Sam Underhill on Sep 23, 2013 wrote:

The Armada Officer boarded his skiff and ordered the skeleton crew to make course for the rendezvous point, so he could transfer to a ship back to headquarters. Let Bishop deal with this lot. Whether the invading pirates succeeded in rescuing the prisoners was no longer a primary concern. Even the map pieces were of secondary importance compared to the news he bore. Kane and his court needed to be informed immediately about the disloyal clockwork displaying independence. In his infinite wisdom, Kane had ordered any loyal soldier who could to report this singular irregularity. No doubt the renegade would be destroyed by a battle angel task force at some point, but for now this officer's mission was to slip through this... impressively large, albeit ragtag... invasion force. He carefully memorized the fleet flags for future reference.

XD It would be rather fun if your wrote that. This clockwork girl is really an experiment by Kane more than anything else, and since she doesn't get in the way of any of the important missions, Kane would leave her alone. (At least, this is what I thought of when I thought of a reason behind Kane making a thinking clockwork girl), thus that armada officer's plan to have the clockwork girl destroyed by a battle angel would have to be one that he leads himself, because Kane knows that the clockwork girl causes no real trouble, as long as she stays out of the way. Which she does, most of the time.

Chrissy receives a frantic scareakeeet onto her hand and has a bit of a time getting it calmed down long enough to retrieve it's message. Message finally untangled from the energetic keet she sends it below decks for some food and much needed head under it's wing time. She reads the letter and her eyes widen in alarm. She reaches into her pocket and blows a silent dog whistle and her bravest Keet, trained to the frequency arches away from the busy flock and does a near sonic boom inducing dive and mischievously backflips to land on her Captain's outstretched arm. Chrissy laughs in spite of the seriousness of the situation, "Always the show off aren't you my dear Rascal?" she coos to the impetuous bird. Chrissy writes a quick note and attaches it to Rascal's leg, gives his head some scritches and back fluffs his head feathers. Rascal coos in pleasure. Chrissy raises him to her eye level and speaks clearly to him, making sure to be heard above the delightful racket her crew is engaged in making. "I have a very dangerous mission for you my brave Keet. I need you to get into that ship and find Dr. Sam. He won't be in his cell any more so you will need to be very careful and flit from area to area as you search. Be very careful and don't be seen by anyone but Sam. He must get your note. He has to know that there are more prisoners he must find. He must know that Jill is down there somewhere and he has to be brave enough to find her and rescue her too." Rascal has been taught enough English by her patient Captain that he understands perfectly. His claws start to dig in Chrissy's arm as he prepares to launch. "Be careful my brave beauty." Chrissy whispers to him and raises her arm to assist his launch. Rascal rises straight into the smoke to hide his flight and darts into a freshly blown hole of the Dreadnaught. Sneezing slightly at the smell of gelginite he fluffs his feathers to make his flight more silent and begins his search with the orlop deck.

Anne Radcliffe on Sep 24, 2013 wrote:

Anne observed various Clockwork soldiers scurrying about the deck of the dreadnaught, responding to the cannon fire, explosions, and sheer racket produced by Chrissy's fleet. Anne hid a smile. There goes Chrissy's diversion, working perfectly, she considered happily. The dreadnaught rocked with an explosion somewhere below. Ah, Chrissy's work? Or the rescue team? Either way, looking good.

Anne's inner satisfaction dissolved in horror as she saw the Armada captain coolly aim his weapon and fire upon the clockwork female, the thinking one. Anne, shaken by what she perceived as a murder in process, saw his weapon misfire, and the clockwork female smugly continue her argument. Then Anne felt herself further disturbed by her own reaction: relief. Relief? Surely not. Certainly this peculiar clockwork showed highly unusual curiosity and even a certain sympathy for the despised pirates, but it was equally plain that this clockwork was as totally devoted to Kane as all the rest. Perhaps even more so, because she had thought out why her Supreme Commander should be devotedly worshiped.

Anne had no illusions about any potential alliances. They were deadly enemies, oh yes. If this thinking clockwork caught her, she would be as a butterfly on a pin-board, something for leisurely study. Not a happy thought at all. Yet... yet, she could not be sorry that this one had survived summary execution from the commanding officer.

Soon a familiar, southern drawl sounded in the distance. "AYE!!"

A familiar, orange and magenta painted ship soon sailed into vision, a young blonde captain dressed like a Royal Navy soldier steering the ship nearby, a salute offered to Anne.

