The Trans-Europa went on its way to Vienna, and along the way the track went along some wheat fields. Karl looked out the window, Anneke asleep in his arms. It had been about a week or so since he and his friends, the mensch-maschinen, met the Düsseldorf Quartet, and Karl had been fascinated with the practical thinker and resident goofball of the lot. But he learned along the way a lot of tidbits about her, some of which amazed him.
For one, she had a short temper. At times, very short. One incident in Paris involved a Frenchman trying to hit on her. French by descent herself, she understood what the Frenchman wanted, and she clearly and politely declined. Karl was in awe of, at the instant, her very cool, calm and collected nature. But when the Frenchman persisted the heck out of her, she kept herself calm until he touched her arm. Then, she glared at him and gave him one final warning. But did the Frenchman listen? Apparently not...
After one final dose of harrassment, she punched him square in the jaw and glared as he fell to the ground. Karl's jaw dropped and his mouth stayed agape until they left the marketplace. After they were away from the crowd, the youngest of the mensch-maschinen began to giggle mercilessly.
Anneke, looking to her companion, raised a brow. "I wonder what's so amusing, Karl?" she inquired.
"I'd never expect you to lose your temper like that!!" he giggled some more. "That was one hell of a punch you gave him!"
"Well he just wouldn't leave me alone!" she argued. "He damn well deserved that smash to the skull."
"Well then if I were to be hitting on you" he kindly retorted with a bashful grin.
"Now you, on the other hand..." she started, but was unable to finish as she began to giggle at his grin. "Aww hell, you I can't resist!!"
"What!?" he laughed.
But she just smiled warmly at him. "Ich weiß nicht" she replied. "Möglicherweise bin ich ein Dummkopf für wenige Sachen gewesen.
"Aber, das ist ich gerecht."
Karl chuckled at the memory, then looked to the now still-sleeping Anneke, the woman with a deadly punch if no one was wise enough to think. He had really come to admire her quick thinking and intelligence, as well as her fascination for the mensch-maschinen. She was curious about them, so to further her information for the HQ back home.
"Karl..."
The mensch-maschine blinked out of his train of thought and glanced to Anneke, who was waking up at last. He smiled a little bit at her. "How'd you sleep, Anneke?" he asked.
"Like I've been sleeping the past week or so--most contentedly" she replied, smiling up at him.
"Wonderful," he said, still smiling.
She looked out the window at the morning scenery. The flowers, the trees, all flew by at a decent, calm speed. It wasn't as if it was right past them in a heartbeat. She got to enjoy the view, and was well in the company of a good person, even if he was a semi-human being.
"So... you have been a fool for lesser things, Anneke?" Karl finally asked, looking to her as the memory of her last words in that recollection replayed in his head. Anneke blinked and glanced to him, then turned away blushing.
"Well?" Karl asked, holding her hand. A curious smile adorned his face. Finally she looked back to him, still blushing, but with a smile this time.
"...yes, I have said so, and I believe I still am, Karl" she replied. "And, perhaps, I shall always be such a fool."
"What about falling in love though?" he inquired. Do you think it's foolish?"
She looked out the window, her face now more solemn, more serious. Then she lowered her head.
"I..." she started, then stopped. She took a deep breath, and continued. "I... never really had time for that kind of stuff. I was always busy protecting my fellow Clandestinian Sisters, always looking out for them. I never really considered anyone to really hold onto my heart for the rest of my common life.
"It just... it just never occured to me to do so. But..."
Her hands held one of his. Their eyes met as she spoke.
"...perhaps... it is time I took that chance."
The two shared a smile, and the mensch-maschine could not help but notice just how sweet and honest she was. He was half-tempted to kiss her, but couldn't and drew her into his arms instead. Not everyone in the world understood his kind, yet she had a mind interested in them and a heart to be there for them. Especially the one in whose arms she rested safely in, quietly taking this moment in. Their eyes were fixed to the window, and the scenery that past them by at a calm yet swift speed.
"It's a beautiful day outside, Karl" she whispered, smiling. "Just gorgeous."
"I agree" he replied softly. "It is quite lovely outside. Kind of reminds me of someone." With that comment he smiled at her as she blushed in response. With that the two resumed conversation as the Trans-Europa swiftly made its way through to Vienna.
27 September 2007
22 September 2007
Chapter 7: Die Morgenbrüche, das Gedächtnis rührt sich.. [The Morning Breaks, the Memory Stirs.]
Florian looked at his watch the next morning as the gang boarded the Trans-Europa. The mensch-maschinen woke up first, as the girls slept. Noting this they packed up the belongings first, then the girls. Anneke blinked her eyes open as Karl brought her into the train.
"Karl... what's going on?" she asked sleepily.
"We're almost ready to leave for Vienna, Anneke" he whispered, smiling a bit at her. "We just have to finish making sure everything and everyone is on board safely."
"...oh" she replied, a half-smile on her face. "Carry on then."
Karl smiled a bit as his companion went right back to sleep.
Ralf meanwhile sat down, Johannes in his arms, and glanced around. The adventure was enough for an adrenalin rush, but he was, while excited for the trip, nervous that things would not go as well as hoped for. His gaze fell to his best friend Florian, who closed the doors and sat down near the front, taking Elizabeth in his arms. Finally, his gaze fixed to Johannes, who slept after an evening of conversation with him. It wasn't until 11 P.M. the night previous that the two at last went to sleep. Still, he couldn't help but look back on the conversation...
"So what do you intend to be if you ever get your sight, Fräulein Johannes?" Ralf asked as the two sat down on the roof of the Trans-Europa station. The young mensch-maschine offered to buy dinner a short while ago, and the two walked to the nearest pizzeria for some breadsticks.
"Maybe a nurse... or a writer" Johannes answered, sighing a bit. "To be honest with you, I don't have a clue."
Ralf gave her a breadstick. "I'm sure you'd make a great nurse, but that is just my opinion."
She bit a little from her breadstick, and sighed again. "The problem is, will I ever gain my sight?" She closed her pale, lifeless eyes, to hide her tears.
"I have hope that you will, Fräulein Johannes" he replied positively, looking to the beautiful Eiffel Tower that glowed with bright Neonlicht.
"I cannot say the same" she spoke. "I have more hope for the freedom and future of Eastern Europe than in my sight. It is a lot more easier to fight for freedom, to live in freedom, than to give sight to a girl who was born blind." And finally, the tears spilt.
Ralf sighed looking to her. He couldn't understand why she was so embittered about herself. Perhaps he needed to get to know her better. Finally, curiousity ensnared him, and glancing to her he spoke again.
"Fräulein Johannes... what is it like... to be blind?" he asked cautiously.
"Schwärzung" she replied after a moment of thought. "Darkness. All the time. All I can do is eat and hear and breathe and feel. I can do a lot. Just... I can't see."
He took her hand in his. "Then whose hands are holding yours?" he asked with a quirky smile.
"They are yours" she answered with a soft smile. "I've gotten used to your hands now. They have a... a certain warmth to them. It's not like Elizabeth's hands or Anneke's or Rebekah's, because those girls each have their own degree of warmth for their hands."
"How is Elizabeth's hands then?" Ralf inquired.
"She has this warmth that is familiar. She's a few degrees less warm than your hands. But I know which hands belong to Elizabeth, and which are yours, Anneke's and Rebekah's. Anyone else, I do not know, and I have a fear that grips me when I am touched by hands different from those I know" she explained.
"Ahh" he nodded. "Understood."
She smiled softly. "Heh... yeah." She then blushed, giggling.
"What is it, Fräulein Johannes??" he asked, amused by her giggling. He squeezed her hands a bit.
"I actually like your hands" she admitted. "They're nice and warm, and perhaps a little delicate. A few cuts and scrapes but... they're alright. Your hands are warmer than Elizabeth's hands. And... they're kind. I can just sense it."
Ralf blushed a little bit and hugged her with those hands, those careful arms. She rested her head, closing her eyes, upon his shoulder. Not just his hands but all of him had that certain warmth, and it only strengthened her trust on him for a kind companion as well as a dear friend. Encouraged by this she wrapped her arms around him, but her face sombered up a bit.
"Ralf..." she asked sadly, "how come you do not have a heart?"
Her friend blinked, half-shocked. His face too sombered up as he ran one of his hands through her hair.
"I once had a bicycle accident, in which I was in a coma for months. Next to dead, I opted to become a semi-human being. A mensch-maschine. My bones were turned to metal, most of my organs now computers and wires for veins. Unfortunately because of my rewiring I do not understand everything like I used to; I have to be taught something sometimes, or even retaught" he explained. "I mean, I am still able to think and function, just as any normal being, it's just that..."
"...you don't have a beating heart" she finished, a bit saddened.
"N-not really, perhaps" he answered. "I suppose one could say that, my heart still beats somehow...
"It beats inside of you, Fräulein Johannes."
Johannes blushed lightly and hugged him tighter, letting a few more tears fall down. She didn't want him to see her cry, but she only wanted to be with him all the more. Perhaps he could understand where she was coming from, and vice versa. Perhaps... perhaps they were meant for each other...
After a few more minutes of just being there, Ralf whispered her name, but she didn't respond. He realized she had fallen asleep in his arms. What time is it? He glanced around and finally to his watch.
10:57 P.M.
Quietly he carried the young woman and their now-slightly cooled dinner back down to the main floor of the station, where they rested with the rest of the gang for the night.
"Karl... what's going on?" she asked sleepily.
"We're almost ready to leave for Vienna, Anneke" he whispered, smiling a bit at her. "We just have to finish making sure everything and everyone is on board safely."
"...oh" she replied, a half-smile on her face. "Carry on then."
Karl smiled a bit as his companion went right back to sleep.
Ralf meanwhile sat down, Johannes in his arms, and glanced around. The adventure was enough for an adrenalin rush, but he was, while excited for the trip, nervous that things would not go as well as hoped for. His gaze fell to his best friend Florian, who closed the doors and sat down near the front, taking Elizabeth in his arms. Finally, his gaze fixed to Johannes, who slept after an evening of conversation with him. It wasn't until 11 P.M. the night previous that the two at last went to sleep. Still, he couldn't help but look back on the conversation...
"So what do you intend to be if you ever get your sight, Fräulein Johannes?" Ralf asked as the two sat down on the roof of the Trans-Europa station. The young mensch-maschine offered to buy dinner a short while ago, and the two walked to the nearest pizzeria for some breadsticks.
"Maybe a nurse... or a writer" Johannes answered, sighing a bit. "To be honest with you, I don't have a clue."
Ralf gave her a breadstick. "I'm sure you'd make a great nurse, but that is just my opinion."
She bit a little from her breadstick, and sighed again. "The problem is, will I ever gain my sight?" She closed her pale, lifeless eyes, to hide her tears.
"I have hope that you will, Fräulein Johannes" he replied positively, looking to the beautiful Eiffel Tower that glowed with bright Neonlicht.
"I cannot say the same" she spoke. "I have more hope for the freedom and future of Eastern Europe than in my sight. It is a lot more easier to fight for freedom, to live in freedom, than to give sight to a girl who was born blind." And finally, the tears spilt.
