The Atlantica lay like a beached whale upon the desolate wastes.

Her back broken, the mighty landship groaned from the tears in her hull as the fervent wind teased and battered her weakened structure. Smoke drifted in some places and the withered embers from once blazing fires peered out from cracks that dotted its metallic skin.

Though days had passed since the mischievous twin's perilous visit, the remains of their devilish actions still continued to be a frustrating challenge for the stalwart engineers who desperately pressed every remedy and repair available into service.

"Urgency is the order of the day lads," Chief Brislan announced as he stomped through the decks past busy crewmen hefting two metal trusses upon his bulky shoulders. "The longer we remain, the more vulnerable we are to-"

"Raiders!" screamed a hollow voice through the voice tubes.

Brislan's glorious mustache sagged noticeably as a sigh growled deep from within his throat.

"Raiders. Raiders. Raiders!"

"I'm going to tar that boy," the chief said.

"Not if I do it first." Ella emerged from a nearby hatch in the floor. A few more bandages had been added to her slightly more battered body, but as a girl raised among heavy machinery and unsavory work conditions she was accustomed to injury, and just as she ignored the oil, grease and dirt on her skin and clothes, she too paid hardly any notice to the pain associated with a few cuts and bruises.

"Blasted all girl," bulbous man bellowed. "You're supposed to be in the infirmary recovering with Kenzo. What are you doing on work detail?"

"Fixing things, same as you. Me being here is no secret chief, and as usual, it seems you're the last to know."

His mustache sagged even further. "Well don't tell me he too-"

"Kenzo?" She interrupted. She paused and took a deep breath, drawing more concern from her uncle. "He's still unconscious. But at least the burns aren't too bad."

He lowered the trusses to the ground and pressed his hand on her shoulder.

"I know it's hard," he said consolingly. "Concern. Remorse. Even a tear or two is fine. But let that be all there is. The wastes are angry and vengeful enough that we do not need to add to its cruelty."

She offered him a wayward glance before she squared her shoulders and marched on.

"I know another person worth sending to the infirmary. I'll be sure to send him there shortly."

The floor hatch in the observation tower flung open and Calvin, who stood at the telescope and  voice tubes, reeled at its sudden, heavy thud.

The angry sound announced the girl's arrival as she propped herself into the room and glared at the young man.

"El," Calvin said cheerfully. "I'm glad you made. We've been trying ever so hard to get you up here, but-"

"You've been falsely calling out raiders all day today," Ella growled. "This one had better be true or so help me. . ."

Calvin's voice grew optimistically cautious. "Well frankly, those specks out there did look pretty menacing. And those pack of coyotes. . . they could have easily have been raiders disguised in animal furs. In actuality, I think Kenzo is the only one with the proper eyes to work these devices." He gestured his hands in a calming motion. "But that's not the point."

She rose a stout finger, giving him pause. "Wait a minute. You said 'we' a moment ago. Is someone else up here?"

"Mad Hilda finally shows her face!" announced Scarlet hanging from one of the pipes in the ceiling.

"She put me up to it," Calvin blamed. "It wasn't completely my fault."

She deliberately advanced and gave him a sharp shove. "What's going on here?

Scarlet leapt to the floor and beamed a smile. "Scarlet senses spies. People and things of the nefarious sort listening in. This place is isolated, safe. And it was the only way we could get you up here without raising suspicion."

Ella crossed her arms, a look of disbelief upon her face. "Never have I met a more paranoid lot. And all that trouble just to get me up here? So if we're being spied upon how do you know this place is safe?"

A brown-spotted mouse flashed into view, squeaking loudly as he scampered atop the telescope. Strapped over its eyes were a pair of carefully crafted, tiny deeply-lensed goggles.

"Mr. Piddles said so," Scarlet said proudly. "He's searched every nook and cranny of this room."

Ella shook her head. "Of the hundred OTHER ways you could have summoned my attention. . . "

"Well this was the most fun," Scarlet giggled.

"And the most ludicrous."

"I completely agree with you El," Calvin added. "But nevertheless, we have you here and now."

Ella's eyes narrowed. "Before I hear what you have to say. I have a question: Cal, what were you doing in my room the other night?"

He flushed slightly, scratching his head. "Uh."