"Anne!" Emma exclaimed, jumping off the mocha colored deck of her ship to embrace her friend. "I was told to come and help to free someone by the name of Sam..? And when I discovered y'all were here, I couldn't resist comin' out and helpin'!" Her smile was brighter than her cerulean eyes. She turned to face the dueling clockworks, with her bayonet shouldered and her Mulciber on her back.

(I couldn't resist...)

Sam's jaw dropped. After finally reaching the hole in the bottom of the dreadnought, after passing trough his fellow prisoners onto a rescue ship, after nearly setting foot aboard himself, the girl in front of him said "Oh yes, could you please go back up and rescue a couple more people. I believe Jill is up there and who knows who else?"

He, of course, couldn't refuse. Sam could however sigh heavily and ask for a sword, maybe some yum, a few chocolates, a nap on a comfy hammock. All he got was a second hand sword. Ah well, it would have to do. Cautiously he made his way into the battle station. The air was beginning to clear a bit as the clockworks got the automated machinery working again. No such luck as to destroy the infernal behemoth, but that could be saved for later. Up ahead he heard voices, one distinctly female and angry. The other was distinctly clockworky. Peering carefully around the corner, he saw a young lady putting up a majorly impressive struggle against her clockwork captor's grip. Unfortunately she seemed to be losing, as he continued to propel her down the corridor. Fortunately, his back was to Sam.

Moving swiftly and as silently as he could manage, Sam came up from behind and managed to land a crippling blow to the back of the clockwork's head, nearly severing it. The girl's look on her face was identical to Sam's, complete astonishment. The clockwork performed an inhuman contortion and collapsed with sparks flying out it's neck. "Need a lift out of here?" he yelled over the noise and confusion?"

Sam Underhill on Sep 26, 2013 wrote:

Sam's jaw dropped. After finally reaching the hole in the bottom of the dreadnought, after passing trough his fellow prisoners onto a rescue ship, after nearly setting foot aboard himself, the girl in front of him said "Oh yes, could you please go back up and rescue a couple more people. I believe Jill is up there and who knows who else?"

He, of course, couldn't refuse. Sam could however sigh heavily and ask for a sword, maybe some yum, a few chocolates, a nap on a comfy hammock. All he got was a second hand sword. Ah well, it would have to do. Cautiously he made his way into the battle station. The air was beginning to clear a bit as the clockworks got the automated machinery working again. No such luck as to destroy the infernal behemoth, but that could be saved for later. Up ahead he heard voices, one distinctly female and angry. The other was distinctly clockworky. Peering carefully around the corner, he saw a young lady putting up a majorly impressive struggle against her clockwork captor's grip. Unfortunately she seemed to be losing, as he continued to propel her down the corridor. Fortunately, his back was to Sam.

Moving swiftly and as silently as he could manage, Sam came up from behind and managed to land a crippling blow to the back of the clockwork's head, nearly severing it. The girl's look on her face was identical to Sam's, complete astonishment. The clockwork performed an inhuman contortion and collapsed with sparks flying out it's neck. "Need a lift out of here?" he yelled over the noise and confusion?"

After handing Sam her spare sword, Scarlet continued setting the timed gelignite charges in various strategic locations in the lower most hold of the Dreadnaught. When she was done she simply sat down next the escape hole and waited for Sam and Jill to rejoin her. The only had a few minutes before the chain of explosives started to detonate near the bow of the Armada ship. The last charge, which was placed above Scarlet's head, would cause the Dreadnaught's large store of gunpowder to explode as well, destroying the entire ship.

Highlander Fox of ... on Sep 27, 2013 wrote:

The blonde saluted Anne playfully, paired with a wink and grin. "I don't take lessons with Morgan LaFitte for nothing!" She laughed happily. "So, it appears we're on a rescue mission! Reminds me of the good ol' days back in Valencia!" Well, they hadn't been good, persay, negative, but yet exhilarating. "Heh, sort of good. I mean Lizzy getting hurt like that was not fun." The Musketeer loaded her Mulciber, and her trustworthy Baker Rifle which fit her favorite pastime, and looked on. "Shall we assist this clockwork girl?"

"Aww, that's so sweet!" A very familiar blonde-haired, green eyed swashbuckler materialized out of thin air next to her friends. It had been a little while since she had last seen them, and she had grown, now being Emma's height. The healthy glow had returned to her now tanning skin, and her eyes sparkled in an impish way. "Missed me?"

