Maintaining and Repairing

Jp with Lorem, Lucian, Redstone and Cindy

The cab was fixed and took off, at Marcil's request it dropped off Marcil and Lorem by the cab that was broken down.

Marcil got out of the cab and looked down the eerily quiet alley.

Sung and Vor noticed a cab stop about a block from them and out of the cab came a familiar looking Gnome and driver for the Order.

Marcil noticed Vor and Sung had a woman with them, he didn't recognize so he opted to keep his distance, but he said quietly to Lorem. "We have company," subtlety pointing out the two team members. "I don't know the woman they're with so might have to see if they approach us."

Lorem hid behind Marcel, which wasn’t very difficult to do. She didn’t make a peep, but instead crouched down next to the large backpack which she had dragged out onto the street upon exiting.

Sung walked forward with a hidden wink trying to signal he was still undercover. "Cab driver you have room for three more?" asked Sung with the other two in tow.

"The cab needs to be repaired,Sir. As you can see I have brought an expert for such things. So it will not take long.; If you're group can wait." Marcil sounded very cab driver like. "I was also expecting three others but I believe they might have been delayed."

"Sung looked around "Anything I can do to help?" asked Sung politely. "My Lord has an important meeting to get to," said Sung motioning to Vor. This would have been easy if Iris was not with them thought Sung. Maybe it was just time to drop the act and take Iris in.

"I don't believe so, but, Miss Ipsum, is there anything we can do to help?" Marcil asked.

Marcil also noticed Vor and the mystery woman were still about a block away. So they likely couldn't hear the conversation but just to be safe said, "We will have it repaired as soon as possible. The other fare, might be too delayed to wait for them. I hope they didn't get lost or injured in the way here. I heard there was a fight in the area. Actually, it might be a great help if you waited here and kept an eye out while I go look for them. Unless, you would rather look for them." The last part was said very quietly so the stranger wouldn't have a chance to overhear.

Lorem didn’t catch on to the fact the others were pretending to be undercover. It was Sung and Marcil as far as her mind registered. And more importantly a busted cab; poor thing. It was obvious now why they bothered to bring her along.

Lorem set to work on the cab. She opened her large pack and revealed an interesting looking steampunk invention that looked like a cross between a water pump and a power washer. There was also thick gloves and a welders helmet hooked onto the side. She began putting on the accessories, which also included a padded safety apron. Next she pulled out a small metal board with wheels that expanded; it would allow her to slide herself with easy underneath the cab and back out again as needed.

Looking up to Marcil after assessing the damage to the vehicle she explained, “if you could pump this device so that this little ball here inside the tube rises above this level marking here that would be most helpful. Try and keep it above that threshold, but don’t let it go into this upper red one. Red is dead.” She smiled and then lowered the welding helmet over her face And kicked a lever on the machine.

The machine hissed to life and the clockwork sounds mixed with steam resonated throughout its makeup. The pump handle raised with the buildup of pressure inside and remained waiting for Marcil.

As Lorem working on the cab Sung took the advantage to back away unknownst. Sung waited for the street to clear some. He put himself in to position behind Iris. Sung had not had to use this technique in some time and the last time he even used it was teaching Lady Elizabeth.

Sung steps to one side of Iris. Sung's movement was so fast it seemed he just appeared there his hand moved or it appeared to then Sung just stood there for a moment. Sung had struck Iris in the neck with two fingers. A presser point is located on the neck, adjacent to the Adam's Apple. Strikes there cause knock-outs by way of the Vagus nerve. The Vagus nerve measures the blood pressure of the arteries of the neck. Sung knew the brain would receive the high blood pressure signal and would attempt to lower the body's blood pressure. Since blood pressure is not high for real, lowering the blood pressure will result in the person passing out for a time.

Iris just looked like she fainted Sung caught her with his arm as he fell. "Vor, get her in the cab. Where are the others?" asked Sung with a sound of urgency in his voice. Sung could sense Elizabeth and something was not right. "I will be back I think the others are in trouble," informed Sung to the others.

Now, with the stranger unconscious, Marcil nodded. "Yes. She was injured during the fight. I saw her get knocked unconscious. Cronk and Miss Lagrave were with her when I left. I tried to hurry to get back here but other unfortunate circumstances happened, as Dr. JackaI and Miss Lavigne were kidnapped. I can take us to where I last saw. Lady Elizabeth, Miss Lagrave and Cronk if everyone gets in the cab."

"Well, when it's fixed let go," said Sung helping any way he could.

Marcil was helping Lorem and soon enough the engine came alive. "Everyone, into the cab please. We must hurry." Marcil sounded understandably concerned.

Vor was quick to comply, handling Iris into the vehicle.

Sung took no time getting in and was ready to go making sure he was to the outside and could jump out quickly.

Lorem, with the help of Marcil, got her equipment packed up and stowed inside the cab. She herself, her clothing that is, was half covered in dirt and engine grease. She missed much of what was going on outside since she had been underneath the vehicle engineering the solution to get the engine working again.

Once inside she sat next to her large backpack and put an arm around it to help stabilize herself. Where was Lady Elizabeth? Was that the next stop? She wondered