Ralf sighed looking to her. He couldn't understand why she was so embittered about herself. Perhaps he needed to get to know her better. Finally, curiousity ensnared him, and glancing to her he spoke again.
"Fräulein Johannes... what is it like... to be blind?" he asked cautiously.
"Schwärzung" she replied after a moment of thought. "Darkness. All the time. All I can do is eat and hear and breathe and feel. I can do a lot. Just... I can't see."
He took her hand in his. "Then whose hands are holding yours?" he asked with a quirky smile.
"They are yours" she answered with a soft smile. "I've gotten used to your hands now. They have a... a certain warmth to them. It's not like Elizabeth's hands or Anneke's or Rebekah's, because those girls each have their own degree of warmth for their hands."
"How is Elizabeth's hands then?" Ralf inquired.
"She has this warmth that is familiar. She's a few degrees less warm than your hands. But I know which hands belong to Elizabeth, and which are yours, Anneke's and Rebekah's. Anyone else, I do not know, and I have a fear that grips me when I am touched by hands different from those I know" she explained.
"Ahh" he nodded. "Understood."
She smiled softly. "Heh... yeah." She then blushed, giggling.
"What is it, Fräulein Johannes??" he asked, amused by her giggling. He squeezed her hands a bit.
"I actually like your hands" she admitted. "They're nice and warm, and perhaps a little delicate. A few cuts and scrapes but... they're alright. Your hands are warmer than Elizabeth's hands. And... they're kind. I can just sense it."
Ralf blushed a little bit and hugged her with those hands, those careful arms. She rested her head, closing her eyes, upon his shoulder. Not just his hands but all of him had that certain warmth, and it only strengthened her trust on him for a kind companion as well as a dear friend. Encouraged by this she wrapped her arms around him, but her face sombered up a bit.
"Ralf..." she asked sadly, "how come you do not have a heart?"
Her friend blinked, half-shocked. His face too sombered up as he ran one of his hands through her hair.
"I once had a bicycle accident, in which I was in a coma for months. Next to dead, I opted to become a semi-human being. A mensch-maschine. My bones were turned to metal, most of my organs now computers and wires for veins. Unfortunately because of my rewiring I do not understand everything like I used to; I have to be taught something sometimes, or even retaught" he explained. "I mean, I am still able to think and function, just as any normal being, it's just that..."
"...you don't have a beating heart" she finished, a bit saddened.
"N-not really, perhaps" he answered. "I suppose one could say that, my heart still beats somehow...
"It beats inside of you, Fräulein Johannes."
Johannes blushed lightly and hugged him tighter, letting a few more tears fall down. She didn't want him to see her cry, but she only wanted to be with him all the more. Perhaps he could understand where she was coming from, and vice versa. Perhaps... perhaps they were meant for each other...
After a few more minutes of just being there, Ralf whispered her name, but she didn't respond. He realized she had fallen asleep in his arms. What time is it? He glanced around and finally to his watch.
10:57 P.M.
Quietly he carried the young woman and their now-slightly cooled dinner back down to the main floor of the station, where they rested with the rest of the gang for the night.
18 September 2007
Chapter 6: Rendez-vous auf den Champs-Elysees. [Rendez-vous at Champs-Elysees.]
"Wolfgang, you awake?"
Rebekah was already awake, opening the curtains. Her companion blinked his eyes open as the bright mid-morning light made its way inside the room. The past two days were anything but ordinary for the two of them as they spent the first day exploring the North End of Paris. The second day however was spent with the mensch-maschine recovering from a Darkstrom soldier attack, the young lady having to play nurse.
"Well" he spoke finally, "I'm well awake now, Rebekah. Wide-eyed and so on."
"Good!!" she said, grinning to him. "'Cause we all gotta be at Champs-Elysees in a handful of hours. We're leaving Paris in the morning."
His face became alarmed. He nodded.
After a shower and choosing what to wear for the day, the two set out for Champs-Elysees, on the Northwest End of Paris. Along the way the two communicated with Ralf and Johannes, who had been staying at Notre Dame with the company of one of the priests there. Karl and Anneke were already at the Parisian monument, and Florian and Elizabeth took the local cab.
Once regrouped, the eight of them reviewed a map and, glancing to the points of the map where the destinations were marked, realized that they had a bit of ways to go before homeward.
"Any more reports of Darkstrom sightings?" Florian asked, looking to the gang.
"Not since the attack on Rebekah and Loudmouth" quipped Karl.
"Shut it, Snaffy!!" Wolfgang retorted.
"QUIET, BOTH OF YOU!!" Ralf snapped at the two. Immediately the two quarreling semi-human beings quieted down, while Florian shook his head.
"Seriously" Elizabeth spoke in a calm voice, "we need to leave first thing in the morning, so we can get to Vienna early enough without the Darkstrom figuring out what the hell is going on. We can't risk what happened to Rebekah and Wolfgang to happen to the rest of us."
Anneke nodded. "Plus, we have no idea where exactly to go from the station after we arrive in Vienna, so we'll have to be there early enough to figure out where we'll need to stay. The sooner we get to Vienna, the better."
The gang all nodded in agreement, with the exception of Johannes, who sat there quietly. Ralf glanced to her and squeezed her hand a bit with his. He had every reason to be worried about her. For one she was blind, for another she was very precious to the rest of the Düsseldorf Quartet. Add to the fact that he had fallen for her...
"Alright, so are we all agreed?" Florian asked, disrupting his best friend's train of thought.
"Agreed??" Ralf asked, blinking.
"Yes, we're leaving first thing at seven tomorrow morning" his younger best friend noted.
"Ah well yes then" the so-called leader of the bunch affirmed. "Seven tomorrow it is." He glanced to Johannes. "Sounds like you better sleep well, Fräulein Johannes" he mused to his companion. She smiled softly but said nothing.
Anneke handed the gang [except for Florian and Rebekah] each a Übermittler, which had the emblems of the Trans-Europa and the Rebellion on them. It was to look like a bracelet, all in all, so that the Darkstrom wouldn't suspect a single thing.
"These" she explained "will keep all of us connected to each other. They're communicators, but they look like funky bracelets. Rebekah and Florian already have begun using theirs', and I'm gonna help Johannes with hers."
After all was said and done, they took a local bus to the Trans-Europa station, and rested there for the evening after preparing to leave first thing the next morning.
Rebekah was already awake, opening the curtains. Her companion blinked his eyes open as the bright mid-morning light made its way inside the room. The past two days were anything but ordinary for the two of them as they spent the first day exploring the North End of Paris. The second day however was spent with the mensch-maschine recovering from a Darkstrom soldier attack, the young lady having to play nurse.
"Well" he spoke finally, "I'm well awake now, Rebekah. Wide-eyed and so on."
"Good!!" she said, grinning to him. "'Cause we all gotta be at Champs-Elysees in a handful of hours. We're leaving Paris in the morning."
His face became alarmed. He nodded.
After a shower and choosing what to wear for the day, the two set out for Champs-Elysees, on the Northwest End of Paris. Along the way the two communicated with Ralf and Johannes, who had been staying at Notre Dame with the company of one of the priests there. Karl and Anneke were already at the Parisian monument, and Florian and Elizabeth took the local cab.
Once regrouped, the eight of them reviewed a map and, glancing to the points of the map where the destinations were marked, realized that they had a bit of ways to go before homeward.
"Any more reports of Darkstrom sightings?" Florian asked, looking to the gang.
"Not since the attack on Rebekah and Loudmouth" quipped Karl.
"Shut it, Snaffy!!" Wolfgang retorted.
"QUIET, BOTH OF YOU!!" Ralf snapped at the two. Immediately the two quarreling semi-human beings quieted down, while Florian shook his head.
"Seriously" Elizabeth spoke in a calm voice, "we need to leave first thing in the morning, so we can get to Vienna early enough without the Darkstrom figuring out what the hell is going on. We can't risk what happened to Rebekah and Wolfgang to happen to the rest of us."
Anneke nodded. "Plus, we have no idea where exactly to go from the station after we arrive in Vienna, so we'll have to be there early enough to figure out where we'll need to stay. The sooner we get to Vienna, the better."
The gang all nodded in agreement, with the exception of Johannes, who sat there quietly. Ralf glanced to her and squeezed her hand a bit with his. He had every reason to be worried about her. For one she was blind, for another she was very precious to the rest of the Düsseldorf Quartet. Add to the fact that he had fallen for her...
"Alright, so are we all agreed?" Florian asked, disrupting his best friend's train of thought.
"Agreed??" Ralf asked, blinking.
"Yes, we're leaving first thing at seven tomorrow morning" his younger best friend noted.
"Ah well yes then" the so-called leader of the bunch affirmed. "Seven tomorrow it is." He glanced to Johannes. "Sounds like you better sleep well, Fräulein Johannes" he mused to his companion. She smiled softly but said nothing.
Anneke handed the gang [except for Florian and Rebekah] each a Übermittler, which had the emblems of the Trans-Europa and the Rebellion on them. It was to look like a bracelet, all in all, so that the Darkstrom wouldn't suspect a single thing.
"These" she explained "will keep all of us connected to each other. They're communicators, but they look like funky bracelets. Rebekah and Florian already have begun using theirs', and I'm gonna help Johannes with hers."
After all was said and done, they took a local bus to the Trans-Europa station, and rested there for the evening after preparing to leave first thing the next morning.
14 September 2007
Chapter 5: Frequentierende Verzerrung. [Haunting Distortion.]
Florian paced back and forth in the hotel room where he and Elizabeth shared for the evening. He had just received word through the Übermittler from Rebekah that Wolfgang was wounded and recovering in northern Paris. Ralf and Johannes got lost in Paris and retreated back to Notre Dame for the evening, hiding near the belltowers. Karl and Anneke found a place to stay for the evening after some sightseeing and picturetaking.
He sat himself down on the nearest armchair and looked out the window in despair. How the hell were they all going to return to Düsseldorf at this rate? The Trans-Europa was to be docked for another day or so, and then they had to be back on board for the trip to Austria. Checking the clock.
9:52 P.M.
He glanced to Elizabeth, who was already fast asleep on one of the two beds. When the two had first met outside the station in Lisbon, he'd sensed something different, something special about her that he couldn't quite pinpoint. But he did take notice about a few things on her--for one, she didn't take too well to staring contests. And she was very intuitive, as well as highly protective of her younger sister Johannes. She was also highly polite, and was gifted with the patience of a saint. And, she was very compassionate, sort of clueless as to why the world had to go through suffering--this he saw when, onboard the train, she carefully examined the markings on his right arm. Above all, she was beautiful, with her brown hair with copper highlights and the passionate green eyes.
Sighing he looked to the window, and at the busy nightlife outside. Paris was such a vibrant city, full of life, color and spark. He smiled softly, the thought of, just maybe, tomorrow would be a better day to explore Paris, then a rendez-vous at Champs-Elysees. And then, leave Paris the next morning on the Trans-Europa. It would be the perfect start to the escape for home.
"Mutter!! Vater!! Nein!!"
