Steampunks

By Kym DeCorte

After their father goes missing, Piper and her little brother Pip are dumped at their Uncles in the Georgia bayou where they stumble upon a steam engine in a hidden underground tunnel. Although Piper never looked for an adventure, it finds her when they’re kidnapped by leather clad Nazi wannabes and taken across the universe.

They stop on a world filled with Victorian era colonists, brought there by a bizarre accident, and ruled by a mad man who claims he’s their grandfather. Using a power source discovered by the locals this self-appointed ruler has designs on Earth and an army at his disposal.

When Piper becomes a member of the rebellion she gets more than she’s bargained for. She puts her faith in the rebels and gives her heart to one of its leaders, and for this her brother is taken and she’s nearly killed.

In the end Piper must grow stronger, listen to her heart and throw caution to the wind in order to stop her deranged grandfather, rescue her brother, save Earth and finally get home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kym DeCorte
• Release date: Oct 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301981755

Kym DeCorte

A hairstylist by trade a writer by nature. Kym's ultimate goal is to clear her mind of stories so other's may have a chance.

Book preview

Steampunks

Kym DeCorte

Steampunks

Published by Kym DeCorte at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Kym DeCorte

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever including Internet usage, without written permission of the author.

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Contents

1. A bad day goes bad

2. When our bad day began

3. And we’re kidnapped

4. I blame my mother

5. We have beans

6. Pip gets short pants

7. I dream of Georgia

8. Kidnapped again

9. We have a mushroom burger and I get a ray gun

10. I meet my first zombie

11. I slap a Steampunk

12. We become rebels

13.Worst dinner party ever

14. I go shopping

15. We score spy points

16. We meet the locals

17. I kiss a rebel

18. Gramps blows a gasket

19. Pip becomes a hero

20. More bad news

21. We take a train

22. Worst train ride ever

23. I become a freak

24. I go find Pip

25. Things get steamy and not in a good way

26. Really?

27. We jump off a train

28. We save worlds

Epilogue

1

A bad idea goes bad

What’s that? I said pointing.

Something sparkled at our feet in the darkness. Pip shined his flashlight toward the spot.

Train tracks. He said.

Train tracks were in a secret tunnel twenty feet underground in the middle of nowhere. Shouldn’t this be weird?

That’s weird. He said.

At least I was not the only one feeling as if we had just stepped into an old Twilight Zone episode. My dad loved that old show. I had never been a fan, mostly because the endings had never been very happy or survivable. I shivered as Pip played his light over the tracks. The size of them was impressive. They looked new, and took up most of the narrow tunnel, leaving about five feet of clearance on either side. The odd thing was the tracks did not lead anywhere, except straight into a rock wall.

So now what? I said.

Now the real adventure starts. He answered.

OMG, he thinks he is Indiana Jones. Pip pointed himself and the flashlight down the tracks and started walking. I followed a little more casually. Although I was just as intrigued about what else we might find, I was not as excited as my reckless sibling. I was miserably hot, and after a ten minute climb down a narrow hole in the ground, I was also the filthiest I had ever been in my life.

Pip, do you really think there have ever been trains down here?

Well, at first I thought it must be for mining carts or something, but now I’m not so sure. These tracks look too big for just miner carts. He said.

I studied the tracks and realized he was probably right. There was something about them that looked too important for just a mining operation, and because my little brother was completely obsessive about trains, and anything even remotely connected to them, I had to buy his story.

And that’s why this is just weird. He added.

Muggy steam filled most of the tunnel and spiraled up the deep hole we had just climbed down. Currently I blamed the steam for my current state of sweaty disgustingness, because if we had not followed it up above on terra firma, we would not have found the hidden trapdoor that had led us here in the first place. A dim light ahead grew brighter as we walked, and I could see that the tracks took a left and disappeared from view. The light was definitely stronger so with silent agreement, we kept going.

Pip was a few feet ahead of me, and when I lost sight of him around the curve I picked up my pace, but only because I was worried about him, definitely not because I was afraid to be left behind or anything.

Wow! His voice echoed loudly.