Highlander Fox of ... on Sep 27, 2013 wrote:

The blonde saluted Anne playfully, paired with a wink and grin. "I don't take lessons with Morgan LaFitte for nothing!" She laughed happily. "So, it appears we're on a rescue mission! Reminds me of the good ol' days back in Valencia!" Well, they hadn't been good, persay, negative, but yet exhilarating. "Heh, sort of good. I mean Lizzy getting hurt like that was not fun." The Musketeer loaded her Mulciber, and her trustworthy Baker Rifle which fit her favorite pastime, and looked on. "Shall we assist this clockwork girl?"

Anne shook her head. "She's a clockwork, Emma! She reasons and thinks, but she is still our enemy!"

[OOC: although that definition, 'reasoning and thinking' would probably qualify her in Rene Descartes' and John Locke's views as inherently good, with the potential for wickedness only coming from experience. But Anne knows nothing of Descartes or Locke philosophies, so there you are . Now returning to the story...]

"We may need to help pick up Sam and the rescue party," Anne continued, searching the billowing skies with her spyglass. "No, wait -- there they are! Chrissy's flagship is taking them on. Seems like rather a lot of people -- there must have been more prisoners rescued," Anne added cheerfully.

She put the spyglass away. "Let's join the fleet and get out of here then!"

The pirate ships began to put distance between them and the Armada dreadnaught. A good thing, for a few moments later...

BOOM!!!!

So much for the impregnable dreadnaught.

Puppylove1021 on Sep 27, 2013 wrote:

It was a LONG week in Mooshu. They recruited Monkey King, defeated Stormzilla, and many other stuff. "Let's take the ship to captain." said Mustang Sally. Both of them agreed, and set off for the Dreadnaught.
Meanwhile in the Dreadnaught
Jill heard an explotion and broke the silence of the entire skyway. Luckily the cell broke, making her able to escape. "Would I be able to find me crew without the Armada seeing me?" Jill thought. Suddenly, she saw a shadow passing by. It was Sam, by the looks of it. Then Sarah Steele came by, saying, "I got lost captain, are ye ok?". "I'm fine," said Jill. Then the ship rumbled and shook, throwing clockworks off board. A scareakeet flew onto Jill's shoulder and perched on it. "Who are ye?" asked Jill. It turns out to be Rascal, Chrissy's scareakeet. Then El Toro appeared with the keys for the rest of the cells. "Need this?" said El Toro

(to be continued)

"I don't think we need those." said Jill. She then noticed the letter on Rascal. "This is for Sam, he escaped!" exclaimed Jill. "Where's the exit?" asked Sarah Steele. "This way!" said El Toro.
Meanwhile on the deck of the Dreadnaught
"Keep fighting!" said Subodai. The Imperial Moon then boarded the Dreadnaught. "We're coming captain!" said Mustang Sally. Then Jill, El Toro, and Sarah Steele came on deck. "Captain, ye ok?" asked Old Scratch. Suddenly it EXPLODED.

(to be continued)

Anne Radcliffe on Sep 28, 2013 wrote:

"Lizzy!" Anne hugged her joyfully. "You missed all the excitement," she laughed, then she saw they were no longer nearly of a height. "You grew!" she exclaimed in surprise, and playfully gave Lizzie a light punch in the arm. "No fair! Now I'm the only 'shortie' around!" But she was laughing as she spoke.

Her smile abruptly faded as she saw that the clockwork girl had suddenly come onboard her ship. Many of her crew had stopped working, weapons out. Bonnie Anne had her rifle posed to fire off a perfect, deadly shot. But they didn't act, not yet. The clockwork girl was just standing there, no weapons at hand, almost passive. Most unlike a clockwork. Yet, how had she got there!

That question was not to be answered. As the clockwork girl made her astonishing offer, Anne was rendered momentarily speechless (an unusual state for her). When she could finally speak, all she could say was the question that now completely filled her mind:

"Why? Why would you go against Kane and leave the Armada?"

