Arris is a sprawling city of brick and steel. The ruling aristocracy long ago funded a great project to bring about the bots, small steam powered robots, and as such the working class was freed from manual labour and money became irrelevant to all. The city is overrun by two things; parties, and invention.

Lacking anything to do but have a good time, the majority of citizens spend most of their time in various large workshops, creating and inventing new things. As such, many of the inhabitants are quirky, but all share a love of science, as well as a love of fun, which is to be had in droves with casinos, balls, and dinner parties held in thousands of manors every night. Frederick himself owns a mansion and property that overshadows them all, with droves of gardening and maid bots buzzing about constantly. Every night there is a party at the O’Conner Mansion, dubbed ‘King of Society,’ which is open for any and all to attend.

Frank woke up slowly, like always.

"Well, ladies, your companionship is greatly appreciated but I fear there is work to be done." He said as they started to rouse. The three beautiful ladies that lay across his bed all immediately started complaining.

"Sorry, ladies, but I shall be sure to call upon you again."

They grudgingly left after gathering their wildly strewn clothes. Frank, for his part, stayed in bed for a few more minutes, wanting to get at least these first few moments alone. A Maidbot buzzed in with breakfast minutes later, and set about straightening up his room while he ate.

"You know, Claudia," he started, as he had slowly begun naming all of his personal maidbots, "You sure can pick em'. Those girls last night were fantastic."

"I'm glad you're pleased, master." She said in the monotonous drone of robotic speech.

"Oh bullcrap, you don't have to call me 'master' and you know it. I'm Frank!"

"Yes, master, whatever you say"

Frank's lips curled into a wry smile. "Well then slave, gather my things, I shall check up on latest developments at the Sleeping Giant."

The Sleeping Giant was a bar two bloacks down from Frank's mansion, and where many of the local people gambled, drank, whored, and gossipped. It also had the best egg and bacon roll ever seen by mankind, and the latter is the reason that Frank visited it so often.

"Well, good people," Frank boomed as he walked in, "What's news?"

He sat at his favourite table and ordered an egg and bacon roll.

Frank visited frequently; when he arrived the staff, figuring out his patterns, had reserved his special table and already placed down a steaming fresh egg and bacon roll.

Around the bar sat Nicholas, Braes, and James - three steam-tech mechanics cum aristocrats who often frequented the place. Rose and Lilly, the two attractive barmaids, smiled and gossiped nearby, giving drinks and serving breakfast.

"Lord!" cried Nicholas. "How good it is to place my weary eyes upon you! You look fantastic today, my Lord, if I may say so myself. There is no news. Everything is fine. How are you?" He smiled, his teeth extremely white.

Braes and James nodded, sharing similar flatteries.

"Wonderful!" Frank replied while wolfing down his roll. When it was all gone he ordered another, to be accompanied with some ale, and turned back to Nicholas.

"So there is no news? None at all? Are you saying that the entire nation is busy hard at work in their workshops, and have not discovered a single thing? Similarly, do you suggest that there are no balls? No parties? You say everything is fine, and I say that the lack of news denotes that nothing is fine!"

Nicholas smiled. He was used to patronising Frank's little eccentricities.

"I am but a humble technologist," he said. "Forgive me, Lord, but of late I have not had time for parties or for balls. Perhaps you'd care to speak to James? He is very popular of late."

"Well, I hope he does not get too popular, or I shall have to challenge him to a duel for control of the realm!" to which he started booming out with laughter.

"Well, to be more serious, you mentioned a lack of time. It is this that I came here to discuss. What are you working on? In fact, I wish to hear about all of your projects!" he swept his arms open with that last remark, motioning for all three gentlemen to speak.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahah!

Frank was so funny!

The entire tavern couldn't hold in their laughter. Giggles wracked the room.

"I have a few projects," said James, his face still creased in a grin. "I'm working on a series of commercially viable steam-engines, more powerful and versatile than the current models we have. I want to raise the bar. Up the ante, you know?"

"Oh, yes," said Baes, "I know exactly what you mean. I wish to create an artificial heart that can be used, safely enough, in the place of a real organ.. for medicinal purposes, you know. It would revolutionise the caring arts as we know it, but alas, I have not yet been successful in making it self-charging, and we can't have a man taking out his heart on the hour to recharge it, can we?"

"Ahahah," said Nicholas. "I've designed a series of spanners which are lighter and more durable than most others - as well as made on the cheap. They're crafted out of the various scrap metals lying about the city, and with the right alchemical combination .. they could be stronger than diamonds, and lighter than silk."

Frank was alarmed slightly; one of these three men, he knew, was lying.

"But Baes," Frank said, "How are you planning to have this heart self-charging? Plug the man into a lightning rod? Open up a door in his back and fill it with coal?"

