And If You Look Up, You’ll Notice Some Rather Large Rocks Falling Towards Us.

Kreshnik, Viktor, and Jonas wait in the small skiff, shivering in the night as they wait for the barge to arrive. Dawn greets the city and still they wait.

Eventually, they pick out one boat sailing down the canal. Slung low in the water, the barge is obviously carrying a heavy load. As it comes closer they can see the crates stacked high and four guards watch intently for danger, sparklocks at the ready as four more drudges row the barge through The City. Although he’s not entirely positive it’s what they’re looking for, Kreshnik reasons that it’s unlikely to be anything else and hails the guards, warning them of an ambush further up the canal, and they are supposed to make the exchange here.

The guards regard him slowly. They recognize that what Kreshnik is saying is more than possible, but it doesn’t sound quite right. When Kreshnik drops The Fish’s name as the source behind the ambush, however, the guards nervously dock their barge at the Old Bleach Factory to make the exchange.

On more or less stable land, Viktor examines the cargo, assuring that it is the medical supplies as promised. The guards regard the whole experience warily, keeping their sparklocks in hand, if not actively trained upon Viktor, Kreshnik, and Jonas. Examining a large bottle of unidentifiable fluid, Viktor lets the jar slip from his hands. As the glass shatters on the ground, the guards almost all instinctively turn to the noise. In that moment, Jonas strikes.

Two trained Ghostfighters against 4 low-paid guards at close range should be an easy victory for the trained killers, but Jonas is still recovering from his illness and the fight with Myles. As Jonas cuts the first guard, sparklocks fire. The booming of the primitive muskets echoes across Mire End, and the acrid smell of gunpowder fills the air. Jonas is hit in the Shoulder, while Viktor is gut-shot. Still, neither go down. What was intended to be a simple job – for both sides of the fight – has become much more lethal. After the initial barrage, there’s no time to reload, so the guards’ guns become primitive cudgels. Slashing madly, Jonas manages to take one guard down before succumbing to blood loss. Viktor passes out moments later, taking another guard down with him. Kreshnik fires blindly from his pistol – an expensive automatic – and takes down a third. Struggling, he fights vainly against the last guard, until a strike across his temple with the butt of the sparklock knocks him to the ground.

As consciousness fades, Kreshnik can’t help but wonder if he shouldn’t have approached the situation differently…

Meanwhile, at roughly the same time that Kreshnik et al are awaiting their target, Josiah is finally regaining consciousness. Firene has taken his drugs away from him and been keeping him unconscious for the last day and a half with what little sedatives are left from the supplies that were recovered from Doctor Drake’s office and not sold to the Fish. Firene explains to him what has happened over the last few days. Wanting to clear his head, Josiah suggests that they take a walk to get something to eat. They hop the train, getting off in the east end of Folly Hills.

Walking through the Hills, Josiah can’t help but feel that something is wrong. It takes him a while to realize what it is – it’s so subtle and at the same time completely blatant – people are watching him. Not one person specifically, or even a group following him. Nearly everybody that sees him, however, seems to take a second glance, as if trying to determine if they know him.

Unnerved, He guides Firene into a small diner. The food is plain and greasy, but it’s more than they’ve eaten in a long time. The meal is eaten in silence, as both feel the gaze of strangers on them.

They leave the diner and start to head back to the Train. As they pass an old lamp post Josiah notices a poster that catches his eye. Reading it, the blood drains from his face.

MISSING: FIRENE OMBERWELL. PLEASE REPORT ANY INFORMATION TO ARCLIGHT. £200 REWARD.

The sketch underneath is a far cry from the girl walking with him – the girl in the sketch has long clean hair and a rounder, cleaner face. Still, someone looking very closely can tell that they are the same person – or at least related.

Grabbing Firene by the arm and forcing her head down as casually as he can, Josiah quickens his pace until they’re practically running. A single detour is made to purchase hair dye at an apothecary, but otherwise they head straight back to the train.

The train ride back is tense. Josiah keeps his hand on his gun, ready to fight or flee if necessary. Mercifully, they make it back to Bankside unmolested. There aren’t any posters for Firene there – yet. Always looking over their shoulder, they make their way back to Kreshnik’s place. Locking the door, Josiah sits Firene down and demands to know what Arclight wants with her.

Slowly, Firene begins to tell Josiah her story...