His slowness to answer left her fuming.

"Speaking of spies, that's exactly what you were doing weren't you? Why you little scamper."

He waved his hands apologetically. "Yes. I mean no. El, it isn't what you think."

"Tell me, or I'll have Dodger pound you to mush."

He scratched his head again and looked to the ceiling, trying to formulate the proper words in his mind. Slowly, he again met her gaze.

"I was. . . protecting you. You see, I had a hunch someone was coming for you."

"Who are you?"

"I'm sorry. Threaten me all you like. Beat me if you think I deserve it, but I can't tell you. All I can admit is that I've been sent to assure that the Queen of Knights remains safe."

Her eyes widened. "Fine. Keep secrets if that's you're game, but know that I'll get the truth out of you soon enough and-" She paused briefly, a look of surprise upon her face. "That's what that vicious girl called me before she ran off."

Scarlet muttered to herself, thoughtfully. "Mad Hilda, the Queen of Knights. So the villainess also has a noble title. A shocking twist for sure."

"That's enough out of you," Ella said. "This isn't one of your books."

Scarlet grinned as if she expected her to say just that.

"A noble title indeed." Calvin continued. "One that's not only tied to that compass around your neck, but as that assassin girl has shown, also worth killing for. . . . and as I've almost failed to do, worth protecting."

She pressed her hand against the trinket underneath her shirt. "So what does it mean? Why do people think I'm the Queen of Knights? And who sent you?"

"Truthfully, I'm not even sure what it means. I don't even know what sort person the Queen of Knights is supposed to be. And as to who sent me. . . well, I'm not supposed to say."

Ella's show of frustration flashed to anger.

Calvin reeled slightly, sensing the air grow thick with her brooding, and so spoke quickly. "-but will indeed say in time. However, there's one thing I'm sure of," he said in a desperately cheery tone. "All the answers to our questions lie in the journey given to you by your father. . . which brings us to why we brought you here."

"And that is?"

"We're coming with you."

"No. This is a journey father meant for me."

"You're wrong. It's more than a journey. It's a burden; and everyone has to carry it whether you're aware of it or not. Besides, you're going to need help."

"And how do I know I can trust you?"

"Scarlet trusts him," the girl said rocking on her heels.

"No one asked you."

Still relentlessly grinning, she snaked beside Calvin and leaned against his shoulder. "In the Scarlet Adventure books, there's always a mysterious stranger seeking help who always seems doubty-doubtful at first. But in the end, all is revealed and it turns out that Mr. Shady man is a nobley-noble ally after all."

Ella grunted, prompting Scarlet into a more profoundly teasing mood. She slipped behind Calvin and pinched his cheeks, spreading them apart as she forced his face into a ludicrously exaggerated smile.

"Besides, how can you not trust this adorable face?"

Ella's eyes narrowed as she leaned in close.

"One way or another, I will know the truth." She then ruffled his hair. "Just be glad Dodger isn't here to help me get it out of you."

Everyone paused as the sound of muffled and strained grunts could be heard from some distance away.

Mr. Piddles squeaked and all eyes turned to the rodent's scampering form as it hustled to the floor hatch on the other side of the room.

"Intruders." Scarlet hissed.

There was a tap at first. Then a pounding that sent the mouse tumbling onto its back like a rattled domino.

Finally, the wheel lock groaned with each forceful turn.

The hatch burst open and the frightened mouse retreated. He climbed up Scalet's pant leg and burrowed into one of her pockets.

A dirty, eye-patched, hairless face appeared. It was a boy. His one good yellow eye scanned the room then rested upon its occupants and their surprised gazes.

There was a short silence, which was then broken by Calvin's alarmed shriek.

"Raiders!"

"We know what he is," Ella said shoving him.

"A pirate." Scarlet beamed.

He lifted himself through the hatch, revealing a left arm made of brass and metal, which gave a muffled cacophony of tapping gears and hissing hydraulics. His more natural, fleshy right arm hugged a rare potted plant tightly to his chest.

After sealing the hatch, he locked his eyes to Scarlet, flashed a smile, then said teasingly,"Yargh."

Scarlet beamed from ear-to-ear.

He then proceeded to quickly pace the room as he searched every wall and corner.

"What are you doing?" Ella inquired.

