Seras little snippet thread

The crash of lightning outside made me smile.

Those new atmospheric Ionization engines were working verra nize as the Jagers would say.

“Everything is prepared?” I asked, and my Generals all smiled wide and nodded. “Then Gentleman, I will see you after this party.” I offered to them, my mouth stretching wider than it ever could have before.

Oh yezzz. My teeth were finally proper chompers, verra nize indeed.

The Jagers had been absolutely off the walls when I showed my teeth… Although maybe it had been because I’d bitten one of the Jagers who’d thought jumping out of a carriage at me was a good idea.

I’d nearly taken his arm off, and I’d had to spend an hour fixing him up, but he’d been absolutely tickled pink at what I’d done.

I walked past my Generals that were waiting and into the waiting Spark machine. I rested back in nice leather seats I’d repurposed from a room in the castle and settled down. A moment later the mechanical door closed, and locked, and I could hear the whine of jet engines pick up.

Was I going to my ball in this world's first fixed wing jet airplane?

Of course I was.

I was the Heterodyne. Hiding my tech, or pretending to be weaker than I was, is an annoying Schemer thing to do.

I was a brick through the window. The reminder that the plots and plans of everyone else was below me.

The liftoff was quick, Spark tech let me really up the speed and I took a moment pressed into my chair as the jet left the ground in moments and started to gain altitude.

It was of course nothing but a boondoggle for now. A testbed so to speak. Unlike most sparks, I intended on creating technology for more than just myself.

The fact the people of Mechanicsburg used carts to move things like produce.

CARTS! HORSE DRAWN CARTS! ANIMAL LABOR! IN A WORLD OF SPARKS AND TECHNOLOGY! WHERE EVEN A COMMON MAN MIGHT HAVE A DEATH RAY, STILL USING SUCH ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY WAS UNACCEPTABLE! MASSIVE RAPID PRODUCTION WAS-I calmed myself. I still often fell into the draws of madness. I honestly revelled in it, but it was very much a time and place.

I’d had weeks to just let myself go bad. Create and break things as I wanted.

It had been a wonderful experience, but I knew how to control myself. I calmed and simply waited. Honestly the jet was more than capable of reaching supersonic speeds, and it did so.

I was planning on making an entrance after all.

“Any issues?” I asked, and the pilot, one of my Jagers, the crazy ones willing to jump into newly tested aircraft that everyone thought was impossible and fly at supersonic speeds turned around and gave me a nice grin.

“None at all Mistress! She’s Perfect!” He laughed and I had a feeling it was a good thing I hadn’t added any weapon systems to my first jet…

Well technically the flare system was more of an anti-missile missile. And the Anti-flying clank death rays were more than capable of shooting downwards…

It didn’t carry bombs?

Other than the main one anyways…

Okay never mind.

I decided to just ignore how armed this aircraft was and instead settled into the seat, adjusting the seat belt hidden behind the leather chair.

“How long until drop point?”

“Ho jusht anodder minote. Ve’re movink verra fast!”

We were in fact moving very very fast. Especially for this time.

I looked in the mirror installed just for this, and checked my makeup. If I closed my mouth I looked perfectly normal until I grinned which showed my fangs upper and lower, and the way my cheeks stretched back more than they had before.

Verra nize.

Slinky black dress was done. As were the Brass adornments.

Clank locket was still active and ready to be thrown.

Arm guard shields would auto deploy if needed.

My Corset was actually deployable armor, on its own at least strong enough to deflect bladed weapons and some firearms.

My hair was in a braid down my back a ways, while first a brass and steel crown guarded my forehead and upper cheeks.

But it was my long boots that I was really delighted in. They were spikey and sinister looking, and the large heels would normally be awkward, if they didn’t keep my ankle straight with armor, and a small gravity generator in the heels.

I was basically locked onto any floor I stepped on as I wanted. It also gave my steps a much heavier weight.

Honestly I’d come up with the idea when Lilith mentioned how I’d often stepped on toes while learning to dance.

If some fool decided to dance with me that I didn’t want to deal with. I’d simply crush every bone in his foot for the impudence.

I hoped someone would try it.

“Ve’re approaching de drop point accordink to diz!” My pilot called out pointing at the clank that was now binging on the control panel.

“Excellent. Activate the defenses, and initiate the targeting computer. I want to arrive at the right spot after all.” I smirked and settled back, feet planted, and arms rested. The walls around me rose up securing me in a drop pod.

We’d tested it already, although it had been a Jager in the drop pod.

