Junkyard raiders, p.8
Junkyard Raiders, page 8
part #5 of Junkyard Pirate Series
“Yes. Next to Darnell are auxiliary panels that will work with the loader’s charging circuits. I believe the unit you found had no power because its panels were covered with debris,” Beverly said. “This type of charging is slow, but with the auxiliary panels, you should be able to achieve thirty minutes of run time for every twelve hours of charge.”
“Look for a maintenance section in that manual,” AJ said. “Electric motors should be simpler than the old diesels. If it’s using hydraulics, we’ll want to make sure the hoses and fittings are in good shape.”
“I’ve located the service section,” Beverly said. “I’m highlighting the tools and materials you’ll need. We appear to have everything necessary to perform this maintenance.”
“Finally, something goes our way,” AJ said.
“Hey, AJ,” Darnell called from a larger building sitting opposite of the building AJ was in. “Come over here.”
AJ joined his friend and peered into the double-garage-sized building. “Oh, now that’s something.”
“Petey says it’s a power generator.” Darnell tipped his head toward the machinery that ran along the walls of the twenty-by-twenty-foot building. “Someone turned it off. Think it could be that simple?” Darnell started reaching for a series of switches only to have AJ grab his wrist.
“We should warn the girls first,” AJ said. “Doc was going to look at that cleaner. It wouldn’t be good if she had her hands in it when this thing fires up.”
“Safety first,” Darnell said. “Who knew you had it in you.”
“Machinery and war are the only two things I’ve got any brains for,” AJ said. “Doc, Lisa, we might have a way to turn the power on. Are you ready for us to give it a try?”
“We’re all in the garden, AJ,” Lisa answered. “Knock yourself out.”
Darnell flipped switches and then pulled on a large rocker. In turn, the four modules that made up the generator came to life. A few seconds later, two modules made a fizzing sound and powered off. The universal smell of burned electronics pervaded the generator room and a small cloud of black smoke floated near the ceiling.
“Not ideal,” AJ said. “Hopefully, that’s enough to run the house.”
“It is more than enough,” Beverly said. “This power generation station is enough to power a small village.”
“We have lights and running water, boys,” Lisa said, her voice filled with excitement. “There is a little sediment in the water, but that should run clear if we let it.”
“There is a remote charging pedestal next to the scrap heap,” Beverly said. “It will not be difficult to charge the loader once you have performed the necessary maintenance.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere,” AJ said, walking back to the storage shed, where he resumed picking up the items identified by Beverly as required for the maintenance task.
“Darnell, if you have a moment, would you stop by the main house?” Lisa asked.
“Sure can. Do you mind if I help move some tools with AJ first?”
“That’s fine.”
Together, the two men ferried tools and supplies two hundred yards to where the loader sat. The pedestal BB mentioned had been knocked over and was covered by sheet metal bent by the wind, but AJ found it was still operational.
“Funny how similar this is to that old Cat back home,” AJ said, bearing down on a massive bolt that seemed impossibly stuck.
“The physics of threaded screws, wheels, levers and the like are all discoveries made by species as they evolve,” Beverly said. “You will continue to find commonalities if you seek them out, especially with larger items that come under heavy loads.”
“I’m gonna miss the sound of a diesel engine,” he said. “Electric motors might be efficient, but they lack soul.”
“That you are poetic regarding machinery is something of a surprise,” Beverly said. “Are they not simply a tool to achieve a purpose?”
He pushed against a surprisingly light track wider than his shoulders. The track system had well-placed levers that allowed for relatively easy maintenance access. Since the entire machine had been built with an eye toward long-term use, AJ wrapped up the maintenance tasks only a few hours later.
When he looked up, he found Jayne sitting on a pile of junk, holding a plate and a large glass of what he hoped was water. “Is that for me? I was planning to come back fairly soon.”
“It’s lunch and you’ve been out here for five hours. I might have been worried if Beverly hadn’t kept us updated,” Jayne said, holding the water out to him.
