Tesla's Revenge

by Renee Sebastian

  She eyed my shoes speculatively as I took them off to show my black stockinged feet, then she asked, “What's your business with Tesla?”

  “He took something of mine and I would like it back. More pressing, however, is that I would like to join him in his current endeavor. Wholeheartedly, in fact.”

  She nodded her head and showed me into the parlor. Then she said, “Don't leave the room, you might see something you wished you hadn't.”

  Just before she closed the doors, I asked, “Are you skyclad under that robe?”

  She replied in a very snippy manner, “No tea and cake for you.” Then she shut the doors and left.

  The parlor was most ordinary. After having a thorough look about, I concluded that everything in the room was in shades of green, from the vine-covered wallpaper to the shag rug. A small sofa banked by two green velvet chairs faced a small fireplace tiled in a jade colored porcelain tile. Upon its mantle was a green urn holding dubious ashes, no doubt. I supposed they called this the Green Room. The most remarkable thing in the room was the numerous stuffed gaff heads on the walls. One was a cross between an antelope and a bear, while another was an octopus and a lantern fish. Dorian would think it was all very silly.

  I didn't have to wait very long before five men and two women entered the room. One of the women was Ms. Welcome Party, who had opened the door and showed me in. The room was suddenly quite cramped, and I realized that I was starkly outnumbered. I began feeling entirely too claustrophobic for my comfort.

  All the men, save Tesla, who had come in last, were heavily bearded and 'stached. They all wore dressing gowns, excepting Tesla. The biggest man addressed me and said, “Do you have any weapons on you?”

  The oldest woman in the room with iron gray hair, to whom I hadn't been introduced, said, “Don't lie. It's a gift of his.”

  “I have no offensive weapons on me. I only wish to speak to Tesla of a matter that concerns us all.”

  The man shrugged his shoulders and said, “She mostly speaks the truth. So she most likely has a weapon, but doesn't plan to use it, unless provoked.” They all seemed to relax at this comment and then everyone found a spot to sit.

  Tesla was the only one to remain standing. He said forthrightly, “I'm not giving the magsticks back.” He didn’t beat about the bush, did he? My estimation of him may have gone up, but I hadn’t given up yet.

  I folded my hands in my lap and replied, “I don't intend on asking for them back. I would like my bag returned and any personal items that were in it.” My thoughts drifted to The Metamorphosis, in particular.

  I said, “I want to help you. In fact, Lord Grey would like to help too. I also have Jeremy, the young Necromancer, with me, who has been of great use since we entered the city.”

  One thin man went to the door and cracked it open to have a look at the road.

  “You won't see them. They are hiding.”

  Tesla asked, “Why don't you explain your reasons for committing so heartily to the cause now?”

  It was time to lay my cards out. “I've been booted from S.O.A.R. and Dorian works for a third party in Europe that would like to have more friendly conversations with our government, but find the current administration difficult to deal with, to say the least.”

  The big man said, “Whoever will be seated as the future head of our country has to be better than what we have now.”

  “Might be nice to have an Estonian in office or at the very least a User...,” another said.

  This prompted them all to talk amongst themselves, so I couldn't pick up on anyone's conversation in particular.

  Tesla came over and sat on the arm of the chair in which I was seated. He was still dressed in his suit, so I asked, “Why aren't you wearing a robe like the rest of them?”

  “I didn't want to be bathed in pig's blood.”

  “Good answer.” Then I thought about it and asked, “Sty in the back?”

  “You don't want to see the Brown Room.”

  “I fear you are correct, sir.” Then I thought to myself that I was glad I didn't get offered the cake and tea.

  “Miss Darling, how do I know that you aren't going to try and stop me once we get to the Falls?” he asked.

  “Your friend would know if I weren't speaking with sincerity of intent, wouldn't he?”

  “Sincerity and fact are worlds apart.”

  “Haven't you read about the Importance of Being Earnest?” I asked.

  “I have and that’s what worries me.”

  “If what I have said has not convinced you, then let me tell you that I have been alive for a few hundred years, and I have decided that I like being alive. I do not wish to die.” At least not today. “If I remain here in the Republic, I will eventually be caught and killed by one of S.O.A.R.'s assassins. They are all well trained, I know.

  “And let me tell you this, Nikola Tesla that I love this Republic of ours, but I too loathe the administration. I don't want this land to be torn asunder from Lovecraft's demons or Edison's stupidity, even if I won't be able to stay here after this affair is over.

  “I'm ready to do what needs to be done to save this world, in all its beauty and ugliness alike. If you say you have a plan, I'm ready to listen. If you say the Falls must fall down; then I'm ready to help in any and all aspects involving explosions. You may love to create things, Mr. Tesla, but I figure you're not very astute at sundering them. That, Nikola, is my specialty.”

  He sighed and said, “I fear you and I are going to be friends.”

  “What of Grey, then?”

  He looked at me meaningfully and said, “We were never exactly friends in the first place. Cheap bloke never came through with the funding I needed. “Now give me a few minutes to chat with my friends, so they can make the appropriate corrections and accommodations to the plan, now that you and your lot will be in tow.”

