Prior to the Apocalypse, Priscilla was a famous actress and singer. Afterward, she revived her family’s peach plantation in Georgia as a means to mass-produce food during a period of economic uncertainty. The economy soon stabilized, but Priscilla continued to manufacture and sell peach products across the nation.
Reb fiddled with her tablet until she successfully contacted Priscilla through a visual communication program.
“What’s up, Reb?” Priscilla asked through the screen.
“These plane trips are really boring. Is Gable adding anything to our business arrangements for tomorrow?” Reb replied.
“I think he just needs you to sign some papers, but I definitely know he’s expanding areas of his primary casino,” Priscilla admitted.
Reb was curious and said, “That sounds interesting. Tell me everything you know.”
Meanwhile, back in San Francisco, Savannah relaxed in her hot tub. She sipped on a glass of red wine while Percy disrobed and joined her in the tub.
“This steam power does a good job of warming up the water,” Percy mentioned.
Savannah put down the wine glass and sat on Percy’s lap. “And now we can spend some time warming up each other.”
The couple kissed and caressed each other’s bodies in the privacy of their hot tub. They were beautiful specimens for their age. Savannah worked hard to maintain her slender and athletic physique. Percy had a large, muscular upper body. Overall, they were an attractive middle-aged couple. Savannah cupped Percy’s face in her hands and gently kissed him. He ran his fingers down her sleek back and then rubbed one of her thighs. Percy pulled Savannah even closer and she straddled her legs firmly around his body. She ran her hands across his broad shoulders, and then massaged his powerful chest. They passionately kissed and pressed their tongues together. Some of the water spilled on the floor as Savannah gripped Percy’s back. After many years of marriage, and raising two kids, the intimacy of their relationship was still important to the affectionate couple.
While Percy and Savannah shared a romantic evening, Reb finished her conversation with Priscilla.
“I suppose Gable can tell me the details after we reach his office. By the way, what’s up with the corset? I assume that’s why your cleavage is offending me right now,” Reb bluntly stated.
Priscilla frowned. “Corsets are a big fashion statement. I should ask about your cane. Is that a fashion statement too? I thought your limp would be gone by now.”
Reb glanced at her brass cane before answering the question. “Don’t forget that my femur was already badly damaged before I was grafted with metal. It had a huge hole and several cracks. The splicing helped a lot, but my limp will most likely be permanent. Also, canes are for old people. The politically correct term is baton.”
“You can’t be serious! That’s a cane! Anyway, call it whatever you want. I’ll see you later. Try to stay out of trouble. Good-bye, Reb,” Priscilla responded.
“See you later, Priscilla,” Reb said before she ended the visual conversation.
Giles looked at his wife as she tucked away her tablet. “It sounds like you girls still get along fabulously.”
Reb pulled out her cell phone. “Priscilla and I will always have a complicated relationship. We’re in-laws, but we probably get along more like sisters. Well, I’m kind of bored. I don’t usually enjoy talking on the phone with my mother, but I’m going to give her a call anyway.”
“Is that a good idea? I heard cell phones can be disruptive for airplanes,” Giles warned.
Reb glanced at the plane’s interior. “Contemporary airplanes seem to have a lot of improvements. It should be fine.”
Savannah heard Reb’s ringtone while she was still mounted on Percy.
“I can’t believe it. Our kids are grown up and live out of state, but they’re still interrupting our sex life.” Savannah growled.
The phone continued to ring on the bathroom counter.
Percy couldn’t concentrate. “If you answer it, you’ll be able to get rid of her in a few minutes. Otherwise, she might try to call back.”
Savannah sighed with frustration before she grabbed the cell phone. “Hello, Reb.”
“Hi, Mom. The plane trip is really dull. I was curious if you had time to chat?” Reb said on the line.
“Well, it’s not exactly the most convenient time for me,” Savannah commented.
Despite the phone call, Percy continued to cuddle with his ladylove. The powerful man placed his hands on her rear end and planted kisses along the entire length of her collarbone.
