Full Summary:
It is the year 2090 and the world has changed drastically. Watchers roam the streets in search for their next prey while Overseers torture prisoners of the workforce of the Clockwork Realm. No one is free anymore. The Aristocrats and Democrats are working together now for the future of our world. But war is coming. The East of the Realm has stopped spinning on its cog while the West of the Realm is spinning too fast. The richer world of the Centre Clockface, home to Arthur Kirkland, is in peril of falling into the Abyss below. After running away from his home, job and family, Arthur now lives on the streets disguised as The Clocker of King's Court and is running from the law. Meanwhile on the Engineer's Dial, young Alfred Jones, the Chief Engineer, fights for his freedom. Both of them are sick and tired to the back teeth of the biased world they live in and, after making friends with many people in the same position, they fight back. Now is the time to bring about a new era of living. With Alfred and Arthur leading the charge, Francis Bonnefoy, Wang Yao and Ivan Braginsky join them and take to the land and skies as the Allied Forces of The Clockwork Realm. But where there is good there will always be evil. The Axis Powers, belonging to the Aristocratic leadership of Roderich Edelstein, fight against the Allies. Ludwig Beilschmidt, his brother Gilbert Beilschmidt, Honda Kiku and the cowardly yet adorable Feliciano Vargas tackle the Allies in a head-on collision of steam, coal and war. However, just when they think they've won, both the Allies and Axis realise that there is a higher power controlling the Clockwork Realm. Parallexus. What is it? Time to find out, before time runs out.
Parallexus – Chapter One
"We cannot allow the East to prevail through their stubbornness and refusal to cooperate!"
"Neither can we allow the West to keep spinning as it is at current! If we do, the Centre Clockface will run the perilous risk of collapsing and falling into the Abyss!"
And so the argument continued. Aristocrat against Aristocrat, Democrat against Democrat and none of them gaining common ground upon which to agree. In The House there stood a single man, waiting very patiently to enter The Court of Order. He tapped his foot, almost impatiently, as he waited. Finally he was given the signal to go and he slammed open the great metal and oak doors. Every politician in the room jumped and looked towards the man. He had sleek, chestnut brown hair slicked backwards wtih a curl of hair sticking upward neatly. His mahogany-brown eyes scanned the room silently as he stalked forward unto the silence that had befallen. Many politicians were keeping a tight eye on this strange, clearly foreign, man as he stalked closer and closer. Silence reigned supreme until he spoke.
"So... I see none of you can cooperate well enough to run the Clockwork Realm..." he purred, his voice one of a strong Austrian accent. There were mutters of disapproval echoing around the room.
"Who does he think he is..."
"... barging in here..."
"... like he owns the place!"
The Austrian snapped his cane against the floor with a sharp resounding crack that made everyone fall silent.
"You all doubt my power...? Even though I have barely had a chance to demonstrate it...?" He said, his voice low and melodic.
"Who do you think you are, sir? Coming into a strictly private conference as you did?" one of the Democrats spoke up. The Austrian cleared his throat before speaking next.
"Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier," he apologised, "but my name is Roderich Edelstein. I am here on representation and recommendation of my Cog."
"And what Cog would that be, Mr Edelstein?"
"The Cog of Justice and Power, good sir." Roderich replied smoothly, he was well-prepared for this. He was a thinker, unlike much of those in the room who were all dreamers or sayers, spinning webs of fabulous and gleaming tales and lies to feed to the people of the Clockwork Realm. He was here to stop them in their tracks, run their world for them, make everything better. He was here to bring about a revolution in this world, one to change it for the better. Murmurs spread throughout The Court but none of them doubted him; they couldn't, after all he was from The Cog of Justice and Power, that cog being of a higher order than each of the politicians in the room.
"Alright then..." the Head Politician said, "You may demonstrate your power, Mr Edelstein..." Roderich smiled slyly.
"Good." was the only word given before numerous soldiers burst through all the doors leading in and out of the room, each of them brandishing Tommy Guns and Steam-Spewers which were both highly powered and dangerous weapons to bear. All of them rounded up the frightened politicians as they huddled together, the soldier's uniforms one of an unknown design that had an eagle's head and the body of a lion. Perhaps it was a Griffon - a much feared creature from the Hell Plains.
