#5: The Great Train Robbery

[jackalope]

Ultimate Jonah Hex #5
The Great Train Robbery

“Jonah, I wanted ta have a word with you boy.” Quentin Turnbull stood as Jonah Hex entered his office. The old man pointed to the chair, and waved off Haddock, his bodyguard, to shut the door. Hex sat. Grabbing a couple of glasses, Turnbull places one in front of the bounty hunter and pour some golden brown liquid. “Now I've been thinking 'bout your desire fer a little time away from work.”

“That so?” Hex grabbed the glass and downed it.

Quentin swirled his own glass of whisky in his hand. “That is so.” Taking a sip he placed the glass down and walked around his desk. “Now I know how hard ya work, Jonah, don't think that that gets by me, and I know ya have something of a hankerin' to slow down a tad.”

Hex smiled. The old man had a way with words, he knew that much. He was the kind of man that could make a snake bite his own tail, an' then make him feel like he'd done the snake a favour. “I want out of the hunt, you know that,” Hex tried to keep his voice even, no point making anyone upset.

Turnbull lent back against his desk, continuing as if he hadn't spoken. “A holiday, that's what you need my boy.” He picked up a brown envelope and handed it to the bounty hunter. “Two tickets, on the Over Tube, go, take yer missus.” He got back up and walked around to his chair, sitting down. “Take some time fer yourself, relax. Enjoy some time away with that belle of yours. Then when you're ready you can come back refreshed an' ready to work proper.”

Jonah rolled his eyes. The old man wouldn't give up. The bounty hunter opened the envelope, two tickets- first class. Tallulah would love that, Hex sighed. “That's a mighty fine gesture Mr Turnbull, but I can't take this if it leaves you under the impression that I'm gonna keep workin' for you 'til I pass. I 'ant no young man, an' I've seen a lot of blood.” He put the envelope on to the desk and pushed it towards the governor. “I am gettin' outta it, an' gettin' outta it soon.”

Quentin Turnbull looked at the envelope then up at Hex, rolling his chin around considering. The bounty hunter seemed to know something about stubbornness also. The old man smiled. “Fine Hex, I know when I'm beat. Take the holiday; use it to see if you can find a better place. If I'm readin' you rightly, that girl o' yours is weighin' on your heart an' she wants to start a family.” Jonah's face smiled momentarily, betraying this as the truth. The old man nodded, “Well I certainly wish the best fer you Jonah, you deserve it. When you get back we'll work out a few more jobs to get you enough money to live off.” He stood and leaned over to shake Jonah's hand.

“Thank ya Mr Turnbull,” Jonah said, taking the tickets and slipping them in his jacket pocket.

“Please, call me Quentin.” Turnbull reached into his drawer and plucked a brown paper wrapped package. “Do me a favour when you get there, deliver this to the Guv'ner there. Him and me go way back an' I'm tryin' to work a deal with him.”

Jonah took the small, brown box and tipped his hat to Turnbull. “I'll see ya when I return, Quentin.”

* * *

Turlington was one of the few places that had an Over Tube station outside of the Dome Cities. Desperate refugees flocked from all over the wastelands, dragging bags and luggage, cattle and machinery, all that they possessed. Jonah watched as the lines of begging people, some obviously hiding mutations. Some of the Dome Cities accepted refugees from the Wastes but it was as likely as winning the lottery, still people tried, sometimes hoping to be smuggled in, others just hoping to earn a place working in the engine rooms of the Tube Trains. Generally it just gave new meaning to the saying 'pipe dream'. Working in the engine rooms was tantamount to slavery, but for many, safety in slavery was better than the fatal freedom the Wastes offered.

In the distance an ominous horn sounded. Hex turned, looking down the long track that stretched into the distance to see the smoking black beast that approached. He looked back at Tallulah, who smiled and winked at him. Unable to resist her enthusiasm he smiled back. Her arms wrapped around his body and she pulled herself tight. “Gateway City Jonah! First class!” She stepped back a moment, suddenly looking serious. “You didn't have to... you know...” He raised an eyebrow, questioning what she meant. She mimed sticking something into her mouth and sucking on it.

He burst out laughing, and she joined him. Still smiling he shook his head. “Yer good at pretendin' ta do that...”

