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Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
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Last Son Of Earth – Part 2

Last week we started something new on Tuesdays. My first entry into what will be a weekly serial fiction story entitled “Last Son of Earth” released. The response was overwhelming and I’m so excited to see how we can adapt […]
Christopher Miller on Apr 30, 2013
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Last week we started something new on Tuesdays. My first entry into what will be a weekly serial fiction story entitled “Last Son of Earth” released. The response was overwhelming and I’m so excited to see how we can adapt this story together. This week I’ve incorporated a few changes per your discussions last week. Alden (our hero) is sixteen. It’s a dystopian, steampunk world and the governing body has been renamed to CON (instead of ICON) to avoid confusion with another series. I’m thinking CON should stand for Conclave of Nations, but I’m leaving it open for discussion. I hope you enjoy the second installment of our story.

——

Chapter 1: The Gulf

It wasn’t the first time Alden had reached 180 kilometers per hour in the Rumbler, but it was the first time he didn’t plan on slowing down before the gulf. Four man-sized rubber wheels tore through the dust of the flatlands, kicking up a trail of dust behind the dimpled copper chassis of the salvaged vehicle as it rocketed forward. A pair of pressure gauges on the panel were reading well into the red, the glass on his windshield still cracked from a previous crash.

A voice buzzed through the static radio on his control panel.

“Talk to me, Alden,” the voice crackled. “How is she holding up?”

Alden flipped a black dial on the radio and shouted into the speaker over the roar of the machine.

“180 and steady.” The vehicle hit a bump in the ground, jostling Alden around the cockpit like a rag doll. “Smooth as silk, Tin Man.”

“You can’t make the jump at less than 200,” the static voice of his friend replied.

“I know, I need more pressure. I’m tightening the valve.”

There was a pause.

“What’s your mark?”

Alden glanced at the gauge which was already a quarter of the way into the red bar.

“I’ve got room,” he lied.

Tin-Man wasn’t buying it. “Alden, be honest with me. Thirty seconds to point of no return. Do we need to abort?”

“Negative. We’re clear. She can take it. Increasing to maximum pressure. Just keep the camera rolling.”

Alden pushed hard on a valve. The Rumbler began to shudder even more violently as the pressure gauge slid deeper into the red. He knew it wasn’t safe, but if he wanted to be safe he wouldn’t have set his mind on jumping the gulf in the first place.

He had been sneaking junk parts into the flat lands with Tin-Man for the past year in hopes of building the Rumbler. Needless to say, it wasn’t exactly a permitted vehicle. His designs for modifying the trashed steam car into a high speed vehicle would never have been approved by the CON District Masters. Anything over sixty kilometers per hour was strictly forbidden except for CON men and CON sponsored race drivers – just another way of ensuring the safety of the citizens.

Alden was sick of all the rules. He just wanted to feel free for a moment – to feel like there was nothing holding him back.

“Come on, baby,” he muttered aloud as the Rumbler trembled around him. “I didn’t build you for nothing. Let’s fly.”

The speedometer inched upward to 185…190…

At 190 the steam tank began to groan.

Alden held his breath. The Rumbler was reaching her limits. Every bolt and rivet quivering like it could come undone at any second.

“Ten seconds,” Tin-man buzzed over the radio. “What’s the status.”

“We’ll make it.” Is all Alden said in return.

“You dont’ have room. Abort now!”

Alden didn’t respond. Tin-man’s voice sounded more than a little concerned.

“Alden! Don’t be a fool. Five seconds to abort. Do it now!”

“No can do, Tin-man,” Alden said, “I want to fly.”

Tin-man started to say something else but Alden shut the radio off before he heard it. He knew it wouldn’t sit well with his friend, but he’d have to get over it. In the distance, Alden caught his first glimpse of the rise. It was nature’s perfect temptress – a natural rise with enough elevation to make the 500 meter leap to the far side of the canyon.

