Cassidy St. Claire and The Fountain of Youth Parts I, II, & III

by A. H. Rousseau

  “Harker!” Jebediah bellowed. Harker stopped in his place, slowly turning his head to look over his shoulder with a smirk. Jebediah stood there on the walkway, still disguised. As Harker turned, Jebediah took off his mask, holding it for a moment before dropping it to the floor with a thunk.

  “My god, you are persistent, aren't you?” Harker said. Two security men standing by Harker looked to him and he waved them away. They then got onto the rail car just before it pulled away. A few more scientists carrying collections of bags and small boxes scurried nervously onto another train and likewise pulled away. Harker walked confidently, arrogantly, toward Jebediah. “I would have never, ever thought you to make it this far. You actually found me.”

  “I am a man of my word,” replied Jebediah.

  “You are a man of many things,” said Harker with a sneer.

  Jebediah unbuttoned the front of his leather work suit, letting it drop so he could step out of it. His now-sweaty shirt was pressed against his torso, revealing taught, healthy muscles.

  “You sure you're up for this, old man? Keeping in shape? It's been a long time since you've been in the field.”

  “I've had quite the refresher in the past few weeks,” Jebediah replied. Roger removed his coat and the two men rolled up their sleeves. They stood like samurai, separated by a dozen feet, waiting for the other to make a move. Quickly, Roger dashed in with a long blow which Jebediah easily dodged. He hopped to the side as Roger brought up his other fist in a quick swipe. Jebediah backed off and replied with a light tap to the face. Roger stood back, rubbing his face. He smirked before letting loose a long, sustained attack. Jebediah dodged and blocked, landing a few taps and punches, but it was apparent that he was overwhelmed. Hit after hit from Roger first bruised, then bloodied, and then blackened one of his cheeks. Cassidy watched helplessly from the other side of the collapsed structure, crying out to Jebediah.

  “He's going to get the shit beaten out of him!” she yelled. “I have to get over there!”

  “How?!” replied Gideon. “There are no ladders!”

  Cassidy looked around quickly. Her eyes eventually fixated on the crane that had been used to bring up objects from the floor below. She ran over to it and grabbed it, trying to shake it side to side. It rattled and moved slightly but was otherwise locked. Cassidy gave the crane a quick analysis before pulling her revolver and firing an explosive round into the assembly. She then shook the crane and was able to move it. She then pulled out a long length of rope from the crane and kicked a lock into the place, giving the rope a tug to make sure it was secure. She looked up just in time to see Harker deliver a vicious blow to the side of Jebediah's head, sending him down to the floor hard. “Jeb,” she said quietly. She turned to Gideon. “Try to find another way around.” She then grabbed the hook at the end of the rope, trotted quickly down the walkway and slightly away from the edge, turned, and with an uneasy breath, ran full tilt toward the thirty-foot drop. She heaved herself off the edge, clearing the rail line, and gracefully sailed in an arc over to the other edge of the blast. She let go of the rope and smashed into the guard rail with a loud “UNGG!” She hung there for a moment, gathering her senses, before pulling herself up onto the walkway, falling down onto the surface with a grunt. The men on the other side cheered as she rose to her feet, pulled her gun, waved to the men, and ran toward Harker.

  Harker saw Cassidy coming and backed away from Jebediah's body. She ran up as Harker turned, shaking his arms like a boxer loosening his muscles. She knelt beside Jebediah and pressed her fingers into his neck. After calmly walking about twenty feet, Harker turned around and gazed at Cassidy.

  Cassidy slowly rose, Jebediah unconscious on the ground, her gun aimed at Roger. Roger opened his arms, smugly inviting her to shoot him. Cassidy stared out through wide eyes before dropping her aim and tossing her gun to the floor with a thunk. Roger smiled. Cassidy cracked her fists in each hand as her eyes remained fixed and emotionless, like the eyes of a predator on its prey.

  Roger rocked his head from side to side, cracking his neck. “I have been wanting this since the moment I met you. The legendary Cassidy St. Claire. It's all I've heard. Let's see how tough you really are.”

