The Steam Tycoon

by Golden Czermak

  “SILENCE!” Frost demanded so loudly that it seemed to shake the building. Everyone froze in place and he pointed back toward the radio operator. “Continue…”

  The man listened for a few moments, bobbing his head, shaking it, and making a few strange expressions. Frost did not like the story they were telling.

  “A large force of raiders is attacking the northern gate!” he said at last, cringing at the intensity of Frost’s metallic stare. “Their numbers are vast... a hundred, maybe more.”

  Frost said nothing, his expression ice.

  “They’ve requested reinforcements or will soon be overrun; shall we send some” the man continued. “If left alone, the attack force will spill beyond the wall and there will be no telling the damage and death that –”

  “They dare to betray me?” Frost whispered, amused by the notion.

  “Milord?” asked the radio operator, confused. It was not the yes answer he was expecting.

  I will show you the price of crossing me, Frost thought, before shouting at his associates, “Order more sentries to the gate, bring turrets closer if need be! By God you’ll be out there next if they enter the city!”

  “And the X5-1?” said another man, off near the door. He was strangely thin with a gaunt, goateed face and slender shoulders that tapered outward to his hips. Upright with hands in front of his torso, his spidery fingers were pressed tip to tip while a glossy black lens was strapped over his right eye.

  “No,” Frost replied coolly. “I am saving that one to clip Angelus’ wings…”

  The mysterious man said nothing more. After a bow, he opened the door, slipped through, and departed. As the door closed behind him, there came a commotion over at another radio.

  “Milord! A guard has just reported activity just inside of Comprass!”

  “More raiders on the east side?” Frost asked, marching over with wrath in his eyes.

  “I… am not sure, Milord,” the operator answered shakily. “I-if they are, there are not many of them.”

  “It’s like an infestation of rats to be exterminated. Is there any more information?”

  “Not much. Milord, the guard, he’s stopped responding. The last thing mentioned this small group was headed south.

  “There are only two major points of interest in that general direction…” Frost said aloud but only meant for himself. “Winthrope’s tower and…” Then, an unexpected rage overtook him, and his face blazed with red while his good eye filled with tears of frustration. “AERO!”

  A fist came slamming down on the operator’s table, nearly knocking his radio to the floor.

  “I need a contingent of sentries, guards, whatever can be spared from the north gate to meet me at Gibson and Large!”

  The operator looked up, clutching his radio as if it were a child and said, “The broadcast tower?”

  Frost looked down upon him ruthlessly, eyes ablaze.

  “YES! NOW!”

  “DAMMIT THAT’S NOT good!” shouted Aftershock as the Frost guard off in the distance slumped, then fell, his radio dancing in pieces across the cobblestones.

  “Was he able to get a message out?” Jesse asked, arriving at Aftershock’s side while reloading his gun.

  “I think so,” Aftershock nodded, holstering his rifle and removing a pair of golden revolvers with mahogany grips. “Hate to say it, but I think our advantage might be on its last legs.”

  “Dammit, I was hoping for more time,” Jesse asked, looking around the desolate streets. There were empty stores and stalls in both directions. “What time is it?”

  “Nine twenty-three,” Aero said, joining the two of them along with Jenny. She had a hold of her junk pistol and a sleek rifle across her back; Aero for all appearances seemed unarmed but after witnessing him at the holding facility, Jesse knew better.

  “This place should be bustling with activity this time of day,” Jesse observed, the group walking along a walled street. They were heading west toward a soiled archway that lead into the borough of Bagat. Trash blew by their feet, littering the area far more than usual. It was as if people had left, or were too scared to come out. Wishing he had time to investigate in detail, Jesse lead the team on; they would need to head through the area as quickly as possible, entering the borough of Chismear which housed their destination.

  The journey through Bagat was eerie; more abandoned streets and stores, several of them smoldering. It was too quiet, the smell more wretched as they walked past dead end alleys looking for a westerly road.