“Does it taste funny?” he asked, too thirsty to be overly picky.
“It has manganese in it,” she said.
“That’s interesting,” AJ said. “I thought this system was low on metals. We had manganese in our well back home. Hard on clothing, but a good filter should strain it out. It’s a big molecule.”
Jayne smiled. “Darnell found the filtration unit. He took the old filter out – it was in bad shape. We’re getting straight mountain water for now. Nit says the manganese is not a problem.”
“We’ll have to check out that nearby village. They might have filter media. I’m starting to find some other things I need,” he said, after taking a long drink. “It tastes good to me.”
“Tog is back,” she said, offering the plate to AJ and watching his face for a reaction.
“What does he want?”
“He was hungry and had torn open one of his wounds.”
“I’m sensing a pattern here,” AJ said. “What’d you do?”
“He’s resting out next to the wall,” Jayne said. “He’s afraid you’ll kill him.”
“Me?” AJ asked. “I’ve been working on machines all morning.”
“You shot him down when they attacked,” she said. “You left an impression. I think it might be some sort of instinct where they follow the strongest leader. Since you ran off the other Chordatile, you’re kind of the top dog now.”
“Top rhino, you mean? This tastes like cardboard,” he said, setting down the nutrient bar.
“Really? Mine had a slight berry flavor to it.”
“No, it didn’t,” AJ said, mock annoyance in his voice.
“The things we tell ourselves,” Jayne said. “I want you to make nice with Tog. You’ll invite him to stay with us, but not in the house. We’ll make a place where he can bed down.”
“You’re serious?”
“He needs a safe place to sleep,” Jayne said. “We’re not turning him away. If he wants to leave, I’m okay with that, but you’re not running him off.”
“He gets one strike,” AJ said. “He’s too strong and could hurt someone. I won’t go easy on him.”
“I can live with that.”
“You say that now.”
“I do.”
“Well, hang on, I was just about to fire up my new loader.”
“What do you need it for?” she asked.
“Ye of little faith.” AJ slid into the oversized seat designed for a seven-foot-tall Vred instead of a six-foot-two-inch human and flipped a switch. The previous screeching had disappeared and the machine moved quietly across the rocky soil, the only noise that of clanking treads and gears pushing against each other.
“It sure sounds better,” Jayne said, walking along next to him.
“Want a ride? Plenty of room for two,”
“Where?”
“Sit behind me. I slide back in the seat too far as it is.”
“Maybe I’d rather walk.”
“Oh, come on. I won’t make it weird.”
Jayne grinned and stepped onto the tall tread and into the cab, where she slid in behind AJ. “You’re stinky,” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Now we’re both going to need a shower.”
“I’d be in for that.”
Jayne slapped his back. Together they rode past the main house and then to where Jayne had left Tog. The heavy Chordatile paced anxiously as they approached and AJ turned the machine off when they were twenty feet away.
Tog lowered his head as AJ approached on foot. “No hurt,” he said.
“Tog, I’ll say this once. If Tog hurts my people, I’ll make Tog leave. Tog, listen to Doc. This woman is Doc.”
“No hurt.”
“That’s frustrating,” AJ said. “Is he agreeing with me or telling me something?”
“He might not distinguish the ideas much,” Jayne said. “That you’re here and not trying to hurt him is probably as much as he needs.”
“Tog, down on all fours,” AJ said, walking away from Jayne.
“AJ, be careful. If you frighten him, he could become unpredictable.”
“Right, that’d be a change,” AJ said sarcastically and immediately regretted it. “Tog, down!” he demanded, louder as he approached.
Tog paced back and forth, darting small glances at Jayne and then to the tall rock fence.
“Tog, submit. Down!”
“No hurt,” Tog said, lowering to all fours, although with trembling in his arms, AJ imagined he could bolt at any second.