The cry of distress derailed Florian's train of thought and he quickly looked to Elizabeth, who was now sitting up on the bed, sobbing. "Was das -- Elizabeth!!" he spoke in hurried German, running to her. "Elizabeth... it's okay... I'm here..."
He hugged her tightly as she sobbed, wondering what sort of nightmare could've distracted her from sleeping. Finally she hugged him tightly, still crying.
"My mother... and father... I remember... I remember..." she mourned.
"Re... remember what, Elizabeth!?" he asked, holding her at a distance to look her in the eyes.
"When... when the Darkstrom took my parents away from me" she answered.
He shook his head in shock, and just held her tightly as she sobbed against his shoulder. Somehow, he suddenly didn't feel as if he was just there to keep an eye out for her, her friends and his comrades. There was that warm spark again, that bittersweet feeling that usually would never be there yet, when it was, it was unexpected.
"I am very scared now, Florian" she confessed. "Terrified for this trip. That the enemy will find us."
"They're not going to find us" he assured. "Not while die mensch-maschinen are around."
She looked him in the eyes, her green eyes piercing his own hazel eyes. "You don't even know half the hell we girls have been through growing up!!" she cried. "You don't know anything about losing family or struggling to regain whatever hope's been lost. You know damn near nothing about feelings or emotions!! You're robots for crying out loud!!"
Florian just looked at her for a moment and closed his eyes, tears finally spilling in a rare show of emotion. "No... that is not true" he responded, reopening his eyes. "We mensch-maschinen have a soul. We are flesh, but not of bone but metal. We have feelings, but in my case I rarely ever show them.
"But... I do want to make this clear.
"So lang, wie meine Freunde und ich hier sind, sind Sie, Ihre Schwester und Ihre Freunde sicher."
Elizabeth looked at him with a questioning glare, and then it softened to a look of haunted despair, distorted worry. Finally she let go of her ill-tempered pride, and looked up at him with sincerity, realizing that her anger wouldn't make matters easier. Better to trust someone with your life that would be there no matter what.
"Shall I take this as your word then, Florian?" she asked calmly as he took her face in his hands.
He nodded. "Ich verspreche" he affirmed, planting a kiss on her forehead.
After moments more of talking [which included a conversation about her witnessing her parents' death], he tucked her back in bed with another kiss to the forehead. He then took a desk chair, strategically placed it beside her bed so he could watch over her while she slept, and placed his gun on the bedside table.
"If anyone unauthorized comes in" he told himself, "they'll meet a quick end."
In the middle of the night he blinked his eyes open, his head now on the bed beside her. His hand had held hers all the night through. He lifted his head to gaze at Elizabeth, in case of anything. Luckily, nothing happened. She was still asleep, contentedly. Her hand gripping his for dear life.
With a tired smile he left a kiss on her lips and, resting his head on the bed beside her once more, went back to sleep.
He sat himself down on the nearest armchair and looked out the window in despair. How the hell were they all going to return to Düsseldorf at this rate? The Trans-Europa was to be docked for another day or so, and then they had to be back on board for the trip to Austria. Checking the clock.
9:52 P.M.
He glanced to Elizabeth, who was already fast asleep on one of the two beds. When the two had first met outside the station in Lisbon, he'd sensed something different, something special about her that he couldn't quite pinpoint. But he did take notice about a few things on her--for one, she didn't take too well to staring contests. And she was very intuitive, as well as highly protective of her younger sister Johannes. She was also highly polite, and was gifted with the patience of a saint. And, she was very compassionate, sort of clueless as to why the world had to go through suffering--this he saw when, onboard the train, she carefully examined the markings on his right arm. Above all, she was beautiful, with her brown hair with copper highlights and the passionate green eyes.
Sighing he looked to the window, and at the busy nightlife outside. Paris was such a vibrant city, full of life, color and spark. He smiled softly, the thought of, just maybe, tomorrow would be a better day to explore Paris, then a rendez-vous at Champs-Elysees. And then, leave Paris the next morning on the Trans-Europa. It would be the perfect start to the escape for home.
"Mutter!! Vater!! Nein!!"
The cry of distress derailed Florian's train of thought and he quickly looked to Elizabeth, who was now sitting up on the bed, sobbing. "Was das -- Elizabeth!!" he spoke in hurried German, running to her. "Elizabeth... it's okay... I'm here..."
He hugged her tightly as she sobbed, wondering what sort of nightmare could've distracted her from sleeping. Finally she hugged him tightly, still crying.
"My mother... and father... I remember... I remember..." she mourned.
"Re... remember what, Elizabeth!?" he asked, holding her at a distance to look her in the eyes.
"When... when the Darkstrom took my parents away from me" she answered.
He shook his head in shock, and just held her tightly as she sobbed against his shoulder. Somehow, he suddenly didn't feel as if he was just there to keep an eye out for her, her friends and his comrades. There was that warm spark again, that bittersweet feeling that usually would never be there yet, when it was, it was unexpected.
"I am very scared now, Florian" she confessed. "Terrified for this trip. That the enemy will find us."
"They're not going to find us" he assured. "Not while die mensch-maschinen are around."
She looked him in the eyes, her green eyes piercing his own hazel eyes. "You don't even know half the hell we girls have been through growing up!!" she cried. "You don't know anything about losing family or struggling to regain whatever hope's been lost. You know damn near nothing about feelings or emotions!! You're robots for crying out loud!!"
Florian just looked at her for a moment and closed his eyes, tears finally spilling in a rare show of emotion. "No... that is not true" he responded, reopening his eyes. "We mensch-maschinen have a soul. We are flesh, but not of bone but metal. We have feelings, but in my case I rarely ever show them.
"But... I do want to make this clear.
"So lang, wie meine Freunde und ich hier sind, sind Sie, Ihre Schwester und Ihre Freunde sicher."
Elizabeth looked at him with a questioning glare, and then it softened to a look of haunted despair, distorted worry. Finally she let go of her ill-tempered pride, and looked up at him with sincerity, realizing that her anger wouldn't make matters easier. Better to trust someone with your life that would be there no matter what.
"Shall I take this as your word then, Florian?" she asked calmly as he took her face in his hands.
He nodded. "Ich verspreche" he affirmed, planting a kiss on her forehead.
After moments more of talking [which included a conversation about her witnessing her parents' death], he tucked her back in bed with another kiss to the forehead. He then took a desk chair, strategically placed it beside her bed so he could watch over her while she slept, and placed his gun on the bedside table.
"If anyone unauthorized comes in" he told himself, "they'll meet a quick end."
In the middle of the night he blinked his eyes open, his head now on the bed beside her. His hand had held hers all the night through. He lifted his head to gaze at Elizabeth, in case of anything. Luckily, nothing happened. She was still asleep, contentedly. Her hand gripping his for dear life.
With a tired smile he left a kiss on her lips and, resting his head on the bed beside her once more, went back to sleep.
13 September 2007
Chapter 4: Ein Mißgeschick durch Paris. [A Misadventure through Paris.]
The Trans-Europa arrived in Paris' train dock after a two-days' journey. The whole trip through, the gang had vivid conversations and plentifully slept, each couple in their own quiet row of seats on the train. Ralf was the first of the gang to wake up the morning they arrived in Paris. His eyes fixed first to the window, then to Florian and Elizabeth. Finally, his gaze went to Johannes, who was still asleep.
As the train stopped and locked-to, Florian blinked his eyes open, and glanced to Ralf. "Where'd we stop at?" he asked his best friend.
"We're in Paris now, Florian" Ralf replied as Johannes and the rest of the gang woke up.
After the gang stepped off the train, they opted to split up into four pairs so they could explore the city better, as their Trans-Europa station was in the center of the first district. Florian and Elizabeth explored the East End, Karl and Anneke opted for the West End. Wolfgang and Rebekah chose the North End, while Ralf and Johannes decided for a bit of the South End, leaning more into District 4, the heart of the Marais Structure of the city.
map of paris, france
Florian and Elizabeth took a cab to check out the area of the Bastille and the Père-Lachaise cemetery on the East End of town. Karl and Anneke bought cameras to take pictures of the the Musée d'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower at the West End. Ralf opted rather to take Johannes on a small ferry ride across the River Seine to go to the Cathedrale Notre Dame.
Wolfgang and Rebekah, meanwhile, explored the North End, particularly the Ninth District, where the Paris Opera stood. All seemed well between the two until two undercover soldiers of the Darkstrom took notice, looking to the couple.
"So, where would be a good place to try to take the picture?" asked the mensch-maschine as Rebekah looked around. But her eyes caught the two soldiers', and she looked to her friend with fear.
"Uhm... I don't think we're gonna have a chance if we don't get out of here" she replied, taking hold of his hand. "We need to go. Now."
"What... was ist es? Was wird geschehen?" he asked, his face now one of alarm. He then looked around, his scanners and sensors working into overdrive, until he spotted and identified the two soldies. "Ugh... verflucht es zur Hölle..." he cursed, tightning his hold on her hand. "We gotta get the hell out of here." With that the two started to run, with the soldiers following in pursuit.
After running a few blocks one of the soldiers fired at the two, missing them by mere inches. Rebekah glared back at them, but Wolfgang stopped and aimed his laser gun at the soldiers. His face was now one of determination, not of fear.
He fired his gun at the soldiers, hitting one but missing the other. The one still standing fired back at the mensch-maschine, hitting him in the chest. Rebekah caught him falling back, and aimed the laser gun at the soldier, firing at him and hitting him with one shot.
"Damnit" she muttered, "they got you good, sie bastard." With that she carried him to the nearest hotel, which it turned out was made especially for Clandestinians. The receptionist got them to the nicest room available, and helped Rebekah carry Wolfgang to the room.
"If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask" the lady said kindly. "And best of luck on your journey home."
"Danke freundlich" the young woman replied with a smile, then hunted down for the first-aid kit in her mailbag-purse. Finally done fumbling through, she took out the small box with a red cross on it, and opened it. Quickly she found the bandages, antiseptic, needle and thread, and looked to Wolfgang.
"This" she said as she strung the thread through the needle, "might hurt a little bit."
"It's nothing I'm not worried over, Rebekah" he replied with a weary smile.
With that she took a deep breath and put down the needle and thread for a moment, and poured some antiseptic over him. She closed her eyes, said a quick prayer, and took up the needle and thread again. Opening her eyes, she glanced at his hand, which, miraculously, had the bullet.
"How the hell..." she asked, but shook her head at last. Putting the kit on the table to the side, and placing the bullet in the first-aid pocket, she carefully removed his bloodstained coat, tie and shirt. Placing them at the foot of the bed, she picked up the needle and thread, took one more deep breath, and began to sew up the tear on his skin.
She was very careful in sewing up his wound. Her expertise in being a seamstress for patchwork and sewing up small emblems came as an experience in the concentration camp. She looked at his face, watching for any sign of pain or weakness, careful not to inflict pain unintentionally. A sense of deep worry overcame her and, while she kept a steady hand over the needle and thread, her eyes now fixed over the needle and thread, filling with tears.
