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Michael Harrel: Riding out in white and green and gray, past the pale of Offa's Wall where it is wont to stay, it's Cogs! Brought to you by Haruspex (tm) brand spectacles — they'll improve your vision so much, you'll literally see into the future! (Warning: do not wear Haruspex brand spectacles while eating Extispicy sausages. You have been WARNED!)

EXT. THE PROW OF A STOLEN BOAT. EVENING.
Luka, Sparling, and Scarlet are looking out over the water.

"It's very pretty, no?" says Scarlet to Luka.

Luka Arlexi: Luka shrugs. "I like the lack of autogyros shooting at us. It certainly improves the view."

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "Unfortunately, we're still in bloody Italy."

Newton Falk: "Could have been bloodier."

Michael Harrel: "It will be soon enough," says Scarlet.

Newton Falk: "Oh, right. You still want to kill me. And… you should keep your hand away from Luka's ass. If you want to keep it that is. Just sayin'"

Michael Harrel: "That's not what I meant," says Scarlet, moving her hand a bit. "I was referring to the fact within a month's time this entire land will be punished for its hubris, as hundreds of thousands of battle-ready Islamaton Hexapod Gigantobots roam the countryside setting fire to anything covered in flesh."

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "Yes, well, let's get a few miles of air between us and that, shall we?"

Newton Falk: "I really hope you're still here for that."

Luka Arlexi: Luka is making some adjustments to the Captain's mechanical cast.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "Can I play the piano anymore?"

Luka Arlexi: "You play the piano now?"

Captain Genevieve Sparling: From the port gunwale, where he's busy being seasick, Pavel calls, "You shouldn't try to tell jokes, Genevieve." Sparling grimaces.

Michael Harrel: Felix says, "I can play the piano." … "Well, I can."

Newton Falk: "La dee da, Felix"

Luka Arlexi: "Not like I'd know anyway, Captain. I'm an engineer, not a doctor."

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "Practically virtuoso. Too bad we can't fit one on the ship."

Michael Harrel: CUT TO: Evelyn's lab. The Stranger takes a puff of his cigar and waits for her to react.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn looks at him with surprise and suspicion. "I don't speak American so you'll have to repeat yourself but with clarity this time."

Michael Harrel: "Ah said, yew'll a-be needin' tuh foller me, missy. Ah've got tuh show yer somethin'." He tips his hat politely again.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn narrows her eyes, "You did that on purpose."

Michael Harrel: He grins. "Reckon so. Now you comin' along or what?"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Oh, sure sure, but remind me again…why?"

Michael Harrel: He sighs. "Son uva bitch, ma'am — you'll pardon my french. You've got grit and spunk, I declare. But to answer your question, it's about your Dr. Brandon. I'm a friend o' his, y'see."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Well, why didn't you say so?" She grabs a bag and walks down to him. "Could have saved us all a lot of time."

Michael Harrel: They rush outside the lab. The Stranger has parked his hydrocycle in the middle of the rebel headquarters. He climbs astride it and starts the engine.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn stands next to him expectantly.

Michael Harrel: "Well, climb on back then. What're you waitin' for?"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "You don't have a mechanical sidecar?"

Michael Harrel: "Look, we can't all be engineering geniuses or mad scientists. I'm good at what I do, ma'am and not much else. You want to ride in a side car, you can design one for next time. For now, climb on and shut up." He thumbs toward the back of the cycle.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "On back? That's so not safe."

Michael Harrel: "Thunder and tarnation, woman! Reckon you oughter invent seatbelts, then."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Oh! What a notion!" she rummages through a trunk and pulls out some straps and tosses them to the Stranger. Then she picks up a chair, lifts it and smashes it down on the ground, splintering the legs off of it. Humming, she fastens the chair to the back and straps herself in. The stranger stares at her with open mouth. "Well, don't just sit there, let's go. We're wasting time."

Michael Harrel: The Stranger revs the engine, and the cycle zooms off through the sewer tunnels.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn puts her goggles down. And holds her bag tightly.

Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The rest of the crew return to the hideout to find Evelyn missing, and what appears to be wooden splinters strewn about the floor. A trunk has also been overturned, furthering the impression of a struggle.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "Hell. We're never getting out of here."

Newton Falk: "She must have left of her own accord. If they'd tried to take her we have heard the explosion for miles."

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "Which means it'll take even longer to find her. Luka, Mr. Falk, get to the Aether and make her ready to fly. Pavel and Felix and I will track down Dr. Higgenbotham."

Luka Arlexi: "Aye, Captain."

