Benjamin Franklinstein Meets Thomas Deadison

by Matthew McElligott

  “Take another step forward and open the safety gate.”

  Mr. and Mrs. Winters were now balanced at the pit’s edge.

  “Tell me, Jaime. Would you prefer I command them to plunge into the spinning turbine? Or is your friend Victor going to do as I ask?”

  “All right,” said Victor. “We’ll do what you want.”

  “But Victor—”

  “He’ll kill your parents, Jaime. I know it.” Victor turned to Edison. “Give me the microphone.”

  “Very good,” said Napoléon. “Simply tell Dr. Franklin that you have found an important clue and that he should come at once.”

  “Don’t do it,” urged Jaime. “He’s bluffing. Somehow, he needs my parents for his plan. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken them in the first place.”

  Victor glanced up at the screen. “What was the address again?”

  “Seventeen Parker Avenue,” said Napoléon.

  Victor nodded and put the microphone to his lips. “Ben, Scott—this is Victor. Everything’s fine. We’ve found something important. Come at once to Seventeen Parker Avenue. That’s Parker, not Barker, spelled with a P as in part, not a B as in backward.”

  His hand trembled as he handed the microphone back to Edison.

  “Very well done,” said Napoléon. “Now please step back into your cell.”

  The next hour was excruciating. All Victor could do was watch and wait and hope that Ben understood his message. Whatever the Emperor was planning, it was clearly going to happen soon. More and more people came into the room to receive orders, and at one point Napoléon dispatched Edison on some sort of urgent mission.

  Jaime sat fuming in the back of the cell. She hadn’t said a word to Victor since he had sent the message. Victor understood her anger, but he didn’t dare tell her what his message had actually said. Not yet.

  A buzzer sounded, and Napoléon turned his attention to one of the monitors. It showed a parking lot from high above. On the screen he saw Franklin and Scott strolling between the cars. They approached a metal door at the back of a large brick building. Franklin opened the door and they stepped inside. From the console, another buzzer sounded.

  “What are they doing?” Victor whispered. “They were supposed to sneak in.”

  “How were they supposed to know?” grumbled Jaime from the back of the cell. “You told them everything was fine.”

  Napoléon pressed another button and the entire wall filled with the image of Franklin and Scott walking down a long hallway.

  Suddenly, uniformed guards approached from behind. As Franklin turned to look, more guards emerged from the front. They were trapped.

  “NO!” shouted Jaime.

  A guard pressed a small handheld device to one of Franklin’s neck bolts. There was a flash and the old man fell to the floor. Another guard grabbed Scott from behind. Napoléon switched off the video feed and the screens returned to images of the city.

  Jaime rattled the cell door and screamed. “You animal! When the Modern Order of Prometheus discovers where you are, you’ll pay for this!”

  Napoléon turned his bathtub to face Jaime. “But my dear,” he said, chuckling, “I am the Modern Order of Prometheus. Haven’t you figured that out by now? And the way you shake your cage, you seem more like the animal to me.”

  Jaime rattled the metal door again, banging and kicking. “You’re a monster!” she screamed.

  “Jaime,” said Victor. “That’s not going to help.”

  She spun toward him. “Shut up!” She sobbed. “I told you not to send the message! Now they’re…they’re…”

  “They’re here,” said Victor. “Look.”

  Several guards carried Franklin through the door. Two others restrained Scott, who was struggling to break free. Edison followed behind.

  “Very good, Thomas,” said Napoléon. “Please put them with the others.”

  Edison walked to the cell and unlocked the thick metal door. He glared at Victor and Jaime, his message clear: Any attempt to escape would be punished.

  The guards carried Franklin to the edge of the cell and pushed him inside. Victor and Jaime caught his head just before it hit the floor. Another guard shoved Scott through the door and slammed it shut.

  “Are you all right?” said Victor.

  “We got your message,” said Scott.

  “But I—”

  “We got your message,” repeated Scott, with a wink.