"And Nicholas, spanners? I'm very sorry old chap, I LIKE the feel of a good heavy wrench in my hand. But the strength would be useful..."

"James. I like it. The steam engines nowadays are so unreliable I refuse to use them on principle! I'm glad that SOMEONE is bold enough to challenge the norm."

Then to the three, he said, "Well, I am certainly impressed by your progress. Perhaps we could take a walk, if you are not otherwise engaged, for I would very much like to see all of these works in progress."

"Y-yes," they all agreed - they would very much like a walk in the park.

Frank nodded at this, then stood and made his way to the bar, bowed to Rose and Lilly and thanked them for the meal before paying and leading the three men out. He signalled to Nicholas to lead the way when they reached the street saying, "Perhaps we could start at your workshop? Is it not closest?"

"Well, not quite, Lord," said Nicholas. "It's actually rather out of the way - we'd have to cross bridges and travel through the markets - perhaps we should begin with Baes?"

"Sorry, I seem to remember it being closer. Oh well, to Baes' it is! Lead the way!"

They're led through a small garden; across several rotting bridges over a handful of slow rivers; through the main shopping streets, and through tiny allies; soon, they were at the Baes residence.

"Forgive the mess.." said Baes, opening the door to his workshop/home.

The place, of course, was immaculate to the eyes of most engineers.. spare parts everywhere, yes, but in a clear pattern. Everything was labeled. Most of the workbenches were clean.

"Mess, what mess?"

Frank chuckled. "I like this workshop, 'tis shiny. Anyway, where is this heart you're working on? Surely you have a prototype or something to the effect."

"Shiny? .. Shiny?"

Baes's typically hurried face had turned into an image of rugged disgust. He was deeply insulted. Shiny? Who did Frank - a simpleton who hadn't given anything to the field of engineering - think he was addressing? How.. patronising!

"Calm down, Baes," said James, smile frozen on his face.

"No, James. Not now. Not.. my greatest work!" Baes's teeth were clenched. His voice showed his fury. "Sir," he addressed Frank, "I challenge you to a duel!"

Frank shot a glance at him, then used Convincing and started laughing. "Ah, Baes you are quite funny, now how about you fetch that heart for me so that I can have a look, or were you just trying to talk yourself up?"

Baes' face briefly went black, and then curved into a smile.

"Haha, no my lord, I wasn't having you on" he said happily, as if the thought of being mad at Frank hadn't ever crossed his mind.

Baes walked over to a cluttered bench, and lifted up a heavy, heart shaped object. The prototype heart was exactly that, a prototype. It was made of very heavy, solid, steel, and the inner pipework was rough and unfinished, however, it would get it's job done, it would probably tear human muscles while doing so.

This was not Baes' best craft, but definitely one still in progress.

Baes held it in his hands towards Frank, his face gleaming with pride and joy.

Frank looked at the man with unabashed joy in his eyes. "Now this, gentlemen, is why we live. I do not mean to discourage you other two, but I must say, this is a work of pure genious. Or, will be when completed. Still, I must say that I am wildly anticipating its release soon. Are you well funded?"

Baes face beamed. He was extremely proud of his creation.

"Thankyou my lord, thankyou!" he squealed.

The other men looked on, Frank sensed that James was quite jealous of his lords appreciation for Baes' new work - however - Nicholas didn't seem to care, infact, he seemed over enthused.

"Wow, Baes! That's amazing!" Nicholas exclaimed drastically.

"Please do tell us more about it" he said.

"Oh, well, uh, yes I'm quite well funded for the moment my lord." said Baes, although he seemed almost sad, as if Nicholas comments had lead to him thinking his work was to be mocked.

Frank put the heart down, and said, "Well, I think perhaps you'd better put that away, I wouldn't want to ruin all of your good work."

He then moved towards the door, slowly, not seeming rushed. "Well then gentlemen, shall we move on? there are still two more workshops to see and the day isn't getting any longer. Who's next?"

Before Frank had barely finished speaking, Nicholas jumped in

"Uh, let's go to James' factory next my lord, I do believe the steam engine he is working on is quite the master craft!" he said, over enthusiastically.

It was becoming increasingly obvious to Frank that Nicholas had an ulterior motive today.

"No, no offense to you, James, but I've SEEN a steam engine, given, not one that is stable, but I would still prefer to see something that I have not yet witnessed. Shall we venture to your workshop, Nicholas?"

And at that, Frank walked out the door and started heading to Nicholas' workshop (If Frank does not know where it is, he uses Empathy on Nicholas to find out)

Nicholas face becomes blank, and then frustrated.

"Really, my lord, I think it's a wise idea to see James' steam engine first. You wouldn't want to insult his work would you?" says Nicholas, his voice sinister and powerful.