At Greymalkin house nicknamed "The Secret Fort"; New London, Britannia:
Eva (to Una): Here you are sister, dear. I thought you might need it. How are you feeling after your barrel of beer?
Una (to Eva): Thank you, sister dear. I feel much better than I did when I first woke up.
Eva (to Una): I should hope so...What would you like to do now?
Una (to Eva): Well, I would like to find out why Captain Potter was sizing us up last night… What about you?
Eva (to Una): I'm so glad to hear you say that, Una! I was half afraid you'd want to run back home and hide. I'm a bit a head of you on the investigation, but no further along in knowledge, I'm afraid. I've been asking after the flirtatious Captain Potter, but no one seems to know much more about him than rumor and hearsay. The only bits of information I've gleaned that I trust are that he does seem to have a wife, and two children: one possibly adopted.
Una (to Eva): Hmmm… Well, he's an airship captain. So, we find his airship, we find him.
Eva (to Una): Excellent idea! You see, dear sister? This is why I need you. Come along. If you're up to it, we have an airship to find.
Una (to Eva): Heh. I'm always up for an adventure, sister dear.
Eva (to Una): Hee hee hee. Excellent! Come along. I've discovered some most charmingly decrepit hives of villainy. We can start there.
Una (to Eva): How industrious of you! Lead the way, sister dear.
Eva (to Una): One must know how to effectively organize one's time, Una.
Una (to Eva): Heh. You are your mother's daughter, Eva. :-P
Eva (to Una): I could say the same of you, Una dear. Come on!
Several hours later, at the Longfellow Inn; New London, Britannia:
Persephone (to Una & Eva): Greetings, ladies. Can I get you something?
Una (to Persephone): Oh yes, of course. My sister & I were just wondering, if that's the airship the Maltese Falcon out back?
Eva (to Persephone): We heard it was a most unusual ship, but that is a *fascinating* vehicle.
Persephone (to Una & Eva): The Maltese what? I don't think so. We occasionally have airships docked here. I'm not quite sure of that particular vehicle. Can I suggest the shepherd's pie? It's my Mam's specialty.
Eva (to Persephone): Good gracious, you really need to work on your lies. (to Una) Doesn't she, Una?
Una (to Eva): She is quite terrible at it, Eva.
Persephone (to Eva & Una): I am not! ... I mean, what? ... Damn. Who are you?
Eva (to Persephone): No one of importance, miss. Captain Potter expressed some interest in us last night. In turn, we became interested in him.
Una (to Persephone): We don't mean any harm. Just curiosity.
Eva (to Persephone): My sister is right, miss. We're harmless. More or less.
Persephone (to Eva & Una): ... Fine. My uncle is out back scrapping the hull. If you mean any harm, you'll regret it. And, I've heard that all before. Besides, I'm not worried for their benefit, I'm worried for yours. My aunt doesn't take kindly to folks messing with the family. If you mean ill, she'll make sure no one finds your bodies.
Una (to Persephone & Eva): Oh well, now I'm really intrigued.
Eva (to Una): As am I. Shall we, Una?
Una (to Eva): Yes, let's.
A moment later:
Vincent (to Poppy): Have you come out here to help, lover, or are you just enjoying the view?
Poppy (to Vincent): Lover, how can you even ask that? It's such a nice view.
Vincent (to Poppy): If that's the case, I should make it a bit more entertaining for you, shouldn't I? (to Una & Eva) Oh, hello.
Poppy (to Vincent): ... I now see what you mean, lover. They look just like her.
Vincent (to Poppy): Don't they just? (to Eva & Una) We were wondering when you two would come looking for me. I don't believe I was given the pleasure of your names last night.
Una (to Poppy & Vincent): She's Eva, I'm Una... You seem to know about us & we're a bit curious as to why that is.
Poppy (to Vincent, Una & Eva): Not out here, sweeties.
Vincent (to Poppy, Eva & Una): Why don't we go into the inn, and you British types can have a nice cup of tea?
Una (to Vincent & Poppy): I suppose that would be alright. (to Eva) What do you think, Eva?
Eva (to Una): I suppose so, Una. (to Vincent) Will your wife be joining us, and bringing that pistol she's hiding?
