Remnants

Of

Electria

Ashen Wastelands Series Book 1

By: Tim Elkins

Copyright © 2020 NJ Publishing

All rights Reserved All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication / use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Free Book Offer

Get a second book for free.

Join my email list to get my book rebirth for free and more.

You’ll be the first to know about sales, giveaways, and discounts.

You’ll get some interesting information about Science Fiction and Fantasy.

PLUS you get a chance to become one of my exclusive readers who get ALL my books for FREE.

CLICK HERE to get your 2nd book.

Table Of Contents

Free Book Offer

1

2

3

4

6

7

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

Review The Book

Book 2 Sneak Peek

1

Sharp teeth tore at Rachel’s leather coat as a monstrous creature snapped its maw towards her, her scream echoing against the derelict, ancient walls of the abandoned city. Though the pressure on her arm made Rachel wince in pain, she realized that the teeth were still human, albeit mutated. She slid her razor-sharp blade through the twisted frame of the mutant. Though distorted by the tremendous radiation levels released by the Shattering, their flesh remained vulnerable to steel. Just then, a thunderous explosion resonated to her right, and another creature toppled backward, half its head missing. Rachel turned towards the origin of the noise and grinned. “’Took you long enough, Phineas!” she yelled in greeting.

Phineas Archibald cycled the chamber in his revolver and shot again, downing another monster. “Positioning is key, captain.” He ran towards Rachel and stepped next to her behind a crumbling pillar. “Where are the others?”

Panting, Rachel holstered her empty pistol. “The twins must be returning from their reckoning shortly. Milton and Burton should arrive soon.”

“They better,” Phineas said. “I’m almost running dry.”

Rachel unsheathed her long sword. “You tell me. We have to hold until they reach us,” she uttered, gritting her teeth. “We should have been more cautious.” She couldn’t help but sigh.

Phineas smiled. “‘Cautious’ doesn’t belong in your lexicon, Rachel,” he managed to tease her.

She returned the gesture. “True enough. Besides, we risked letting that other crew reach our target first. At this rate, they must be in as much of a stump as we are.”

“Either that or they’re mutie crap by now.”

“Well, there’s only one way to find out.” Rachel stepped away from the pillar and ran at one of the mutated mockeries of humanity in front of them. She sliced sideways, eviscerating the monster before one grabbed her from behind. Phineas’ pistol roared soon after, hitting the creature on the side and giving Rachel an opportunity to sink her sword into its gut. She turned towards her first mate and asked, “How many bullets left, Phineas?”

He discharged his pistol once, twice, thrice, and then holstered it. “Empty, captain!” Phineas exclaimed. He unsheathed his saber and jumped forward, landing beside Rachel. “They better haul their gatlings pronto; otherwise— AGH!”

Phineas couldn’t finish his sentence as a mutant rammed him, toppling him down. He rolled sideways and lifted his saber in time to impale the aberration lunging his way, using its inertia against it and sending the creature hurtling backward. He stood up and assumed a combat pose. “We won’t hold them much longer, Rachel!”

She dislodged her weapon from a monster, sidestepped a claw aimed her way, and pierced another creature’s skull. “We must hold, Phineas; or else, our efforts would be wasted!” she insisted.

But Rachel’s voice was drowned by a hail of leaden bullets that perforated the monsters ahead. She turned towards the source of the gunfire and saw Milton holding a lightweight gatling gun, releasing its payload at their enemies. Steam hissed from the compact furnace-and-engine on her back as bullets felled the monstrosities one by one, guided through her expert handling of the weapon. Rachel and Phineas fell back as Milton held the creatures at bay. When they reached her side, she said, “Hey, fellas! Sorry for the delay – it ain’t easy haulin’ one of these babies through debris!”

Rachel removed Milton’s cap and rubbed her bald pate. “No worries, lass. You’re a sight for sore eyes!” she uttered in appreciation.

“Quit it, cap’n!” Milton exclaimed, still firing her weapon. “Burton’s a ways behind still; his weapon’s too large.” Laughing, she added, “Figuratively, of course.”

“You’d be one to know,” Phineas teased her.

Milton turned her head and winked. “Sure thing, sweetheart. ‘Plenty of time to worry about that after we’re out of here!” The roar of her gun was mixed with the howling cries of the mutants dying by its fire. When a score of the creatures fell, the rest retreated, scurrying away on deformed limbs, uttering feral cries as they receded into their hiding holes. Milton let go of the trigger and closed the steam valve, and the weapon revved down. She cracked her neck, saying, “Well, that was something, captain. Hadn’t I arrived on time, you two would now be the muties’ main course!”

“Hey, Captain!” a man suddenly shouted while making his way towards the trio. “I... am... here! Where’s the... muties?” he asked, huffing.

“Brave Burton, valiant Burton,” mocked Milton, shaking her head, “Coming late to the party.”

“What’d you say, woman?” he turned towards Milton, frowning.

“I said I’ve taken care of ‘em muties.” Milton scoffed. “Your loss for having picked a heavy gun,” she chided.

“It’s not his fault, Milton,” Rachel interjected. “I commanded him to nab a heavy gatling. Light weapons can pierce flesh, but we’ll need heavier bullets for later.” She paused, looking ahead. “Where are the twins anyway?”

“Still scouting ahead, I’m sure,” Phineas said. Facing Burton, he asked, “Can you hand us some ammo?”

“Aye.” The muscular man unslung a bullet pouch and threw it his way.

Phineas snatched the pouch from the air and began reloading his pistol. “Thank you,” he uttered.

“Welcome, lad.” To Rachel, he said, “Orders, captain?”

“We keep going as a group carefully. No more separating – this old city is more dangerous than we expected.”

“And the twins?” Milton asked.

“We’ll meet them ahead,” Rachel said as she started walking along the ruined street.

Dim sunlight illuminated the abandoned street of the old-world ruin. Dilapidated establishments on either side of the broken asphalt glared at them through windowless frames, their doorless façades gaping ominously as they hid unseen dangers. Half-dissolved skeletons littered the street, still dressed in flaking, rotting pre-Shattering attire. At least clothes were of good quality, Rachel thought as she saw two corpses huddled together in a final embrace.  Rusted vehicles were on the walkway, some of which were occupied by mummified remains trying to shield themselves from the blast. A few of them were accompanied by smaller bodies sitting on padded chairs in the backseats.

Milton sighed. “Did those work with electricity, captain?”

“What, the cars? No,” Rachel replied. “Well, partly. They used gasoline, a type of fuel.”

“I see,” said Milton. “How many do you think died in the Shattering?”

Rachel shrugged. “Millions, I guess? Hard to know.”

Burton stepped forward to ask, “Couldn’t the electric things we’re after cause another Shattering?”

Phineas laughed. “No, Burton. I appreciate your concern but believe me: the machine that caused the Shattering is long gone. There’s no need to worry about it.”

Burton winced as he stepped on something brittle – a human skull. “If you say so, first mate.”

“Come on, fellas.” Rachel clapped her hands. “The Shattering won’t happen ever again. If it does, we’ll be safe aboard the Cloudsurfer, so no worries there.”

No one said anything else after that. A sepulchral silence reigned, broken only by their footsteps as they walked further in the necropolis.

2

Gray clouds traveled languidly overhead, casting shadows over the already gloomy streets. Every time they raided the ruins of an old city, Phineas couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia for what it had been. So much was lost, he thought, because of pride and hypocrisy.

“’Something wrong, Phineas?” Rachel asked, pulling him out of his mind.

“Ah, no. Nothing, captain.” He looked at the skeletal remains of a skyscraper ahead of them. “Just thinking.”

“You always ‘think’ when we’re on land, lad,” Burton said behind him. “Weird thoughts in that noggin o’ yours.”

“No weird thoughts, Burton – just memories of what things used to be like,” Phineas explained.

“Pah, fairy tales,” Milton uttered, waving her hand dismissively. “World couldn’t have been that good before the Shattering.”

Phineas smiled sadly. “It was. Only, we didn’t know how to appreciate it.”