"Ah--ah, autsch..." he finally cried out softly, a slight twinge of pain getting to him at last, and she blinked as tears finally spilt.
"Ah! mein Gott!!" she cried out, putting aside the needle and thread. "Ich bin, Wolfgang! sehr traurig!" She reached for the box to hunt down the numbing ice, which she totally forgot about, but he grabbed her hand. She looked at him, blinking.
"...no, it's okay, Rebekah" he said.
"Yes but, you're injured on account of me!!" she answered. "The least I can do is try to fix your wounds!!"
"They will heal on their own. Not so quickly, but they will heal" he replied. "You can remove the needle and the rest of the string now."
She stood there for a moment, hesitant of what else to do. Finally she sighed and, taking out the scissors, cut the remaining string from him and placed that and the needle back in the box. She then turned to face him, unsure of how else she could help him.
"Then..." she finally said, "I do not know how else to help you, Wolfgang. I am of no use to you now."
"Nicht wirklich, Rebekah" he answered, pulling her closer to him so he could look her in the eyes. "Überhaupt nicht."
Rebekah stared into his brown eyes, her own pale green eyes still drowning in tears. What was it she saw in his eyes, that in her own being she denied herself? Had she fallen for him while she tried to fix him? Did he fall for her because she was brave enough to step out of her comfort zone and actually try to fix whatever wounds he had? Or did his admiration over her begin when they met outside of the Trans-Europa? In any case, whatever was there between them, there was something that couldn't be denied at any instant.
Wolfgang tried to sit up, for despite the pain, he wanted more than anything to kiss her.
"You're not sitting up, damnit!!" she exclaimed. "Nicht mit den Wunden haben Sie!!" But he only pulled her closer to him, wrapping her in his arms. While she had the hearted ambition for him, at this point, she was not amused!! But at last, she finally gave up and sighed, just looking at him.
"One thing you must understand about a mensch-maschine is," he said, "wenn sie beabsichtigen, etwas zu tun, tun sie es." Finally he gained enough nerve to kiss her, cautiously, on the mouth, as she blinked for a moment and, in the kiss, drowned. Perhaps she knew no better?
The next morning the receptionist checked up on them, and she smiled a bit when she saw that they had slept through the evening peacefully. She closed the door while the two rested up some more, wrapped in each other's arms. Wolfgang's wound had healed, Rebekah was still in her Lisbon prisoner's dress. For time being, all would be well until they, with the others, would attempt to escape Paris.
Especially since, now that the Darkstrom had found them...
As the train stopped and locked-to, Florian blinked his eyes open, and glanced to Ralf. "Where'd we stop at?" he asked his best friend.
"We're in Paris now, Florian" Ralf replied as Johannes and the rest of the gang woke up.
After the gang stepped off the train, they opted to split up into four pairs so they could explore the city better, as their Trans-Europa station was in the center of the first district. Florian and Elizabeth explored the East End, Karl and Anneke opted for the West End. Wolfgang and Rebekah chose the North End, while Ralf and Johannes decided for a bit of the South End, leaning more into District 4, the heart of the Marais Structure of the city.
map of paris, france
Florian and Elizabeth took a cab to check out the area of the Bastille and the Père-Lachaise cemetery on the East End of town. Karl and Anneke bought cameras to take pictures of the the Musée d'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower at the West End. Ralf opted rather to take Johannes on a small ferry ride across the River Seine to go to the Cathedrale Notre Dame.
Wolfgang and Rebekah, meanwhile, explored the North End, particularly the Ninth District, where the Paris Opera stood. All seemed well between the two until two undercover soldiers of the Darkstrom took notice, looking to the couple.
"So, where would be a good place to try to take the picture?" asked the mensch-maschine as Rebekah looked around. But her eyes caught the two soldiers', and she looked to her friend with fear.
"Uhm... I don't think we're gonna have a chance if we don't get out of here" she replied, taking hold of his hand. "We need to go. Now."
"What... was ist es? Was wird geschehen?" he asked, his face now one of alarm. He then looked around, his scanners and sensors working into overdrive, until he spotted and identified the two soldies. "Ugh... verflucht es zur Hölle..." he cursed, tightning his hold on her hand. "We gotta get the hell out of here." With that the two started to run, with the soldiers following in pursuit.
After running a few blocks one of the soldiers fired at the two, missing them by mere inches. Rebekah glared back at them, but Wolfgang stopped and aimed his laser gun at the soldiers. His face was now one of determination, not of fear.
He fired his gun at the soldiers, hitting one but missing the other. The one still standing fired back at the mensch-maschine, hitting him in the chest. Rebekah caught him falling back, and aimed the laser gun at the soldier, firing at him and hitting him with one shot.
"Damnit" she muttered, "they got you good, sie bastard." With that she carried him to the nearest hotel, which it turned out was made especially for Clandestinians. The receptionist got them to the nicest room available, and helped Rebekah carry Wolfgang to the room.
"If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask" the lady said kindly. "And best of luck on your journey home."
"Danke freundlich" the young woman replied with a smile, then hunted down for the first-aid kit in her mailbag-purse. Finally done fumbling through, she took out the small box with a red cross on it, and opened it. Quickly she found the bandages, antiseptic, needle and thread, and looked to Wolfgang.
"This" she said as she strung the thread through the needle, "might hurt a little bit."
"It's nothing I'm not worried over, Rebekah" he replied with a weary smile.
With that she took a deep breath and put down the needle and thread for a moment, and poured some antiseptic over him. She closed her eyes, said a quick prayer, and took up the needle and thread again. Opening her eyes, she glanced at his hand, which, miraculously, had the bullet.
"How the hell..." she asked, but shook her head at last. Putting the kit on the table to the side, and placing the bullet in the first-aid pocket, she carefully removed his bloodstained coat, tie and shirt. Placing them at the foot of the bed, she picked up the needle and thread, took one more deep breath, and began to sew up the tear on his skin.
She was very careful in sewing up his wound. Her expertise in being a seamstress for patchwork and sewing up small emblems came as an experience in the concentration camp. She looked at his face, watching for any sign of pain or weakness, careful not to inflict pain unintentionally. A sense of deep worry overcame her and, while she kept a steady hand over the needle and thread, her eyes now fixed over the needle and thread, filling with tears.
"Ah--ah, autsch..." he finally cried out softly, a slight twinge of pain getting to him at last, and she blinked as tears finally spilt.
"Ah! mein Gott!!" she cried out, putting aside the needle and thread. "Ich bin, Wolfgang! sehr traurig!" She reached for the box to hunt down the numbing ice, which she totally forgot about, but he grabbed her hand. She looked at him, blinking.
"...no, it's okay, Rebekah" he said.
"Yes but, you're injured on account of me!!" she answered. "The least I can do is try to fix your wounds!!"
"They will heal on their own. Not so quickly, but they will heal" he replied. "You can remove the needle and the rest of the string now."
She stood there for a moment, hesitant of what else to do. Finally she sighed and, taking out the scissors, cut the remaining string from him and placed that and the needle back in the box. She then turned to face him, unsure of how else she could help him.
"Then..." she finally said, "I do not know how else to help you, Wolfgang. I am of no use to you now."
"Nicht wirklich, Rebekah" he answered, pulling her closer to him so he could look her in the eyes. "Überhaupt nicht."
Rebekah stared into his brown eyes, her own pale green eyes still drowning in tears. What was it she saw in his eyes, that in her own being she denied herself? Had she fallen for him while she tried to fix him? Did he fall for her because she was brave enough to step out of her comfort zone and actually try to fix whatever wounds he had? Or did his admiration over her begin when they met outside of the Trans-Europa? In any case, whatever was there between them, there was something that couldn't be denied at any instant.
Wolfgang tried to sit up, for despite the pain, he wanted more than anything to kiss her.
"You're not sitting up, damnit!!" she exclaimed. "Nicht mit den Wunden haben Sie!!" But he only pulled her closer to him, wrapping her in his arms. While she had the hearted ambition for him, at this point, she was not amused!! But at last, she finally gave up and sighed, just looking at him.
"One thing you must understand about a mensch-maschine is," he said, "wenn sie beabsichtigen, etwas zu tun, tun sie es." Finally he gained enough nerve to kiss her, cautiously, on the mouth, as she blinked for a moment and, in the kiss, drowned. Perhaps she knew no better?
The next morning the receptionist checked up on them, and she smiled a bit when she saw that they had slept through the evening peacefully. She closed the door while the two rested up some more, wrapped in each other's arms. Wolfgang's wound had healed, Rebekah was still in her Lisbon prisoner's dress. For time being, all would be well until they, with the others, would attempt to escape Paris.
Especially since, now that the Darkstrom had found them...
10 September 2007
Chapter 3: Alle an Bord des Trans-Europa!! [All Aboard the Trans-Europa!!]
"So this is the Trans-Europa?" Elizabeth asked herself as she, the Quartet and the men stood outside the impressive train. Florian nodded, glancing to her.
"Yes, this is the route that'll get you all back home" he replied.
"By the way, where are you girls going?" Wolfgang asked Rebekah.
"We're going home to Düsseldorf, Germany," she replied, "where we grew up."
"Düsseldorf!?" Karl exclaimed. "That's our train then!!"
"Is it really now!?" Anneke asked, eyes widened now at her new friend.
"You... you men are from Düsseldorf as well?" Johannes spoke quietly.
"Yes" Ralf answered, still holding her hand. He hadn't let go since they had met, as he took it upon himself to look out after her. "I suppose this means we will all go home together then?"
"If we are all going home together, then let us all stay together" Johannes replied with a soft smile. "All of us."
Ralf smiled warmly at his companion, likened already to her positivity.
"Well then" Elizabeth announced, "Alle en Bord des Trans-Europa!!" And with that, accompanied by Florian, she boldly boarded the train.
"Seconded!!" chimed in Rebekah, grabbing her travelling buddy's hand. "Come on, Wolfgang!!" she exclaimed as she ran to board the train. "Let's go!!" Wolfgang only laughed as he ran with her.
"Eh... thirded?" Anneke spoke, laughing. She then glanced to Karl. "Ah well, let's go along." Hand in hand, the two entered the train.
"Where... where is everyone, Ralf?" asked Johannes.
"They're boarding the Trans-Europa, Fräulein Johanne" he replied. "They're not leaving without us though."
"I suppose we better hurry then" she said.
"Yes, let's" he reaffirmed, taking both her hands in his. Gently he led the way and helped her board the train. Once on board, she felt her way around a bit.
"Where shall we sit, Ralf?" she inquired.
"Let's sit here" he answered, helping her to an empty seat. He then sat beside her as the train doors closed.
After the doors closed the train started, and the conductor spoke through the intercom. He informed them of their journey, which would be through much of Eastern Europe, and assured them that they would be [God willing!] safely at home in Düsseldorf, Germany.
And with that, the train began to move.
"So where were you before you got on the Trans-Underground?" Wolfgang asked, glancing to Rebekah.
"We were imprisoned in Lisbon's concentration camp" she answered, smiling at him. "Until Gregorio helped us out of there, as he had probably done with so many others."
