Throng - Nomadic Railways: Part 1 - Roaming the Rails: Throng Train Tour Series, #2

Nomadic Railways

Part 1: Roaming the Rails

By

Kelly STrRedWolf Price

with additional text from

David Tazel Piccola

(and many guest appearances)

Edited by

Ash Franzetti

Cover art by

J. Josephine BlackBloodQueen Flores

Icon art by

Cherri Lyme

Table of Contents

Prelude7

Chapter 1: Metroburg15

Chapter 2: Seattle52

Chapter 3: Boise, Salt Lake City, and Denver73

Chapter 4: Cheyenne, Billings, and Fargo106

Chapter 5: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Madison, and Omaha121

Chapter 6: Kansas City and Oklahoma City154

Chapter 7: Fort Worth and Houston174

Chapter 8: New Orleans, Jackson, and Nashville197

Chapter 9: Birmingham, Atlanta, Jacksonville226

Acknowledgments & Charity List259

CONTENT WARNING:

The following story contains some violence and use of words deemed to be a slur in the 20th and 21st centuries.

As this story is in the future (26th century), it is assumed that hermaphrodite and herm have been re-appropriated back to their technical definitions of being fully male and female at the same time.

Please keep that in mind as no ill will is intended.

Prelude

Whew! sighed a dark-colored, goat-horned snow leopard taur, wiping the sweat from her brow. The last piece of the new train engine was connected and installed. She couldn’t wait to test it out.

"RAILS? a voice called out from the train skunk works’ office. Sis? You better come into the office!"

The felitaur sighed again and yelled back I’m coming, Blacklight! Rails climbed down off the engine and stripped off her two pairs of gloves on her four hands. It was a year and change since she had gotten a second pair of hands, a minor reminder of her time with an… unusual rock and roll band. A quick glance at the clock confused her and she pawed her way into the office.

"VOX?!?" Rails said, shocked to find a triplicated cougar nearly passed out on the couch in her office. Her sister, a triplicated felitaur, brought a cold bottle of water to the cougar.

Sorry to crash here, Rails… Vox started to say. Blacklight let me in. Thanks. Shi took the water and drank a swig.

What happened? Rails asked.

Company called my bluff, Vox said. I’m now on an indefinite sabbatical.

Better start at the beginning, Blacklight said.

I got so burnt out and overloaded with projects at work, Vox started. "I was always on edge but I wanted to get ahead and get the backlog, all the technical debt done, but… nobody wanted to slow down. It was get this new feature in. Get that new feature in. Get this in. I… had enough.

So I dragged my boss into her office and said ‘Hire three developers in two months, or I put in my two weeks.’

They hired the developers, Rails said.

They first asked me for what I would look for in a candidate. Generalists, not specialists. All-a-rounders. Jack of all trades. They then had me interview them over a month… and hired them. I just spent the last month training them. One to overhaul the monitoring system’s integration. One to handle data acquisition and presentation. One to handle customer interactions. They’re good kids. They know their stuff.

And they got wind of what was going on?

Yeah, new head of managed services got wind. He’s promoting value by keeping bit rot low… and by… Ugh. Vox placed hir upper hands on hir head. I’m not religious but by god there’s a lot of bit rot. But there’s a good team in place now to take care of it. I would personally but I kept getting pushed and…

Okay, how did you get the sabbatical?

It reached upper management and HR recommended it. I didn’t even think, I just said yes. I… just came from work. I felt like running away. I…

I got a banker who wants to close the skunk works and redevelop it. The lease here is up and…

How much? Vox moaned.

For the lease or to buy?

Buy. Outright.

I think half a million.

Will you take a cashier check?

"WHAT?!?" Rails and Blacklight yowled.

Vox pulled hirself off the back of the couch. I think getting my mind off work, off programming… I’m burnt out on it. I need something to do… I want to build my own train car. But I can’t do that if a friend who I’d ask for help can’t do that. Let me help you help me. Who’s the land owner?

The doorbell rang. Rails went out to see who it was… It’s the banker!

Bring them in! Vox said.

