Standing on the top of a train that was starting to gain real speed was not good for my confidence. James would catch me if I fell, I hoped. Having everyone stare at me was unnerving. Look, I found the part. It was time for this story to skip forward to us safely arriving in the city. How much more could I handle?

I turned, but all I saw was the blackness of night in front of us, not the scary lady.

Good.

Just...blackness.

Like that area of forest hadn't paid its electrical bills, so the sun won't shine there.

Completely normal.

Lt. Burndree reached for something, face going pale but hands remaining steady. "This...Not this."

Then the train plunged into the darkness of night, and after a minute lights flickered on in the train body, some kind of automatic thing I supposed. The black of the train seemingly disappeared with the darkness of night. It wasn't dark like a shadow. But like mist, a little bit warm like a hot fog. You could see through it, but not far.

"I see this will not end without a fight." said Hawthorne. Calmly.

Okay. So he knew what it was and could handle it.

Who could not handle it was Jesseme, who gripped the sides of her head and let out an agonized wail. "My entire life, I thought things such as this were...fairytales. Make believe. This is impossible. This is..." She started sucking in air, and doubled over like a panic attack.

As the only other girl there, I went to her and rubbed her back awkwardly. "Breathe." Wow, what great advice. I was never good at comforting people, dang it. "The world is a strange place. Don't stress so much." Why was she freaking out? I wanted to be the one to freak out, but I didn't want to steal anyone's thunder. Also, that would be a little embarrassing to have two people freaking out.

"This is the death walkers." Said James, also calmly. "Blood has been shed, and we have lingered too long."

So...Hawthorne hadn't been worried only about dinosaurs, but also...bad special effects.

Gotcha.

Hawthorn adjusted his tie, and took out a monocle and gently placed it over one eye, hands swift and practiced as he placed his own glove on. "This can be a blessing too. No foresters attack during the darkness."

Rock swallowed hard. If the Foresters couldn't attack us during this time, was it because their ninja powers didn't work, or was it a cultural thing?

Hawthorne inhaled, easily assuming control of the situation. "We just need to find the Death Walker. And...it does appear they are on this train with us."

Darkness.

"We will enter the train carriage soon." He said, his voice a deep baritone in the shadowy darkness. "But we need to understand our situation exactly. So back to the original question. Who broke the train initially."

"And who were they targeting." I said, as Jesseme was starting to breathe normally. "Basically, which one of you guys are they trying to remove."

There was a sound uncomfortably like the Barneys, and I wished Hawthorn had let us go inside the train. The terrible sound continued for several seconds, then faded away as the train continued speeding into the dark.

"Who was scheduled to take this train, and who decided to ride last minute?" Hawthorn asked.

The train was gaining speed.

Jesseme gripped her hands tightly, a little tear leaking from her eyes. "This is impossible. Completely impossible."

Rock Lee coughed cutely, and I gave Jesseme one more good back pack before I inched closer to the Ninja wannabe on my left. His eyes were huge, and it was clear he wanted to talk.

I whispered to him. "I can't talk for you, I don't even know your backstory."

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"Just...help me start." He said. Terminal shyness.

Everyone was already looking at us. "Rock, do you want to add something?"

"I do." he said, with a vigorous nod that shook his bowl cut hair cut. He wasn't impressed with Death Walkers (which sounded super friendly), but public speaking was a no go. "I...am from the foresters." He spoke, as wooden as a tree himself "My father was taken for questioning regarding the disappearance of our Master. My clan has served the Great Master for generations, but when he...left, suddenly all of his loyal servants are being rounded up. I..." James blinked, and for once his emotion was real and he was no longer so wooden. "I barely escaped with help of my father's good friend. We have no knowledge if those taken were taken for questioning, or killed an a power coup. My guardian had a contact within the Special Yard that he was taking me to. A Deputy Constable Rylan."

Hawthorne nodded. "Interesting." There was more there. "It may be as well that you found me. Deputy Constable Rylan himself is away." There was more to that story, but the plot was finally moving at a good pace.

"We were going to catch a different train, one that would leave tomorrow, but we saw an old rival. A samurai with a blessed blade. My guardian decided it was better to leave right away than linger. We found a train, the very last train, and barely made it in time."

