I felt I was dizzy. My head was hurting like hell... Damn, suffer a hard hit in hockey would hurt less. I heard someone singing but didn't know if it was real or I was imagining because of the possible concussion I was suffering. A gentle breeze caressed my face and noticed lots of light. I winced for the light and opened my eyes. I saw African Americans men dressed like prisoners and hitting rocks with hammers while singing. Then I realized I was leaning over the edge of the airship.

'Shit!' – shouted as I tried to get up but I was immobilized. Then I saw below me a Handyman that looked at me curiously but ignored me. What the hell was happening here?!

'Daisy, fresh air did the trick. This one's awake '- Said a man and then I was stood up. I saw a woman treating an injured man and then she approached to me. She was African American and wore a thick red scarf around her neck.

'So you're this "False Shepherd" we've been hearing so much about. Caused a mess of trouble at the raffle.'- Said looking me up and down, as if she was analyzing me but her eyes were cold.

'You're Daisy Fitzroy.'

'Nothing but.' – she replied nonchalantly. I looked out the corner of my eye and saw the man who was holding me.

'Get off me.' - I said threateningly.

'Be careful with what you-' - before he could finish, I elbowed him in the stomach and then punched him in the face. He fell to the ground with his nose broken and another man approached while pointing me with a gun.

'Not bad.' – said Daisy like she wasn't surprised, but looked at me with some curiosity.

'Look, I got no quarrel with you or Vox Populi. But this is my airship and I really need.'

'Really? 'Cause it sure look like old Comstock's airship to me.'

'I robbed it so a friend and I could get out of Columbia. Listen, I ain't looking for a fight.'- Said trying to reason with her. Then I remembered Elizabeth and I looked around but saw no sign of her.

'There's already a fight, Clark. Only question is, which side you on? Comstock is the god of the white man, the rich man, the pitiless man. But, if you believe in common people, then join the Vox. If you believe in the righteous folk, then join the Vox.'

'I want to see Comstock down as much as you. In fact I said to Slate to join you. But I need this ship.'- I kept insisting. She looked into my eyes for a few seconds and I held my gaze. Then she gestured to the man who was pointing me and he put the gun down, but I stayed alert. She pulled out a card and handed it to me.

'And the Vox shall give her to you. But first, you must help the Vox '- The woman knew how to talk but she was repeating "Vox" too many times… - 'Down in Finkton, there's a gunsmith who can supply weapons to our cause. Get our guns from him, and you shall have your ship back.'

'What if he refuses?' - I asked as I took the card.

'That's your problem. If he doesn't want, you will lose your airship and probably you will end dead.'- She replied looking at me with cold eyes again and I approached her.

'I will. But you better do your part of the deal.'- Said threateningly and Vox men approached me, but she stopped them.

'You worry about getting what we want.' – I saw a table with all my guns and went to pick them but a man stopped me.

'Do you really think I'll get those weapons disarmed?'

'What? Are you afraid?' – Daisy asked me mockingly.

'No. But if you really want me to get them, sure I won't be able without my guns. Especially considering I'm an enemy of Comstock.'- that made her to raise an eyebrow and told the man to go away.

'Try to not put yourself in a serious trouble so early.' - she said as I picked up my guns.

'No promises... Hey, have you seen a girl here? Brunette, blue skirt... She's a friend and I need to find her.'- Daisy thought for a seconds and shook her head.

'When we arrived, you were the only one who was here. If your friend went just when we came here, she should be in Finkton.'- it didn't help much but it was something.

'Good. I'll try to be fast.'- I went to the entrance and then I looked at the man who I had beaten before. - 'I'm sorry to broke you nose.' - Said mockingly and he grimaced while Daisy turned with a small smile. So she can smile... I looked out and I jumped.

I'd try to get the weapons, but find Elizabeth was more important. I fell in front of a place that looked like a factory and, under a huge sign that said "Fink MFG" there was a portrait of the owner. Then I recognized him as the same fucking racist from the raffle.

'That bastard...'

