Part III : The Job and The Price

Wade felt a strange twitch jingle around in the back corner of his brain. For about six seconds, he assumed his ear was gummed up with Warland dust. The bounty hunter was certain he didn’t hear Krill correctly. “The High Governor?” he whispered, “What . . .what the hell does he want with me?”

“Why would anybody want you?” the government man smiled, “Haven’t you been hired for outside work before?”

Wade blinked. The High Governor wanted to hire them for a job. Not just any local baron or the Constable at the Enforcer station but the High Governor. For once, their reputation as bounty hunters paid off. Wade paused as she finally brought over the burgers they had asked for. The young man didn’t have much of appetite after hearing what Krill said. “So, what’s the job?” He finally asked.

“Forgive me, Wade but I’m not at liberty to discuss such things,” the tall man smiled, as he leaned back and crossed his legs, “The High Governor ordered me to find you. Found you I did. Now you’ll accompany me back to The Gold Tower, so he can discuss with you the nature of the job personally.”

Wade stared at the agent. He seemed serious enough. The young man then looked toward his companions. “Well?” he asked.

“He seems on the level.” Mikhail hissed, “And he owes me a drink.”

“Indeed.” Krill chuckled.

“Buddy goes where Jonny goes.” The gentle giant said by his side.

“All right.” Wade said, standing up, “Liz, I guess we’re going to get these to go.”

The woman began to unravel a ten year old plastic bag to help carry their food. The three friends stood up and got ready to move. Krill, however, didn’t budge. Wade stepped back and stared down at him. “Let’s go, Agent Man.” He grunted, “I’m sure you got a transport outside.”

Krill shook his head in disgust and stood up; gently putting his sunglasses back on. “Oh, yes, I have a transport outside.” He muttered, as he glanced toward the bounty hunter, “However . . .you don’t SERIOUSLY think I’m taking you toward the High Governor like that, are you?”

Wade glared back at him. In his own snobbish way, Krill was telling him he wasn’t fit to speak to the Hiocean they were on their way to see. The agent calmly patted the back of his overcoat, knocking off what dust he could. “Get cleaned up, Gentlemen.” He said, as he began to leave the saloon, “You smell worse that that fowl beast you were about to consume.”

Wade rolled his eyes, and then looked toward his old friend. “Emerson, the bathes open?” he asked.

“Yeah, help yourselves.” The old soldier watched the agent leave the building, much to his relief.



Upstairs, the Low Town Tavern offered the ability to get clean to the travelers that passed through this section of town. Wade remembered the truck stops of his youth offered the same thing. The more modern equivalent had to include a few more new things. The Compressed Vapor Bath came directly from the Mid-Way. Mikhail had brought a lot of money into the Tavern so Emerson felt it was just to include the ability to take a bath should he ever need it. Since he was a Blue Zoner, he couldn’t take a bath in water without shorting out the whole building. Mikhail gently closed his eyes as he sat on the white stool in the center of the CVB. The powdered vapors shot up from the panel below and were caught in the panel above. The bald man kept his eyes closed as he felt the small amount of dirt particles leave his body. “I’ll have to try that someday.” Wade said as he slicked back his wet hair with a comb.

“It’s soothing.” Mikhail said, before turning it off and stepping out.

“Cloudy bath too small for Buddy.” The Lorn said, as he was dumping a whole tube of toothpaste onto a whitewall brush.

“I’m sure your lizard skin would be sensitive to it anyway, little brother.” The young man said, as he sat down to put on his boots.

Buddy took the brush and began to brush his sharp teeth with it. Wade smirked at his companion, remembering the time when they were kids and the gentle giant swallowed a normal toothbrush by accident. As he got bigger, they had to get to bigger means. “Dis yow miket mo Migh Brown, Monny?” Buddy said.

“Buddy, spit.” Wade laughed.

The giant Lorn spit out his tooth paste, making some splash onto the floor. “This our ticket to High Town, Jonny?” he asked again.

Wade looked out the window at the scores of armored guards that were surrounding the building. “Not sure,” he whispered, “But if we play our cards right . . . . .it just might be.”


After the trio got done cleaning up, they made their way down the stairs and back into the lobby. Little Amanda waved to Wade and the others as they past. The bounty hunter exited the building and saw the huge transport waiting for them by the road. It was long and gray; resembling an age old subway car; except this one was hovering. Krill was enjoying a boom stick while waiting for them. He flicked the Hiocean cigarette onto the gravel and smiled at the bounty hunters. “Well done,” he chuckled, “You look almost civilized.”

“Can we get moving, please?” Mikhail huffed.

