“Do not beat yourself up, my old friend. I don’t think any sane man could anticipate that monster’s behavior,” Hephaestus soothed his former mentor. “I want to know everything you’ve been up to since we parted ways, but now is not the time. I think you were about to tell us what you’ve discovered about Fairgate’s plan.”
“Yes. Certainly. Well the first thing I’ve discovered is the means by which Fairgate is controlling our queen. He has implanted an elder god within her,” Carrington lectured.
“Preposterous!” the duchess exclaimed. “You actually expect us to believe this balderdash?”
“Is it any more preposterous than a wizard or clockwork-suited men altering the tide of battle? More preposterous than a once fair queen dividing her city down the middle?” Carrington argued.
“I have to agree with the duchess,” Madame Beauchamps added. “This is all a bit much, love.”
“This entire underground city is a testament to the truth of it.” Carrington spoke with passion. “Look around you. The visages of the elder gods are evident everywhere. There are more things in heaven and earth, my ladies.”
“How do we thwart them?” Sutherland asked.
“That’s an intelligent question, Your Grace.” Carrington began to pace as he talked, and Sev could see the scientist peeling away the veneer of butler. “We cannot attack the monster until we separate it from our beloved matriarch. If we do, we’ll destroy her in the process.”
“What is our solution?” Heph asked. “How do we get the beast out of her?”
“Luckily some of my other studies led me to the solution to this dilemma. I’ve discovered writings that speak of an artifact that repels the Elders. It is called the Tear of Purity. When placed near the ancient beasts, it drives them away.”
“So we need to find this Tear,” Heph stated.
“Indeed,” Carrington agreed. “And I have an idea where it can be located. I’d be honored if you allowed me to go after it.”
“You’ll need a party to join you,” Muriel said. “I’ll volunteer. I can assemble an appropriate team of our children to go as well.”
“Excellent.” Carrington gave her a grateful smile.
“I’ll go as well.” Everyone was surprised to hear Midnight’s offer.
“You?” Heph asked.
“I’m a capable companion, and I’m willing to kill without question. Not to mention, I’ve already agreed to keep Mr. Carrington safe. I’ll be an asset to this mission.”
Heph regarded Carrington and Midnight. “What do you say, sir?” he asked his mentor.
“I think Mr. Midnight will be invaluable on this excursion.”
“How will we destroy it once it’s out of the queen, assuming there is anything in the queen?” the Duchess of Inverness asked.
“That is simple enough,” Carrington answered. “Fire, the sublime cleanser.”
“So we drive the beast from the queen and burn it,” Sev summarized. “How in the hell do we get close enough t’the woman t’pull this off?”
“We strike during the wedding ceremony,” Heph replied. “Everyone will be off-guard.”
“How do we get past the Steamcoats?” Waverly wondered.
“That’s where our work comes in,” Heph answered. “Let’s move this meeting to the eastern docks.” Kildeggan rose and led everyone to the lift.
“Is this the ‘project’?” Sev asked Kettlebent.
“It is. I can’t wait until you see it,” Kettlebent said, his anticipation overpowering. The revolutionaries piled into the lift and departed for the docks.
THEY walked through the black stone streets of the underground city until they reached the eastern docks. Heph and Carrington walked at the head of the group catching up on all the things they’d missed during their separations. The old man continued to periodically apologize for abandoning his ex-apprentice. Heph reassured the man repeatedly that he didn’t hold Carrington responsible and that truly he was just glad his old friend and mentor was still alive. Sev wasn’t sure he’d feel the same way if he’d been violently dismembered while his mate had been whisked away to live in anonymity.
The Duchess of Inverness and Madame Beauchamps had fallen surprisingly into easy discussion. Rat was blushing as he spoke softly to Annie while they traveled. Tesla and Faraday appeared to be discussing a bundle of notes in the older scientist’s hand. Sev scanned the crowd for Sutherland and Midnight. He wasn’t surprised to find them trailing toward the back of the crowd, conversing quietly. Sev walked flanked by his old friend Waverly and his new friend Silas as the juvenile inhabitants gathered to watch the procession of the visitors from the surface.
