Womack scowls. "That German *bastard* stole from us. We were supposed to get..." She breaks off with a sigh. "Never mind."

There appears to be an office off in the direction Robert was heading.

"Come along, there looks to be an office here.  Claude can rest and we'll send for the doctor that has been tending to her.  She's going to need medical attention."  He heads toward the office, wary with his pistol out.  "So whose warehouse is this?"

The pair shake their heads. "We don't know. Gelber never told us." They follow along peacefully. O'Rourke walks deeper into the warehouse, while Louis walks behind the women.

Robert looks around warily. "He's killed the Martian and his family.  They're clearing out anyone that knows anything about this operation.  Did he say he would meet you here?  He could be out to finish the two of you off."  He looks around again; "O'Rourke, Louis, be wary, we may have company."

"What?" Remington looks at Robert, her face slack with shock. "They killed Verinus? And his sons?"

Womack shakes her head. "I haven't spoken to Gelber since he double crossed us." She grasps Remington as she leans heavily. "I just want to get us away from this place. We won't tell anyone what has happened."

Louis and O'Rourke are on alert, carefully watching all around as Robert deals with the ladies. They each nod at Robert's word without speaking or turning.

Robert nods, his face grim and set.  "Man, woman and child... killed." He shook his head slightly as they headed for what should be an office area. "What was your role in this effort and how did Gelber double cross you?  Your cooperation will be needed to ensure you avoid the rope.  You have my word as a gentleman to do all in my power to see you and your companion free should you aid us wholeheartedly."

Syrtis Major (May 24, 1889 3:30PM)

"Claude and I arranged the arms sales to Gelber. I saw him talking with my supplier from America, and paying him directly. He cut us out of the deal. That's it."

From across the warehouse, everyone hears a door open, and the sounds of men talking and heavy footfalls on the floor. Robert can hear at least four different voices, all speaking in German.

"Honor among thieves..." Robert frowns.  He looked at O'Rourke at the mention of an American source.  "I'm sure your government and mine would be more interested in pursuing your source in America than you two if you cooperate."  He frowned as the sudden noise alerted them to visitors.  "Quick, take cover.  We can fire on them if needed from cover but nothing unless we are directly attacked or at my word."  Robert took charge in automatic reflex, looking about to see if everyone understood.

The ladies nod as one and start towards what they deem as cover.

"Sergeant, nehmen Sie Ihren Kader und die Rückseite des Lagers zu sichern," a voice calls from the front.
"Jawohl," another voice replies from the same area.

O'Rourke looks at Robert, her eyes wide. "Soldiers!" she hisses. "Many of them!"

Robert looks at O'Rourke and blanches.  He glances about to see if they have an immediate escape route.  Now would be the time for a detachment of Royal Marines or Grenadier guards.

Womack runs for the back door, practically dragging Claude along. O'Rourke turns and runs after them.

"O'Rourke!" Louis calls after her. When the woman turns, Louis tosses her rifle to the agent. O'Rourke snags it, and disappears after the fugitives.

"Come on," Louis says as she grabs Robert. They take two steps toward the door, and they both hear booted feet on the floor, just on the other side of the crates. Just then, Louis pushes Robert up against the wall, presses her body against his, and practically smothers him in a huge kiss. His pistol is wedged between their bellies, still in his hand.

"Was machst du hier?" A man calls out from a few feet behind Louis.

Robert pauses as Womack and the other two women flee the warehouse.  It would be unseemly for him to push ahead of them no matter how capable they might be for a gentleman would always preserve a lady's safety, even that of a traitor.  Besides, he trusted O'Rourke to see that Womack and her lover remained in custody.  Claude would require medical attention or die which limited their options to flee.

He's prepared to give his life as the Germans suddenly come upon them.  Robert is surprised as Louis pressed up against him in a sudden, passionate kiss.  He responded, surprised at first and then wrapping his free arm around her, his hand drifting down to knead the firm flesh of her bottom.  He thanked God for the quick thinking of his wife and vowed to thank her when time allowed.

Robert continued the kiss and then looked up at the German, his hair mussed a bit and his hand still pulling Louis firmly against him.  "Oi mate!  Can't cha give a bloke a bitta privacy with 'a fine bitta ass?"