Milton shrugged. “If that’s the case, then the people of the old world didn’t deserve it.”

“Perhaps,” Phineas mused, “But no one deserved what followed.”

“Dreary talk,” Rachel commented, “It’s fitting for a dreary setting.”

“Well, then indulge us!” Milton exclaimed. “You rarely ever talk about the old world.”

“It’s...” Rachel started, but her voice trailed off.

“It’s sad,” Phineas finished for her.

“Yes, it’s sad.” Rachel shrugged. “And hardly worth it, if you ask me. We’re here for relics of the past, Milton, not for history classes.”

Milton said nothing as her captain’s word sounded final. Phineas smiled, thinking, That’s why you’re the captain, Rachie.

He looked at the sky. Through a hole in the clouds, Phineas could see the silhouette of the Cloudsurfer, hovering above the city ruins, waiting for the captain’s return. Just then, his eyes narrowed as he heard a noise. What’s that? The noise rang again, the unequivocal sound of quick footsteps heading their way. “Captain?” Phineas uttered, alerting Rachel.

“I heard, Phineas. Take cover.”

Quickly, Phineas, Rachel, Milton, and Burton stepped behind one of the abandoned vehicles. Phineas peered around the edge of the metal frame and let out a relieved sigh. “It’s clear, guys,” he announced, stepping out of his cover. “It’s just the twins.”

As Anselm and Elisa saw the rest of the crew, they stood upright and saluted. “Oh, captain, my captain!” they cried in unison.

Rachel laughed. “Cut it out, fellas.” Her mood darkened as she said, “Report.”

“Captain,” Elisa uttered, “The road ahead is mostly clear. The mutants, they, er…”

Anselm cut through his twin’s hesitation. “The mutants have had their fill, captain. They devoured a number of the previous crew.”

Rachel winced and turned towards Milton and Burton. “See, this is why we have to be more careful on how we tread forward.” Focusing on the twins, she added, “You two, we all stay close together for now. These ruins may be abandoned, but they’re not uninhabited.”

The twins nodded and fell in line. Rachel and Phineas took point, followed by Milton and Burton, while Anselm and Elisa took the rear as they advanced slowly through the litter-strewn walkways. A few blocks ahead, the crew stopped. Phineas’ eyes widened in disgust, and he felt his gorge threatening to rise as they stepped into an esplanade showcasing what Anselm and his sister spoke about. Half-eaten corpses missing varying amounts of flesh were all over the esplanade, their empty eye sockets gazing at the sky. “Dreadful,” Phineas whispered.

“An ambush,” Elisa disclosed next to him. “They were caught with their pants down – no room for cover, no place to defend themselves.” She shrugged. “They had it coming.”

“An awful thing to say, sister dearest,” Anselm commented, “But I agree. They were careless, and we can’t afford to be like them.”

“Well said, Anselm,” Rachel uttered appreciatively. “How’s the lay of the land ahead?”

“Clear, captain,” Anselm replied again, lifting his right prosthetic arm. “Our rival crew was dispersed by the mutant attack. Our way lies open.”

Rachel nodded and stepped around one of the gnawed corpses. “Let’s go. Eyes and ears ready, crew.”

Phineas walked after her, looking at the ravaged bodies at his feet. I don’t know what’s worse – corpses from before the Shattering or these new ones. As a weevil crawled out of a dead man’s neck, Phineas winced and made his choice. The crew kept walking forward, weapons ready to repel any attack, but nothing came their way.

When they reached the end of the esplanade, Rachel lifted her fist. “We’re here,” she said in front of a half-dome rising four meters off the floor.

“Er, captain,” Milton voiced behind her, “I hate to be that gal, but what the hell are we looking at?”

“This,” Rachel replied, pointing at the structure with a smile, “Is the entrance to a mall.”

“A mall?”

“Mm-hm. It’s a place where people could mingle and eat, play games, purchase stuff, etc.” Her smile faded a little as she added, “Now, it’s a reliquary, ready for us to plunder.”

“Well and good, cap’n,” Burton interjected, “But how do we enter?”

Rachel stepped towards a pair of reinforced glass doors at the base of the dome, still whole despite the Shattering and the long years that passed since the event. When she tried —and failed — to open the doors, Rachel said, “Burton, would you be so kind?”

The man’s lips parted into a manic rictus, revealing the yellowed teeth underneath. “With pleasure, my cap’n!” Burton took a step forward, opened the steam valve of his gatling gun, and hit the igniter. The furnace on his back roared alive, burning fuel briquettes to boil condensed moisture, revving up the weapon. Once it reached its optimal speed, the gun’s hammer dropped, ejecting a large-caliber bullet. The first shot damaged the glass, the second one created a massive crack, and the third one shattered it. As Burton shut the weapon down, he extended an arm towards the mall with an open palm, saying, “Way’s open, folks.”

“Thank you.” Then, Rachel stepped into the darkness.

Phineas followed her, his heart rate growing quicker. After spending his youth underground, he hated dark, enclosed spaces. But I’ll follow you to the depths of the abyss if need be, Rachel, he thought, holding his pistol at the ready.

3

Rachel walked down the stairs of the underground mall, her footsteps echoing loudly in the vaulted expanse at the center of the edifice. No corpses, ancient or recent, marred the dust-covered floors and walkways, making her wonder if the people inside survived. And if they survived, what happened to them? She winced, remembering the mutants outside and abandoned her train of thought at once. Instead, she focused on the stores surrounding her. Some of them still showcased their wares, while others had gaping black maws.

As the crew finished climbing down the stairs, Rachel spotted the first and most important element of a ruin-raid. She walked hastily towards the map in the middle of the mall. Though its outer glass was shattered, the contents remained legible despite the years.

“A map, captain?” Anselm asked, lowering his rifle.

“Yes, Anselm. They were meant to direct customers towards their destinations. Look here,” Rachel uttered, pointing at the map, “We’re currently on the first basement floor. Those,” flourishing a hand at the establishments, “Used to be clothes and jewelry stores.” She shrugged and said, “There’s nothing of value for us here. We should head to the third basement floor where the electronics shops used to be.”

“Should we expect any resistance, captain?” Burton asked.

“No, my friend,” Phineas replied, “This place is empty. Remember the doors you so kindly broke apart?”

Burton nodded.

“They were bullet-proof glass panes, intended to keep vagrants from coming in and helping themselves to a hefty haul,” he explained.

“Well,” Burton replied, hoisting his gatling gun, “They weren’t strong enough to keep us out, that’s for certain!”

“Indeed,” Rachel said, nodding. “Still, don’t lower your guard and be prepared for anything.”

She led them through staircases towards the lower levels of the mall. Rachel couldn’t help but cast sideways glances at the empty storefronts and parlors, wondering what they looked like before the Shattering. She could picture them full of happy people whiling their time away on banal pleasures and eating and drinking to their hearts’ content, blissfully unaware of the horror that would befall them. Rachel stepped into a shaft of light and looked at its source; her eyes narrowed as she saw the crumbling stucco of the cupola above them. “Careful,” she warned her crew. “That thing could fall at any time.”

“Unlikely,” Phineas countered. “It held through the tectonic shift and the electromagnetic storms; I doubt a raiding crew would do much to it.”

“You never know, first mate,” Rachel said. “It’s wise to be cautious.”

Phineas whistled. “So, ‘cautious’ is now a word in your vocabulary, hm?”

“Oh, shut it, Phineas!” Rachel exclaimed jokingly. “That’s why I keep you around anyway. You can be the careful one.”

“And you?” he asked.

Rachel turned towards him and smiled. “I’m the fun one!” Moments later, she frowned and folded her arms before saying, “In all seriousness, people, we must be careful in here. We don’t know the kind of damage the structure suffered through the years. Even if it seems sturdy, I’d rather not risk a cave-in.”

Burton chuckled. “I might be older than y’all, but I’m not ready to be buried just yet!”

“Forty-something isn’t old, Burton!” Milton teased beside him.

“Thirty-eight, please!” he corrected her.