The building they were approaching was recently built, the only thing Sev had seen not carved from the black stone. It looked like a dockside warehouse similar to those one would find in the city above. Large wooden doors stretched twenty feet toward the dark ceiling. Heph paused in front of them, turning to address the gathered crowd.
“This is the fruit of our collective labor, our edge in this battle. I owe this man”—Heph put an arm around Carrington as he said this—“not only for the design but for the determination to follow through. It is destiny that we’re reunited on this day. But enough talk. This is what we’ve spent your money on. This is what your salvaged bits and baubles have helped create. This is the key to Britain’s salvation.” His speech concluded, he motioned to the young boys on either side of the doors. They ran to the middle and slid the wooden panels open.
The anticipatory murmur died in an instant as the doors trundled back to reveal the infamous secret project. “My God,” Carrington gasped. “Prometheus.”
Sev knew what that word meant, having read books about Greek mythology in his old home above the museum. The Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to man seemed appropriate for this enormous construct that would give the spark of freedom back to the children of London. The warehouse contained a giant metal man worthy of his Titan namesake. The clockwork man was four times the size of an average Steamcoat. The head looked like a metal barrel, the torso not quite as big as the cab of a brougham. Its grand fists, planted on arms thicker than lampposts, looked like they could grab a Steamcoat and hurl him fifty feet. Gears were visible at the joints, accented with brass rivets and rubber bands. Twin steamstacks rose from the iron creature’s back. Its legs were like jointed metal trees.
“I give you Project Prometheus. Originally designed by Carrington, we’ve made substantial redesigns, Mr. Kettlebent and I,” Heph explained.
“Where do you store the coal?” Carrington asked, running up to the construct and inspecting it on all sides.
“Coal proved to be a problem,” Kettlebent explained as he walked into the warehouse, leading the rest of their audience into the building. “It was much too heavy.”
“We tried other forms of fuel as well, but gas and concentrated lamp oil would be much too dangerous. A stray bullet could turn Prometheus into a blazing inferno, which would spell doom for the pilots,” Heph added.
“Pilots?” Sutherland asked, studying the complex gears in the leg joints.
“Prometheus was designed as a manual vehicle,” Carrington said.
“And it still is.” Heph pointed to the head. “It was originally designed for a pilot for each limb and one in the head. We’ve streamlined it somewhat so that now it will only take three primary operators. The navigator sits in the head, obviously, feeding directions to the others. He also controls the speed and steampower. Another pilot operates the left side arm and leg, while the third controls the right.”
“We also plan to mount guns on the shoulders, which will each be manned separately,” Kettlebent informed the group.
“It doesn’t look large enough to accommodate that many men,” Madame Beauchamps observed.
“Well, no. It can’t be manipulated by full-grown men. We’ve been training a team of young boys to pilot Prometheus,” Heph told her.
“That seems extraordinarily imp
rudent,” the Duchess of Inverness clucked disapprovingly.
“Which is one of the reasons we’ve been exploring alternate power sources,” Heph explained.
“Which is where Mr. Faraday and I come in,” Tesla stated, approaching the duchess. “Nikola Tesla, at your service, Your Grace.” Tesla smoothly caught the hand of the duchess and planted a polite kiss on her knuckles.
“Friend Tesla and I are working to utilize an electromagnet via my Faraday Wheel to generate electricity, heating water and creating steam to propel the engine,” Faraday explained. “But I must express my opposition to the entire enterprise. A monster in the queen. Absurd—”
“We’re close, but we’ve yet to work out all the bugs,” Tesla interrupted his research partner. “Regulating the current has been our major hurdle.”
“So we won’t have a demonstration of the metal man?” Midnight asked, finally joining the conversation.
“Not at all, Mr. Midnight,” Tesla crooned. “I’ve rigged a temporary power source utilizing my patented Lightning Bulbs.” The young scientist fluttered about the giant metal man, attaching copper cables.