As I walked, my hatred for this man grew. There were African American people cleaning the floor and cargo boxes following a robotic rhythm, and synchronizing their movements. Policemen were guarding around them to make sure they didn't stop and I was sure they had beat a lot of workers for showing a bit of fatigue. I hid my guns and moved cautiously to avoid being recognized as I looked on all sides looking for Elizabeth. I came across an employee who was examining a cargo wagon that had fallen and had dropped Shock Jockey bottles that were broken.

'Be careful. There has been an accident and there are electric traps around.'- Warned me.

'Uh… Excuse me. Have you seen a girl?'

'Yes, but I haven't noticed much. I have more important things to do.'- He said looking at his papers. I went carefully from behind and knocked him out with a blow to the neck. I leaned him close to one of boxes that were close and looked at him apologetically.

'Sorry.' - I wanted to avoid someone call for alarm and this was the only way. I took the opportunity to get one of bottles that were intact and passed through a wagon that was used as a way to pass to the other side. Then I came to a heavy door and, as I tried to open it, through a small hole I saw a man on a flying boat.

'Get out of here, snipe. You wanna know what we do to pretty little stowaways? Or maybe you don't.'- then the man pulled someone off the ship and it was Elizabeth! Although she fell to the ground badly, she didn't seem hurt.

'Elizabeth!' - I called her as I finished opening the door but she didn't hear me and started to run. - 'Hey! Wait!' - as I followed her from afar, I saw several men running after her.

'Only authorized personnel are allowed to pass here!'

'Stay away!' - Elizabeth screamed. Seeing the situation, I ran faster and there was a flash. The two cops had the way blocked by a band of musicians who had been called by Elizabeth. I took the opportunity to approach them and beat them with my sky-hook. When the tear was gone, I kept running and saw from afar.

'Wait!' - She kept running and just as I was approaching, she called another tear. This time a train blocked my way and I had to stop. She thought the police was still after her. If only she could hear me... When the path was cleared, I found a huge door and opened it. Elizabeth was at the end of a corridor and another tear materialized. This time she had found a shortcut to move but when she crossed, two men took her.

'The Lamb, it's her! Call it in, call it in!'

'No! Let me go!' - Elizabeth cried as she struggled.

'Leave her now!' - I ran with all my strength but the tear was closed. Damn... I had to find another entry and fast. Passed a door and took a detour to get where she was supposed to.

'Requested troops are on the way. Keep close watch. A Handyman will be about to collect her shortly.'- Reported a Founder announcer. Handyman... I had to hurry before that thing got her. Then I heard a female voice and hurried up a stairs. Behind an observation booth that was up to the second floor, I saw Elizabeth struggling with the two guards .

'STOP! My patience is done run out!' - suddenly one of the guards slapped her, causing her to fall to the ground .

'Son of bitch...' - I pulled out my carbine and shot the man in the head. Before the other could react, I shot him too. Elizabeth stared in shock at the two guards but run inside the building. Suddenly my shield reacted and I saw several soldiers shooting me from down. On one side, on the top of a ship, I saw an gunner who was about to use his RPG and in the other side a turret. I threw possession to both and jumped to the skylines. I shot several enemies from above and jumped into the boat when I was close. As the gunner returned to normal, I dropped him with my hook and used his RPG to attack the turret. I used the last missiles to knock my enemies and finally the danger was over. That fight was bloody... but they hurt Elizabeth, nobody does that. I went to where she run and opened other heavy doors. I saw materializing skylines and jumped to them. Quickly I also jumped and tried to follow her as fast as my sky-hook allowed me. When I came down, I saw Elizabeth looking around for a way to get out and ran to her.

'Elizabeth!' - She turned and her eyes widened when she saw me. But before I could move, something hit me hard and I fell. When I looked up, I saw a handyman hanging from beams and looking at me with clear intentions to kill me. Oh fuck...

'FALSE SHEPHERD!' – he jumped and fell in front of me. Before I could move away, he caught me with his huge robotic hand and threw me out. I hit a cargo box and despite the pain, I held tightly to the edges of the top and pushed myself up. Then I saw the handyman catch a gear and threw it at me like a disk. This cut the ropes that held a part of the box and my grip failed. While sliding down the roof of the box, I could even grab a ledge. I saw the content of the cargo fell to empty and I looked up. My fingers slowly slipped and I panicked.

