… tickticktickticktickticktickticktick …

…

* BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! BONG! gggggg… . . . . *

Jynx jolts up out of bed, "WHUZAT?!" Clumsily he rolls off the side. He looks around dazedly, then remembers where he's at, inwardly cursing himself for falling asleep.

Morning light streams in through the windows, the curtains still stirring lightly with the breeze. A smell drifts on the air … bacon? It's unlikely that anyone is trying to raise Bromthens here, given their ornery nature, but surely these parts have their equivalent, judging by the scent. Breakfast must be cooking or ready, but no one has come up to wake the Khatta. But then, with that ruckus … nobody needs to.

The sound of a wagon wheel rolling on cobblestones invades the momentary quiet again, then dies away as the wagon continues down. Cobbles. Well, the road leading here seemed like dirt before, but maybe there's an intersection just along the way.

Jynx stands up with a yawn, and makes his way to the door. He pokes his head just outside to see if Blossom has awoke yet.

The door to the other room is open, from what Jynx can see by his vantage point.

Well, he's not gonna let little miss militant stop him from getting breakfast, as his stomach reminds him. Jynx walks out the door towards the stairs, only quickly glancing in the room, then lifting his nose high should she see him.

Jynx's glance doesn't reveal any sign of the other black Khatta. The other bed is neatly made, and there are no signs of any personal belongings or bags about.

Approaching the stairs, the scent is definitely stronger. There are some clinking sounds of platters being set on a table, so it would seem that the Khatta's timing is about right.

Well then, that means this morning has started off on the right paw. Jynx hungily makes his way down the stairs towards the bacony aroma.

Down in the dining room, a breakfast has been set out, almost as lavish as the dinner last night, though there are fewer guests at the table, and the helpings are slightly more modest. Some of the faces are the same, including the raccoon family that must have stayed the night. There are no black Khattas at the table, though – none save for Jynx, who is only now approaching, that is.

Some of the other guests wave and make greetings, though a few who poked their heads out in the hall to investigate the screaming and yelling do so a little less enthusiastically.

Jynx simply smiles and takes a seat, surveying all the food. He's not sure what all of it is, but it smells good. The cat begins to heap a serving onto his plate, forgetting all about last night's incident.

Creamed cereal, biscuits and gravy (or jam), eggs (lots of them), hashed potatoes … and lots more to choose from. Variety is the key. And the food isn't bad, either.

This the Khatta learns as he stuffs himself silly. He may not know gourmet, but he knows what he likes.

Once breakfast is done and everything's put away, most of the guests bid their farewell and leave. They must have already paid their tabs, because there's no billing or anysuch before they go, that the cat can see.

Jynx just sits at the table, even though he's finished. He doesn't know what to do now, since breakfast is over and it's nottime to sleep.

But while everyone is leaving, there's one who comes into the inn. A tall man in a long, heavy cape, with a wide-brimmed hat on his head. One of those flat-faces … a human, with a thinly-trimmed beard and mustache, black, and his eyes are steely and dark as well. He nods to the crow proprietor and looks around, his boots clicking against the wooden floor.

Jynx eyes the man curiously. He hasn't seen many humans in his life, and they do look strange after all. I mean, how can you keep a straight face without having any fur?

The steely eyes of the man lock with Jynx's. He walks closer, his boots clicking loudly, the cape drifting as he walks. His skin is of a dark complexion, but also very weathered, suggesting one who for many years has been constantly out in the harsh elements … and without benefit of fur to cushion the blow the bitter wind delivers.

Jynx stares back wide-eyed, beginning to sweat. The man's stare is uncomfortable, and Jynx would rather be back in his room about now.

The man looks at Jynx for a bit, then begins to address him in that thick, biting language again. He does not look particularly happy, but not angry, either. Overall, he has somewhat of a military and business-like bearing to him as he addresses the Khatta.

The cat looks around to see if maybe the human. has mistaken him for someone other than himself, then looks back with a shrug. "I'm sorry, uh, sir, but I don't speak your language."

