Crimson Overcoat Versus Christmas

By Luke Monroe

Alexander Valtam aka Crimson Overcoat, former superhero and current magician's lab assistant, is hired by Santa's elves to mediate a labor dispute at the North Pole. Steampunk science-heroes clash with holiday fantasy in this action packed adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luke Monroe
• Release date: Dec 23, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466199750

Luke Monroe

Luke Monroe is a father, writer, game designer, and whatever else he decides to do on a day to day basis. He lives with his wife and two children in Indiana.

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Crimson Overcoat Versus Christmas

By Luke Monroe

Copywright 2011 Luke Monroe

Smashwords Edition

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Grey skies and cold rain made for an unpleasant December commute. Alexander Valtam grumbled to himself as he dismounted his motorcycle in the parking lot of the low slung brown office building where he worked. He pulled on the door of the building only to find it locked. He fumbled in his pocket for the key card and swiped his way into the lobby.

The building was full of small tech firms and consulting agencies. Most were staffed by only a few people. That left the building empty as Christmas approached, with the independent firms taking time off for the holidays. Alexander walked down the hallway passing various small logos and nameplates of neighboring firms until he reached his office. The door sign read Fortunato Thaumaturgical and Transhuman Consulting in bold letters, with G. Fortunato, Th. D. below it. The G stood for Gretchen, his boss, who was currently out of town attending a professional convention. For magicians that meant it would be high on the hoity-toit and posturing with at least two magical duels to the death.

Alexander was the only member of the four person staff that was going to be in the office for the next two weeks. The secretary was only part time, and the intern had gone home for the holidays. That left him to check up on their few regular clients. Most were basic magical security jobs. Some of the work was local geomantic forecasting for the farm bureau. The rest were one-off information requests sent in by the DNR or local government. Alexander was no wizard, but he knew more than enough to handle the small stuff.

He flicked the lights on in the cramped office. He grabbed the mail from beneath the door and tossed it onto Gretchen’s desk. He stripped off his wet crimson overcoat and threw it over the tiny conference table. He threw his brass rimmed goggles on top of the coat.

The office was filled from floor to ceiling with various implements. Some were technological, others mystical, and the rest somewhere in between. Cords ran across the floor to several different computers. White boards filled with scribbled formulae lined the walls. Technical manuals and tradecraft journals with post-its marking pages were piled up on every available surface. Alexander wove his way through the office to his cramped workspace. It was more chaotic than the rest of the office, scattered with half finished devices.

He sat down at his workspace and ran his hand through his messy hair. It was still wet from the ride over. He stretched his long frame in the small work area, pulled out a soldering iron, and went to work on one of his pet projects. Wisps of smoke rose from the esoteric mechanical project spread out in front of him. In the quiet hum of the fluorescent lights and gentle rumble of the building furnace he found contentment.

Alexander lost himself in his work. After several hours, a half a case of Mt. Dew, four oatmeal cream pies and a package of licorice whips he stood and stretched. He rubbed his stubbled face and massaged his hawkish nose. Despite the poor start it was turning into a good day.

As he settled back into his work the door buzzer rang. He rolled his chair over to the computer next to