"He's still got a ways to go, that twerp" he said with a smirk. "But, he's a good twerp!"
"Stop callin' him a twerp, you spazgoid!!" Karl snapped at him with a grin. He then turned to Anneke while Wolfgang and Rebekah had a laugh over that comment.
"So... erm... I forgot your name" he said, blushing a bit.
"It's Anneke" she reminded him, her bright eyes fixed to his.
"Right... Anneke..." he spoke, but whatever else he wanted to say died as his eyes were locked on hers.
Meanwhile Elizabeth and Florian had their own conversation.
"So... what exactly are you guys?" Elizabeth asked Florian.
"Wir sind die Mensch-Maschinen" he answered, rolling up the sleeve of his coat and shirt to reveal his tattoo. KW070447. His identification code. "You see these markings?" She nodded looking to the code, then back to his face.
"This... this is my identification code" he explained. "The KW stands for Kraftwerk, which is the name of my team."
"You mean you and your three friends?" she inquired, blinking. He nodded.
Hesitantly, Elizabeth gently brushed her fingers against the slightly-raised markings. Her eyes began to water. "Did... did the Clandestinians really have to mark you guys like branded animals?" she asked. He just held her tightly, resting her head against his shoulder. She wanted desperately to cry, but somehow couldn't fully shed the tears, no matter how much they welled up in her eyes.
"It is alright, liebling" he said softly, sighing a bit. "It is alright. I'll be okay. We'll be alright. We're all together.
"We're all going home. All eight of us."
In the meantime, Johannes and Ralf had a vivid conversation about food, childhood memories, daydreaming [which they did a lot of as children], and, at this point, falling in love.
"So, what are your thoughts on love, Fräulein Johanne?" he asked, glancing to her.
"To be honest with you, I don't really know" she replied sadly. "I never really had much thought on that. I mean, I love my sister and my neighbor and Anneke, and my parents even though they've since died but... I never really thought much about it otherwise."
"But how so?" he said, blinking.
"Remember--I cannot really judge this world. I don't have much right to tell anyone else that I love them. I... I am blind. I don't know how else to see" she explained, her smile fading to a sad frown. "It's something I would never wish on anyone, but it's a sadness that overwhelms me."
Ralf sat there in silence, somewhat saddened over her humble words. Finally he spoke: "Fräulein Johanne... I pray you don't ever end up alone in this life."
"I am not alone, Ralf" she replied. "I am never alone. I have my sister and neighbor and Anneke with me. I have Florian and Wolfgang and Karl with me. And I also have you with me, which is a blessing." A grateful, humble smile appeared on her face.
He smiled back at her, squeezing her hands a bit. "Fräulein Johanne, I promise you, while we're on board the Trans-Europa, I will not let go of your hand."
"But... why?" she asked, confused. "I do not understand."
"That way you know I am with you" he replied. "I want very much for you to be safe, not just around your family but also with me and my friends."
"I suppose it is not a weakness to want to be protected then?" she implied, blushing a bit.
"Not at all, darling" he reaffirmed, kissing her hands.
"One other thing" she spoke again as he rested her head against his chest, their arms now wrapped around each other.
"What is it?" he said, looking to her.
"...is it wrong... if all I can see with... is my heart?" she asked, her face growing a bit somber.
"No, mein Fräulein" he replied, holding her close to him as his eyes closed and he drifted off to naptime. "Not at all."
Florian glanced to his best friend and Johannes, and sighed a bit. He knew this trip was going to be dangerous, but he also knew that things were going to be alright. That his friends would protect their companions, that he would be strong enough to protect Elizabeth. That his best friend would be able to truly be there for Johannes. He sighed a bit, looking out the window. Elizabeth had fallen asleep, conversation had died down, and everyone [with the exception of Johannes] was enjoying the view.
Finally he looked at Elizabeth, who had fallen asleep with her head on his shoulder as if on a pillow. They had only begun to know each other, but already he had begun to fallen for her headstrong persona, for the courageous woman that she was. He knew he couldn't be fully elusive as far as his feelings for her were concerned. However, he wasn't a man of much words. He had to find some way to get over his silenthood and speak up, to tell her how he felt about her. He would have plenty of time to develop that very nerve. In the meantime, he and the gang would enjoy the trip to their first stop on the Trans-Europa: Paris, France.
Indeed, their journey was just beginning...
"Yes, this is the route that'll get you all back home" he replied.
"By the way, where are you girls going?" Wolfgang asked Rebekah.
"We're going home to Düsseldorf, Germany," she replied, "where we grew up."
"Düsseldorf!?" Karl exclaimed. "That's our train then!!"
"Is it really now!?" Anneke asked, eyes widened now at her new friend.
"You... you men are from Düsseldorf as well?" Johannes spoke quietly.
"Yes" Ralf answered, still holding her hand. He hadn't let go since they had met, as he took it upon himself to look out after her. "I suppose this means we will all go home together then?"
"If we are all going home together, then let us all stay together" Johannes replied with a soft smile. "All of us."
Ralf smiled warmly at his companion, likened already to her positivity.
"Well then" Elizabeth announced, "Alle en Bord des Trans-Europa!!" And with that, accompanied by Florian, she boldly boarded the train.
"Seconded!!" chimed in Rebekah, grabbing her travelling buddy's hand. "Come on, Wolfgang!!" she exclaimed as she ran to board the train. "Let's go!!" Wolfgang only laughed as he ran with her.
"Eh... thirded?" Anneke spoke, laughing. She then glanced to Karl. "Ah well, let's go along." Hand in hand, the two entered the train.
"Where... where is everyone, Ralf?" asked Johannes.
"They're boarding the Trans-Europa, Fräulein Johanne" he replied. "They're not leaving without us though."
"I suppose we better hurry then" she said.
"Yes, let's" he reaffirmed, taking both her hands in his. Gently he led the way and helped her board the train. Once on board, she felt her way around a bit.
"Where shall we sit, Ralf?" she inquired.
"Let's sit here" he answered, helping her to an empty seat. He then sat beside her as the train doors closed.
After the doors closed the train started, and the conductor spoke through the intercom. He informed them of their journey, which would be through much of Eastern Europe, and assured them that they would be [God willing!] safely at home in Düsseldorf, Germany.
And with that, the train began to move.
"So where were you before you got on the Trans-Underground?" Wolfgang asked, glancing to Rebekah.
"We were imprisoned in Lisbon's concentration camp" she answered, smiling at him. "Until Gregorio helped us out of there, as he had probably done with so many others."
"He's still got a ways to go, that twerp" he said with a smirk. "But, he's a good twerp!"
"Stop callin' him a twerp, you spazgoid!!" Karl snapped at him with a grin. He then turned to Anneke while Wolfgang and Rebekah had a laugh over that comment.
"So... erm... I forgot your name" he said, blushing a bit.
"It's Anneke" she reminded him, her bright eyes fixed to his.
"Right... Anneke..." he spoke, but whatever else he wanted to say died as his eyes were locked on hers.
Meanwhile Elizabeth and Florian had their own conversation.
"So... what exactly are you guys?" Elizabeth asked Florian.
"Wir sind die Mensch-Maschinen" he answered, rolling up the sleeve of his coat and shirt to reveal his tattoo. KW070447. His identification code. "You see these markings?" She nodded looking to the code, then back to his face.
"This... this is my identification code" he explained. "The KW stands for Kraftwerk, which is the name of my team."
"You mean you and your three friends?" she inquired, blinking. He nodded.
Hesitantly, Elizabeth gently brushed her fingers against the slightly-raised markings. Her eyes began to water. "Did... did the Clandestinians really have to mark you guys like branded animals?" she asked. He just held her tightly, resting her head against his shoulder. She wanted desperately to cry, but somehow couldn't fully shed the tears, no matter how much they welled up in her eyes.
"It is alright, liebling" he said softly, sighing a bit. "It is alright. I'll be okay. We'll be alright. We're all together.
"We're all going home. All eight of us."
In the meantime, Johannes and Ralf had a vivid conversation about food, childhood memories, daydreaming [which they did a lot of as children], and, at this point, falling in love.
"So, what are your thoughts on love, Fräulein Johanne?" he asked, glancing to her.
"To be honest with you, I don't really know" she replied sadly. "I never really had much thought on that. I mean, I love my sister and my neighbor and Anneke, and my parents even though they've since died but... I never really thought much about it otherwise."
"But how so?" he said, blinking.
"Remember--I cannot really judge this world. I don't have much right to tell anyone else that I love them. I... I am blind. I don't know how else to see" she explained, her smile fading to a sad frown. "It's something I would never wish on anyone, but it's a sadness that overwhelms me."
Ralf sat there in silence, somewhat saddened over her humble words. Finally he spoke: "Fräulein Johanne... I pray you don't ever end up alone in this life."
"I am not alone, Ralf" she replied. "I am never alone. I have my sister and neighbor and Anneke with me. I have Florian and Wolfgang and Karl with me. And I also have you with me, which is a blessing." A grateful, humble smile appeared on her face.
He smiled back at her, squeezing her hands a bit. "Fräulein Johanne, I promise you, while we're on board the Trans-Europa, I will not let go of your hand."
"But... why?" she asked, confused. "I do not understand."
"That way you know I am with you" he replied. "I want very much for you to be safe, not just around your family but also with me and my friends."
"I suppose it is not a weakness to want to be protected then?" she implied, blushing a bit.
"Not at all, darling" he reaffirmed, kissing her hands.
"One other thing" she spoke again as he rested her head against his chest, their arms now wrapped around each other.
"What is it?" he said, looking to her.
"...is it wrong... if all I can see with... is my heart?" she asked, her face growing a bit somber.
"No, mein Fräulein" he replied, holding her close to him as his eyes closed and he drifted off to naptime. "Not at all."
Florian glanced to his best friend and Johannes, and sighed a bit. He knew this trip was going to be dangerous, but he also knew that things were going to be alright. That his friends would protect their companions, that he would be strong enough to protect Elizabeth. That his best friend would be able to truly be there for Johannes. He sighed a bit, looking out the window. Elizabeth had fallen asleep, conversation had died down, and everyone [with the exception of Johannes] was enjoying the view.
Finally he looked at Elizabeth, who had fallen asleep with her head on his shoulder as if on a pillow. They had only begun to know each other, but already he had begun to fallen for her headstrong persona, for the courageous woman that she was. He knew he couldn't be fully elusive as far as his feelings for her were concerned. However, he wasn't a man of much words. He had to find some way to get over his silenthood and speak up, to tell her how he felt about her. He would have plenty of time to develop that very nerve. In the meantime, he and the gang would enjoy the trip to their first stop on the Trans-Europa: Paris, France.
Indeed, their journey was just beginning...
08 September 2007
Chapter 2: Wir sind die Roboter. [We are the Robots.]
As the Trans-Underground Express transport arrived at the receiving dock, the Düsseldorf Quartet looked around at their changing surroundings, with the exception of Johannes of course, who just sat there.
"Where... are we now?" asked Rebekah.
"Wherever it is, it's gotta be good, I guess" replied Johannes, a semi-hopeful smile on her face.