  Jaime looked at Scott, then Victor, curiously. Behind her, Franklin was beginning to stir. She knelt down beside him.

  “Dr. Franklin, can you hear me?”

  Slowly, Franklin sat up and shook his head, as if trying to clear water from his ear. “I’m fine, Jaime. Just a little shaken up.”

  There was a clattering noise as Napoléon piloted his bathtub over to the cell. He cleared his throat, and the prisoners turned toward him.

  “I am sorry for the unpleasant welcome, Dr. Franklin. My name is Napoléon Bonaparte, Emperor of France and, soon, the world. Please forgive me for tricking you into coming.”

  “Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools,” said Franklin.

  The Emperor’s face grew serious. “If any other person spoke to me as you just did, I would have him killed.” He paused and took a deep breath. “But you are the great Benjamin Franklin, and I am the great Napoléon Bonaparte. I hope that we can work together once my business with the people of Philadelphia is complete.”

  “And what business is that?” asked Franklin.

  “The business of creating a better world, of course!” Napoléon answered. “I attempted this in my first life. I had wonderful ideas, ideas that would make the world great. And a strong army to spread those ideas!”

  NAPOLÉON BONAPARTE’S RESUME

  Napoléon Bonaparte

  Emperor

  Objective

  To create—and rule—a perfect world.

  Background

  Born Napoleone di Buonaparte in Corsica, 15 August 1769

  5’ 7” tall.

  Embodies the ambitions of thirty million Frenchmen.

  Education

  École Militaire in Paris (1784–1785)

  Military Academy at Brienne-le-Château (1779–1784)

  Mme. Pamplemousse’s Kindergarten for Bossy Children (1774–1775)

  Accomplishments

  Emperor of France (1799–1814)

  Invaded Egypt. Very hot.

  Invaded Russia. Very cold.

  Took second place at the Battle of Waterloo.

  Inspired a pastry.

  Infiltrated and took command of the Modern Order of Prometheus.

  Hobbies

  Leading coups.

  Plotting.

  World travel and conquest.

  Extended island vacations.

  Hypnosis.

  Keeping several steps ahead of my opponents.

  He sighed. “But people are complicated. They never understood my genius. I was thrown in prison! Me—the Emperor! But now I have a second chance. Here in Philadelphia, where the Modern Order of Prometheus was born, I can awaken any scientist to invent what I need. Mr. Edison’s supertransmitter will be ready within the hour. Then I shall make the people understand. I…no, we will do their thinking for them, Dr. Franklin. If you will join me, we can change the world. With your help, Utopia beckons!”

  “The devil sweetens poison with honey,” Franklin scoffed.

  “We shall see how you feel after all is done.” Napoléon glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner. “But now, it is time to return to the factory and set our plan into motion.”

  Napoléon and Edison started for the door. The Emperor paused and looked back, a smile on his face. “The next time you see me, Philadelphia will be mine.”

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  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Breaking Out

  Victor rattled the bars, but the door wouldn’t budge. “Ben, why didn’t you and Scott sneak in? When I sent that message, I was very cle
ar that this was a trap.”

  “What are you talking about?” Jaime interrupted. “You didn’t say anything to them about a trap.”

  Franklin smiled. “Ah, but Jaime, Victor did let me know that it was a trap.”

  Jaime looked puzzled.

  “Yeah,” Scott said. “Victor said that the address was on Parker Avenue, not Barker Avenue: P as in part, not B as in backward. I thought Victor was just being helpful because I sometimes get confused about directions and stuff. But Ben figured out that it was a hidden message.”

  “Part spelled backward is trap,” Franklin explained. “Well communicated, Victor. And right under the Emperor’s nose!”

  “So why didn’t you tell me you’d sent a secret message?” Jaime said.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that the cell door wasn’t really locked?”

  “Because if I told you, Napoléon and Edison would have…,” Jaime began. “Oh, right. Sorry, Victor.”

  “It’s okay,” Victor said. “Actually, when you got mad at me, it made the whole thing more convincing. But it still doesn’t change the fact that we’re all trapped.”