Reb felt somewhat perplexed. “Mom, are you okay? It sounds like your breathing is a bit labored.”
“Everything’s fine. I’m just finishing a workout. We can talk later. Bye, Reb,” Savannah hastily said before hung up the phone.
Reb shrugged and placed the cell phone inside her pocket.
Chapter 4
The following morning, Reb and Giles strolled down the crowded sidewalk of Las Vegas. The city had elaborate hotels and casinos, a big following of tourists, and bright lights. However, it also fit into the Steampunk style with industrial themes, fashion from the 19th Century, an archaic image, and the same metals that were prevalent in other large cities. One of the casinos had a series of mechanical gears that rotated in circles. Another casino had a huge mechanical octopus that was seated directly above the front entrance. The casino next to Gable’s location had an aviation theme, with an iron airplane that was grafted to the roof. Many of the casinos had pipes that billowed with steam.
Reb and Giles entered her brother’s casino and examined the ambiance. Even though it was before noon, Gable’s casino was busy with plenty of Steampunk citizens who gambled at the slot machines and card tables. There was also a line of people who waited to enter the buffet. The casino’s design seemed to include most of the popular metals, such as iron, bronze, copper, and brass. It had several industrial themes, including representations of trains, Steampunk cars, factories, steam-powered boats, and weaponry from the Wild West.
Giles admired the giant Victorian clock that was mounted above the high roller’s clubhouse. “Your brother, Gable, is a really inventive guy. I’m impressed that he was able to take the Steampunk craze and run with it.”
“Speaking of Gable, we’re not going to finish any business if we don’t find him,” Reb said while she looked at the crowded atmosphere.
Giles patted her on the shoulder. “Tell you what, I’ll head upstairs to his office headquarters. You can look for him down here. One of us should eventually find him. Gable is a really tall guy who looks like a Steampunk mobster, and that means he stands out.”
“All right. I’ll give you a call if I find him,” Reb said, as she glanced at the busy crowd of visitors.
The couple parted ways to search for her brother. Reb wandered through the casino for several minutes before she caught sight of Gable. He eccentrically rode through the casino on a 19th Century tricycle. It had a front wheel that was incredibly large, and two tiny wheels in the back. He wore one of his favorite grafted suits and a fedora. She used her baton to hobble toward Gable until he noticed her.
He dismounted the tricycle and greeted his sister. “Welcome to my new casino! I really wanted this one to suit the Steampunk culture. What do think?”
Reb had a positive opinion about the casino. “I really like it. You must have put a fortune into this place. It’s so elaborate and the artwork is quite impressive. Las Vegas is usually pretty quiet in the morning, but your casino is really busy. That means the tourists really like you.”
“I try to make my customers happy. Take these goggles. Dad invented them,” Gable said, as he strapped the goggles to Reb’s face.
She felt awkward and embarrassed. “Is it necessary for me to wear these bug-eyed goggles?”
“I think it makes you blend into the environment pretty well. Most Steampunks think goggles are fashionable,” Gable explained.
“You know what? I’ll bet Priscilla
doesn’t have to wear goggles like this when she comes to your casino,” Reb grumbled.
Gable patted his sister on the back. “Priscilla is my wife, and that means I have reason to be afraid of her. You’re much less intimidating. Besides, these goggles have night vision.”
Reb adjusted the goggles on her face. “Really? That almost sounds like a combination of Steampunk and Cyberpunk. I guess it’s cool though.”
Gable brought her to a different section of the casino. “Here, I want to show you something else.”
He brought her to the nearest bar and poured a green substance into a liquor glass.
Reb removed the goggles before she examined the glass. “Is this absinthe?”
“No, it’s just whiskey with green dye. It looks like absinthe, right? I want my merchandise to bring back elements from the 19th Century,” Gable mused.
Reb wasn’t sure what to believe. “Well, this is a very interesting place. You definitely get bonus points for creativity. Anyway, I think we should catch up with Giles. He went upstairs to your conference area.”