Krill turned around and waved to one of the guards. The armored man reached over toward the hovercar and pressed a light green button. A platform slowly rose down, allowing them into the vehicle. Krill walked in first as the bounty hunters followed. Wade didn’t want to admit it but he was happy to be in the hovercar; as it was one of the few vehicles these days that could run on solar energy and still be air conditioned. Several humans were in the hovercraft, making sure it was up and running. What amazed Wade was the Hiocean sitting on a middle seat near the front. He was drinking some sort of dark liquid in almost desperation. “Is that them, Agent Krill?” he asked.

“Aye, Commander Arc.” Krill sat down next to him.

“Finally. I do not wish to tally in this dust infected squalor any longer.” He said, putting his drink down, “Captain Fisher, make haste for the Gold Tower.”

“Aye, sir.” The pilot said, as he pressed a button and the hovercar began to zoom off.

Wade and his friends strapped on seat belts on the bench area. Mikhail looked out the window, trying to gage where their speed was happening. Buddy grunted, as the seats weren’t really built for Lorns; making his tail get in the way. Wade crossed his arms and leaned back, knowing full well the trip to High Town would be at least 40 minutes; even by hovercar.

The long vehicle began to enter the Mid Way. It was called that because it was the midway point between High Town and Low Town. The citizens thought to call it Middle Town but it was deemed a little too corny. It was where citizens from Low Town would sell their goods to citizens from the High Town. If one earned enough credits, they could earn a pass to visit High Town and work toward getting what everybody else wanted; citizenship. High Town was climate controlled, and most of its citizens had a special package deal if they got citizenship; free food and drink delivered to your doorstep every two weeks. It was a thriving business, considering how The Three Year War left the state of the Earth.

The hovercar came to a slowed down stop and got in a special joining railing system. Mikhail looked out the window and saw they were entering the massive arch gates of High Town. They were entering through the protected sector gate. Wade looked over and saw the long line of humans, mutants and Lorns waiting on the processing line. Each one of them could have been in that line for days, waiting to get processed and allowed entrance to High Town. The bounty hunter knew him and his friends would be in that line one day but if they were lucky with this particular job, they can bypass it. Wade gently wondered if the High Governor would consider paying them with automatic citizenship. “That’s a steep price, wouldn’t you say, Wade?” Krill laughed

“Get out of my mind, freak.” The bounty hunter grunted.

“Says the man who bunks with a Blue Zoner.”

“Mikhail was a victim of Hiocean Bio-Bombing.” He leaned forward, “He wasn’t asked to be changed. You? You gave up your soul to become a super human abomination.”

Krill slowly pivoted the chair so he could face the bounty hunter. “We prefer the term Enhanced Human.” He winced.

“I’m sure God uses the word offensive.”

“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” the Hiocean Captain swiveled in his own seat to get between them, “We are on our way to see the High Governor. There is no need to bring hostility to this meeting.”

Krill and Wade locked eyes. The bounty hunter thought about how he could hurt the agent and hoped he picked up on that thought transmission. Krill scoffed a bit and then swiveled back into his seat. Arc looked at him and then over at Wade. “Born Earther, eh?” he inquired.

“Yes, sir.” The bounty hunter looked at him.

“Then you must have survived the Three Year War.” The alien whispered, “Otherwise, I can’t imagine a human willing to see someone as prolific as the High Governor.”

“I’m not that bitter, besides . . . . . I got no idea which Hioceans killed my parents. It’s a waste of time to blame all of you.”

“How old where you when we struck?”

“Eleven.”

“Fascinating.” He said turning around, “You must have been special to survive such a fierce battle.”

“Actually, a Lorn saved my life.” Wade said.

The Hiocean said nothing, just stared out the window as they started to get on the upper railings of High Town. Buddy felt proud that Wade mentioned his savior; he never knew them but he knows his best friend’s saviors were his own parents. Mikhail never knew his parents but he was thankful he found a family in Wade and Buddy the day they pulled him out of the Blue Zone. Now, all they had was each other.

The High Town skyscape was something to see. The Hiocean built it from remnants of Seattle and their own war ships. Most of the workers were Lorn’s, as a part of the peace treaty between their worlds. About 68% of the Lorn workforce managed to secure citizenship into the sky suites of High Town. However, the remaining 32% went to Low Town and other outlining sectors of Warland and the world. Some were still bitter about the Hioceans trying to invade their world originally and they couldn’t let old hatreds die out. They don’t try to kill each other anymore, but there is no special paragraph in the treaty that said they have like each other.