Newton Falk: "We could, you, know?" Newton makes a "ship flying away" motion with his hand.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "I'm as tempted as you are, Mr. Falk, but I seem to have this niggling obligation to rescue her from whatever predicament the doctor has found herself in this time." "That would be your conscience," Felix supplies. "Ahh, yes, it's been a while," Sparling says, then leads the way through the sewers.

Newton Falk: "Ah well." Newton heads off to assist Luka in prepping the ship.

Michael Harrel: CUT TO: Evelyn and the Stranger. Zooming along the Italian roads, weaving in and out of the traffic. Suddenly, the Stranger hits the brakes and brings the cycle to a sudden screeching stop in front of a bombed out church, the sign in front of which reads: "Condemned due to illegal spirituality: Salvation and eternal life forbidden under penalty of death, by order of the Ministry of Religion."

Underneath, in small print: "Martyrdom is also punishable by death."

CUT TO: The Aether. Luka and Newton are ready to go. Felix, Pavel, Sparling, and Scarlet enter the bridge. "No, sorry, that's my seat," says Felix, as Scarlet attempts to sit at the navigation table.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "It turns out it's hard to catch a scent when you're surrounded by shit," Sparling declares. "Ready for departure?"

Newton Falk: "Aye, Capt."

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "Get us airborne, then."

Luka Arlexi: over the tubes, "She's in better shape than usual for a take-off, Captain."
Newton Falk: Newton brings the ship up.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "I'm not surprised. The doctor hasn't been here to blow things up lately," Sparling answers.

Michael Harrel: "Where to, captain?" says Felix.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "Let's take in the view for a bit, at least until someone starts shooting at us. Might spot her somewhere down there."

Newton Falk: "Aye, Capt…"

Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The church.
The stranger hands Evelyn the envelope with her name on it. She rips it open, and takes out a piece of paper, which has, written in Dr. Brandon's handwriting, the words "It's complete" on it.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn crumples up the paper and eats it. She smiles.

Michael Harrel: The stranger tips his hat.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "So, why did we have to come all the way out here?"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: She looks around the church ruins.

Michael Harrel: "Easy" he says. "We had to get out o' th' sight o' them damn hobos. Some of 'em ain't 'zactly what they appear t' be."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: 14:29:21
Evelyn gives a quizzical look, "Hobos? Those don't exist."

Michael Harrel: Three hobos leap out of the shadows, tackling Evelyn. The stranger whips out his revolver, and shoots all three of them in the blink of an eye. The bullets throw them off of Evelyn, but don't kill the hobos — the shots richochet off them, ripping off their artificial skin and revealing clockwork interior!

Michael Harrel: "Damn Hobots," says the Stranger.
The stranger fires off another two shots, each the bullet striking a hobot through their hydrodynamic tubing, spraying hydrodynamic fluid everywhere and sending the hobots crashing into the wall, where they burst into flame. Evelyn pulls out a glass marble from her pocket and tosses it behind the hobots. It crackles with electronic energy, and in a quick flash a ball of artificial lightning explodes from the marble, frying the remaining hobot. The stranger offers Evelyn a hand up. "Name is Briggs, ma'am. Marshall Briggs."

Michael Harrel: CUT TO: Marshall and Evelyn exit the church, just as the aether appears overhead. A rope ladder drops from the airship.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "Who the hell is that?" Sparling demands as she peers through a downward-facing spyglass.

Michael Harrel: Through the spyglass, we see Marshall touch the tip of his hat toward her.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "Hmph."

Michael Harrel: CUT TO: INT. THE BRIDGE. Evelyn and Marshall enter from the cargo bay, where Marshall has stowed his steamcycle.

Newton Falk: "You aren't one of mine…" Refering to "The Stranger"

Michael Harrel: "Damn straight I'm not," says Marshall. "Name's Marshall Briggs, son. But you can call me Mr. Briggs."

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "And where were you planning to store Mr. Briggs on our trip back to Dublin, Dr. Higgenbotham?"

Newton Falk: Under his breath, "Good lord, she collects men like cats…"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "I'm not storing him anywhere," she waves her hand in the air, "But, I do need to make a stop in Barlow. Inconvienient perhaps, but unavoidable."

Newton Falk: "Captain?"

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "Don't see what harm it could do," Sparling sighs.

Newton Falk: "Aye, Capt. Felix, tell me where to go."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn wanders back to her room, pulling the fur coat up around her neck.

Michael Harrel: CUT TO: BARLOW. The Aether zooms in from above the camera, coming to a hovering stop above Dr. Higgenbotham's parents' home.

Michael Harrel: INT. The Higgenbotham residence. It is a normal house, not eccentric in any way. The impression given is one of strict normality: every artifact and crevice screams "We are model citizens of the Enlightenment! Pray do not arrest us for the actions of our rebellious and crazy daughter!"