He’d survived, but mentioned the landing was a bit rocky. If a Jager complains about something then I should be careful. I’d added a few additional protections, but- there was a tone and I grinned. Air defenses were fairly common in Europa especially since the Baron was ruling it through an air force.

But those defenses were made for dirigibles, or helicopter style flying machines.

Fixed wing aircraft were considered impossible, and jet propulsion was a boondoggle. Not worth the effort.

I could imagine flying clanks, and surface to air weapons aimed skyward reacting far too slow to do anything as the Jet simply blurred past it all.

Something the modern world had discovered. The best defense in the air wasn’t more armor, but simply moving so fast nothing could hope to touch you.

“Beeeeeep.” A tone echoed out and I braced myself. Suddenly I was launched away. Jerking on the couch, but it was an invention made by one of my ancestors. And kept me from getting injured at the shifting G forces.

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

How fun!

Then I smashed into the ground… Please please be at the right spot.

I popped the seatbelt which retracted, hiding it from view, and raised my legs crossing them casually, sliding up my slinky dress and showing leg… Well mostly armored boot, but there was a hint of flesh at the top.

Absolute territory was a powerful force!

Then I reached over with my brass armored gauntlet on one hand, and grabbed a glass of wine, pre-filled, and prepared in a small holder to keep it from spilling and held it in one hand as the drop pod. Opened, steam hissing out as the walls stretched out.

It would convert into a cart afterwards to drive me home if needed.

But as the door slid upwards. From the outside the audience that should be there saw steam, and then gleaming black leather and brass as it rose up showing my legs and then my body as I sat resting on my chair.

Ah, we’d dropped exactly on target!

I smirked as I watched the fashion conscious nobility staring at me in shock as I set my wine glass down, and slowly rose.

I stepped down and purposefully didn’t look at the broken and cracked marble steps I’d just crushed beneath the dominating heel of my drop pod.

I walked past the fearful nobles, who stepped back as I walked past them without a glance and then stood before the doorman that I towered over. A mix of my own height, and my heels. I pulled out the invitation.

“I’m expected.” I purred and he took the invitation with shaking hands.

“W-welcome. M-my lady.” He stuttered out accepting my invitation and stepping aside to open the doors.

I walked into an entrance hall, and only a moment later a voice ran out.

“Introducing Agatha Heterodyne! Lady of Mechanicsburg!” I stepped through the small entrance way and into a large open room music playing, and some minor dancing already under way.

But every head turned as I stepped in. My boots clacking harshly on the stone tiled floor.

I took two steps down, and there was a woman… Wow that’s a lot of feathers.

Her dress was feathers, despite being in a common style. Her hair had feathers sticking out of it, and more than a few I thought might be just growing out of her head. And she had feathered gloves going up her arms.

“Welcome Lady Heterodyne. I am Countess Eleanor Featherprincess, I greet and welcome you to my ball. May I say, I caught a momentary sight of your flying machine. Quite fascinating.”

“Why thank you. I built it to spread terror across Europa! To remind everyone that they are only safe because of the Pax. That there is no place beyond my reach, no keep I can’t invade, no defenses you have that can stop me from dropping an army off at your doorstep in less than two hours, or my next raid target half off.”

I watched as my speech left the woman blinking, seemingly trying to figure out what the hell I’d just dropped on her.

“Half off?”

“Well yes, It’s only if I offer such a substandard raid on your dwellings that I at least consider raiding someone of your choice, half off. I’d be horrified if my beloved enemies felt slighted that I didn’t offer my best.” I reached out before the woman could respond, my heels thankfully making me just tall enough to pull off, as I ran a cold metal claw under her chin. “I do hate to disappoint.”

My grin, full of sharp fangs, my decor, and of course the Heterodyne reputation. I could see as her eyes dilated. Fear coursing through her, as she realized just the sort of madwoman I was.

Oh yes.

I’m not some little girl struggling with the burdens of leadership.

I was a Heterodyne! TREMBLE BEFORE ME!

“T-that’s a fascinating offer Lady Heterodyne.”

“Please, my victims should call me Agatha. Oh is that a snack table! How delightful! I’ll let you get back to your greetings!” I cheerfully walked past the older woman and headed to get something to eat.

Now then. All of you schemers. All of you plotters, and planners.

Come. Tempt me into your web all without realizing you're tempting a monster!

—--

Xersephnia Von Blitzengaard

Well now. It seems the secret Heterodyne had made a grand entrance upon the Nobles stage.

“I should approach her.”

“Don’t be a fool. That would be rude, give her a chance to settle in… And apparently eat half the snack table.”

“That fool Ketinis is approaching her! Seffie!”

“Shush, brother mine. That’s always been the plan. We watch and see how she reacts, and adjust accordingly.”

