ic Lucien Lockwood, Murderer!

[Supercape]

"Interesting, Interesting!" said Lord Steam, throwing the information around his skull. 

 

He pulled Alice to a stop and dropped the anchor. 

 

"Let us start to piece together the clues, Blakely! For now, Lorena's ship! We may well get some titbits of information!"

 

After a brief scan through the periscope, he plopped himself into the Airlock and brought out a fancy copper tube with two balls on either side. A small amount of oxygen. Enough to get him up and down. 

 

"Best get the spare suit out, Blakely. This one is liable to get rather wet!"

 

As he closed the airlock and let the water in, he realised water was also very cold. 

 

"What a miserable experience! Its worse than the army cadets at Eton! And that is some stiff competition!" he complained, recalling being hosed down with ice cold water on training expeditions though cold, languid forests. 

 

He took some heavy breaths then submerged himself. With a quick crank of a dial, the hatch opened, and he started for the surface, ready to climb aboard the ship via its anchor chain...

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

Lucien pushed his way up the chain without issue.  In the midst of climbing over the side of the boat, slightly obscured by the water running down his face and occasional blubbering for air, he heard the sound of a commotion.  Stumbling aboard, his footsteps creaked on the wooden deck of the boat.  Immediately after there was a sound of shuffling.  

 

In the distance Lucien was able to catch sight of a man in a full body black get up.  Mask and all, the intruder was running from the direction of the ship.  Apparently startled by the sound of someone else aboard.  It was very much apparent, his presence was not an invited one aboard.  With every passing second he grew closer to the end of the docks.  And with it the crowds to escape in.

[Supercape]

Steam put the copper tube in his waist coat pocket as he observed the man. 

 

"This is a fine old mess! Reminds me of Fat Biffy at Eton, when he stole the headmasters monocle for the silly buggers society" he whistled. 

 

If he stayed, he would be the culprit. And the man in the mask clearly had secrets. Opening secrets were his business. 

 

Steam was a good runner, fit and agile, but by no means a sprinter. In addition, he did not want to make undue noise. There was no way to do everything however. 

 

Run, it was. 

 

His long legs started him forward, and, still wet from his swim, he plunged into pursuit in long, elegant but antiquated strides. 

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

The masked intruder pushed his way up through the crowd.  Sucking for air all the while.  For as much that Lucien wasn't a sprinter it was clear that the intruder was even less so.  He may have dressed like a professional thief, but he did not run like an athlete in the slightest.  Crashing into a crow rather than use it as a proper cover.

 

This had the effect of  making it easier for Lord Steam to close the gap.  As the crowd had been parted for him.  Running up a set of half steps the Earth Victoriana noble fund himself within an arm's reach away.  A few people cursed out obscenities as the two men brashly pushed their way forward.  The smell of fish lingering after them as they pushed through the private docks.

 

Adding an ever important sense of ambiance.  As Lucien was almost ready to reel in the catch of the day.

[Supercape]

Lord Steam was all ready to shout "Halt in the name of the Law!"

 

But he was too busy breathing for that. 

 

in...out...in....out....

 

Just like when old Mister "Psycho" Poddlesmith, the physical education master at Eton used to flog us around cross country and give us the cold hose afterwards!

 

His legs pounded the pavement. Bang...bang...bang...in a steady pace. 

 

He was nearly there...he could almost touch the blighter. But not quite...not quite...

 

He paced himself. This was not a sprint...he was gaining. If he over exerted himself now, he could lose all. Patience was the key. Wait till the runner fatigued, made a slip, lost that extra half second pace...

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

The runner kept sprinting for dear life.  Doing everything he could to shake Lucien.  Vaulting over carts, pushing people out of the way, taking sharp turns.  But step for step Lord Steam was close behind.  As the Chase proceeded the commotion grew louder and louder.  Making it far less likely that Lucien would be able to avoid drawing attention to the fact that Lord Steam had been seen running around in the area.

 

For a split second Steam was within arm's reach of his target.  It wasn't close enough to grasp hold of him.  But, there was more than one way to skin a cat.  The runner was too focused on trying to escape to even notice how near the Earth Victoriana investigator had reached.  Luckily for him as the disheartening sight would have made his stride suffered all the further.

[Supercape]

Even Lord Steam was puffing now. He could keep going, but he felt his lungs begin to complain and his skin begin to sweat. 

 

Pick up the Pace Lads...COME ON LOCKWOOD! PICK UP THE BLOODY PACE OR ILL TAN YOUR HIDE WITH MY BELT!

 

The "Fond" recollection Master Poddlesmiths words and bubbling mouth were all he needed for the extra few inches of stride. The joys of Public School in England did, after all, come in handy. 