The door audibly unlatched and opened up. A bit of friendly chatter came over before Rails brought a suit-and-tie bearing skunk.

Mr. Warbucks, Drake ‘Vox’ Felix of Throng. Rails introduced Vox.

Vox stood up and shook Mr. Warbucks’ hand. Please, call me Felix. I hear you are looking for a buyer?

Yes, someone willing to invest in the land…

How much for this plot, the remnants of the old WB&A Railroad?

Nearly a half million dollars. Surely you can’t be serious.

My name is not Shirley. My bank is up the road. I can get that check in thirty minutes.

But… there’s no future in railroads.

40% of all goods shipped in the US are done by railroad. Passenger rail traffic is up. People are intentionally taking the slow route, because it’s cheap and you see much more of America when it’s not obscured by cloud cover. Saying there’s no future in railroads is short sighted by centuries.

But the diesel cost!

Rails cleared her throat. We’re building the next generation of engines that doesn’t need diesel. We proved the concept years ago. I have the Amtrak order and their old HHP-8 engines to retrofit. The pandemic delayed those plans until now.

But… But…

I have the money, Vox said. I’m buying this train yard and keeping it a train yard. Do you want money?

Yes.

Then shut up and take my money.

The skunk opened his mouth… then said You need a lawyer to help draft this.

Vox pulled hir phone out and dialed. I have one on retainer and I can pull in another easy enough. Have you heard of…

Athena Elder? the skunk muttered.

Terrance E. Pinn. Vox said flatly. But if you’re that lofty and want Madam Elder, I have her direct number.

Mr. Warbucks eyes widened. I think Mr. Pinn will more than suffice.

Vox grinned and said Let us draft up the agreement, shall we? Shi hit the dial button and Terry picked up. Terry! It’s Felix. Hey, I’m about to buy some land in Odenton…

"INDEFINITE SABBATICAL?!?" A voice yelled over the phone.

I’m faxing you over the details, Elder. Vox said, pulling out documentation from a pocket via one of hir cleavages. In short, it’s a medical leave of absence. They want a full physical and mental evaluation from Johns Hopkins after six months but no more than a year.

Please tell me… okay, first, where are you?

I’m at Rails’ rail shop in Odenton, south of where I live. Terry’s here. I… bought the land the shop is on.

"YOU BOUGHT A RAIL SHOP? I was about to ask have you done anything rash but that takes the cake. Please tell me why…"

The lease on the land was up and Rails was being threatened with eviction. It ties into plans of making some custom rail cars for myself and Throng…

Put me on speaker.

A terrapin approached the office phone being used. Athena, it’s Terry. You’ve been on speaker this entire time. Felix called me to help with the deal. We’re going to donate it to Rails for help with the build.

Felix, give Terry the medical documentation to review. Elder said, her tone insinuating a command that if not followed, will have grave consequences.

Yes Athena, Vox said and handed a set of documents to Terry. Terry paged through them, making hmmm and huh noises.

Terry, please tell me… Elder said.

Medically diagnosed burn-out, Terry said. I have the diagnosis on letter head from Johns Hopkins. They say six months at least to de-stress, with computer programming being 25% or less of current activity. Since programming is Felix’s main job, shi’s out for six months at least.

Felix, do you want to go back earlier or…

Terry scanned the documentation as Vox interrupted with No, Athena. I’m taking those six months. I’ve been burning the candle so much I ended up sticking more ends on it first. I have to take a break. I… shi then paused, tilted hir head, and then said Hey, when is the next tour coming up?

May not be one. Mike’s license got suspended right before the pandemic and he’s having a hell of a time getting it renewed.

Vox turned to Rails. If I can get a fabber and some sweat equity in, how fast can we build those train cars?

A fabber… Rails said, thinking out loud. If it’s one of those rumored Canmephian fabbers, I’d hazard a month.

Felix, Elder said. Are you saying we should do another rail tour like Station to Station 2?

Sis has been getting a lot of artists and musicians asking for a new trip, Rails commented.

A loud crash came through the phone and three voices mewed "FELIX SEND ME YOUR TRAIN DESIGNS!!!"