  “I know that smell,” Aftershock mumbled, looking around for any signs he was right. His fingers were reliably hovering beside the triggers of his guns.

  “I think I do, too,” Jesse said over his shoulder, “but I don’t want to know for sure.”

  “Count me out, too,” Jenny said, “and if you can get rid of this feeling that we’re being watched, I would be most appreciative.”

  Suddenly, a voice surged from the shadows of a nearby alleyway.

  “Jenny?” it hissed. “Is that you?”

  Her heart leaped in her chest, and spinning on the spot she aimed as the rest of the team stopped their advance.

  “Who’s there?” Jenny demanded. “Show yourself!”

  Two figures stepped out from the shade, the indistinct forms of more barely visible behind them.

  Jenny lowered her weapon upon seeing them, familiar faces yet battered and bruised.

  “Evelyn! Marcus!”

  They met and embraced, Jesse shaking both their hands (with Evelyn demanding a firm hug as well).

  “You’ve done well for yourself, girl,” she told Jenny with a wink, still feeling his arm.

  Smiling at Jesse’s awkward countenance, Jenny introduced them to Aero and Aftershock. Both garnered wide and disbelieving stares from the residents before being welcomed.

  “Now that we’ve all had a chance to meet, can one of you tell us what’s going on here?” Jesse asked. “The place is a mess; more than usual.”

  “Frost,” Evelyn said and that was enough to answer most of Jesse’s other questions. “It’s been sheer Hell on Eaugen since he took over.”

  “He did all this?” Jenny asked, Aero looking miserable.

  “No, he’s been so damn occupied with building sentries. It was his guards that did all this… and so much more.” Evelyn’s voice broke, sadness flowing through the cracks. “Those monsters; parading around as men loosed to do whatever they want without consequence. They’ve killed many poor and unarmed protestors in Comprass. The streets were literally soaked in blood. Ganado had an incident or two as well. Just this morning, the same happened here.”

  “We’re in the process of clearing and burning the bodies,” Marcus said softly and Jenny suddenly knew what the odor that had clung to the air had been. “The last thing we need is another plague to appear on top of this mess.”

  It might have been too late for Jenny, who was feeling nauseous, amazed at how rancid a person’s soul could become when given just a taste of power. Looking at Jesse, who was deep in his own thoughts, she realized how special a character he had to resist and want to help.

  “Have you stood up to them?” Jesse asked, the anger in his words apparent.

  “We’ve started to,” Evelyn said. “It’s been so hectic. First few days nobody knew what was going on. Mayor was dead, you were charged, vice-mayor disappeared, Frost took over to save the peace.

  “What a steaming crock of shit that was,” Marcus added.

  “Then,” Evelyn continued, “when things started to show their true colors it was too late. Now at least it’s finally slowing down enough to let us focus and plan. Frost’s forces still have an advantage over us with firepower.”

  “Come on,” Marcus said, aggressively looking around at their surroundings, “we need to get off the streets. We have a lot left to discuss and should back at…”

  “No, we need to get to the antenna at the broadcast building now,” Jesse countered, pointing to Aero. �
�He is in possession evidence that proves Frost is responsible for the mayor’s death and we need to get to that tower so we can spread the word both here and outside the city. Hopefully it’ll clear my name, but it may also be a rallying call.”

  Evelyn and Marcus swapped glances. Jesse couldn’t tell if they were joyful or anxious ones.

  “all right then,” Marcus said with a grumbling sigh. “I don’t like this, but we’ll take you to the square.”

  The six of them moved through the alleys, scaling discolored walls and other obstacles to avoid detection on the main thoroughfares. Eventually, they reached the end of a narrow passage bordering Gibson Square. Normally full of entertainers and happy crowds, it too was bleak and forsaken.

  “There it is,” Marcus said, motioning to large, unmistakable building dead ahead. Its multiple floors of ashen stone were topped by an immense radio spire.

  “You sure you want to go through with this?” Evelyn asked Jesse, knowing what his answer will be.