  Cassidy calmly stepped around Jebediah's body and walked toward Roger, who positioned himself for a fight. As she got within distance, Roger let out a long jab which hit Cassidy squarely in her right cheek. He followed with a left to the side of her head, then a right into her stomach.

  “Can't even dodge simple punches,” he said. “This is going to be easy.”

  “No,” replied Cassidy, turning to look at him through her hair. “I just wanted to see how hard you hit. Cassidy then hit him on the left side of his jaw with a rising haymaker that sent him reeling onto his ass. He got up quickly and shook it off. He smirked.

  The fight was on.

  Cassidy and Roger's fight was well-matched. Cassidy the brawler, Roger the pugilist. His speed and accuracy landed more hits, but when Cassidy hit, Roger felt it, finding himself frequently knocked back a step. Tap, tap. Dodge, block. As the fight wore on, Cassidy began to tire. She was already running on little sleep, and it showed. She slowed down. Roger landed more hits. A kick to her knee caused Cassidy to cry out in pain as she fell to a kneel. Roger came in for a powerful blow but was fended off by a wild uppercut. He quickly rushed back in and delivered two, quick slams to Cassidy's abdomen. She lurched back, disoriented, before falling to a knee.

  Roger stepped back, bleeding and breathing heavily. “You're impressive. I'll give you that,” he said. “Too bad,” he began, readying himself for another attack. “That you will end up dead and nameless in the gutter, just like every... other... whore.”

  Cassidy looked up, animal eyes of hate glowing fire from under her brow and through her wild red hair. Roger lunged in to deliver a blow to her head. She surprised him by lunging directly at him, uppercutting him in the jaw with the top of her head. He reeled back but reflexively came forward again for another attack which was met by another strike by Cassidy's head square in his face, causing it to explode in blood. He stepped back, unable to see, and Cassidy stepped forward, Roger's blood dripping down her face. She violently grabbed his head with both hands and slammed it down into her knee. He staggered back. She then, grabbing him by a shoulder and the crotch, with a grunt, picked up his entire body over her head and slammed it down onto the metal floor, where he lay motionless.

  Cassidy stood there, unstable and bleeding, over her defeated foe, smoke swirling around her. She paused, closed her eyes, and breathed in the moment. The fight done, her body was allowing her to feel her injuries. “Ooooohhhhnnnnnnnggggggg!” she groaned loudly. She limped over to Jebediah and flipped him over. He opened his eyes slightly and groaned.

  “Where's Harker?” he asked weakly.

  “Half-dead on the floor,” replied Cassidy.

  Jebediah chuckled and smiled. “Good job,” he said. “Good job.”

  ---

  The prisoners sat on the floor, their backs against the outside wall of one of the buildings. Two of Gideon's men stood watch over them as they nervously shifted in their places.

  “What are you all doing?” asked one of the prisoners, a slim boyish man of Mexican descent, wearing overalls.

  “Quiet,” said one of their guards, large with a dim look in his eyes.

  “No. What are you doing?”

  “I said quiet.”

  “You... what... we... we have to get out of here,” the prisoner said, his voice rising in panic.

  “Either be quiet or I will quiet you,” replied the guard.

  “Are you all just idiots or something? We have to get out of here!” The prisoner's voice grew to a yell.

  Gideon walked over. “What's happening?” The guard said nothing.

  “We have to get out of here now!” yelled the prisoner again.

  “Why?” asked Gideon.

  “Why?! Everyone's leaving! Why do you think that everyone's leaving! Th
ey're going to blow it all up! What do you think those big things on the walls are!” the prisoner yelled, pointing to large metal boxes that littered the walls of the cavern. “Those are bombs!”

  Gideon looked up at them, then looked around the cave and took in the sheer number of the boxes. His mouth hung open. “Good god...” Gideon yelled out to his men. “Everyone! Onto the lifts! Get out, now! As many onto the lifts as you can fit!” Gideon ran over to the edge of the blast site and looked toward Cassidy who was helping Jebediah to his feet. “Cassidy!” Gideon yelled.

  “What?!” she replied as she was helping Jebediah stand.

  “You have to get out of here! They're blowing the whole damn structure! Get to the lift! Get to it right now!”