'No! NO! AAAAAH!' – my hand failed and I started to fall. I watched in horror as I was falling and then there was a flash. My body bounced against something soft and I realized it was a blimp. I grabbed tightly to the ropes that were covering it. - 'What the...?'

'Marc!' - I looked up and saw Elizabeth waving her arms and smiling broadly while tears were falling in her eyes. When the blimp took me up to where she was, I jumped there and suddenly she run at me to hug me. I looked surprised at her while I was trying to not to fall.

'Woah! Easy!'

'I... I thought you died.' - Muttered between sobs as she hugged me with a force that surprised me.

'Well, as you can see I'm still here.' - Said with a smile and hugged her. The truth is that in all the time I spent looking for her, I had missed her a lot and had only been a few hours. She pulled away and wiped her tears while smiling. Despite her joy, her face clearly showed that she was exhausted and her cheek was red from the blow she suffered before. She was all dirty and one of the sleeves of her blouse was a little broke and revealed part of her skin. It also was a little torn open in the middle and revealed part of her cleavage. I had to make a great effort not to look.

'I had to leave the airship when strange men were coming... I didn't know them and you didn't wake up...' - Said in a sad tone. - 'Now we have lost the airship.'

'Not really. The Vox now control it but I made an arrangement to get our ship back.'

'What kind of arrangement?' – she asked curiously.

'I just need to supply enough weapons to arm an entire uprising.'

'And where will get these weapons? From one of our many friends and allies?' – replied in sarcasm as she crossed her arms.

'There's a gunsmith in Finkton that could help us. Just have to convince him.'- I looked around and saw a grand entrance leading to Finkton. Knowing where we could start, I turned to Elizabeth and offered my hand.

'Shall we go, partner?' - I said with a smile.

'Let's go!' - Instead of shaking my hand as usual, she took it and pulled me toward the door without letting me go. I was surprised but I couldn't help but smile. The truth is... I liked it.

We entered in the bottom of a hallway and there was a big sign on the wall reading "The great Chen-Lin , gunsmith machinist since 1905".

'That would be your gunsmith. Who sent you find this person?'

'Daisy Fitzroy.'

'She's either a great hero or the worst of scoundrels, it depends on who's doing the telling.'

'If you accomplish the arrangement, I don't care if she's the Queen of Holland. Although I must admit that she has a more honorable goal.'- Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully.

'So it isn't bad at all we help Fitzroy.'

'Yeah, but the less we get involved, the better. This isn't our fight. If we involve too much, we'll put ourselves in another endless struggle '- I said with serious expression and Elizabeth nodded shyly. We walked through an office where there were people of different races waiting to be called and we went for the elevators. Then we saw two police officers guarding and a automaton in the middle.

'Welcome to Fink Industries recruitment! We are not looking for any help. You hear that? No help!'

'Here there are people who need a job to earn some money and they won't give them a little chance…'

'How are we going to get into Finkton?' - asked Elizabeth looking around.

'We have no other option, so we will do illegally.' – We moved toward the stairs that were going and saw a door blocked by a lock.

'Can you open it?'

'It will be easy.' - she said as she started to work with it. When he finished, she looked at me somewhat insecure. - 'It's okay to do this? I mean... We will get into more trouble again.'

'I know. But you have me to protect you.'- Said with a smile and she blushed. When we entered, we entered to a large room and watched an interior floor. Downstairs there was a motorized patriot and several guards watching.

'Over there... a service elevator. Should take us down to Finkton.'- Said pointing to a sign that was in front of us and indicated downstairs.