When AJ placed a hand on Tog’s shoulder, the poor Chordatile jerked away like he’d been stung by the world’s largest wasp. AJ didn’t flinch but stepped forward to repeat the gesture. “You’re gonna earn your keep here, rhino boy,” AJ said, keeping his voice low. “You endanger my people and I’ll end you. Do you understand?”
“Tog okay.”
AJ wanted to slap his forehead with his hand. It was like talking to a two-year-old.
“He’s still injured,” Jayne said. “His rate of healing is remarkable, but he should rest for at least another week.”
“I saw a water trough in one of the sheds. Can he walk?” AJ asked.
“Yes, but no strenuous activity.”
“How strenuous?” AJ asked. “He weighs nine hundred pounds. Just moving is probably strenuous at some level.”
“No lifting heavy objects.” Jayne saw that AJ wanted that further defined and cut in before he could ask. “Nothing over eighty pounds.”
“That works,” AJ said. “Thanks for lunch. I’ll get Tog hooked up with some water if I can find an outside hydrant somewhere.”
“There is one between the main house and the shed you first entered. Lisa and Purba were using a hose to water their new garden.”
“Lisa’s good with kids,” AJ said.
“She’s certainly fond of Purba,” Jayne said. “Does it bother you that I’m not more maternal?”
AJ chuckled, cutting his eyes to Tog. “You’re plenty maternal. You just need your babies to be big and scary.”
“I suppose that’s one way to look at it,” Jayne chuckled. “I’m going to ask Greybeard and Seamus to see about getting that door open on the lower level. Come find me if you get done before I do.”
“Sure, do you think you’ll need tools?”
“We’re hoping it’s electronic and Seamus can break the cipher.”
AJ nodded. “Follow along, Tog.”
“Bosk ride,” Tog said. “Tog fast.”
“I’m not keen to have you ride him,” Jayne said.
“When in Rome, Doc,” AJ said, planting a hand on Tog’s side and jumping up, landing behind Tog’s flexible shoulder plates. “Over that way,” AJ said, pointing.
He quickly learned that a Chordatile’s gait was anything but even and after a few minutes of being roughly jostled, he elected to jump off.
“Tog bad.” The Chordatile said, approaching AJ.
“Not bad, just a little too rough for riding,” AJ said. “Maybe that’s something we could work on.”
“Bosk.”
“Yes?”
Tog didn’t answer other than to stare at AJ’s midsection, careful to keep his eyes downcast. AJ shrugged and led him to the junk pile, where he found the item he felt would work well as a water trough. There were holes in the side that wouldn’t allow it to hold water above a foot, but AJ had patching material back in Big Max that would fit the bill.
“Can you carry this?” AJ asked, pulling at the metal trough.
“Tog strong,” Tog said, easily lifting the hundred-pound plastic tank.
“So I see,” AJ said.
When they got back to the area Jayne had set aside for Tog, AJ got onto the loader. He used the flexible bucket and scraped an area flat for the trough.
“Are you thirsty?” AJ asked. “I bet you guys have figured out a way to go for a while without water.”
Tog looked at him with confusion evident on his face. “Tog drink.”
Suspecting the women hadn’t found a hose that would reach several hundred feet, AJ drove the loader back to the house and angled the bucket so it would hold water. Commandeering the hose, he filled the bucket and drove back to the trough, Tog following obediently behind him. It was only after AJ dumped the bucket’s contents that Tog seemed to understand the purpose of their exercise. He cautiously leaned in to drink.
“We’ll get a better solution for this in the future,” AJ said. “Tog rest. Make noise if trouble comes.”
“Tog rest.”
“Fair enough.”
AJ drove the loader up to the power shed and used a cable in one of the loader’s compartments to connect to the newly functioning power circuit. Satisfied that he’d resolved enough issues, he walked back to the main house. He was a little surprised to find it empty, so he looked out the back door. No one. Each of the rooms was empty and he assumed the group had gone to Big Max for a load of supplies. A faint noise echoed from the lower level. His curiosity was piqued. It was time to explore and he was just the man to do it.