Knight had her offer ready immediately. "Kane made me, in a way, to have a family." Knight observed Lizzy's reaction alone, then chuckled with a nod. "It wouldn't seem like a heartless clockwork would want to have a family, I know, but you've never met Kane, and he is different from the others. Although he couldn't let his 'daughter' get in the way of The Grand Design, so he told me that I could stay with him as long as I never got in his way. And so I complied, although staying out of his way didn't mean I could never be around his work. I also traveled with Bishop for a little while to learn his ways -and perfect them, mind you-, thus I know everything that Kane and Bishop do about the clockworks birds, The Grand Design, and some of Kane's more 'shadowy' projects that you pirates no nothing about. I offer this information to you readily, even if it means that Kane will find any way possible to destroy me."

Lizzy raised an eyebrow. She was certainly taken aback by the clockwork's speech, but Lizzy had that same burning question and wasn't about to let it go. "Clever, you've avoided the question while making us believe that we should let you join us. But we still want to know; why do you want to leave the armada?"

Knight sighed, as much as clockworks can sigh. "In my spare time I like to study you pirates. You are so complicated, females especially, because your minds develop and become stronger the longer that you live. We clockworks are not like this. Although I may have gained extensive knowledge that I was not created with, that does not mean that I am any different from my first creation. Here, look at this:" The clockwork girl pointed at her body, "I haven't physically changed at all, nor will I ever." If clockworks could be sad, this one was. "Kane and the armada are flawed, as are you pirates, but your flaws are acceptable while theirs are not."

'Theirs'. Lizzy thought with a little bit of sorrow. She's no longer apart of her family just to request permission to join ours.

Then Knight smiled. She turned behind her and brought a pouch into view. A pirate's satchel, by the looks of it. She put her hand inside, then took out a piece of parchment.

It was one seventh of a map to El Dorado. Knight winked, handed the piece of the map to Anne, then spoke once more. "Bishop also subconsciously taught me how to do things behind Kane's back." Then the clockwork's face fell. "The clockworks are a bunch of backstabbers, just as I am to them now, and I no longer want to be apart of such a flawed existence. I'm hoping I can make a new life as a pirate's... a pirate's... f-f-f-"

"Friend." Lizzy finished for her.

"Yes." Knight nodded. "A friend. I've never had one before, and they're the things of legends. Even Kane admires friendships, although he doesn't encourage them amongst the armada." Knight turned her gaze to Anne. "I will give my life for the Resistance. I will help in any way I can. If you'll let me, of course."

Just Add Bacon on Sep 29, 2013 wrote:

Knight had her offer ready immediately. "Kane made me, in a way, to have a family." Knight observed Lizzy's reaction alone, then chuckled with a nod. "It wouldn't seem like a heartless clockwork would want to have a family, I know, but you've never met Kane, and he is different from the others. Although he couldn't let his 'daughter' get in the way of The Grand Design, so he told me that I could stay with him as long as I never got in his way. And so I complied, although staying out of his way didn't mean I could never be around his work. I also traveled with Bishop for a little while to learn his ways -and perfect them, mind you-, thus I know everything that Kane and Bishop do about the clockworks birds, The Grand Design, and some of Kane's more 'shadowy' projects that you pirates no nothing about. I offer this information to you readily, even if it means that Kane will find any way possible to destroy me."

Lizzy raised an eyebrow. She was certainly taken aback by the clockwork's speech, but Lizzy had that same burning question and wasn't about to let it go. "Clever, you've avoided the question while making us believe that we should let you join us. But we still want to know; why do you want to leave the armada?"

Knight sighed, as much as clockworks can sigh. "In my spare time I like to study you pirates. You are so complicated, females especially, because your minds develop and become stronger the longer that you live. We clockworks are not like this. Although I may have gained extensive knowledge that I was not created with, that does not mean that I am any different from my first creation. Here, look at this:" The clockwork girl pointed at her body, "I haven't physically changed at all, nor will I ever." If clockworks could be sad, this one was. "Kane and the armada are flawed, as are you pirates, but your flaws are acceptable while theirs are not."

'Theirs'. Lizzy thought with a little bit of sorrow. She's no longer apart of her family just to request permission to join ours.

Then Knight smiled. She turned behind her and brought a pouch into view. A pirate's satchel, by the looks of it. She put her hand inside, then took out a piece of parchment.

It was one seventh of a map to El Dorado. Knight winked, handed the piece of the map to Anne, then spoke once more. "Bishop also subconsciously taught me how to do things behind Kane's back." Then the clockwork's face fell. "The clockworks are a bunch of backstabbers, just as I am to them now, and I no longer want to be apart of such a flawed existence. I'm hoping I can make a new life as a pirate's... a pirate's... f-f-f-"

"Friend." Lizzy finished for her.