"What is the meaning of this Mr Edelstein?!" the Head Politician cried, fear clear on his face.
"Simply a matter of cleaning up, good sir." he replied plainly, raising a hand to stop the soldiers from shooting and ending the politicians' miserable lives. The soldiers stopped but didn't lower their weapons, only making the politicians beg for mercy more.
"SILENCE!" Roderich bellowed, making them all fall quiet instantly, "I am giving you all a chance to live. I suggest you take it." he said with a sly grin. Every politician made a run for it, hoping to get to the doors and live.
"FIRE!" Roderich roared, watching as each man was shot down by combinations of acid and steam. Soon the room fell silent and he started to laugh lowly, dismissing the soldiers to safeguard the room and dispose of the bodies. This was only the start of his plans, only the start. Soon, the light would shine brightly above the Clockwork Realm and people would look to him as their leader - Roderch Edelstein, Master of All.
"Faster! Go, go Clocker!" the crowds yelled, watching a man duck and dive past the numerous obstacles the Enforcers were leaving for him as he ran to escape mass of Enforcers behind him. He laughed, jumping high above the crowds and watching the wonder in their faces as his White Crystal Orb on the top of his cane caught the light and shone, obscuring his masked face against the bright white light. The crowd screamed with delight despite their hero, the Clocker of King's Court and the Underground City, being technically an outlaw to the Centre Clockface. He was infamous across the Nine Cogs for his daring-do, his escapades, his heroic nature to take from the rich snobs and give to the poor of the Underground. According to rumours, he had given up his well-to-do life down on King's Court to help people, he had given up his well-paying job to some other soul, he had left his family and he had given everything up to live in the shadows as the Clocker - the man who saves the Underground day after day and with no reward. He never stops. He never stays. And he never asks to be thanked. All anyone has seen him wear is a top-hat decorated with clockfaces and cogs, a cane topped with a rare White Crystal Orb, a deep black, bordering on blue or purple, tailcoat and neat leg-hugging trousers that were overlaid with just-below-the-knee boots. He was a hero, to put it plainly, amongst the people of the Underground. And today was no different.
He had sneaked into one of the Nobles' house, stolen a good amount of food and run off as their hound started barking. Truth be told, judging by the bite marks on the Clocker's boots, he wasn't a friend of animals. He sprinted as fast as he could, weaving in and out of the crowds that lined the streets and the carts that trotted back and forth. Every time he jumped high above someone, the crowd would go wild, screaming and shouting in wonder and yet fear at the same time. Soon though, he hit a block. There were Enforcers creating a wall of anger and frustration at not being able to catch this scoundrel.
"Halt! Don't move!" they all cried as one, their tinny voices echoing around the street as the crowds fell silent. The Clocker grinned, tipping his top hat slightly as his bronze and gold mask caught the sunlight that shone down like a sign from the Heavens.
"Gentlemen. I'm afraid I have no time for your silly game of Tag today, for I have a delivery to make." the Clocker said, his voice silky and almost harsh at the same time. This was the first time anyone had heard him talk, and they loved every word of it. The crowds screamed wildly, cheering as he had spoken for once. His voice, his accent, was British. Everything about him was just so British, so perfect.
"Ho now Clocker! Where do you think you're sneaking off to now?" the Lead Enforcer shouted, hefting his Spring Gun, a high-powered weapon that could shoot springs like bullets. The Clocker laughed and it only drove the crowd wilder.
"I'm off to help those I always do, Officer!" he laughed, stamping one boot against a drain he was stood on lightly. The drain slide aside as he jumped into the air, allowing him clean access to the Undercity. He jumped down the drain and, as the Enforcers ran forwards to hunt him down, the drain cover melted back into place. There was laughter and cheering throughout the crowds as the Enforcers retreated back to their hollow in the side of the Great Museum of The Nine Cogs and The Clockwork Realm.
