“Is that a giant engine?” Giles asked quietly.
“Yeah, I think all of those big crates have a combustion engine. I’ll bet they’re powered by diesel fuel,” Reb speculated.
Giles agreed with her. “Those engines are enormous. The mafia could sell those engines to terrorists and use them for massive transportation. Those engines would be deadly in the wrong hands.”
Reb thought carefully about the combustion engines. “Maybe they’re already using them as weapons. Something blew up Edgar’s casino. Do you think one of those engines was used as a bomb?”
“I suppose it’s possible,” Giles replied.
Reb felt uneasy. “There’s several combustion engines here. The mafia could destroy most of the casinos in Las Vegas with them.”
Giles motioned to the left. “We need to find out more about their plan. Let’s get off the catwalk and check out a different area.”
“You’ve got it,” Reb agreed.
They quietly crept down the other side of the stairs and hid in the background. However, someone knocked a pile of crates on top of the pair and knocked them out.
*****
Percy and Savannah drove down the highway and headed to Nevada. They faced a long trip, from San Francisco to Las Vegas, but it was a better option than being stranded in the airport.
Savannah felt discouraged when she hung up her cell phone. “Neither Gable nor Reb are answering their phones. I’m really worried about them. The explosion looked really serious on the news. I just hope they’re okay.”
“It’s chaos over there. I’m also sure the explosion is causing a lot of problems for the tourists in Las Vegas. Gable and Reb might be handling issues in his casino,” Percy explained.
“They could at least send a text message,” Savannah grumbled.
Percy also felt worried. “We just need to stay positive. Despite our encounters with terrorists, this might not be a worst-case scenario. Maybe the explosion didn’t affect our family very much.”
“I hope you’re right,” Savannah said in a concerned tone.
Percy tried to comfort her. “Regardless of what happens tonight, it’s going to work out in the end. I’m serious about that.”
Savannah nodded her head. “Thanks for keeping my spirit up. Sometimes, it’s hard to stay optimistic, but you always seem to find the best qualities in the worst situations.”
“I’m the head of America’s royal family. It’s my job to keep everything together,” Percy admitted.
*****
Meanwhile, Gable and Priscilla walked through one of the corporate hallways in Nero’s casino. It seemed perfectly quiet. The couple was caught off guard, however, when bullets pelted the wall. They hurried around the corner, avoiding the gunfire.
Nero lowered his submachine gun while he scolded them, “You were supposed to hand over the casino to me! Why couldn’t we do this the easy way?”
Gable lost his temper. “I have the right to own my property! That casino franchise was my dream! Where did you hide when the Apocalypse destroyed America? Priscilla and I were inside my original casino at the time! I thought it was certain death, but we managed to escape before the casino totally collapsed! We both started from the beginning with limited resources! My casino franchise is a miracle and God helped me get through the difficulties! Why did you think I’d sell it to a terrorist?”
“Because I’m going to destroy Las Vegas if you don’t agree to my terms!” Nero shouted.
Priscilla frowned. “How are you going to accomplish that?”
Nero wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “I have massive diesel-powered engines that are worse than some of the most powerful explosives. How do you think Edgar’s grafted building toppled to the ground?”
“I’m not going to let you destroy any more buildings! We’re going to stop you!” Gable threatened.
“Everyone says that to me. I doubt you’ll be the one who will succeed,” Nero replied.
Priscilla held Gable’s hand while she tried to remain calm. “Why are you terrorizing us? You have plenty of money! It doesn’t make any sense!”
Nero picked up his submachine gun again. “This isn’t about money or fame. I’m trying to make a statement. The Steampunks are going to annihilate the world. Steam power requires coal and we need to move away from that resource. Coal is filthy and your culture is polluting the earth. Diesel fuel might not be the best resource either, but it’s much cleaner than coal. Supposedly, diesel fuel is cleaner than gasoline.”
“Don’t play games with us! I know you’re not an environmental freak!” Gable protested.