"Yes." Knight nodded. "A friend. I've never had one before, and they're the things of legends. Even Kane admires friendships, although he doesn't encourage them amongst the armada." Knight turned her gaze to Anne. "I will give my life for the Resistance. I will help in any way I can. If you'll let me, of course."

Wow, This is just brilliant. x Bows in great respect x

Highlander Fox of ... on Sep 30, 2013 wrote:

Emma's rather reluctant grimace faded as it reformed a smile. "Ya know, we all are flawed. Even Kane himself lacks perfection. And ya seem to be different- constructed with a bit of emotion, as it is with the elites." Her smile was kind. "I say we give her a chance."

Knight's tense and unsure aura changed immediately at these words. "Oh, thank you!" She was unsure, though, how to physically show gratitude. She had read about something called a 'hug', but didn't know how to perform this action herself. Instead she smiled, a little bit awkwardly. "Thank you so much." She murmured.

Lizzy nodded, although she couldn't help being reminded of the whole incident with Clockwork Lizzy. "I agree with Emma." She turned to Anne. "But what do you think?"

Just Add Bacon on Sep 29, 2013 wrote:

Knight had her offer ready immediately. "Kane made me, in a way, to have a family." Knight observed Lizzy's reaction alone, then chuckled with a nod. "It wouldn't seem like a heartless clockwork would want to have a family, I know, but you've never met Kane, and he is different from the others. Although he couldn't let his 'daughter' get in the way of The Grand Design, so he told me that I could stay with him as long as I never got in his way. And so I complied, although staying out of his way didn't mean I could never be around his work. I also traveled with Bishop for a little while to learn his ways -and perfect them, mind you-, thus I know everything that Kane and Bishop do about the clockworks birds, The Grand Design, and some of Kane's more 'shadowy' projects that you pirates no nothing about. I offer this information to you readily, even if it means that Kane will find any way possible to destroy me."

Lizzy raised an eyebrow. She was certainly taken aback by the clockwork's speech, but Lizzy had that same burning question and wasn't about to let it go. "Clever, you've avoided the question while making us believe that we should let you join us. But we still want to know; why do you want to leave the armada?"

Knight sighed, as much as clockworks can sigh. "In my spare time I like to study you pirates. You are so complicated, females especially, because your minds develop and become stronger the longer that you live. We clockworks are not like this. Although I may have gained extensive knowledge that I was not created with, that does not mean that I am any different from my first creation. Here, look at this:" The clockwork girl pointed at her body, "I haven't physically changed at all, nor will I ever." If clockworks could be sad, this one was. "Kane and the armada are flawed, as are you pirates, but your flaws are acceptable while theirs are not."

'Theirs'. Lizzy thought with a little bit of sorrow. She's no longer apart of her family just to request permission to join ours.

Then Knight smiled. She turned behind her and brought a pouch into view. A pirate's satchel, by the looks of it. She put her hand inside, then took out a piece of parchment.

It was one seventh of a map to El Dorado. Knight winked, handed the piece of the map to Anne, then spoke once more. "Bishop also subconsciously taught me how to do things behind Kane's back." Then the clockwork's face fell. "The clockworks are a bunch of backstabbers, just as I am to them now, and I no longer want to be apart of such a flawed existence. I'm hoping I can make a new life as a pirate's... a pirate's... f-f-f-"

"Friend." Lizzy finished for her.

"Yes." Knight nodded. "A friend. I've never had one before, and they're the things of legends. Even Kane admires friendships, although he doesn't encourage them amongst the armada." Knight turned her gaze to Anne. "I will give my life for the Resistance. I will help in any way I can. If you'll let me, of course."