“Enough bickering,” Rachel uttered. “Just be careful – that’s an order.”

The crew resumed their journey towards the third basement floor, delving deeper into the mall. Though moldy and enclosed, the underground edifice was undamaged. Deterioration was apparent due to the lack of maintenance for decades, but for the most part, every support structure seemed solid as Rachel and their companions stepped on them. Her pace became brisker when they entered the second-to-the-bottom floor. The crew followed eagerly after her, cautiously glancing at their surroundings.

Phineas stepped beside his captain. “Rachel, look!” he said.

“Hm?” She followed Phineas’ finger as it pointed towards the entrance of a shop. Its porch was decorated with a stylized letter E; its prongs were shaped as lightning surrounded by two concentric circles. Rachel’s eyes narrowed. “An Electria shop.” Turning towards Phineas, she asked, “How old do you think this place is?”

“Older than the Shattering, considering they still have Electria shops,” he deduced. “Hmm, this place might be even older than the secession. Where in the world are we?”

Rachel shrugged. “If I recall correctly, Brazil was the last country to accept commercial deals with Electria. But then again, I was six when it all happened, so don’t take my word for it.”

Elisa spoke all of a sudden before Phineas could answer. “Captain? First mate? I’m sorry to interrupt, but you are doing it again.”

“Doing what, Elisa?” Phineas asked, confused.

“Keeping us – your crew – in the dark about your conversation,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Aye,” Burton complained. “You often talk about the old-world as if you expect us to follow.”

“My bad,” Rachel replied quickly. “Places such as this bring back memories,” she reasoned.

“Brazil,” Phineas supplied, “Was a country in South America, one of the continents back then.”

“That’s odd,” Milton said, scratching her head. “Our coordinates had us traveling northeast, not south.”

“True, we traveled northwards, but understand that the Shattering shifted the tectonic plates of Earth, Milton.” Phineas added, “Southern continents moved to the north, landmasses sank and emerged from the seas, and mountains became basins and basins became mountains. And let’s not talk about the weather.”

“In fact, let’s not talk at all. Listen!” Rachel ordered, surprising her crewmates, who all grew silent. In a hushed voice, she asked, “Do you hear that?”

“Helixes,” Anselm replied, “Coming from above.”

A worried expression came over Elisa’s face. “Captain, do you think they’ve found us?”

“I think,” Rachel uttered, “We must act quickly. Burton?”

“Aye, cap’n?”

“Give me a rundown of our armaments.”

“Let’s see here...” Burton knelt to unsling his heavy gatling gun and rummage through the cargo hold of his steam-pack. “There’s enough ammunition to last through a small siege, cap’n,” he reported. “There are small cartridges for your pistols and Milton’s gatling, long-range ammunition for the twins’ rifles, heavy ammo for my weapon, a couple of grenades, some flares, and two blowers.” Burton picked out a small tube with an explosive warhead at its tip.

“Woah, be careful with that, Burton!” Phineas exclaimed.

“What? It’s perfectly sa— Oh, crap!” He bent forward, quickly catching the tube before it hit the ground, making everyone panic. Burton eventually straightened up with a broad grin on his face. “As I was saying, it was perfectly safe! Why are you starin’ at me as if you saw a ghost?”

Rachel stepped forward and gently held Burton’s shoulder. “That’s really good to know, Burton. Keep those handy in case we need them. For now, let’s focus on raiding that shop, yes?”

Burton nodded. “Aye, cap’n!” he exclaimed before shouldering his steam-pack and heavy gatling again.

Rachel sighed in relief and turned towards Anselm. “Give us cat-eyes.”

“At once, captain,” the technician uttered before taking out six pairs of goggles from his backpack and handing them to each member of the crew.

Rachel donned hers, and the effect was immediate. The mirrored inside of the goggles mimicked the anatomical structure of a cat’s eye, amplifying the dim light of the mall, letting her see almost as clearly as if she were in broad daylight. Rachel smiled, admiring the ingenuity of post-Shattering engineers as they worked around the lack of electronics in the world.

She walked towards the Electria store and unholstered her pistol to ram its butt against the glass doors in front of it. Once the glass shattered into a sparkling, crystal rain, she faced her crew, smiling. “Ladies and gentlemen, help yourselves!”

4

Before the Shattering, the government-backed Electronic and Interactive Appliances (also known as ELECTRIA) produced miracles of technology to make people’s lives easier. As they entered the shop, a relic of a forgotten era itself, Rachel’s crewmates marveled at the intricate appliances, strange apparatuses, and odd machines on display. None of them had an immediately functional power source, but their value to rich collectors and hoarders of electronic paraphernalia was incalculable.

The crew spread across the shelf-lined spaces within the store, packing their pockets and rucksacks with as many technological items as they could carry. Later, they would signal the Cloudsurfer towards their position to use its cargo-lifts and haul the entirety of their loot. For the time being, Rachel and Phineas walked together along the aisles, taking small pieces of machinery, tools, and other implements, while the rest of the crew plundered to their heart’s content.

Phineas reached for a small box on one of the shelves. He dusted it off and read, “Bedside clock with LED lights and built-in radio.” He shook it, rattling something inside. “Broken,” he uttered, holding the box towards Rachel, “Just as everything else.”

Rachel shrugged and took the box. “Entropy is a thing, Phineas,” she retorted.

“I know, Rachel, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if some of these things still worked?”

“It would,” she said, returning the clock to the shelf carefully. “But the Pulse burned it all down.”

“True. And it took the world with it, too,” Phineas replied, sadness evident in his voice.

Rachel scoffed. “Who’d have thought that electromagnetism could ruin our world, huh?”

“The people who did it,” he said grimly. “My grandfather, for example.”

“Phineas—”

He lifted his hand, shaking his head. “Don’t worry about it, Rachel. I’m fine. As you said, these places bring back memories.” Phineas looked at his feet, his teeth aching as he clenched his jaw. “Electria shouldn’t have happened.”

“No, it shouldn’t have,” Rachel conceded.

They walked in silence towards the back aisle where some of the most sought-after artifacts could be found. Of all things, Phineas thought as they neared the end of the store, to think that toys would be among the most valuable relics. He looked along the length of the towering toy shelves, stacked with boxes upon boxes of high-end kits aimed at children, enthusiasts, and every customer between. Simple toy cars were neatly arranged on the shelves, a thick layer of dust dulling their otherwise bright colors; racks of dart shooters of various shapes and sizes and plastic rifles, pistols, machine guns and other forgotten weapons were stacked over one another. As the two rounded the corner, they found themselves surrounded by replicas of trains, airplanes, cars, and other vehicles.

“Phineas!” Rachel exclaimed excitedly as she ran towards one of the shelves, her quick footsteps echoing in the store. He sauntered, observing as Rachel removed one of the boxes, tore it open, and took out the model inside.

Despite the darkness in the establishment, his cat-eyes let him see the toy that Rachel took out of the box. It was a Styrofoam airship with two helixes and a pair of bird-like wings. “A toy ornithopter?” Phineas asked curiously.

Rachel nodded. “When I was a child, I had one of these.” She smiled fondly at the memory. “I remember one time when my dad taught me how to tinker with its engines so that it would dart through the sky.”

Phineas blinked rapidly. “How old were you back then?”

Rachel considered it. “No more than five, I think,” she replied.

“Hmm.” Phineas took a hand to his chin, trying to remember the days before the Shattering. “If I recall correctly, your dad was a head engineer at—”

“—At Electria,” Rachel supplied for him somberly, tossing the toy away. “Yes, you remember correctly,” she said before walking at a brisk pace again.

“Wait, Rachel! I didn’t mean to— Ah, damn it!” Phineas tried to follow his captain, his long coattails lifting plumes of dust as it scraped against the racks. “Rachel, wait!”

Rachel stopped abruptly and turned around. Through her cat-eyes, Phineas saw tears on the corners of her eyes. “Rachel?” he asked, feeling uncertain.

“Every time, Phineas, every damn time we raid a ruin, I become like this!” she uttered, frustrated.