"I'm looking for a way out of here of course," he gruffed.

Again, there was a pounding at the hatch.

"Bugger-all," the eye-patched boy said, then examined the glass wall in front of him while he tapped at it forcefully.

"I'm afraid there's no other way out," Calvin uttered thoughtfully.

He mocked him with a laugh. "A raider always finds a way."

The hatch flew open, and like a gopher, Jonathan's face periscoped into the room and leered at the cornered boy.

"You." he uttered accusingly. "Finally, I have you. Return that plant at once or I will have you exiled."

"Really? I thought all of us were to be exiled. Strange isn't it? You take us in, and then you kick us all out. Hardly an act of charity."

He grunted through the hatchway as he spoke. "We graciously saved you and your raider companions. We even tended to your health and provided food and shelter. But we cannot keep the elderly. That's one of our rules here. And so they must be let go. But the younger ones -including yourself-. . . ." He paused, then cleared his throat before saying with obvious reluctance, ". . . can stay." He brushed the dirt from his white officer's uniform and composed himself a proud demeanor. "However, recklessness and thievery may force me to think otherwise of your situation. Do not force me to chase you any longer." He pointed to the object in his possession.

The boy laughed.

"Name this plant, and then you may take it."

"Playing games then?"

"Oh, I play everyone. But you still haven't answered my question."

"I know this one," Scarlet chimed excitedly. "It's a blueberry plant."

"Wrong." He then glanced at the impatient vice captain. "None of you know what this is, because none of you have ever seen it before. Therefore it has never been in your gardens for me to steal. It has in fact, always been mine."

The vice captain unsheathed his blade and gave a haughty grunt. "A thief and a liar."

"I've been called a lot of things," the boy said while he deliberately twisted some device on his metal arm. "But my favorite so far, is what that cheery girl over there so named me."

Scarlet nodded approvingly.

"Now if everyone would be so kind, I think it's time for this pirate to excuse himself."

A compartment in his metal arm puffed black dust into the air. A second later, a device in his wrist sparked, catching fire to the dust and causing a loud bang and a blinding flash that sent everyone staggering.

Ella rubbed her eyes.

Calvin coughed from the smoke.

Scarlet blinked through dilated pupils while she turned her head back and forth like an ostrich.

Jonathan blindly lunged forward while he swiped his sword, but all he struck was empty air.

As soon as their senses returned, everyone soon came to the realization of an unwelcome addition to the decor of the room: a shattered hole in the glass wall.

The boy had indeed escaped.

The white-uniformed young man shouted in frustration. "Another hole in my ship." He flashed a look to Ella. "The Raiders were under your charge Ella. I hold you responsible for this."

She shrugged unapologetically.

He then took to a voice tube and commanded, "security to the surface decks near the observation tower. I found him and he's on the run."

After slamming the cover to the voice tube, he pointed his sword accusingly at Ella before slipping through the mangled hole and giving pursuit.

Scarlet squealed and proceeded to follow so that she might give jubilant witness to the prospect of an exciting cat-and-mouse chase. But after just a few steps, Ella took her by the collar and reeled her in.

"Let me guess," Ella said. "This is just like one of your books."

The young girl nodded. "The Air Pirates of Fire Sky Bay."

"Never heard of that particular Scarlet Adventure Story," Calvin replied.

She hummed proudly as she tapped her chest. "That's because Scarlet wrote it." Noticing the room was clear, the mouse peered out of her pocket and crawled to her shoulder. "Of course, Mr. Piddles helped to co-author it."

"Right." Ella drolled.

"Sounds like something I might want to read," declared a voice above them.

Startled eyes turned upwards.

Holding onto various metal protrusions in the ceiling, hovered an eye-patched, metal-armed boy displaying an exultant look on his face.

He dropped to the floor.

The thick pads in boots softened his fall as his feet gave a heavy thud; all the while, he held his potted plant ever tighter to his chest, careful not to let it slip from his grasp.

"My name is Kosh," he said. "Smuggler to most. Pirate to some." He winked at Scarlet, then pulled out a white chess piece from his pocket. "Oh; and to a select few, I'm also called, the Master of Rooks. I've stowed myself amongst the Raiders seeking the Queen of Knights. Might any of you know where she is?"