Negotiation

"Phew, they didn't break it! Now hurry up and get in. Time for our great escape into the skies!" Nemo says.

Victoria and I have already jumped into the Ornithopter before Nemo, and she causes it to lift off.

The Ornithopter rises into the air, stirring the air around it with wind.

"Hmmm?! Are you intent on reaching His Majesty?! I swear on my honour, will not allow this!" Agrona grabs the side of the Ornithopter as it lifts off, attempting to drag it down.

Because of this, the Ornithopter begins to lean dangerously to the side.

"Whoooooa! Hey, the balance--!" Nemo says.

"Sorry, Captain! I'm going to have to put you to sleep for a bit!" Victoria hits Agrona in the face with a test tube.

She tumbles to the ground and falls right to sleep.

"Was that another aesthetic?" I ask.

"Yep. It's a little on the strong side." Victoria says.

"Yes! Now that our path is clear... Full speed ahead!" Nemo says.

The Ornithopter begins to fly through the air at tremendous speed as it releases a copies amount of steam.

"It's so fast!" I say.

"Heh heh! It didn't quite have the horsepower to carry three people before!" Nemo says. "I made a new device that releases built-up steam from the steam engine in order to provide more thrust! What do you think, huh? It's so fast and smooth, right?"

"Nemo! Watch where you're going?" Victoria says.

"Whoa!" Nemo barely avoids a chimney and continues to speed up. "Express flight for two to Buckingham Palace! Next stop: King Victor!" True to Nemo's words, Buckingham Palace gets bigger and bigger as we close in. Then something floats up from behind the palace. "Oh, man! That's a military ship from the British Airborne Knights!" It sounds like the floating ship fires something at us. Suddenly, something whooshes past the side of the Ornithopter. Fire rises from the city behind us. "Whoa! They're seriously shooting at us! We're in the middle of London here!"

"I'm sure that's Progenitor working without the Crown's direction! It would be a great inconvenience to them if we met the King!" Victoria says.

"If it's an inconvenience for Progenitor, does that mean it's convenient for us?" I ask.

"Yes! Nemo, you've got to dodge their attacks and get us to the knighting ceremony!" Victoria says.

"Seriously...?! I mean, I knew I had to, but it's not going to be easy!" Nemo says.

"Nemo, please...!" I say.

"Leave it to me, my gentleman. Get ready to have your minds blown by my out-of-this-world flight manoeuvres!" True to her word, Nemo guides the Ornithopter with surprising dexterity. If even a single shot hit us, the Ornithopter would have been blown to bits, but she continues to avoid the shells. Dodging and weaving past shot after shot, we finally arrive right above the palace. "The power of love is invincible!" She proceeds to dive the Ornithopter straight into the middle of the ceremony.

It feels like we're about to crash.

"What is that?! Is it a plane?! Is it a bird?!"

"That machine... I saw it at the World's Fair! It's an Ornithopter!"

"Is it me, or is it getting closer...?"

"Your Majesty, please stand back!"

I can hear the crowd's uproar from all the way up here. I can also see many soldiers running towards a man.

Could that be the King?

I don't have much time to observe my surroundings as the machine speeds straight towards the ground.

"We're going to come to a sudden stop, so make sure you don't bite your tongue!" Nemo says.

The Ornithopter begins to pull out of its power dive, groaning as our path curves upwards. But this isn't enough to kill the momentum.

We kick up a cloud of dirt as we carve our way across the ground and finally stop.

The fact that the machine is now touching the ground brings me great relief. I heave a great sigh. "Was that a successful landing?"

"Looks like it. Thanks, Nemo. That was some fantastic flying." Victoria says.

"Ha... Haha... I'm glad we didn't all end up at the gates to Heaven." Nemo says.

We all climb out into the ground amidst a dumbfounded crowd.

"Who are they?"

"That woman with the glasses. Isn't that the violent terrorist. Victoria Frankenstein?!"

"Frankenstein?!"

As confused voices rise around us, the cloud of dirt slowly settles.

A man surrounded by soldiers appears in our view, standing on a stage right in front of us. He has white hair and is dressed in a yellow suit with black stripes.

"How dare you act with such disrespect before His Majesty! This is unforgivable!" a guard says.

His Majesty--The King. So this is King Victor after all. He's very handsome. But at the same time, he is a man with so much power that the tension in the air is almost palpable.

"Surround them! Do not let them escape!" Soldiers around the area all aim their guns at us at once.

"Out of the flying pan and into the fire. I'm going to cry." Nemo says.

If we utter the wrong words at this moment, they won't hesitate to shoot us.

"Don't panic, stay calm." I try to tell myself this, but I can't gather my thoughts properly.

As this is going on, Victoria takes a firm step towards King Victor with a determined look. "Soldiers! It would be unwise to shoot me!" Victoria calls this out in a sudden confident voice. Her gaze seems coldhearted somehow. It's like she isn't her usual self. Right now, I would believe that she is an actual terrorist, ready to deliver certain **** to those around her. "Nobody move! One step, and you die! I have planted bombs throughout the ceremonial grounds! This radio switch controls their detonation!" Victoria raises a small device into the air.

Screams ring out from within the audience.

"That's the toy she had me make for her." Nemo says.

"A toy?" I ask.

"Yeah, it doesn't do anything. 'Detonation switch,' my patootie." Nemo says.

I look over at the King while I listen to Nemo's whispers.

If they catch us in this lie, there's a 99% chance we'll be executed.

"Have the guards stand back." Victor says.

"But..." a guard says.

