Chuck Vs. The Omni
Chapter 11: Robots and regrets
Jeffrey feared what lay beyond the blue door, but Casey stormed right through without a second thought. The sector was as big as the first with even wider landings and more steel trappings criss-crossing from the zeppelin's skin.
"We're close to the interior rooms, the lighting's changed…heh…nice Tiffany lamps, but I want to get to that cabin!" Casey snarled.
The resonating hum of the engine and propellers abruptly cut off and startled Jeffrey. He ran to Casey and clutched his arm.
"What was that? What's going on?"
Casey shrugged him off, still peeved from his insult. "Nothing. It's probably just shifting gears or something, relax."
Jeffrey backed away. The hairs on his neck tingled and he eyed four enormous steel doors outlined with brass rivets.
"I don't like this! I think something's wrong, we should get out of here, Casey."
"What do you think I'm trying to do? I have to figure out the next exit."
Jeffrey pointed across the landing at the smallest red door. "It's probably that one, the one that… says…exit." He faltered under Casey's angry glare.
"Thank you, genius! I don't know where I'd be without you!"
Jeffrey resisted the temptation to slug him; he would lose that battle quick. But his sharp tongue won over.
"You'd probably be frozen dead in old New York…or zapped down by one of those stupid robots! That's where! You wouldn't have a clue about any of this if I wasn't here. You better be nice to me, or else I'll…"
Casey drew up his hands in mock fright. "Or else what? You'll give me the evil eye and and turn me into a Jack-in-the-box? Listen Jeffrey, I'm tired of squabbling, keep your mouth shut and follow my lead and I'll get us out of here in one piece."
Jeffrey backed against one of the brass doors. "Me, keep my mouth shut? You're just as bad! Always complaining and grunting and grumbling! I've got a migraine! I pity your kids!"
Casey slammed the railing but wouldn't face him. "I don't have kids and if they were anything like you…" Casey held off from saying he'd kill himself. That was taking the matter of a precocious child due for a spanking much too far.
"…let's just say my kids would respect me."
"I want to respect you! But you make it hard. It's better for any kid you're not a father. I feel bad for anyone that has to deal with you all the time! I wonder how mean you are to Chuck and Sarah. It's probably a vacation for them to be away from you!"
Casey's nostrils flared and he was shocked as tears stung his eyes. He wasn't going to take anymore lip from the runt. Casey shook Jeffrey's shoulders.
"Are you finished? If you're trying to hurt me, it isn't working, so can it!"
"Can it? That's my line!"
Casey looked at him confused. "Your line? What are you talking about? Arrhh, forget it! Get away from that door. I'm leaving whether you come or not."
"You can't leave! Remember, I have the..." Jeffrey felt by his belt loop and gasped. "How did you…?"
Casey held up the omni and clipped it to his pants. He grinned smugly. "In this world you gotta be slick…and you gotta be quick. Besides, we won't get far, this omni is fizzing out. But either way, now I have it and if you want it back you follow me!"
Casey stalked down the landing. Jeffrey sighed and peeled himself off the door. Even though Casey tricked him, he felt a deep sense of victory. Jeffrey noticed Casey's emotional wall crumble, but he also also felt bad for the stressed out Major. He knew he was being just as cruel to him, but that was the only thing Casey seemed to understand – cruelty, brutality, and anger…loads of anger.
Jeffrey remembered his first voyages with Phineas Bogg. Half the time they were at each other's throats, but it was never too serious until Bogg struck a nerve. In a fit of frustration, Bogg accused Jeffrey of killing his own father with his attitude. That prompted a huge display of anger and tears and Bogg apologized profusely. He didn't realize that Jeffrey's parents died in a camper accident. They were literally burned to death inside after it ran off the road and struck trees. Jeffrey witnessed it all and blamed himself because he couldn't get anyone to stop and help. To this day the tragedy haunted him, but Phineas proved to be an emotional support and shoulder to lean on.
"Casey…Casey…wait! Listen, I'm sorry. You're right. I don't want to fight with you…"
Casey turned halfway through the red door. His anger dissipated. Jeffrey's apology went unfinished. The riveted doors screeched and opened from the center. The lamp lights flickered and an alarm filled the zeppelin. Jeffrey didn't know which direction to run. A low thump built up like the leisurely gait of a giant with metal boots.
'Oh my God! They look like robots from my erector set!' Jeffrey thought.
Four, fifteen-foot robots encircled the room. Two moved on wheels, and the others had iron legs. They prepared to make a capture. Their eyes glowed red and the largest raised an arm and thrust its skeletal hand out to grab him.
"Jeffrey! Run! You can make it this way! Come on!" Casey urged him.
It was too late. The robot zoomed in Jeffrey's direction and lifted him high.
"Aughhh! Help me! Casey!" He kicked and thrashed around.
The robot kept Jeffrey suspended. Casey shouted and ran to the robot's legs.
"Let him go, ya tin can!" Casey kicked and punched at it, but he couldn't make a dent except in his own bones. He stopped before he broke a limb.
The robot's eyes burned silver. His fingers opened and he dropped Jeffrey. Casey held out his arms and swayed left to right to make a decent catch. Jeffrey knocked him on the floor. He wouldn't climb off Casey.
"I'm sorry, Casey! Please stay with me!" He begged. He sounded much younger than his twelve years and Casey felt a surge of pity.
"All right, kid, all right! You know I'm not gonna leave you behind…we'll get out of this!" He shouted above the loud buzzing and patted his back.
A sliding compartment on another robot's chest opened and silver netting sprung out and covered them.
"Oww! I can't get it off! Help!" Jeffrey cried.
Casey gripped and pulled at the netting, but only succeeded in cutting his fingers. The robots edged closer.
