A Series of Unexpected Escapades

[Eerie_Coppernight]

I grin almost wickedly. "He's not the only one. I have information on countless autofficers; information that they would do anything to keep silent. As for old Pimples," I straighten myself to my full height, "I know how to deal with him." I go to a switch right outside my parlor and flick it subtly. The room goes dark as I enter. It would be no good to be recognized by a former colleague. I move over to him and whisper in his ear. "Tell us what you know, Pimples, or everyone in this house will hear of your days at the Academy." Almost as if to accentuate my point, the sound of merry chatter drifts in from the dinning room. My guests seem to be helping themselves to seconds before heading home for the night. Erik stands in the doorway, silhouetted by the lamplight. "Well, Monsieur?" I add in the captive's ear. He stutters and stammers before saying, "I only read the file, ma'am. Someone higher up sent the Automayeti. It's a high honor to have one of those around. We really had to beg to get it. This town is a hot spot for Resistors after all. We needed it, and now your friends have gone and destroyed it." By this point, I am willing to wager that his already lurid face is getting even redder. His voice takes on a distinct note of anxiety. I lean in closer and whisper softly into his ear. "That machine won't be the only thing destroyed if you do not do as you are told." In the dim light I can see him nodding vigorously. "Good, I want you to get the files on Eerie Coppernight and anyone even remotely connected to her and burn them all. Do this, and you might have a chance of survival. Refuse, and an anonymous letter will appear on the desk of Autofficer Sharpgaze bursting with juicy details." The autofficer stiffened and nodded, "I'll do it." I glided out of the room as Erik went to release his prisoner.

[Erik_Deruin]

Erik dropped the rope, sending a smile over to his apprentice as the Autofficer scurried out of the room.

"Remarkably well done Eerie."

[Eerie_Coppernight]

I grin at my Tutor from the shadows as Autofficer Pimples scurries out the front door. "Thank you, Erik." One by one, the guests inevitably take their departure and vanish into the shadows of the town we call home. After everything is cleaned up and the last one has gone, I drag myself up the stairs to my bedroom. I carelessly remove my hat and slap it onto the bedpost. I throw myself onto my bed and give a long sigh of happiness. That was one of the best experiences I'd ever had. A wide grin crosses my face, as my eyes wander to a device in the corner. A certain scheme has been growing in my mind over the past few days, and my recent success with Autofficer Pimples has given me the boldness to attempt it tonight. I get off my bed, go over to the corner, and pull the table over to my bedside. On the table, is a telephone; but it is quite unlike any telephone in Aethasia. For one thing, it had four recievers; all in a row on their cradles. For another thing, it was untraceable. I make myself comfortable, struggling to control my crazed giggles. If my calculations were correct, Autofficer Renia Sharpgaze would be taking her turn at the front desk. I laughed softly as I dialed the local autoffice. I may not have learned the Phantom's art of ventriloquy, but I could imitate voices. I cleared my throat and adopted the tone of a sleazy old man. The other line purred softly before letting out a sharp click. A steely, bored-sounding voice on the other end said, "This is your local Imperial Autoffice. How may I help you?" What followed was the most hilarious phone conversation I'd ever had. "It's me again, Renia. hee..hee..hee..hee..hee" The voice on the other end grew louder and more demanding. I had to hold the receiver away from my ear to keep from going deaf. "State your business,sir, and be done with it."
"Hallo, is this Renia? oohoohoohoohoohoo"
"This is Autofficer Sharpgaze if that is what you want to know."
"I know it's you, Renia. hoohoohoohoohoohoo"
"OF COURSE IT'S ME, YOU SIMPERING OLD COOT!"
"Oh, you don't know me, Renia; eheheheheheheheh
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS, THEN?!"
"but I know you. hee..hee..hee..hee"
"STATE YOUR BUSINESS, OR I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN FOR THIS INSOLENCE."
"Wanna here me bark like a hound dog?"
"I MOST CERTAINLY DO NO.."
"rowrowrowrowf, hee..hee..hee..hee"
"END THIS INSOLENT BEHAVIOR BEFORE I SET OUT TO END YOU!"
"Have fun findin' me, Renia. hee..hee..hee..hee..hoohoohoohoohoohoohoo."
Judging by the click that I heard next, I guess she got fed up with me and slammed the receiver back onto its cradle. I allowed my voice to go back to its normal tone and surrendered to the laughter that had been wanting to get out since I first thought of this plot.