Wade looked out toward the center of High Town were the large expanse of trees were located. What most couldn’t see from so high up was the face that the trees were hiding the massive amounts of vegetable growth underneath. It was the famous Hiocean Hydroponics Farm where the food was grown and distributed throughout the city. It was what made Wade want to get a suite in High Town; not only do they get a home to call their own but as a park of the packaged deal, they get the free food for life from the Hydro-Farm. Finding work was bad enough but finding food was even worse in some parts of Low Town. It would be a heavy weight of Wade’s mind.

The hovercar jolted a bit as they arrived at the Gold Tower. The three friends looked around at the parking lot, where more hovercars were resting. Some old Earth cars were in there but since they didn’t have the ability to fly; Wade already knew they were simply there for show. He found it amusing that the Hioceans enjoyed Earth culture more than their own. The human captain then slid down the side window panel toward the Lorn guard at the Golden Gates. “Security code 3367,” Fisher said, “Please deactivate the Magno Field.”

“Regulations, Captain.” The Lorn grunted back.

“You are authorized to forgo regulations at this point, my friend.” Commander Arc leaned forward, “We have a Blue Zoner here. We don’t want to make him uncomfortable.”

“Sorry, Commander,” the huge lizard said as he shut down the magnetic field.

The laser guided tracking system connected with the onboard computer of the hovercar and began to slide it toward a parking space. As they passed over the magnetic railing, Mikhail jolted a bit; as if he was swept by a cold wind. His huge alien friend put a hand on the mutant’s shoulder. “Mikhail all right?” Buddy asked.

“I’m . . good.” He said, shaking his face, “It just sent a chill down my spine.”

“I’m curious.” Krill said, without looking around, “What would have happened had the Magno Field been all the way up?”

“That’s private, man!” the Blue Zoner grunted.

Krill just laughed as the hovercar came toward a full stop. The government man stood up and walked toward the exit ramp. As the door came down, his armored guards led the way. Wade walked out as Mikhail and Buddy followed. Commander Arc brought up the rear with his human subordinates. The bounty hunter looked out at the massive cityscape. Hovercars zoomed by as typical traffic. A few random birds floated on the coastal breeze. Companies like McDonalds and Starbucks still existed in the growing hub. Wade was jealous of the people who lived in High Town but he couldn’t falter the Hioceans accomplishments. It didn’t take them long to offer their expertise to the car manufacturers of the world, providing them with the ability to make their cards solar powered: not to mention flight prowess. They offered farmers the chance to be farmers again with new progress; turning old Battle Bots into Farming Bots. They created an Artic Stabilizer; a large silo like facility that kept producing cold air to keep the artic from breaking off into the sea. It even only took them a week to fix the Ozone Layer.

The trio followed Agent Krill around a red bricked sidewalk on the corner of the building. Force field side panels kept people from falling off down the huge buildings. Wade marveled at the structure for a second before looking concerned at the site of some strange creatures. Two overweight bird people were cackling at the sight of a Hiocean version of Burger King and even held up a device, causing a flash similar to an Earther camera. Mikhail and Buddy gazed at the creatures themselves. Once the bird people spotted them, they laughed and then took a picture of them. “Smile for the tourists, Wade.” Krill waved to them, “They don’t get the chance to see many humans.”

“Tourists?” the bounty hunter scoffed, “What are they?”

“Dycodians.” Krill started to walk toward the entrance, “They’ve always been fascinated with Earth and the Three Year War. They bring in necessary money to help finance this world.”

“I wasn’t aware Earth had become a galactic tourist trap.” Wade said sarcastically, “Have you introduced them to chicken nuggets or is that too close to eating their own kind?”

Wade’s insult to the aliens caused Buddy to laugh. Krill placed his hand on a panel, causing it to glow green and the doors to slide open. The mutant agent glared at the bounty hunter as was about to enter the building. “You ever want a sky suite; you need to show the proper respect to the Hioceans, Wade.” He gritted his teeth, “They saved this world.”

Wade’s eye twitched as he past him. “They destroyed it first.” He said as entered.

The bounty hunter looked around at the lobby. It resembled an old style hotel, with the plush carpet and furniture. There were some new alien amenities, such as the Star Transmitter booth and the Virtual Game lounge. A female Hiocean casually smoked from a boom stick on an extended black filter as her soft blues eyes fell on Mikhail. The Blue Zoner felt a little weird being the center of attention. It was bound to happen; most mutants like himself never made it past the Mid Way. “This way, gentlemen.” Krill said as he and his armored guards walked over to an elevator.

Arc and his men walked toward their own designated station. It wasn’t their job to present them toward the High Governor; just get them to the Gold Tower. Krill pressed his hand on another panel to an elevator, as the doors slid open. He offered the three men entrance to the elevator. Wade entered first, followed by Buddy, then Mikhail. “You’re not coming?” Wade asked the agent.