'Good. But first I must get rid of that patriot and soldiers. Follow me closely but hide well.'- She nodded and got ready. When I was near the stairs, threw the possession to the patriot that attacked the soldiers. Quickly I run through the room while attacked the soldiers with my rifle and Elizabeth ran to hide. When I saw the patriot was going to attack me, threw several crystals to make traps and covered behind a desk. While I was changing the rifle for the shotgun, the patriot fell into the trap and froze. I ran out of my cover and got behind the patriot to shoot him in the head. To finish it, gave him a strong electrical charge and the head exploded. I saw more reinforcements came up and went back to get my rifle.

'Marc, salts!' - I turned and caught the bottle in the air. I ran for a cover as I drank the contents and started attacking the police. I sent crows to them and kept shooting. From the other side, I saw reinforcements coming and threw explosive traps to make sure they didn't advance. While I was attacking the first group, traps ended the second. With the area already cleared, Elizabeth approached to me.

'Err, Marc… I have seen something you won't like.' - Told me worried. I frowned and she pointed a poster.

'The gunsmith Chen Lin wanted for known connections to the outlaw Daisy Fitzroy.' - I read and frowned more.

'That's not good, right?'

'Definitely not. We have to find Chen-Lin quickly.'- both headed down the service elevator and we pressed the button. While we were waiting, Elizabeth went to a few lockers that were there.

'Marc... It's Slate's locker. He must have worked here.'- she looked inside and frowned as she took a book.

'Have you found anything?'

'Wha… I… This is my mother's diary. Why would Slate have it?' - she said as she read a few pages. – 'My husband claims the child was created from whole cloth by divine will. I am a believer, but I am not a fool. His... bastard... shall not be raised under this roof.'- . after reading that, Elizabeth was devastated. The diary fell from her hands and began to tremble.

'My mother... She had me locked in that tower.'

'Elizabeth...' - I approached to calm her but she turned so I couldn't see her.

'I just want to get out of this city. Please.'- Said still shaking and I knew she was almost going to cry. I went and hugged her with one arm from behind. For how her body tensed, I knew she was surprised.

'I promise we'll get out of this place.' - I said gentle. - 'But even those people locked you in that tower, I want you to remember you're not alone now.' - Then small bell sounded and the elevator arrived. Elizabeth pulled away from me and looked at me sweetly.

'Let's look for Chen -Lin.'

Both walked into the elevator and, as we descended, a speaker sounded sharing Fink propaganda.

'Greetings! My name is Jeremiah Fink, and I want to share with you my personal creed. What is the most admirable creature on God's green earth? Why, it's the bee! Have you ever seen a bee on vacation? Have you ever...' - while I was listening to the stupid propaganda, sighed in exasperation. That man was really annoying and I didn't know him. Then I looked and saw Elizabeth crestfallen.

'Are you okay?'

'I still can't understand how my mother could lock me in that tower. She hated me...'

'The truth is that it's difficult to understand. Comstock was the one who separated you from your family only to find have heir. She should have hated him, not you.'- She wanted to say something, but then the elevator stopped and bell phone rang.

'It comes from there. You should take it.'- she said pointing to a little phone. I approached and pressed the button.

'Ummm... Hello?'

'Mr. Clark?' - said a female voice.

'Uh, yes?' - Elizabeth and I looked at each other and she approached to listen.

'Hold for Mr. Fink, please.' - After that there was a pause.

'What's going on?' - Elizabeth asked clearly confused.

'No idea.' - I replied as I was in the same way. Then I realized that the torn on her sleeve was opening and was revealing more of her arm… Why was suddenly so nervous?

'Clark? Fink here. Listen, my boy...'- then spoke Fink from the phone. - 'We've had an eye on you, and I can tell you right now, you are our top candidate! TOP!' - Elizabeth looked at me surprised and looked at the handset more confused. - 'Now, my associate, Mr. Flambeau, will help you with anything you need.'

'What the hell was that?' - Elizabeth said when the phone turned off.

'Honestly, I have no idea.' - I said frowning.

'He seems oddly pleased to make your acquaintance.'

'I can't say the same from me.' - I replied and that made Elizabeth laugh. The elevator continued to descend and then a huge golden statue of Fink appeared in front of us. I whistled to see so many gold and Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.

'Well, the man's got an ego.' – the propaganda started to sound again and I frowned.

