Chapter 4

Loyalty and Liberty

In which we meet our host, and make an unexpected friend.

Within moments of the mysterious voice beckoning them inside, Jax and Magpie whipped out a pair of matching sabers. The captain suddenly sported a blunderbuss of impressive size, while her cabin boy bore a dagger. Jayne held aloft a small weapon that was obviously her own design—

a foot long tube of metal covered in wires and cogs with a barrel full of sharp shards of scrap metal.

It took a moment for Gabriella to realize that she was the only one empty handed.

The crew of the Widow fell into an arc formation around the unarmed Gabriella with the captain at the front. They held this arrangement for a few moments before the captain nodded at Jax.

“Come out, with hands where we can see them!” Jax shouted.

“Please,” the stranger begged from beyond the dark opening. “Lower your weapons and come inside. No harm will come to you. I promise, I’m unarmed.”

“Likely story,” Jax whispered. “Mysterious voice beckons us into the dark. No, thank you.”

“Does he think we’re stupid?” Jayne asked in a low voice.

Gabriella didn’t think the voice sounded mysterious at all. She thought it sounded warm, inviting, and somehow familiar. It was the kind of voice she could listen to for a very long time, growing neither bored nor tired of it. This thought made her smile. She noticed that she wasn’t the only one smiling. Click grinned wide, as though he was enjoying the whole thing. Who knew what the heathen thought of the proceedings? Gabriella never understood the native’s weird ways.

“Who are you?” the captain called out.

“I should probably ask the same of you,” the stranger answered.

“What do you want?” Jax asked.

“Again,” the stranger said, “I believe that is my rightful question.”

“Where are you?” the captain asked.

“I’m where you want to be,” the stranger said.

The captain closed her eyes. Gabriella could only guess that she was weighing her options.

What choice did they have?

“You can either lower your weapons,” the man said, “and come in, or I can close the door, leaving you locked outside. You’re free to try to get inside for another forty-seven minutes, nineteen seconds and ten milliseconds, or you can join me now. Which will it be?”

The two parties were at an impasse. The crew was unwilling to trust the stranger enough to lower their weapons, while the stranger was unwilling to join them in the clearing. Surely the man would close the door again. Gabriella knew a simple knock wouldn’t reopen it this time. The entire trip would have been a waste, the crew would lose yet another job, and even worse than that, Gabriella would have to go home. Unwilling to face that fate just yet, she knew she had to do something desperate.

Drawing a deep breath, Gabriella ducked between the shoulders of Jax and Click, pushing her way past the crew, daring to step away from the safety of the group. She made her way toward the opening, intent on showing the rest of the crew what she already suspected—that the stranger wasn’t going to harm them. Gasps and shouts rose from behind her.

“Guppy!” the captain shouted over the crew’s outburst. “Stop right there, little missy. That’s an order.”

Gabriella came to a halt just outside the opening. She narrowed her eyes at the wide doorway, silently begging the stranger for help. When none seemed on its way, she turned to the crew again, swallowing hard before she said, “Captain, I don’t think he means us any harm.”

Keeping her gun trained on the dark passage, the captain locked eyes with Gabriella. “Get back over here. Now.”

Gabriella didn’t want to get back over there. She wanted to dash down to the opening, find the owner of the voice, and continue her fabulous adventure. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to disobey her captain. “I know it sounds crazy, sir, but I feel like we can trust him.”

“Jax trusts no one,” Jax said.

“I think she’s right,” Click said.

“You think everyone is right,” Jax snapped.

“I do not,” Click argued. “I just think our stranger has an honest voice.”

Strengthened by the upsurge of partial unity, Gabriella tried again. “Captain, please. We might not find another way in. He promised not to hurt us.”

“Kid’s got a point, Cap,” Magpie said. “He does sound sort of, I don’t know, polite?”

A ghost of a grin flickered across the captain’s lips for a moment before she gave Gabriella a single, short nod. “Lower your weapons.” She lowered her own gun. She motioned for Click to sheath his blade.

“Captain, I don’t think—” Jax said.

“I said lower your weapons,” the captain repeated.

Jax did so with a grunt. She glared at Gabriella.

“Excellent,” the stranger said. “Now that we’re planning on acting like civilized beings, perhaps you would like to join me for a cup of tea?”

The captain motioned the crew forward. They stepped into the opening. When they crossed the threshold, the door rumbled back to its closed position. Jax tried to prop it open with her blade, but the weight of the door snapped the tempered steel in two before it swallowed the last of the daylight. Now they stood in the cool of the darkness, one weapon less than before.