Pip was still alive and very excited about something. I tore around the sharp curve slipping on the moist ground. He had stopped just on the other side where the tracks straightened out once again, and was staring ahead open-mouthed at what appeared to be a train. Honestly, I was not that surprised. We had been following a set of train tracks after all. Pip, on the other hand, looked to be on his way into shock.

Hey, Pip, you okay? I asked quietly.

No answer.

Pip, I tried a little louder.

He seemed to come out of his stupor, and snapped his jaw shut, so I assumed, he could form words. As this was happening he pushed his back against the wall of the tunnel, pointed his flashlight, and peered down the length of the train car.

I don’t believe it. It’s a Norfolk & Western.

Excuse me?

The train, it’s a genuine Norfolk & Western, a steam engine from like the forties. He paused for a much needed breath. It’s only the coolest steam engine ever made." Then without another word he took off down the tunnel at a pace that seemed too dangerous for the narrowness of the cavern.

Hey, I cried. Wait for me.

I started off after him, but he had quite a lead while full of over-excited adrenaline. One miss-step and scraped knees would be the least of his problems. The floor was flat enough to lay train tracks but was far from smooth with jagged rocks sticking out everywhere in the mostly stone floor. It was also nearly standing in water there was so much moisture. I soon lost him in the steam coming from up ahead. I wondered if this meant the train was about to launch or whatever it was they did, but I thought something was missing. Trains like this ran on steam, which required coal to heat the water. So where was all the black smoke from the burning coal? I mean I’m not complaining the steam was uncomfortable enough, but something was not right.

I moved off the tracks and started up the narrow alley between the train cars and rock wall. It was a tight fit with the huge train taking most of the space. The cars looked exactly like some in Pip’s collection, only his of course were in miniature.

They had once been painted red with gold filigree outlining the windows, but it looked as if they had not seen a paint job in decades, and they were huge, the tops nearly scraping the roof of the tunnel. The first car I passed looked like a passenger car and the second a sleeping car. I only knew this because of my brother’s obsession, and because sometimes the only way to get him to shut up about it was usually just to listen. The only difference that I could discern was the large windows that lined the cars were blacked out.

I passed one other car, and found Pip staring up at the engine with a look of complete longing on his face. I stepped up next to him and realized I had been wrong. The look was more one of confusion.

I don’t get it, he said, sensing my presence. The lettering says it’s the 611, but it can’t be. That engines in a museum. The others don’t even exist anymore.

I looked up at the name and identification number, which were painted elegantly just below a small blacked out window. The engine looked old, but kind of cool in an art deco way. It had the shape of a bullet and was jet black with a red racing stripe down the side. Although the paint did not look very fresh it was still an impressive looking machine. Heat radiated from it, and up above I could see steam swirling back along the roof of the cave. Shining down from the ceiling were glass domes that ran the length of the tunnel and explained the light we had followed.

Maybe it’s been replicated or something? I said taking it all in.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught him moving toward the steps of the engine. I made to grab his arm but missed. People don’t just go jumping up onto someone’s train. Wasn’t it like jumping into a stranger’s car?

Pip, what do you think you’re doing?

He completely ignored me, threw open the door to the engine compartment, and disappeared inside. Typical.

Cool. Pip’s voice came out of the open door.

I looked around nervously, expecting the engineer or other official looking person to appear magically, looking all kinds of irate, but the place looked abandoned. What I did not get was why steam was still coming out of the thing. I did not think it was running. I had a feeling it would have been making much more noise. Instead the place was as quiet as a tomb and was starting to feel a little like one. I took the steps up to the engine.

I found Pip bent over and looking at the innards of the engine room. There were a lot of them. My eyes roamed over the small capsule shaped space. In the nose of the engine were the various levers, wheels, and gauges that operated the thing. In the middle, close to the floor, was a trap door, which I assumed was where the coal went to heat up the boiler. Strange, the box the coal went in was rusted shut. It looked as if it had not been used in decades.

The place was quiet, but there were signs of life. Like the light bulb that was on behind a small wire cage to the right of the door and what looked like the remains of someone’s lunch on a small table just under the light. This was a very bad idea.

Um, Pip, we should really get out of here. I bet Uncle Buster is starting to get worried... My voice choked to a stop when a small and extremely scrawny old man suddenly joined my brother and me in the engine’s compartment.