Placing her hand on his stubble-covered face she nodded, answering with a dead-straight face. “I've been practicing while you were away.”

“Have ya now? Well I reckon I don' know how I feel about that...” He picked her up and swung her around, kissing her. At that moment the Tube Train screeched into the station, a huge triple-story, dark-engined beast of a vehicle, rumbling the ground like a quake. Steam crashed out of the sides of the base of the hover-tracks, flooding the station before the mist fading into nothing. Hex lowered her back to the ground and squeezed her behind. “Let's get goin'.”

As he grabbed his satchel and two large bags, lifting them over his shoulder. Tallulah tucked her arm into Jonah's elbow and they stood watching the vehicle disembark. The train was built like a battleship, armoured on both sides with thick black plates. Its hover rails hummed as it remained still. Passenger stairways extended out and the armed guardsmen of the Dome Cities walked down them, keeping their high calibre pulse rifles ready on anyone wanting to make a run for the interiors. The Atomic Knights were well known throughout America, wearing red, full-plate powered by small atomic generators that granted them increased strength, speed, and protection, the Knights were the law inside and outside the Dome Cities. 'Standing between the Scum and the Civilized' was their catch phrase; they lived and died by it. Lining alongside the entrance ports, one called out through a voice extender, “TICKET'S READY! ALL ABOARD!” Somewhere near the coach area a figure ran for the entrance. Quickly, two shots had put him down.

Tallulah looked to Hex. He pulled out the tickets and held them up to the light, examining the chips. “I swear, if Turnbull has given us fakes, I will hunt him down.” Walking up to the first class port, near the front of the train, he passed over the tickets. The Atomic Knight looked them over with a snarl, and inserted the tickets into a reader on his wrist.

“Welcome aboard.”

* * *

The tube trains were a technical marvel, which had managed to survive the fallout, and had become important in the workings of the Dome Cities. They were called the Over Tube because of the form their tracks took. Long metallic tracks covered the great stretches of the Wastes, looking like enormous black spinal cords, complete with their own set of curved black ribs that appeared along the route every 400 feet. These acted as pylons, transmitting energy wirelessly to the passing trains, as well as generating a field of energy that shielded the track from dangers.

Hanging from one of these pylons, six black clad figures felt the increase of vibrations as the huge train approached. The electric sound of lenses rotating whined as the lead climber's telescopic goggles zoomed in on the black leviathan in the distance, calculating the velocity and giving a countdown. The leader pulled off his glove and out stretched his hand over the control panel. A red glow started to emanate from his palm, causing the internal force-field that protected the tubes to turn white with the pressure. Heat continued to eat away at the area of the shield ahead of him, and he held his other hand up to signal the others. The sound of the train was enormous. A human sized hole now burnt into the energy tube, the leader nodded. “Be ready!”

“Uncle better be right about this one,” one of the men shouted.

“This don't feel right,” one complained.

“In Uncle we trust,” shouted another.

“Shut up, on three. One, Two...” The leader leapt, followed shortly by another five. All landed on the top of the armoured locomotive, electrified boots locking them into place, one falling backwards onto his arse, but still held by his feet. The lead black-clad figure shook his head. “Help his up, now remember boys; we have a train to rob.”

* * *

Hex gazed out at the desert wastes through the holo-projected windows that took up one side of the cabin. He breathed in the recycled air that had never tasted so fresh. Sighing, he scratched his scarred back. From all the way up here, it looked almost beautiful. Apart from the occasional rotting walker, or carcass, but even the abandoned cars that were scattered across the old streets had a certain quality.

A warm body pushed close to his, an arm wrapping around his naked waist. “Come back to bed.” He turned and kissed her, nodding with a sly smile.

“If ya insist.” She took his hand and gently pulled him to the huge bed.

“This cabin is bigger than our apartment.” Tallulah gazed about the room, as she fell back onto the mattress. “Is this what it's like for the Bubble people?”

Hex sat down and leaned on his knees. “I reckon if yer rich it might be, but there's plenty poor in the domes too. Money is its own bubble.” He lay back, reaching back to catch her hand. “But we have something those rich dome fuckers will never have...”

“Love?”

Hex shook his head, climbing around towards her. “Dirty... wasteland... sex.”