  “Far from it, my boy,” Franklin said. “Let me show you what the Promethean Underground created for me. After I shorted out during our adventure at the pond, they rebuilt my battery belt—with some clever improvements.”

  THE FRANKLIN BATTERY BELT VERSION 2.0

  Franklin showed them a black metallic box attached to his belt. At the center was a red knob with a small pointer. A gauge circled the knob—blue at one end and red at the other.

  “Impressive,” Victor said. “And this belt is a lot smaller than the last one.”

  “The knob allows me to regulate the amount of power flowing through my body. If I need to rest and recharge, I turn it down to the blue zone. But if I need an extra burst of strength, I can turn it up.”

  Victor was skeptical. “But if it goes up into the red zone, couldn’t you lose control?”

  “I don’t want that to happen again,” Scott said. “Remember that time back at Ernie’s Hardware when you threw a bathtub at us?”

  “That will not happen,” Franklin said. “The red zone is the upper limit of power I can reach without losing control. The knob will not turn any farther. The engineers call it a fail-safe. Watch.”

  Franklin took a few deep breaths and then slowly turned the knob into the red zone.

  Victor watched Franklin for any signs of trouble. The old man’s eyes glowed red, but only slightly. “Ben?”

  “I’m fine, Victor. Now if you will please step out of the way.”

  Victor backed away from the door. Franklin grasped two bars and pulled. They wavered, bent, and then snapped from their frame. Franklin dropped them and proceeded to tear two more from the door, leaving a gap large enough for them to escape.

  “Awesome!” Scott exclaimed. “Let’s get out of here!”

  “A moment, please.” Franklin slumped to the floor, weary. “I need to recharge. This may take a while.”

  He turned the knob down to the blue zone and closed his eyes.

  MEANWHILE…

  “How much longer?” Napoléon demanded.

  Edison stood at the base of the harmonic supertransmitter, staring into an open panel filled with dozens of loose wires. “I will finish it quickly, my Emperor. But first we must power down the dynamo.”

  “No, it must remain on at all times,” Napoléon said. “The plan requires it.”

  “The supertransmitter is very close to losing its harmonic field. I have to rewire these circuits as quickly as possible, but I can’t do it if the dynamo is running. The surge of power could kill me.”

  The Emperor pondered the problem. Turning off the power for only a moment would not affect his control over normal people. But Edison was not normal. His veins coursed with harmonic fluid. Cutting the electrical connection for even a few seconds might allow Edison to break the spell.

  Yet only Edison had the knowledge and skill to complete the challenging operation. The Emperor had to risk it. “Very well.” He nodded to Mr. and Mrs. Winters. They pushed a combination of buttons and twisted a dial on the console in front of them. The blades of the turbine whirred to a halt.

  “Now, Thomas—quickly!”

  Edison began twisting wires together. Napoléon marveled at the speed and accuracy with which the inventor attached them.

  But halfway through his task, Edison slowed and then stopped. He looked at the wires he held between his fingers. “This doesn’t…feel…right.”

  “You dare defy my direct order?” Napoléon growled. “Finish it now!”

  “No, this…this is wrong,” Edison stammered. “This machine…it’s evil!” He let go of the wires and turned to Napoléon, puzzled. “What am I doing here? Who…who are you?”

  “Turn the power back on!” Napoléon screamed at Jaime’s parents. “Now!”

  Mr. Winters pressed some buttons on the console and Mrs. Winters twisted the dial. The dynamo clacked, hummed, and began spinning again. The low whir quickly built to a high-pitched whine. Edison stiffened and a blankness overcame his eyes.

  “Complete your work, Thomas,” Napoléon said. “I command you!”

  Edison grasped the wires again and continued joining them, his deft fingers a blur. Electricity sparked through his body. His hair stood on end, and he glowed a blinding white. Napoléon turned away, shielding his eyes.

  “My Emperor!” Mrs. Winters called. “The harmonic field is in jeopardy! We have only seconds!”

