Bounty-ful

Thea quickly made her way outside and peered at the flames. Looking at the others, she said,
"This cannot mean well..."

"That, Orin, was an explosion coming from these very docks." Ephraim replied, loading his guns, "At this time we have no reason for concern to ourselves. Nonetheless, I intend to request from the captain that either myself of our first mate might head over to quietly ascertain the goings on."

"I shall come as well," Thea said, her form shifting to look like a slightly older well off young lady, "I will blend with the crowd in that area."

"Well, don't be too hasty." Ephraim reminded Thea, "We first need the captain's permission before we commit to such an action."

Thea stuck out her tongue at him and rolled her eyes.
"I understand perfectly, I was merely preparing myself."

Orin looked around the room. "This is an airship,  right? Would there be a telescope handy,  would there?" He looked at the others expectantly.

"More than one" Ephraim replied, "but it wouldn't do much good, as there are other ships in the way. Getting to a sufficient height to see anything worthwhile would put one of us out in the open. On the off chance that this is a ploy to get us to reveal ourselves, we'd be in a much worse position than if one or two of us head over quietly."

Orin shrugged. "It was a thought."

"And not a bad one, at that." Ephraim said, "But, given the circumstances, it seems a tad imprudent."

"We had best make our decision quickly...the longer we wait, the more we invite trouble." Thea said, still peering at the flames.

"It has been perhaps a minute. Give our captain some time. I'm sure she'll be along shortly." Ephraim said, holstering his now loaded guns.

Kestrel was still pulling her coat on when she emerged from the captain's room, hair sticking out at all angles and pants unbuttoned.

"What's going on?"

"An explosion in the expensive portion of the docks," Thea stated calmly, "We wish to investigate the matter."

Aurelia emerged from the shadows of the kitchen.

"Yes, I think that needs doing, but don't forget that we have important things to do here." Aurelia inclined her chin in the direction of the bookkeeper, who was just stumbling out of bed. "You're the captain. What do you want us to do?"

Kestrel desperately wanted five minutes alone with Aurelia to plan out something that sounded coherent and she was sure wouldn't get someone killed. I guess you don't always have that time. She frowned and thought for a minute.

"Aurelia, you and Ephraim are stealthy. I'll stay here with Orin. Thea... you go with them too, but I want you to come back and tell us what's going on as soon as you can." Kestrel looked to the group for approval.

Thea nodded began moving onto the dock before waiting for the others to respond.

"We shouldn't be too long." Ephraim replied, prepping himself to head out. "Shall we depart?" He inquired of Aurelia, gesturing towards the plume of smoke.

Aurelia was already standing at the door, smirking, with her sword strapped on.

"Should be interesting," she grinned.

Thea sauntered down the dock, looking very much the part of a spoiled rich girl curious about the fire.

As Ephraim and Aurelia walked along he spoke to her. "Is there a plan?" He asked.

"Get close and look for anyone out of the ordinary. Follow them and listen without being seen. Remember they're probably assassins. Out of your league, do you think?" Aurelia said with a sly smile.

*

Kestrel watched the others leave with a sense of trepidation. She turned to Orin.

"Well, I don't think we'll be sleeping now. I'm amazed the bookkeeper-" Kestrel stopped speaking abruptly. "Where is he, anyways?"

"Could be." Ephraim replied contemplatively. "But what's life without a few chances?"

Thea smiled at the two of them, then quickly shifted her expression to one of mild curiosity mixed with a little bit of fear.

Looking around,  Orin said,  "Well,  there are a limited number of rooms in here he could be.  That or he bolted,  and we now have a scared spitless bookkeeper with Gods knows how many people who want him dead." Orin threw on his coat and bag and went to the door,  scanning the area in case the man had just slipped out.  "I'm really praying that explosion wasn't some sort of diversion."

"Generally, life is longer," Aurelia replied, "But much less interesting."

A crowd was already forming at the site of the explosion. The target was a mid-range passenger ship and there was a gaping hole in one side of it, flames starting to devour that side of the ship.

*

Kestrel yanked open the door to the bunkroom and was greeted with an empty room.

"Shit."

Thea moved close to a nearby observer and asked, her voice alarmed, "What in the world happened here? Is there anyone inside?"