 

He slipped a hand in his pocket, and deftly brought out a tiny clockwork globe, no bigger than a thumbnail. With equal deftness he reached out and slipped it into the runners pocket. 

 

The effort mad him stumble, and fall to one knee, and the runner made several strides away. This was no matter to Lord Steam. He wanted to let the man run. 

 

As his target made haste away, Lord Steam brought out another contraption. A clockwork compass, with copper tubes and a hiss of steam. Pulling a dial and pressing a switch, the little thing started clicking away. 

 

"Got you my friend!" he smiled, as the compass needle pointed in the direction of the clockwork bug. Lord Steam started after the quarry once more, but a leisurely, and unseen, pace. 

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

Lord Steam stalked his prey unseen for a four block pursuit.  The search finally coming to an end at a small diner known as Maburd's place.  Maburd's was cafeteria styled diner known for its homemade, fresh served comfort food.  Patrons move through the line holding trays as they selected their food before taking to one of the long cafeteria table.  Patrons were also treated to the relaxing sounds of a live pianist. Maburd's Place was also known as one of the most frequented destinations by the local law enforcement ranging from AEGIS to even US bound UNISON agents, if they carried a badge chances are they were familiar with Maburd's Place.

 

Normally the added police present added to the family friendly environment that the destination prided itself on.  For Lord Lucien Lockwood it meant another thing entirely.  Pursuing the man inside would be a risky endeavor.  As a suspect in an ongoing high profile investigation it would be a figurative mindfield to walk through.

[Supercape]

Lord Steam cursed himself. A microtransmitter microphone would have been more useful. But at least he had tagged his mysterious quarry. For how long? The little pin would not last for ever. Hopefully long enough. 

 

He shivered. Wet clothes and a run was a chilly business. 

 

Maburds place was a risky enterprise at best. Discovered there, and surely he would be discovered, and he would be right in the hornet's nest of trouble. 

 

Charles Blakely, however, would be another matter. 

 

He had some coins at least. Stepping into an antiquated phone booth, he slotted some dimes and quarters, and called up Blakely, still waiting in Alice, the underwater marine vessel. 

 

"Blakely old chap, a bit of a stricky wicket here. Found some mysterious chap, did a runner. Managed to stick him with a tracer, but the blighter ran straight into a cop restaurant. Awash with the blue" he said, phone jammed in shoulder as he wrung out some clothes. 

 

"Could you park Alice, get over here in Bessie. Time to switch to wheels, I think. Spare set of clothes would be spiffing. Oh, and as they are not after you, I would be much obliged if you would see whats going on. Can't show my own face..."

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

Blakely's arrival was both timely and expedient.  Wasting no time in adhering to Lord Steam's request.  There was a bit of a runaround in having to reposition one vehicle for another.  But, Blakely above it all was a professional.  "M'lordship not to question your most excellent judgement; how will I know the proper bludger I am to stalk?"

 

Blakely suspected that Lord Lockwood wanted to explain the intricacies of either another piece of technology or his fine investigative skills.  To which his job was to provide the invitation to do so with such questioning.  "It would be flummut to not remain in lavender."  Clearing his throat only upon realizing that the etiquette of his tongue slipped below his station.  A holdover from his African tours where status did nothing to protect one from a bullet.

[Supercape]

Lord Steam recounted the recent events to Blakely. He was wet, cold, and his brain was balancing out the irritation at his state, versus the smug satisfaction of outwitting his target. At least, he hoped he had outwitted his target. 

 

"..so the long and the short of it, dear chap, is I would be splendidly obliged if you would flush this chap out. Or, failing that, flush the police out" he explained. "Something like some smoke, or a fire alarm, or just persuading the chap to come out nicely, if all else fails"

 

"Even having some eyes on him would be good. I may know where he is" he explained, pointing to the little device that pointed directly to the tracer "but I don't know what the blighter is up to. A most vexing predicament" he conceded. 

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

Blakely listened to Lord Steam his steady expression slightly perturbed when asked to commit a minor bit of arson.  "Is that all, or would m'lordship prefer I add a few more felonies to the list of crimes he is accused of?"   he responded dryly.  Despite the snark the butler entered the restaurant without further question.

 

Lord Steam couldn't go inside with Blakely.  Not without great personal risk.  But, he could watch from the outside.  Stalking the area with his keen investigative eye.  Being treated to quite the show in the process.

 

Blakely had chosen to sit near the piano player on the opposite end of the dining area from the man Steam was following.  Which was obscured from the angle Lord Steam was looking in on.  At first it seemed as if the butler was simply enjoying a big country lunch.  If not for the fact that the veteran soldier had the more refined taste of an Earth Victoriana gentleman when among civilized company.