Elizabeth just held her sister's hand tighter as the transport car stopped and locked onto its dock.
Anneke stood first and got out of the transport car. Rebekah followed, then Johannes accompanied by Elizabeth.
"Alright gals" spoke Anneke in a mock-commanding officer's voice. "This is it. This is the big time. We're in a new position of insanity. We're not in Kansas anymore. Hell, we never were in Kansas to begin with!!"
The rest of the Quartet giggled as Anneke gave them a goofy grin, then ascended the stairs to a metal door on the ceiling. She opened the door, and finished ascending the stairs to the outside of what looked to be an office building. She looked around.
"...hot damn, gals" she spoke again. "I don't know where the heehaw we're at."
"Only one way to find out then" answered Elizabeth.
"Of course" retorted Anneke with a smirk. "What, you think I'm refusing to go lurk about? Hell-oo!! I ain't goin' alone, y'know!!"
Johannes giggled as Elizabeth shook her head laughing. "Alright you goofball" the elder sister said. "Lead on like the so-called commanding officer you are."
Anneke stuck her tongue out at Elizabeth, then looked around and started to walk towards the building. Rebekah, Johannes and the elder sister followed Anneke, unaware of who they were about to meet...
Four men emerged out of an office inside the building, dressed in suits, walking in time, their steps synched. Their faces were a bit serious, but they showed in each some distinct personality.
The man coded KW070447 glanced to his fellow cohort to his right, and nodded. His face looked back to what was ahead of him. He said not a word, but kept his pace in time with the others.
His friend, coded KW170747, nodded back and fixed his gaze ahead of him. While at it he brushed off a strand of hair that got in his face. Glancing to his code on his arm, he recalled how he nearly died and became a new person.
To his right, the man coded KW310552 kept his gaze straight ahead, his thoughts rerunning through his head about the mission that they were to undertake. The four men were briefed on who they were assigned to protect on the train back to Düsseldorf before dismissed to meet up with them.
And finally, at his right, the so-called leader of the quartet coded KW200846 took a deep breath, unsure of what would occur at their great adventure. And, miraculously, during their mission briefing, he kept his mouth shut!! But he glanced at his three friends, and then straight ahead, ready for anything. He sang a few lines as they made their way to the doors leading outside...
Wir laden unsere Batterie,
Jetzt sind wir voller Energie...
Wir sind die Roboter.
As the guys exited the building the young women blinked. Rebekah blinked, hiding a bit behind Anneke as Elizabeth let go of her younger sister's hand and stepped forward to meet the men. Her eyes locked on those of KW070447. Meanwhile Anneke walked up to KW310552, her eyes a bit solemn in case he meant trouble.
Rebekah however showed no fear at last, and stood out from behind her friend. KW170747 stood before her, nodding to her. She just stood there and blinked. Geez Rebekah she thought to herself, where's your courage when you need it? Finally she spoke. "Gu-guten tag" she stammered, a bit nervous. But the man just smiled and extended his hand.
"It's okay, Miss" he spoke. "I do not intend to harm you. I am, however, curious as to your name."
"It's Rebekah" she replied, placing her hand in his. "Rebekah Zordenoff."
"I am Wolfgang" the man spoke, "and we will be accompanying you on the Trans-Europa."
Anneke's stern glare at KW310552 turned into a giggly grin when he made a funny face. Suddenly, she no longer felt like she had to be on high alert around him as he extended a hand to her.
"Hallo, my name is Karl" he spoke. "And you are?"
"Anneke Weldenta" she answered, her hand now in his. "Are you going to be with us on the Trans-Europa?"
Karl nodded. "Absolutely, Miss Anneke."
Elizabeth and KW070447 kept their eyes on each other for a while. Finally she spoke. "You know, I'm not one for staring contests."
"Neither am I, liebling," he replied with a polite smile.
"You must be our guardians on the Trans-Europa then" she said. He nodded in reply, took his hand in hers, and kissed it.
"I am Florian" he spoke, his kind gaze now fixed on hers. She smiled.
"Elizabeth Korinn" she introduced herself, then looked to her sister and KW200846. "And over there... my sister Johannes, who was born blind." Florian nodded in acknowledgement, still holding her hand.
KW200846 walked up to Johannes, who was still standing where her older sister had left her. He blinked, waving a hand to her, wondering why she hadn't noticed him yet. Finally, he spoke.
"Hallo there" he said, and she snapped back to.
"Oh--oh my, I'm sorry" she replied. "Just that, I sometimes do not really notice anyone until they're talking to me."
"Are you alright?" he asked sincerely.
"Yes," she replied, nodding hesitantly. "It's just that... I... Ich kann nicht sehen. Ich war geborener Vorhang."
The man's eyes widened in worry. "Meine Güte! Ich bin sehr traurig" he said. "Sind Sie gut?"
She nodded, smiling a bit. "I'll be fine. I'm just wondering if we'll be on the Trans-Europa soon."
"We will be, Miss" he replied. "My friends and I are here to protect your friends. We are programmed just to do anything you want us to, in a sense."
"Are you guys... robots?" she asked.
"Sort of" he answered. "We are mensche-maschinen, to be exact. But we are here to protect you." He took her hand in his and kissed it. "My name is Ralf."
"Ich bin Johannes Korinn" she replied, smiling faintly. "It is very good to meet you, Ralf."
"Es ist als gutes, Sie, Fräulein Johannes zu treffen gerecht" Ralf said, smiling at her cold, lifeless eyes. The rest of the guys and girls looked to the two, wondering what had just happened.
"Where... are we now?" asked Rebekah.
"Wherever it is, it's gotta be good, I guess" replied Johannes, a semi-hopeful smile on her face.
Elizabeth just held her sister's hand tighter as the transport car stopped and locked onto its dock.
Anneke stood first and got out of the transport car. Rebekah followed, then Johannes accompanied by Elizabeth.
"Alright gals" spoke Anneke in a mock-commanding officer's voice. "This is it. This is the big time. We're in a new position of insanity. We're not in Kansas anymore. Hell, we never were in Kansas to begin with!!"
The rest of the Quartet giggled as Anneke gave them a goofy grin, then ascended the stairs to a metal door on the ceiling. She opened the door, and finished ascending the stairs to the outside of what looked to be an office building. She looked around.
"...hot damn, gals" she spoke again. "I don't know where the heehaw we're at."
"Only one way to find out then" answered Elizabeth.
"Of course" retorted Anneke with a smirk. "What, you think I'm refusing to go lurk about? Hell-oo!! I ain't goin' alone, y'know!!"
Johannes giggled as Elizabeth shook her head laughing. "Alright you goofball" the elder sister said. "Lead on like the so-called commanding officer you are."
Anneke stuck her tongue out at Elizabeth, then looked around and started to walk towards the building. Rebekah, Johannes and the elder sister followed Anneke, unaware of who they were about to meet...
Four men emerged out of an office inside the building, dressed in suits, walking in time, their steps synched. Their faces were a bit serious, but they showed in each some distinct personality.
The man coded KW070447 glanced to his fellow cohort to his right, and nodded. His face looked back to what was ahead of him. He said not a word, but kept his pace in time with the others.
His friend, coded KW170747, nodded back and fixed his gaze ahead of him. While at it he brushed off a strand of hair that got in his face. Glancing to his code on his arm, he recalled how he nearly died and became a new person.
To his right, the man coded KW310552 kept his gaze straight ahead, his thoughts rerunning through his head about the mission that they were to undertake. The four men were briefed on who they were assigned to protect on the train back to Düsseldorf before dismissed to meet up with them.
And finally, at his right, the so-called leader of the quartet coded KW200846 took a deep breath, unsure of what would occur at their great adventure. And, miraculously, during their mission briefing, he kept his mouth shut!! But he glanced at his three friends, and then straight ahead, ready for anything. He sang a few lines as they made their way to the doors leading outside...
Wir laden unsere Batterie,
Jetzt sind wir voller Energie...
Wir sind die Roboter.
As the guys exited the building the young women blinked. Rebekah blinked, hiding a bit behind Anneke as Elizabeth let go of her younger sister's hand and stepped forward to meet the men. Her eyes locked on those of KW070447. Meanwhile Anneke walked up to KW310552, her eyes a bit solemn in case he meant trouble.
Rebekah however showed no fear at last, and stood out from behind her friend. KW170747 stood before her, nodding to her. She just stood there and blinked. Geez Rebekah she thought to herself, where's your courage when you need it? Finally she spoke. "Gu-guten tag" she stammered, a bit nervous. But the man just smiled and extended his hand.
"It's okay, Miss" he spoke. "I do not intend to harm you. I am, however, curious as to your name."
"It's Rebekah" she replied, placing her hand in his. "Rebekah Zordenoff."
"I am Wolfgang" the man spoke, "and we will be accompanying you on the Trans-Europa."
Anneke's stern glare at KW310552 turned into a giggly grin when he made a funny face. Suddenly, she no longer felt like she had to be on high alert around him as he extended a hand to her.
"Hallo, my name is Karl" he spoke. "And you are?"
"Anneke Weldenta" she answered, her hand now in his. "Are you going to be with us on the Trans-Europa?"
Karl nodded. "Absolutely, Miss Anneke."
Elizabeth and KW070447 kept their eyes on each other for a while. Finally she spoke. "You know, I'm not one for staring contests."
"Neither am I, liebling," he replied with a polite smile.
"You must be our guardians on the Trans-Europa then" she said. He nodded in reply, took his hand in hers, and kissed it.
"I am Florian" he spoke, his kind gaze now fixed on hers. She smiled.
"Elizabeth Korinn" she introduced herself, then looked to her sister and KW200846. "And over there... my sister Johannes, who was born blind." Florian nodded in acknowledgement, still holding her hand.
KW200846 walked up to Johannes, who was still standing where her older sister had left her. He blinked, waving a hand to her, wondering why she hadn't noticed him yet. Finally, he spoke.
"Hallo there" he said, and she snapped back to.
"Oh--oh my, I'm sorry" she replied. "Just that, I sometimes do not really notice anyone until they're talking to me."
"Are you alright?" he asked sincerely.
"Yes," she replied, nodding hesitantly. "It's just that... I... Ich kann nicht sehen. Ich war geborener Vorhang."
The man's eyes widened in worry. "Meine Güte! Ich bin sehr traurig" he said. "Sind Sie gut?"
She nodded, smiling a bit. "I'll be fine. I'm just wondering if we'll be on the Trans-Europa soon."
"We will be, Miss" he replied. "My friends and I are here to protect your friends. We are programmed just to do anything you want us to, in a sense."
"Are you guys... robots?" she asked.
"Sort of" he answered. "We are mensche-maschinen, to be exact. But we are here to protect you." He took her hand in his and kissed it. "My name is Ralf."
"Ich bin Johannes Korinn" she replied, smiling faintly. "It is very good to meet you, Ralf."
"Es ist als gutes, Sie, Fräulein Johannes zu treffen gerecht" Ralf said, smiling at her cold, lifeless eyes. The rest of the guys and girls looked to the two, wondering what had just happened.
