Planetary Anthology 07 Mars by Lucca DeJardins

Author:Lucca DeJardins [DeJardins, Lucca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Superversive Press
Published: 2018-03-13T23:00:00+00:00

Claude dispatched two more Automatons guards, and then shot off the locks to the church’s doorway. I smashed the door open with my lover, and was greeted by a sight which gave me pause. The church had all of its pews replaced with steam-powered Difference Engines and Babbage Machines, linked together with copper wire. In the center of the chapel, replacing the altar, was a massive gold pipe organ which had been modified to serve as the centerpiece for the Duke’s invention. The device had letters on each of its keys, allowing its operator to type messages.

I was stunned by the sight of several moving pictures on the wall above the controls. They depicted black and white images of the carnage outside as if being seen by the Automatons themselves. Despite the stomach-churning use they were being put toward, I couldn’t help but stare in awe at Duke Saville’s accomplishments. The Duke was not present, which meant we had a chance to act.

“Just break it!” I shouted, unable to look at the horrible things on the wall any longer.

“Will do,” Claude said, looking around the room and finding a fire ax against the wall. He smashed pipes and tubes left and right, causing steam to fill the chamber. Several of the moving pictures vanished while others showed the Automatons shutting down. I regretted the destruction of such beautiful science, but was also glad we were making real progress.

“Stop!” Duke Saville shouted from the door.

Both Claude and I turned to see the pompous aristocrat walking forward with two more Automatons at his side. These two were particularly large—seven-foot-tall specimens, painted jet black, and armed with American Gatling guns. The guns were kind used to deal with the American Confederacy remnants who’d tried to rebuild their evil system on Phobos. I wondered of the Duke or his family had anything to do with their plans.

“It’s over,” I shouted, growling. “You won’t be able to finish your plan!”

“Ha!” Duke Saville shouted, clearly unimpressed with our work. “I’ve already killed half the nobility on the planet. The rest I can finish off with direct person-to-person orders.”

My heart sank. “Person-to-person orders?”

Duke Saville smiled. “A good scientist always accounts for the possibility of failure. My Automatons recognize my voice as well as the commands from the keyboard.”

Keyboard. What a ludicrous name. “Then we have to kill you to end this.”

Claude tossed down his fire ax and drew both his pistols in a blur. He fired them. I hoped we’d see the death of the mad scientist. Instead, a globe of golden light blinked around the Duke. He laughed underneath it.

“Foolish children,” Duke Saville said, his voice mocking. “I have harnessed the power of magnetism to deal with fast moving objects. The cosmic forces of the universe now protect me!”

He could harness magnetism now? Was there no end to the powers he wielded?

“Kill them!” Duke Saville shouted.

The Automatons raised their Gatling guns as both Claude and I ran to opposite sides of the room. We hid behind the electrical machines we’d already damaged.

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