Power Vacuum

By Deidre J Owen

The persistently mischievous Zenicon Zilch is at it again, wreaking havoc on the city and tormenting the daring foursome who dog his every step. But when a bizarre mishap throws off the balance of power, the well-intentioned heroes are thrown for a loop. What is that scheming fiend up to now? As Ryan and her team strive to unveil Zenicon's villainous plans, their efforts may be causing more problems than they solve!

"Power Vacuum" by Deidre J Owen is a humor adventure novella published by Mannison Press, LLC.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mannison Press, LLC
• Release date: Nov 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005973292

Deidre J Owen

Deidre J Owen was born in Lexington, Kentucky, but aside from a stint in the Canadian Maritimes she has spent a majority of her time in the Tampa Bay area in Florida. A versatile writer, Deidre has taken joy in a variety of genres including science fiction, weird fiction, speculative fiction, horror, humor, children's books, and Christian themes. She has a published children's picture book series called "The Heaven Zoo" as well as a number of short stories, novelettes, and novellas.In 2019, she partnered with editor and fellow indie author Ronald Linson to establish independent publishing house Mannison Press. Specializing in short-form fiction, Mannison Press publishes in a wide variety of genres of varying lengths, including flash fiction, short stories, novelettes, and novellas.Although formerly a certified veterinary technician by trade (with a quirky history of random interests), Deidre is currently loving life with her husband in Lithia, Florida, as a writer, publisher, and work-from-home mother to the couple’s young daughter.

Book preview

Power Vacuum

by Deidre J Owen

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2022 Deidre J Owen

Published by Mannison Press, LLC at Smashwords

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

For all those who wish for life to be a little more interesting…

or, at least, un-boring.

Contents

Chapter 1 – Whoop.

Chapter 2 – Please Don't Eat the Canapés

Chapter 3 – He Knew We Knew He Knew We Knew

Chapter 4 – Stupid Pickles

Chapter 5 – Operation Goon Recon

Chapter 6 – Introducing The Un-Boring Mr. Zilch

Chapter 7 – Such a Nice Cake, Too

Chapter 8 – Something Needs To Be Done

Chapter 9 – The Curtain Call

About the Author

Also by Deidre J Owen

Chapter 1

Whoop.

Slowly.

Slowly.

Clunk.

Shit, Ryan hissed, swiping the perspiration off her upper lip.

The others groaned, their agitated whispers overlapping.

This won't work if you can't keep it stable.

Why don't we try the other door?

They are going to hear us.

Ryan rose to her feet and squared off with the team. Look, I'll get it. Whittaker's contraption here is just temperamental. She turned the device over in her hands, appreciating the ingenuity behind its design. It needs a delicate touch.

"Well, Zenicon isn't going to be delicate with us if we get caught knocking on the door, said Cora, folding her arms across her slender frame. And it's not going to take them long to realize surveillance is down on this side of the warehouse."

Remember, just keep the needle between 1.8 and 1.9, Whittaker prompted. That way the vibrations—

The vibrations won't be audible, I remember, Ryan finished. And don't press too hard or you get the clunk.

Right. Whittaker gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

As Ryan re-engaged the device, the others became statues, watching keenly as a large section of the steel door took on a waxy appearance and began to warp. Whittaker stood poised nearby with two electrodes at the ready.

All right, we're melded and holding, Ryan said.

Whittaker edged in beside her. Keep it steady, he said. I'm inserting the pulverizing electrodes now. He slid the two metal prongs smoothly into the warped steel then slowly reached for the toggle on a device strapped to his waist. And here comes the juice.

I love this part. Mace grinned down at Cora and elbowed her in the shoulder, upsetting her balance. Oops, sorry. He grabbed her by the offended shoulder to re-stabilize her.

Cora grinned back at him, though. Yeah, I do, too.

Whittaker flicked the toggle and electricity coursed into the softened steel. Tiny fissures rapidly spiderwebbed outward from the two electrodes, and with a soft poof the entire section of affected metal turned into a fine powder and sifted down to the floor.

And we're through, stated Ryan, quickly stowing the device in her pack and moving out of the way. Okay, big guy, you're up.

Mace adjusted his glasses and swung his adapted bolt cutters through the hole in the door. With barely a grimace, he popped through the series of padlocks securing the door from the opposite side, careful to catch and collect the pieces before they clattered to the floor.

Six locks, as always, he reported.