Chrissy walked up from the galley where she had been plying the former prisoners with Yum, Chocolate & all the Brownies they wanted along with nourishing meals and had just arranged for hot bathes to be put into all the guest quarters and caught the very end of the conversation. Just then Rascal flitted up from below decks and began screeching at the sight of Knight and tried to drive Chrissy away from his perceived danger. Chrissy caught the frantic keet and with much confusion over his behavior tried to calm him down. Rascal was so upset that all he could be understood to be saying was; "She trapped me & took your note for Sam, run run, get away from her! Danger, danger!" Chrissy hushed the panicked parrot and managed to calm him by allowing him to huddle under her coat. She looked up curiously at Knight and said "What on earth is he talking about?" Although Knight could not show expression she managed to look abashed and said, "Ohh that is the keet I intercepted that had the very note that made my mind up to leave Kane. When I saw that a prisoner would go back into such danger to save another pirate after all that had been done to rescue him and that this behaviour was fully expected yet not demanded, I truly realized that humans value life and friendship over all. This was something clockworks do not have. We do not love each other like this, we respect and fear but love is unheard of. When I saw what love can do and to what lengths humans will go to for love, something in me broke. I cannot explain it properly but I realized that I have a huge emptiness in me that I think is a desire for what you call love. I did not wound the creature, I merely restrained it but I can see that my actions have damaged it somehow. Even though I did not hurt him, he now fears me. I do not know the name for what I am experiencing. I wish to somehow reverse what I have done to cause this amazing creature to fear me. Yet I am at a loss as to how." Knight looked around at the faces looking at her and experienced another new 'feeling'. For the first time she was at a loss and felt helpless.
She looked at Chrissy and said, "What can I do to assist this creature that was so influential in showing me the way?" Chrissy could see that Knight needed this healing as badly as Rascal did and whispered to her beloved pet, "Now Rascal, only your pride was hurt. Knight did not hurt you and you found Sam anyway and all ended well. She did not mean to frighten you and she has no intent to harm me. Now come on out and please let's try to be friends." Chrissy offered her hand to the still very fluffed up and indignant looking bird and Rascal reluctantly stepped up and though he kept his back to Knight he rotated his head towards her. Knight kept perfectly still and waited. Chrissy back fluffed his crest feathers to calm him. Rascal said, "You will not harm my Chrissy?" "Never" promised Knight. At Chrissy's urging she reached out and back fluffed his crest. Rascal began to coo.

Just Add Bacon on Oct 1, 2013 wrote:

Knight's tense and unsure aura changed immediately at these words. "Oh, thank you!" She was unsure, though, how to physically show gratitude. She had read about something called a 'hug', but didn't know how to perform this action herself. Instead she smiled, a little bit awkwardly. "Thank you so much." She murmured.

Lizzy nodded, although she couldn't help being reminded of the whole incident with Clockwork Lizzy. "I agree with Emma." She turned to Anne. "But what do you think?"

Anne felt torn in two. On the one hand, her sympathetic nature wanted to reassure and accept the stranger. Here this 'Knight' had given up everything to join the humans she evidently admired. Anne did at first wonder if it was a clever act, but upon consideration rejected the notion. Knight seemed genuine, and she was gentle in demeanor and kind to Chrissy's parrot. Although, Anne knew full well that being kind to parrots was not necessarily the seal of virtue -- after all, the worst bully she had known in her Mooshu village had been kind to his pets. However, Knight seemed to be a person who truly wished to be virtuous. That resonated strongly with Anne. All her life, to seek to do right and be virtuous was her dearest goal.

On the other hand, Knight was a clockwork. A clockwork devised by Kane, no less! All the clockworks she had encountered or heard of were heartless, evil murderers. Her parents had fallen to them, and her foster mother as well. She had suffered herself at their hands. Her crew would never accept a clockwork among them. Anne would not be able to sleep at night with a clockwork nearby, even a clockwork she tried to trust.

Yet, Knight was a clockwork seeking a soul. Anne remembered her foster mother telling the tale of the fox fairy who sought a soul, trying to become human. How little Anne had cried at the fox fairy's sad fate! How her foster mother had scolded her older foster brothers and sisters for laughing at their little sister's tears. If Knight was seeking a soul, it would be so wrong to stand in her way, even though she was so fearful in her making. Oh, Mao Xue, Anne thought sadly of her foster mother. How I miss your wisdom. I wish you could be here to advise me right now.

Instinctively, Anne gazed into Knight's face, seeking answers, but had to look away from those blank, dark eyeholes. Her eyes fell upon Knight's white hands, delicate and porcelain-like. They were beautiful hands, Anne reflected. So fine and perfect. So unlike Deacon's oversized, large hands...

No! I won't remember! Anne physically staggered as she frantically squashed the awful memories that unbidden came bubbling to the surface of her mind. The effort left her feeling sick, almost faint.

Everyone was looking towards her, waiting for her answer. Anne never felt so unready for a response in her life. "I... I..." she stammered uncertainly. What do I say? What do I do?