The Post-Apocalyptic Society: A Nelson and Hyde Revolution

by Stephanie Kato

  While the Nelsons continued their luxurious lifestyle, the remaining Utopians were much less fortunate. Due to the publicity of his murder trial, Victor was locked away in solitary confinement. Thanks to Reb, Victor needed several prosthetic teeth. The death penalty was on the table if he was convicted.

  Claire and Arnold plead guilty to the charges leveled against them and agreed to testify against Victor. Both of them were placed in protective custody during Victor’s trial and were rewarded with reduced sentences. The rest of Victor’s followers suffered a variety of fates, depending on their involvement in the crime, and their level of cooperation with the police.

  Reb’s theory appeared to be true. The Steampunk culture grew, while contemporary subcultures shrunk at a startling rate. Most individuals adapted to the Steampunk culture, with Victorian attire and metal grafting. Perhaps the Apocalypse marked the beginning of contemporary human extinction.

  Several months later, the Nelson family had adjusted well to their lives. Percy and Savannah returned to their companies in San Francisco. Percy fashioned a new pocket watch that was made out of brass and had an archaic appearance. He continued to invent new computers and gadgets, and his latest tablet set a yearly record for technology sales.

  Savannah maintained her status as the reigning queen of Steampunk fashion. As usual, she used influences from the Victorian era, Wild West, and Dieselpunk in her clothing lines. Her most recent line of clothes was titled Femme Fatale and it included a fiercer and sharper appearance. Weapons became common accessories in the clothing line, including daggers, arrows, flails, and guns. The clothing line was probably influenced by her experience in Louisiana.

  As a couple, Percy and Savannah maintained a healthy relationship. Mainstream audiences viewed their marriage as the union between intellect and beauty. They spent plenty of time together and considered taking a trip on an ocean liner. They also found many excuses to spend time together in the hot tub.

  Gable and Priscilla resumed their busy lives in Las Vegas. As promised, Gable opened new shows, restaurants, and a new nightclub in his most popular casino. The new attractions brought a plethora of tourists to the city. It also created many job opportunities for individuals. Gable retained his image as a showman, entrepreneur, and one of America’s hottest Steampunks.

  Priscilla continued to run her peach company. She distributed several products across the nation, including peach cobbler, pie, preserves, ice cream, soda, and candy. One of her latest innovations was a line of peaches that were genetically engineered. She received quite a bit of publicity when she created peaches that were sweeter, firmer, juicier, smoother, and stayed fresher for longer periods of time. Priscilla retained her southern Steampunk style and continued wearing clothes that showcased her best assets.

  Gable and Priscilla tried to find more time together as a couple, but juggling their private time was challenging with the kids and their busy schedules. They planned a family trip to Paris for the summer.

  Oliver and Maggie adjusted well after they returned home. Even though Oliver was quite young, he developed an interest in medicine and metal grafting. He became an avid reader of Steampunk history and culture. Maggie preferred to occupy her time with tea parties, Steampunk fashion, and the latest gossip with her friends at school. She also took an interest in baking and found a way to make tasty biscuits for her Persian cat.

  Reb and Giles returned to their ranch. Oklahoma wasn’t the biggest center for celebrities or publicity, but it was home. Reb continued to breed and raise her ponies. She hired more attorneys to work for their agency, relieving herself of part of her workload. She did, however, continue to work as her family’s entertainment lawyer. Her next project focused on a former football player, Malcolm Dresden. He was unaware of her plans, but his family had hired Reb to convert Malcolm to the Steampunk culture.

  Giles also worked at the agency as Reb’s business partner. She assigned Beauregard Rousseau, a new client, to Giles. Beauregard was an artist who was also scheduled for a transformation into Steampunk culture. Giles knew it was unlikely that he and Reb would have children, so he thought pets might be a good solution. He found three kittens in their tool shed who appeared to be orphans. Giles named them Apricot, Brownie, and Cheddar. They became new additions to the family and lived pampered lifestyles inside the house.