“I’ve done my job.” He smiled, “Once you reach the hallway, do whatever the butler says. And be careful what you say . . . . .there are others who could still do this job.”

Wade didn’t say anything. He just let the door slide to a close and then the elevator began to move. Buddy put his hand on the ceiling to lean down a bit. Clearly the elevator wasn’t built for Lorns. Mikhail patted his friend on the side then looked toward Wade. “What do you think?” he asked.

“It seems almost too good to be true.” The bounty hunter whispered, “Our rep being good enough for us to get the attention of the Governor of High Town. Whatever the job . . . .I hope there are no bad strings attached.”

“Buddy don’t like bad strings.” The Lorn told his friends.

“Me neither, big guy.” Mikhail sighed.

“Anyway, we treat this like any other job.” The human looked toward his friends, “Let me do the talking and the dealing.”

“Copy that.” Mikhail and Buddy said in unison.

The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open. A semi-large Hiocean with black garb of a butler was waiting for them. He bowed and then motioned for the three friends to follow him. Wade walked out of the elevator as his friends followed. The hallway was adorned with pristine green carpet and various paintings adored the walls. Mostly they were done by earth artist Jackson Pollack. Wade never did see the appeal of the artist but if the Hioceans liked him; more power to them. The group walked a few more feet and arrived at some sort of massive office. “John Wade and party have arrived, Madame.” The butler announced.

Much to Wade’s surprise, a human female turned around and smiled at their arrival. Judging from the slight wrinkles below her eyes and a touch of gray hair, he estimated she was in her mid-40’s. She was wearing a modern green glossy dress; typical fashion for Hiocean females. The bounty hunter never imagined a human female in such garb. It also stuck in his brain that this woman looked familiar. “Thank you, Baila,” the woman told the butler, “We’ll summon you if you are needed.”

“Madame.” He bowed.

Wade watched the butler leave the woman approached him. “Mr. Wade, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” She smiled, “I am Ellen Gul. The High Governor is in negotiations to open trade routes to Japan. He should be here shortly.”

The beautiful woman held out her hand. Wade noticed some weird things about her. She was wearing Hiocean clothing, not to mention she had a three lettered last name; like all the Hioceans do. The bounty hunter gently took her hand and then titled it to the side; tapped the back of her palm. A unique Hiocean symbol appeared briefly on the back of her hand, and then faded away as if it was never there. It all finally fit to what Wade was thinking. “You’re the High Governor’s wife?” he asked.

“You’re familiar with Hiocean customs.” She smiled, pleasingly, “You don’t know how much that reassures me for your success in the assignment.”

Mikhail shook her hand and then Buddy shook her hand as gentle as he good. The large gentle giant was worried he could easily crush her hand. However, he succeeded in not hurting. Wade winked at him, letting him know everything was okay. The Lorn then took another looked at the woman and blinked his big eyes. “Heidi Cofax?” he whispered.

Ellen then laughed, placing her hand over her chest. “Oh, my Goodness.” She giggled, “You saw Pray For Death?”

“Pray for . . . “Wade blinked, “Oh, wow! That’s where I knew you from. You’re Ellen Sanchez. The action star that stared in Pray for Death with Christian Blake.”

“You got on that truck on the bridge.” Buddy laughed holding up his hands like guns, “Blam, blam, blam, then leap onto Tomahawk’s convertible. Too Wicked!”

Buddy’s review of her movie couldn’t stop her from laughing. “That is fascinating.” She said, wiping her eyes, “I never expected to hear a Lorn who liked my films.”

“Buddy was raised on them.” Wade said.

“Jonny and Buddy trapped in mall during Three Year War.” The Lorn said, “He teach me English, reading, writing and surviving.”

“Fascinating story. Perhaps I’ll hear about it one day.”

“I’ll be more than happy to tell it, and perhaps you can tell me how a human actress winds up being the wife of a Hiocean Governor.” The bounty hunter stared at her.

“Well, that’s a . . . .complicated story.” She admitted.

“There is nothing complicated about it,” the High Governor said behind Wade, “She was a part of the camps down in Bermuda and I helped free her.”

The three friends turned around to see the tall Hiocean standing near an adjacent doorway. He was decked in the gray cloak of the Hiocean Hierarchy, along with the golden collar that signals he’s the high governor. The tall alien strode over the carpet and stood before the bounty hunter. “High Governor Dean Gul, and I am honored to meet you, John Wade.” He said, extending his hand.