I looked at him, and he looked at me. I am sure both our mouths were hanging open in shock. Then Pip stood up suddenly, and slammed his head on some sort of lever, which worked to tear our attention from our brief staring contest.

Ow, he said and turned around. Hey, are you the engineer? he asked rubbing his head.

I looked back at the old man to see his reaction. Just as I had thought, he was too surprised to respond to the strange kid who had appeared in his engine in a secret underground tunnel in backwater Georgia. I could not say I blamed him.

Who the heck are ya, and what are you doing on me train? He said in a very loud scratchy old man voice with a cockney accent. I had to fight the urge not to check for damage to my eardrums.

Just looking sir, Pip answered innocently.

He was doing a great job with the innocent thing so I stayed quiet. The old man scratched his head, his whiskers, and his, well, you get the idea. He was an itchy guy.

Hmmph. He said and looked hard at Pip. You know anything about these here monsters?

Pip’s smile lit the whole cab. Yes sir, this is a J class Norfolk and Western, first designed in nineteen forty in Roanoke, Virginia. It’s a 4-8-4 passenger locomotive and can go speeds of up to one hundred miles an hour, but she’s been clocked at more. The J also has the longest combustion chamber of any 4-8-4 and the largest fire box. It also,

Okay, okay I believe ya. The old man interrupted. Then he turned thoughtful as he continued to stare at Pip. Now, do ya think you can fix her? His bushy right brow lifted in what looked like a challenge.

I looked at my brother in complete exasperation with no idea what he would say. Everything suddenly felt very unreal, and I could not get my head around it. Pip looked at the floor as if he were thinking about it. The suspense was killing me.

I don’t know, he said looking back at the old man. Maybe, let’s have a look.

Hello, I wanted to scream, earth to Pip, what are you thinking? Instead I kept my mouth shut. I was sure my little brother had not noticed the unusually large gun sticking out of the back of the old man’s pant’s pocket. I for one was not about to make him any more nervous or twitchy than he appeared.

The scrawny man looked Pip up and down as if sizing him up then turned to the exit.

Follow me, he said.

Neither the crazy old man with the giant gun, or my own brother gave me a glance. Pip was so excited he practically bounced down the steps to the ground. This was unbelievable. For all we knew this guy could be some kind of criminal for the black market, or a drug lord, and my brother had suddenly become his best friend.

I stood there in the engine compartment with sweat dripping down my back and anger or fear beginning to heat my cheeks, as if I was not hot enough. I had no idea what to do. My brain functions had ceased working.

Who are you?

My whole body tensed as I turned slowly toward the voice behind me. It was a woman, which I had known as soon as I heard her speak in a much more refined accent than the old mans I might add, but this was no ordinary woman. Everything else around me suddenly became unimportant and faded into the background; almost as if the engine knew it could not compete. She had to be at least six-feet tall, and she was beautiful, goddess beautiful. She almost did not look real.

She had golden blond hair that framed a heart-shaped face. It ended around her collar bone with an old-fashioned flip. Below this were perfect curves on full display within skin tight leather. The entire ensemble was black, her waist pinched to an alarming degree by a matching black leather corset. A very tight black shirt tucked into the corset which was lined with brass buttons and topped with puffy shoulder pads. Her pants were also black and leather, which laced all the way down the sides where they disappeared into thigh high boots, which were just as leather, just as black and just as tight. I suddenly felt strangely underdressed.

The expression on her face was unreadable. I was not sure if she were angry, annoyed, or just curious.

Hi, I said stupidly. I’m Piper DeMoss, my brother Pip loves trains and he just had to check this one out.

DeMoss, she said her eyebrow arching.

The woman continued to look at me. I thought maybe she needed more, but I was incapable of speaking again because my throat had closed up.

Pip is your brother?

I nodded. It was the best I could do.

A screeching sound tore through the small compartment and the floor lurched. I automatically stepped a foot forward to brace myself, just as the engine steadied. I looked back at the woman. She was smiling. This could have calmed me somewhat, except the smile was murdered before it reached her eyes.