Phineas sighed. “I become nostalgic, too, Rachel.” She said nothing, so he continued, “You miss your father; I miss my uncle.”

“At least Jonas was still alive when we woke up!” Rachel exclaimed. Phineas shook his head sadly but did not reply. Rachel looked away. “I’m sorry. Let’s not talk about this, okay? Just focus on plundering.”

Phineas straightened up. “Aye, aye, captain.”

Rachel scoffed and turned around, walking to a different aisle. His shoulders sagged when she was out of sight. Damn it, Rachel. Your father saved you and me from the horrors of the Pulse and the Shattering. Do you still think I resent him for working for Electria? Phineas closed his eyes and took a hand to his temple. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she did,” he muttered to himself before his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps behind him. He turned around to see Burton advancing towards him.

“There you are, first mate!” he uttered in relief. “Where’s the captain?”

“She’s ahead. What is it, Burton?”

Burton blurted, “I— Well, not me, first mate, but Elisa knelt when they walked in. They didn’t enter, but she still saw them! And she told Milton, and then Milton told Anselm, and—”

“Slow down, Burton,” Rachel said commandingly, causing the two men to whirl around to see her. “Report.”

“Captain, the other crew is here!” the muscular man uttered hurriedly.

Phineas and Rachel looked at each other. “We should be able to sneak out and signal the Cloudsurfer for a few interceptors,” he said.

“Nay, first mate, you don’t understand,” Burton argued, shaking his head. “Elisa saw their weapons and the colors of their livery. It’s the crew of the Terminus Est!”

Rachel’s eyes widened, and she held Burton by the neck of his camisole. “Are you sure of that? Is Captain Zoltan here?” When Burton nodded, Rachel released him and turned away. “Damn it. Phineas, if Zoltan is here, then that means—”

“That means we’ll need to fight our way out of here,” Phineas finished the sentence for her. “Orders, captain?”

Rachel turned towards her crewmate. “Burton, where are Milton and the twins?”

“Milton said they’d build a small defensible zone before Zoltan and his crew entered. They’re not far from here. Come on, cap’n!”

Phineas and Rachel hurried behind Burton, pilfering as many small pieces of loot as they could reach on the way. If I die here, I refuse to go empty-handed, Phineas said inwardly, trying to calm himself as he shared Rachel’s urgency.

Beside him, the captain’s expression was grim and determined. He knew she would do anything to ensure that everyone stayed alive. And kill Copernicus Zoltan for what he did to Uncle Jonas. Phineas clenched his jaw.

5

Milton and the twins had erected a viable — if not extraordinary — fortification by toppling down shelves and stacking boxes with old machines. Anselm was leaning against the frontal barriers, his red curls visible over its top; next to him, Milton and Elisa were talking between themselves. The bald woman stepped towards Rachel and said, “Captain, Elisa saw the crew of Terminus Est’s!”

“I know,” Rachel replied dourly. “Burton informed me. Elisa?”

“Captain?”

“How many?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Elisa answered miserably. “I managed to see at least ten of them, all heavily armed.” She paused and took a deep breath before saying, “Captain?”

“Yes, scout?”

“They have exos.”

Phineas took a step forward. “Exosuits? Nonsense! Copernicus Zoltan couldn’t afford a single suit, let alone a set for his whole crew!” he exclaimed.

“She doesn’t lie,” Anselm offered. “I saw them myself. They are top-of-the-line and branded with an L-shaped insignia.”

Rachel cursed under her breath, her thoughts racing for a plan. Nothing came to her mind. “Phineas, any idea?” She turned to her first mate.

“Captain, if I’m not mistaken, these stores should have service tunnels on their rears.”

Her eyes widened. “Of course! Alright, listen up – we’re coming out of this alive, understood?” They nodded. “Good. Anselm, Elisa, I need you to scurry about the store, find a service entrance, and return to us.”

“Captain!” they uttered in agreement before setting off silently.

“What do we do in the meantime?” Milton asked.

“We stay put,” Rachel said, sighing, “And we pray Zoltan’s men don’t enter the store before the twin’s return.”

They huddled together behind their impromptu fort. Occasionally, Milton would poke her head out, survey the area, and kneel back. Rachel could feel a pit forming in her stomach as seconds became long minutes. Damn it. Where are the twins? Rachel’s blood froze when she saw five of Zoltan’s men enter the store. Elisa was right about the exos. Through her cat-eyes, she could see the steel-and-bronze mechanisms enhancing the enemy’s strength, plumes of steam hissed sporadically from the powerful pistons connected to the large steam-packs on their backs. Everyone carried a modified heavy gatling gun, capable of tearing any of Rachel’s crewmates to shreds.

“Rachel,” Phineas voiced beside her, “We can’t face them as it is. They have superior armaments.”

“I’m aware, first mate. Our only choice is to wait for the twins to return and lead us out!”

“What if they don’t make it on time?” Burton asked.

“They will. I trust Elisa and Anselm; they won’t let us down.”

“If you say so, cap’n.”

Rachel nodded and returned her gaze towards the opposing crew. Hurry up, twins, she thought pleadingly as one of the men pointed at the disturbed layers of dust. They lifted their heavy weapons and slowly made their way deeper into the store.

A little later, Rachel heard a noise behind her. “Captain, we’re back,” Elisa said in a hushed tone.

She let out her breath, feeling a short wave of relief coursing through her body. “Where?”

“A few aisles away, captain. Come, we must hurry!”

Rachel and the crew followed the twins, trying not to make a sound. They sneaked past the unsuspecting crew of the Terminus Est, trudging along the cramped backside of the shelves towards safety out of the store. Every step they took, Rachel expected one of them to make a mistake that would reveal their position. Sweat trickled down her back, and her breathing became labored as she tried to be as silent as possible.

A loud clatter tore her attention to the rear of the crew, her eyes falling upon an object on the floor that was still spinning object on the floor. Her gazed darted towards a mortified Milton. “Captain, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” she cried.

Gunfire roared towards the crew just then. Specks of dust dotted the air; flakes and shards of plastic and metal clattered around them as they crouched down. “Save it, Milton!” Rachel yelled. There was no need to keep her voice down as their location got revealed anyway. “Run!” The crew started running down the cramped walkway, bullets ricocheting on the wall behind them, debris still raining on them. We have to do something quickly! “Burton, grenade!” she ordered.

“Aye, cap’n!” he replied, reaching for his ammo satchel to get the explosive device. Burton primed it before hurling the weapon blindly at the enemies. “Live!” he exclaimed.

“Down!” Rachel managed to say before the grenade exploded. She could hear screams coming from the opposing crew, and then the hail of bullets stopped. Soon, they heard a low rumble, and the floor under the feet shifted as dust and stucco dislodged from the ceiling. “So much for the mall’s integrity, Phineas! Right, there’s no time. We must run— Milton?” Rachel stopped mid-sentence, staring at the bald woman.

Milton lifted her eyes towards Rachel and took her hands away from her abdomen. Her palms were crimson. “Captain…,” she uttered before toppling sideways.

“Milton, damn it!” Rachel knelt by her downed officer before the bullet-storm resumed. “Burton!” she barked, “Drop your gatling and lift Milton!”

“But we’ll be defenseless, cap’n!” he argued.

“Just do it – it’s an order!” Burton didn’t need to be told twice. He detached Milton’s weapon from her body, unfastened his own gatling, and lifted the wounded woman with ease. Rachel leaned closer to Milton and whispered, “Hang on, girl, you’ll be fine. Come on, people!” They resumed their march amid the roaring weapons of the Terminus Est crew.

“There,” Elisa uttered, pointing ahead urgently, “That’s the side access!”

Rachel saw the service door at the end of the corridor and rushed her crewmates towards it. One by one, they entered the cramped space behind the store, with Phineas taking the lead, followed by Burton, the twins, and Rachel. They trudged along the narrow aisle, ducking and stepping around pieces of dead, fallen wiring, charred fuse boxes, piping, and other ancient implements.

“Hush, lass, you’ll be fine; you’re too young to die,” Burton crooned softly, trying to calm Milton down.