Poppy (to Una & Eva): Oh, honey, it's not the pistol you have to worry about. (to Vincent) I'll join you in a minute. I need to check on the little ones especially, Zoe. We don't want her stumbling in.
Vincent (to Poppy): Of course, gorgeous. Come along as quick as you can. (to Una & Eva) Ladies, if you'll follow me?
Poppy (to Vincent): I will, lover.
Una (to Vincent): Alright. (to Eva) Heh. You said you wanted an adventure, sister dear. Looks like we have one.
Eva (to Una): It would appear so. (to Vincent) Yes, of course, Captain. We assume that's your wife.
Vincent (to Una & Eva): Hee hee. Yes, that beautiful creature would the the missus. Who else would she be?
Eva (to Vincent & Una): Well, there were rumors you were the lover of a Duke, one of the daughters of the Pirate Queen... Who were some of the others, Una?
Una (to Vincent & Eva): Oh, a former prince, the Empress herself, Nikola Tesla... I think the list was quite extensive.
Eva (to Vincent & Una): And some of the tales were rather -- ribald.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Hee hee hee. They always are. I see more names have been added to the ever-growing list. Good heavens. If all of that nonsense were true, I'd never have time to get any actual pirating done. :-p
Una (to Vincent): So, are any of them actually true?
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Oh, there may be some truth in some of them out there, somewhere. I do tend to leave an impression on people.
Eva (to Vincent & Una): That isn't really an answer.
Una (to Vincent & Eva): … So, none of them are true and you've been faithful to your wife. It's quite obvious when you think about it, Eva.
Eva (to Una & Vincent): Quite, Una. I do believe Mrs. Potter would shoot the good captain here if it were any other way.
Una (to Vincent & Eva): Heehee.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Without a doubt or a moment's hesitation. Now that we have a bit more privacy... Who are you girls, really?
Eva (to Vincent): I'm not really sure we can answer that, Captain Potter.
Una (to Vincent & Eva): We've already said, Captain Potter. He's not very good at specifics, is he, Eva?
Vincent (to Eva & Una): That's where you're wrong. I'm very good with specifics. It's the larger picture I sometimes need help with.
Una (to Vincent): What specifically do you want to know about us?
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Mostly, I'm curious why you so closely resemble a younger version of someone I know.
Una (to Vincent): To be honest, we don't know ourselves. We only just learned that we're part of an experiment in genetics.
Eva (to Una): Una!
Una (to Eva): I'm sorry, Eva. But if we want to learn where we came from, we need to talk to someone who clearly knows something.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Calm down, hun. I guessed it was something like that... It must have been tough learning that.
Una (to Vincent): It was a bit rough but, not really surprising if you knew our mother.
Eva (to Vincent): How did you suppose we were part of an experiment, Captain?
Vincent (to Eva & Una): As I said, you look *remarkably* like someone I know, but much younger. And, unfortunately, it wouldn't be the first time I heard about someone mucking about with her genetic material. Who is your mother?
Una (to Vincent & Eva): Sidney Greymalkin. She's the current Vice President of Vernian Industries. Don't make that face at me, Eva… Would this person be Hiiri?
Vincent (to Eva & Una): What could two sweet young things like you possibly know about Hiiri?
Eva (to Vincent): We read the papers and histories, Captain Potter. There's no need to be condescending.
Una (to Vincent): Not to mention the fact that Carver told us we looked like her a couple days ago.
Eva (to Una & Vincent): ...Yes. There IS that.
Una (to Vincent): I'm sorry. My sister & I have a difference of opinion when it comes to other people.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Hee hee. So I see. I'm sure running into Carver was highly unpleasant, and didn't help matters.
Eva (to Vincent & Una): Yes. If you'd like to oversimplify it.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): To answer your earlier question, I wasn't referring to Hiiri. I knew the woman upon whom she was based.
Una (to Vincent): … So, Hiiri was just a copy of someone, too? That's interesting.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Not a copy, per say. More like a variation on someone else. She was built by a madman and Professor Maladori.