A siren suddenly wailed outside the room, and the bounty hunter turned to look. The door slid open, and Hex was already on his knees, gun drawn, aiming at the entrance. An Atomic Knight walked in and held his hands in front of him in surprise. “What the fuck are you doing with weapons in here? Goddamn' first class.”

Hex lowered the gun. “What are yer doin' in here Officer?” Tallulah grabbed the blankets to cover herself.

The Knight kept his eyes steadily on Hex. “This floor is on lockdown, no one leaves their cabins.”

“... What's hap...” The door had already slid shut, leaving the couple alone with the holo-wall showing scenes of the landscape moving outside. Tallulah looked at Hex, who was still staring at the door. He stood and started dressing.

“You don't have to...” She stopped and huffed. “We're on holiday.”

He looked to her as he pulled his belt and holster on. “I'm just goin' ta see where dinna' is at,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

Rolling her eyes, she handed him his hat. “Don't get killed Jonah.”

He touched the brim of his hat and walked to the door. Smacking the panel, which fell open, he grabbed a couple of wires and sparked them together. The door slid open. Pulling his gun out, he stepped out, the door closing behind him.

The corridor was cold and dark, just minimal lighting from the glow panels. The knights were obviously trying to use their night vision as an advantage. Hex crouched, peering down the corridor he saw two of the Atomic Knights, fully suited with their helmets on. They signalled to each other, pointing down opposite ends of a corridor at the crossroads at which they stood. Neither was down Hex's, meaning that his had probably been cleared already. The other nodded and they split up, pulse rifles at the ready.

The bounty hunter crept forward, swiftly passing the Knights and continuing onwards down his darkened path. Pausing to listen for anything, he could only hear the constant thud of the hover engines. At the end of the corridor an unopened door stood with the word 'exit' glowing in red slightly above it. He moved towards it, hitting the panel, and moving through as it opened. He looked side to side. Each corridor seemed a mirror of the last in the lessened light. He rubbed his chin and kept moving. Turning a corner, he took a step and paused. Near the end of the path a door was open; neon blue holo-light flowed across the floor. His thumb hooked the hammer, as two black-clad figures walked out.

“Wrong room, where did we get this informat...?” The robber closest suddenly spotted Hex and drew his gun. Bang The weapon flew from his hand. The robbers ducked back, yelling in shock. Hammer cocked, Jonah marched forward.

“Who the fuck is that?” A voice shouted from the room.

“Scanner said the area was clear of the A.K. He just must be a passenger.” A gun curled around the corner only to be shot from the hand again. The voice screamed. “That 'aint no passenger!”

“Did he know we were comin'?”

“Did who know?” Hex stood at the doorway of the room, two pistols aimed at each of the scared men's heads. Looking around the room, he could see the wall-sized holo screen playing some pre-fall film of a man in blue flying through the sky. On the bed a fat man lay bound and gagged. His luggage remained scattered around the room. “What're ya lookin' fer boys?” The men whimpered in their balaclavas, their night vision goggles atop their heads. Hex pulled the hammers back.

“OK!” One of the men cracked, pulling something from a pocket from his jacket, a piece of paper. Hex grabbed it from his shaking hand. Scrawled down the list was a set of numbers. Hex narrowed his eyes at them. “It's the list of rooms we were supposed to hit.”

Hex looked at the door and growled. “Where's 718?” He turned to list around. Both men leaned forward.

“812,” the other man looked pissed. “You had the fucking list upside down!”

“It looked like a 7.”

Hex suddenly looked at the list again. “Fuck!” He smacked the hilts against the heads of the men, letting them fall back against the cold steel floor, and ran. The fat man screamed out through his gag, then gave up, rolling back to watch the rest of the movie.

Hex's boots hit the metal floor hard, thuds echoed out. An Atomic Knight turned, swinging around his rifle. Hex skidded onto his back, shots flying, hitting the officer in his helmet, knocking him off balance. Hex sprinted low, shoulder barging his leg, throwing the Knight forward. Wincing, Hex kept running. He pulled the ticket from his pocket. Cabin 812.

* * *

The kneeling, bruised, helmetless Atomic Knight curled his lip up in disgust. “You Wasters are all the same, a waste of air.”

“Actually,” said the lead figure, “we're not the bad guys.” He smacked the guard in the head, knocking him out cold. He signalled the others to stand by, and they drew their weapons. Grabbing the collapsed Knight's hand he held it to the cabin door panel, which scanned it and opened. A shot flew out, forcing the leader to duck. “Woah!”