“Don’t worry,” the stranger said. “You are free to leave at any time. Just say the word and I’ll reopen it for you.”

“Then open again,” Jax growled.

“So soon?” He chuckled softly. “No. I don’t think your captain is ready to go just yet. Now, let your eyes adjust and come to the end of the hall when you are ready. I shall be waiting for you.”

“Adjust?” Magpie scoffed. “To what? The blackness or the total darkness?”

After a few moments, Gabriella realized it wasn’t total darkness at all. A soft glow along the walls lit what appeared to be a hallway. She ran her fingers over the spongy, damp glow

“Phosphorescent moss,” Jayne explained.

“Captain,” Jax said. “Are you sure this is wisest course of actions?”

The captain seemed to ignore the question. Instead, she strode with her head held high to the hallway’s end. She looked over her shoulder at the crew. “Shall I collect Ruby’s money alone?”

The crew quickly fell in line behind her.

The hallway emptied into a foyer, complete with an umbrella stand and boot scraper, both of which were rusted with age. A small bench stood in one corner, looking like a single touch would cause its collapse. Another closed door lay across from the entrance. Before the captain could reach it, the door gave a click. It swung wide, welcoming the party further inside. They followed through to a receiving room.

Here, the furniture was also tattered. Dilapidated curtains hung from bricked up windows.

The carpet was bald in arching paths around the room. Aside from the wear and tear, the room itself was very neat, lit by the glow of a roaring fireplace. Gabriella looked around in wonder. This was not what she’d expected to find in the middle of the wild jungle.

Then again, nothing could have prepared her for what she saw next.

Standing beside the fireplace, with one arm propped against the mantle and the other hand thrust into his jacket pocket, was the handsomest man Gabriella had seen in her life. He was tall, even taller than Click. An amber wave of short locks spilled from his crown, giving him the appearance of a halo in the low light of the room. Flickering shadows danced across his regal face, showing pale marble features, he had a broad, prominent brow, a stout, bold chin, and a commanding, yet still quite kissable mouth. The handsomest thing about the man was his eyes. The color of polished copper, the man’s eyes shone bright and friendly, with a hint of the mysterious and mischievous echoing from deep within. Gabriella thought they were the kind of eyes that could pierce a woman to her very soul.

Gabriella looked down at her filthy brown uniform. She worried at the grime under her unkempt nails. She was a mess. What she wouldn’t give for one of her finer dresses right now. To have her hair done in a proper way. Her nails buffed to a shine. She hated to think it, but her mother was right. One never got a second chance at first impressions. Even in the tropical wild!

So, unwilling to face the young man, Gabriella hid behind Magpie.

“Finally,” the stranger said. “It is so good to have company.”

“What are you doing here?” the captain asked. Her hand wandered to her gun.

“Please,” the man said. “There is no need to draw your weapons. You can see I am unarmed.”

He stood straight, spread his arms wide, turning in place. He then held out his empty palms.

Gabriella noticed that one hand was bare while the other was hidden beneath a crisp, white glove.

“Certainly you are not afraid of me?”

“I fear no man,” Jax snarled. “It is you who should fear me!”

“Jax,” the captain scolded.

Jax crossed her arms, adopting one of her many scowls.

“You’re obviously a skilled warrior,” the man said. “I must admit that yes, I am afraid of you.” He spread his hands apart again before he bowed.

Jax furrowed her brow at first. This was soon followed by a half grin and nod at the stranger.

“That’s more like it.”

“Who are you?” the captain asked.

The stranger returned to his full height while clucking his tongue. “Where are my manners?

I’m sorry, these years of solitude have left me clumsy as an ox.” He stepped forward, offering a hand to the captain. “I’m Atom Loquacious.”

* * * *

“I don’t understand,” Rose said. As she shook the man’s hand, the rest of the crew exchanged confused glances. The stranger was an unexpected surprise in the wild of the jungle, especially since the laboratory was supposed to be deserted. What was even more surprising was his graceful charm. Not to mention the fact that he seemed glad to see them.

“It’s rather simple,” the man said, pumping her arm for all it was worth. “Atom with a t and an o. Like the eye of the nucleus, not like the first man.”

“Not that,” Rose said after he released her hand. “I’m sorry if we’re intruding. We didn’t expect you to be here, Doctor.”

“Captain,” Jayne said. “This man isn’t Doctor Loquacious. He’s too young for starters.”

“I’m afraid she’s right,” Atom said. “I’m no doctor.”