Voices sounded outside and the old man and Pip appeared in the doorway. Pip was beaming as the old man patted him on the back and laughed with happiness.

As soon as their eyes met the goddess the old man’s laughter died and Pip’s smile disappeared so his jaw could drop open. For some reason this annoyed me.

Commander on deck, the old man yelled, jerked to attention and snapped a hand up in salute.

I actually had to fight the urge to giggle. I looked back at the woman-goddess. She nodded her head, crossed her arms over her perfect chest, and stared at the skinny old man as if she expected him to explain himself.

We have us a prize here Commander. He said relaxing slightly. This here boy just fixed her up for us. She’s ready to go.

You are Pip DeMoss? she said.

Actually I’m Peter, but most everyone calls me Pip. My brother managed.

She continued staring at him for a few more seconds, wearing a tiny grin that gave me the shivers.

Well then Pilot, let’s be on our way. She gave Otto a curt nod, which seemed to me to have a more hidden meaning, and without a backward glance she strode almost liquidly out of the compartment into the next. It was past time to say goodbye.

The ‘Pilot’ puffed some air, slumped visibly, and turned toward me. His hand came up and grabbed Pip’s shoulder in an iron grip.

So, he said, how much?

My eyebrow rose in question.

Come on now, name your price missy.

I blinked, and watched in confusion as the old man turned and spit something black and gooey onto the floor.

How much, here he nodded his head toward Pip while raising his eyebrow, for the boy?

I’m sorry, I said finally. What are you trying to say?

Are you deaf or just stupid? He nearly deafened me. I said, how much do you want for the boy?

I looked at Pip as sudden and shocking understanding came to me. This old man was proposing to buy my little brother. In my shock I wondered for a moment what my little brother could be worth. Then thankfully, I came to my senses.

Are you insane? I said. You can’t just buy someone. Then after a short pause, I reached forward, grabbed Pip by the arm and pulled.

What followed was a truly bizarre game of tug of war. The old man shifted his grip from Pip’s shoulder to his arm and tugged just as fiercely as I had. For a skinny guy he was unusually strong.

My brother lurched back and forth between us, grunting occasionally as our idiotic game continued on for several seconds. I started to feel really stupid, but all reason had left me, and I was going to win, even if my brother’s arm was torn off his body.

The old man surprised me by letting go so suddenly that Pip and I fell back in a heap on the floor. I instantly struggled to free myself while sputtering some of my favorite curses. Then as I watched in horror the old man grabbed a giant lever next to him, and yanked it down. When the lever clicked in place the exit door behind us slammed shut with a head jarring clang.

Finally extricating myself from Pip I ran for the door. Instead of a door handle I found a wheel. It did not budge. Oh, this was so not good.

Pilot, the goddess’s voice shouted from another compartment. As you well know the dimensional target must be locked in before the tunnel ends.

The old man jumped in surprise with something like panic rearranging his features. He turned, flew over Pip’s splayed limbs, and disappeared. I decided I had not really tried my hardest at opening the door.

Knuckles white, I willed extra strength into my arms, and pointlessly continued trying to turn a wheel I was beginning to think was not meant to turn.

The breath I had been holding came out in a great gust when I felt Pip’s small hand touch my arm.

The door is hermetically sealed. It’s no use Piper. He said gently.

Pip, I said dropping my hands. What’s happening?

I’m not sure, but I think we’ve just been kidnapped. He said

A rumble reverberated through the engine, and then it started to move.

2

When our bad day began

Problem one? I am obviously not much of a thinker. I was a city girl. What did I know about finding my way in the forest? It is not as if they taught that kind of thing in school.

I had been walking through this blasted swampy forest for about half an hour, and with my pace I guessed I had crossed at least a mile of ground, maybe more. That was a long way in the woods, and I knew I had not exactly made a straight line. The trail I had started out on had meandered all over the place and I had no idea when I had even left it. I was also finding it hard to concentrate because my clothing was busy sticking to every inch of my damp skin.

This was just great I thought. How could my life get any worse? I know I could get lost in a giant freaking forest in the middle of a southern hell somewhere in Georgia. I turned to my right and kicked the nearest tree. I know, it was not a nice thing to do, and I did pay for