by Jake Bible
Clay sighed again.
“Destroy the siege engine,” Clay said
“Destroy the siege engine,” Gibbons echoed.
“I’m going to have to stop her without killing her,” Clay said. “Can I do that?”
“Maybe,” Gibbons said.
“I need more than maybe,” Clay said.
“Mr. MacAulay!” Thaddeus shouted over the com. “Control that beast!”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m working on it!” Clay yelled back. “Hold your damn horses! Or tweeners! Or whatever! Just calm down!”
“Gibbons? How do we stop her without killing her?” Clay asked. “If we kill Paige, then Barnes won’t help implant the Reaper chips.”
“That’s not a bad thing,” Gibbons said. He sighed in his AI way. “Her consciousness runs throughout the flesh mech’s body. It’s in every cell and fiber. There are no drives for it to be housed in. The whole mech is the drives.”
“But…?” Clay pushed.
“But, if we disable the flesh mech, Paige will instinctively withdraw herself into the intact portion,” Gibbons continued. “In other words, we tear her limbs off and she will retreat to the torso. She’ll survive, but be helpless.”
“Now we have a plan,” Clay said and started the mech walking towards the rampaging flesh mech that continued to wreak havoc on the siege engine. He opened the com back up. “Mr. Perdition, sir, I have a solution. Let me tackle this then we’ll meet back in town and complete our deal.”
“We look forward to that, Mr. MacAulay,” Thaddeus responded and the com went dead.
“How do we switch her focus?” Clay asked.
“That’s easy,” Gibbons said. “Do what you do best. Pick a fight.”
“I don’t do that best,” Clay replied.
“Yet here we are as always,” Gibbons said. “Just like last time.”
“That last time doesn’t count. We were forced into a tournament, remember?” Clay said.
“Still a fight,” Gibbons said.
“Shut up,” Clay replied.
He got the battle mech as close to the siege engine as he felt comfortable and slammed both hands together. The clapping sound was as loud as the storm’s thunder had been. It got the flesh mech’s attention, but only for a few seconds before the thing went back to work destroying the siege engine.
“Hey!” Clay yelled, the external loudspeakers turned to full volume. “Paige! Knock it off!”
Paige did not knock it off. In fact, the flesh mech doubled its efforts.
“Give me junction points,” Clay said. “This needs to be like surgery, right?”
“Surgery? Yeah, sure, we’ll perform surgery with the plasma cannons,” Gibbons said. “This is going to end well.”
“No, it’s not, but we don’t have a choice,” Clay snapped. “Just show me the damn junction points on the targeting system.”
Crosshairs came up and the targeting system painted the points on the flesh mech Clay needed to hit in order to take it down. A simple plan if the thing wasn’t swinging all over the surface of the siege engine, a never-ending blur of violence and destruction.
“I’m almost rethinking the deal I made,” Clay said. “Paige sure is doing a number on that there machine.” Gibbons began to respond, but Clay cut him off. “There’s more of an endgame than just taking out this siege engine, buddy. You’ll have to trust me on this.”
“If that’s the case, then we need to pay attention to the flesh mech,” Gibbons said. “Forget the deal and what comes after. Focus on the shooting.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” Clay said.
He started humming a little tune, matching the rhythm with the swinging flesh mech. Once the tune and the mech synched up, Clay fired the first shot. The left leg split off from the torso at the hip.
There was no mistaking the flesh mech’s reaction as it stopped swinging and spun itself around to face the battle mech. It didn’t have a face, but it roared with rage, and Clay was fairly certain the open cockpit hatch scrunched like a hard glare.
“One down,” Clay said. “Three to go.”
“I would suggest we leave the arms, but I am sure you would counter with how you’d still be able to fight if our mech only had arms,” Gibbons said.
“You know me so well, buddy,” Clay replied. “Hold steady.”
“Holding steady,” Gibbons responded as Clay began to hum again.
The flesh mech scrambled towards the top of the siege engine, looking for higher ground to launch an attack. Clay took out the right leg just as it crested the top.