The man starts again. "I em Commisar Brueggel. Velcome to Chronotopia. Vat ist zur name?"

Jynx blinks, and gives a small smile. Finally, someone who speaks a real language! "My name's Jynx-, er, Feli Kurai. Pleased to meet you."

The commisar nods his head curtly. "Der hast been a complaint againzt zu. Due to ze zerious nature of ze accusations, I must take zu to Blitzheim for furzher questionink, Herr Kurai."

Jynx arches a brow, looking shocked, "Complaint? By who? What did I do?" The Khatta shies away from the man.

"Is it true zat zu haff been vorking for ze Titanians?" the commisar asks, not shying away from the Khatta in the least.

Jynx shrugs, "Well, not exactly… working for them. More like… visiting." The cat eyes the exits.

"Visitink?" the commisar asks … though it's more in the tone of a statement, and not one he seems to be inclined to believe easily.

Jynx nods wildly, "Yeah, more like visiting! But I wasn't working for them… "

Jynx eeks!!

The commisar's expression is flat. It doesn't change in the least. But then, he hasn't any ears that look like they can flick or otherwise show expression quite so easily. "Nut many go to Titania un der vacazhion. Vhat mader du vhant to be goink dere?"

"I-I… I was forced to go there! Yeah, forced! You see, my wicked father and his smelly wolf cohort… " Jynx proceeds to make up a goofy story of murder, intrigue, and bad cooking. Not very convincingly at that.

The commisar nods solemnly. "Ah. Du poor boy. Maybe ve kin get du zome nizer parents den. Pleaze be commink vit me."

Jynx blinks, and stands to follow the commisar. Then he begins to think… "Who made these charges against me by the way?"

The commisar leads the way. "Zu may ask zur questions at der station. On ze vay, do haf zis to ponder: On zer matter of ezpionache, ze Kaiser is not forgivink, and lyink to ze Commisar ist punishable by death."

Jynx stops, and stares at the commisar. "Death?" his voice cracks.

The man looks back to Jynx. "Perhaps zu ver mistaken in zur story. I suchest zu haf ze trut ready at zer station ven ve arrive."

Outside, a Drokar-drawn carriage awaits the commisar and his … "guest". A raccoon-like Rath'ani is seated at the fore of the carriage, at the reins, while a Cervani officer stands next to the door to assist Jynx into a seat.

Jynx nervously allows himself to be led to his seat, not sure about what to do.

The sky has clouded over now, and a light drizzle has begun to fall from the sky. The cloaks worn by the commissar, the officer and the driver appear to be perfect for rain, even though the commissar's coat wasn't wet when he came in, and the sky spoke nothing of rain from what Jynx could see out the window.

The commisar climbs in next, taking a seat opposite Jynx, and then the Cervani climbs in, sitting next to Jynx, as the carriage starts rolling, turning off the dirt road and onto a cobblestone path that leads through the sparse woods.

Jynx looks from the commisar, to the Cervani, then to the floor nervously. ( Who in the heck knew I was at Titania? )

The carriage rolls along, the drizzle never progressing to a full-fledged rain, even though a rumbling of thunder can be heard threatening in the distance. The wind blows once hard enough to rock the carriage as it rolls over a bridge, but otherwise the trees serve to shelter it as it goes.

Jynx just sits, shaking a bit the whole trip and looking from face to face at times.

The ride is rather long, but the carriage does pull over to stop at another inn after a couple of hours' ride. Jynx is allowed out of the carriage and to head into the inn to wash up and such. Just as well, since he hadn't any time after his breakfast.

The commisar and his Cervani companion just wait outside.

Jynx enters the inn, looking for a washroom (not to mention any possible escape routes)

It would seem that escape routes are aplenty. All Jynx would have to do is walk out the back door and bolt into the woods. The washroom is easy to find as well. No running water, but at least they have indoor "water closets", the kind that even flush. Not that this would be particularly impressive to anyone spoiled on Rephidim's indoor plumbing, but perhaps to anyone used to visiting the surface on occasion.