“You’re right, but I still think the world would be a better place without Steampunks. I believe retro-futurism is the solution. You just picked the wrong decades. I think everything would be more desirable if we took influences from the 1940s and 1950s. It was such a splendid time period. Human beings survived a terrible war and rebuilt their lives. Doesn’t that sound familiar? Everything was classy, mysterious, sleek, beautiful, and fantastic during those decades. People like me and Bella could easily rise to power in a society that accepts those time periods. I think Steampunks can be scared into obedience. Blowing away a few casinos from the inside out should do the trick,” Nero explained.
Gable didn’t want his enemy to see them. “Someone will defeat you! It happens to every sadistic criminal!”
Nero searched for the couple. “Perhaps, but you won’t be the one who will defeat me.”
Gable whispered in Priscilla’s ear. “Head to the elevator. It’s just a few feet away from us.”
“All right,” Priscilla replied.
They quietly walked to the elevator and then the couple used their enhanced strength to pry the doors open.
Nero found them right away. “You’re not going anywhere!”
The crime boss fired his submachine gun at them, but the Steampunk couple jumped into the elevator shaft. Nero hurried to the opening, but the elevator doors immediately closed. Gable and Priscilla hung onto a lengthy ladder inside the shaft.
“That was close, but we’re still alive,” Gable said, as he tried to catch his breath.
Priscilla looked down. “I guess we should head down. We don’t have a lot of choices.”
*****
Somewhere in the cargo hangar, Reb woke up. She was strapped on a metal table. Her arms and legs were pinned to the table with restraints.
“This just keeps getting better,” Reb sarcastically remarked.
She tried to use her great strength to break the restraints, but her attempt was unsuccessful. It seemed like the restraints were also grafted and designed to pin down Steampunks.
Bella walked in front of the table. “Save your strength. Those restraints will keep you, or any Steampunk, under control.”
“I should have known you would cause trouble again,” Reb grumbled.
Bella smirked and held up a huge syringe. “Truthfully, I don’t handle rejection very well. Now you and Giles will pay the price.”
Reb stared at the mysterious syringe. “What’s up with the needle?”
“Well, there was a time when I could easily manipulate men. Unfortunately, Steampunks are difficult to persuade when they have a lifelong partner,” Bella mentioned.
“I just think you’re getting older. Your charm is going to be much less effective” Reb bluntly commented.
Bella ignored the snide remark. “One of your old foes, named Victor Teague, believed Steampunks were attracted to large amounts of human pheromones. I wonder if there’s some truth to his crazy theory? If he’s right, Steampunks are probably attracted to their mate’s hormones. I’m going to steal some of your juice. Giles will surely find me irresistible if I’m covered with your essence.”
Reb felt a mixture of emotions, including disgust, fear, and confusion. “That’s why you have a giant syringe?”
“Naturally. I’m also going to saw off your head and collect that $100,000 reward. At least you’re worth the c
omplications,” Bella mused.
“Well, I suppose it could be worse. I’ll be dead when you violate me,” Reb said with a snarky attitude.
Bella grabbed her opponent’s chin. “Do you think I’ll be merciful? That’s not going to happen because you gave me a lot of grief. You’ll still be alive when I shove this needle into sensitive territory.”
She unzipped Reb’s pants, causing the Steampunk woman to panic. “Somebody get me out of here!”
Luckily, Giles ran across the ground and shoved Bella, sending her flying into a pile of crates. He used a knife to jimmy the restraints open.
“Are you okay?” Giles asked, as he helped Reb off the table and onto the ground.
Reb zipped her pants up while she said, “Thank goodness! For a minute, I thought she was going to suck my gonads!”
Giles gave his wife a perplexed stare. “What did you say?”
“I’ll spell it out for you. She was going to shove a scary looking needle into my reproductive organs and harvest my pheromones.” Reb said bluntly.
Giles felt nauseous. “That sounds awful.”
“I don’t want to think about it. Let’s get out of here before more of those mobsters show up!” Reb insisted.