Well. That was connection that I didn't like. The Samurai guy. I hadn't seen anyone else walking around with a Samurai sword. I mean, it was a large city, so maybe...but I felt that it was probably the same Samurai that was chasing Yu Li and Hawthorne.

Lt. Burnabree coughed. "I doubt I am the principle target." But he said it too quickly.

I pursed my lips and considered who he would be, if this was a K-drama. He was kind of handsome, but I wasn't sure handsome enough to be a main character. He was in this world's military, which I knew nothing about, but it did seem distinct and separate from the Constables. If anything, the Constables seemed to be higher in the social hierarchy.

Why couldn't I remember his name?

I realized with a bolt.

He was a side character. No one remembers side characters. He was handsome enough that his death would be meaningful, but he would be killed off to let the main character know of the evil organization. He would have some kind of tragic enough back story, but would be cast aside quickly.

I...didn't want that to happen to him. He seemed decent and nice enough. But he also was a person.

He must have seen something bad happen and was on his way to report it. He didn't appear to be wearing any clothes indicating his profession, so I think he was hiding. It was only the disaster when he revealed himself. "Two days ago, I witnessed an official commit a crime. I was on my way to special yard to report it. But I wasn't scheduled for this train. I missed my other train, and diverted to this one. There was a large commotion, and apparently some danger lass was steam diving or some such, I didn't see I was too far afield."

I felt like that was me. Danger Lass. That was almost funny, expect he said it so seriously that it any humor died in the darkness around us.

He continued. "I knew the other train, my original train, is famous for leaving early. So I just asked a cabby whether there was any more trains leaving for the day, and that's how I found my way here. I think I saw you, Miss Rogers, on my way here."

Jesseme stood upright again, dignity and pose settling upon her. "I can't possibly imagine anyone coming after me. While working on the Atala project is a large concern to many, as for myself I am rather unimportant. I am but the assistant to the assistant to the sub head minor director. In a completely minor role." There was a lie there, in her words. "I was to leave a few days ago for a normal trip, but there was a great commotion, of a personal nature."

"More details, please, Miss Roger." Asked Hawthorne.

She sighed, as if embarrassed to reveal something personal. "My dear friend's grandfather passed away unexpectedly, and I had to leave my work in a hurry to aid him. After sending him off for the mourning period, I was to return to my work when I received another desperate telegraph. The poor boy could lose his place in the Great Steam Academy, and he sent a desperate message asking me to speak with them. I was at a cafe and noticed a great commotion, lost in thought, and as I gazed upward I noticed an elevated nearby station with a great Steam Train idling. I realized I could still make it to the Central City today."

I felt it was probable, however unlikely, that that great commotion was myself somehow.

Basically, I felt like I had walked through several different characters stories and accidentally pulled all the threads together.

So...it was all my fault.

Can't have that. Don't want to be the main character. Jesseme can do it. She already has a lot of the 'everyman' trope going. She does some profession that is super special, but she considers mundane. Like more than half of all everyman trope characters, completely normal people who would be in the top 1% of their talent/specialty/heritage.

"What do you do at the Atala Project?" I asked her. I used my most impressive voice, the one I use when I tutor 12 year olds. "What is your role?"

She gritted her teeth. "I...I check the dispensations of the diagrams."

Lt. Barnatree whistled. "I wouldn't call that a minor role, Miss."

Hawthorne exhaled slowly, clearly understanding something I did not. "Nor would I." His words heavy with understanding.

Jessame had collected herself a little. I don't think she was brittle, I just think everything that happened had completely rattled her concept of reality.

"I am insignificant in the grand scheme of things, truly." she said, like a main character would.

Hawthorne glowered for a moment more, before turning back to the hapless side character of Lt. Brumdree, the darkness staining his face. "What crime is worth it for you to go away without leave?"

The good plot device character coughed. "I...wished to report it anonymously, sir."

"This may have been an attempt on your life. I am not certain I can even keep my ward alive, let alone everyone else. Tell me now or the truth may die with you."

Somber words.

"There is something wrong with the Atala Project..."