  “Son of a bitch,” said Jebediah.

  The sound of metal clanking against metal caused Cassidy and Jebediah to turn quickly. Harker was on the last tram car left at that stop and was starting to roll away.

  “Dammit!” Cassidy yelled as she dropped Jebediah to the ground with a metallic thud.

  “Ow,” he said.

  Cassidy tried to run but was only able to manage a quick limp. The rail car quickly got away from her.

  “Farewell,” yelled Harker. “You couldn't ask for a more magnificent tomb.” Cassidy stopped hobbling and just stood there, propping her arm on her thigh, staring at Harker. “And St. Claire,” Harker continued. “It was worth the wait.” Cassidy didn't respond.

  “Cassidy!” yelled Gideon. Cassidy snorted in frustration and turned back to where Jebediah had gotten to his feet. She returned to her place with him propped on her shoulder.

  “Do you have everyone else out?” she yelled back.

  “We're working on it,” replied Gideon. “My only concern is you.”

  “We'll be fine,” replied Cassidy. “Just get yourself out.”

  Gideon nodded, his fear showing through. Cassidy turned with Jebediah and they began to limp away. “Cassidy!” Gideon yelled. Cassidy turned. “See you top side!” Gideon yelled with the sad smile of someone who, regardless of their words, was actually saying goodbye.

  “See you then,” Cassidy replied.

  The two turned and hobbled away.

  “What lifts?” asked Jebediah.

  “See? Up there.” said Cassidy, motioning with her head. “The large metal shaft. That's the lift. There are four of five of them leading down here from up in downtown Houston. We just have to find the door.” She and Jebediah, holding each other up, limped through the hallways and passages between buildings.

  “How badly did you beat Harker?” asked Jebediah.

  Cassidy didn't respond. “... Barely,” she finally said. “I was... scared for a moment.”

  “Just a moment?” asked Jebediah.

  Cassidy smiled. “Just a moment.”

  The two continued to hobble down the walkways, their footfalls clanking and shuffling on metal grates. “I lied,” Jebediah said.

  “About what?”

  “Other people do call me Jeb.”

  Cassidy didn't say anything. She just nodded. They turned a corner and found the lift door, destroyed by an explosion. “Shit!” Cassidy yelled. “Shit shit shit.”

  “There,” said Jebediah. “It looks like this path leads to the next one.” The two limped there way further around the circular complex to the bottom of another lift and pressed the large button. They waited for a few minutes and nothing happened.

  “I don't hear anything,” said Cassidy.

  “We can't afford to wait around,” added Jebediah. “We'll die waiting for this thing. Maybe we should go around to one of the ladders and then run across the cavern.”

  “No,” replied Cassidy. “You don't want to get anywhere near that water. It's not water and it's sure as hell no fountain of youth. It's acid or something. That's why everyone is wearing those suits.”

  Jebediah paused for a moment in thought. “Maybe try to climb over the wreckage from the explosion,” he added.

  Cassidy paused. “Do you hear that?” she asked. They both went silent and the unmistakeable sound of someone screaming could be heard. They limped down a hallway to a door. On the other side was someone pounding and screaming for help. Cassidy tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge. The action alerted the person on the other side.

  “Oh thank God!” he screamed. “The door is jammed! I can't get it open. Do you have something to pry it open with?”

  “Yeah!” Cassidy yelled. “Stand back.” The man did so and a loud explosion from her St. Claire Revolver shattered the door handle. Cassidy and Jebediah limped in, greeting the slight, towheaded man.

  “Oh God bless you, God bless you, God bless you!” yelled the man, so happy he was crying.

  “There will be time for that later,” said Cassidy. “This whole place is going to blow up at any moment. How do we get out of here?”

  “I know! The lifts. The lifts will take us up right into the city.” the man replied.

  “We can't. They're all destroyed.”

  “What?!” he screamed, starting to hyperventilate. “NO! No! They just left me here! How could they not come get me!?”

  “Calm down!” yelled Cassidy, grabbing the man by the shoulders and shaking him. “Think! What other ways could we get out of here?” The man stood there, his breathing rapid and panicked. “Are there any faster trains, maybe?”