Michael Harrel: Dr. Higgenbotham knocks on the door, and then enters.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Helloo?"

Michael Harrel: "If you're arresting anything, we don't want any!" calls a voice.
"She means selling!" calls another.
"Right. Selling! If you're *arresting* anyone, we're not home!"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Mother, Father, where are you?" Evelyn walks through the house checking the pockets of her fur coats.

Michael Harrel: A trap door in the floor of the kitchen opens, revealing the parents Higgenbotham, who place their guns on the ground and hoist themselves up into the house. "Oh, it's you dear," says Mrs. Higgenbotham. "We weren't expecting you. Come in, come in; would you and your friends care for some tea? I'll put some water on."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Where's Edouard?" Evelyn asks casually.

Michael Harrel: "He's hiding in the cupboard down the hall," says her father.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Hiding? Oh honestly," she begins opening cupboards.
She flings open the cupboard he is in and he blinks with the sudden change of lighting.
"Edouard, what are you doing in there?"
"Evie?" he says surprised.
Evelyn's mother and father look a bit confused at their daughter's behavior.
"What are you doing here? Did you get my message?" he steps out of the cupboard.
"Yes, yes I did and that's half of why I came," she looks a bit fidgety.
"What's the other half," he asks embracing her without thinking. Suddenly, his eyes widen.
"Evelyn?" he looks confused.
Her Father steps forward, "Edouard, just what is going on here?"
Edouard continues looking at Evelyn, "I'm…not sure…"
Evelyn sighs, "There's no avoiding it now, I suppose."
She takes off her coat for the first time that the crew has seen in a while.
"I'm pregnant."

Luka Arlexi: "Congratulations?"

Captain Genevieve Sparling: 23:46:13
"Oh, hell."

Michael Harrel: Marshall punches Edouard in the shoulder. "Congratulations, Doc."
He looks at Evelyn, tips his hat. "…and…Other doc."

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn father, till recently as confused as everyone else, looks at Dr. Brandon, "You…you? What? When? No! Don't answer that! I…I trusted you and you used my daughter! She's half your age, I-I…Evie, why are you looking at me like that?"

Evelyn does not look happy, "Father, now is really not the time." She turns her attention back to Edouard, "Right, so…what have you to say?"
Edouard is grinning like a fool.
"Ah, that says all I need to know. All of you, look away. I'm going to kiss him now and I know how much you all hate that."

Captain Genevieve Sparling: Sparling makes a disgusted noise and averts her eyes.

CUT TO: THE AETHER. We hear Scarlet yell, quite clearly, "LUKA!". A second or two later, Felix, sounding hurt, says, "…Er…what did you just say?"

CUT TO: Higgenbotham's parents' house. The kissing continues. Everyone else kind of… moves into the kitchen. To talk.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn and Edouard sneak away back to the lab Dr. Brandon has been using. "As you know, I've gotten your message. I believe I have completed my portion of the plans," she shows him the blueprints she's been SCIENCE-ing all this time.

Michael Harrel: "Just to be clear, you really are pregnant, and it wasn't just a ruse to get us alone, correct?"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "If you were not the father of my fetus, I would have killed or seriously injured you for saying that…" She looks even more dangerous than ususal. Then, she scrunches up her face, "It smells like a Turkish bath house in here. Don't you ever clean?
""What? Oh, I spilled some chemicals last month-you can still smell it?"
"Ugh, yes. It's disgusting…eugh…anyways, plans!"

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Oh yes," he goes to a hidden safe in the wall and retrieves them.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: They look over each other's plan. The rest is all SCIENCEY stuff.

Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The kitchen. Everyone is standing around awkwardly.

"Er…I like the…uh..day-CORE," drawls Marshall.

The Elder Dr. Higgenbotham pours himself a strong drink.

Newton Falk: "So the Docs going to be looking at some maternity leave, eh? Should we drop her stuff here or what?"

Luka Arlexi: Luka elbows Newton.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Emily (Mrs. Higgenbotham) puts on the kettle like she said she would.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: Sparling perks up a bit. "Hmm. I didn't expect to get rid of her so easily…"

Newton Falk: Big smile. Then Newton notices "The Stranger".

Michael Harrel: "I doubt that'll happen. I reckon little Doc Jr wil probably be able to do trigo-whatchamacallit-ery from the day he's born," says Marshall. He nods at Newton, but his attention is mostly drawn to the drink in Nigel's hand.

Newton Falk: "You have no idea how much that scares me." Under his breath, "Who do you work for?"

Michael Harrel: "I'm working *with* Doc Brandon," says Marshall. "I'm working *for* someone else." He places a finger to the side of his nose.

Newton Falk: "YEs, I smell it too. Is it you?"