“Sal, Micky, Terpin,” Heph called. “Mount up.” The young men appeared from the rear of the crowd and scrabbled into the chassis of the metal man. Tesla, having finished attaching the construct to the power source, pulled the switch to release the energy. Electricity crackled over the shell of Prometheus and steam whistled out of the twin stacks on its back. The metal head swiveled from side to side, the glass lenses serving as Prometheus’s eyes surveying the surrounding area.
The giant metal creation flexed its hands, and a few of the children gathered clapped excitedly. Then the steam-driven man lifted its arms to encourage the support of the audience. Madame Beauchamps let out a startled squeal, and the Duchess of Inverness patted the madam’s shoulder sympathetically. The construct shifted from foot to foot, each fall echoing like a bass drum, before the pilots seemed to get their bearings and Prometheus stepped tentatively forward.
Due to the copper tethers preventing the machine from moving very far, it stalked about in front of the audience. “Mr. Kettlebent,” the amplified voice of Sal issued from Prometheus’s vocalizer, “toss the metal drum.”
“My pleasure, Sal,” Kettlebent returned in his similarly metallic voice. He hefted the drum above his head and heaved it at the clockwork man. Prometheus stepped forward, easily plucking the drum from the air with one hand. The clang of the drum connecting with its palm resounded in the enormous chamber. The pilots squared Prometheus’s stance and presented the drum to the crowd before squeezing the metal vessel, the thick fingers denting the surface. Deftly, Prometheus tossed the drum from hand to hand. Sev noticed a row of vents lining the upper rim of the torso allowing Mickey and Terpin to view the limbs they were controlling.
Sev couldn’t help but want a turn at piloting the amazing machine, but he couldn’t imagine the dexterity and coordination it would take to pull off this display. Prometheus tossed the drum into the air, nearly hitting the black stone ceiling. Steam whistled as the drum descended and a large metal knee caught the projectile, launching it back in the air. When it fell, Prometheus caught the drum in both hands, illustrating the pilots’ amazing ability to work in unison. In a grand show of strength, the metal man crushed the drum into a ball, then tossed it over his shoulder and directly into a large bin.
The entire gathered audience erupted into cheers. Even Faraday clapped his hands jovially. Midnight clapped with reserve. Rat was whooping and jumping around as Annie giggled. After returning Prometheus to his hangar, the pilots disembarked to renewed cheers. Rat was the first to run up and introduced himself to the other young boys. The entire crowd was engaged, discussing the revolution, the queen, and the giant steam-powered man.
Sev admired the three young men, but he didn’t rush forward like the others. He lingered at the edge of the crowd, unable to really join in the merriment. The import of the task that lay ahead of these people loomed darkly in Sev’s mind. Good for them, but he didn’t feel like a true part of this odd family. As usual he felt more like a hired hand, someone who was here to perform a service and then go off again on his own, never truly fitting in. He watched as Kettlebent conversed easily with the rest of those gathered. On the streets Kettlebent projected an air of dangerous aloofness, but down here where he trusted his acquaintances, he showed an easy and relaxed demeanor. Sev envied him that ability.
“Cozy, isn’t it?” Midnight’s voice startled Sev. He hadn’t heard the villain’s approach. Sev shouldn’t have been surprised. If there was anyone who avoided mingling with the crowd, it was Midnight. Not for the first time, Sev’s skin crawled a bit at the traits he shared with the criminal mastermind. “They think they’ve won already.”
“They have a good chance, I’d say.” Sev amended his statement, saying, “We have a good chance.”
“Yes, well. That big metal monster is impressive, to say the least, but I’d wager there’s going to be more than a little bloodshed before this is all said and done,” Midnight observed sagely. Sev had no argument for that. In fact he agreed completely, so he remained silent. “All their laughing and congratulating may turn too quickly to weeping and mourning.”
“Ye’re a ray o’sunshine, Jack,” Sev said with a sniff.
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
“Ye may not be wrong, but where does that leave hope?”
“Hope?” Midnight chuckled sadly. “Ah, Seven. The idealism of youth. But, yes, why not hope? I’m sure we will prevail with minimum violence, no death or injury, and maybe a rainbow or two thrown in for good measure.”