  Since they had no children, Reb and Giles spent plenty of time together. Their relationship had finished growing years ago, but they were very content. Reb and Giles wanted another vacation, but they could not decide on a location. So they settled for more dinners, afternoon teas, concerts, movie theater outings, and other dates.

  It was a Saturday morning when Reb unveiled her new car. She had taken the vintage Jeep from the island, and renovated it into a Steampunk vehicle. Reb gave her new Jeep a layer of copper paint and added several rods, chains, gears, and springs to give the Jeep an industrial appearance. It had two large iron wings that were grafted on the front grill. On the back, she grafted a large propeller that was made out of bronze.

  “Beautiful!” Reb declared.

  Giles was impressed with his wife’s restoration. “It’s almost a work of art. Our client Beauregard would be very jealous. He’s an artist, but I don’t think he makes anything as impressive as this.”

  “Beau’s a painter. What does he know about cars?” Reb scoffed.

  Giles examined the remodeled Jeep. “Will it run? That Jeep must be at least one hundred years old.”

  “Probably more like one hundred and sixty years old. I gave it a brand new engine. Most of the inside parts are conversions from newer vehicles. I think it will be okay,” Reb optimistically said.

  “There’s one way to find out. Let’s give it a spin,” Giles replied.

  Both of them hopped in the vehicle. Reb strapped on an aviator’s cap and put on her goggles. She wrapped a long and heavy grafted scarf around her neck, then took a moment to pull on her gloves a little more tightly.

  She successfully turned over the engine. “Let’s move forward into this Steampunk world together.”

  “Always,” Giles agreed.

  They sped through the ranch’s acreage into a world that was full of promise and opportunity.

  The Iron Age of Piracy

  Chapter 1

  Moving forward in a Post-Apocalyptic world was a difficult task for most people. After the Apocalypse decimated much of America, the global economy was greatly affected. America’s newly dominant subculture, Steampunks, thrived well in the dystopian environment. The Steampunks found their greatest strength when they adapted elements from the past. Some of those elements included steam power, Victorian fashion, clockwork mechanics, and many more influences. Metal splicing was a huge advancement that improved the durability of buildings, vehicles, and human bodies.

  Other cultures also found success from the past. Many criminals looked back to the Golden Age of Piracy for inspiration. In the past, pirates were the most feared criminals who sailed on the ocean. They pillaged, murdered, kidnapped, and committed other despicable acts to achieve their goals. Overall, their methods were brutal, but effective.

  Many criminals took Steampunk technology and combined it with the ethics of piracy. They built powerful boats and weaponry that could sink ships and defeat hoards of people. However, the pirates didn’t graft their bodies because they feared it would cause them to sink in the ocean. Like pirates of the past, greed was the biggest motivation for Post-Apocalyptic pirates. They hunted for valuable jewels, artifacts, artwork, and collectibles, and terrorized people across the globe. Many people labeled this as the Iron Age of Piracy.

  On the dry land of Oklahoma, Reb Nelson-Hyde cooked a substantial breakfast, while her husband, Giles Hyde, read a newspaper at the kitchen table.

  “Saturday morning with a pork chop. Now that’s what I call a breakfast,” Reb said, when she placed the pork chops and eggs on their plates.

  Giles glanced at the meal as she set the plate in front of him. “You r
eally enjoy eating pigs.”

  Reb sat down and prepared her silverware. “Pork chops are awesome and low in fat. So don’t complain.”

  Giles changed the subject when he read one of the newspaper’s articles. “It seems like Victor was found guilty on all charges. Next, the jury needs to decide if they’re giving him the death penalty.”

  “I’m content with either the death penalty or life in prison. That little psychopath can rot in prison for the rest of his life for all I care. Either way, I’m glad the fist of justice is keeping him away from civilization,” Reb grumbled.

  Giles folded the newspaper and placed it on the table. “Don’t stress out about it. What do you think about the fall of Utopia? Do you think we’ll see more Utopians at some point?”

  Reb shook her head as she cut into the meat. “I doubt it. That was the second time the Utopians failed. Most of them were killed during the Apocalypse. The second time around, they couldn’t even kill a group of civilians in an isolated swamp. That’s pretty sad.”