"INTRUDERS, INTRUDERS, INTRUDERS, INTRUDERS."
They lifted the netting until Jeffrey and Casey bunched inside. A strong tingling sensation coursed through Casey's body. The robots attempted to electrocute them within the metal mesh. The currents flowed gradually. Casey didn't want Jeffrey to absorb the shocks from his body, but they were literally stuck together. The jolts coursed through Jeffrey and his body skipped and jumped with each charge.
"Wh…wh…what's hap…happening!"
"It's electrocution, Jeffrey! They're not gonna kill us! They're just…"
Jeffrey put his face in Casey's chest and clung to him for protection. There was nothing Casey could do, so he held the boy until he saw his eyelids flutter and felt his body go limp.
"Aww No! Dammit!" Casey shouted at the ceiling. "If you're watching, stop it, Julian! You'll kill him!"
Casey was a six foot-four adult trained to withstand shock treatment, but the electric jolts kept striking him and a few minutes later, he blacked out.
~Oo~
Icy water splashed on Casey's face and his eyes flew open. He was trapped in a cage like an animal and Jeffrey wasn't with him. His head throbbed and his body felt cold. Thick chains manacled his hands and ankles.
"Get up!" An arrogant voice demanded. "What's your name? I don't remember you from the Academy or Headquarters."
Casey blinked and adjusted his vision to the muted lighting.
"Where am I?"
"I was expecting another man to be with the boy. Who are you? Where's Phineas Bogg?"
Casey finally saw the man. He scooted close to the bars and partially crossed his legs for more comfort. "Wouldn't you like to know? So you want him too, huh? He's so desirable! I have to learn Bogg's secret. What's your attraction?"
Drake rattled the cage. "I asked you a question! The boy won't tell me! He's my pawn…however you…"
"Me, what? Who the hell are you? Wait, let me guess…you're Drake! The man with no first name…or is it last name? The man who frolics through time and and screws things up! Where's Jeffrey Jones?"
"Ahh, so he's told you about me. Jeffrey is being prepared for the Liberty inauguration. You see, Mr. Casey…I have no qualms with you, it's Bogg and the boy I'm after. Julian on the other hand…well...he has his own vendetta against the Casey clan."
Drake opened the bars and hoisted the weakened Casey to his feet.
"I can't figure you out yet…but no matter. As soon as I deal with the boy, Wilhelm will clue me in on how to deal with the Caseys!"
Drake shoved him down a hallway carpeted in plush, burgundy velvet. Casey walked stiffly; he couldn't make an attack with his shackled limbs. Drake halted by a mahogany door and pushed it open.
"After you, Mr. Casey."
Casey stumbled into the cabin and took in the layout and the navigational system in the far left. A brass robot with a Captain's hat stood at the helm bobbing side to side in full control of the aircraft. Wilhelm Julian calmly sipped red wine and was seated in a brown armchair. He stood up and grinned.
"So glad you can join us, Matthew! How is the darling Colleen?"
Casey's muscles felt like gelatin, but he fought the wooziness. He cracked a smile at the antiques madman.
"Maybe you need new spectacles, Julian. I'm not Matthew!"
Julian raised his electric lamp lights higher and studied Casey. "He's right! Matthew is a young buck in his twenties. But…you must be a Casey! It's what the boy called you! You…you look just like him…it's remarkable!"
"What can I say? I have strong genes. Now where is Jeffrey?" Casey growled. His strength returned as his temper flared.
Wilhelm danced around and clapped excited. "Ahh, Jeffrey! Mr. Drake came up with an ingenious idea! It's stupendous!"
Julian ran near the helm and untied a set of dark drapes. They covered an enormous curved window with a panoramic view of the land. Manhattan came in clear view. The robot turned the Zepplin in the direction of the Statue of Liberty.
"Captain Goodbody, our Mr. Casey would like to see young Jeffrey, and I believe it's time to release the weapon." Julian ordered.
"Yes, Master Julian."
"What weapon?" It dawned on Casey. "You…you're the one who destroyed the statue! Of course."
The robot pulled a gilded lever near the ship's wheel. Casey watched apprehensive as a compartment attached to the outside base of the cabin opened. A giant copper structure in the shape of a ship's wheel gradually rose. The center of the wheel opened and a cylinder component ejected. Jeffrey was strapped to the front of the cylinder.
Casey banged the glass. "You bastards! You're gonna shoot that laser with a kid on it! I won't let you!"
Casey lunged at Julian and knocked him down. Julian got in a few punches, but Casey socked his jaw. He poised to fully beat on him when a sharp jolt pierced his side. Drake stepped back and blew smoke off his weapon. Casey rolled off Julian and clutched his middle.
"Arghh! A taser? Let Jeffrey go! Put me on there!"
"Not when I can finally have my revenge without Bogg to stop me!" Drake seethed.
"He may not be here, but I am!"
Casey found his footing and rushed toward Drake, but the chains slowed him down. Drake pushed a button on his taser and a red bolt shot out at Casey's chest and slammed him onto the floor. Casey crawled to the window and caught Jeffrey's gaze. Keeping his face turned from the blustery winds, tears streamed down the boy's cheeks and he jostled his binds in a desperate request for help. Casey tapped the glass and sank down with his head in his arms. His heart pounded.
"I'm so sorry, kid. I am worthless…" He mumbled in profound regret as pains radiated through his body. He'd failed everyone.
Julian bounded over and kicked him onto his side. He gripped his swollen jaw. "You keep trying to be the hero, Casey, and you'll be fried before the boy is!"
The clock struck six-forty five pm. Julian rushed to the helm delighted and kissed Captain Goodbody's head.
"Wonderful! In fifteen minutes, I will conquer Manhattan…and no one will stop me!"