With a thousand meters left to the leap, the speedometer hit 200 and for the first time Alden thought he might have a chance, but that was when everything fell apart. The pressure tank burst a rib and his acceleration dropped in a heartbeat. White steam filled the cockpit, blinding Alden just as the Rumbler reached the cliff edge.

With wheels spinning wildly, the vehicle soared out into the open air of the gulf like a copper comet. The afternoon sun glistened off the side of the Rumbler with a magical glow, but the magic didn’t last – Alden was going down. The pressure leak spun the vehicle out of control forcing Alden to scramble desperately for the bail switch.

He pulled the switch and ejected from his beloved vehicle. His captain’s chair tumbled wildly out of control before its chute deployed and steadied him right side up just in time to catch sight of his Rumbler hitting the far side of the canyon wall. His vehicle crunched and tumbled three-hundred meters down to the floor of the canyon. He had been so close to greatness, so close to reaching the other side. Close…but not close enough.

The chair landed hard on the rocky terrain of the canyon floor. Alden collected himself, removed his leather helmet and goggles and messed up his sweaty blonde hair. Glancing skyward he took note of the sun’s position. Four hours to sundown, he’d have to hurry if he wanted to make it back before curfew. Recovering the survival pack and grappling hook from beneath his chair he flipped the switch and tuned in to Tin-Man’s frequency.

“Tin-man, this is Alden. Do you copy?”

There was silence.

“Tin-Man, are you there?”

There was a short silence again, but this time it was followed by an overly dramatic response.

“Why should I even talk to you? You never listen to me. Who do you think you are trying to pull a stunt like that?”

Alden smiled. “Only the best mechanic in Steel City, that’s who.”

“That’s debatable,” came the reply, “You’re only sixteen and you’ve already destroyed the Rumbler and nearly succeeded in killing yourself too. Not exactly something CON hands awards out for. Besides, if they found out we were out here we’d both be reconditioned – or worse.”

“Hey, I survived, didn’t I. That’s worth something, right?”

“Depends on who is valuing your life. You won’t always be so lucky, you know.”

Alden smiled. “Whatever. Did you get the footage at least?”

There was a long pause on the other end of the radio.

“Tin-Man?”

The silence broke with a barely audible whisper.

“Hang on, I think we have company.”

Silence again. Moments later a red light flashed on his radio. He recognized it immediately, it was the warning signal that CON Men were in the area. It also meant there would be no more communication between he and Tin-Man. Alden was on his own. He set to work immediately gathering the parachute and using its camouflaged pattern to cover up what remained of his crumpled up vehicle. As much as he hated to leave it in the open, there wasn’t time to deal with it today. He’d have to come back for it another time.

He set his sights on the southern wall of the cavern and picked as good a place as any to start scaling out. With the help of the grappling hook, he reached the surface in less than an hour. Resting at the ridge he scanned the horizon with binoculars from his survival pack. No movement. A half hour later he was back to the cave where he had left his steam cycle. Tin-Man wasn’t there – his cycle was already gone, only Alden’s remained.

Aiden threw his satchel over his shoulder, pulled on a helmet and tore off into the evening sunlight at a respectable and lawful sixty kilometers per hour.

It wasn’t long before he realized he was being followed by a pair of CON-cycles, lights flashing.

Alden’s heart sunk – he’d been caught. If CON didn’t kill him, his latest mother surely would. He didn’t know who to fear more.

Christopher Miller
Story matters. As the balder half of the Miller Brothers writing duo, Christopher is convinced that his receding hairline is actually a solar panel for brilliant thought. While the science behind this phenomenon is sketchy (at best) one thing is undeniable – his mind is a veritable greenhouse of crazy story ideas. Oh, he's also the co-author of three award-winning youth fiction novels (The Miller Brothers) and newly released novel based on a video game and a pair of children's books. Their books are written for kids and adults who aren't afraid of adventure. His hobbies include dating his wife, raising three children and providing for his family through copywriting, web design and launching a free to read platform for novelists called BookJolt.com. One day, Chris and his brother hope to delve deeply into the realm of interactive fiction.
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  1. Alassiel says:
    April 30, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    Ha, it’s kinda funny that the government men are now called CON men.