The bounty hunter shook his hand. Like Ellen, the same symbol appeared on the back of the alien’s hand briefly when Wade touched it. The governor then walked over to Mikhail. “Mikhail the Blue Zoner.” He said, shaking his hand, “Other than the Disciples of the Crystalline Church, we don’t see many Blue Zoners in High Town.”

“I’m not with them, sir.” The mutant said, shaking his hand.

The Governor then turned to the massive Lorn. “Greetings, my old enemy.” He smiled, “Do you still hang onto the hatred like some of your Lorn companions?”

“No hatred ever came to Buddy.” He shook his hand, “Grew up after the Three Year War with Jonny and Mikhail.”

“Extraordinary.” The governor bowed to him, “How I wish we Hioceans had the fortune to give birth to our own children during that time. Perhaps we wouldn’t have been so haste to destroy everything.”

Gul walked over a nearby small table and picked up a coffee mug. He gently pressed a button on a silver container and a steaming black liquid poured into the cup. “Can I offer you gentlemen some coffee?” he asked.

“Hiocean Coffee?” Wade inquired.

“But of course.” The Governor sipped the liquid.

“Thank you but no. We’d like to sleep sometime this week.”

Gul then laughed at Wade’s mild insult. “Your Earth’s greatest creation, Mr. Wade.” The governor walked toward his desk, “Hioceans never knew what coffee was. When we found how you humans made it, it didn’t take us long to refine it. But I understand, our version has much higher caffeine content.”

“I guess you need to make sure you’re awake while you run this city.” The bounty hunter looked at him.

The high governor took a sip of his coffee and set the mug aside. He casually picked up a slick plastic folder with several pieces of paper in it. He began to flip through them, without looking at the bounty hunters. “Anyway, to continue the story, Mr. Wade.” He said, keeping his eyes on the papers, “I was stationed at Bermuda. We rousted all the Earthers into a camp for their own safe keeping. Things were not going well, as you well know. The Lorns were making headway and we were being ordered to retreat further south. My commander, Brigadier Nor, ordered his men to execute the humans. A group comprised of myself and my comrades stopped them.”

Wade looked at him while Ellen Gul walked over and stood next to her husband. “He’s speaking the truth, Mr. Wade.” She said with sincerity, “I saw my director get cut down in a hail of phaser fire. Before I was about to die, Dean gunned down his Hiocean comrade in the back. He was then rewarded for sparing our lives.”

“What did you do in the war, sir?” Wade asked him.

“I was a logistics officer.” He said, flipping through the pages, “The Hioceans Hierarchy saw that what was needed to help the humans rebuild was compassion and mercy. I was given the High Governor job in High Town long after the war was over.”

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“First reason, I’ve been reading your file from Enforcer Station 18,” he said, patting the folder, “You’ve lost both your parents in the Three Year War. You have no reason to like Hioceans. You have every reason to despise us. However, I’m one of the select few who will easily admitted, using Earth as a neutral battle ground was a mistake. Too long had we looked down on races we though were lesser. I want you to trust me.”

Wade stared at him. He seemed sincere enough but it wasn’t like reading a human face. He could easily tell when one of them was lying. And as far as trusting Ellen; she could have been saying exactly what he wanted her to say. The bounty hunter looked at his friends briefly and then back at the governor. He needed more info. “And the second reason?” he asked.

“I wanted to give you some history on the Hiocean who betrayed us in Bermuda.” He said, “Nor is no longer a Brigadier in the Hiocean Star Armada. He is a rogue pirate in Northern Lands known as Nor The Soldier. He adopted that name to try and remind Hioceans that we should be patriotic in our cause. Rumor has it he had old WarBots, Lorns and even humans working for him. He has taken something very valuable to me. I want her back.”

Wade blinked from his last statement. “Her?” he asked.

Ellen then took a vidplate and walked over toward the bounty hunter. She pressed a gray button at the bottom of the panel and an image came up of a Hiocean female. However, she didn’t look like any typical female of the species. Her skin was a light blue and her “freckles” were darker. Instead of the typical jet black hair, hers was a light brown. “Vera Gul.” Ellen whispered, “Our daughter.”

Wade stared at the vidplate as Mikhail and Buddy stepped closer to look as well. The mutant twitched his nose, and realized the rumors were indeed true after all these years; human and Hiocean DNA was compatible. “Nor has finally taken his revenge on me by stealing my daughter away.” Gul whispered.

“Any demands of ransom?” Wade asked.

“No. He’s not interested in Hiocean wealth. He is interested in hurting me.”

“Where are they?” Mikhail asked.

“He’s established a base where most fear to go. The Crater.” The Governor whispered.