The space below looked much like the top level, other than there was no natural light. With the power on, the hallway and several feet into each room were illuminated. Passing rooms filled with dusty boxes, AJ finally arrived at a large blue door that stood open.
“Hey, are you guys down here?” he called, looking down a long stairwell that led even deeper into the ground.
Greybeard appeared on the stairs and gave a short bark. AJ took that to mean his friends were also below. He trotted down the stairs and let out a small gasp. Cut from the rock of the mountain, Kasic had constructed a massive, underground laboratory. In the center sat a huge table some fifteen feet wide and sixty feet long. Taking up nearly the entire top of the table were the remains of a three-legged Lago.
Jayne caught AJ’s eye as he walked the length of the table. She had something to say as she hurried over to him. “Lago, I presume?” he asked.
She nodded, stress evident on her face. “AJ, we found Kasic.”
EIGHT
BASEMENT BOOGIEMAN
The lab was something straight out of a 1950’s horror movie. Large vats lined the back wall, bolted in place above a long counter. The vats were nearly empty, but a few still held small amounts of a thick, murky-green solution. Lines had been run between the tanks and over to the work surfaces in a confusing array that would have made even the most insane mad scientist proud. Large beakers with flaking remnants of long-ago evaporated solutions were strewn about haphazardly. At one end of the long counter, a humanoid form was hunched forward, mummified in place, hands still wrapped around a simple manual valve.
The most horrifying aspect of the scene, however, was the thumb-sized tendril – very much resembling a tree root – running along the floor between the Lago’s corpse and Kasic. The root thinned at the point of contact with Kasic’s body and there remained evidence of tiny root-like fibers merging into the dead scientist’s leg, all the way up to his groin.
“That’s not creepy,” AJ said quietly, taking in the scene.
“Seamus is working on getting us into Kasic’s system,” Jayne said.
“Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea?” AJ asked. “It looks like that thing ate Kasic and he didn’t even budge.”
“That’s why we need his research,” Jayne said. “We need to figure out how this happened. Do you know what this means, AJ?”
“That we have a boogieman living in our basement?” AJ asked. “One that doesn’t have to move to send killer roots into our sleeping bodies?”
“Hey, I think I figured out what all that extra power was used for,” Darnell called, cutting off Jayne’s response. “I’ll give you a hint. It’s not extra.”
“What do you have, Big D?” AJ asked. Taking advantage of the break in the conversation, Jayne hurried back to the array of vid screens where Greybeard had taken up residence.
Darnell pulled open a tall panel. “Tell me what you think all this is about.” As he did, Beverly popped into existence wearing a bright yellow safety vest and hardhat over dark brown coveralls. A logo on the front of her vest read – Beltigersk Power Company.
“Cute,” AJ said, smirking at her display.
“I thought you’d like it.”
“That’s a lot of power,” AJ said. He was already familiar with Vred power systems from his work on Big Max and other alien systems. With Beverly’s help, he traced the main flow of power. He had to turn as fat cables ran from the terminal and up the walls, arcing, so they formed a grid over the large room. “Do you suppose those cables run underneath, too?”
“You can see better over here,” Darnell said, kneeling next to a grate he’d pulled off the floor and rested against the wall. AJ joined him and found that the cables did run underneath the room.
“Do you recognize the design, BB?” AJ asked.
Beverly looked at Darnell and nodded. He took the opportunity and explained. “The whole room is a big old gravity generator.”
“With those lines? That’s crazy,” AJ said.
“Petey calculates at full power it could generate twenty-thousand PSI. For reference, that’s thirty percent more pressure than being at the bottom of the Marianas Trench.”
“We generally think of gravity generators in g-force,” AJ said. “Are you using PSI for a reason? It’s all related. Are you trying to tell me something?”
“You just made Petey smile. He was hoping you’d catch that,” Darnell said. “The system is configurable to the point where Kasic could use it to restrain the Lago with precision. For example, he could pin down all but say the end of the Lago’s arm or something like that.”
