The Adventures of the HMS Harlot

Part 2: Connor Tempest, Scout

Days tend to blur together, when you don't really have any perception of time. Spending long periods of time on a flying ship might do that to you. Or at least that's how I usually feel. Today was different, however. Today, the crew and I found ourselves in the tick tocking clockwork colonies, and I was just ready to get off that ship. Don't get me wrong, I love my crew and all but take if from me, if you've seen one cloud you've seen them all; trust me.

While everyone discussed what they were going to do here in the colonies, Roy and I instantly met eyes, shook our heads, and were off. Force of habit; we had been traveling together so long that it's just natural for us to pair for free time. Life in the colonies looked rather meek. And that's being modest. The stone roads were so dirty and grimy that they began to bear a muddy, black kind of color. The clinking of my two swords bouncing on my back were among the loudest noises in the streets. In the colonies we saw a wide array of people with fine pocket watches and top hats; we also saw kids without shoes.

Whenever we landed Roy and I always like to venture off to find our own trouble to get into. Somehow, we're usually never the ones that find it. Trouble finds us.

"I almost forgot people live like this." I said to Roy, feeling empathetic. 

"Yeah, easily makes you appreciate luxury of flying in the sky" he says back feeling sympathetic and looking up into the sky. 

Just as we made it to the corner we heard some sort of commotion, two streets over. 

"We should check it out!" Roy insists.

"You mean we should mind our business, leave the people to their own squabbles and go and find me some food." I said showing my jaw full of pearly whites. 

"I'm serious Connor, on the move!" Roy ran off.

"Here we go!"

As we raced down the street, we saw a small blur race past us followed by the apparent guards of the colonies. 

"Was that Eldon?"

"Yeah he's in trouble!"

"What should we do?"

"You provide cover and I'll go over and grab him" Roy said.

I crossed the street to get a better angle on the guards. I reached in my holster and grabbed my gear based gun. As I put my hand on the trigger I took aim at the head guard's shoulder. First shot! I missed! "Damn." Second shot, right on the money.

I hit the guard on the left shoulder. All the guards started to fire back in my direction. I took cover behind a building.

The sound of the bullets ricocheting off of the building echoed in my ears. 

"After him you blundering idiots!" I heard the guard who had been shot say. 

"Sir!" They shouted in unison.

I pulled out my second pistol and before they had a chance to react, I shot at their feet until I was empty. Shot after shot they were jumping around like a bunch of frogs, who couldn't find their way into a pond. Eldon was behind the guards setting up to fire with his slingshot when Roy grabbed his arm and pulled him away.

I may be empty, but I still have one more trick up my sleeve. 

"Wait, wait, wait!" I said in a panic.

"What?"

"Are you really going to let the boy get away" I said pointing in the head guards direction. 

They all turned around in unison. I pushed the closest guard so hard he actually knocked over the entire platoon. As I ran ahead to try and meet up with the Roy and Eldon, all I kept thinking was "Whatever is going on I hope it was worth it. I really didn't want to shoot that guard." I hid in an abandoned building for about 20 mins. When the coast was clear, I headed back towards the Harlot. I seen Roy and Eldon coming out of a very strange looking chapel. 

"Are you guys ok?" I asked a bit fatigued. 

"I should be asking you the same question" Roy offered.

"We're Fine!" Eldon said. 

"OKAY let's get out of here" I said ready to get back to the ship.

Another wonderful exploration with the HMS Harlot crew. But you gotta love em. I sure do! 

Well until next time I guess,

Connor Tempest