“That won’t be a problem. I have a private elevator that can take us there,” Gable gloated.
“A personal elevator! You’ve always been a man of excess,” Reb said while she rolled her eyes.
After they reached the elevator, Gable punched in the passcode. It came down and the doors opened. They entered the elevator and Reb carefully examined the interior. Gable noticed that she seemed uneasy.
“I know what you’re thinking; the elevator is made of copper and it might conduct electricity. Don’t worry. It’s a modified metal just like the stuff in our clothes and bones. This type of copper has a deadened electric property with climate control,” Gable confidently explained.
Reb approved of the modifications. “It’s good that you have the right metal. I don’t want to think about the lawsuits if your customers got electrocuted.”
The elevator arrived at its destination and the siblings walked toward his office. They encountered Giles along the way.
“You made it. Gable, you definitely know how to build an empire. I really like your casino,” Giles enthusiastically stated.
Gable appreciated the comment. “Thanks, buddy. It’s all part of my job. Let’s go to my office so we can discuss the rest of my expansion.”
“Are you making the casino even bigger? It seems big enough,” Reb said as they entered her brother’s office.
They sat down and prepared for a thorough discussion.
Like the rest of his casino, Gable’s office also fit within the Steampunk style. His desk was made out of wood, but several Steampunk decorations were fastened to it. Some of the decorations included iron wings, gears, bullets, and the faces of clocks. His ceiling fan was made out of iron.
“Well, I’m adding two shows and three restaurants. I’m making plenty of money and we all know these Steampunks enjoy seeing things grow,” Gable explained.
Giles agreed with him. “That’s definitely true. Steampunks don’t like idle cities. What do you need from us?”
“This expansion means I need to hire more people. I have a big reputation to protect so I want to hire the right people. Our family name doesn’t need to become damaged from the mistakes of my employees. I need entertainers, food servers, managers, increased security, and all the works. You guys need to check the backgrounds of my potential hires. I don’t want to hire anyone with serious baggage,” Gable ordered.
Reb shook her head. “We can’t promise that in the entertainment field. You’re going to encounter a ton of baggage.”
Gable was not swayed. “Believe it or not, there are good people in the world. The Apocalypse made you cynical, but I know this will work. I care about the quality of my employees.”
“Well, I’m sure you can find the right people if you’re willing to be patient. If you have the documents and blueprints for your expansion, I need to see them. You have a big imagination and that’s both a positive and negative trait. If you get overly ambitious, the expansion might be too big for the size of your casino,” Giles explained.
Gable motioned to several boxes on the floor. “I thought you might say that. There’s a huge amount of paperwork in these boxes, but it’s all here if you want to read the details.”
Reb groaned. “That’s going to take a long time to sort out, but it’s good that you have the documentation.”
Giles sighed. “You know what? I’ll start going over the paperwork with Gable. Why don’t you head to the house and catch up with Priscilla and the kids? Maybe we can take turns. I’ll call you when I want you to take over. Right now, I just need to concentrate.”
“Works for me. I’ll keep my cell phone handy. Enjoy your little reunion, boys,” Reb remarked.
“Thanks,” Gable said dryly.
Reb left the executive area and hurried through the busy casino. After she exited the lobby, the Steampunk woman flagged down a taxi and then took a ride to the outskirts of Las Vegas. It was a path that led directly to Gable and Priscilla’s house. Their residence was a large, upscale house that was similar to Reb’s homestead. Like many newer households, Gable and Priscilla’s residence had several Steampunk influences that included cosmetic metal implants.
After she paid the cabdriver, Reb exited the vehicle and used her baton to help her walk up the driveway. Priscilla was sitting on the front porch, wearing one of her sun hats and holding a metal fan. Her youngest child, Maggie, enjoyed a tea party on the front lawn with her white Persian cat.
Reb waved to Priscilla. “Since I was stranded in the desert, I thought it might be a good idea to visit.”