Sorry, Athena, a fourth voice said over the phone. I couldn’t stop Tundra from barging in.

Vox laughed. Ooooh geesh. I think we got a solution. Let me call RedWolf first to redirect the fabber I scored from hir. Shi sold me an industrial-grade fabber that shi was letting go after getting a military-grade one. Let's aim for six weeks.

Rails purred That’ll give me time to get this new HHP-8 rebuild tested on the ol’ Northeast Corridor. I just finished the rebuild on the prototype… but… who’s RedWolf?

Terry said, Admiral RedWolf, Canmephian Ambassador to our planet. I’m licensed to practice Canmephian law, so I can help work out the transfer paperwork. By the way, those prototypes… that’s the nuke engine I’ve been hearing about?

Rails said Nah, not what you’re thinking. This is the CM3 engine I used in the FL9 for the last tour and the GP40WH-2 I have on hand. Both are qualified everywhere. Technically, they’re battery powered. Even though I was using melted thorium salt power modules, we never got any radiation leaks. I got the documentation to review for you, if you’d like.

Oh-kay…

The HHP-8’s part of a special order for Amtrak. We’re making them usable as engines again. Also, contrary to rumors, Felix, sis, and I got Haydened, not irradiated.

Haydened?

Elder answered with Guests with back-stage passes can opt to get multiplied by Dr. Dante Hayden, who plays drums, keyboard, and male vocals.

Terry Ohed.

Vox said Six weeks. Tundra, Stephanie, and I go through the passenger car plans and get ’em built. Sasha gets with Athena and the band, and plan out the tour… OH! I think I got a stop list…

Rails said Stop, Felix. Any more and Athena will want more hands. Get your laptop and send over the plans and info.

Before we go, Elder said. I have one question. Felix, if you build the train and get it ready, will you join the tour?

Of course! Vox said. I mean, I got to empty out my brain of song ideas and lyrics that I now have time to do. Hopefully I can hold it until we can get to Metroburg. Oh gawd, I am sooo backed up…

Terry sighed. I better prep a secondary contract then…

Chapter 1:

Metroburg

Whoa… a four-armed mocha-colored rabbit said, noticing the group in the coffee shop she worked at. What’s going on here?

What that, Rebecca? a double-headed, nine-limbed lioness of a boss said, turning a head around to look.

All of Throng is here, Ceegee. Yukon, Hayden, Norse… a lot of others too. Plus our next door neighbor, Kali.

You don’t know the entire band? Not all of them are here. Why don’t you get the rest of you out here and I’ll introduce them.

Oh really? Rebecca said. I can take a break from the back staff for a minute. With that, another two rabbits, exact matches for Rebecca, came out from the kitchen. Ceegee grinned twice, finished up a drink, and motioned all of them to the table.

A double-headed, nine-limbed hound noticed and said Oh hey Ceegee! How’s things going? Ceegee and the hound kissed, one head to another, matching up. This caused the three mocha bunnys to blush and and a three headed, four armed snow leopard to quietly chuckle.

Not too bad, now. Ceegee said. Things are looking up. I hired Rebecca here, all three of her.

Ahhh! A double-headed, six-armed Nordic horse chimed. I heard there was someone in the self-twinning study that ended up going triplet's.

Yeah, it’s a bit weird. Rebecca said with all three bodies. She then said from one of the kitchen staff bodies I’m still working out the range, sleeping, ethics… lots of documentation.

Before we go too far, Rebecca, this is Throng, Ceegee started. The cerberus snow leopard, the hellhound, and the filly of the gods you already know as Yukon, Hayden, and Norse. But there’s more than just the musicians.

Going for the back-staff, are we? a long-necked apatosaurus dinosaur, dressed in suit and tie, said. Hello Rebecca. I’m Elder. I manage the group as a whole with co-council Archer here. Elder extended a hand to another horse, similarly dressed.

A two-headed wolf next to Archer said I better continue then. I’m Scout, the roving travel agent. I get the venues and arrangements, making sure these folk can set up and make a good time.