“That’s some mighty fine shooting there,” Clay congratulated himself. “Mighty fine.”
“Clay,” Gibbons cautioned. “Don’t get cocky.”
“I know, I know,” Clay replied, seeing exactly what the flesh mech was about to do. “Can we time this right?”
“I’ll make sure we do,” Gibbons said. “Wait for my mark.”
“You want to take the shot?” Clay asked.
“I’d prefer not to,” Gibbons said. “This still doesn’t sit well with me. You forget that I was merged with Paige. Watching you shoot her is like watching myself get shot.”
“Now look who has a girlfriend,” Clay chuckled. Gibbons didn’t. “Sorry. I like Paige too. We’re going to save her, don’t worry.”
“You better be right,” Gibbons said.
The flesh mech bunched up both arms under its legless torso. Then it launched into the air, flinging itself from the siege engine right at the battle mech.
“Now!” Gibbons shouted.
Clay fired and the flesh mech’s right arm was severed. Clay fired again and the left arm went the same way. The flesh mech fell several meters short of the battle mech then skidded the rest of the distance, building a small wall of mud and grass around it.
When it finally came to rest at the battle mech’s feet, Clay got out of the pilot’s seat, popped open the cockpit hatch, and quickly climbed down. By that time, Morley had exited the semi-safety of the cavern and was running at what was left of the flesh mech.
“What have you done?” he screeched. “What have you done to her?”
“She’s still in there,” Clay said, holding up both hands.
Morley was on him and throwing a punch faster than Clay thought the old man was capable of.
“Damn,” Clay said, rubbing his jaw as he straightened back up. “You didn’t have to slug me, Barnes. I’ve got a plan.”
“Which includes killing my daughter!” Morley yelled.
“That ain’t your daughter,” Clay said. “Not right now. Maybe after some time and serious therapy, but right now she’s a wild animal. Right, Gibbons?”
“Right,” Gibbons answered over the external loudspeakers.
“She’s still in there and you can rebuild her,” Clay said. “You’re good at that.”
Morley started to argue, but stopped when he saw the immensity of the siege engine that towered over them.
“What is this plan?” Morley asked, eyes locked on the machine. “How did you get the Perditions to call off the attack?”
“Let me fill you in on that,” Clay said and gestured for Morley to come closer. He whispered in Morley’s ear for several minutes, the old man’s eyes wide the entire time. “Understand?”
“You are sure?” Morley asked.
“I’m sure,” Clay said. “I checked.”
“Then that is why…” Morley started to say then caught himself and ended his statement with a shake of the head. “I will do it. I hope you are correct, Mr. MacAulay.”
“You and me both, Barnes,” Clay said. “You and me both.”
Thirty-Four
Morley caught a ride back to the town of Perdition Plains with Clay in the battle mech. The siege engine, what was left of it, rolled its way behind them, but it was too large and too slow to keep up.
Clay parked the battle mech in the center of the town and powered it down.
“Keep watch,” Clay said to Gi
bbons. “I don’t think we’ll need to leave in a hurry, but you never know.”
“Not my first rodeo, Clay,” Gibbons replied. “Be careful.”
“Will do,” Clay said as he climbed out of the cockpit with Morley right behind.
When they reached the street, they were greeted by one face only.
“Hello, Torsten,” Morley said. “Do you remember me?”
“Is that my pistol?” Clay grumbled, seeing his revolver strapped to Torsten’s hip. “Unbelievable. Holcomb gave my pistol to you? What the hell is a braindead piece of meat like you going to do with my pistol?”
Torsten didn’t respond, only turned around and led them into the room where the Perdition siblings seemed to always hold court.
“Mr. MacAulay,” Thaddeus said with a decrepit nod. “And Mr. Barnes. It is a pleasure to see you again, Morley.”
“I cannot say the same, Thaddeus,” Morley replied. “May we get this over with so I can tend to my daughter and we can get on with our lives?”