“Ye’re an ass, Jack Midnight,” Sev said as he pushed off his perch.
“There’s that legendary pluck,” Midnight said sarcastically, patting Sev’s shoulder. “The children are dispersing.” Midnight pointed.
The duke was speaking as Sev and Jack joined the smaller crowd. “This is all very reassuring and incredibly inventive, but we’ve not won the battle yet. We’ve barely begun to fight. It may be slightly premature to breathe a sigh of relief.”
“Finally, a bit of common sense,” Midnight stated dramatically.
“Make no mistake, Sutherland,” Heph announced. “We are well aware of the road ahead, but finally there is a light at the end of our tunnel. I think it’s healthy to keep a hopeful outlook.”
“I agree,” Kettlebent said, offering his support. Sev smiled, not just at his friend’s loyalty to his mentor but also at the irony of that mentor’s positive attitude even after being dismembered. Although the fact that the man not only survived but overcame his adversity with the help of mechanical limbs was an argument that hope could very possibly be found in any situation.
“Our next obstacle is locating the Tear of Purity,” Heph said as they walked back toward the city center.
“And finishing Prometheus,” Carrington added.
“Someone will have to join our team in the ruins and search for the Tear,” Muriel said, “while the rest stay here and help Tesla and Faraday finish Prometheus.”
“I know I wanted to go after the Tear but my expertise might be more useful with Prometheus. I’ll stay,” Carrington offered. “I think you should remain as well, Hephaestus.”
“I agree,” Muriel said, nodding. “And Mr. Kettlebent. I’ll lead the excavation team.”
“I’ll volunteer for that,” Annie chimed in.
“Me too,” Rat spoke up.
“We have no idea what lies within,” Heph said. “I’m not sure you and a bunch of children venturing into the unknown is the most prudent course of action.”
“I have to agree with Mr. Kildeggan,” Sutherland commented.
“I’m not a helpless little woman,” Muriel growled. “I can take care of myself.”
“Hear, hear,” the Duchess of Inverness stated approvingly.
“It would still ease my mind if you took along some help,” Heph told Muriel.
“I’ll go,” Sev and
Midnight answered in unison.
“Midnight volunteered earlier,” Muriel stated.
“I hardly think it advisable that you accompany a woman and children into a secluded portion of this underground city,” the duchess tutted.
“I assure you, Your Grace, that I see absolutely no profit in allowing harm to come to Miss Muriel and her charges, nor would I entertain the notion of harming them myself,” Jack responded coolly.
“I’ll keep him in line, my lady,” Sev offered. “And whatever we find down those tunnels, there’s an even chance it’s not more dangerous than Mr. Midnight.”
“Why, Seven, I think I’m tearing up. You sweet, sweet young man.” Jack sniffed, pretending to wipe a tear from his cheek. The duchess snorted but remained silent.
“Then it’s settled,” Sutherland concluded. “The duchess, Madame Beauchamps, and I will return to London and maintain appearances. I trust you’ll send word when we’re ready to proceed?”
“Of course,” Heph reassured him as they shook hands.
“Take care of yourself, Seven,” the duke said, shaking Sev’s hand, then turned to include Midnight. “You as well, Jack.”
“You can be sure, William.” Midnight grasped Sutherland’s hand and squeezed. It didn’t quite manage to pass as a handshake.
The aristocrats of Fairside and the madam of Blackside took their leave then. Muriel sent Annie and Rat to gather a few of the older, levelheaded children to join them in the ruins, while she dashed off to prepare provisions. Kildeggan offered to have a meal with Carrington and Midnight, who both gladly accepted and headed off to Heph’s tower rooms. Sev wasn’t sure when, but Tesla and Faraday had already slipped off to return to Prometheus and their work. Kettlebent and Sev found themselves alone on the street.
Silas removed his false beard and lifted his goggles to rest on the brim of his stovepipe hat. “Would you like to join me for dinner?” he asked.
“Aye, that sounds good.” Sev walked fast to keep pace with Kettlebent’s long strides.
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