Rachel grimaced. This raid went straight to hell. At least, our pockets are lined. A memory assaulted her mind right after that. It was of an old man staring at her accusingly, sadness and disappointment in his eyes. “Is that all you care about, Rachel? Money, riches, and profit?” she could almost hear him say. Rachel shook her head, willing the memory away. You are wrong, Jonas! She stared at Milton. The bald woman’s face was pale, and sweat beaded on her forehead and upper lip. I care about my crew.

The crew exited the service tunnel, emerging into one of the mall’s wide hallways. They made their way along the hall, heading towards the exit. Strong, supporting pillars were aligned in rows of two in the center of the hall, while empty storefronts lined the sides, ready for them to plunder.

“I don’t understand this,” Rachel heard Anselm say. “Why did they head precisely towards the store we were at?”

“Because I made a mistake, Anselm,” Rachel admitted. “I assumed the crew would’ve gone somewhere else after the mutants dispersed them. And now,” she uttered, sighing, “I’ve jeopardized this raid.”

“Mistakes happen, Rachel,” Phineas consoled her. “Besides, you said we’re coming out of here alive.” He smiled at her. “I believe you.”

Rachel smiled back in gratitude and returned her sight towards the hallway. At its end, she could see the vast, open space in the middle. Letting out a relieved sigh, she said, “Alright, crew, there’s the exit. Once outside, we can—” A bullet whistling next to her ear and hitting the wall close to her face interrupted her words. “Crap, take cover!”

The crew slid behind the pillars as bullets flew their way, shattering the floor tiles and dislodging pieces off the pillars. Rachel unholstered her pistol, leaned outside of her cover, and returned the fire. She heard a choked scream as her shot hit home. Phineas and the twins mimicked her action, firing at their attackers, while Burton huddled protectively over Milton.

“Hold your fire!” A deep, gravelly yell echoed inside the mall, followed by raucous laughter. “Well, well, look at what muties dragged to this part of the world! It’s none other than Captain Rachel Sternritter herself!” A clapping of hands joined the low chuckle that followed. “I am humbled by your presence. Tell me, how fares your noble Uncle Jonas?”

Rachel stepped away from the pillar to see a large, bearded man stood on the upper floor. He had a twisted grin on his face as he glared at Rachel’s crew. “Zoltan, there’s no need to be snide. How’s your leg doing nowadays?”

Zoltan snarled, the expression made feral by his beard. He tapped the side of the bronze brace supporting his right leg. “Still useless after you shattered it, thank you. But,” he uttered, “We are not here to exchange pleasantries. I believe we arrived in this ruin first. Besides, it seems you have a wounded crewmate. I offer you a deal, Sternritter: relinquish anything you plundered, and we put you out of your misery.” He chuckled.

Rachel let out a bark of laughter. “I offer you a better deal, Zoltan,” she said, making a rude gesture his way. “Shove it!”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such actions are unbecoming of a lady. Ah!” he exclaimed as if he remembered something important. “My apologies. I forgot that you are no lady.” He shrugged and looked at his crew. “Kill them,” he said.

The gunfight resumed as Rachel returned to her cover. Bullets whistled endlessly past them, pinning them down on their position. “Captain, this is a battle of attrition,” Phineas exclaimed. He left his cover, fired his revolving flintlock, and went back behind the pillar. “And we’re on the losing side. Orders?”

Rachel cursed under her breath and left her pillar to survey the battlefield quickly. The crew of the Terminus Est had the higher ground, as well as more numbers and superior armaments. She saw Zoltan sporting a self-satisfied grin, his back illuminated by the light coming from the broken cupola. “I got it!” she yelled when an idea came to her. “Burton, throw me the blowers!”

“But captain, Zoltan’s crewmen are too far apart for—”

“Just do it, damn it!” The man let Milton down gently before reaching for the ammo compartment in his steam-pack. He took out the two tubes and rolled them towards Rachel, wincing as a bullet nearly hit one of them. Rachel picked them up, shoved them into her belt, and holstered her pistol. “First mate, twins, cover me!” she barked before leaving her cover.

Phineas and the twins did as ordered, stepping out to fire at their enemies. Rachel dashed madly along the edge of the hallway, zigzagging to dodge the incoming bullets. Once she reached the edge of the third basement floor, she slid behind a low wall and took one of the blowers from her belt, fixed her aim, and fired.

The warhead flew harmlessly above the heads of Zoltan’s crew. “Hah! You missed, captain! So much for your famous—” He could not finish his sentence as the blower’s payload exploded against the cupola, dislodging a chunk of stucco. Rachel grinned just as Zoltan turned around to see an enormous crack spreading along the damaged ceiling of the plaza; large pieces of masonry fell as the gash grew wide, reaching the lower floors. “Oh, damn!” Zoltan uttered before jumping away from the falling debris.

Just then, Rachel cried, “Now!” She unholstered her pistol and fired at Zoltan’s crew. Phineas and the twins ran in a triangle formation, firing at anything that moved, while Burton carried Milton’s unconscious body. They reached the stairwell and flew through the steps, dodging bullets and falling pieces of masonry. Rachel snarled as she felt something hit her leg and turned around to fire her pistol and prevent more harassment to her crew.

They hit the top floor before the stairwell caved inwards. A large cloud of dust filled the air, blinding the crew and making them choke, but they had seen the exit ahead of them. “Hurry up!” Rachel urged everyone through a coughing fit. They left the mall amid a storm of blindly fired bullets. Outside, however, the crew was greeted by more of Zoltan’s men guarding a cargo wagon.

“Agh!” Phineas yelped as a bullet lodged in his shoulder. He hid behind an empty planter, and the rest of the crew cowered beside him. “Rachel, there are too many!”

“I know, damn it! Okay, bring out your crystal set and signal the Cloudsurfer. We need extraction immediately!”

“But our lander—” Phineas argued, but she cut him off.

“Forget the lander – Milton’s dying!” Rachel heard footsteps behind her. And now Zoltan’s coming! “Signal the skyvessel now!”

“Aye, captain!”

Rachel turned around, took out the second blower, and aimed it at the entrance of the mall. She fired, hitting the façade. Pieces of masonry crumbled inwardly, blocking the exit and locking Zoltan inside. “At least, that’s taken care of!” But then, bullets whistled past their heads, and the planter chipped off on different sides. She looked at the despaired expressions in her crewmate’s faces, grimacing as she shared their thoughts. We’re not going to make it.

“Rachel,” Phineas uttered, clutching his shoulder.

“What is it, Phineas?”

“There’s something I’ve always wanted to tell you,” he started, but he cursed as a bullet hit close to his head. “Damn it. Rachel, I wish I’d said this sooner, but I—”

Thunderous explosions interrupted him, followed by a cloud of dust and the screams of the men outside. Rachel grinned. “Save it for later, first mate. The cavalry is here!” She peered over the edge of the planter, letting out a breath of relief as she saw the unmistakable silhouette of the Cloudsurfer dominating the esplanade. More artillery shells fell upon the area, their eruptions narrowly missing the crew’s hiding place. The wind picked up as the powerful rotors of the Cloudsufrer took it close to Rachel and her crewmates. The cargo lift of the skyvessel dislodged from its lower hull, and they saw a handful of her crewmen carrying weapons. They jumped off the lift before it hit the ground, firing their rifles, harquebuses, and gatlings at Zoltan’s men.

One of her crewmen stepped forward. “Captain, come on!”

“You heard him,” Rachel barked at the rest of the crew. “Move!” They left the planter and ran towards the lift. Rachel fell forward as her leg refused to help her; Phineas knelt beside her, but she waved him away. “I’m fine, run!” She winced as she climbed back to her feet, resuming her dash. From the corner of her eye, she saw the wagon forgotten by Zoltan’s men. Without a word, Rachel turned to run towards it.

“Rachel!” Phineas called. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Get the men onto the lift and hold the line!” she answered before reaching the wagon. “I promised them profit,” she muttered to herself as she started pushing the cart, “And I’ll be damned if I don’t fulfill my promise!”

