Steampunk Dragon

Chapter 3: Quite The Family Reunion

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, its Nevaro here! Long time no update, yea its my fault! Sorry! Anyway this week is spring break for me (well this and next) and im going on a cruise. That means i can finally get away from society for a while and relax, and, of course, write! So, this is going to be a rather lengthy chapter cuz ive had a couple good ideas and want to get this train rolling. When you see a * it means that its a flashback.

Chapter 3: Quite The Family Reunion

"Bring us around! Port side to the Flower!" Gabe shouted before grabbing onto the railing before him. "Nav!" Kaylee commanded, "Scan and register surrounding areas!" Her father. Why did it have to be her father. She hadn't seen the pice of shit since Cogsend. But why? Why Icapold! "John," she spoke into her com in front of her, "ready all weapons and bring us to cruising speed." A loud hiss came from the engine room's end. "Aye Ma'am!" John said out of breath.

Over on the Flower things were starting to come to life. The General's automaton crew were scuffling about readying all weapons. Stoss still sat on his throne of a captains chair rapping his metal fingers on the arm of the chair. He began to hum an old war tune as the robots worked around him like one great machine. An automaton snapped him out of his trans, "Sir, we've had something...interesting come up on the radar." "Yes, what is it? Spit it out Tin Man!" He slammed his good fist onto the arm of the chair. "Looks like the Royal Fleet caught up to us. They are a few hundred clicks out."
Tin Man waited silently for a reply from his captain. "Focus on the girl," Stoss' voice was solid as a rock, "we will deal with the bloody Crown later." With his orders Tin Man returned to his console.

"Captain, the Flower is starting its decent to our level. What are your commands?" Gabe's mind was racing with memories of that man but he had to focus on the fight. After all, he made a promise all those years ago, during Cogsend.

* "Gabe? Kaylee? What are you doing out of your cabins? Come on lets go, I'll escort you." The guard said grabbing the children by their shirts. "But Jud! We wanna see whats goin-" Gabe was cut off when the ship jerked to the side, from a cannon hit no doubt. "Thats whats going on outside, so its a no. Now move!" Jud continued to rush them down the hallway. Weaving through the inner hallways of the airship took a few minuets, and when they finally reached the outer most hallway, they were met by a bit of a problem. The guns on the ship that was broadsiding them were pointed in their direction. "DOWN!" Jud shouted as fire erupted from the guns. He pulled the kids close as iron cannonballs ripped through the wooden hull with ease. Before they could react, the floor in front of them was shredded apart by a shot. Jud was thrown back from the blast in a shower of splinters. The ship learched from the cannon fire and Kaylee lost her footing and fell through the gash in the floor. Instinctively, Gabe dropped to the ground and grabbed her wrist, cutting his arm on the splintered wood in the process. He screamed in pain but didnt let his grip loosen. "Gabe!" Kaylee shouted looking up at the young boy. Gabe looked back at Jud and saw he was out cold with a large splinter protruding from his shoulder, then he looked to the guns, they were getting ready for another volley. Kaylee noticed it too, "Gabe, let me go." "What?!" "Let me go, save yourself." She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. Gabe let out a strained laugh, "You're so funny Kaylee." "Im serious Gabe, dont do this!" He reached his other hand down. "Im not letting go of you," he grabbed her other hand,"I'm here to help you Kaylee, I will always be here to help you. Now lets get you back up here." He pulled her up, she wrapped up his arm and they dragged Jud into a nearby room.*

Kaylee's eyes studied the monitor, "Wait till they are alongside us then fire all cannons!" "Yes Ma'am!" Gabe replied and dispersed orders to the crew. 'Come on then dad,' Kaylee thought to herself, 'come and get me!' Everyone in the room went silent, all eyes were on the big-screen watching the Flower. They watched as the dark ship slugged its way to level beside them. "Captain! Do we fire?" Gabe looked to his captain for any sign of regret, he only saw her eyes locked on the bridge of the flower. She muttered something to herself and raised her hand, "On my mark!" The bridge was still dead silent, everyone was waiting for something to happen. And then, the unexpected happened, as the captain dropped her hand for mark, a very loud shot shook the whole ship. The ships communications screeched to life, "This is the Royal Crown Aviation Fleet to all piracy ships in the area, leave this port now and you will not be subject to judgement. As for the vessel called Black Flower, hold position and prepare for capture. That was just a warning shot Stoss, next time you wont be so lucky." The silence was replaced with murmuring. "All screens to aft." Kaylee slumped down in her chair. Sure enough, there they were, the Royal Fleet. One destroyer, two scouts and two B.A.T.s, the markings of the ships indicated it was the Hunter. The Hunter, one of the many things to emerge from Cogsend, is an elite squad of pirate hunters whose orders come straight from the king.

Back on the Flower, Stoss rolled his eyes and sighed, "Hold position," he ordered the automatons, "ready the elemental dark drives." The ship came alive with preparations. Stoss opened communication with the Royal Fleet, "Hunter Fleet commander, this is General Stoss." The Commander stiffened at the mans cold voice, "Stoss." He replied. "Commander, welcome to the family reunion! You do know that your sister is in the ship next to mine, I wish you could've met her on better terms." "Kaylee..." The Commander withheld his thoughts of his younger sister for now. "If you try to fire upon than ship you will be eliminated. Do not att-" "I dont wish to do anything. In fact, it looks like I'll be going now. Until next time Jack." Jack watched as a black mass grew from the Flower. Suddenly, it disappeared in a flash of dark energy.

The force of the energy disoriented the Dragon's Boot, Kaylee and crew were shocked at what had just happened. "Gabe status?!" She readjusted herself in her chair. "No damage taken and," the looked over to his captain with fear in his eyes,"The Flower is gone." Kaylee slammed her fist down on the arm of the chair. "Fine. Gabe, get me in contact the Royal Fleet." "Aye ma'am." Gabe fiddled with his console and talked into his com device. "Okay captain, patching it to your private headset." Kaylee put on her headset, "This is Dragon's Boot to the Royal Fleet." Jack moved the com line onto his own headphones,"Dragon's Boot, this is Jack Rike, Commander of the Royal Fleet's Hunter division. I stated previously that all pirates should leave this port, why haven't you?" "We aren't pirates numskull! This is the Red Dress, and im no pirate!" "Oh? The fabled Red Dress huh? Wait," he thought out the situation, "Your instructions are to dock immediately and stay on board, we need to meet." With that he cut the communications. "Well then, time to meet my sister." Jack readied the ship for an excursion to Icapold.

I hope you had as much excitement reading this as i did writing it! Please, please, please, please, PLEASE leave comments and suggestions! Im dying to know what you think! Until next time!

-Nev