Armand Baltazar - Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic

“But Wendell is a boy’s name,” Paige said.

“The museum wanted the dinosaur to have a boy name since the skeleton upstairs is Sue, so they changed Wendy to Wendell.”

“That’s how they reward her for her heroics?” Lucy said.

“There’s going to be a plaque by her that explains it,” Diego said. “Everyone will still know about her and what she did.”

“A plaque?” Lucy said. “Well, I guess the Time Collision didn’t change everything. It’s still a man’s world.”

“You got that right,” Paige said.

“Actually, Diego’s mom was part of it, too,” Petey said.

“Yeah,” Diego said, “she caught a glimpse of her on a training flight. She didn’t quite know what she’d seen, but she gave the coordinates to Wendy.”

“Your mom’s a pilot?” Lucy asked, turning away from Wendell. “Is she an explorer, or a bush pilot, or what?”

“She flies search and rescue for the air corps, but she used to be a fighter pilot. She fought against the Aeternum in their raids against New Chicago.”

“A famous fighter pilot,” Petey added.

“You—” Lucy’s mouth fell open. “You’re not talking about Siobhan Quinlan, are you? Not the famous fighter pilot, the hero of Dusable Harbor?”

Diego couldn’t help a wide grin. “Quinlan-Ribera now, but yeah. One and the same.”

“That’s—” Lucy shook her head. “Your mother is my hero. A woman who went well beyond her station in the Victorian world. But hold on . . . did you say Ribera? Like Santiago Ribera?” Suddenly her eyes narrowed. “You’re messing with me, aren’t you?”

“No,” Diego said. “Those are my parents. What’s it to you?”

Lucy kept peering at him. “So . . . you’re saying that the fact that your mother is Siobhan Quinlan, my hero, and your father is Santiago Ribera . . . the purported genius engineer whose own steam converter was found wanting and had to be replaced by my father’s superior Goliath steam converter . . . you’re saying those two things are just coincidence?”

“What do you know about my father?” Diego said.

“Your father is the entire reason we’re here,” Lucy said. “It’s his inadequate steam converter that’s the reason I’m stuck in New Chicago for half a year. So that my father can save your city.”

“Wait,” Diego said. “You’re saying that your father is that Emerson guy my dad was talking about?”

“He’s not some guy; he’s George Emerson, the world’s preeminent steam engineer, who will be knighted by the queen herself, I’ll have you know.”

“Right, him,” Diego said. “We’re only using his old-fashioned steam tech out of pity.”

“Pity?” Lucy nearly shouted. “How dare you? My father is a genius. His converter design is superior to your city’s. Everyone says so.”

“Who’s everyone?” Diego said. “Everybody still living with gas lamps and locomotives? Maybe that’s nice by your standards, but you should open your eyes around town. My dad is a visionary.”

“How much of a visionary could he be if his son is such an arrogant fool?”

“You tell that wannabe,” Paige said.

“Okay, okay,” Petey said. “How about if we rejoin our classes before someone gets hurt?”

“Oh, I’d hate to miss that opportunity!”

The voice echoed out of the darkness. The four whirled toward the hallway they’d come from.

A match was struck, lighting four figures.

Fish sucked on his cigarette, the end glowing, as he and his gang stepped out of the shadows.

“Get out of here, Fish,” Diego said. He tried to sound tough, but his heart was racing. This wasn’t a public place like the exhibit hall.

“Can’t do that,” Fish said. He plucked his cigarette between two fingers and waved it in their direction. “Have to rescue the damsel.”

“What are you talking about?” Petey asked.

“It’s a classic tale, really. Damsel in distress and then along comes a hero and his mates.”

“That punk better not think he’s talking about me,” Paige muttered.

Fish scowled. “Not you, love. That one.” He pointed at Lucy.

“Oh, I’m in no need of a rescue, thank you very much,” Lucy said.

“Sure you are. Look at ya: led into associations with a Mid-Time colored girl and a half-breed clock mongrel.”

“Shut up, Fish!” Diego shouted. “What happened to you anyway?”

“I wised up.”

“Sounds like the opposite,” Petey said.

“You need to step off before you step in it,” Paige said.

Fish shook his head. “It’s like there’s this barking and yapping, but I can’t quite understand what it’s saying. Come on, damsel. Before things get ugly.”

“I think the ugly’s already here.” Paige slapped a fist into her palm and glared at Fish.

“Ooh,” Fish said. “I normally wouldn’t hit a lady, but you don’t count.”

“You’d do well to pay her mind,” Lucy said. “And just because I’m a Steam Timer doesn’t mean I’d want anything to do with you hooligans.”

“I see how it is.” Fish flicked his cigarette aside. “Tommy, Seamus: get Ribera and hold him down for me. Billy, grab the skater girl. She’ll be next. And make sure that Petey-boy sees stars!”

“Run!” Diego shouted. He curled his fingers into a fist as the boys advanced.

“Yeah, right!” Paige replied. She’d already dropped her backpack and skateboard. Billy was just reaching for her arm when she darted toward him, grabbed him by the forearm, and judo flipped him to the floor.

“Whoa!” Petey said.

The move made Fish and the others freeze for a second. Diego saw his chance. He lunged for Paige’s skateboard, grabbed it with tingling fingers, and slammed Fish across the face with it.

Fish crumpled to the floor, rolling back and forth, holding his nose and cursing. Tommy and Seamus rushed over to him.

“Okay, now we might want to run!” Lucy said.

“Let’s go!” Diego darted for the hallway, Petey, Lucy, and Paige right behind him.

When they reached the dark corridor, Diego glanced back and saw Billy staggering to his feet, the other two crouched beside Fish.

“Let’s keep moving,” Petey said. They hurried back to the stairs and up to the service door.

Diego shut it and then punched in the key code, but the lock didn’t engage.

“Are you sure it’s the same code to lock it?” Petey asked.

“Please tell me you thought to check that beforehand,” Lucy said.

“Nah, it’s the same,” Diego said. He had no idea. “Just gotta get it right.”

Footsteps thundered up the stairs from below.

“Hurry up!” Lucy said.

“I’m trying.” Diego glanced through the window and saw Tommy and Seamus coming. “Grab the door and hold it shut!” Diego shouted.

As they crowded around him and grabbed the handle, Diego closed his eyes again. Had to push everything out, had to focus. Just the door. Just the intricacies of that lock . . .

Fists pounded on the door, breaking his concentration.

“We . . . can’t . . . hold them!” Petey shouted.

Diego took a deep breath and held it. Sank into his head. Nothing but the lock. Flashes exploded in his mind. He let the visions reach his fingers, tapped at the keypad, and the lock slid shut.

“Mongrel!” Fish shouted, his face pressed against the window, steaming up the glass. Diego could see the blood dripping down his nose. “You’re gonna pay!”

Diego stepped back, panting, and offered Fish a wordless smile and shrug. Angry muffled shouts and thuds continued behind them as they stepped away.