Rachel pushed against the wagon with her weight, but it didn’t budge. She screamed as she pushed with all her strength until the cart finally moved forward. She steered it towards the cargo, bullets bouncing off its sides. Her crewmen helped her board the cart in the lift; once it was secure, she barked, “Let’s go!” The lift lurched into motion as the Cloudsurfer’s batteries rained more suppressing fire into the esplanade. Rachel leaned over the edge of the lift. “Give my thanks to your captain!” she yelled to the enemies on the ground as the apparatus took her, her crew, and a wagon full of loot to the safety of Cloudsurfer.

The lift hoisted the crew over the skyvessel’s hull and into its upper deck. As soon as it stopped moving, Rachel ordered, “Bring Milton to medical now!” Her chirurgeons stepped in, and Burton lowered Milton onto a stretcher, gently placing his forehead against hers before she was taken away. Rachel turned around to address the crew. “Men, we have loot!” she yelled, and the crew bellowed in satisfaction. She stretched her hand, and a crewmate gave her a crystal set. She called the navigation room. “Helmsman Riker, turn the skyvessel and hit full throttle. Take us home.” After ending the call, she felt moisture on her thigh before a wave of nausea washed over her.

Rachel’s head bounced off the Cloudsurfer’s deck as she fell sideways. She heard footsteps scurrying about and felt herself being lifted slightly off the floor. Through bleary eyes, she saw Phineas’ face, his features contorted with concern. His voice was muddled as he cried her name.

Rachel smiled. “I told you,” she whispered, “You’re the cautious one.” She wanted to say more, but her consciousness began to fade.

6

The sounds of the Cloudsurfer were dulled by the layers of wood, steel, and bronze forming the skyvessel’s internals. There was not much noise despite the roaring of the furnace and steam-sphere at engineering or the powerful helixes keeping it aloft. Still, Phineas’ mind was anything but silent. Worry swirled within him as he gazed through the crystal panes of the navigation room. He closed his eyes and winced when a wave of pain spread over his shoulder. The bullet barely grazed me, Phineas thought. I can’t imagine what Rachel or Milton went through.

He opened his eyes and stared at the skyvessel’s navigator. “How long until we reach Anglia?”

“Not long now, first mate,” Riker’s deep voice replied. “They should be signaling our crystal set soon.”

“Thank you.” Phineas returned his gaze in front of the navigation room. Thick clouds obscured the view ahead, mirroring his bleak mood.

“First mate,” Anselm uttered from behind. Phineas turned quickly and saw him stepping into the room. “There’s news.”

Phineas’ heart skipped a beat. “The captain?”

“She lost a lot of blood, but she’s mostly fine. Though the bullet went in and out cleanly through her thigh, she’ll need a crutch for a while.” Anselm closed his eyes and shook his head. “It’s Milton I’m worried about.”

“Why?”

“The bullet was hollow-pointed, causing internal damage. The chirurgeons managed to stop the bleeding but...” His voice trailed off.

“Spit it out, Anselm,” Phineas insisted.

Anselm sighed, idly scratching at the stump of his right arm. “Sir, she’s pumped full of antiseptics and painkillers, but without major medical installations…” He shook his head to emphasize what could happen.

“I see. Burton?”

“He hasn’t left her side. Burton cares more for Milton than he dares to admit.”

Phineas chuckled sadly. “Yes, it’s notorious.”

“Aye, first mate. Speaking of which, if I am allowed the intrusion, what did you mean to tell the captain back there?” Anselm asked, curiosity evident on his face.

“You’re not allowed the intrusion,” Phineas replied flatly.

Anselm blinked rapidly and nodded. “First mate,” he said, turning around to leave the navigation room. Before he left, he stopped and said, “Some things are better said out loud, Phineas,” and somberly added, “Before it’s too late.”

Phineas scoffed and returned his gaze in front of the skyvessel. He clasped his hands behind his back, thinking about Anselm’s words. Whatever I feel would only be a burden for myself and for Rachel.

“First mate?” Riker said, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Incoming transmission on the crystal set.”

“Patch it through,” Phineas commanded.

Riker turned a crank beside the navigation console. A low droning sound was heard as the weak sound of the crystal set’s vibrations was amplified by the loud horns surrounding the navigation room. “I repeat,” a voice sounded through the transmission, “This is Spire Control. Incoming skyvessel, identify yourself.”

Phineas took the speaking end of the crystal set. “This is the Regis-class skyvessel one-zero-seven Cloudsurfer, requesting permission to dock,” he uttered.

“Roger that. One-zero-seven Cloudsurfer, you are clear to dock on top-seventy-two.”

“Thank you, Spire,” Phineas said before returning the speaker to its sconce. “Bring us in, Riker.”

“Aye, aye, sir!” the helmsman replied, his white-toothed grin contrasting with his olive skin as he lowered the Cloudsurfer’s throttle to cruising speed. The droning of the steam and helium pipes lowered into a nearly inaudible buzzing as steam pressure lowered along the network in the skyvessel. Helixes whirred down, stabilizing the Cloudsurfer’s speed and trajectory.

Thick, dark clouds surrounded the skyvessel as Riker expertly corrected its course and aimed its prow towards the Spire’s direction. Cumulus and nimbuses parted away as Cloudsurfer cruised forward. A grin crept into Phineas’ features upon seeing the clouds’ movements, awe and admiration overcoming him as Anglia loomed ahead. This, he thought, reinforces my hope in mankind.

The tall edifices of Anglia reached towards the Cloudsurfer as it sailed above their peaks, their spires tethered with floating skybarges languidly swaying in the wind. Steamcarts reflected the sunlight as they moved along the concentrically arranged streets of the city, taking people to their destinations as rapidly as the monorail circling above the living areas. The waters of River Tyrfing were dotted by pleasure barges and small dinghies streaking along its tepid waters.

The Cloudsurfer tilted slightly upwards, its prow aimed at the tremendous structure dominating the landscape. The Spire rested ponderously against Ebon Peak, its bronze-and-steel surface reflecting copper-toned lights wherever the sun touched it. Skyvessels of multiple classes – from Administratus-class interceptors to Imperator-class flying fortresses – were tethered to the docks at multiple levels of the towering edifice. The Cloudsurfer, being a Regis-class skyvessel, was headed for the top of the Spire.

Within minutes, Phineas and the crew reached the dock indicated by the controllers on the Spire. Operators aboard personal gyrocopters left the sides, carrying tethering clamps towards the Cloudsurfer. They anchored the tethers to the enormous steel rings along the hull of the skyvessel. When they gave the signal, the machines inside the Spire started pulling the vessel towards the dock. Once the Cloudsurfer was secure, the crew started to disembark.

Phineas, being the highest-ranking officer on the vessel, was required at the top. He climbed out of the navigation room and onto the upper deck of the Cloudsurfer. Crewmen were scurrying about, securing tethers, closing steam valves, cleaning the deck, and doing other tasks. “Alright, men,” Phineas said, calling everyone’s attention. “We have two priorities. First, we must find a broker to sell our loot. Then, we must procure a full-medical station for Milton. I want the vessel to be—”

“My, oh my, Phineas,” Rachel interrupted his speech as she climbed off the medical bay, holding on to a crutch under her right arm for support. “I go down for a few hours, and you’ve already replaced me?” she teased him.

Phineas smiled warmly. “Never, captain. Orders?”

She nodded and said, “You heard the first mate, crew. Come on, chop, chop!” However, a loud noise caught her attention, followed by the slight rattling of the Cloudsurfer. “What now?” Rachel asked, turning her face towards the edge of the vessel.

Phineas followed her gaze, and his eyes widened in fear. A full detachment of exo-clad goons, their chests emblazoned with the same L-shaped insignia they saw in the ruins, boarded the upper deck, their heavy weapons trained upon every member of the crew. A man dressed in a red velvet coat stepped onto the vessel, wrinkling his nose as he surveyed the crew. “Who is your captain?” he asked haughtily.