Her brother Martellus grumbled as always. Really the man was so dour when he wasn’t out hunting. Which despite the locale, this was.

Just not the hunt he normally goes on. You can’t just release the hounds and wrangle down something like a Heterodyne. No, first you needed to lure it in. Test it. See how it reacts to situations.

Seffie watched in delight as Ketinis approached the woman. Really what was she wearing? Armor and a form fitting dress is was scandalous.

She was going to talk to her seamstress to have her own made!

No, perhaps not Grandmother would not be pleased, and a Blitzengaard led on the stage of fashion. They did not follow.

“Seffie.”

“Honestly Tweedle, just watch for now.” Seffie ordered. Her brother's nickname at least calmed him as he continued to be agitated.

It made sense.

This had all been set up to meet the new Heterodyne. The girl that had repaired her castle without anyone the wiser. Not the smoke knights, not anyone.

Even the Barons own intelligence agency, or further beyond like the British hadn’t known about her until it was too late.

Yet she had done it, proven her pedigree, and now ruled Mechanicsburg which had closed up. Oh sure a few of the family spies still sent information, but…

It was like the people of Mechanicsburg knew who the spies were.

The Abbess of the Red Cathedral, someone that the family had placed into her position with a lot of difficulty had stopped reporting at all.

Others simply reported any attempt to approach the Heterodyne was met with grim-faced Jagers.

So Seffie had with Grandmother's help set up this ball, Poor Countess Featherprincess had been the one pressured to actually host the engagement.

The woman had with just a single meeting of the new Heterodyne looked ready to faint, fanning herself, and looking flushed.

Really, was the girl so fearsome? She was only sixteen. Not even fully grown.

Finally Count Ketinis reached the Heterodyne girl who was happily enjoying the snack table. A quiet conversation happened, and the count obviously asked the girl to dance.

She brushed him off practically without thinking about it. Seffie watched as the Count grew red, he spoke quietly, they were too far to hear at all, Seffie wanted plenty of space between her and the Heterodyne until an understanding was achieved.

Then the girl did something surprising.

She smirked, her teeth glinting sharply in the light of the chandeliers.

She placed her snack back onto the table, and offered her armored gauntleted hand.

Which Ketinis took, looking proud for a moment, before he flinched. The clawed ends of the metal gauntlet were obviously sharp, and the Heterodyne was making no move to protect him from them.

Then despite the obvious pain, the man guided the girl out onto the dance floor.

Oh my. Were those blood droplets left in their wake? Seffie did believe the Count was in trouble.

Something was wrong.

And a moment later it all became clear, what the Heterodyne girls plan was.

Count Ketinis held her, despite his hand dripping blood as if he was holding a lion by the maw, and was afraid of what it would do if he let it go, and he stepped once to guide her and being the dance, and then never again.

The Heterodyne girl's foot came down with the sound of stone on metal, and the crunch of bone.

“AEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeee!” Count Ketinis screamed and crumpled, and Seffie watched shocked as he was held fast by the girl's gauntleted hand, and armored boot.

Her boot had come down and crushed the Counts foot into the tiles and now she held him, strung up as he screamed, disrupting the entire ball.

“Well? Is my dancing not to your taste? Did I not warn you? I have no interest in puppets! Go back to your puppeteer and have them repair your damage if they like!” The Heterodynes' voice echoed clearly, and despite herself Seffie cursed, as despite the tears and screaming Ketinis looked towards her and Tweedle.

Damn him.

They’d been outed.

The Heterodynes green eyes glowed in the light of the ballroom as they locked onto Seffies own blue ones.

Then a slow terrible smile spread across the woman's lips.

“Now can I go?” Tweedle mocked, and Seffie wanted to… Dump a dessert in his hair! Now was not the time!

The loud, noise of metal on stone echoed out, even as the band started up again trying desperately to pretend everything was fine as poor Ketinis was hauled off the dance floor.

Agatha Heterodyne approached.

“I will handle this.” Tweedle spoke as he adjusted his collar and stepped forward. “Lady Heterodyne, I-Mpgh!”

“Quiet, I have no more interest in hearing puppets speak at me tonight.” The girl offered, having casually pulled off her large brass Trilobite locket, and casually tossing it onto Tweedle’s face. He had a moment of shock as it exploded, brass legs shooting out and locking around his face as he took a few steps around in surprise before seemingly passing out…

For a second Seffie was actually flattered. Had anyone ever considered her the one in charge, the important one, and not her brother or cousins?

For once Seffie realized she was being looked at, as the source of a problem, and would have to deal with it.

