can't say anything, a completely shocked and disturbed look on her face.
"Oh, well…" Evelyn runs away.
Luka Arlexi: Luka sighs, wiping soot and grease and Gentleman innards off of herself. "Sorry, Khresah." She looks a little sad as she walks over to hole and tosses the grenade after him. "Shouldn't name them. It never ends well."
Newton Falk: Newton is behind the chart table… he looks like he's concentrating hard.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling has kept her Gentleman's cane and is practicing with it, zapping the Autopilot repeatedly. "So," she ruminates. Zap. "First order of business," zap, "find Pavel. They won't have reeducated him yet." Zap. "They don't make a drill strong enough to get through his skull." Zap. "Then, we gather allies." Zap. "The ones that are still alive." Zap. "And then we go destroy the Enlightenment. I think if today has proved anything, it's that we're perfectly capable of doing whatever the hell we want despite the opposition of several terrifying hatted villains." Zap.
Genevieve Sparling: She hasn't been this happy in a long, long time.
Michael Harrel: Out the back of the ship, Luka sees that the dots in the sky she saw a while back are now enormous ships with hundreds of smaller ships swarming about them. At this relatively lesser distance, she sees that they aren't pursuing the Aether at all: the larger ships belong to the Enlightenment, and the smaller ships are all highly manueverable Automaton fighter ships. The larger ships are already smoking, and one of them is hanging precariously low.
Luka Arlexi: Luka stares up at them. "Oh, hell. Captain? You might want to come see this," she yells down the hallway.
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling tucks the cane under her arm and heads aft to see what Luka's on about.
Michael Harrel: Six of the Empire ship veer toward the Aether, and a voice hails them loudly: "Attention infidels of the heathen airship Aether. You are surrounded. Please signal your surrender and prepare to be boarded."
Luka Arlexi: "Что вы, тараканы?!"
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling examines the Automaton Empire ships. "Well, that's a nice change. Full ahead, Luka—show them how the English make a ship." She heads back to the bridge. "To your station, Mr. Falk! Now the other side wants our asses, too."
Newton Falk: Newton looks in one of the mirros that still works "Dukat A32s? Please…" He pushes the throttle to "Full Ahead" and pulls another lever near the mast that reads "Reflow" The Aether shoots forward.
Newton Falk: "Luka! I need more steam to the laterals!"
Luka Arlexi: Luka looks out at the pursuing ships. "I bet he needs more steam to the laterals." She pulls a lever.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Can we go to London now, please!"
Genevieve Sparling: "Fix Felix's brain, and I'll think about it, Doctor!" Sparling is carefully not mentioning Higgenbotham's lack of certification in front of Newton.
Luka Arlexi: Luka, already elbow deep into engine grease, looks up and swears. "I have to buy a dress."
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "I'm on it!"
Newton Falk: "Capt.?"
Genevieve Sparling: "Mr. Falk?"
Newton Falk: "What direction does the sun set in?"
Genevieve Sparling: Sparling points.
"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "It sets in LONDON!!"
Newton Falk: "Right…."
Michael Harrel: The Aether speeds up, hopefully in the correct direction.
Michael Harrel: Fade to black.
…
EXT. A farm somewhere, with a barn and cows and an automated tractor/harvester. From out of the sky, a humanoid figure falls, smashing through the roof of the barn. A few moments later, a gentleman in black strolls out, dusting himself off and righting his bowler hat. He walks over to the tractor, which springs to life as he touches it. He drives off.
Cut to: A town nearby. The gentleman, waiting with arms crossed at the side of the road, is picked up by another gentleman in a steam-horse hansom cab. He climbs in. "Jolly good, old boy," he says. "What news?"
"The Empire is striking us deeply," says the other gentleman, affixing a monocle. "They've gotten as far as Berlin, with air strikes deeper still. Seems they've taken advantage of their damned robots' invulnerability to cold, and taken over most of the arctic circle; they're sending raids south from there."
"Bloody hell," says the first gentleman.
"Indeed," says the second.
"Well, I suppose these should come in handy, then," says the first gentleman, patting his breast pocket.
"Oh, jolly good," says the second. "I was about to ask."
"Quite," says the first. The hansom cab starts away again.
FADE TO BLACK.