“They broke!” General Carr slammed the door open so hard it hit the wall and bounced back against his shoulder. He glared at his bodyguard for not catching it in time. The man stood erect with arm outstretched to stop the door’s rebound again.

The brothers watched the episode with blank expressions, but their eyes gleamed with amusement.

General Carr was too aggravated to notice. He approached Jack with gun drawn. “Dr. Timmons, I warned you.”

Albert stood and moved to his brother’s side. “Wait! First, tell me what broke.”

“The guns jammed.”

“Not my fault. Tim and Scott installed them before I arrived. They are a new design. While assembling the guns, a small twist can throw the mechanisms off. What else?”

Albert could tell the man wanted to shoot someone just to vent his anger. He stood straight with as much dignity as his bare feet and wrinkled clothing would allow. Inching closer to his brother, he stepped in the direct line of Carr’s gun.

The general growled, “Get dressed. Men, bring him to the workroom in ten minutes.”

“Both of us.”

“You demand too much. The captain will stay here.”

“If you want me to fix them, my brother comes too.”

The gun in Carr’s hand shook with frustration. He turned and stomped from the room. As he passed the bodyguard, he said, “Go ahead, bring them both.”

In the workroom, he waved to the guards, signaling to attach Jack in a standing position to an overhead pipe. With his gun drawn, he placed it against his brother’s forehead and said, “There is only one way to deal with insubordination. You understand?”

Albert stood mesmerized by the gun jammed against Jack’s head. He slowly nodded.

“Good. Now, I’ve moved the schedule up. You have only two days instead of this weekend.”

The sound of his gun discharging echoed off the walls.

His brother’s limp body hung by the handcuffs from the overhead pipes. Albert almost collapsed until he noticed the blood on Jack’s leg.

“If no progress is made today, his kneecap is next. And then tomorrow, I start on the other leg.”

All morning as Albert dismantled and then repaired the guns, he gave worried glances to his brother still fastened overhead. Jack jerked awake and tried to stand. He started to rush over to him but was blocked by a guard. After a few minutes, his brother groaned and sagged again.

When their lunch arrived, two men unfastened Jack and let him fall to the floor. The chains on his wrists and ankles were jerked tight and locked onto metal floor brackets. Albert took advantage of the work break and knelt to offer him water.

Jack opened his eyes. “Now that hurt. How is the work progressing?”

“Almost finished. Tonight, they can test the guns. Jack, I’m sorry. Should have backed off. Underestimated his anger issues.”

“Any progress on a plan to get us out of here? Timetable is sped up.”

“I know. Just hope Harris is working on it also.”

A guard approached them. Jack laid back and closed his eyes.

“General Carr said no talking. Get to work.” He shoved Albert toward the machines.

Targets were lined up outside, with the steam cars positioned in front of them.

As a precaution, in case the guards were distracted, they secured Albert to a bar near his brother. He whispered, “You might want to cover your ears.”

Jack, a veteran of multiple combats grimaced at the advice.

Their building shook for almost a half hour as multiple rounds were fired from the guns.

“No shortage of ammo,” Jack said.

Albert nodded in agreement.

The outside door screeched open. Soon the room was filled with steam as each machine rolled in. General Carr appeared from the accompanying fog and marched over to the brothers. “Superb test. All that they said about you is true, Dr. Timmons. I proceed tomorrow as planned.”

“If I may check them, make sure everything is working properly?”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Of course. Tim and Scott, Dr. Timmons requested to check the machines. You will oversee his work.”

Back in their room, Jack whispered, “Get to do anything?”

“Not today. That was done already with the powder and glass tubes I put in the tanks. It creates a gas on contact with water. All that will be needed is the extra heat from the steam to set off an explosion. As the heat and pressure build, plus jolts from the guns firing, that should be enough to break the tubes. Almost happened today, but the machines did not travel far enough. But tomorrow ---,” his voice faded.

Before sunrise, Harris along with another guard shoved the door open. “Put your coats on, we’re going for a ride.”

With hands and ankles chained, they were shoved down the hall. Another guard opened an outside door, and the brothers were pushed toward a wooden wagon.

Tim indicated they were to ride in the back. It only took one guard to lift Albert on, but three guards grunted as they raised Jack. Of course, he did not help, pretending to faint from the pain in his leg. Hoods were tied over their heads while they waited in the cold air.

Boots crunched on the gravel.

A voice called out, “Attention!”

The soldiers stopped talking, and as one, stomped the ground.

General Carr barked an order, “Move out!”

Albert heard the steam engines roll down the ramps to the outside. A buggy whip snapped, and a carriage rolled forward.

From the sounds, Albert surmised the general followed the steam machines with the troops marching behind him. Their wagon at the rear jerked in motion.

The trip seemed to take forever. Every time they hit a bump, he anticipated the machines would explode, but nothing happened. Jack on the other side of the wagon bed groaned. He hoped that was for show and not because the soldiers opened his leg wound.