Robert sees a trio of Germans round the stack of crates in the middle of the room. They all wear the blue tunics and grey pants of the Kaiser's Own Regiment of Mars, their Pickelhelms, and are carrying slung Gewehr 88 rifles.

The two leading privates step off in opposite directions to gain an advantage, and to clear the way for the grandfatherly sergeant who walks up closer to Robert and Louis. He takes in the scene for a long moment that seems to stretch into an eternity.

"'Ere, now, guv'nor," Louis says in a perfect, and slightly slurred, Cockney accent, "we was just stoppin' in for a little bit, after a little drink, we are." She giggles and wiggles a bit in Robert's arms, and leans a little to regard the soldiers over her shoulder.

Robert shifts his hand between them to tuck the pistol down the front of his pants.  It might look rather like something else from the angle of the soldiers.  Certainly if they were suspected of being anything but a pair of low class lovers their lives would be forfeit.  "Ya soldier fellas now, doncher like a bit 'a sweetness now 'an then as well.  Ken't blame a bloke fer that now, eh what?"

The sergeant glowers at the pair for another moment. Finally, he draws himself up. "This is private property. Ordinarily, we would turn you over to the authorities. However, I do not have time for that. You will leave, now."

Louis leans back a little, tugging Robert's shirt tail out of his trousers, and covering the pistol. "Come on, then, Reggie. Maybe we can fin' a better place tha' this." She takes a couple of not quite steady steps back, nearly bumping into the sergeant. She smiles sexily at him, snags Robert's hand, and sashays toward the door, towing him along like a dinghy behind a ship.

The soldier closest to the door steps aside, and they are through the door and back in the alley. The door closes firmly behind then, and they hear the bolt being thrown from the inside.

Robert shifts to cover the pistol; "Oi, right on then yer worship... off we are ta snog in smatta else's place."  He gives Louis a resounding slap on the ass.  "Come on then ya tart.  I gotta shag yer good now."

When the reach the alley and the door closes he pulls Louis into a hug and kisses her.  "Well thought out darling. I thought we were done."

Louis is breathing heavily, and she devours Robert in a huge kiss. "Oh, that was a near thing," she rasps as she comes up for air. Her eyes twinkle with excitement. "Tart, indeed! You enjoyed that, you lecherous man."

Her attention shifts to a point behind Robert's right shoulder. "I think O'Rourke is waiting for us to, um, disengage."

Robert returns the passion as the sudden brush with death as well as the presence of his desirable wife stokes the fire of his ardor.  Still, he breaks the kiss as well and smiles at her.  "I enjoyed every minute of it my love.  I saw a very interesting side of my wife."

He coughs a bit and pulls away, one last peck on the cheek before turning.  "Let's get Claude to a doctor.  I think back at the naval yard will be the safest place although how she escaped is of concern."

AS the pair turns around, O'Rourke steps around the corner, and then scrambles backward as a pistol shot rings out further up the alley.

"Damn it!" O'Rourke exclaims as she tumbles to the ground. She comes to her knees with her pistol in hand. "They're taking off on us!" She peeks around the corner, only to jerk her head back as another shot splinters the wooden trim on the corner of the warehouse just over her head.

Robert breaks free from Louis as the shot rings out.  "Damn their hearts!  Did they have a pistol concealed?"  He goes up to the corner and fires blindly twice before glancing quickly.

Robert sees no one in the alley. O'Rourke stands as Louis comes up behind them. "The soldiers just threw the lock on the warehouse door, and I hear a police whistle!"

Robert shook his head. "Let's get out of here then."  He looked about for the sound of the whistle.  "Which way did the two women go?"

The two women start running up the alley in the same direction Robert fired in. "This way!" O'Rourke says urgently. "Quickly!"

Robert stuffed his gun in his coat pocket and took off running.

O'Rourke, Louis and Robert round the next corner at a run. The alleyway here is lined with large rubbish bins at the back of each warehouse, and the road is somewhat wider here, by maybe five feet or so. The police whistles have stopped, and Robert doesn't hear anything from the soldiers.

He takes a couple of breaths - and then spies Claude and Womack at the far end of the warehouse on the next block. They just appeared from around the corner to Robert's right, ran toward him for a short distance, and ducked behind a pile of broken crates, facing away from him. He can see them clearly as they peer at something further down the alley.