“That would be me,” Rachel replied curtly. “And I want you. You are in violation of the Anglian Dictate of Warranted Embarking,” she uttered, folding her arms. “Without my permission, you can’t board this vessel.”

The man chuckled softly. “My lady, our weapons beg to differ. Now, would you and your highest-ranking officer be so kind as to follow me? You are required for an audience.”

Phineas and Rachel looked at each other. “An audience with whom?” she asked.

The man nodded. “With Master Armand Lowenstoft,” he said before turning around and leaving the skyvessel, expecting them to follow him.

Rachel groaned. “It seems we have no choice,” she muttered. “Come on, Phineas. Let’s get this over with.”

Phineas followed his captain, a pit forming in his stomach as he left the safety of the Cloudsurfer behind them.

7

The pneumo-vacuum elevator in the Spire took Rachel, Phineas, and their captors to the bottom level at an impressive speed. No one said anything as they left behind the breathtaking vista of Anglia and entered the dreary, mud-and-ash-colored Nadir. The gargantuan cavern beneath the city-state housed the less palatable aspects of its functioning. Industries, furnaces, and manufactories vomited black smoke into the enclosed walls of the Nadir, forming an oily layer of omnipresent soot as its filters and ventilators were insufficient to cleanse its air. She scoffed and thought, I’m glad the twins aren’t here. They’d shudder at the memories this place would bring them.

When the elevator doors, their nostrils were assaulted with the acrid, rank stench of smoke, soot, and human misery. Their captors ushered them onto a large, black vehicle. Once they hopped in,  the driver tossed two black hoods at them. “Please,” said the haughty man, “The Master insists you were these.”

Rachel and Phineas looked at each other and acquiesced, pulling the black burlap sacks over their heads. The ride was long and boring; the only sound they could hear was the hissing from the car’s steam engine, coupled with the occasional bumps on the road. After the vehicle stopped, they were ushered into a lavender-scented building. The place immediately felt cooler and more pleasant than the rest of the Nadir. They went up a flight of stairs, entered a room, and sat on comfortable cushioned chairs.

“Please,” said a deep, polite voice. “Remove your hoods. I hate conducting business without staring at my counterparts in the eye.”

Rachel and Phineas uncovered their heads, wrinkling their eyes at the blinding light in the room. When Rachel’s sight cleared, she saw a mustachioed man in his fifties sitting at the opposite end of the room. His fingers were interlaced over the lapel of his richly embroidered coat. A self-satisfied grin made him look like a bird of prey toying with its latest catch. “That’s much better,” he said.

Rachel’s eyes widened. Behind the man, a large pennant fluttered languidly, stirred by an unseen wind. It was embroidered with the stylized insignia that they had seen on the exosuits worn by Zoltan’s crew. She stared at the man. “I don’t think we’ve been introduced,” she uttered.

The man chuckled. “We may not have been introduced, yet your reputation precedes you, Captain Sternritter. Tell me, did it trouble you to plunder my privateers’ haul?” he asked.

“Hm. I assume you financed Zoltan’s crew?” She leaned forward to ask, “How did you know it was me?”

The man smiled. From behind his chair, he produced a machine Rachel thought she would never see again.

Her eyes grew wider as she blurted, “Where did you get an electric, long-range radio?”

“That, my dear captain, is a secret of the trade. Allow me to introduce myself,” he finally said before standing up and pacing around the room. “I am known as Armand Lowenstoft. Manufactory-owner, businessman, entrepreneur—”

“—And a bloody criminal,” Phineas interrupted. The man nodded his way, and Phineas continued. “I was uncertain about the sigil, but I heard about your small... syndicate, Mr. Lowenstoft.” Phineas reclined on his chair. “What did you bring us here for?”

“Oh my,” he said with a fake gasp. Turning towards Rachel, he asked, “Do you often let your crew talk above you, captain?”

“Only when they echo my thoughts, Mr. Lowenstoft.”

“Please, Rachel. May I call you Rachel? Call me Armand. I do enjoy sharing a modicum of candidness with my business partners.”

“Business partners?” Rachel scoffed. “I don’t recall us being partners.”

“That,” Armand said, chuckling, “May change soon enough. Tell me, Rachel, have you ever heard about the nation of Electria?”

Rachel felt her blood curdling but faked nonchalance as she replied, “Never heard of it.”

Armand laughed under his breath. “I will cut to the chase. Said nation was the greatest, most scientifically advanced country before the Shattering. They created wonders beyond imagination and harnessed the arcane power of electricity that we could only dream of.” He smiled. “I happen to acquire a map pinpointing its location.”

Rachel smirked. “Impossible. The Shattering shifted the tectonic plates on Earth. Even if you had a pre-Shattering map, it wouldn’t account for decades of tectonic activity.”

“About that,” Armand said, lifting his finger, “You are mistaken. I have the greatest archaeological and geological minds under my employment, and they have calculated where the remnants of Electria lie.” He leaned towards her before saying, “It’s right at the heart of the Dead Continent.”

“Nonsense,” Phineas interjected. “The Dead Continent is dead for a reason. Nothing can pierce through the storm-wall around the landmass. Assuming something could survive its monstrous power,” he shrugged, “The land was still scorched.”

Armand shook his head. “There’s an eye at the center of every storm, Mr. Archibald, and in the center of that particular storm lies the greatest scientific secret of our time – the secret to reproducing the wonders of the old world and bringing electricity back to mankind!”

“For a price, of course?” Rachel asked.

“At the end of the day, I am but a businessman, Rachel,” Armand uttered, smiling. “What I’m offering you is a nonpareil opportunity to cruise to the Dead Continent and plunder its secrets.” Chuckling, he added, “For profit, of course.”

“What about Zoltan?”

Armand shrugged. “Do you see the captain anywhere near us?” Rachel said nothing. “I thought so. Besides, the Terminus Est may be feared, but the Cloudsurfer has something Zoltan’s vessel doesn’t have.”

“And that would be?”

Armand grinned impishly. “You, of course.”

Rachel’s eyes narrowed. “I fail to see why that is relevant, Armand. Zoltan is more than capable of commandeering the expedition you propose.”

“That might be true on a surface level, but he lacks the finesse and refinement displayed by you and your crew.” Armand sat back on his chair. “Not to mention, you have knowledge about the old world. Now, now, don’t deny it, Rachel,” he uttered when Rachel opened her mouth in protest. “My men are nothing if not attentive. They’ve paid attention to the stories of a young skyvessel captain who possesses information about pre-Shattering. You’ve been careless in that regard, captain.”

“What if I refuse?” Rachel asked slowly.

Armand shrugged again. “I will kill you two, execute your crew, and impound your skyvessel. Please, Rachel, I’m not your enemy!” he exclaimed, spreading his arms. “As a sign of my good faith, I’ve had my men take your injured crewmate to my private medical bay. What was her name? Milton? Pretty woman, even with a bald pate?”

Rachel shook her head. “The Cloudsurfer would require upgrades. It’ll take us days – even weeks – to prepare it for the trip,” she uttered.

“Take as much time as you need.”

“And we must sell our haul,” Rachel added.

“My haul, in fact, as I paid for Captain Zoltan’s expedition.” Armand sighed. “But I will take it off your hands, captain.” His mouth split into a rictus as he leaned towards Rachel. “As you can see, I’m making you an offer that you can’t refuse. So,” he said, extending a hand, “Do we have a deal?”

Rachel looked at Armand’s hand and then locked gazes with him. Sighing, she took it. “We do.”

“Splendid!” Armand exclaimed, clapping. “Plus-quam-perfect! I shall send a crew to take the goods away from you and give you proper payment.”

“Yes, yes,” she said dismissively. “Can we leave now?”

“Of course, Captain Sternritter! However, I hope you understand you must go through the same palatable procedure as before.”

“Fine by me. Phineas?” Rachel turned towards her first mate.

He grunted. “Go ahead.”

Black hoods were lowered on Rachel and Phineas’ heads again. They were ushered towards the end of the room. But before they left, Armand said, “Captain Sternritter, welcome to my small syndicate!”