[Miss_K]

I panted for breath as I sprinted away from Autofficer Sharpgaze. She isn't usually much of a runner, but she's running off of pure rage today. Apparently someone had insulted her, however, I couldn't watch her eyes for long.

I tripped over a loose stone in the street of the Business District and fell flat on my face. Sharpgaze was on me in seconds, binding my wrists tightly behind my back.

Without a word to me, Sharpgaze called her Automatons and had them drag me behind her.

"Good for nothing fools!" she growled, "Who does he think he is?"

Ah, an attempted suitor

Sharpgaze marched me through Evergreen Meadows to Loiterer's prison. There, she shoved me into the first empty cell she saw and slammed the door irritably.

"There! Root in prison you worthless wretch!" she screamed, without a hint of power in her voice.

"What if he's the one, Renia?" I said sarcastically, hoping she wouldn't re enter my cell to strangle me.

Sharpgaze boiled at the remark, "Don't ever call me that again! How in the Empire did you even-" she stopped mid-sentence, deciding not to ask.

Instead, she marched off, her head held high. I sighed miserably in the cell. With my hands tied, I couldn't call @Eerie_Coppernight or radio @Emman_Jumpsong1. All I could do was wait for Eerie to miss me . . .

[Eerie_Coppernight]

I got out of bed with a yawn. That was a good night's sleep. I broke into a grin as I realized that I should call K and tell her of my little plot to annoy her greatest enemy. I snatched my communicator off my bedside table and attempted to call my friend. She didn't pick up, which probably meant that she was in Loiterers' Prison again. I sighed and got out of bed. I must have made Renia very angry. I threw on some clothes, grabbed my whip-daggers in their new holster, and started out for Loiterers' Prison. Once there, it was easy enough to dispatch the automatons and pick the lock on the cell door. I smirked, Imperial locks were like anything else made by the Empire; utterly worthless. It was easily picked with an old, bent, nail. Once the door was open, my friend and I were free as birds and laughing about my late-night prank.

[Miss_K]

I collapsed on Eerie's sitting room floor, knowing I'd have to return to my urchins sooner or later. Eerie's prank was hilarious, yes. However, I simply hoped Sharpgaze would be able to forget about it soon.

Renia Sharpgaze had every suitor who'd ever attempted anything by way of humor dragged through the snow by his collar and thrown in the grease pits. Hopefully, she wouldn't spend her waking days trying to find an imaginary old coot.

On the other hand, I thought, If she spent the rest of her days searching for him, she may stop noticing me . . .

I grinned at the possibility.

"What are you grinning about?" asked Eerie, her eyes still shining from her joke.

"You're floor is warm," I replied, "Floor vents are simply amazing."

[Eerie_Coppernight]

I laughed softly at my friend's remark. "Help yourself to anything in the kitchen if you're hungry." That said, I started down for my workshop to finish a little project of mine. I'd had this idea for quite a while, and I finally had the opportunity to put it into effect.

This very moment, a new shipment of Troubleshooters was standing in a warehouse in the Business District waiting to be activated for Imperial service. I rubbed my hands together, pulled on a smock and rubber gloves, and pulled out a large, porcelain bucket. I'd tested this formula last night, and it worked like a charm. Now, I mixed up a huge batch of it; solvent, chromic acid, and lots of adhesive. The result was a corrosive adhesive that was the core of my scheme.

