“Noooooo!”
Pendle screamed, but she was helpless to stop Tesla and Faraday firing at the Steampunk Pirates. The sound and smell of the shots filled the huge room then silence followed, as the smoke drifted from the gun barrels. When the air cleared, Pendle saw that the Steampunk Pirates were no longer hanging from the ceiling. She looked down to see them standing with their handcuffs at their feet.
“Picked the locks!” squawked Twitter. “Picked the locks!”
“Good work, Twitter,” said Captain Clockheart, brushing himself down.
“Aye, thanks,” said Gadge.
“That was too close for comfort!” said Lexi.
“Too close for comfort.” Twitter flew around in a circle then nose-dived to the ground.
“Twitter!” Pendle ran to catch the parrot and saw that, although the soldiers had missed the pirates, two stray bullets had left gaping holes in Twitter’s wings. “You’ll pay for this, Swift.”
“No, I won’t. You will. Tesla and Faraday, what are you waiting for?”
“WE WILL OBEY.” Tesla and Faraday extended their swords then swished them through the air in a showy demonstration of their skills.
“Argh, it’ll take more than this pair of overgrown pencil sharpeners to stop us.”
Captain Clockheart drew his cutlass while Gadge selected a jagged blade with a curved edge.
“Surely we can resolve this without resorting to violence,” said Lexi nervously.
“Where would the fun be in that?” asked Captain Clockheart.
“Besides, they shot our parrot,” said Gadge.
“Attack them!” cried Mr Swift.
“WE WILL OBEY,” said the soldiers.
Faraday lunged. Gadge dodged and retaliated, but when his blade connected with his opponent’s, it snapped in two. Gadge quickly selected another sword attachment. He swung at Faraday’s legs and hit his target, but his opponent remained on his feet, unfazed by the attack.
“You see, Faraday and Tesla were specially designed for warfare … unlike you servants,” said Mr Swift.
“He’s right, Captain,” said Lexi, cowering in a corner. “We were not designed to fight.”
Captain Clockheart ducked to avoid another attack from Tesla then elbowed him in the stomach. He caught the Electrical Soldier off guard and forced him to step back. “That may be, but we chose to fight.”
“Och, exactly,” said Gadge. “We’ve had to adapt.”
“To adapt, to change … to evolve.” Lexi’s word-wheel spun around.
Gadge selected a mini-cannon and fired right into Faraday’s chest. Although the cannonball bounced off, it kept Faraday staggering back long enough for Clockheart to stick his leg out and trip him up. Faraday stumbled and collided with Tesla.
“You think you’re so clever, but don’t forget – I created you,” said Mr Swift. “Nothing you can do will surprise me. Now, Tesla and Faraday, stop toying with them. Shut down these faulty machines.”
“WE WILL OBEY.”
This time, both soldiers swung their swords with such determination and power that sparks flew. They clashed with Captain Clockheart and Gadge, and drove them into the corner of the workshop.
“Lexi, you have to help them!” said Pendle.
“Oh, very well,” said Lexi. “For the Leaky Battery!” He charged forward with his sword raised high but Tesla reached out his arm and knocked him off his feet. “I feel dizzy … sick … embarrassed…” said Lexi.
“This isn’t fair!” shouted Pendle.
“What has fair got to do with anything?” replied Mr Swift.
The soldiers stood with all three pirates before them. They raised their blades in preparation for the final blow.
“Even if you destroy us, Swift,” said Captain Clockheart, “there is a ship full of pirates out there and every last one will want their revenge. These two walking lamp posts won’t be able to protect you when the rest of our crew come for you.”
Mr Swift looked at Clockheart. “You are quite right, of course. Luckily there are plenty more where these came from.” He pulled a lever and a door opened in each of the chimneys. From every one emerged a soldier.
Sixteen identical Electrical Soldiers stood to attention.
“Now, my electrical army, finish this!” said Mr Swift.
“WE WILL OBEY.” The soldiers loaded their barrels and raised their rifles.
“Please don’t shoot! I don’t want to die!” said Lexi nervously.
“You won’t,” said Pendle. “As long as you remember where the door is.”
“Remember where what door is?” said Lexi, confused.
“The one that gets you out.”
Pendle suddenly ran over and flicked the huge light switch, thrusting them into darkness.
“Don’t let them escape!” yelled Mr Swift.
“WE WILL OBEY,” said the roomful of metal men.
However, with no light, the soldiers were unable to see their targets. As they attempted to stop the prisoners from escaping, they crashed into each other. By the time Mr Swift had turned the lights back on, he had several bruises and the Steampunk Pirates had vanished.
“All of you, after them!” he yelled.
“WE WILL OBEY,” responded his Electrical Soldiers. They all walked towards the door at once. Three of them got stuck in the doorframe, blocking the others and leaving Mr Swift trapped inside.
“Stand back, stand back!” he cried.
“WE WILL OBEY,” they said, but this time they tripped over each other in their hurry to get out of his way.
“Right, that’s it, you useless lot,” said Mr Swift. “If you don’t want to find yourselves melted down and turned into spare parts for Mr Stephenson’s rocket, you’ll stop messing about and destroy the Steampunk Pirates.”