She picked up her baton and then the couple hurried through the hangar.
Chapter 16
Gable and Priscilla used the elevator shaft’s ladder to climb down. It was going to be an extremely long journey to reach the first floor.
“This brings back memories. Awful ones,” Priscilla commented.
Gable tried to remain upbeat. “We survived the Apocalypse. The odds were against us, but we managed to escape my old casino down an elevator shaft like this one. The second time around should be a piece of cake.”
Priscilla giggled, despite their situation. “Don’t make me laugh. You’re going to make me fall down the elevator shaft.”
While they climbed down, the couple noticed someone who had pried open one of the elevator doors that was located above them.
One of Nero’s henchmen peered down the shaft. “There you are! Sorry, but you’re not escaping! I need to bring you back to my boss!”
“Priscilla, I think we need to climb a little bit faster!” Gable recommended.
“Great! Nero’s goons are everywhere!” Priscilla complained, as she hurried down the ladder.
The mobster hoisted his body onto the ladder while the Steampunk couple tried to get away from him. He quickly climbed down the ladder and said, “I should be able to catch you guys! Maybe Nero will give me a raise for bringing you back!”
“Don’t count on it! Your boss sounds like a stingy guy!” Priscilla remarked.
Gable stopped and used his enhanced strength to pry open another pair of elevator doors. They slid open and then Gable climbed out and onto the floor. He looked down the elevator shaft and reached out to Priscilla.
“Take my hand! We can escape this way!” Gable yelled.
Priscilla climbed up a couple of feet and then she took Gable’s hand. “That was anticlimactic. We actually climbed all the way down in your first casino.”
He helped her climb onto the floor, and then the couple searched for another exit.
The mobster tried to hurry. “Those Steampunks are ruining my plans!”
Suddenly, the evildoer heard a sound that echoed above his head. He looked up and saw the elevator moving in his direction. The frightened mobster quickly climbed down to try and reach the next floor. Unfortunately, he wasn’t fast enough. The elevator swatted him off the ladder and caused him to plummet down the lengthy shaft.
*****
Meanwhile, Percy and Savannah were stuck in traffic on the highway.
“What’s the hold up? I don’t understand why the traffic is so bad at this time of night!” Savannah griped.
Percy tried to look ahead on the road. “I think someone had a really bad car accident. Police cars are jamming the freeway.”
Savannah rubbed her forehead. “Well, I hope our entire family isn’t dead.”
“They might not be in trouble at all. We just can’t get a hold of them for some reason. I think you’re just worried because we’ve experienced a lot of traumatic events.”
“Can you blame me? First, a crazy terrorist destroys half of America and threatens to blow up our daughter on national television! Afterward, we both thought Gable and Reb were dead! Phone lines and online access was very limited for a while! When I heard about Gable’s casino being destroyed, I thought it was the end for him!” Savannah ranted.
Percy couldn’t argue with her. “I remember. We made little makeshift headstones that said R.I.P. for Gable and Reb. It was very hard to feel motivated enough to rebuild because we thought our kids were gone.”
He held Savannah’s hand while they sat in traffic.
“It wouldn’t be fair for them to die now,” Savannah said in a hushed tone.
Percy reassured her by saying, “They’re fighters. Gable is going to take care of his wife and kids. I’m sure Reb and Giles are cooking up some type of plan. It might take a while, but we’re going to reach Las Vegas and find our family. Just hang in there.”
“I know,” Savannah replied.
*****
Gable and Priscilla ran through one of the hallways until they literally ran into Malcolm and Beauregard. The four adults collided and knocked each other to the floor. Oliver, Maggie, and Parker caught up with them.
“Mom? Dad?” Maggie asked in disbelief.
Gable was shocked to see the kids. “I can’t believe you guys are here! Maybe that’s not such a good thing, because we’re being chased by mobsters.”
The kids helped the adults stand up.
“I knew the mafia kidnapped you guys! We came at the right time!” Oliver said in excitement.