  “I guess you’re right,” Giles replied.

  Reb looked at their kittens, who were nibbling on Maggie’s homemade cat biscuits. “Maggie is going to be really good at baking, like her mom. Those little guys really like her treats.”

  Giles frowned. “I don’t think you should give them junk like that. It’s going to make them fat.”

  “Maybe it’s good that we can’t have kids. We can’t even agree about raising a litter of kittens,” Reb commented.

  Giles raised his coffee mug. “Well, here’s to a busy life with a zoo full of animals.”

  “I’ll drink to that. Cheers,” Reb said while they toasted.

  Many hours away, Gable and Priscilla were enjoying their dinner at a café in Paris. Gable had promised to take his wife on a lovely vacation after they had survived the turmoil in Louisiana. Steampunks walked down the sidewalks and many metal trimmings had been added to the buildings.

  “This is a wonderful trip. It’s exactly what we needed after surviving another attack from those Utopians,” Gable mentioned, while he held Priscilla’s hand at the table.

  She looked at him flirtatiously. “Paris is certainly a romantic city. It’s too bad we’re leaving soon. Maybe we can squeeze in a little more private time before leaving.”

  “Daddy! Oliver hit me!” Maggie screamed from the table next to them.

  “I did not! Maggie’s lying!” Oliver insisted.

  “Well, you’re just a cootie head!” Maggie yelled.

  Oliver countered with, “No, you’re a cootie head!”

  Gable and Priscilla glared at the kids for ruining their romantic moment. Luckily, Gable’s phone rang shortly after the children began to argue.

  “Hello?” Gable asked on the phone.

  His sister Reb was on the other end. “What’s up, bro? I wanted to know what’s going on in Paris?”

  Gable watched as Priscilla handled the children. “There’s never a dull moment when a couple has kids. Be glad you don’t have any.”

  “Sounds good to me. By the way, are you guys still going on the cruise? Mom and Dad are really looking forward to it,” Reb asked.

  “Sure. We’ll definitely be there. I haven’t been on a cruise in a long time,” Gable commented.

  Reb thought about it for a moment and then she asked, “The news says our Steampunk culture is going global. Is that true?”

  “Paris is adapting the Steampunk image. I don’t know about anywhere else, but it’s quite popular over here,” Gable said, looking at the Victorian-styled people who walked down the street.

  “It shouldn’t surprise me. Metal grafting makes us tough and durable. Everyone will want the opportunity to become superhuman,” Reb explained.

  Gable checked the time on his antiquated-looking watch. “We’ll find out soon enough. I should probably go. We still have some places to explore before flying home. I’ll see you back in the states.”

  “No problem. We’ll talk later,” Reb said, before she ended the conversation.

  Gable put his phone away, and noticed Oliver and Maggie glaring at him.

  “A cruise? There’s nothing to do on cruises! They’re boring!” Maggie complained.

  For once, Oliver agreed with his sister. “Yeah, can we go to summer camp with our friends instead? That would be a lot of fun!”

  Gable raised his eyebrows. “Summer camp? Don’t you want to spend more time with your mom and me?”

  Oliver tried to find a good answer. “Sure, but not on a cruise. What do you say, Dad? Can we please go to summer camp this year?”

  “I feel like chopped liver, but it’s good that you want to be more independent. I’ll let your father make this decision,” Priscilla said, as she looked at Gable.

  He sighed heavily. “All right, you win. I’ll let you guys go to summer camp, but next year we’re going to do something else.”

  The kids cheered gleefully.

  Back on their ranch, Reb and Giles examined the files that belonged to their newest clients, Malcolm Dresden and Beauregard Rousseau. Reb and Giles had known the two men since their teenage years. Malcolm and Beauregard came from wealthy and popular families, but they developed bad reputations with a list of problems, including substance abuse, lousy relationships, arrest records, public disturbances, and other misconduct.