  “Finish it!” Napoléon screamed. “Now!”

  A moment later, Edison pulled his hands away from the wires. His white glow dimmed to yellow, then orange, and finally disappeared completely. “It is complete, my Emperor.”

  Napoléon looked to the Winterses for confirmation.

  “It’s working,” Mr. Winters said. “The harmonic field is intact.”

  Napoléon smiled. “Arise, Thomas, and cast your eyes upon your greatest invention.”

  Edison staggered to his feet and gazed at the aweinspiring machine.

  “The harmonic supertransmitter!” Napoléon declared. “Your incredible invention has strengthened my hypnotic control a thousandfold. Now I have complete control over everyone in the city. Today Philadelphia, tomorrow the world!”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Escape into Danger!

  Franklin lay still on the cell floor. Jaime hovered over him, watching for signs of movement. “It’s been nearly half an hour.”

  “He told us it might take a while for his batteries to recharge,” Victor said from the other side of the room.

  Victor and Scott had been using the time to explore. Scott pointed to a blinking group of ten monitors. “Look at all those Infinity Unlimited trucks.”

  “He’s got them parked all over Philadelphia,” Victor said. “He must be planning to ship the bulbs to other cities.”

  “I’m waking Dr. Franklin,” Jaime said. “We’re running out of time.”

  “Just give him another minute,” Victor said, looking away from the screens. “I’m sure he’ll be—”

  FRANKLIN’S ENERGY RECOVERY RATE

  “I awaken!” Franklin shouted, bolting upright.

  Victor, Scott, and Jaime jumped in surprise.

  “How long have I been recharging?” Franklin asked.

  “About thirty minutes,” Jaime said.

  “Then we have no time to waste! Let us find an exit.”

  The four dashed across the room to a door, and Jaime threw it open. They could see an elevator and a staircase at the end of a long hall.

  Jaime raced ahead and up the stairs. “Over here! I found a way out.”

  Victor, Scott, and Franklin began climbing the staircase but were suddenly stopped by a piercing voice in their heads.

  “Attention! Citizens of Philadelphia, stop what you are doing. You are now under full command of the Emperor. Prepare for instructions.”

  Victor howled, holding his head. Fran
klin fell to his knees. Scott squeezed his eyes shut and put his fingers in his ears.

  “What’s wrong?” Jaime asked.

  “It’s Napoléon!” Victor shouted. “But his voice! It’s so much louder than before!”

  “Go immediately to any one of the ten redistribution centers throughout the city and load Infinity Bulbs onto our trucks. If you see anyone not following orders, carry them to a tanning salon for behavior correction.”

  The noise stopped. Victor, Ben, and Scott tried to clear their heads.

  “What did he say?” Jaime asked.

  “He told everyone to load Infinity Bulbs onto his trucks,” Scott said.

  “Then Victor was right,” Jaime said.

  “Yes. The Emperor is expanding his control beyond Philadelphia,” Franklin confirmed. “The world is in imminent danger.”

  Jaime peered outside the door. “Speaking of danger, we’ve got another problem. Take a look.”

  Victor, Franklin, and Scott stumbled up the stairs and peeked out the door.

  Cars sat abandoned on the streets, their doors left open. Hundreds of people trudged slowly forward, their eyes rolling back in their heads. They moved like parts of a great machine. Some groups headed east, some north, but all of them moved with purpose. They were following orders.

  “They’re zombies!” Scott cried.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Zombies, Zombies Everywhere

  “We need a plan,” Jaime said. “Ideas?”

  Franklin gazed upon the sea of people. “Look at them—the vacant expressions upon their faces. The Emperor has stolen their free will. Horrible!”

  A scream slashed through the silence. Across the street, a woman in sunglasses struggled against four snarling zombies. They clutched her by the arms and legs. Dozens more surrounded her. The woman was lifted up on top of the group and carried down the street, screaming.

  “They must be taking her to a tanning salon,” Scott said.

  “Why a tanning salon?” Jaime asked.

  Scott shrugged. “Beats me.”