  He then reached deftly with both hands over to my ears and astutely removed my pearl earrings in a single swoop. He then muttered more to himself than me, “Pearl earrings unsettle me.” He left the room before I could say another word. Pity that, I rather fancied those.

  He returned a few moments later with my bag in one hand and my pearls still in the other. How did he get my bag from the hotel so quicly? It must have been sent for while we were deciding what to do about Tesla. He handed them both back to me and said, “Keep the pearls in the bag. Let's not tarry, we have some explosives to set before morning breaks.”

  Chapter 18

  The Falls

  “Men who claim they know all that deserves to be known are absurd. Give me the ignorant vessel, and I will fill it up with all the knowledge of the world. Hiccup.”

  -Anonymous, A drunk and homeless man who begged for a dollar on the streets of Boston, 2067.

  From Dorian's Journal of Memorable Quotes to Live By

  Tesla was given a map with the strategic points for stick placement to cause optimal damage, as if I needed one, and a guide's name to ask for when we went for our tour. The guide was to check in the bag with the sticks and then store it in a location that was accessible to us, but still hidden from the general public. The guide would be determining the location for it to be stored and would only reveal it to us after we arrived.

  We were also given additional remote devices to attach to each stick, so that if we were to detonate one, it would trigger the others to detonate nearly simultaneously. When we all seemed satisfied that this might actually work, we parted ways with the Estonians. We didn't have to walk far before we found Dorian and Jeremy. Then we looked for transit to the falls that we gladly found in a mechcarriage.

  Dorian was all business as we caught the mechcarriage. Once we were settled in the cab, and the plan was explained, Dorian cut to the chase and asked, “What are your plans after this little excursion, Tesla? I am not accustomed to following anyone blindly. I think I should be at least prepared.”

  “The Estonians have located and utilized a hidden underground railroad of sorts
that leads under the bedrock of Niagara Falls and directly out of the park. We will take this tunnel, once the sticks are in place and detonated, to escape. Horses and false identities will be waiting for us there.” He showed us a circle on the map where a historical battlement was located. “Then we travel to Baltimore. I have a base camp there, where we will have what we need to make a final assault on the White House. I don't want to divulge anymore, until you have proven yourself trustworthy. You’ll see everything you will need to see once you set foot in my laboratory.”

  “You mean that we will head to Baltimore after we drop Jeremy off in Rochester.”

  Both men looked at me oddly, but I think for different reasons. I sensed that Tesla was ready to ditch Jeremy at any time, preferably leaving him with the Estonians, who would use him as they saw fit. I sensed that Dorian was thinking about taking him back to the Agora for a continental education. I refused to let anyone use Jeremy as a tool.

  Jeremy broke the silence by popping a bubble. Now where and when did he get some chewing gum?

  Tesla replied unconvincingly, “Of course.”

  Dorian asked, “The tunnel won't become submerged after the collapse of the Falls?”

  “No, water travels the path of least resistance, and it will be in the opposite direction.”

  “Water also likes to fill in low spots and there will be plenty of pressure to follow,” Dorian countered.

  “I've spoken to surveyors and engineers over the years and according to the math, the tunnel is solvent. I've checked over the calculations myself and I am confident in the science, as well. The tunnel is made from bedrock and will not collapse.”

  “Where were you going to get the sticks, if not from me?” I asked.

  “The Estonians have a supply that is now, thanks to you, not diminished. Thank you.”

  “We really need to drop Jeremy off first in Rochester, once this dastardly deed is done,” I reiterated. This little excursion was not sounding exceptionally safe for a little boy, even one as special as Jeremy, and I was determined to protect him from the likes of Tesla’s labs.”

  “We could leave him with the Estonians and they could deliver him to his people in Rochester... eventually.”

  I replied, “Unacceptable. He's a Necromancer, and I don't exactly trust the Estonians to not raise him as their own personal weapon.”

  “There won't be any need for his skills, once we overthrow the government,” he logically replied. I doubted that.

  “You can't be serious. We may be able to remove Edison from office. We may even be able to get a User in his place, but the Estonians will never be able to control the presidency,” Dorian scoffed.

  “Anything was once possible in this great land of ours. It is time to instill this concept back into the hearts of its citizens. Will you be there to help me, or will you stand against me?”

  He was very dramatic, wasn't he? “Tesla,” I said, “We are all on the same page here despite our individual positions of matters concerning the presidency. We can be agreed that Lovecraft must be stopped. Edison needs to be removed. Can we not compromise on our motivations?”

  Dorian nodded and Tesla said, “For now.”

  “We will be dropping off Jeremy after the incident at Niagara Falls is concluded. Period. On this, I cannot be moved. I made an oath of honor that I would do it and I will, with or without either of you, if that is what must be done.

  “Now Tesla, whether you choose to believe it or not, you are stronger with us than without. We have a skill set that you need. There is also the matter of the rogue Necromancer on our trail. We just don't know when he will make his appearance again, and we need our numbers to combat him and his children. It is imperative that we stick together.

  “I will help you do this thing, and then you will help me to Rochester. Then Dorian and I,” I looked at Jeremy and stressed, “alone, will carry on to Baltimore, and you, Jeremy, will stay with your uncle.”

