JohnLock 3: Missing Sherlock

Showin' Off

As the costumed gentlemen's weaponry Q and A was occurring, the center of the erstwhile dance floor was being converted into a stylized version of a kidnapper's lair, set up to Sir Sherlock's general specifications with props and "enemies" endeavoring to set the scene for Locke's rescue demonstration. The enemies were represented by a dozen or so Mu Ren Zhuang combat manikins, who would be the miscreants holding King Karlssgard captive.

Standing about in various positions in no particular pattern were twelve bad guys in nondescript livery, some holding knives in their "hands," some with swords held in a defensive posture in front of their "torsos", and a couple with bludgeons, raised overhead, waiting to pound poor Locke. All of them were on movable platforms, each controlled with ropes by a couple of sturdy footmen. The footmen who were the manikins' controllers were told to move their "men" as they saw fit, in hopes of surprising and possibly overpowering Locke. There had been no rehearsal to ensure that Locke was completely at the evil whims of the kidnappers.

In the center of the converted space a banquet table faced lengthwise toward the king's "throne." There were a couple of small tables on the edges of the staged "room": one about one third of the way down on the right, holding a deep bowl of fruit; and one about two thirds of the way down on the left, displaying a vase of long-stemmed roses.

The King's Herald blew a short blast on his trumpet and announced in a loud voice, "Your Majesty's, Your Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen, please gather amidships around the stage to view a weapons demonstration by Sir Sherlock Holmes of Watson's Hold. The presentation will commence as soon as the participants are in place."

At that moment, two masked footmen approached the gentlemen that Locke was regaling with a couple of small misadventures. The kidnappers grabbed and manhandled His Majesty, dragging him as he struggled ineffectually, to the front of the stage, where he was deposited onto his "throne." After tying Karlssgard's hands in front of him and his feet each to one leg of the chair, the two footmen stepped behind the throne, disappearing momentarily, to immediately reappear, having become two Wing Chun Manikins, standing at attention behind and on either side of the captive king. They brandished dangerously sharp short swords menacingly at His Majesty.

When things were set up as Locke had requested, he appeared at the foot of the room, in full costumed regalia, legs spread apart, arms akimbo. Surveying his opponents' positions and weaponry with intense concentration, he also made note of where certain audience members were and how close they would be to the action. ("...I certainly do not want any collateral damage," he mused with a self-satisfied smile ...) Pleased at the happenstance, he also noticed that most of the crew and the servants had gathered behind the royal guests, allowed to forgo their jobs to enjoy this one part of the evening.

Locke glanced at the throne and bowed his head to the king. King Karlssgard had expected a scenario something like this, but was in the dark on details as much as anyone else. He squirmed in his seat excitedly, "frightened" for his life. He sent a lop-sided smile in Locke's direction, like everyone on board, he was anticipating the action, waiting for the mayhem to begin. He raised his hands in pleading supplication to Locke, with his brow creased in not-too-feigned fear. 

Adrian handed Locke his Guardian-issued saber. Locke latched it to his right hip, leaving his right hand free to grasp his Katana and allowing his left hand to draw the sword from his hip, if both were possibly needed at the same time. Locke had forgone wearing his own sword, worried that while dancing, he might create a wardrobe malfunction, if not for himself, for his partner or some other unfortunate dancer on the floor.

Standing next to Locke on his left were his two pirate crewmen. With a flourish, he dragged his plumed hat from his head, tossed it to the peg-legged brother, and asked him to "Take care of this for me."