In The Sky (for dino944)

[Andras]

Jack Wynand looked towards the dark shape of the lighthouse, as the stormy sea raged and the boat neared it's destination. The two men who rowed his small boat were agents of the United States government, and they had brought him here to complete a mission they had hired him for on behalf of the President himself.

"Just to review!" said one of the men, raising his voice to talk over the loud rain and waves. "Your mission here is to infiltrate the flying city, Columbia! That city is the rightful property of the United States government, not Comstock and his cultists. We intend to take it back!"

Jack answered "You said I was supposed to retrieve someone. Couldn't I just get in contact with the rebels and overthrow the Founders?"

"No." answered the agent. "The Vox Populi, from what we know of them, are a horde of irish, colored, and oriental anarchists led by a colored woman and vicious fanatic named Daisy Fitzroy. Them being in control of the city and it's weapons would us in just as worse shape as we are now. Open the box!"

Jack did as he was told, opening the hardwood box on the floor of the ship. There were four things: a pistol (which would probably come in handy), a picture of some kind of...code, a picture of a golden angelic statue that reminded him somewhat of Lady Liberty in New York, and a picture of a girl...more accurately a young woman in dark hair and a white dress. He looked at the back of the photo. It read: ELIZABETH. BRING TO WASHINGTON D.C UNHARMED.

"Who is this girl? Am I supposed to kidnap her?" Jack asked.

"She's the daughter of Comstock; he keeps her locked up in that golden statue-tower and calls her 'The Lamb'. She has great significance in his religion."

"So it's a rescue? How do I know if she'll let me take her? Is she a bargaining chip?"

"We are not permitted to disclose any other information about the Lamb." replied the agent.

"Well, it looks like we're docking soon." he continued. "Good luck, soldier. The President has high faith in you. Bring back the girl, and we will force Comstock to pay back the debt he owes to his country."

Jack took his items and excited the ship onto the wooded platform, moving to the lighthouse and up it's staircases. He reached the top, where there was a door and a combination panel of some sort. He entered the code from his notes and was granted access into the lighthouse proper. Sitting in the chair that was available, he was launched into the clouds by it's rocket propulsion system and the magnificent city of Columbia spread across the clouds before him. He had heard stories of the flying city but seeing it with his own eyes was truly astonishing.

Jack's journey continued through the wondrous city, through a temple by which people worshipped idols of the Founding Fathers and into the wondrous streets...

[dino944]

*A young girl who was maybe around 19 or 20 approached the man from behind and tapped his shoulder* Hello brother and welcome to our own little slice of heaven Columbia! *she was rather Arian blond hair blue eyes, the works. She was smaller than jack by about 5 inches and was wearing a white button up shirt and a blue skirt that reached just below her knees* I saw you exit from the temple and thought I'd offer you a tour of the city. *she smiled at him, her teeth were rather white* Oh i forgot to introduce myself my names Jessica but you call me Jess or Jessie or whatever *she shrugged*.

[Andras]

http://www.nerdlikeyou.com/wp-conten...bia-statue.jpg

Jack looked around at all the people in the square, it looked like any other big city in America he had seen, but all of the buildings floated high above the clouds on what appeared to be balloons. He saw a few small shops floating around, or towards other areas on their own. A sign in front of a floating barber-shop said "7:00-12:00" so it seems that it was scheduled to "dock" at a specific time.

"This city is changeable...the pieces can be arranged however they need to be." thought Jack.

He saw a huge statue of a bearded man with a flowing scarf in the middle of the square. It was Comstock, of course.

Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around. A pretty young blond girl introduced herself and apparently intended to give him a tour of Columbia. This was strange. She could just be a nice, outgoing girl who wanted to introduce him to the city.

Or maybe Comstock had already figured him out and sent someone to spy on him...

In any case, any action against her in broad daylight in front of bystanders would give him away.

"Nice to meet you, Jessica." Jack said, smiling. "I'm Jack, from New York. I just left the Sodom Below an hour ago, and already I'm starting to feel spiritually cleansed. It's a great honor to be here, and to serve our prophet Comstock."

Jack made direct eye contact with Jessica.

"...Especially in the presence of an angel such as yourself."

[dino944]

*she blushed gently and smiled wider clapping her hands in a fluttering motion* Oh thats so wonderful to hear New York is one of the worst cities for sin as I've heard and I'm so glad you are already feeling the enlightenment Comstock brings *she giggled* So what do you say would you like that tour or do you have other important buisness to attend too? *she tilted her head slightly as she asked the question, she sure had energy in her she was bouncing on her toes*

[Andras]

"What the hell is with this girl? Is she on whatever kind of drugs they have in Columbia?" thought Jack.

"Sure. I would love to go on a tour. I'm sure there are a lot of things to see in the holy city." replied Jack to Jessica.

"I'll tag along for a bit, but I need to steer myself towards that tower. And I need to keep a close eye on this girl, I don't know who she is or why she approached me."

[dino944]

Yay *she grinned and began walking the route you are usually guided in the game to the parade that passes by* So Jack today we are celebrating the birthday of the lamb our prophets daughter *she motioned with her arm towards the passing parade that had a bunch of pictures and once it passed she carried on* in columbia we have a rich culture of music and art and engineering feats as you can tell by our floating city *she turned to him* Oh! and I have to show you one of the wonderful city performers *she grabs his hand and steers him towards a platform that has a barbershop quartet singing a beach boys song* lets listen for a bit *she sighed happily as she listend to them harmonizing the song*

[Andras]

Jack pretended to look thrilled and impressed by all of the technology that he was seeing. Well, he was. But he also didn't want to be in Columbia any longer then he had to. He listened intently as Jessica explained Columbia's culture, and didn't resist when he pulled her over to the quartet.

She seemed so bright and chipper. Was this really her personality? Maybe she was brainwashed. As he understood it, the city of Columbia was one huge cult.

"I don't think I've ever heard this song before. What year did it come out?"

Jack looked over and saw a sign leading to a street faire.

"Hey, would you like to go to the fair?"

[dino944]

OH it just came out this year these lovely gentlemen are just so talented *she smiled and then heard him talk about the fair* Oh yes that sounds lovely, I was just about to head there with you after this *she took his hand again and began walking there guiding him and when they got there she began talking about columbia again* So here in Columbia we are extremely far ahead we have these drinks called plazmids and they give you super powers *she flexed her arms like she had big muscles which she didnt but it was the typical superhero pose* there are so many different ones like Murder of crows which sends a flock of crows after your opponent and bucking bronco which shoots them in the air and holds them there for a bit oh and *she was cut short as the handyman was being shown off for the first time* Ohh look heres another new thing our scientist have come up with aren't they amazing *she gawked at the handyman for a bit*