Ryan scoffed. So predictable. And the usual tripwire?

Already disabled, said Mace. He twirled his bolt cutters with a flourish and slid them back into his belt.

Good work. Everybody remember the plan once we get inside, right?

The other three nodded.

"Quick recap: no casualties. Not us, not them, not others. And tranqs are preferred to beaning people, Mace."

The strongman smiled with sheepish acquiescence.

Now, Ryan said with a smirk, running a hand through her electric-blue hair, let's go wreak some havoc.

Nimble with experience, they crept inside the old industrial warehouse and split up. Ryan and Whittaker went to work setting strategically-placed charges around the perimeter of the moldering building, intent upon making the space unusable as a hideout without completely destroying the structure. Meanwhile, Mace and Cora made a beeline for the smaller interior storerooms with plans to sabotage any amassed gear and supplies.

The two teams made quick work of their preventative vandalism and within a matter of minutes had reconvened in the heart of the eerily quiet hideout.

Hey, did you guys see any of Zenicon's goons? asked Ryan, lightly winded.

Cora shook her head. Not a one. Didn't have to use a single tranq.

And I didn't have to not punch people, said Mace proudly. How 'bout you?

Ryan and Whittaker exchanged uneasy glances.

Uh, no. Us either. Whittaker shifted his weight. You don't think…?

The foursome stiffened and cast apprehensive eyes about the cavernous interior. Save for a rhythmic drip from a rusted-out hole in the tin roof, it felt suspiciously still. A light flutter in the rafters drew their attention as a nesting pigeon took flight and vanished out the hole in the ceiling.

Now on high alert, Ryan began scanning the area below the bird’s nest for signs of a disturbance. Her keen eyes probed the shadows, assigning their blocky shapes to objects nearby. Her breath caught in her throat, however, when her eyes alit upon an unfortunately distinctive shadow cast upon the side of a crate: a human hand.

The fingers twitched.

Crap! We've been set up! Ryan grabbed the pack on Whittaker's back and shoved him toward the exit, then grabbed Cora by the wrist and slung her forward. With the others set in motion, Ryan skipped backward defensively behind her fleeing team, then spun around and took off after them.

Before they could clear the area, though, a steel I-beam slammed down onto the concrete floor, blocking their path, followed by the two enormous goons who had pushed it over. Several more henchmen emerged from the shadows, flanking the team and herding them backward. With a loud pop, light flooded the interior of the decrepit building. A cackling laugh bounced menacingly off the broad expanse of crumbling brick and naked sheet metal.

You're getting sloppy, Ryan, a sing-song voice taunted. I expected more from you and your little band of do-gooders.

Show yourself, prick, Ryan shouted. She scanned the room with a tranquilizer gun at the ready, her toned arms and shoulders flexing with anticipation.

"Tsk-tsk-tsk. Such language. Very unladylike."

No one's ever accused me of being ladylike before, she spat back. I'm insulted.

Oh, we both know you're no lady, the voice crooned. "But she is."

Another loud pop illuminated a catwalk far overhead from which dangled a dainty redhead, wound in chains.

The team gasped.

Don't worry, Dr. Bellerose, we're coming for you, Ryan hollered upward, feigning confidence. Are you okay?

Yes, I'm fine, she called down, annoyance permeating the response. Then, muttering mostly to herself, Can't believe we're doing this again. So stupid.

Why is it always Dr. Bellerose? Cora asked no one in particular.

Maybe Zenicon finally had his goons spayed and neutered, Mace replied under his breath. The two of them snickered into their fists.

Sam and Nadir were probably due for their rabies shots, Whittaker added. This made Cora snort and set the three of them into a fit of furtive giggles.

Seriously, you guys? Ryan said over her shoulder. The others cleared their throats, murmuring half-apologies.

Oh, you laugh now, came the disembodied voice. But you won't be laughing this weekend when I crash the mayor's fundraiser.

Look, this has nothing to do with Dr. Bellerose. Just let her go and we'll come to a compromise, Ryan offered.

Let her go? taunted the voice. You mean…like this?

There was a clinking of chains followed by a sharp squeal as the dangling Dr. Bellerose suddenly dropped several feet before snapping to a halt again, still dangerously high in the air.

"Oof! Hey! shouted the captive angrily. That hurt. Why so high up this time?"

Mischievous laughter again filled the space, punctuated by sharp footsteps. A dark figure appeared