  “No,” said the man. “No. They're too slow. The trams are all... regulated...” he looked up at Cassidy, suddenly much calmer. “Are there any cars left?” he asked.

  “Yes. Two, I think,” said Jebediah.

  “Then, yes! I think I may have a way!”

  ---

  Above ground, Gideon and his subordinates rushed to clear the downtown area of people. One of the agents ran up. “The opera house is clear,” he said.

  “Good, good,” replied Gideon. He then looked out to the east. “What's three blocks down?”

  “Austin street,” replied the agent.

  “Make sure everyone is past that road and everyone in that direction is past Smith street and everyone in that direction is past Capital street,” Gideon said, pointing to the east and south. “When this cave goes, it's taking downtown with it. Now go, go, go!”

  ---

  Down by the rail, the three climbed aboard one of two rail cars. Jebediah slumped down onto a seat, exhaling in relief. The young man rushed to the front of the car and looked at a red light on the control panel. “Oh thank god, they still have power.” He then knelt down and ripped off a metal panel from underneath the controls. He started to rummage about in the wires and cables as Cassidy watched. He turned to her and pointed to the floor. “See that panel there?” Cassidy looked and nodded. “Lift it up. A large red, metal handle is under it.” Cassidy lifted the heavy metal panel with a grunt and let it slam on the floor next to Jebediah's foot. “Pull that red lever up. It will completely disconnect the car from the line.” Cassidy followed his orders, killing the red light on the controls.

  The young man then started grunting and straining as he tried to pull out a metal cylinder from under the controls. Cassidy watched him struggle for a moment before intervening. Without saying anything, she reached in and ripped out the offending piece of machinery with relative ease. The young man looked at her with shock. “Why... thank you,” he said. He then reached in and hastily twisted together two very large cables. He then turned to Cassidy. “Alright, push the red lever back down.” Cassidy did so as the young man watched the red light illuminate. He sighed a nervous sigh.

  “What did we just do?” asked Cassidy.

  “We removed the regulator from the electric motor,” replied the young man. “The tram system is high-voltage, but that's for moving cargo. It's limited to fifteen miles per hour. With that regulator gone, well... we'll find out.”

  “Has anyone done this before?” asked Jebediah.

  “I would... assume not,” replied the young man.

  “Well, I would like to know the
name of the man who I'm likely about to die with,” said Cassidy just as the first explosions went off in the ceiling, sending down large stalactites.

  “Joseph, ma'am!”

  Cassidy smiled. “Well Joseph! Let's go!” Joseph nodded and slowly actuated the throttle lever. The car crawled forward around the bend.

  “When we hit the straightaway, I'll push it to one-hundred percent!” yelled Joseph as further explosions started to bring the chamber down behind them. Cassidy and Jebediah nodded. The train came around the corner, and with the straight expanse of the cave ahead, Joseph gripped the lever tightly. “Hold on to something!” He yelled as he slammed the throttle forward, causing the car to lurch forward, sending all three tumbling backwards.

  Cassidy quickly got to her feet and looked behind her just in time to see the magical tree crushed by the falling stalactite that had sat above it, followed by the darkening of all the complex lights. She looked sadly into the darkness for a moment before turning back around and facing forward with the other two.

  ---

  Another underling, a young man with an Irish accent, ran up to Gideon. “That's everyone that we can find.”

  Gideon sighed. “I can scarcely believe we managed this,” he said. “Did you find Miss St. Claire and Mister Ames?”

  The young man didn't respond at first. “No, sir. No sign of them.”

  Gideon's gaze fell. “Where are you two?” he asked quietly. He brought a steely gaze up to the young man. “Ready as many men as you can on horseback. We're riding out to that small island southeast of the city.” As Gideon spoke, the ground shook. “That's it,” he said. At that moment, he and the young man were startled by the scream of a small girl.

  “No! Nooo! Jackson! Jackson!” The girl was screaming as her parents fought to hold her back. Gideon looked to where the girl was reaching and saw a small dog, jumping and barking, tied to a light post by the wooden sidewalk, right in the center of the collapse zone.