'He also likes a lot the sound of his own voice.' - Muttered feeling a little upset. Again, that man was really annoying.

When the elevator stopped, we saw a well-dressed man waiting for us.

'Mr. Flambeau?'

'Mr. Clark, welcome to Finkton. You'll find a variety of supplies here that should see you through your visit.'- said pointing to a table that was next to him and there were a infusion, picks, money, a medicine cabinet… and a hand cannon that looked had a beautiful design and looked powerful.

'What does Mr. Fink want with us?' - Elizabeth asked but the man shook his head.

'Excuse me Miss, but Mr. Fink's interest is strictly in the gentleman.'

'But why-?' – she insisted and he continued to refuse.

'So sorry, young miss. But any questions regarding the gentleman's application should be taken up with Mr. think.' – after that he moved away and the doors opened. As we left, Elizabeth looked at me a little nervous.

'Does this strike you as good news? It doesn't strike me as good news.'

'Me neither. For now let's focus on finding the gunsmith.'- While we descended, I noticed the place was in a poorly state. People were brought together waiting for a job and I was sure the conditions had, were absolutely poor. We walked down through a street filled with boxes of cargo and small jobs.

'Here it is, Marc.' - Elizabeth said pointing a building with a sign for the gunsmith.

'Hopefully he will be inside. Let's go.'

When we entered, from the strong odor and silence, I knew this site hadn't lately been much frequented. It was dark and the only light came from a huge oven. We saw some stairs on one side and went through them. On the second floor, we found a small altar with a Buddha figure, candles off and also typical Chinese lanterns.

'I've read about this... That's Gautama Buddha.'

'The founder of Buddhism.' – I continued as we walked and Elizabeth nodded.

'They say he spent 49 days under a Bodhi tree until he achieved enlightenment.' - Then looked at me with some fear. - 'Do you think they are watching him because of this?'

'Well, I think they're looking for him because he has some connections with Fitzroy. But surely Comstock doesn't like people worship idols who aren't him.' – we followed the stairs and reached the top floor which was full of machines.

'Hello? Mr. Lin?' - called Elizabeth but there was no answer.

'Is anybody here?' - I insisted but nothing happened.

'What happened here?' - She asked as she looked around.

'This has been the constabulary, no doubt. They are the only one who could work this place over, looking for Lin.'- we came back to the stairs and then we stopped. - 'Did you hear that?'

'There's someone downstairs.' - Quickly pulled out my revolver and slowly went down the stairs with Elizabeth behind me. The altar was lit and there was a Chinese woman in front of it. She was praying but at the same time crying.

'Excuse me… Ma'am, sorry to bother you, but... Do you know where Mr. Lin is? Mr. Chen Lin?' - I asked gentle as I kept my gun.

'Mr. Lin not here. He… gone.' - replied the woman as she turned to us sobbing. Elizabeth approached and tried to comfort her.

'Gone?' - Elizabeth repeated. I let her to treat with the woman. She'd do better than me.

'They take, Flying Squad. I pray Gautama Buddha. Pray give husband back. Give back to May Lin.'

'Where did they taken him?'

'Club. Everyone take to Good Time Club.'

'Do you know where the club is?' - I asked this time but the woman started to cry and gave a long sigh. - 'We better leave her.'

'Why not Vox Populi help Chen Lin? Why not Daisy Fitzroy help Chen Lin?' - asked the woman at the figure of Buddha and prayed again while sobbing. I felt a great pity for her.

'C'mon. We have to find Chen Lin soon.'- told to Elizabeth and we went down.

'Who are the flying squad?'

'I suppose it's special police. And sure they aren't nice.'- I replied grimly. I had seen several times how the police from this city treated people who were of a different race or skin color, and that made me worry. I prayed with all my heart that I wasn't too late.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you noticed, you can see Marc and Elizabeth are getting more closer. Things will get interesting, or at least I'll try. About Daisy's scene,I wasn't sure at all how to orient it but I liked how it looks now.

I'll try to update sooon, and keep sharing your opinions!