Lying on it's back was a large mechanical beast. Shaped roughly like a great cat, the ten-foot long body had non-retractable claws that eneded with foot long. The mouth of the great mechanical feline was lined with razor sharp teeth that when shut, resembled an extra-large bear trap. The belly of the beast was opened in what looked like a small service hatch and sticking out from the hatch were the legs of a woman covered with a brown wool skirt. Under the bottom of the skirt, you could catch a glimps of the black and white striped leggings that the woman wore.
The top half of the woman half in and half out of the large clockwork feline was a beautiful blonde-haired woman with large round glaces. The woman was larger-than average breasted with large eyes that when she was not concentrated showed an inner goodness that could not be dampened. The brown wool top of her shirt that matched the skirt she wore was folded nearly and draped over the rear leg of the beast and the white undershirt she wore was marred with grease, just as her arms and left cheek were. The blonde hair was pulled back into a tight braid, but strands had begun to come loose and were falling into her line of sight.
A loud clang sounded from within the belly of the beast and the clockwork feline growled. A single grease coated hand popped up from inside and patted the mechanical cat. "There there, we're almost done."
A loud sound that resembled a purr rolled from the head of the cat.
It was then that she heard the Castle "Ooh, Mistress. We have Visitors in the Hall of Flames."
Pushing back on the rear leg locomotion drive shaft, the Heterodyne woman righted herself and blew a lock of her golden hair out of her eyes. "Tourists?"
"Mistress," The disembodied voice of The Castle replied, "They are in the Hall of Flames. I can certainly treat them like tourists if you like." The Castle's voice ending in a hopeful tone.
"Enemies?" Agatha asked with a sigh.
"No, I don't think so. IF I were to guess, I would say they are joy riding kids that stole some Sparks new toy. They are all young and simply appeared in the hall in a machine of some kind." The Castle answered. "I can escort them out if you….Hmm…"
At the sudden curious pause, Agatha felt her own curiousity suddenly piqued and raised an eyebrow. This pause was also enough to make the large white cat on the closest work bench lift his head. "Unless they brought tribute to the Emperor, boot them out."
"Hush Krosp." Agatha said dismissively. "What is it Castle?"
"Well, they claim they have come to visit their relatives. What is strange is that the two boys seem to be curious, rather than frightened." The Castle replied, the added with a satisfied tone. "The rest seem to show the proper amount of fear. May I send some Jaëger to greet them?"
"No, please don't. We already have enough people that run from the gates as they scream in fear." Agatha said simply.
"Ah, it's such a beautiful sound." The Castle interjected.
"Guide them to the Dining Hall and have Moloch meet them half-way to talk to them. Study them and tell me what you think before they arrive. Let Gil and Tarvek know to meet me there, they will gather the rest. It's nearly dinner time anyhow."
"Can I take them through the Dungeons?" The Castle asked, it's voice rising in a way that could only be called eager.
"No," Agatha said sternly. "What did I say about the Dungeons being a Tourist attraction?"
"But Mistre…"
"No." Agatha said with a grimace.
"The blood is almost all washed off!" The Castle argued.
Agatha pointed to herself and bellowed, "Heterodyne!"
"Fine." The Castle muttered before sending out to completed the tasks assigned to it. The first being the beginning of the tour through the Castle for the visitors, then off to advise the Mistresses best Minion Moloch.
The castle came upon Moloch just as he and his wife, Snaug, as they were trying to clean one of the medical rooms. Moloch, standing just above average in height with black hair and a black beard was a former soldier, and excellent mechanic, and deathly afraid of the Castle. This pleased the Castle greatly.
In a low and sinister voice, the Castle spoke to Moloch and revelled in the sudden look of terror that crossed his face. "Grrreeetings Moloch."
The man jumped as did his brown haired mousey wife. "AGH!" they screamed together.
"We have visitors. You are to meet them in the Red Hall and escort them to the Dining Hall. I will provide the path. Engage them in conversation." The Castle commanded curtly.
"Is this like the time that Baron Dillint sent in his mechanical assassin squad and you wanted me to have a conversation with them?" Moloch asked, both angered at the memory and terrified that it might actually be the same setup.
The Castle gasped, pretending to be hurt by the accusation. "Well of course not. The Mistress simply wants the kids escorted."
Snaug gasped. "Did the Control Group get free again?"
A hollow chuckle responded, then the castle slyly answered "Maaayyybe. Either way, Go. Meet. Talk. Walk." Then the castle was gone as it moved on to speak with the Mistresses two possible consorts and found them engaged in a game of chess.
The Castle said nothing at first, listening quietly as the two rivals bantered back and forth. Both me were broad shouldered and taller than the Mistress, but neither towered above her. Both had the Spark and their respective Sparks burned brilliantly. Together, with the Mistress, they had almost brought the Castle back from the brink of it's impending demise on their own. Certainly they had the help of their minions, but the trio had finished in the course of a couple days what other lesser sparks had been trying to finish for nearly two decades. Now a year later, the two were constantly trying to 'one-up' the other in order to win the heart of Agatha Heterodyne.
The Castle loved it and would often help one, then help the other counter, then purposefully sabotage both attempts. The Heterodyne Mistress refused to accept that she could have both, but seemed incapable of making a decision. The Castle despised the silly idea of Monagamy. After all, the Castle could accept many people working on repairing it at once, why couldn't she accept two lovers?
Now, watching the game of chess patiently, the Castle waited for the perfect moment which came quickly when the castle impatiently made a nearby door slam. When the two men looked away, the castle quickly went to work…
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Gilgamesh Wolfenbach and Tarvek Sturmvoraus quickly glanced to the sound of the slamming door, then as both turned their attention back to the chess game, they both then looked up and began to glare at the other. The first thing that both opponents saw was that they were each one move away from losing, then they both saw that both were one move from winning.
Gilgamesh, Gil for short, shook his head, "That's not were we left off."
Tarvek nodded in agreement, "No, it certainly isn't. However, my turn was next…." Tarvek quickly made the proper move and grinned. "Checkmate."
Gil glowered across the game board for a moment, then grunted. Still staring at Tarvek, he asked aloud. "Does Agatha need something Castle?"
When Tarvek said nothing the Castle sent a blast of energy across the chess board, scattering the game pieces. "Six months ago, that little trick would have sent you both into a bloody brawl."
"True. We are getting used to your trickery." Gil said simply.
"That and Agatha told us both to stop fighting." Tarvek added.
"She is simply no fun sometimes." The castle said with a sigh. A sound that the castle punctuated by causing a breeze to push through the room gently. "As to your question young Wolfenbach, Yes. The Heterodyne asks that you both meet her in the Dining Hall. The Adoptions have arrived."
Tarvek and Gil both looked at each other with raised eyebrows and asked simutaneously, "Adoptions?"
"Adoptions." The Castle repeated.
Gil kept a straight face and then winked quickly at Tarvek. "I was wondering when the kids would get here." Gils said, suddenly erupting in a grin.
"Weren't they supposed to be here next week?" Tarvek replied.
"No, no. Don't you remember Agatha telling us at dinner on Friday that they would be coming this week?" Gil responded.
Tarvek snapped his fingers, "That's right! I completely forgot." Tarvek started to make his way to the door. "We better get ready then."
"Wait, wait, wait, What do you MEAN they are supposed to be here this week!" The castle bellowed.
Tarvek and Gil both suddenly burst out in laughter as they headed to their respective rooms to get changed while the Castle, realizing it has been outdone growled and began searching the hallways to find the children that had invaded it. Someone was going to regret what those two had done, but in the meanwhile it would take to listening in on these strange children and their escort.