Una (to Vincent & Eva): Oh… Well, that explains it, then. We came from the Maladori papers that were recovered from one of her secret laboratories that were discovered quite some time ago. Eva & I thought we had been adopted when we were eleven. And that, we had a traumatic childhood, which is why we couldn't remember any of it. Our mother always said that was probably for the best. We've simply spent the last 16 years being her children. That is until a few days ago when we ran into Carver & his little friend.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Mmm. Not the ideal way to learn of your lineage, I would imagine. I understand your anger, and your hesitation to trust, hun, but I'm not the enemy. For what it's worth, I don't really think your beginning has any relevance on who you are as people now. You get a choice about who you're going to be.
Eva (to Vincent): On that point, Captain, we agree.
Una (to Vincent): So, stupid question... Is the original still alive?
Vincent (to Eva & Una): She's no longer here.
Eva (to Vincent): She may not be in this reality, but is she still alive?
Una (to Vincent & Eva): Alright… Now, it's time to go. Come on, Eva. Thank you, Captain Potter but trust is a two way street. I was trusting you to be honest but if you're just going to use doublespeak, we can find out on our own.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): The original was my sister, ladies. Hiiri was commissioned by a madman because of his obsession with her. He kidnapped her and tortured her for four months all because of her relation to me. Forgive me for being... A bit more than overprotective.
Eva (to Vincent): ... Which madman?
Vincent (to Eva & Una): He was going by the name Smythe at the time, but he was more commonly knows as the Back Alley Butcher.
Una (to Vincent): Oh… I remember reading about him.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): He was as bad as the stories say. And Hiiri was worse.
Una (to Vincent): So, what does this all mean?
Poppy (to Vincent, Una & Eva): Hello, sweeties. It's nice to see everyone in one piece… Lover, we may have an issue with Zoe.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh? (to Eva & Una) I wish I could tell you what it means, girls, but I don't know. If you'll excuse me. Family obligations. If there's anything you two need, please feel free to ask.
Una (to Poppy & Vincent): Oh right, of course. (to Eva) What now, Eva?
Eva (to Una): I don't know about you, Una, but I want to find out more about this Hiiri character. I don't think Captain Potter is going to tell us too much more about his sister, but if we're all based on the same woman, it might be a good place to start.
Una (to Eva): True… But, I could care less about Hiiri. I want to know about the original.
Eva (to Una): Well, then, let's see what we can find out about the original. We know the Back Alley Butcher had her, so let's find out when he was killed and we'll work backward from there.
Una (to Eva): Sounds good… Do you hear yelling?
Eva (to Una): I do, indeed. Shall we snoop about a little bit more?
Una (to Eva): Heh. Yes, let's.
Meanwhile:
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm sorry to drag you away. Zoe was being quite nosy about what you were up to & I wasn't sure how she'd take all this.
Vincent (to Poppy): It's alright, hun. Family comes first.
Zoe: Holy shit! Who the hell are they!?!
Poppy (to Zoe): Zoe Clair Meriwether, I thought I told you to stay on the airship with your brother!
Zoe (to Poppy): … You did. But, he's asleep. Why are there two women who look like me in the Inn?
Poppy (to Zoe): March your skinny, narrow arse back onto the airship, right now!
Zoe (to Poppy): I will not! What the hell is going on!?!
Vincent (to Zoe): Zoe, your brother is FAR too little to be left by himself, asleep or no. GO, young lady.
Zoe (to Poppy & Vincent): This is absolute bullshit! … Why won't you tell me what's going on?
Poppy (to Zoe): Honey, now is not the time to start acting like an obnoxious teenager. Just listen to us. Please?
Zoe (to Poppy & Vincent): Why can't I meet them? Are they evil or something?
Vincent (to Zoe): They're just people, hun. We're not SURE what's going on, or what they're motives are, but they're connected to Vernian Industries. That could potentially be tricky or dangerous for a family full of skippers, yes?
Zoe (to Poppy & Vincent): Well, we know they're not skippers or we would have all noticed it…
Eva (to Una): Hmmm. Looks like the Captain and his squeaky little wife are berating some girl. Their daughter Zoe, I'd guess. She... Una! She looks like us!
Una (to Eva): Yes, she does… I wonder what else Captain Potter is hiding from us?
Poppy (to Zoe & Vincent): Yes, honey, that's true… But, we need you to stay out of sight at the mome-- Pardon me for a second.
A moment later:
Poppy (to Eva & Una): Well, clearly you two have the Nosy Parker gene. See anything of interest, sweeties?