Wade gently put down the vidplate. He knew of where The Crater was; back during his time, it was the thriving city known as Chicago. It was re-dubbed The Crater because a vast Hiocean warship crashed into Lake Michigan. Not only was the water destroying the city in a massive tidal wave; the fusion reactor went off and decimated the whole place. The human government declared it as disaster area and New Chicago was being built where Hoboken use to be. It didn’t change the fact that The Crater was still used as a hideout for smugglers, pirates and various criminals. Not to mention the abundance of mutants and dying creatures that still inhabit the region. “You and your friends were chosen because of the Enforcer file, Mr. Wade.” Governor Gul said, standing up, “Of all the hunters working in the Mid-Way and Low Town, you have a 94% success rate. Every criminal you’ve been forced to kill has been in self defense. You’ve kept your nose out of trouble. I want you to take this job. Name your price.”

“My price might be pretty steep.” Wade crossed his arms, “I had no idea that we were venturing into The Crater.”

“Where our daughter is concerned, money is not object.” The High Governor quickly said.

Wade took a deep breath and looked toward his best friends. Mikhail had no eyebrows but he gave his friend the look of trust. Buddy gently patted his friend on the shoulder; a signal that he’ll always trust him. The bounty hunter looked back toward the High Governor. “The price will be 500,000 Hiocean credits,” he said, “I want a Sky Suite for me and my friends, with full access to the Hydroponics Farm. And to insure I bring her back safely, I want an all terrain hovercar, which we will keep when the job is done.”

The High Governor then held up his mug of coffee to toast him.

“Done.” He whispered.

Part II Low Town

Part II Low Town

“Cheesburger in Paradise it ain’t”, Mikhail rattled off. The vehicle limped its way to only place one could find a burger in Low Town. The place could be mistaken for another abandoned building if not for the fresh paint above the doorway that reads “Low Town Tavern – Hell’s Rest Stop” in a very dull red color.

Wade and the others exit the vehicle. The rest of Low Town did not fare much better during or after the war. This community use to be vibrant and alive – bustling with thousands. The kids roamed the streets in the long Summer months, shops were small and friendly – families knew each other.

Wade eves draw a bead on a derelict playground. “And now this…” he thought to himself. The entire town is encased in a layer of dirt, grime and decay. The only commodity still flourishing here is death. “If hell has a rest stop were are in it”, mumbling to himself.

Every building, street corner has a memory for him or worse – a ghosts. He and Buddy spent three years hiding here. That’s long enough to distort any mans vision. The town stretches further up and out but most if empty – left to rot back into the earth. The only ones that care are us lucky few who stay.

“You coming boss”, Buddy asked.

“Yea, grab Kreeger. Must be your lucky day. First I don’t kill you and second you might be in time for one of the best burgers this side of the blue zone.” Buddy makes sure Kreeger is well secured with the cuffs and with some help makes the bounty walk. Kreeger has no choice as the other option is not good – a smiling Mikhail all too ready to unleash his fury upon him.

The four of them stride inside. Now you might assume the interior has been redone or updated but you would be wrong. The inside has the same urban decay as everything else but with a bit more color.

Kreeger is chained to the counter top near the end of the bar – above him reads “This area designated as the shit hole”. “Suits you just fine Kreeger – we will be just over here so don’t get any ideas I don’t want you to find out how good of shot I really can be.”

Wade, Buddy and Mikhail take command of the table. It’s facing the front entrance and near enough to the back door. Rule #1 never leave your back to a door wade remembers some old soldier taught him. Another one that sticks in his mind is “If you are in a fight and get shot – fall forward so you can keep firing”. Wade not sure why that one has stuck so long in his brain. It’s like a song you can’t get rid of.

Now Low Town Tavern has your run of the mill folk in there. The owner is an ex-solder of war and he looks like it. I call him “Emerson” but others call him “Sergeant”. Either way he could kill you with looks alone. He has more scars then flesh and more tattoos then scars. He eats and shits military and loves to talk about the good old days. Emerson came out here a few years ago – told us he was tired of the bureaucracy but I could tell – without a war he wasn’t doing what he was good at. So he came here which is as pretty close to war you can get.

The sweet mamma on the grill is his girl Liz – not sure if they really are a couple but the fight like they are married. She is long to look at – the only rose in this garbage pile of shit. Her story is true of many who came out here – trouble back in the cities. She has never spoken to us about it but with her curse words and temper we fill in the blanks. I guess she feels safe here. That’s a sad thought. Damn fine cook though.

Others ramble in – we have the town drunk Rooster. Makes his own swill and if it don’t juice you the first time you can use it as fuel. He is pretty well useless but harmless. There’s Sateen brothers – they look like trouble but I doubt either of them have seen action. They used to have a mother out here – I think they came looking and never left.