    Reply
    • Mandalore says:
      May 3, 2013 at 2:29 pm

      that was pretty funny

      Reply
  2. Galadriel says:
    April 30, 2013 at 6:30 pm

    Yeah, it makes you wonder if anyone was paying attention when the acronym was announced…Maybe National Conclave would be better…

    Reply
  3. Christopher Miller says:
    April 30, 2013 at 6:47 pm

    I kinda liked the fact that it could be taken two ways, but it may be a bit “on the nose”. LOL.

    Reply
  4. Bladebearer says:
    May 1, 2013 at 12:05 am

    I likey. I think this part has an extra “his” in it: to cover up his what remained of his crumpled up vehicle.
    I know this is a first chapter, but I want to know more about Tin Man, and how great Alden’s mechanic skills really are. I liked how the scene played out overall, but I feel that last part about him going home was a little rushed.

    Reply
    • Christopher Miller says:
      May 1, 2013 at 1:18 am

      Thanks Blade! I’ll get rid of that pesky “his” and yes…I ran short on time at the end. Had to rush it a bit. I feel it too. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Clint Hall says:
    May 1, 2013 at 9:40 am

    I like it, and maybe most importantly, I could see it as I read. Looking forward to reading more.

    Reply
  6. Lauren says:
    May 1, 2013 at 1:10 pm

    Can’t wait to read more! And I like that the government is called CON 🙂

    Reply
  7. Henrietta Frankensee says:
    May 1, 2013 at 10:47 pm

    I love the idea of writing a story together, corporate, interactive fiction.  I hope you get more input than the name of the authorities.  Like who is the Tin Man?  A peer? An android? A former mother/father disguised – likely his biological but perhaps one that fell in love with his charming character?  One who is in touch with his father fighting the authorities and has been asked to mentor the boy? 
    People who have disrupted childhoods have trouble making personal connections so there should be lots of tension in the relationship with the Tin Man. 
    looking forward to the next installment and more imaginings from others.
     

    Reply
    • Christopher Millet says:
      May 4, 2013 at 1:38 am

      I was kinda thinking an android of some kind as well. Definitely need to be a detached kid. He belongs the state. All kids do in this story. I think he made Tin-Man as a way of building a friend. Tin-Man is probably the closest thing to true family he hasSkikda thinking the world is mostly analog though, so the android would have to be run on some kind of cassette tape programming or record of some kind. No digital technology. Electricity is used, just early electric devices.
      What should Tin-man look like? Humanoid? Floating orb? (I’d have to change the last chapter if that were true. Orbs don’t ride bikes)
       

      Reply
      • Leanna says:
        May 4, 2013 at 2:54 pm

        If he’s a programmed android built by Alden then Alden’s lack of respect for him makes more sense.
        I vote for a more or less humanoid look.
        I don’t know where you’re planning to go with the capture but I suggest having CON try and recruit him for his mechanic skills.

        Reply
  8. Evan C. says:
    May 3, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    YAY ITS AWSOME and are you going to tell more about some of the characters or what?

    Reply
  9. Amanda says:
    May 15, 2013 at 3:05 pm

    Minor typo near the end.
     …his cycle was already gone, only Alden’s remained.
    Aiden threw his satchel over his shoulder, …
    Other than that, and what was previously pointed out, bravo!

    Reply
  10. Speculative Faith Blog — Last Son of Earth – Part 4 says:
    May 21, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    […] Chapter 1 – The Gulf […]

    Reply
  11. Speculative Faith Blog — Last Son of Earth: Part 5 says:
    June 4, 2013 at 8:01 pm

    […] Chapter 1 – The Gulf […]

    Reply

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