Michael Harrel: "Most likely. That's the smell of Freedom, son. Stay alive for a while longer, maybe you might start smelling like it yerself. Ah'm. Y'know, a man could die of thirst 'round here before someone offered him a drink…Reckon Doc Brandon owes us a cigar, too," he mutters.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Nigel wordlessly pours him a glass.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: Sparling accents a cup of tea from Emily, takes a flask from her coat pocket, pours a liberal serving into the teacup, and passes the flask to Pavel.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Emily pours herself and anyone else who wants it some tea.

Newton Falk: Newton scrutinizes Marshall for a moment before quickly writing something on a scrap of paper and holding it out the kitchen window where it is taken by a grubby hand. He takes his tea and continues to keep an eye on Marshall.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Finally, she speaks, "Well, while I'm saddened Evelyn felt she had to keep her relationship a secret from us, I'm hardly surpsrised anymore."
Nigel looks up, "This seems like something she'd do?"
"Well, she felt she had to keep the fact that she was alive from us. I suppose we should just be happy we're going to be grandparents," she takes a sip of tea.
"…grandparents…grandparents! Good Lord! I'm going to be a grandfather!" Nigel all of a sudden jumps up with glee.
Emily smiles, "Yes, dear. You just got that?"
Nigel laughs, "I hadn't really thought on it like that."
"Honestly," Emily rolls her eyes and grabs her husband's hand.

Luka Arlexi: Luka smiles, a little sadly.

Michael Harrel: CUT TO: The Aether's bridge. The crew files onto the ship, where Felix and Scarlett are sitting not very closely to each other, hap-hazardly dressed, pointedly not looking at each other. As Luka enters, Felix pointedly does not look at her, either.

Michael Harrel: "…Captain," says Felix. "What's our next destination? Please."

Newton Falk: Newton walks in and looks at the two, then directly at Felix. "Ha!" He then takes his seat and continues to chuckle.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: Sparling doesn't pick up on the implications until Newton laughs. "Oh sweet Christ, we're running short of unfertilized wombs," she mutters.

Newton Falk: Newton loses it. He eventually stops laughing enough to operate the ship…

Michael Harrel: "Hardly fertilized," says Scarlett, casting a disparaging glance at Felix.

Luka Arlexi: Cut to the Engine Room: "That's strange, did it just get colder?" Cut back.

Michael Harrel: "Well if you hadn't—-no. Never mind," says Felix, glaring for some reason in Luka's direction

Captain Genevieve Sparling: Sparling clears her throat loudly.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: Evelyn walks to her room, clearly preoccupied in her head. She nearly walks into Marshall she's so distracted.

Michael Harrel: "Scuze me, Miss Doc," he says, manuevering around her belly.

"Dr" Evelyn Higgenbotham: "Yes, yes, fine," she waves him off.

Michael Harrel: "I'm gonna check on my bike," says Marshall. To Felix he says, "You might want to fix your maps. They're somewhat askew."

"WHERE TO CAPTAIN." says Felix.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: "Dublin. Now."

Michael Harrel: "YES SIR." Felix savagely begins making calculations and violently plotting headings.

Newton Falk: "Felix, I need you to get that chart up, alright?" Still on the edge of cracking up again.

Michael Harrel: "HERE YOU GO NEWTON!" says Felix and thrusts his navigations into Newton's hand.

Newton Falk: Newton takes it, carful not to touch where Felix has.

Michael Harrel: CUT TO: DUBLIN. EXT. Fox's compound. Day. The Aether lands. Daniel and the Fox stand outside the compound to meet the crew.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: Sparling strolls down the gangplank and hands the Fox a sheaf of papers, her written report of everything they discovered in Italy. "The short version is that you might want to start moving your headquarters a bit more underground," she says.

Newton Falk: "Or to the moon!" Newton says helpfully.

Michael Harrel: "Don't be ridiculous," says Fox to Newton. "Consider it done," she says to Sparling.

"Marshall!" says Daniel. "Good to see you!" Marshall tips his hat.

Captain Genevieve Sparling: Sparling gives them both the lizard-eye. To Fox, she continues, "Also, if you have the room, I've brought you a couple new friends." She gestures to Pavel and Scarlet.

Michael Harrel: "She's pretty," says Daniel.
"No she's not," says the Fox.
"No, she's not," says Daniel.
"I'm sure they're both very welcome," says the Fox.

Luka Arlexi: Luka shoots the Fox a searching look, which is answered with a slight nod. She hands Luka a small sheaf of papers while everyone else is occupied with greetings, docking, or making Felix even more uncomfortable. Luka skims through the sheaf, and hands the Fox a rather thick envelope in payment.

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