The Gun Club

With the help of the staff standing by at the landing field, Nemo is able to moor the airship at the starting point.

Once we are sure the sky pirates are nowhere to be seen, we meet up with Nemo when she gets off the airship.

"Heh heh! What do you think? I'm here with plenty of time to spare!" Nemo says.

"Well... haha. Actually, you were cutting it pretty close there." Victoria says.

"What?" Nemo asks.

"And, starting today, a group of sky pirates will be after your skin. You should watch your back from now on." Van Helsing says.

"Whaaaaat?! What happened while I was gone?!" Nemo asks.

As we're talking amongst ourselves, a sudden shout bursts from behind us. "So that ship belongs to you lot!" We turn around and find three women. One of them has weird hair and is grinning from ear to ear. The other is middle aged with long red hair that is braided into a ponytail reaches her waist and wears goggles like Nemo. The third is slender, spectacled young girl with blonde hair. "Well! Isn't it wonderful! A truly wonderful ship!" The weird haired woman speaks excitedly with a French accent, not paying any attention as we stand dumbfounded.

"Um... Who are you?" Nemo asks.

"Oh?! Pardon meeee! It's certainly not like me to on without introduuuuuuucing myself!" This weird haired woman... Why does she strike some strange pose every time she opens her mouth? Is there a reason behind it...? "Iiiiiii am the brilliant explorer who shall somedaaaaaay uncover the truths of the woooooorld! That name is Robur the Coooonqueroooor!"

"Miss... Coon-querooooor?" I ask.

"Heehee!" the middled aged woman says with an American accent. "Her name is Michelle Ardan! And I'm Impey Barbicane. We are the Gun Club."

"That's right! And I'm a scientist sent by the gods, Hisbert West!" the blonde girl with glasses says with an American accent.

"Um... All right." I say.

"Gentlemen! So, who's is that airship?!" Impey asks.

"I didn't make it but I did give it a complete overhaul. Um, so...Impey, or whoever you are... Wh-What do you want?" Nemo asks.

"You made this ship?! I can see the craftsmanship just at a glance! Amazing work, remodelling such an old model!" Impey says.

"Wha... You can really tell? It's been designed for maximum lift and aerodynamics. Probably no other ship can turn as fast." Nemo says.

"Ahaha... Hahahaha! It's beeeautiful! Stunningly aesthetic and functional! And the exterior!" Robur says.

"Yes! You can appreciate her beauty?! Doesn't she have the grace and elegance of a young maiden?!" Nemo says.

"Yesssss! I seeeee it! That form... I see a modest young woman, shy in love, but full of many possibilities!" Robur says.

"What the hell are they going on about?" Van Helsing asks.

"They seem to be having fun, anyway..." I say.

"Yeah... They're probably connecting on some level that normal people like us can't even comprehend." Lupin says.

"Ahah, it seems birdbrains of a feather flock together, so to speak." Doreen says.

"What's the matter, Victoria? You're being awfully quiet..." I say.

"What?! Oh, no, I just..." Victoria says.

"Victoria!? Victoria?! Ah...! Are you...Victoria Frankenstein?!" West asks. "What a coincidence! I'm shocked! Are you attending this race as well?!"

"Um, well, sort of..." Victoria says.

"Are you two acquaintances?" I ask.

"It's too one sided to be called an acquaintance, really..." Victoria says. "While I was at Oxford, she saw me as a rival. Trust me, the feeling was not mutual."

"My lifelong rival! Our meeting here is no coincidence! It must be fate!" West says.

"Uh... Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's just a coincidence, actually." Victoria says.

"All right! I'll do it! From one humble scientist to another, I accept your invitation to battle!" West says.

"No one invited you to a battle..." I say.

"Oh... I see... She's this type of girl. I feel your pain, Victoria." Lupin says.

"Thanks, I guess. For understanding, anyway." Victoria says.

"Ahaha! I'm looking forward to the moment when I defeat you alllllll!" Ardan says.

"Hey, Van Helsing? If she means to defeat us, do you think she'll attack us...?" I ask.

"How should I know...?" Van Helsing asks.

"Very well, ladies! As a show of respect before we take the field..." Impey says. "Allow me to introduce you to our ship, sure to be this race's winner! Don't be shy! Come with me!"

"A-Actually... We'll have to decline." Victoria says.

"What?! I wanna see!" Nemo says.

Everyone but Nemo refuses to go.

"Hmmmph. Such **** hesitation is unbecoming, you know! However... Fine, come with me, you stunning engineer, you!" Robur says.

"You don't have to ask twice! Let's go!" Nemo says. The two head away, still speaking excitedly between themselves.

"Hmm... Our main pilot just left us, in high spirits." Lupin says.

"But we don't have much time left. We'll have to start preparing for the race. Everyone, get in the airship." I say.

"Start preparing? Are you going to be alright without Nemo present?" Doreen says.

"I've memorised everything, from the ship's structure, to how to operate it, to roles for all of you during flight." I say. "I can take care of the pre-flight checklist until Nemo gets back."

"Hah... He's far more useful than that useless engineer of ours." Van Helsing says.

"Because I helped Nemo out during the ship's remodelling, I've grown attached to it as well. I'm going to do my best." I whisper this just before I enter.