Agatha H. and the Airship City

Agatha blinked and stretched. Her mouth tasted metallic. She opened her eyes fully and stared at the ceiling, something was different. The light—

Suddenly a hand roughly clasped itself over her mouth. Her eyes jerked around and saw that the hand belonged to the soldier who had appeared in her father’s shop. A sudden surge of memories, as well as the current situation made her twist and flail about.

Moloch dropped forward, pinning her arms to the bed. “Quiet!” he hissed. “Quiet! I’m not gonna hurt you unless I gotta—but I will if you act stupid!” With this he tightened his grip upon Agatha’s face. Having little choice, she froze, and then sagged. Her eyes stared at Moloch like those of a frightened animal. The hand relaxed slightly. He continued. “Now I’m gonna take my hand away. I’m giving you one chance. Don’t Blow It.”

After a second, he released her face. Agatha licked her lips, but said nothing. Moloch relaxed slightly, but still pinned her arms. Agatha noted that he had been cleaned up, his beard trimmed, and an attempt had been made on his hair, but it was the sort of hair that defeated anything but an all out tonsorial assault.

He was dressed in a large sturdy labcoat, which Agatha realized she had seen on Wulfenbach staffers that had visited the late Dr. Beetle’s lab.

When she still did nothing, Moloch continued. “Good. Now listen. We’ve been taken prisoner by Baron Wulfenbach.”

Agatha frowned. “Why?”

Encouraged by this response, Moloch sat back, allowing Agatha to sit up on the bed and rub her arms. “Because of that clank I’m supposed to have built back in Beetleburg.”

“You built that clank?”

Moloch snorted. “Of course not! But the Baron thinks I did, and I’m not going to tell Baron Wulfenbach that he made a mistake. So I’m his madboy until I can make a break for it.”

Agatha saw the wisdom in this, but—”What does he want you to do?”

Moloch looked up at her with grim humor in his eyes. “He wants me to build him some more clanks. He wants to see what I can do in a real lab with proper materials.”

Agatha cocked an eyebrow and her mouth twitched upwards. “Ho. You do have a problem.”

Moloch observed the smirk and he leaned forward in satisfaction. “We have a problem, sweetheart. He also thinks you’re my little assistant.”

“What!” There was no way Agatha wanted to get involved in anything like this. She leapt up and threw open the door. “Forget it! You can just get out and—”

It was a soft “woo!” from the outer room that brought her up short. Turning her head, she saw that the door opened out into a large common room. Easily two dozen people, mostly children, along with a sprinkling of young adults, were casually gathered around several long tables which were set for a meal. All eyes were riveted upon Agatha. A sudden cool breeze dragged her eyes downward to reveal to her that she was dressed in naught but her underclothes. With a squeak she slammed the door closed and, blushing furiously, turned upon a grinning Moloch.

Grabbing a blanket off of the bed she fumbled with it awkwardly. “Do… do those people know you’re in here alone with me in my underwear?”

Moloch made soothing motions with his hands. “Don’t worry about your reputation.”

Agatha drew herself up. “I most certainly will. I have never —”

Moloch cut her off. “They already think we’re lovers.” The blanket dropped from Agatha’s hands as she swayed in shock. Moloch took the opportunity to survey her critically. “You’re not really my type…” he sighed. “But I guess I’ll just have to fake it.”

“Why should I let anyone think—”

“Because I didn’t build that clank!” Moloch leaned in and whispered triumphantly, “Your father did, didn’t he?”

Agatha rocked back. “My father?”

Moloch nodded. “That was his shop, wasn’t it? Before I woke you up I saw the wheels he’d taken off the tractor, and when you told it to put me down, it did it. It followed your orders.” He paused for a second as an idea hit him: “Did you build it?”

Automatically Agatha answered honestly, “No, but, Adam—”

“No buts. Unless you want me to inform the Baron where he can get a real madboy to take my place… ?”

Agatha looked into his face. “You wouldn’t.”

“I will. Unless we got a deal.”

Agatha stared at him with loathing in her face, but could see no way out. It explained so much. Adam and Lilith had been scared to death of encountering the Baron. Everyone knew that Klaus collected Sparks, when he wasn’t defeating them. The longer she gave them to get away from Beetleburg… “Yes.”

Moloch closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Good.” At that moment Agatha realized how tightly he’d been keeping his fear in check. She felt a flash of sympathy for him. There were numerous stories of innocent people who had come to the attention of those with the Spark. None of them ended well.

Moloch continued, “So, the way the Baron figures it, I’m your boyfriend and I built you that clank because you were mad about the Baron killing this Dr. Beetle guy. You see any loose ends?”

Agatha slipped her glasses on. “Hm. Yes. You had a friend.” The reaction this statement got astonished her.

Moloch wheeled furiously and looked as if he would strike her, but with great effort he held himself in check. “My brother,” he said menacingly. “And we don’t have to worry about him, you saw to that!”

Agatha found herself pressing up against the wall as Moloch advanced towards her. As he talked, he fished around in his pocket. “And if you’ve got any hopes about me going the same way, you can just forget it.” Triumphantly he pulled forth Agatha’s battered locket. “It’s been deactivated!”

“My locket!” Agatha reached for the locket, only to have it snatched away and stuffed back inside Moloch’s coat. “Give it back, you thief!”

Moloch smiled coldly. “Oh no, sister, that’s my ace. You’ll get it back when I leave here safely.”

“What do you mean, it’s been—”

Moloch interrupted her. “Omar was my brother, but he did steal from you and hit you. I’ll admit that. You help me get outta here and we’re square. Mess with me and I’ll have company at the Waxworks, I promise you.” He turned towards the door. “I gotta get going. I’m not even supposed to be here, so…” He thought for a second with his hand on the door handle. He glanced at Agatha and a mischievous smile came to his face. He opened the door and spoke loudly. “Okay, that’s enough kissing for now, doll. I’m glad you’re okay, but give me a chance to rest up and we’ll celebrate properly later!”

With eel-like swiftness he was out of the room and had the door shut before Agatha could reach him. Furious, she yanked open the door and almost collided with a tall reserved-looking man who had obviously been just about to knock. A raised eyebrow was his only comment as to her attire. Quickly she scooted back behind the door and peeked out.

“Miss Agatha Clay?” he enquired with an upper-class British accent. Agatha nodded.

“Good morning. My name is Ardsley Wooster. I have the honor of being Master Gilgamesh Wulfenbach’s man. Now that you are awake, he requests your presence in his laboratory immediately.”

Agatha looked at him with trepidation. “Gilgamesh Wulfenbach? Wants to see me?”

“Yes, Miss. Immediately.”

Agatha looked back into the room and then down at her outfit. “I’m not going out like this. I’m not… not