Jynx peers outside and at the woods with a shudder, remembering the wilderness outside Titania. He probably wouldn't last very long out there either. With a sigh, the cat goes to the washroom to wash his face and hands, trying to think of a way to escape this mess.

After washing up, no obvious exit routes present themselves. Nor does the raccoon proprietor of the inn offer any.

On his way back out the door, Jynx catches sight of the commisar and Cervani, giving a grimace. He hesitates, getting second thought about the back door, but then decides that either way, he's finished. At least this way he can plead his case. The Khatta walks back out, sad eyed.

Outside, the human and Cervani wait, and, once Jynx is loaded back in, they ride off. So the journey continues, approaching and then passing noon without a stop for lunch, the cottages becoming sparse for a long time, and the trees thicker … but lately the carriage has been passing more buildings, and the road has become less bumpy.

Through the window, the trees part as the road winds up a hill, and Jynx can see the spires of a city beyond. It's not all that enthralling, since Jynx has seen plenty of metropolises in his time, both from the ground and certainly from the air. It doesn't hold a candle to, say, Babel, by any means. The trees obscure the view again, but frequently after that, it can be seen again, and the carriage passes several outlying houses and then shops.

At last, the road becomes a street, as the surroundings become more urban, and several other wagons and carriages can be seen going this way and that. It's still drizzling, and many people are equipped with raincloaks, while others just make a point not to be outside for long. Again, there seems to be a fairly finite selection of races of any number – humans, Rath'ani, Cervani, Korv, and Khatta. At least Jynx doesn't stand out in this selection.

Jynx's attention is pulled yet again to the window, as he views the city. Hopefully, with such a melting pot as this, someone will believe his story.

As Jynx looks out the window, he can see that the architecture here tends toward the tall and spire-topped, with many buildings sporting flying buttresses and most all of them with gargoyles that double as rainspouts, while grotesques support windowframes and other structures. But there's another thing … of the larger towers, it seems that no building is quite complete without at least one very large clock face visible on it. Whichever way Jynx looks as the skyline, he can be sure to see what time it is.

Each clock is different from the next, with its own decorations and stylizations, but they all tell the same time. In fact, Jynx can see two different buildings, with two different clock faces in two very different styles, except that these both sport second hands. As he looks … both of the seconds hands move in seemingly perfect sync.

Jynx's brow furrows in confusion, from everything he's ben taught about the surface, those things should be popping springs and impaling people (well, maybe.)

No springs pop that Jynx can see, but down the street, there's a loud explosion, and several people scatter, shouting. An alarm bell clatters, and within mere seconds, a water wagon comes careening around the corner.

Jynx blinks, he didn't know clocks had any explosive parts…

The carriage rolls over quickly, making way for the wagon, pulled by a frenzied Dromodon team, already frothing at the mouth, while several heavily-cloaked fire-fighters of varied species cling precariously onto the sides of the wagon.

Jynx looks to the commisar, "What happened over there?"

As Jynx looks around further, he can see evidence of more machines here than just clocks, though. Here and there, are gizmos, large and small, in use. No two are alike. It seems that steam power and clockwork are in considerable application here … and many of these machines show signs of repeated emergency repair.

The commisar replies, "An emerchenzy. No cause for zur alarm."

Jynx blinks at all the machines, even in Rephidim they didn't have this many, but then again people in these parts don't seem to be particularly bright for the most part.

The carriage continues rolling, and, indeed, the street has pretty much gone back to its usual business.

A carriage rolls by, passing up the one Jynx is in. No horse is pulling it. It disappears around a corner, making rattling and popping noises as it goes, and then an "AaaaOOOOOGA!", warning a slow-moving Cervani out of the way.

Jynx jumps out of his seat and looks widely at the contraption, "What was that thing?"

The commisar says flatly, "A Drokar-less carriage."