“I’m just glad you guys are okay. Your dad and I were really worried,” Priscilla mentioned, as she hugged her son and daughter.
Gable looked at the rest of the group. “Why are the rest of you guys here?”
Malcolm brushed off his vest and coat. “Everyone in your family has done a lot for me and Beau. I thought we should return the favor.”
“Malcolm and I are perfectly capable of rescuing people, contrary to what you might think,” Beauregard added.
“Well, I appreciate the help, but we’re in dangerous territory. Those mobsters are using submachine guns with grafted bullets,” Gable said.
Beauregard responded, “We found out the hard way. Those mobsters are psychopaths.”
Priscilla raised one of her eyebrows at Parker. “And where did you come from? Let me guess. You’re the boy who is from Dallas?”
“My parents and I came here for vacation. Somehow, I got caught in the action,” Parker admitted.
Maggie defended her friend. “Don’t be judgmental about him. Parker saved me from one of those bad guys at school. One of them tried to kidnap me.”
Gable was impressed. “Really? Parker, the two of us should talk after we escape from this building.”
Malcolm felt unsafe in their current location. “I appreciate the reunion, but we need to get out of here before those mobsters start shooting at us again.”
“There’s too many of us here. Our enemies are using high-powered submachine guns and that means they’ll be able to mow down a group like us. The two of you need to take another exit. I appreciate everything you did for us and the kids, but it’s going to be safer for you to break away from the group. You’ll be faster with fewer distractions. I’m not trying to get rid of you, everyone’s chances of survival will be better in these narrow hallways with fewer people,” Priscilla explained.
Malcolm nodded his head. “I understand. We’ll find a way to escape.”
“Wait a minute. Has anyone seen Reb or Giles?” Gable asked.
Oliver replied, “We saw her at the mafia’s black market area. She distracted the mobsters with your motorcycle.”
Priscilla became alarmed. “How did you guys wind up in t
hat location?”
“It got really crazy when we tried to get away from those mobsters. Somehow, we wound up in the desert. Just don’t ask,” Maggie insisted.
Gable furrowed his eyebrows. “We can talk about this later. Hopefully, Reb and Giles are doing okay. Kids, I want you to say good-bye to Malcolm and Beauregard. We’ll see them again when this night is done.”
The two men shook the children’s hands.
“I’m just glad we found your parents,” Beauregard mentioned.
“Yeah, everything is going to work out,” Malcolm said.
Gable looked at the two men. “Thanks for helping. Be safe.”
Malcolm and Beauregard headed down a different corridor. Gable and Priscilla led the children in the opposite direction.
“We actually came here to rescue you guys,” Parker admitted.
Priscilla placed her hand on his shoulder. “That’s really sweet of you guys. Unfortunately, it was also a dangerous idea.”
“I thought Steampunks believe in sticking together. We’re stronger as a family and a community,” Oliver said with confidence.
“You’re right, so we’re going to be a little bit creative in this case. I’m glad you guys were brave enough to unite and search for us. However, your mom and I are really worried. What happened in the desert?” Gable inquired.
“I heard about the hangar from kids at school. We thought the mob took you guys there,” Oliver admitted.
Priscilla was impressed by their ambition. “I think all of you will be very strong adult Steampunks. In the meantime, we just need to survive the night.”
“No kidding. This entire day was too much drama for my taste,” Maggie grumbled.
One of Nero’s henchmen slid around the corner and ambushed the Nelsons. “Stop! No one is allowed to leave the floor!”
Gable tried to hurry the kids through the hallway. “Run! We need to head in another direction before he starts firing that gun!”
Before the Nelsons and Parker could escape around the corner, the mobster opened fire with his submachine gun. Gable and Priscilla grabbed the three kids and dove onto the floor to avoid the gunfire. The terrorist stopped firing his weapon when he heard something scurrying in the air shaft from above.
The Post-Apocalyptic Society: A Nelson and Hyde Vendetta Page 31