Our Mayor – David Kole Coulture. We call him The Mayor since he acts like it. He wants a public forum on all things, even tried to organize us with no luck. The damned really do not need a union. He found his place in the bottom of some of Roosters swill. I am sure he has a longer sad story but honestly I don’t care.

The resident prostitute, Mary Kelly. With a name like that must be Irish. She’s a tough cookie to crack – not exactly easy on the eyes. I think she likes the title even she has never earned it. Hard to play tricks out here. Water and food mean more then much else.

Our good Sherriff William Morrisey. Bitter, old and angry but I would not bet against him in an old style pig-sticker fight. He has helped me and Buddy out a few times. He believes in the badge just not always in the means. He lets folks – live and let live. Out here in Low Town there’s no real law but what we set forth and that usually is who draws quicker.

They are others but I don’t know them well enough or they are passing through to a better life. Many who do live out here have some plan – to harvest the waste or rebuild.

“What do you want and what is that?” , Emerson yells across the room. “We need some burgers Sergeant”, Mikhail shouts back. “And that”, Wade interjects, “is my bounty and he is the shit house. Better give him a burger as well. Where he is going it is unlikely have this good of food”.

“Nice of you come back by”, Liz mentions as she throws the burgers down on the grill. “I thought maybe you went and got yourself killed. And honey you still are showing some blue there”. Wade had not notice he still had some of the blue biological on him, embarrassed, like a teenager on a first date, casually wipes it off.

“Now you just get to cooking”, Emerson mopes around to deliver drinks and inspect the bounty. “He doesn’t look like much – have anything good?”

“Hiocean money”, Mikhail barks as he flashes it. “How about a trade?” Emerson nods – “Sure kid – name your poison”.

“Oh you know what my kind likes – I want the bottle this time”, coiling into his chair, smiling as Emerson goes back to deliver good on the trade.

Just then a blur of motion as little Amanda comes running over to wade and plopping down in his lap. “Uncle Wade – where have you been – you smell”. “Good to see you to Amanda – where is your Mom at?” “She is out searching again – seeing what junk is around. Want to see what I found? Wade nods. Amanda pulls out a small Barbie doll, slightly burnt. “I am going to call her Alice – do you want to hold here.

Buddy and Mikhail can only keep their laughter to mild stifle. “Not right now Amanda – why don’t you say hello to Buddy and get going- taverns not a place for you. Ok?” Amanda gets downs and moves over to give Buddy a giant hug and then in a flash she vanishes out the door.

“No place for a kid”, Mikhail states with Buddy in agreement. Wade looks around at the place – “No place for much at all.”

Emerson comes over and slams the bottle down at Mikhail. All right you Blue Zoner – fork it over. Mikhail hands over the money and opens the bottle – “Awww’ that’s what I call sweet death.”

“How can you drink that swill?”, Kreeger barks.

“What about him?”, Emerson, glaring at Kreeger, “can we take him out back and beat the shit out of him? Did he have any weapons?”

“Just a gun – oh and a Bio”, Wade recalls knowing exactly what the reactions would be. Emerson grabs Kreeger by his collar, “A god damn Bio! You know what they can do – you know where you are kid – this is Low Town. Have you every seen what a Bio can do – I HAVE. I should kill you right now”, Emerson cocking his arm back, ready to strike.

From the doorway a voice – not deep or horsy like the others. This one has an accent and is clean.

“That would be my job”.

Wade, Mikhail and Buddy glance over. In the door way stands a figure cloaked in a shiny black duster. Eyes cover in specs, a scarf of sorts surround his neck. His bald white head just has a touch of pink now. He takes two steps forward – ingesting the surrounds that befall him. All take notice except the Sherriff.

The figure removes the specs and delicately places them within his jacket. With a gloved hand a motion and two more men enter. These are soldiers. They look it - dressed head to toe in armor and weapons. Their faces covered in helmets and visors. Wade only thinks how hot it must be for them. They are armed to the teeth bathed in the best technology the government has. This doesn’t concerns wade very much.

“Government agents”, Wade tells Buddy and Mikhail.

Emerson steps forward. “What do your kind want around here?”

The Bald leader merely smirks. “We merely want to take part your establishments’ pleasant atmosphere – to enjoy a good burger from the lovely Liz or how a small conference with your local sheriff. Is that too much to ask Sergeant Emerson Rowe?”

Now he has everybody’s attention including Wade.

“Ok you know us what about you and your friends here? They want to talk as well?” Emerson cautiously asks.