The commisar's carriage at last rolls back to the side of the street after a few more turns, and then comes to a stop. The Cervani officer gets out first, then the commisar, then lastly they wait for Jynx, while the Rath'ani driver gets down as well.

Jynx sits back down, looking confused. ( It'll never catch on. ) "You s-seem to have a l-lot of machines here… "

Jynx follows the others, looking around wildly at this strange place.

The commisar leads Jynx into a very old brick building with especially tall doors. That could be because, considering how many Cervani there are around here, it would be annoying for racks to get caught along the way.

The lamps burn low, perhaps to conserve oil, and it's very quiet inside, as the city's law enforcement goes about its office duties, occasionally taking a prisoner in or out. For the most part, the criminals seem to be fairly low-key. No screaming or struggling or wailing like one hears rumors about in the Temple.

Down the hallway, into a side room that is set up with a plain table, and a chair on each side, a single window high up on the wall letting in light filtered by restraining bars. It would seem Jynx is expected to take one of these seats.

Jynx follows behind the commisar wordlessly (for once), taking the seat he presumes to be meant for him.

The commisar takes the other chair, while the Cervani officer closes the door and stands to one side. Dust swirls about, illuminated by the sunlight that filters in. Outside, the drizzling has subsided, and the clouds must have broken enough to allow for this occasionally interrupted ray of sunlight.

Jynx looks around a bit nervously, not sure of what's about to happen. He sneezes as the dust hits his nose.

The commisar drapes his rain-slicked coat over the back of his chair, then sets his hat on the table as he sits down and makes himself comfortable. After a too-long pause, he begins. "Zo, vat vere you doink in Titania?"

The Khatta shifts a bit uncomfortably in his chair, "I was… visiting."

The commisar leans forward, his face scowling. "Vhy vere zu … visitink? Unt who?"

Jynx winces back at the human's gaze, "Well… times are tough in Rephidim right now, you know, with Babel and all, and I was there with a… near relation, so to speak."

The commisar raises his eyebrows. "Oh, really? A cousin? An uncle?"

"Ummmm… ," the Khatta hesitates, "When I say she was a near relation, I mean we were almost related… but something happened at the last minute… " Jynx sneezes again.

"Oh… " the commisar says. "Now zhen. Zu are kin wif ze Titanians? Loyal to zhem?"

Jynx looks shocked, "Loyal? *ACHOO!* By no- *ACHOO!* means! *sniff*"

Jynx starts sneezing almost uncontrollably, followed by a chorus of sniffing and snuffling sounds.

The commisar nods. "Why, zhen, did zu interfere wif an operazion against ze Titanians?"

"And- *sniff* I said I was almost kin, but I'm *ACHOO* not… " Jynx looks puzzled, "Interfere? I was just trying to- *CHOO!* *sniff* -keep from getting killed!"

Jynx wipes his nose on his sleeve, seeing no other item to do so with.

The commisar says, "Eizher zu are an idiot, or zu are a liar. Zu deztroyed a rare flyink-craft of Chronotopia."

The sneezes briefly pause, "Flyink- I mean, Flying craft? All I did was keep a boiler from blowing me up! And I'm no liar!" *sniff*

The commisar squints his eyes. "An agent retrieved a book ze Titanians stole from ze Temple, to use to build a var mazhine to use against Chronotopia. You purzued and took ze book from zis agent. Do zu deny this?"

Jynx arches a brow, "Agent? What agent? It was just Blossom, stealing stuff again! From what I was told, the book was the Titanians'!"

"Anzwer my question, Herr Kurai," the commisar says in a level voice.

Jynx blinks, "Well, yes, I got it back from her."

The commisar sits back in his chair. "Goot. Zee? It is not zo hard to tell zhe trut. And zu fought wit ze agent, vhile ze craft vas out of control, da?"

"No, I saved our lives!" Jynx replies, "She didn't have a clue on how to drive the thing, and I fixed it. But we never actually fought, unless you count her trying to throw me from the machine."