I called K from upstairs to tell her my plan. She thought it was a good idea, or at least it seemed that way. Her mouth was full of buttered scone, but her eyes twinkled merrily. "However," I said, "we won't be able to carry it all to the warehouse by ourselves." K swallowed her food and suggested, "The Troublemaker could help us." My face lit up,"What an excellent idea." I got my communicator from the workbench where I had left it and called our friend. "@Hyde_Dreadline, what comes to mind when you think of corrosive adhesive, a warehouse full of Troubleshooters, and a dozen large sacks of feathers?"

[Miss_K]

I smiled at the idea.

Anything against the Empire!

The children wait Miss A prodded mentally.

I scowled at my long lost friend, They're asleep, A

[Hyde_Dreadline]

Hyde grins, his mind whirling with a hurricane of arbitrary and potentially deadly ideas. He let out a giggle.

"A tar and feathering.... 1700's style. Piñata party. And lastly graffiti."

[Eerie_Coppernight]

I throw back my head to release a half-deranged cackle. "Dear Monsieur, that is almost exactly what I had in mind, excepting the second one. There is a new shipment of Troubleshooters, fresh from the Fogworks, waiting in a warehouse near the docks. I thought that we might be able to ruin them before they ever saw action. You know where I live, simply come over and I'l explain the particulars."

[Hyde_Dreadline]

Edward lets out a wild cackle.

"Sounds like a plan! Meet you there!"

[Eerie_Coppernight]

I giggle as I break off communications with Hyde. He really is quite the character. I put a tight lid on the bucket before K and I lug it upstairs. We are bringing up the bags of feathers when I hear a knock at the door. Leaving K to fetch the brush for the acid glue, I go to answer the door. I open it to reveal @Hyde_Dreadline leaning on his beloved cane grinning like a Cheshire Cat, eyes twinkling impishly with mischief. I usher him quickly into the house before anyone sees him. "The supplies are all here, we just need to get them to our mechanical victims." I grin at my new partner-in-crime. "Would you like to handle the corrosives, Hyde?"

[Julie_Martin]

A girl hops from rooftop to rooftop, listening in on the conversations going on in homes. She never specifically stays a one, that crosses the line of creepiness for her

That girl happens to be me, Stanley.

I jump from each roof, catching thises an thatses from each person inside.

...I heard that Abigail...
... I never meant too...
...You couldn't have!
...like to handle corrosives, Hyde?

I stopped at the last one. Hyde, what an odd name. Okay, I usually don't eavesdrop on people, too creepy, but I mad an exception here. I got too curious!
I crouched on top of where the voice came from. I heard the whole plan. Wow I wondered. I never thought there would be other people who love to prank the Empire. Who knew, who knew? Sadly, fog-ridden roofs don't live eavesdroppers. I crashed through the ceiling of a not-too-badly furnished home. I looked up and, by the two voices, could see which was Eerie and which was Hyde. I dusted of my pants and stood up. "Lovely too meet you two, may I make acquaintances with thee?" I said in my usual sing-song voice.

[Eerie_Coppernight]

I blinked and leaned forward to get a closer look at the unexpected visitor. "Stanley Duckshoe?" I gave a slight laugh. "Who would have guessed that you of all people would trigger the trap-door on the roof. What brings you here so unexpectedly?"

[Julie_Martin]

"Uhm, nothing." I said a little too quick. "Just wanted to say hi, and why are you here with non other than Hyde?" I said gesturing to the person in particular. I always like to rhyme, it clears my head. And I like to sing, so it can be helpful.

[Eerie_Coppernight]

I smiled, "Oh, nothing in particular. Just plotting a little mischief against a new shipment of troubleshooters. Would you care to join us? I'm afraid that a dozen bags of feathers might be a little much for K and I to handle ourselves."

[Julie_Martin]

I blinked. "A dozen bags of feathers? I didnt hear that fa- I mean, why feathers?"

[Eerie_Coppernight]

I giggle slightly, "To turn the warehouse into a hen-house, of course."

[Julie_Martin]

I cackle. "Amazing work Eerie! Couldn't have done it better myself!" I raise my fist to fist-bump her.

[Eerie_Coppernight]

I bump my knuckles against Stanley's. "So, are you with us?"