Chapter 1: The Trans-Underground Express.
"Wake up, Johannes. We gotta hurry up!!"
Johannes stirred a bit, hearing Rebekah's voice in a hushed whisper. The young next-door neighbor tugged on the blind woman's arm a bit, and Johannes hastened to get her shoes on with the neighbor's help. Together the two quietly snuck out of the barracks that they had slept in, and made their way behind the building, to the Eastern Wall of the concentration camp. Awaiting them stood Elizabeth, Anneke, and the seamstress guard who was kind to her.
"Alright" Elizabeth spoke quietly to Anneke and the guard. "Johanne and Rebekah are here."
"Right" acknowledged her childhood best friend.
"We must hurry" spoke the guard as he looked around carefully. "There isn't much time left for us."
The guard carefully removed the sod covering, reavealing a metal door. On it were the initials T.U.E., and immediately Rebekah looked to the guard.
"Do you mean to tell us that..." she spoke, but silenced herself fast, for fear of the other guards listening.
The guard nodded. "Yep" he answered in a hushed whisper. "This is the Trans-Underground Express, and I'm one of the Underground guardians. Gregorio. From the Lisbon Order of the Clandestinians."
Rebekah realized that he was a secret ally, because only to the Clandestine Rebellion and its allies did they share the title of Clandestinians. It was a sort of secret identity that the Darkstrom knew nothing of.
"Alright, one final check" Gregorio whispered as he looked around. "So far about a fifth of the camp has escaped because of this route.
"This" he then said to the girls as he opened the door, "will lead you through much of Lisbon, to the Station of the Trans-Europa."
"The... the Trans-Europa?" Johannes asked softly.
The guard nodded. "Yes, the Trans-Europa will be awaiting you. I've already sent the transmission to the Clandestinians there. They'll be thrilled to know the Düsseldorf Quartet will be boarding the great Trans-Europa homeward bound."
Elizabeth smiled to Gregorio as she took her sister's hand. "Thank you for all you have done for us while we've been here in this Portuguese hell" she whispered with a dry smirk. "The Clandestinians will be glad to know that the secret guardian has done another rescue task well done."
"Very" affirmed Anneke as she looked to the Trans-Underground transport. It was similar to the underground subway, but it was a small car on rails. The car itself was red, with the T.U.E. initials in white. She then looked to the others.
"Friend, Johannes, Rekah" she spoke quietly.
The other girls nodded, and Gregorio also nodded.
"You four better get going, lest we all get in trouble and meet our Maker" he spoke again in a hushed whisper as Elizabeth, Anneke and Rebekah started down the stairs to the transport car. Johannes however just stood there, unsure of herself, before she slowly started down the stairs. Gregorio watched in wonder as the blind woman carefully descended to join the rest of the Quartet.
"You are, perhaps, the bravest woman that the Rebellion will never realize" Gregorio spoke as he watched Johannes walk into the arms of her older sister.
"I thank you for your kind words, Gregorio" she replied as Elizabeth hugged her sister. Anneke and Rebekah boarded the transport car, as Elizabeth looked up one last time at the guard.
"A thousand thanks eternal," she spoke, with one smile more to him, and with that helped her sister on boarding the transport.
After the Quartet boarded, Gregorio pressed a few buttons, and the transport car kickstarted. It started slowly, then gained speed as it left its port with the precious cargo on board.
"Godspeed, children of the Rebellion," the guard sighed. "I do pray that your escape is successful... and that you girls find happiness." With that he sighed once more, wiping tears that welled up in his eyes, and ran up the stairs from the T.U.E. dock. Closing the metal door, he replaced the sod over it carefully, and quickly ran to resume his morning rounds.
Meanwhile onboard the T.U.E., the Quartet sped through the Underground, the route making its way through the Medianoche Lake tunnel. Rebekah held onto Anneke, somewhat scared of what could happen en route to the Trans-Europa. Johannes meanwhile just sat there, Elizabeth holding her hand.
"It's alright, Rekah" Anneke comforted the youngest of the Quartet with a smile. But Rebekah just looked back at the neighbor with a questioning glare.
"You're talking to someone who's gonna break the Panic button down!" she retorted with a wry smile.
Elizabeth laughed watching her two friends go at it, but Johannes just smiled softly.
"Rebekah and Anneke are at it again, aren't they?" she asked her older sister.
Going through the Underground Checkpoint at the Castelo Real [Royal Castle], Prince Antonio greeted them on the Intercom screen. The Prince and the Quartet exchanged a small conversation, pertaining to their destination.
"I wish you four the best of luck on your journey" the Prince concluded.
"And we thank you kindly, Principe Antonio, Sir" Elizabeth replied.
The transport weaved through the Underground network of the Downtown Smalltown Lisbon district. Rebekah watched on in curiosity, Anneke looked to Elizabeth and Johannes with a kind smile. Elizabeth smiled back and looked to her younger sister, who just sat there quietly as the transport made its way through the district.
"Are we almost at the Trans-Europa, Elizabeth?" Johannes finally asked.
"Almost there we are, Johanne" her older sister answered with a smile. "Almost there we are."
Johannes stirred a bit, hearing Rebekah's voice in a hushed whisper. The young next-door neighbor tugged on the blind woman's arm a bit, and Johannes hastened to get her shoes on with the neighbor's help. Together the two quietly snuck out of the barracks that they had slept in, and made their way behind the building, to the Eastern Wall of the concentration camp. Awaiting them stood Elizabeth, Anneke, and the seamstress guard who was kind to her.
"Alright" Elizabeth spoke quietly to Anneke and the guard. "Johanne and Rebekah are here."
"Right" acknowledged her childhood best friend.
"We must hurry" spoke the guard as he looked around carefully. "There isn't much time left for us."
The guard carefully removed the sod covering, reavealing a metal door. On it were the initials T.U.E., and immediately Rebekah looked to the guard.
"Do you mean to tell us that..." she spoke, but silenced herself fast, for fear of the other guards listening.
The guard nodded. "Yep" he answered in a hushed whisper. "This is the Trans-Underground Express, and I'm one of the Underground guardians. Gregorio. From the Lisbon Order of the Clandestinians."
Rebekah realized that he was a secret ally, because only to the Clandestine Rebellion and its allies did they share the title of Clandestinians. It was a sort of secret identity that the Darkstrom knew nothing of.
"Alright, one final check" Gregorio whispered as he looked around. "So far about a fifth of the camp has escaped because of this route.
"This" he then said to the girls as he opened the door, "will lead you through much of Lisbon, to the Station of the Trans-Europa."
"The... the Trans-Europa?" Johannes asked softly.
The guard nodded. "Yes, the Trans-Europa will be awaiting you. I've already sent the transmission to the Clandestinians there. They'll be thrilled to know the Düsseldorf Quartet will be boarding the great Trans-Europa homeward bound."
Elizabeth smiled to Gregorio as she took her sister's hand. "Thank you for all you have done for us while we've been here in this Portuguese hell" she whispered with a dry smirk. "The Clandestinians will be glad to know that the secret guardian has done another rescue task well done."
"Very" affirmed Anneke as she looked to the Trans-Underground transport. It was similar to the underground subway, but it was a small car on rails. The car itself was red, with the T.U.E. initials in white. She then looked to the others.
"Friend, Johannes, Rekah" she spoke quietly.
The other girls nodded, and Gregorio also nodded.
"You four better get going, lest we all get in trouble and meet our Maker" he spoke again in a hushed whisper as Elizabeth, Anneke and Rebekah started down the stairs to the transport car. Johannes however just stood there, unsure of herself, before she slowly started down the stairs. Gregorio watched in wonder as the blind woman carefully descended to join the rest of the Quartet.
"You are, perhaps, the bravest woman that the Rebellion will never realize" Gregorio spoke as he watched Johannes walk into the arms of her older sister.
"I thank you for your kind words, Gregorio" she replied as Elizabeth hugged her sister. Anneke and Rebekah boarded the transport car, as Elizabeth looked up one last time at the guard.
"A thousand thanks eternal," she spoke, with one smile more to him, and with that helped her sister on boarding the transport.
After the Quartet boarded, Gregorio pressed a few buttons, and the transport car kickstarted. It started slowly, then gained speed as it left its port with the precious cargo on board.
"Godspeed, children of the Rebellion," the guard sighed. "I do pray that your escape is successful... and that you girls find happiness." With that he sighed once more, wiping tears that welled up in his eyes, and ran up the stairs from the T.U.E. dock. Closing the metal door, he replaced the sod over it carefully, and quickly ran to resume his morning rounds.
Meanwhile onboard the T.U.E., the Quartet sped through the Underground, the route making its way through the Medianoche Lake tunnel. Rebekah held onto Anneke, somewhat scared of what could happen en route to the Trans-Europa. Johannes meanwhile just sat there, Elizabeth holding her hand.
"It's alright, Rekah" Anneke comforted the youngest of the Quartet with a smile. But Rebekah just looked back at the neighbor with a questioning glare.
"You're talking to someone who's gonna break the Panic button down!" she retorted with a wry smile.
Elizabeth laughed watching her two friends go at it, but Johannes just smiled softly.
"Rebekah and Anneke are at it again, aren't they?" she asked her older sister.
Going through the Underground Checkpoint at the Castelo Real [Royal Castle], Prince Antonio greeted them on the Intercom screen. The Prince and the Quartet exchanged a small conversation, pertaining to their destination.
"I wish you four the best of luck on your journey" the Prince concluded.
"And we thank you kindly, Principe Antonio, Sir" Elizabeth replied.
The transport weaved through the Underground network of the Downtown Smalltown Lisbon district. Rebekah watched on in curiosity, Anneke looked to Elizabeth and Johannes with a kind smile. Elizabeth smiled back and looked to her younger sister, who just sat there quietly as the transport made its way through the district.
"Are we almost at the Trans-Europa, Elizabeth?" Johannes finally asked.
"Almost there we are, Johanne" her older sister answered with a smile. "Almost there we are."
05 September 2007
The Prelude: Chaos, Darkness, Fear... and Hope.
Mama... I cannot see... where are you...
Elizabeth...
Papa...
I... I cannot see you...
Where are you...?
Johannes somehow snapped out of a daydream, an unfortunate memory the day she, her older sister, and their two dearest friends were captured. Elizabeth looked to her younger sister and held her hand tightly as they queued for the line to receive their rationed lunches. Anneke, Elizabeth's best friend, queued up behind the sisters, with the girls' next-door neighbor Rebekah in tow. The young women were used to the rationed lunches of small loaves of bread, potato-and-chives soup [which was mostly watery but still somehow filling], and a small glass of milk or water. It wasn't the best thing edible for the women, but as they were indeed at the mercy of the Darkstrom they really had no other choice.
"Johanne" Elizabeth spoke softly, "are you having milk or water today?"
"Water" the younger sister spoke, "I'm not really up for milk today."
"But Johannes!" Anneke whispered. "You haven't drank milk in days!"
"And in the state you're in" Rebekah chimed in quietly, "you shouldn't be in such a state of total illness. You need to stay strong somehow."