“Yes,” Thaddeus said. “Get on with your lives. What a fitting statement. I believe I would like to get on with my life, as would my brother and sisters. A life that shall last forever.”
“Forever is a long time, Mr. Perdition,” Clay said. “You sure you want to go through with this?”
Morley gave him a sharp look, but Clay ignored it.
“We are sure,” Thaddeus replied. “It is what we have wanted from Mr. Barnes for such a long time. Perhaps now our little feud can come to an end and we can coexist in peace.”
“Well, I’ll leave that between you folks,” Clay said as he pulled the pouch of Reaper chips from his pocket and shook it a couple times. “Here they are. All of them. Plenty for you four and more for those you deem worthy.”
“We will keep that in mind,” Thaddeus said. He nodded and Torsten snatched the pouch from Clay’s grasp. “Careful, Torsten. Do not damage them.”
The automaton handed the pouch to Thaddeus, and he opened it with reverence. He turned it upside down and spilled the chips into his open palm. A couple fell out onto the floor, and the Perdition siblings hissed.
“They are fine,” Morley said. “They can take a good amount of banging about with little to no damage. Otherwise, they would be useless in a human body.”
“The human body can be so fragile,” Thaddeus said as he placed the Reaper chips back in the pouch. He attempted to bend to pick up the spilled ones, but his body wouldn’t comply. “Ha. So fragile indeed. That will soon change. These chips not only bestow immortality, but also vigor and health. They will enliven us like we haven’t been in generations.”
Clay thought he saw happiness on the Perditions’ faces, but it was so hard to tell.
“You need a hand with this, Barnes?” Clay asked.
Morley shook his head. “I can handle the implantation myself,” he replied. “I have had so many years of experience. It will take no time at all.”
“Good,” Clay said. The room shook slightly, and Clay looked over his shoulder. “Very good. I think the siege engine has finally arrived. I’m going to keep an eye on it to make sure the Perditions don’t back out on their word.”
“Yes, please occupy yourself with that,” Thaddeus said with a dismissive wave of the hand. “Torsten? Keep Mr. MacAulay company. I’d hate for him to get into any trouble out there alone. You just never know what might happen upon the streets of Perdition Plains.”
Clay nodded, but didn’t respond. He walked out of the room, onto the porch, down the steps, and over to the battle mech.
“Is it happening?” Gibbons asked over the com.
“It is,” Clay said.
“You’ve got yourself a shadow, pal,” Gibbons stated as Torsten joined Clay by his side.
Clay looked up at the dead face of the automaton. Then his eyes scanned down and he shook his head.
“Listen, pardner,” Clay said. “That’s my pistol you have there. Mine, not yours. You wouldn’t want to give it back, would ya?”
Torsten turned his head and peered down at Clay with his always dead, unforgiving gaze.
“No,” Torsten said.
Clay was shocked that the thing spoke. The shock turned to amusement, and he laughed as he patted Torsten on the elbow.
“Never you mind, big guy,” Clay said. “It’ll be in my hands soon.”
Torsten only stared at him.
Townsfolk scrambled down and out of the siege engine. Many of them came stomping over to Clay with rifles raised while some just wandered around the smoking wreck of a machine. Those with rifles stopped fast when they saw Torsten. The automaton didn’t make a move, didn’t show any sign he even saw the townsfolk, but they acted like he’d barked an order to back off.
They backed off and most went grumbling up the steps of the not-saloon.
“You know what? That sounds like a great idea,” Clay said. “I could go for a stiff drink right about now.”
“Clay,” Gibbons warned.
“Don’t worry, buddy, I have my shadow to keep me safe,” Clay said and patted Torsten on the elbow again. “Right, big guy?”
Clay walked up the steps and into the not-saloon. Heads turned, eyes narrowed, teeth were bared.
“I’m thinking you all are about to turn those frowns upside down,” Clay said. He received a couple of puzzled looks as he sidled up to the bar. “Liquor. Whatever you’ve got. But not that congealed crap. I want real hooch.”