 

After a few minutes of eating he had left to go to the bathroom.  Returning to his meal shortly after.  Calmly leaving as soon as smoke began to bellow forth from the bathroom.  The fire alarm followed shortly after.  Quickly prompting the patrons of the establishment to leave through every available exit.

Edited December 17, 2014 by HG Morrison

[Supercape]

"Bravo, Blakely, old chap!" said Lord Steam, punching the air in a side hook enthusiastically. 

 

Arson, yes. Most likely. But in the grand scheme of things I can live with a little bit of smoke and fire. Pay the poor blighter who owns the pub. Swing the old Diplomatic Immunity for it. At the end of the day, relative to murder, its a trifle!

 

The problem now was that the establishment had more than one exit. And he only had two eyes. Good as he was at using them, he was rather attached to his eyes and disinclined to separate them for the purposes of multiple surveillance. 

 

All that he could do was follow the transmitter he had placed on his target of observation. 

 

"Come on, old thing, don't let me down!" he said, caressing and shaking his copper and brass compass..

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

The transmitter pointed the way to a skinny man in a battered leather coat.  Wearing finger-less gloves with a slightly balding hair line that was covered with sub-par hair plugs.  Underneath his coat Lord Steam could make out signs of the full body black outfit that the man he was chasing was wearing.  But with every step forward there were two steps back.

 

The man was near a group of police officers whom were casually chatting to one another.  Although their focus wasn't on him.  That certainly could change once attention was drawn.  Furthermore, there was a familiar face in a well tailored suit talking to the mysterious boat intruder.  An all too familiar face.

 

Reginald Warrington IV

[Supercape]

The Plot Thickens...

 

Lord Steam was disinclined to jump in. He was confident enough in his martial prowess to take a few thugs, but a group of police officers was both dangerous physically and legally. He could brush away a few minor offences like setting off fire alarms. Assault on Police Officer would be a more permanent stain. 

 

So...Reginald Worthington IV. He was tangled up in this. Now was not the time to jump to conclusions, but he would very much like to have a word with Worthington. Very much indeed. 

 

He kept his distance, watching and waiting. He was cold and wet, but patient and acute. Worthington was more interesting than the mystery man, for sure. But...he could follow up on Worthington later. Right now, despite his interest screaming towards Worthington, he would have to tail the mystery man. And question him...

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

Lord Steam waited long enough for the firefighters arrived.  While the siren was still blaring the crowd had seen fit to begin dispersing.  The police officers had a beat to return to.  The constant shuffling and movement meant constant re-positioning for Lucien.  Which also meant he was never afforded the opportunity to make heads or tails as to what the two men were saying.

 

Then even the two men chose to part.  Worthington left in his own limousine.  And the boat ninja?  He walked off silently splitting off into a side alleyway as he moved off casually.  There was no urgency in his step.  Clearly relaxing as he moved about.

[Supercape]

Time to pounce! Patience was all well and good, and something Lord Steam could exert. But there came a moment in every conflict of will or muscle that action was called for. And at the end of the day, Lord Steam would never lose the thrill of those precarious moments. In fact, he lived for them. 

 

His shuffle turned into a walk, and then a lengthened stride. On the wet and stone beneath his leather soles (a fine Italian make, now ruined by his swimming) he trod, as lightly as he could. But he was an investigator, not a ninja. He was in exceptional shape, but sneaking was not his style. Flamboyance would. 

 

Tap tap tap, his soles danced on the street as he sped up to pounce!

[Brown Dynamite]

GM

 

Steam's two step may have followed a beat.  But, the rhythm was a rocking too loud.  Accidentally stepping on a soda can the Earth-Victoriana Investigator quickly alerted his quarry to his presence.  The man in the brown leather coat quickly spun around.  Reaching for a small pistol hidden in his waist band he quickly fired without thinking.

 

The bullet harmlessly whizzed to the side of Lord Steam's face.  Due in part to the detective  timely stepping to side before the trigger was pressed.  The sound of the fire engine served to dull the noise somewhat.  But, the alleyway wouldn't be silent forever.  Especially if any of the earlier police officers whom had left the scene were still within ear shot.

[Supercape]

"By Vishnu!" said Lord Steam as the bullet whizzed past him. He swore he could feel it swim through the air. 

 

"You rotter! Firing on an unarmed man! It's not cricket!" he swore at the leather coated man. Come to think of it, a cricket bat would be rather handy right now. 

 

It was not just the thought of a bullet splintering open his face, but the sound. The crack of gunfire was hardly a bizzarre rarity in Freedom City, but on the other hand it was uncommon enough, and dangerous enough, to pull police in. Not good news for a wanted man. He had to finish this. 

 

What a mess!

 

He stabbed the man's shin with his shoe to distract him, and reached over to pull him into a Bartitsu hold.