  Jeremy crossed his arms and pouted a bit before he popped another bubble at me. After a moment of giving me the stink eye, he eventually nodded his head in acceptance. I stared hard at him while I raised my eyebrows, until he finally said, “Understood, ma’am.”

  Tesla shrugged his shoulders and said, “Until Baltimore, then. Once there, I will have plenty of numbers to even the playing field, with or without the both of you.”

  Dorian and I exchanged concerned looks.

  ···•Ͽ Ѡ Ͼ•···

  Our destination was the Maid of the Mist. I counted ourselves lucky when our mechcarriage was only stopped twice, once at a military blockade and the other at a local police checkpoint, respectively. Dorian told me he had placed a glamour on everyone in the car, except myself, since I was impervious to said magic. But I think he needn’t have bothered, as the fancy dress altered my appearance enough to make me unrecognizable to any of the officers. Tesla kept his hat pulled down low and pretended to sleep his way through. No one stopped us.

  Finally, we arrived and parked in a huge parking area. We paid the driver and followed the meandering line of tourists up the stairs to the entrance of the park.

  Once we paid our entry fees, we purchased an unbelievably expensive behind-the-scenes tour package for each of us. Tesla paid with some money the Estonians had given him. A young, bearded man approached us wearing a park ranger uniform. He introduced himself as Mr. Chatham, one of the park rangers, and informed us that no baggage was allowed up on the observation decks. He asked if I wanted my bag stowed for the duration, complimentary, of course. We expressed our pleasure for such a convenience and gave him the bag. Then he handed us a park map with a marked location on it. He noted that the view from this location was particularly interesting and educated us on the locations not to go, since there was no ranger supervision. Lastly, he related that he had volunteered to take the third shift in addition to the second shift that he was now serving, so he was to be there throughout the night, but would be alone after nine o'clock.

  We indicated that he was fortunate to be earning overtime in such a delightful career. He then circled the ranger station that he stayed at, once the park officially closed at seven. He told us that the days were getting darker sooner and the Falls were unsafe at night, what with all the water spray on the walkways.

  We thanked him and went to the glass elevators that led up to the observation decks where our tour was scheduled to begin in thirty minutes. It was the last one of the day.

  Our tour guide was droll and took the shape of a slightly plump and pimply college student who had obviously stayed up too long indulging in the baser pleasures that life had to offer, as it was obvious that he needed an elixir simply to make it through to the end of his shift. It seemed that he carried on forever about the history of Niagara Falls in the most annoyingly nasal voice imaginable. He finally dismissed the cheap ticket tourists and took our group with a couple who had a young son into the hidden tunnels within the wall of the Niagara itself.

  The interior was lit by gas burning torches set into the walls. The humidly was so high that the bottom of the torches dripped water. I made mental maps of the tunnels that we went through and paid particular attention to the ones we didn't.

  Our guide carried on about how zombie slaves labored for twenty years to create the dam prior to the Civil War. Then he told us how Users magically reinforced the wall for decades after that. But since society had dictated it unnecessary in the last century, those reinforcements had gone lax. It was now only shored up with magic on a need basis only. The only magic remaining to protect it was a magical anti-theft system that alerted the authorities if a trespasser crossed the observation deck above after the park had closed. This, of course, was simply done to protect the general populace from falling to their deaths on the slippery rocks, but most likely it was to save on their insurance premiums.

  Our guide continued rambling on about the bloody history of the city. In particular, he spoke on length on the last recorded attack by the Niagagarega t
ribe at the base of waterfall, long before this great city was established as we know it today.

  Once the dam had been built, people began settling in the area in earnest. Townspeople on one side of the Falls and irate Natives on the other. There were bound to be disputes and once an assault against the townspeople began, they hid their children in these very same tunnels for weeks. At least thirty children died before the town was saved by the then current president, Franklin Pierce, who had finally sent a militia to take care of the problem. This was before Edison’s time.

  The town's population was cut in half, while the Natives were merely driven back into the surrounding wilderness. Not long after this, our nation began negotiating with the Great Savage Nations on land appropriations and disputes. Now they stayed mainly on their side of the line and we stayed on ours. Trade was extremely limited, but that didn't mean there wasn't a thriving black market for tribal artifacts and magical constructs.

  The Native's aptitude for wild magics was world renown. Their medicine women were so famous for healing, it was rumored that the Republic’s very own Director of Medicines had sought treatment for a malady his wife had some years ago.

  There was even word that they could travel the planes through cave systems activated by their magics, but I had never come across any while playing hide and go seek when I was in Neverland. There was also no end to the stories printed in penny papers of children that had run away from home to cross the great divide, wanting to live life with the Natives.

  Finally, our tour group made it to a small candlelit room situated with a small bar and stocked liquor cabinet. The only other items in the room were an array of cafe styled dining tables. The guide went to the bar and placed six wine glasses on its surface, and then he proceeded to pour each of us a glass of dark liquid.

  The other family's child reached for a goblet and the father put a hand over his, staying it. Then he proclaimed to our guide, “We abstain, brother.”