The barman snarled and his lip curled to show a disgustingly brown incisor. He grabbed down a bottle of equally disgusting-looking liquor and poured a hearty shot for Clay. Without thinking about it, Clay downed the shot, slammed the glass onto the bar and waved a hand for more.
“Good stuff,” Clay said, struggling to keep from vomiting all over Torsten’s boots as the automaton stood right next to him, only a breath away. “Real good. How about another?”
The barman’s sneer grew and he poured a double. “Hope you don’t expect to be walking nowhere soon.”
“He speaks,” Clay laughed, downed the double shot and motioned for more.
The barman obliged and chuckled.
“I’m a mech pilot, sir,” Clay said. He downed the next double shot. “I don’t walk anywhere. I ride.”
Clay had to use all of his willpower to keep his gorge from coming up.
The townsfolk lost interest in him quickly and went back to being sullen and looking half dead like usual. Clay watched them, nodding and giving a smile to those that occasionally looked over at him.
An hour went by then a second and a third. The light outside began to wane.
Clay started to worry that maybe Morley couldn’t deliver, but then a voice called for him.
“We’re up,” Clay said to Torsten.
He walked from the not-saloon and took his sweet time crossing over to where the Perdition siblings all stood side by side in the street.
“Mr. MacAulay,” Thaddeus said. “I had believed your usefulness was at an end when you refused to surrender your mech to us. But you have certainly redeemed yourself by providing us with these miracles called Reaper chips.”
“That’s good to hear,” Clay said and gave a short bow. “So, I expect I am free to go? Along with Barnes here?”
“Yes, about that,” Thaddeus said. “I am afraid I cannot let Mr. Barnes leave Perdition Plains ever again.”
“That is a sad thing to hear, Mr. Perdition,” Clay said. “We had ourselves a deal. I take deals very seriously. There ain’t much in the way of currency left in this world except a man’s word. If you can’t keep yours then that means you are broke, Teddy.”
“I will have to politely disagree with you, Mr. MacAulay,” Thaddeus replied. “I am keeping my word with you. You may leave with your mech. Go do whatever it is you are off to do and never come around these parts again. As for Mr. Barnes, he will need to remain behind to ensure that there is no malfunction with the Reaper chips.”
“Oh, don’t you worry,” Clay said. �
��They won’t malfunction. They’ll work exactly like they’re supposed to.”
“I would like to believe you, Mr. MacAulay, but I am sure you can understand that perhaps trust isn’t exactly what our relationship is built upon,” Thaddeus responded.
“Is that so?” Clay said and pulled his pocket watch from out of his vest. He popped it open, scrolled to a timer he had set, and watched the seconds tick away.
“What are you doing?” Thaddeus asked. “Why are you looking at your watch?”
“This thing? Oh, well, you see, Teddy, I just wanted to make sure everything was timed just right,” Clay said. “Three, two, one. There. Now we are good to go.”
Clay looked at the four and smiled. Nothing happened. He kept smiling. Still nothing happened. He looked down at his watch and frowned.
“Huh, I must have miscalculated,” he said.
“Miscalculated what?” Thaddeus asked.
His answer was a cry of pain from Emily Perdition as she collapsed to the ground, her hands gripping the back of her neck. Black, sticky blood poured from her nose and mouth as wisps of smoke trickled up out of her ears.
“Emily!” Estelle cried as she reached for her dead sister. She made it half a step before she met the exact same fate.
Thackeray followed with barely the hint of reaction, leaving Thaddeus standing there alone.
“Torsten!” Thaddeus cried
The automaton spun about to grab Clay, but Clay was waiting for it.
“Told ya,” Clay said, his pistol off Torsten’s hip and in his hand before the big thing could even blink. “Adios.”
Clay pulled the trigger until the chamber clicked empty. Torsten’s head no longer existed and the body crumpled to the street.
“No!” Thaddeus yelled just before he grabbed the back of his neck with his hands and joined his siblings on the ground.
The Perditions were dead at last. Clay didn’t need to check pulses to know that. He certainly didn’t want to check pulses. There was no way he was touching those bodies.