“They are here to see nothing bad happens, that Low Town stays the same quiet place it has been all these years. No, I come to talk to that man over there”, gesturing towards Wade. Wade is somewhat surprised – not to mention what Buddy and Mikhail think. Kreeger smiles at a nasty thought.

Wade watches as the man in black saunters slowly over – almost afraid to touch anything. He is not use to this environment. Doesn’t mean he is any less dangerous. The walking dead bodyguards stumble over with him.

My name is Jonathan Krill – I work for the Government if you had not already guessed. These are my associates. There are many like them outside. Oh what do we have here? “, standing before the cuffed Kreeger. “A prisoner? – oh goody”. Kreeger senses this guy might not be as friendly as Wade.

Mikhail riffs off, “He is our bounty thank you very much. We will taking him in for a small reward”. Buddy and Wade watch intently slowly moving their hands to the hip holsters.

Wade is more focused on the two armed guards. Well not welcomed, it is not uncommon for government agents to vector so far inside this area – usually looking for trouble. The two guards
look menacing with their technology doesn’t give them the surprise Wade looks for. Out here it’s your cunning that keeps you alive. These boys intimidate by looks and show of force. Wade has seen too much for that to happen to him or his group.

Krill measures up Kreeger, playing with his cuffs. “Well then you should be aware by Bounty Law 3.54.11 Bylaw 4 -- All prisoners who come in contact with Government agents are therefore considered government property and due process can begin immediately. You can of course submit an Article of Bounty claim with the courts but he is ours. Take care of him”, Krill says coldly.

“Wait just one minute”, Mikhail rises – Buddy trying to keep him calm.

“No I will not wait”, Krill states. Mikhail is on his feet but Buddy restrains him. One of the guards walks up to Kreeger and without hesitation produces what looks like a cell phone device – it is not. Wade knows what exactly it is but it is already too late.

“Get that bloody thing away from me Kreeger shouts to no avail. The guard fires and two small wires shoot out and hit Kreeger directly in the chest. A blue arc of electricity flows from the device to Kreeger. Soon smokes emulates from his head and arms. That burnt flesh smell fills the air.

Liz huddles by Emerson who is only a few feet away from his concealed gun. The Sheriff barely raises an eyelid to the whole commotion.

Wade watches as Kreeger’s face becomes frozen in horror and pain and his eyes draw back. The stream of electricity is broken and Kreeger slumps to the floor – oozing of burnt flesh and smoke rising from his form. Wade’s glare turns back the Krill.

“I love my job- case closed. Remove this corpse. “, Krill moves over closer to Mikhail, who is sits in amazement of the whole thing, “You see we have to dispose of them like this – burn them inside and out because there is a rampart problem of organ harvesting from outside the Blue Zone and this way we are sure nothing of value can come from him anymore. They do tend to smell more though.”

Buddy is uneasy with Krill marching around them. “And what is this – an illegal liquor”, grasping at Mikhail’s bottle. “Emerson Rowe I am surprised at a man of your history would allow such a blatant disregard of the law to happen her – that could close you down.”

Krill hovers over Mikhail who almost to the point of boiling over. Krill gets right to his ear, “You must be a Blue Zoner – only your kind would drink this swill”, Krill takes a whiff and snarls at it.

“So good riddance – we do not want any law breakers around these parts do we”, Krill slowly pours the contents out. Wade is not sure who is more angry – Mikhail losing his bottle or Emerson having his place abused. Krill sets down the empty bottle in front of Mikhail.

“And you must be Buddy – nice name. A Lorn I assume, notice the blank stare you are giving me. Bigger then most – must be the burgers”, Krill smiles at Liz and Emerson.

Emerson gives a grimace to the comment.

Wade is tired of the tactics. “What do you want agent man?”

“You must be Wade.” Krill pulls up the seat directly across from him, “it is a pleasure to meet you, beg your pardon for not shaking hands but you can see I am not accustomed to these parts – I prefer a more clean environment in which to work.” Krill is now measuring up wade and his partners.

Wade finger inch closer to his gun, every so slow. Wade wants to know other then Krill’s guard and what he promises are more outside what else he brings to the table. Krill, just for a moment lets out a slight smile at wade and then proceeds to test the table for dirt before setting his arms on it.

“I would not want you or your friends here hurt by a misunderstanding so if you would please remove your fingers from your guns every so slowly.”

They all notice his guards already drawing a bead on them. Wade nods to Mikhail and Buddy – they all relax a bit but don’t move their hands by much. No fair fights around here.

An Empath - great Wade thinks. “Nice trick”.

“Oh no trick Wade – just one of my many talents.” Krill face becomes sullen and he stares with his cold blue eyes at Wade.

“The High Governor would like to speak to you.”