Una (to Poppy): Oh, um, no… Not at all.
Eva (to Poppy): You are very quiet, and VERY sneaky, Mrs. Potter.
Poppy (to Eva & Una): You are not the first to have noticed, honey… So, I think you two should be our guests. We can deliver you to wherever you'd like to go, afterwards.
Una (to Poppy): That sounds a bit ominous, Mrs. Potter.
Poppy (to Una & Eva): Oh, did it, honey?
Eva (to Una & Poppy): It sounds more than a bit ominous, Una. I don't suppose we could decline your invitation?
Poppy (to Eva & Una): Sadly, no. Your relation to Vernian Industries makes you a bit worrisome & while you may be completely trustworthy. I'd like you both nearby while I do a little checking. I am very sorry.
Eva (to Poppy & Una): Well. That's our decision made for us, isn't it?
Una (to Eva & Poppy): Ooooh, Eva. Mrs. Potter is a spy. This is the classic Klein maneuver. I've never actually seen in action but I've read about it in that old ISS manual that I got from Mister Woods' room when we were little.
Eva (to Una): IS it? Well, suddenly this little get-together is MUCH more interesting...
Poppy (to Eva & Una): The Kle-- whozewhatzit, honey? You have a very vivid imagination. (to Vincent) Who are these girls, lover?
Una (to Poppy & Eva): Classic verbal deflection! This is so exciting… Can you kill a man with a pen, Mrs. Potter?
Eva (to Una & Poppy): I think she might be able to kill a man with that look, Una.
Vincent (to Poppy, Una & Eva): Alright, alright. Everyone calm down. No one is killing anyone with anything.
Poppy (to Vincent): I don't know, lover… I'm beginning to make a list.
Vincent (to Poppy): I know, gorgeous. Let's all go into the galley, and get a drink and calm down... (to Zoe) Come on, Monster!
Zoe (to Vincent): Damn! How did you know I was there? I was being quiet.
Poppy (to Zoe): We could hear you breathing, honey.
Vincent (to Zoe): And because we KNOW you. (to Una & Eva) Come on, girls. I don't know about you, but I could use a drink.
Una (to Vincent): A drink would be wonderful.
Zoe (to Vincent): Fine… (to Una & Eva) Hi there! I'm Zoe… I'm like your sister or something.
Poppy (to Vincent): I'm going to go check on Lucas, lover and… (to Zoe) Zoe honey, you & I are going to have a little chat.
Zoe (to Poppy): Oh? We are? … That's not good.
Vincent (to Poppy): Of course, gorgeous. We'll be int he galley. (to Eva & Una) This way, ladies.
Eva (to Vincent): That was--your daughter?
Vincent (to Eva & Una): ... Yes. She is, so I think you can understand why I'm wary. I have a VERY vested interest.
Una (to Vincent): So, is it right to assume that she's like us?
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Not exactly the same, but similar.
Una (to Vincent & Eva): Similar? She looked pretty much the same to me. I swear we have pictures of Eva & I looking just like her.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Heh. I'm sure you do. Zoe is different because she was spliced with more than just my sister's DNA. And her circumstances were a bit, uh, different than yours.
Una (to Vincent): … I'll stop asking questions. We have no loyalty to Vernian Industries, just so you know.
Eva (to Vincent): Indeed. Mother is... Well, Mother is our mother, but it doesn't mean we share her interests. Or her company's interest, for that matter.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): I appreciate that, ladies. I really do. How about I get you that drink?
Una (to Vincent): Yes, please.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): That I can oblige. We have rum, whiskey, and what appears to be vodka, but SMELLS like turpentine. What shall it be?
Eva & Una (to Vincent): Rum for me, please.
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Hee hee. That was totes adorbes. Do you do that often?
Una (to Vincent): Do what often?
Eva (to Una & Vincent): I believe he means, answer a question the same way, Una. Is your wife really a spy, Captain Potter?
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Of course not, hun. Besides, if she was a spy, do you really think I could answer that question.
Una (to Eva & Vincent): Heehee.
Eva (to Vincent & Una): She's obviously a bloody spy. How dense do you think we are? ...Good God. How strong is this rum?!
Vincent (to Eva & Una): Hee hee. Obviously a bit stronger than you were expecting.