“Get the fuck out you bloody wankers!” Tallulah's British accented voice shouted.

“Listen lady, we don't want to hurt you. We're not here for you!” The leader ran in, two more shots rang out, but they exploded before they hit him. He pointed at her hand, she yelped throwing the gun up, which glowed red with heat. He now pointed at her, “Where is it?”

* * *

Hex turned the corner and saw the unconscious red Knight that lay on the ground. Teeth gritted, he increased in speed, leaping and rolling to the side of the door. His hands danced, quickly emptying the hollow casings and replacing the bullets. Sucking in his breath, he pulled the guard's wrist, and placed the hand on the panel. The door slid open. Hex looked around the doorway, then flicked back. Two men were tearing through his and Tallulah's luggage, whilst a third was tying her up. They had seen him, and now bullets fired from his cabin. Unconsciously, Hex counted, waiting for the moment of reload. He blew out his held breath.

He threw himself into the room. His triggers blurred, hitting one of the men in the shoulders and another in the leg, the other that flew towards the central figure, but seemed to explode before they reached him. The man, pushed Tallulah down, and punched towards the Bounty Hunter, his fist becoming a flaming ball, which flew towards Hex, hitting him in the chest.

Flying back into the corridor's side, Hex staggered onto his feet. The rim of the doorway suddenly was surrounded by fire. The figure that held onto his struggling girlfriend looked at his two injured compadres. “Let us get what we're here for and we'll leave! No one else has to get hurt...”

Tallulah spat the rag from her mouth. “Jonah, they think we've got something important!” The robber forced the rag back into her mouth and looked through the flames to the Bounty Hunter.

“Jonah huh? Would that be the infamous Jonah Hex would it? Uncle said I should look out for you.” The flames that lapped around the door increased in force until there seemed to be a wall of orange liquid. “Just give us a moment and we'll be out of your hair, and you can get back to your getaway.”

Hex was panting; a fury burned through his veins, hotter that anything this pyromancer could produce. He had already brought too much pain and violence into her life. He took a step back and leapt forward through the flames. Past the scolding heat of the flames, he squinted, seeing the figure look up from the floor. The man raised his hand, a gesture either to wield fire or in protest for him to stop. Either way it was too late, the pistol trigger pulled. Bang The man fell back, a bullet hole in his forehead.

The flame-filled doorway suddenly extinguished, bringing the room back to its natural, more darkened state. Three Atomic Knights ran into the room looking at the mess and the body. Hex moved for Tallulah, pulling the rope from her wrists and the gag from her mouth. They hugged, squeezing one another tight. The Knights took the two injured men and the dead body.

* * *

“So ya made there in one piece eh boy?” The holo-image of the old man hovered in front of him in the call-box. “I heard about the trouble...”

“Well it was a little touch and go fer a moment there, Quentin.” Hex scratched his head. He'd always wanted to be surrounded by the tech of the Dome Cities when he was a kid, now he was here it felt uncomfortable. Unnatural.

“Terrible, terrible business, Jonah. Wasteland scum, the kind we're trying to rid the world of, remember. Luckily they didn't know they were standing up to you.” Turnbull smiled kindly as he shifted topics. “Now ya haven't had a chance to stop by the Guv'nors place yet?”

Hex shook his head. “My next stop. Tallulah's just enjoying the sites.”

“Good ta hear. One day soon this could be yer home, I'll see ya when ya get back.” Hex nodded. “Oh and Jonah, don't ferget Jonah, ta deliver my gift.”

“Not a problem Tur... Quentin, I kept it in my...” Turnbull smiled and cut out. Hex took off his hat and looked inside. The brown package sat snugly within. He hit the open button and got out of the call-box. Tallulah ran up to him, grabbing his arm.

“Jonah, this place is amazing! Look.” She pointed up to a huge statue of an armoured woman, who stood on the sunny shoreline of the harbour. “Diana the Wonder Woman, she lived here once and was their defender, then one day she left and never returned. Some people now pray to her like a goddess.” She looked at him, realising he wasn't quite sharing her enthusiasm. “What's the matter?”

Hex sighed. “We need to make a short trip, there's something I need to drop off.”