  “Honor is everything, so if I can both clear my name with this and help instill something in the oppressed, I’m all for it.”

  “You sir, are one remarkable man,” Evelyn said, giving him another embrace. “Take care of my girl, will you?”

  “You know I will,” Jesse smirked, nodding to Jenny.

  “Bar’s always open for you, Mr. Winthrope,” said Marcus, stepping up to slap his shoulder and shake his hand. “Drinks are on the house.”

  “Don’t be silly, Marcus, we’ve gone over that before…”

  With that and a few last-minute chuckles, the group was once again four, headed swiftly across the open square.

  On their way, Aftershock waltzed up to Jesse, nudging him on the shoulder.

  “Are you crazy?” he whispered harshly.

  Jesse looked around before answering, wondering if Aftershock was talking to either of the others.

  “What are you talking about? Have I done something wrong?”

  “You turned down free drinks!” Aftershock hissed. “At a bar! For life!”

  Jesse shook his head.

  “When we get out of this, you let that barkeep know that your buddy will take him up on that deal.”

  “You got it, After –”

  A bullet whooshed by, cutting the conversation short.

  Jesse looked over to his right, narrowly escaping another bullet.

  A squad of Frost’s sentries and guards were barreling toward them. They fired again, and Jesse was grazed on the forearm. The wound wasn’t serious, but he nearly dropped his weapon due to the harshness of the sting.

  “Run!” he shouted, sprinting as fast as he could. “We have to get Aero to the tower!”

  Raising his pistols, Aftershock fired successive rounds into the oncoming swarm. A couple of guards fell at once, dead, but the mechanical sentries that his bullets struck kept advancing. Focusing on one, he slung more lead at it, the sentries’ head exploding in a shower of sparks and steam.

  Aero was also occupied, arms splitting down the center, grasping four pistols holstered to his denims. In rapid succession he pulled their triggers, shot after shot impacting guards and sentries alike, sending them to the ground in heaps.

  There was a sudden roar, the sound of hundreds of footsteps drawing Jenny’s attention. Readying her pistol for the worst, her eyes fell upon the best.

  Pouring out of the streets and alleys alike were the people of Diablo, armed with whatever they could find and carry, rushing the square toward Frost’s forces with a single purpose in mind: liberation.

  Jenny’s heart swelled at what she saw, moving to join the rest of her group in their final dash.

  With the guards and sentries engaged with the citizenry, the four of them sprinted to the tower’s doors, flung them open, and entered.

  THE TEAM ENTERED the broadcast building, plunging from the bright sun into an ominous gloom. The interior was unlike anything in the rest of Diablo, sleek metallic lines curving along the surfaces and furniture, all basking in the green glow of neon lights spiraling up support columns in the large entry hall. Along the walls, eight large holotubes were hung, four different channels on display, their ghostly images a putrid shade of green.

  “Nice to see they’re conserving power,” Jesse said sarcastically, approaching a reception desk. A red leather chair sat empty on the other side. “I always thought their bills were high just because of the antenna.”

  “You’ve never been here before?” asked Aftershock, taking in the weird environment.

  “First time for me too,” he replied, looking around for any indication of where to go.

  “Lifts seem to be out,” Jenny said, casually looking over the guest area. There were fancy flyers spread across the tables touting the marvels of holotube technology (“You’ll think you’re there!” and “New Portable Versions Coming Soon!”)

  “Aero,” Jesse called. “Where do we go from here? The signs in this place are dreadful.”

  Aero walked up to the reception desk beside Jesse.

  “We will need to get to one of the broadcast studios. I suggest the largest one; it’s on the top floor with the others. It will likely have the most direct connections with the antenna.”

  “Point the way and we’ll follow,” Jesse said, motioning toward the silvery stairs immediately behind the receptionist area.

  “Of course. Lifts out, target’s on the upper floor,” Aftershock grumbled. “You all and your obsession with these sky-scraping buildings.”