“Halt! Go into formation!” Carr’s voice was loud enough to be heard over the steam engines.

Albert opened his belt buckle and removed his lock picks. Remembering how he used them in the dark on Captain Napoleon’s ship, he worked the lock until it clicked. Curling into a ball, he freed his ankles.

He untied the hood and peeked out. All attention was on the machines. Sliding over to his brother, Albert unlocked his chains and gently nudged him. “Jack, are you alright?”

“Would be better if one of the guards had not grabbed my leg on the wound. Feeling dizzy.”

The repeating guns started firing rounds.

“Forward, men!”

The machines and men started forward, while Albert’s wagon stayed still.

“Carr must have wanted me nearby to either blame if the machines broke or execute us. We have to get off this wagon. Jack, I’ll try to be easy, but the time is now. He’s firing rounds continuously. The explosions could be any minute. I need to do this first.”

He clicked open his shoe heel and removed the green stone. Biting off the end, Albert chewed the fragment. Almost immediately, he felt the physical changes. His body swelled, hands emitted green smoke, but most important his mind sped up. In quick succession, he assessed their situation, evaluated the different alternatives, and planned their escape.

A massive boom shook the ground, followed by two more. Streaks of fire scattered across the sky. Cries of pain rose from the troops.

Albert carried Jack off the wagon and helped him to stand.

His brother wavered for a few seconds and then gripped the wagon. “Don’t know how you did that, but I can walk from here.”

“General Carr is furious. He said to bring you to him.” Scott approached them with gun drawn. He stared at Albert’s changed form with a confused expression.

“The only place we’re going is home.” A green haze surrounded the brothers. His eyes burned with a fierce glow.

“How did you do it? We watched every adjustment, and at night went over them to look for flaws. But enough of this, the general said to only bring you, not your brother.” He raised his gun and shot Jack.

His brother slowly crumpled to the ground. Another shot rang out. Scott stumbled and fell. A bloody hole formed on his forehead.

Harris knelt and studied Jack’s wound. “Sorry, I assumed what could happen if you sabotaged the machines and kept my team at a distance. The explosions were tremendous. Metal parts flew everywhere. One even hit Carr’s cheek. Took out the first row of soldiers, the rest tried to run. The general’s personal guards with guns drawn drove them back into formation. But I wasn’t expecting Scott to do this.”

“We need to get Jack to a hospital. I will put my brother in the wagon and hold him. You drive.”

“Noticed the green eyes. Did something I hope you don’t later regret.”

“Had to. My brother’s safety was important. He has to survive. After all, Jack is my big brother. I need him to keep me out of trouble.”

Harris whipped the horses to a fast gallop. The wagon rumbled and shook. Albert kept his brother cradled in his arms to soften the ride. A rider approached, and Harris reached for his gun.

“Wait, that’s Tate. He followed me when I was captured. Tate, ride ahead and alert the hospital. My brother has been shot. Let Brickly and my father know.”

The rider swirled his horse around and disappeared in a cloud of dust.

At the hospital entrance, Albert lifted Jack in his arms and jumped down. Marching through the open doors, he was met by the medical staff.

Harris caught up with him and quietly whispered, “Hide your eyes.”

He glanced down at his brother. His voice quivered, “He’s been shot three times. The arm is almost healed, but his leg and now chest are recent.”

“We’ll take him, emergency is ready.” Gentle hands removed him from Albert’s arms.

He stood disconsolate and watched them wheel the gurney down the hall.

His friend gave him a side glance. “I must go and join my team. They have been on standby and watched from a distance. General Carr is in a position to take the president.”

“After my father comes, then I will meet you there.”

Harris frowned and shook his head.

“I still have a few more surprises for the man. I’m coming.”

A noise in the hall alerted him that his father, Brickly, and Henry had arrived. Harris drifted backward and disappeared.

“Jack? Is he alright?” In the light, the Admiral’s face was streaked with tears.

“I don’t know. They took him into surgery. He has a gunshot wound to the chest.”

Henry’s quiet and sturdy voice broke in, “I’ll check.” A few minutes later, he returned. “Bullet went through the shoulder, didn’t hit anything vital. Jack will be fine. He keeps muttering about ‘Albert doing something stupid.’ ”

Brickly studied him. “Don’t suppose you can explain your --?”

Albert cut the man off mid-sentence. “Father, forgive me. Now that I know Jack will be alright, there is some unfinished business. The man responsible for this must pay.”

Harris volunteered, “I will drive you in the carriage.”

“No. Stay with Father.”

Nate walked down the hall and heard the conversation. “I’ll go with him. Brought an extra horse.”

“Let’s go.” Before his father could respond, Albert ran for the door.

Brickly watched them leave. “Nate will take care of your son and make sure he returns.”