Seffie found herself alone. A non-spark in the hands of a Monster, as she realized at the approaching girls' gait that she backtracked, and found herself back to the same pillar she’d been using to hide herself and plot.

“Oh!” She gasped her space was invaded, and Agatha Heterodyne-Was she supposed to be this tall?-Loomed over her,

“Well there’s my spider queen. I tugged on a strand, and look at the beautiful creature on the other end. Princess Xerxsephnia Von Blitzengaard. I should have expected you would be behind this. Now I simply must know.” The girl loomed in, and Seffie realized her teeth weren’t just sharp, but monstrous coming to devour poor innocent princesses she was sure. “Tell me, when is the kidnapping planned? I do hope you won’t keep me waiting. I’d be terribly disappointed.”

Seffie blinked.

The woman spoke like she was asking what time the main course would be delivered.

“Kidnapping?”

“Why yes of course. I was thinking it might be an assassination attempt. This invitation, the ball, but no. You and your family are much more interested in me alive. So it must be a kidnapping. I do hope it’s planned to be exciting? If it’s simply a soporific on a rag, I should warn you. I’ll be more than disappointed. Why, I might be forced to react unkindly!”

What?

Was?

This?

How?

There was a plot to kidnap her, and yes Seffie had been part of the planning. This was her ball after all!

But how did she know?

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about. Although I have been so looking forward to meeting you!”

“Yes, that's what all schemers say when caught red handed. Oh well. Do make sure not to disappoint me when it happens.” She said bulldozing straight over Seffies rebuttal, she could at least have the decency to pretend to believe her!

“I hope whatever that is, won’t harm my brother?”

“My facehugger? No, it’s harmless. Simply a useful tool to quiet people I don’t wish to speak with.”

“My Brother Martellus Von Blitzengaard, a claimant for the Storm King, isn’t someone you wish to speak with?”

“Yes, how boring. Storm King this, Knights of Jove that, Servant of the Other-blahblahblah. Dreadfully boring and uninteresting. I’m only here because I’m waiting for the kidnapping attempt. I figured I’d see if it was any fun. My Uncle got kidnapped all the time, usually by some High Priestess, and he seemed to enjoy it. I figured I’d give it a try.”

The more the girl spoke the more sure Seffie was that this wasn’t going to go how she’d planned.

“You… Want to be kidnapped?”

“Oh? No, I’m not going to be kidnapped. There’s going to be an attempted kidnapping, much more fun! See when whatever patsy you put up to the job tries it, it’s all the excuse I’ll need. My Jagers are finally home, but what sort of Heterodyne would I be if I didn’t give them a hunt to commemorate their return home?” The woman smiled, her eyes as sharp as her teeth as she leaned in. “Once the attempt is made, I’ll have a pleasant evening raiding whatever fool thought to try. It’ll be a good hunt.”

“That would break the Pax.” Seffie said, faux casually, even if the woman invading her space was making her very uncomfortable. Not because it was a woman, but there were many sharp edges to this Heterodyne, and Seffie was doing her best to avoid them!

It would ruin her dress.

“Only if the attack wasn’t justified. If someone didn’t foolishly attempt to kidnap me in the middle of a Ballroom full of nobility, why if that were to happen, then suddenly any response I give would be justified! Oh justified raiding is simply the best sort!” The woman cheered her unarmored hand resting on her cheek as she looked flushed and happy at the thought of what was to come.

“And if there is no kidnapping attempt?” She asked, she could easily call it off. “Because I don’t have one planned.”

“Why I might just have to make my own… It’s not like my forces aren’t already in position to crush this town. I wonder how long it would take Uncle Klaus to get involved if I kidnapped you?” She said and there she was right in her space, teeth sharp and practically at her nose. “Why I might get a few days of fun as your family desperately tries to save you from my vile clutches! It would be a delightful time.”

And Seffie realized as the girl's Spark maddened eyes bore down into her own, that she wasn’t joking… Probably. It was never entirely smart to trust a Heterodyne’s word, but…

“And just so we’re clear. Because I delight in honesty.” The girl said. “If you don’t try to kidnap me, I’ll just kidnap you. This whole night would be wasted otherwise!”

And the Heterodyne turned, and stalked away, boots clicking on the tiles, echoing out her dread proclamation, and Seffie couldn’t help but be amused at the girl's words.

Kidnap her? With an entire host of Smoke Knights to protect her, right in front of her own brother?

She looked down. Well Tweedle wouldn’t be much help unconscious as he was, but that was beside the point. He was a strong Spark as well.

Very well Heterodyne. Let’s see how well you react to a Queen’s Gambit.