  At one point, Malcolm had been a professional football quarterback. But he became lazy, egotistical, and unmotivated. He washed out of the sport and never regained his place in society.

  Beauregard had a similar problem. He was a talented painter who had the right connections, but he was also lazy and unmotivated. Beauregard disliked Steampunks and refused to paint artwork that fit in with their culture. As a result, he didn’t sell many paintings during the Post-Apocalyptic era.

  “Look at these records: DUIs, disorderly conduct, prostitution, drug possession, indecent exposure, and the list goes on. Where do we start?” Giles asked.

  Reb flipped through the files. “From the beginning. We’re getting paid big bucks to transform these guys into outstanding citizens, so we need to make it happen somehow. Let’s fly to their home cities and see the situation with our own eyes.”

  Giles felt overwhelmed. “All right, but I think these guys are beyond help.”

  “I suppose anyone is worth rescuing if they can survive the Apocalypse,” Reb mentioned.

  “Do you really think either one of them wants help?” Giles asked skeptically.

  Reb shrugged. “I guess we’re going to find out.”

  On Monday morning, Percy and Savannah looked out the window of Percy’s executive office in San Francisco. They noticed a small group of protestors who hated the Steampunk movement. The protestors held picket signs and argued that Steampunks blacklisted regular people from their careers.

  “It’s shameful. We do a lot for the community and people repay us with hate,” Savannah griped.

  Percy watched the protesters. “It’s normal for people to hate the unknown. Truthfully, regular people fear us. They dominated the earth for many years, but we’re the future. Mankind is evolving, and those who can’t adapt will be left behind.”

  Savannah thought his explanation was logical. “You always have the perfect answer for everything. Sometimes it’s handy being married to a genius.”

  Percy looked at her and smiled. “Actually, your daughter is the one who invented that theory. She takes after me though.”

  “Fortunately, she also inherited my good looks,” Savannah quipped.

  “And your vanity,” Percy replied.

  Savannah was mildly amused by their banter. “Why did you bring me here today? I have my own business to run. It’s not like I have a lot of extra time.”

  Percy took her hand. “Actually, I’m going to show you one of my new prototypes. This one is very different from the creations you saw earlier. Let’s go to my laboratory.”

  He led Savannah down the hallway to a special elevator that required a passcode. After he
punched in the correct code, they entered the elevator and went downstairs to his restricted laboratory. Savannah looked at the surroundings that included new inventions and gadgets. Several lab workers tinkered with computers, giant machines, and many items that she didn’t recognize. They approached a table where Percy grabbed a small item that had an oval shape. He handed the tiny object to her.

  “I’m going to be very disappointed if this is just a metal ball,” Savannah remarked.

  “Take another look at it,” Percy said patiently.

  The object sprouted legs like a spider and moved around in her hand.

  Savannah felt somewhat uncomfortable with the robotic arachnid. “It’s a spider! You made a robot! I can’t believe it! Does anyone else know about this?”

  “I haven’t disclosed anything to the public yet. My employees are still running some tests, but I think this is a big step forward. Steampunks could use robots for many things, including transportation, construction, rescue missions, law enforcement, and many more. I need to speak with Reb and Giles about this. They’ll know what needs to be done about the legal matters,” Percy explained.

  Savannah was proud of her husband. “Big innovations always start with something small. I think you and Reb are right. Steampunk is truly a form of evolution.”

  Chapter 2

  Reb was bored on the plane trip to Chicago, but she knew it was necessary to visit Malcolm and assess the severity of his problems.

  The entertainment lawyer pulled out her tablet and contacted Giles through a videophone. He was also on a flight, only his was to New York City. “Please, tell me there’s something interesting going on in your end of the states. I hate these plane trips because they’re boring and nauseating,” Reb said.

  “Maybe you should lay off the free peanuts. That’s probably the source of your tummy aches,” Giles remarked.

  “Very funny. On a more serious note, I’m not sure what to expect from Malcolm. He’s a total hot mess. Honestly, Malcolm and I never got along very well. Our parents were friends, but Malcolm and I have personalities that clash against each other,” Reb explained.