“But your surname,” Rose said. “Just who are you, exactly?”

The man looked to the ceiling for a moment, as if unsure of how to answer the question, before he settled back into a broad grin. “I think the easiest explanation would be that Doctor Loquacious is my father.”

“Impossible,” Jayne snapped. “Doctor Loquacious didn’t have any children.”

“That as it may be, it really is the best explanation I can offer,” Atom insisted.

“Sounds like son of mad scientist,” Jax said. “Talks in circles, like Jayne.”

Jayne snorted at the remark, but kept quiet.

“If you aren’t the doc,” Click said, “why hang around here?”

“I’m under strict orders not to leave the laboratory,” the young man explained.

“Mr. Loquacious,” Rose said.

“Please, call me Atom, Captain.”

Rose couldn’t help her smile. It wasn’t often that she was offered her correct title, much less by a complete stranger. She was still very wary of the man, though she suspected that wouldn’t last long under his silver tongue and agreeable humor.

“You are the captain of that glorious airship? Yes?” he asked.

Rose nodded, silenced by his flattery.

“And this is your wonderful crew?” he asked.

“Right again,” Rose said.

To everyone’s surprise, Atom pointed to each member of the crew, correctly identifying them. “The tall one is Jax, yes? Then there is Magpie, and Jayne. And you, my friend, must be Click. It is so wonderful to meet all of you. Please have a seat. Make yourselves comfortable.”

“Too right,” Click said, making for the sofa.

Rose grabbed him by the arm to stop the native from making himself at home. She shook her head, trying to free the disjointed feeling Atom’s naming act had given her before she lifted a finger at the man. “How do you know who we are?”

“Because I’ve been watching you since you departed the ship. There is one more among you? A Guppy? The young woman who worked out the door puzzle, yes?” He narrowed his eyes while he walked around the room, scanning the crew.

“What puzzle?” Jayne snapped. “That wasn’t a puzzle. It was a joke.”

“Captain, I’m not liking the sound of this,” Jax complained.

“What do you mean you’ve been watching us?” Rose asked.

“Ah ha!” Atom shouted over them. He stopped before Magpie and bowed nearly to the ground before he said, “Madam, I am honored to make your acquaintance.”

“Ain’t you just the bee’s knees?” Magpie asked. Over her shoulder, she added, “Guppy, honey, as much as I’d love to be the object of such affection, I think he means you.” The large woman stepped to one side, exposing a trembling Gabriella.

Atom rose from his bow, and as soon as his gaze fell upon the young woman, he went quiet.

Where he was a whirlwind of words a moment ago, he was now graveyard silent. He stood stone still, staring at Gabriella. She stood just as still, staring right back.

Neither spoke.

Neither moved.

After several seconds of nothingness, Rose cleared her throat. “Atom,” she said, “this is Gabriella Upstairs.”

“Gabriella,” he echoed.

Gabriella smiled at the sound of her name on his lips.

Rose recognized the smile for what it was. She dragged the child halfway across the world to teach her some independence, and the kid had to go and fall for some lunatic living in an abandoned laboratory. What would she tell Daniel?

Everyone seemed caught up in the chemistry between the pair. They stood in silence, watching Atom hold out his hand, while Gabriella placed her fingers into his open palm. Atom lifted them to his lips, grazing them gently before he looked back to her face again.

“Gabriella,” he repeated. “The feminine of Gabriel?”

“Yes,” Gabriella said.

“Like the angel?”

Gabriella nodded.

“Are you an angel?” he asked. His eyes twinkled with unspeakable affection.

Gabriella giggled.

“For heaven’s sake!” Jayne shouted, clearly the only one unmoved by the touching scene.

“She’s no angel. She’s just a spoiled little rich girl.”

Gabriella snatched her hand away from him before she went bright red from cheek to cheek.

Atom took on a severe look while he dipped his head. “I apologize if I made you uncomfortable.”

“You didn’t,” Magpie said. She shot Jayne a burning look. Rose wanted to applaud Magpie for her defense of Guppy. She knew the woman felt motherly toward the girl as they all did, but Magpie had taken the role to heart.

“Mr. Loquacious,” Rose said.

“Atom,” he corrected her while he raised his face to Gabriella again.

“Yes.” Rose sighed. “Please, let’s get back to the matter at hand.”

“Which is?” Atom asked, his eyes never leaving the blushing Gabriella.

“Tell us how were you watching us from all the way in here?” Rose demanded.

Atom finally turned to face Rose. “I can do better than that. I’ll show you.”