"I am strong" Johannes replied softly, her soft gaze slightly tilted to the ground. "I'm just weaker in spirit than in flesh."
Elizabeth sighed sadly. Her sister truly was stronger in the flesh than in spirit, but it hurt her older sister more that the poor soul was more glum than usual. Johanne was not born to be a cynic she thought to herself, she was born to overcome the darkness. But she sighed sadly, holding onto her younger sister's hand, worrying terribly over what had become of Johannes.
"I do not know what is worse" Johannes spoke softly again, "being born blind or being cynical."
"Do not say that, Johanne" Elizabeth pleaded softly as she took one tray while Anneke took two [one for herself, and another for one of the two sisters], Rebekah taking one tray. Elizabeth helped Johannes with getting the glass of water in her hand, while taking a glass of milk for herself. Rebekah placed one of the glasses of water on her own tray, while settling a few more on the plates that Anneke carried. Together the Düsseldorf Quartet--as they were known in the Lisbon, Portugal concentration camp of the Darkstrom--made their way to a table in the corner of a desolate building which was the cafeteria, and set their stuff on the table, sitting down for grace.
Grace was said, each girl taking up the line--
"Dear God, upon this table humble," Elizabeth started.
"Here we praise the TriGodhead," Rebekah added.
"Thank you for our lives, our hands," Anneke contributed.
"And above all, this our daily bread," Johannes chimed.
"In the blessed Lord's name" Elizabeth concluded, and the Quartet answered "Amen," and began their meal.
After their humble lunch Elizabeth, Anneke and Rebekah returned to their daily chores while Johannes was able to carefully walk through and "explore" the grounds of the concentration camp. The young blind woman had a tendency of being able to figure out her whereabouts on her own, which was tough and inexplicable to understand on her part. She didn't know where she obtained this odd intuition, all she knew was how to find her way around on her own. It was a strange miracle all its own, but she never took that ability for granted.
Elizabeth wiped the sweat off her brow as she sewn the prisoner shirtdresses mercilessly, glaring intently at the sewing machine. It was an old machine, but cooperated well with her. She had sewn about a dozen within the first two hours, as she was an incredible seamstress, and the hall guard complimented well on her task well done. She sighed, looking for a moment at her worn now-bleeding hands, when a handkerchief was placed in her fragile fingers. She looked up to see the surprisingly kind, smiling face of the hall guard, a Darkstrom trooper, who gave her the kerchief.
"You've worked very hard today, Miss Korinn" he spoke. "Take it, and rest for the remainder of the day."
"But... how will I be able to return it to you?" she asked, curious. That sort of thing had never really happened to her before. But the guard just smiled.
"I have witnessed your hard work, you and the Quartet" he replied. "And the way you care for that young lady outside is remarkable. The patience of a saint.
"Take this, a token of my gratitude for your humble inspiration. You are the reason why I haven't been so harsh on any of these amazing seamstresses here."
With tears in her eyes she smiled, and nodded once, holding the kerchief carefully for her bleeding hands. "Danke" she answered softly. "I will never forget your kindness, Sir. Thank you."
"Not a problem, Miss Korinn" the guard answered.
"Really, Elizabeth is fine" she said.
"I am not worthy of adressing you as Elizabeth" he retorted with a wry smile. "You deserve a title of respect, in my honest opinion. The troopers and guards here are all in admiration of you and your Quartet."
"I'm just worried really over Johanne," Elizabeth replied, sighing a bit. "She doesn't deserve to live a cynical life or anything. I don't ever want that poor girl to be cynical."
"What exactly is wrong with Johanne... and who is she, even?" the guard asked.
Elizabeth looked at him with a sad smile. "Johanne--Johannes rather, she's my younger sister... she was born blind."
The guard was shocked. "Dear God, I'm sorry, Miss Korinn..."
"It's no trouble really" she replied. "Just that, after Mother and Father died, all there was left was me and Johanne. So basically it was me, Anneke and Rebekah who all looked out after her. Even here and now." She fixed her gaze to her younger sister, sitting outside the window, against a fence. "That young lady, with the dull yet hopeful stare... the cold, lifeless eyes..."
The guard nodded.
Elizabeth nodded also, tears in her eyes. "That is my Johanne."
Rebekah and Anneke joined the elder sister, their eyes fixed to the second-youngest of the Quartet. The guard too fixed his eyes upon the dark-haired young woman, and for the first time really understood what despair was for not just the trio of women beside him, but for the girl that, while she could not see, was surrounded by chaos, untold pain, fear... and a strange light called hope.
03 September 2007
The Story and Passengers and Guardians of the TEE [the basic plot and main good guys]
The year is 2347, Common Earth Era [CEE], and all the world was at peace. The war of the StarCourt versus Chaos ended centuries before. War dared not exist. All was well...
until a new enemy force, the Darkstrom, somehow rose to power in post-war Eastern Europe.
The Clandestine Rebellion rose up, out of a few rebels to the destructive government, to attempt to overthrow the Darkstrom. Despite the growth in numbers as far as Clandestine Rebels were concerned, the Darkstrom overtook the underground regime and, separating families and friends, sent rebels to various Nazi-inspired concentration camps throughout Eastern Europe. A few remaining Rebels hid in the Underground and set up the Trans-Underground Express [TUE]. They also turned the Trans-Europe Express [TEE] into a secret life-saving route that would reconnect the few lucky escapees of the concentration camps with their hometowns and/or loved ones [if any remained]. Most of the Rebels however were imprisoned or killed, either in battle or within the haunting four walls of the concentration camp.
Among the handful enlisted in the Rebellion were half-human robots--humans who, not wanting to lose their lives having been mortally wounded, had their bones replaced with metal, and most of their organs replaced with wires and the most advanced technology available. They were often termed humanoid cyborgs, and were still mostly able to have human senses. The human never really died, as the operations would be successful. These humanoid cyborgs looked human, and it would never really pass to the Darkstrom that they would've been anything but human. Their main purpose was to serve and protect escaped Rebels onboard the TEE, and sometimes even after the journey homeward ended.
The TEE originated in 1957 CEE, and was mostly abandoned by around 1984. After the Rebellion was organized the TEE was revived, and served as the Rebellion-escape-route version of the EuroCity [EC], which replaced the TEE in 1987.
[The Düsseldorf Quartet formed after one of the leaders of the Düsseldorf Order of the Clandestine Rebellion was captured along with her younger sister and two of their closest companions. The Quartet grew up together, in the same neighborhood, the youngest being Rebekah, just a month younger than Johannes. The young women soon met Team Kʁaftvɛɐk, who each took one of the ladies to their care and protection on board the TEE back home to Düsseldorf.]
Elizabeth Korinn - Elizabeth is a German young woman of American descent. Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, she was brought to Lisbon, Portugal after the Darkstrom overtook most if not all of Eastern Europe. She was among the leaders of the Düsseldorf Order of the Clandestine Rebellion, and was captured by the Darkstrom along with her younger sister, childhood best friend, and next-door neighbor [known as the Düsseldorf Quartet]. Generally sincere and touched with humility, she has the wisdom that only 26 years alive can provide her. However, scarring those years is bearing the witness to the death of her and Johannes' parents at the hands of Darkstrom soldiers at the beginning of the invasion. To this end she's tried time and again to suppress those memories, but she's also realized she can't do this without the help of her friends and, especially, her Trans-Europa companion.
Anneke Weldenta - Anneke has been Elizabeth's best friend since they attended Kindergarten, and is the resident jokester of the Düsseldorf Quartet. Always prepared with either a joke, an answer to a question, or even at times a question itself, she thinks well of herself and the Quartet. She also has a tendency of being short-tempered which, given the proper circumstance, can prove rather useful. Usually she keeps a gun with her, in case the resident sharpshooter of the gang needs it [which, surprisingly, is Rebekah].
Rebekah Zordenoff - When she was younger, Rebekah, Elizabeth and her younger sister's next-door neighbor and the one in the Düsseldorf Quartet most likely to hit the PANIC button at the first sign of a crisis, was trained in archery and sharpshooting by her father, and while at school, she was on the Archery team. Despite her panic-happy nature, she is usually positive and is always there for her neighbors when they need her, and because of this she also can be very courageous when need be. But the singular quality that sets her apart from the others is her healing power she was blessed with as a child, which also designates her as the resident nurse of the bunch, and is the reason why she is sometimes nicknamed the "Secret Florence Nightingale of Düsseldorf."
Johannes Korinn - Johannes is Elizabeth's younger sister and, while possibly the dearest of the Düsseldorf Quartet, is the only one enduring a tragedy. She was born blind, so she often has to be accompanied by either her sister, Anneke or Rebekah. Miraculously she can find her way around on her own if she's alone. She hopes one day to finally gain sight, though--despite her hope for the Quartet and the freedom of Eastern Europe--she doubts herself in a lot of things. A surprising quality about her is her intuition, as well as an awareness of what is going on around her--a "sixth sense" if you will.
[The main guardians of the TEE in the story is Team Kʁaftvɛɐk, more known as Kraftwerk. After a near-fatal accident, each of the reborn bandmembers were 'roboticized' and given identification codes, which were tattooed on the inside of their right forearms. Each of the Guardians is unique yet alike in some sort of manner. Their purpose in this case is not to make music, but to aid the Clandestine Rebellion in the liberation of Eastern Europe. They opted to be Guardians of the TEE and, in the process, personal guardians of the Düsseldorf Quartet, each taking one of the young women under their wings.]
Florian Schneider [KW070447] - Known as being the somewhat secretive noise-aholic of the bunch, Florian's elusiveness is made up for by his intelligence. Philosophical and intelligent, he can also at times be amusing. His favorite instruments are the flute and the electric violin.
Wolfgang Flür [KW170747] - The relatively outspoken of the bunch, Wolfgang is a very curious individual and likes to ask a lot of questions. He questions the group's existence and meaning, while struggling to understand everything there is to understand. Sometimes his inquisitive nature tends to get him [and even at times his friends] into trouble--and even danger. He's also the resident playboy of the Mensch-Maschinen, which leads to some unnecessary trouble all its own. The verbal sparring with his friend Karl have proven to be some of the most amusing within the gang. His favorite instrument is the electronic drum.
Karl Bartos [KW310552] - Often cited as the sometimes-bored, sometimes-frustrated [and even at times ill-tempered] of the bunch, Karl makes up for it by his humble but lovable quirkiness. He is also, with not much help from his short temper, armed with a tendency of being accidentally destructive--i.e. knocking over a table or falling over someone, causing that person to fall back on someone else, etc. Usually most of his verbal assaults are aimed at his friend Wolfgang, and the two get into a verbal spat on a regular basis. His favorite instrument is, basically, any electronic percussion instrument.
Ralf Hütter [KW200846] - Noted as the rather talkative of the bunch, Ralf likes to sing. Okay, make that, loves to sing. Since his robotization [after a cycling accident in which he was hit by a drunk driver and nearly died] his mental wiring's a bit off, and because of this he doesn't understand everything. In spite of this he believes in the good of the world, and because of this he can come across as kind and nurturing. His favorite instrument is the synthesizer.
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