“I suppose it’s good to see you too. Where’s your better half?” Priscilla inquired.
“Working on some business with Gable. I’m actually heading back to the office later this afternoon. Your husband is overloading us with work, so Giles and I are going to take turns,” Reb answered.
Priscilla continued to fan herself while she said, “Business. For a moment, I actually thought you flew all the way over here to see us.”
Reb shook her head. “No guilt trips. You know I don’t have a conscience anymore.”
Gable and Priscilla’s oldest child, Oliver, ran out of the house and hugged Reb. “Aunt Reb! It seems like forever since you came for a visit!”
“What? It hasn’t been that long,” Reb said in a confused tone.
Priscilla gloated and said, “Do you have a guilty conscience now?”
Reb pretended to shrug it off. “I’ve been really busy lately.”
Oliver showed Reb one of his favorite books. “Look, they’re bringing out more detective books. The main character in this series is my hero. He always gets the bad guys.”
“You like mysteries and detectives? I guess it suits your personality. Your Uncle Giles and I used to read that type of fiction. Sometimes he reminds me of a detective. Your Uncle Giles is a very serious man who’s good at solving problems and helping people. We can talk more about that later. Why don’t you go play? It’ll be a lot more fun than hanging out with a bunch of girls,” Reb said while she glanced at the book.
Oliver agreed with his aunt. “Good idea. We can hang out later.”
The boy left to go play inside again, and Reb turned her attention to little Maggie.
Reb tried to sit carefully on a miniature chair while she tightly squeezed her legs together.
“Doesn’t the heat bother you?” Reb asked. She felt cramped.
Maggie shrugged and continued to play with the tea set. “I’m used to it. Daddy told me you get a lot of tornados in Oklahoma. That sounds worse than the heat over here.”
Reb couldn’t argue with Maggie’s logic. “Perhaps. I still don’t like the desert heat. Anyway, do you mind if I join the tea party?”
“Sure. I have snacks on the table,” Maggie offered.
Reb grabbed a cookie but she didn’t eat it. “I’m glad you enjoy afternoon tea. Your uncle Giles and I try to have some tea when we have a
chance.”
“I just thought of something. The people on TV keep talking about something called the Apocalypse. What’s that?” Maggie wondered out loud.
Reb was slightly taken aback by the question. “Well, that takes a pretty long explanation. Before you were born, the people in our nation lived during a very difficult time period. There was a big rebellion that hurt a lot of people, and it damaged most of our big cities. After that, we didn’t want to go back to that same way of living. We looked back in history to find influences that could help us in the modern era. I guess people tried to find the innocence that we lost. This is how we developed our Steampunk values. We needed to become a culture that can survive in a Post-Apocalyptic world that thrives well and builds new cities. At that time, our new era was very industrial and we needed to harvest large amounts of metal to rebuild everything. It wasn’t necessary to use the Steampunk theme, but it made sense at the time. Most importantly, it was different from our previous era. We never wanted things to be the same again.”
“That’s cool. Do you think people are happier now?”
“That depends. The Steampunks seem to be thriving. Unfortunately, there are a few countercultures who don’t like us. That’s what got us in trouble during the 21st Century,” Reb muttered.
“I’m sure everything will be better this time,” Maggie said optimistically.
Reb ate the cookie and then she furrowed her eyebrows. “What’s this? It tastes awful!”
Maggie laughed. “Those are biscuits for my cat.”
“You could have said something before I ate it,” Reb grumbled.
“I thought it would be funnier to surprise you,” Maggie commented.
Reb admired Maggie’s nerve. “You’re a clever girl. What else have you been wondering about?”
Maggie thought for a minute. “Why don’t you and Uncle Giles have any kids? I thought we might have some cousins by now.”
“That’s a good question. It doesn’t seem like we’re able to have kids. Maybe it’s not part of God’s plan,” Reb admitted.
The Post-Apocalyptic Society: A Nelson and Hyde Revolution Page 3