"Every single person here is a precious subject of my nation. None of this is worth any loss of life." Victor says.

"As you command, Your Majesty!" The guard standing near the King give a signal, and the soldiers lowers their guns.

"Good! Everybody stand still. My accomplices are watching all of this." Victoria says. "If anyone tries anything funny, this entire area will become a sea of flames! You Higness, have the guards stand at a distance. I want to speak with you alone."

"Fine." Victor glances at his guards. In a matter of seconds, the area around us is deserted. They're probably all watching this situation breathlessly. But, other than the speakers, Nemo and I are probably the only ones who can overhear our conversation. "It's been a while, Dr. Frankenstein. When was the last time I saw your face?"

"Two years ago, Your Highness." Victoria says.

"Two years? Is that all? I feel as if it was decades ago." Victor says.

"I came with to negotiate with you." Victoria says.

"Don't look so angry. What is this about?" Victor asks.

"Retract my wanted status. Also, guarantee my safety from this point on, and grant me pardon for this act as well." Victoria says. "That's all I ask."

There is a brief silence.

At this moment, there's no room for Nemo or me to intervene. All we can do is sit tight and listen to the exchange between Victoria and the King, and try to guess the outcome of their talk.

The King sneers at Victoria. "Dr. Frankenstein, are you telling me that you, a mere scientist, mean to threaten me, the King of the British Empire? Would you like to die with your companions?"

"You don't have any power in this situation! I do!" Victoria says.

"And what power do you have that could change my mind?" Victor says.

"I'm prepared to release the secrets regarding that which you desire so to other nations!" Victoria says. "I've given copies of this information to a number of compatriots. If anything should happen to me, all of Europe will know!" This special knowledge possesses is her only real bargaining chip in this negotiation.

But the King simply looks amused at this threat. "I see... Ha, that is interesting. What about the gentleman over there? Is he your friend?" The King suddenly looks over at us. His glance feels sticky, and clings to me. "What a beautiful boy. You seem agitated, Dr. Frankenstein. Haha, this is getting more interesting by the moment. That one is full of secrets." He gives me a long stare. His gaze feels like it's touching me directly.

"Let's hear what you have to say in response, Your Highness." Victoria says. "I have no problem turning this whole venue into an inferno."

The King merely smiles. "Enough with the petty lies. Did you really believe that you would trick King Alexander Victor with a toy like that?" We all gasp. How could he know? "Ah, that reaction. It seems I was right. Haha... I have a soft spot for bad liars."

"Whoa, playing dirty! He pulled a fast one on us!" Nemo says.

"Politics are a constant game of bargaining. Your childish antics don't even come close to a real negotiation." Victor says. "Scientists need to stop playing at politics and focus on their research."

"Nemo, take him and stand back." Victoria says. As if sensing something from Victoria's serious tone, Nemo says nothing and steps back with me. Once she has seen that we have backed away, Victoria slowly takes a leather case from her jacket. She takes out a single test tube. "This is a special liquid explosive. If I drop this on the ground, not even you would to able to escape ****."

"Oh? I see that you're not bluffing this time around." Victor says.

"Victoria, what are you...?" I try to dart towards her, but Nemo stops me.

"Not now. Victoria's one thing, but we have no idea what Victor would do if we make a move towards him!" Nemo says.

"But...!" I say.

Victoria's hands are shaking slightly.

"Go ahead. Do it." Victor says. "**** is salvation. But a coward like you would probably hesitate to take hold of a saviours hand."

She's going to do it. She's going to kill herself and take the King with her.

"Victoria!" I break free of Nemo's grasp and run toward her.

"Caleb! No! Get away from me!" Victoria says.

"No, Victoria, this isn't right." I take her shaking arm and gently lower it. "You don't need to do this. No one wants you to sacrifice yourself."

Victoria says nothing in response and looks down at the ground.

I worry about Victoria's feelings, but part of my mind is calm and understands the situation.

The only leverage we have right now is to release Victoria's information to other countries.

And even is a lie.

If he sees through this lie, too, it's over for us.

I look at the King. I can't tell what he's thinking at all behind his smiling face.

There is silence, and then...

"Fine, doctor. I'm satisfied, knowing that you will not become an enemy of the state." Victor says. "I have no way of knowing if you are lying or speaking the truth. But if you really do take what you know outside of this country's borders, Britain as you know it will be over. But you should know that whatever relationship you have with your 'friends' will dissolve before that comes to pass."

"I'll keep my end of the deal." Victoria says.

The King nods resolutely in response. "Naturally. But Dr. Frankenstein? I believe that you are truly intelligent. That's why I can say for certain that you aren't going through all this trouble just for the sake of your comrades. You could have fled the country long ago, yet you remain in London. Why is that? I'm quite interested. What reason do you have for staying here? In this country, in this city?" Victoria says nothing, and simply stares at Victor. "Haha... Fine. I'll just keep an eye on you for now. You can have this win. Oh, Victoria. Just make sure not to cross me again."

"I'll keep that in mind." Victoria says.

The King smiles boldly.

That seems to signal an end to this.

Nemo and I take deep breaths, and the King slowly walks out in front of us to look around at everyone in attendance.

"My beloved subjects, there is something that I would have you know." Victor's clear voice fills the air. "It's as proven just now that all charges placed against Victoria Frankenstein were false accusations. In the name of the crown, I proclaim her innocence, and guarantee her safety. From this moment, anyone attempting to harm her or her companions without my own consent is an enemy of the British crown."

The crowd murmurs in reaction to the King's words. It seems to go on forever.