A four-eyed cat-rabbit hybrid joined in, saying You may of heard of me off of the news. I’m Killer, the road manager for the group. I’m Elder’s local eyes and ears.

OH! Rebecca said. You have the two tailmaws! How are you faring with them?

I’ve gotten better with handling them, but having a steak next to my steak helps a lot.

A two-headed, four armed tiger chuffed and said That joke never gets old. Hi, I’m Stereo, the sound gal managing the boards. I have medically verified pitch-perfect hearing in both heads.

A four-eyed, four armed wolf joined in with She’s married to me. I’m Lights, the lighting and special effects engineer. Me and Coils work on the rig you see in concerts.

A four-armed garden snake said "I’m Coilsss, the ssstage engineer and chief roadie. I build the rigsss and keep thingsss sssafe."

A four-armed, mint green tiger’taur chuffed I’m Mint, the accountant for Throng. I also help Scout with the blog, although everyone’s been chipping in now.

A three eyed, angelic feline purred I’m Cass, assistant to Killer. I’m helping out with the blog but I’m still a bit green with things.

Another horse, a male with a light blue dyed mane, said I’m Hauler, the main driver for the band. I help with some of the logistics… but I’m not sure how we’ll pull off this tour I hear we’re…

"WHOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Vox said as shi entered in the door to the coffee shop, all hands up in the air. Perfect marks on the engineer test!"

Vox? Yukon said with one head. You… engineer test?

Vox? Rebecca all asked.

Newest member of the band. Ceegee answered with one head. The other said Vox, what are you doing here?!?

Oh, I brought the train in, Vox said. Literally! I’m now a qualified train engineer in addition to being a software engineer and… um… did Elder break the news?

Everyone but Elder and Archer shook their heads no.

Vox pulled out a legal-sized vanilla envelope and gave it to Elder. I’m on medical leave. I’ve been told by the doctors to stop programming for six months, basically… so I’m joining the tour.

Elder took the envelope and said We’re going back on tour and this time the train is a custom one Vox built with Rails’ company.

We’re using that modded FL9 engine? Lights asked.

Oh no, Vox said as Rails came in with her sister, Blacklight. I scored a EMD F9PH and put the engine setup in it. Rails has refined the setup and her company is retrofitting old HHP-8’s…

Retrofitted! Rails said as she joined the crowd. That fabber sped up the process so much that we got the order done the same time we got the entire train done.

Vox noticed the three mochabuns and said New staff, Ceegee?

All three are Rebecca, Ceegee said. Rebecca, this is Vox.

How do you do? Rebecca all said.

Um… Vox pointed to all three Rebeccas.

Full body multiplication study at Metroburg University, Norse said.

Oooh… I’ll have to pull the papers on it then. You haven’t met Rails here and her more multiplied sister Blacklight, I take it.

I haven’t been in here… Rails said. Do they have smoothies?

Ceegee chuckles as a Rebecca said We have them. What would you like? She moved the body over to Rails, pulling out a pad to take an order. Another Rebecca said I better get a bod back into the kitchen in case they want some food.

I could go for three bagel sandwiches myself, Blacklight purred in triplicate. This caused a second Rebecca to come over and take Blacklight’s order.

Norse whinnied You’re taking to it well, Rebecca.

The free Rebecca standing next to Ceegee said It took a bit, but splitting out really helped with my mind going three directions at once. Plus, I have toes again!

Hayden tilted a head at Rebecca, confused, while another looked at Norse and made a errrf? sound. Norse just triple-shrugged, not knowing about it.

Oh, sorry… Rebecca said. I had some mutations reversed while on the program.

Hayden opened his mouths about to say something before Archer said HIPPA, Hayden. That closed them.

Hippah? Rebecca’s free body asked as the other two started fulfilling the orders.

Federal medical data law, Vox said. In this case, Doctor Dante Hayden has to ask for permission from you for extensive details… and with others here, it’s not appropriate to ask.

Ahhh.

Archer asked Vox, how did you know…

"Day job. My company has compliant managed services. That aside, yes, I drove the train in. It’s berthed at a yard nearby. So I got the band