Rachel said nothing in reply; instead, she savored the bitter taste of her pride as she swallowed it.

***

Back on the Cloudsurfer, Rachel informed the crew of their current employment. She was glad to hear no questions from – they didn’t really care about who they were working for as long as they got paid. Rachel moved towards her quarters on the poop-deck of the skyvessel. Once safely inside, she knelt at the edge of her bed and took a small wooden casket from underneath. She blew on its dusty surface and sighed while running her fingers over it. She opened the lid and rummaged through its contents.

A loud knock startled Rachel. “Who is it?” she called.

“It’s me, captain,” Phineas replied. “May I enter?”

“You may,” she said, returning her attention to the casket. It was filled with the last memories of her childhood – pieces of scrap and junk for the most part. Her fingers found her target: a thumb-length piece of plastic with a rotating piece covering its metallic tip.

Phineas walked next to her. “Hey, Rachel, what are you— oh. Oh, that thing,” he uttered, recognizing what’s in Rachel’s hand.

“Yes, Phineas,” she said, standing up. “This thing.” She treaded a thin leather cord through one end of the trinket and tied it as a necklace around her neck.

Phineas sighed. “Do you think your father was right? That this... thing, whatever it is, can return us to the old days?”

“Perhaps,” she replied absent-mindedly.

“Hm. Do you think it may somehow lead us to your brother?”

When Rachel nodded, Phineas said, “Rachel, it’s been God knows how long.”

“Javier was not with us when the Pulse was released, Phineas. He was with your grandfather inside his lair. If we survived this long,” she uttered, sighing, “Maybe he did too.” Rachel stared intently at Phineas, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. “You are welcome to stay on land, Phineas. Or you can come with me to the Dead Continent, to the ruins of our past.”

Phineas held her gaze and sighed. “With you, Rachel,” he said, “I’ll go to hell and back again.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I was born and bred in the Sunshine State of Florida, where I still live today. Growing up when I wasn’t at the beach I would have lots of adventures in my backyard, mainly trying to survive in the aftermath of an Alien Invasion. Now I spend my days putting my imagination into books, so everyone who wants to, can join me in the world in my head.

When I’m not writing I usually spend my days on the beach, or  reading with my cat Sleepy.

OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

I hope you had as much fun reading this as I did writing it!

CLICK HERE to read some of my other books ��

Review The Book

P.S. Reader:

It means the world to me that you read my book. Your feedback is very important to me...VERY IMPORTANT.

I’d like to hear your thoughts about the story. Would you do me a solid and leave an honest review on amazon?

Thank you so much!

P.P.S. Click here to review.

Book 2 Sneak Peek

Chapter 1:

Thick smoke and loud music dominated the ambiance inside the Welder’s Hole, a cozy tavern in the middle of Anglia. Men and women sang and danced joyously between sips of strong stout beer and spirits, while others merely enjoyed a warm meal. Despite the merriment within the tavern, Rachel Sternritter felt no joy as she sat in the furthest corner of the room, quietly observing the carousers as thoughts swirled within her head.

She thought of the daunting, suicidal task ahead of her and the crew of the Cloudsurfer. Rachel was unhappy with the uneasy arrangement she had reached with notorious criminal lord Armand Lowenstoft, but it was preferable to having her crew slaughtered and her skyvessel deposed. Then again, I traded one kind of death for another. She sighed and reclined on her seat, covering her eyes with her forearm. “What a damn mess,” she muttered to herself.

“Not worse than some we’ve been through, that’s for certain,” her first-mate said as he arrived, carrying two large tankards brimming with froth at their tops. “Though traveling to the Dead Continent is hardly a happy prospect.”

Rachel took one of the tankards and gave it a hearty swig, wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her camisole. “I’m well aware, Phineas. I wish we could’ve wiggled out of any dealings with Armand, but things are as they are,” she shrugged and drained her tankard once more.

Phineas sat on the chair in front of Rachel and moved his finger over the rim of his mug. “You know, we could just purchase loads of supplies and take the Cloudsurfer somewhere abandoned, live the rest of our days in the skies, then plummet to our deaths when we grow old and saggy, what say you?”

The captain chuckled, and shaking her head she said, “Dream on, Phineas – Armand would have the ship reduced to smithereens if we so much as thought about escaping. Besides, a deal’s a deal, and I intend to fulfill my end of the bargain.” She drank the last of her beer and stood up, leaving a fistful of copper pieces on the table and striding towards the exit.

“Wait! I haven’t finished my – Ah damn it!” Phineas exclaimed as he stood up to follow after his captain.

Once outside, Rachel breathed in the clean, mountainous air of Anglia, closing her eyes as the twilight sun touched her forehead. She opened her eyes and gazed at the Spire dominating the view. At its topmost docks, she saw two Imperator-class flying fortresses dwarfing her Regis-class Cloudsurfer, as a small legion of engineers fitted it with shock-resisting alloys on the hull, steel-mesh sails, a larger steam-sphere, and twenty-pound revolving cannons - the necessary implements to travel into the Dead Continent. My skyvessel, she thought, And uncle Jonas’ legacy, she thought as she called on a cab.

Phineas arrived behind her, still fitting his ankle-length coat. “Hey captain! Where are we headed?” he asked when the cab reached their position, its steam engine hissing as it winded down.

“Let’s climb up and you’ll see,” Rachel replied, entering the vehicle. Its leather seat was comfortably cold, cooled as it was by the evening air. When Phineas sat beside her, she said, “To Unsterblich Hospital, please.”

“At once, lady,” replied the driver, opening the steam release valve and stepping on the car’s clutch, driving it forward along the street before taking a turn to the right.

“The Unsterblich,” Phineas said, “Are we visiting Milton?”

“We are,” Rachel replied curtly, her eyes fixed on her skyvessel. We owe her that much, she thought sullenly as the cab made its way towards the highest-end hospital in Anglia.

The evening traffic was light, as most workers and aristocrats were in their houses, resting from a long day of administrative duties. Tall, triangular-roofed houses lined the wide street, smoke rose from the chimney pipes on their tops and dim gas lights illuminated their empty porches. Rachel’s expression became forlorn, as the houses reminded her of the country house she lived in with her father and her brother, years before the Shattering. Of that house and the wonders inside, only the memory remained. On the window’s reflection she saw Phineas staring at her, but chose to ignore him and keep looking at the houses.

“You’re thinking of the old-world, aren’t you?” Phineas asked concernedly.

Rachel shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, Phineas,” she replied, idly touching the trinket strung about her necklace. “I’m just concerned about the trip to Electria, is all.”

Phineas stared at her hand on the necklace, then at her eyes. “I’d say, Rachel, you’re less concerned about the trip itself, and more worried about what we’re going to find there.” When Rachel said nothing, Phineas added, “Do you think we’ll find Javier in there?”

Rachel shrugged. “I don’t know what we’ll find;” she scoffed, “Hell, I don’t even know what Armand expects us to find.”

“Electrical apparatuses, manuscripts, blueprints and a means to harness electricity once again.”

“What I don’t understand,” Rachel added suspiciously, “Is why no one has tried to replicate the production of electricity. It’s been over two hundred years since the Shattering, you’d think someone would have devised a means by now.”

“Hm,” Phineas took his hand to his chin, his brow furrowing in concentration. “After the Pulse burnt out every electrical apparatus in the world, I assume no one retained the knowledge to replicate circuitry, capacitors and other requirements for electrical production. The Shattering only complicated things further, as riving continents and lands means that the materials were no longer available,” he shrugged, “Furthermore, natural gas, coal and steam have dominated current technological advancement. I assume no one has seen the need to develop the technology once again.”

“Hm, Phineas?” Rachel asked.

“Captain?”

She grinned impishly, looking askance at her first-mate. “Shut up, you know-it-all!”

Phineas blinked rapidly before returning the smile. “Well, you did ask, I could but oblige, captain!”

They laughed together, and Rachel felt thankful for the levity Phineas brought into her dour moods. That’s why I keep him around, she thought fondly, He’s the perfect counterbalance to me.

To be continued…