  “This coming from a man with his home on top of a mountain overlook with a single, craggy walkway,” Jenny replied with the slightest eye roll. “Let’s go.”

  The team climbed many flights of stairs, finding broad rooms stuffed with arrays of desks on each floor.

  “Guess everyone skipped work today,” Jesse said, following Aero to yet another flight of stairs. “How many stories are in this building? I couldn’t tell from the outside.”

  “There are twelve,” Aero replied. “We are nearly there. After two more flights, we will need to cross an office area such as those we’ve passed; the stairs up to the studios are on the opposing side.”

  Within a few minutes, the team was advancing through the final office space, photos of families and personal adornments decorating each desk they streamed by.

  The sound of something scurrying reached them, and they paused to assess the situation.

  “We’ve got company!” Aftershock shouted as a sentry came rushing out of a side door.

  He flung his hand at the bot, pistol whipping it with enough force to send it reeling backward. Aftershock then fired each of his revolvers, blowing big chunks of metal off its head, the thinnest piece of metal left running down the center.

  Jesse was firing as he ran behind Aero, making way for the stairs.

  “Almost there!” he cried, turning to see Jenny under attack. “Aero, go on! We’ll be right behind you!”

  With that he flew toward Jenny’s attackers and both of them worked together, back to back and side to side, to take the guards down.

  “Thanks!” she said with a huge exhale, looking right into his eyes.

  “No problem!” he replied. “I like you well enough I won’t say you owe me.”

  Jesse watched as Jenny’s eyes left his for a split second, the sound of a gunshot ringing in his ears, followed by a loud thud.

  “No,” she replied, “but I will say you owe me.”

  She pecked him on the nose and made way for the stairs, and as Jesse looked down at the freshly sparking body of a sentry, he smiled.

  “She really does it for me!” he said, joining up with Aftershock as they all made way up to the studio.

  ***

  Aero had made it to the row of studios, two per side framing the door to the largest at the end of the hall. Rushing toward it, he burst through into a massive space filled with terminals, bulky cameras, and a couple of sets (one more relaxed like a family room, the other a dais with podium).

 
; Aero swept up to the closest terminal. Finding a thick black cable dangling at the side of the box of circuits, he reached for it, simultaneously flipping a panel off the side of his head. Beneath it were several different connection ports, one matching the cable in his hand.

  “Aaron!” said an all too familiar and unwanted voice. “Stop!”

  Aero didn’t comply, inserting the cable into the port where it made a slight click.

  “I said stop!”

  “I do not have to take orders from you anymore,” Aero said as he began to key in a sequence on the terminal’s keyboard, turning his head at the same time to survey the room.

  Frost emerged from the shadows between the sets, dressed in a shiny, insulated suit with a pair of menacing goggles over his eyes. In his arms was one of his large rifles, steam venting from the barrel while arcs of electricity leaped across grills on the body of the gun.

  “If you don’t do as I say RIGHT NOW I will force you to,” Frost threatened. “I made you and can end you just as easily.” His voice lessened, almost passing as caring. “I nurtured you, Aaron, and THIS is how you repay me? With betrayal?”

  “You’re the one who betrayed yourself, Master, believing in things that could never be” Aero replied. “My name is not Aaron! It’s Aero!”

  Beneath his goggles, Frost’s eyes boiled red with rage and he aimed the rifle without a second thought.

  Jesse and company raced to the studio, entering just a massive bolt of energy like lightning tore across from back of the room right into Aero.

  “No!” the three of them shouted in unison, emotions surging in all directions as Aero’s body floundered in a cage of energy that burned most of his outer plates away.

  Collapsing to the terminal, Aero’s metallic frame was smoldering and he was barely recognizable except for his face, which still clung on to familiarity. Despite his condition, he pressed on, his fingers and hands splitting into twenty tendrils that rapidly keyed in the rest of the broadcast sequence.

  A female voice, mechanical and without emotion spoke.