Distance Divided by Time: A Steampunk Tale

[RaiaDraconis]

Well that certainly explains one thing--Xander did indeed steal his pocket watch in chapter...what was it? When he met Bessie for the first time.

The Chester/Xander tie in is a fascinating twist!

[Swirl-Girl]

Oh my! I never have trusted Xander.

[Magz from Oz]

I just love this new twist.  This is truly an amazing story Pippin.

[PeregrineTook]

Well that certainly explains one thing--Xander did indeed steal his pocket watch in chapter...what was it? When he met Bessie for the first time.

The Chester/Xander tie in is a fascinating twist!

Oh my! I never have trusted Xander.

I just love this new twist.  This is truly an amazing story Pippin.

Glad that the Xander/Chester twist caught people off guard  :=)  I was hoping no one would guess at it before we got there!

[shaunta]

You caught me off guard too! Love the update Pippin. This is a great story!

[PeregrineTook]

When Lisa returned, I composed myself and let her know the sad truth of Chester's visit



but the resolute Lisa refused to give up.  "Maybe we can still find a way," she said.  "Maybe he missed something." 
I had my doubts, but I appreciated my apprentice's positive attitude.



Though my heart wasn't in it, I joined her in a day of alchemical research and tinkering.



That night, I went to tell Jennie the sad news.



"I know," she replied.
"What?!" I gasped.
She rose, bringing me with her as she walked back towards her grave.



"I didn't come back for you to bring me to life, I came back to help you remember how to live...and you have.  But now, you'll need to be resourceful to save that life."
"What do you mean??" I asked, but at that moment, her spirit left me for the last time.

[RaiaDraconis]

Jennie knows something. I have a sneaking suspicion that the narrator might be in a bit of danger...and possibly young Miss Bunch as well.

[Swirl-Girl]

How sad. I'm very scared for our dear friend.

[Eldridge]

I never suspected that Xander is... and I have other questions to be answered as well, Pippin. Great update!

[PeregrineTook]

I was at work the next day, but Lisa kept up the research on the elixir.  Therefore, it was Lisa who discovered the horrible truth.



The elixir of life was unstable.



She ran to the lab to confirm it, and yes, the elixir was a curse in disguise.  As easily as it could reanimate dying tissue to sustain life, it could just as easily kill that living tissue and et sustain it:  the living dead.



I had to comfort her before she could compose herself enough to share the traumatic truth of her discovery.  We needed to prepare.  If there was an elixir, there must be a counter-elixir




We worked non-stop through the next day, taking only brief turns resting.


Finally, with our combined work, we found it.  It was the elixir that would save us all...we hoped.

[Swirl-Girl]

We hoped?!
Hope is not enough, not at this stage of the game!
I think it might, but it might not.

[PeregrineTook]

As I prepared to head to the Clavell household to try to stop Chester, Lisa begged to come along.



"No," I insisted, "you mean far too much to me.  I can't put you in harm's way."
Her eyes widened as she looked at me.  It was at that moment that I realized I'd been so obsessed with our research, I hadn't even seen that I'd fallen in love with my young apprentice.



And she felt the same.



"I'll be back soon," I told her, hoping it was the truth.  And with that, I ran off into the oncoming night armed only with a collection of potions.

[MarianT]

Oh dear -- I was afraid he might fall in love with Lisa, considering that she looks so much like Jenny. I've got a pretty good idea what will happen with the elixirs, but won't spoil it.

[RaiaDraconis]

What MarianT said. Hopefully he's not about to land in a terrible trap.

[Magz from Oz]

What MarianT said. Hopefully he's not about to land in a terrible trap.

Ditto... but given Pippin's penchant for twists, we'll all have to wait and see.  Great update Pippin.