*** lol language not historically correct.
Alek walked down the corridor after Dylan. It was decorated with traditional Japanese masks and artwork of the mountains.
"In here, dafty!" Dylan's voice said and he slid the door to a room open. He stepped through and glanced around briefly. It was pretty plain, except for the occasional picture on th wall and the swords Alek and Volger had been sparing with leaning against the wall closest to the man. Misana sat on his knees on one side of a low table, Dr. Barlow and and Volger on the other side.
Dr. Barlow looked up.
"Hello, Hans," she said. "I'm glad to see your alright." Volger wouldn't meet his eyes but nodded.
"Me too," he said and knelt beside Dr. Barlow, Dylan sitting next to him. He turned to Volger. "Are you alright, Clemens?" Volger blinked at him once then said gruffly, "It's only flesh wound. I'm fine." Dylan poured he and Alek tea in a handleless cup and slid one toward him.
"Don't worry," whispered Dylan in her ear. "He's just cross because he hurt you so bad." Alek smirked at Dylan and took a sip of his tea. It was slightly bitter but not unpleasently so.
"So," said Ambassador Misana. "Tell me. How did Clankers like yourselves get in the Service?" He leaned forward, listening intently.
Volger spoke smoothly.
"Hans's father was a close friend of mine. But he and his wife met an unforetunete end in an accident. So he lived with me for several years, sparring and listening to politics.
"We had been listening for several years and could tell Germany was itching for a fight. I didn't like it, so I took the boy and traveled to London. Since the deaths of my own family, he's been like a son to me and I didn't want to drag him into any of this nasty business." At this, Alek had nearly spewed his tea but he managed to choke it down. Volger continued without faltering.
"I figured the safest place was in the air and after some discussions, enlisted us." He smiled politely. "And who knew we would end up on the Leviathan?"
Misana nodded and took a sip of his tea. "That's interesting. Don't all Clankers love their Kaiser?" he mused. Alek realized the man was baiting them, trying to nudge more out of Volger.
Volger snorted. "So the newspapers say. I don't hate him but he is growing old. With age comes madness." Misana looked closely at Volger. The man gave nothing away. His eyes were cool, voice steady and casual.
"Wise words, Mr. Forell," he said finally, relaxing back onto his haunches. Then he turned to Dr. Barlow. "About those warships you were asking about..." And from there, they began prattling away about the Kaiserin Elisabeth and it's companions. Volger was listening closely, fiddling with the loose fibers in the hole in his jacket's shoulder. Alek amused himself by watching Dylan attempt eating with chopsticks.
"Like this," he grinned quietly and positioned them in his hand then handed them back. Dylan almost had in several times but ended up in failure.
"Barking. Pieces. Of. Wood," he hissed through gritted teeth. "WORK." Misana had hone silent and, along with Volger and the Lady Boffin, watched in amusement at Dylan's futile attempts until he resigned himself to stabbing at his rice bowl.
"Who eats with these things?" he moaned. Alek smirked and picked up a small amount of rice with his.
"I can."
"Well, screw you."
Alek laughed.
"Don't hate on me because I'm better then you."
"Don't make fun of me because your intimidated by my sexiness," Dylan retorted hotly. Misana shook with silent laughter. Volger reached around Dr. Barlow poked Alek in the arm.
"That's enough boys," he said sternly. Dylan just let out a huff and glared at his disheveled rice. As the three others continued to talk about warships, Alek contented himself to staring out the window behind Misana. The sky had a tinge of darkness on the horizon, the sun explosively orange. But there was the oddest thing. There was a tiny figure in the upper branches of a pine tree. Alek almost dismissed the figure as a gardener, but then he wondered, what kind of gardener climbed trees? Or dressed in black, as if to blend into the blackness behind him?
Alek stiffened, eyes narrowing. He squinted trying to peer closer. It had what looked a lean stick pointing towards them. He saw what looked like fingers stretch then then squeeze something on the object.
Impulsively, Alek tackled Misana, pinning him to the floor. Then the glass shattered and something zoomed past above his head, where Misana's heart would've been. He barely saw Dylan dive to the floor and Volger snatching Dr. Barlow into his arms and whirling out of the way. The bullet thunked into the wall.
"Move!" Volger bellowed. Alek got on all fours and practically dragged the shocked ambassador behind the table, which Dylan had jerked up to form a shield. Dylan and Volger whipped pistols out their belts.
"Where-?" started Dr. Barlow but Volger cut her off brusquely, "I'm not about to go somewhere I don't know unarmed. Especially after that last meeting you and the ambassador attempted in Istanbul." Dylan nodded once then something clacked against the makeshift shield. In a few seconds the air was filled with a gas that burned Alek's lungs and skin.
"Gas!" Volger cried. "Shut your eyes and get out of the room!" Alek obeyed and groped about for the door. Instead, he felt the swords against the walk. He snatched them up and found the door, slamming it open.
"Hurry!" he shouted. He felt the others brush past him and out into the hall. Then he heard the sound of angry German curses and the smashing of glass.