Jynx's brow furrows, "Wait a minute, do you mean that Blossom was working for you?"

The commisar says, "Zu claim … zu zaved her life? Idiot." He looks up to the officer. "Make him our … guest for a vhile."

Jynx's eyes widen, "But I did! She's crazy!"

The Cervani officer moves toward Jynx, reaching out and making a "come this way" gesture. Quiet fellow. He hasn't talked at all since Jynx has met him.

Jynx gets up from his chair and backs away, "W-what are you going to d-do to me?"

The commisar stands up. "Zhat depends on zu. I haf little tolerance for idiots or liars. Be grateful I deem zu ze former. Or else zu vould haf a noose instead of a room. Ve do not take treachery lightly. Not ven der Kaizer is ill and on zhe edge of his life."

Jynx looks hesitant, but then slowly walks back over to the Cervani, keeping his gaze on the human. "I-I'm no liar, and I'm not an i-idiot either… "

The human waves mockingly. "Gut night, Herr Kurai. Unt velcome to Blitzheim."

Jynx shudders as he's led off. o O ( What a welcome… )

The night is spent in a drab, musty but reasonably clean cell, again with a high, barred window providing faint light from outside. A guard comes to wake him in the morning, and he is taken back to the same room he was in before, without so much as a chance to clean up or get any breakfast.

Jynx just sits there, eyes downcast and baggy due to the little sleep he acquired the night before.

The commisar looks across the table at Jynx, and says, "Ve haf given zur case some zhought, Herr Kurai. In ze interests of maintainink gut relazions vif Rephidim, zu vill be let go. However… " He adjusts in his seat a bit.

Jynx looks up tiredly, eyes brightening a bit, "H-however?"

The commisar says, "Zhere ist ze matter of cost. A flyink mazhine does not come cheaply, Herr Kurai. Unt zu are deemed responzible. Ze mazhine vast recovered in part, vhen a light cavalry unit drove back ze Titanians unt rescued our agent. Here ist a bill of repair unt uter fees." He pushes a slip of paper across the table.

Jynx shakily takes the slip and looks it over, "How much?"

What luck! The money Jynx still has from his pay – and the probable value of that copper trinket – would cover this bill perfectly!

Or, that is, what luck that Jynx would end up in a predicament that would rob him of every last shekel…

At the time in present, however, Jynx is just happy to be able to get out of here without having to do so in a pine box. The cat looks happily up to the commisar and nods vigorously, "I can pay this, yeah, yeah I can!" He pulls from his pockets all the shekels he has, plus the knick-knack given to him by the old wolf.

The commisar raises an eyebrow at this. He calls the Cervani officer over, and sends him on some errand … shortly thereafter, the Cervani comes back with a white crow who looks at the copper ingot through a jeweler's scope, then puts it on a balance and does some other obscure tests to it.

Jynx watches curiously.

The crow at last reports to the commisar in that language of theirs again, and the commisar nods. "Vell! Tis zhould cover it exactly." He fills out several forms, then says something to the Cervani officer.

The officer walks up to Jynx, making another "come along" gesture.

Jynx blinks, then stands and follows behind the officer.

The Cervani leads Jynx out to the main lobby area, where an older female Cervani checks over some papers handed to her by the officer. She stamps them, then says something to Jynx in that language he doesn't understand … then repeats herself in Rephidim Standard, "May go now." She points to the exit and smiles.

Jynx nods, starting for the door, "Yeah… I'll go now, uh, thanks." The cat makes it outside, and breathes in the fresh air, free of the sneezing now. He then stops and looks around as a dim revelation comes to him: how's he going to afford a trip back home now?

A carriage rolls by at a good pace, pulled by a Dromodon team … and hits a puddle in the cobble street right in front of Jynx. *SPLOOSH* What rotten luck!

"ACK!" Jynx becomes soaking wet (and he HATES water too). With a sigh, the Khatta begins to walk down the street, paws in pockets, trying to think of how he can get out of here.