Chp 3

  My wanderings eventually led me to the only part of the area that seemed to be clean in any real way. A security checkpoint of sorts, the gleaming metal and automated turrets contrasting the rust and dirt of the rest of the area. It was manned by a multitude of guards of various shapes and sizes. Some human, some humanoid, and others so different it made me wonder what kind of fucked up environment led to their evolution. They each had some similar features, including the same color scheme on their noticeably more advanced armor, a drab olive green covering certain armor panels while black filled the rest, and a symbol of an alien skull criss crossed with a peculiar type of spear. It resembles a trident almost, except that the prongs flowed out of the central shaft and into blades that resembled a khopesh and curved inwards towards the central spear.

  This detail, as innocuous as it may seem, tipped me off to my general galactic location. You see, that weapon was an old S’kraal hunting weapon. It was made to hunt the near extinct Tendril-Beasts. They were a fierce predator hunted by the S’kraal as a rite of passage for warrior families during the reign of the Golgax Sultanate, with the blades on either side meant to fend off the tendrils before they got close, while the harpoon like spear in the middle was meant to pierce the core and drag it out of the rest of the body to truly kill it.

  That symbol meant nothing to me unfortunately, as it was a common weapon and beast to be symbolized by the Successor States that all wished to claim a part of the old heritage, and therefore did not indicate where in Drafla I was. This conundrum would have to wait, as a hover car of sorts appeared by the checkpoint. It bore a different symbol than the checkpoint guards, showing the same skull cracked in half, and covered in a dull red paint, and was followed by a far bulkier vehicle, seemingly made for mass transport. As these soldiers disembarked, I noticed their gear was noticeably worse than that of the guards, with rust, cracks and peeling paint being common. With only some quick words spoken between the two groups, the reds began to spread out.

  The people around me had a clear sense of apprehension towards the soldiers, but the arrival of the transports incited not quite a panic, but instead a tense exodus. People not tending stalls or shops scattered into alleyways and up the myriad of stairs, ladders and ramps that led to alternate floors.

  I followed the example of most, speed-walking into an alleyway to avoid whatever clear threat these soldiers posed. However, in my near panic, I had walked into a dead end. Turning around I saw that the soldiers were already lining the main street, talking to the various stall vendors and business owners that dotted the street.

  I scrambled to the side of the alley, hiding behind a vending machine that had been so scrapped for parts that I was surprised the paint hadn't been stolen either. As I watched, the soldiers (gangsters? probably gangsters) collected Dras from the vendors; most likely a protection fee.

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  As interesting as the gang economy might seem though, I had bigger problems to deal with. Another street rat had decided to co-opt my alleyway and dig their small, canine esc body under a nearby pile of garbage. They failed, however, to hide the small tail that extended noticeably out of the trash.

  This caught the attention of one of the soldiers, a tall, thin Fal’Thyr (the species I remember because of their founding of the now extinct galactic empire called the Golgax Sultanate) approached the alley.

  I cowered in fear behind the vending machine. Only some gashes in the machine's frame and the lack of internal machinery let me peek without being spotted.

  The S’kraal holstered it's rifle and instead pulled out a sidearm, and proceeded to hoist the creature from the trash. It rose kicking, screaming and biting, kept from doing any damage by the gangsters long limbs, and instantly quieted down when it noticed the pistol pointed at its face.

  The weapon hummed for a second, its tesla coil barrel glowing a light blue before a bolt of electricity rushed out, striking the street rat in the head. I had expected carnage, blood, guts and brain matter, but found that either the weapon killed bloodlessly, or it was a stunner. The gangster turned and started walking back to the main street, creature in tow.

  “Got another one over here” they called, the voice warbling as if they were speaking from underwater.

  “Too small for a conscript. Maybe a menial?”

  “Could be, but it's above our paygrades to decide. Just toss em in the transport, let the lieutenants sort that out ”

  As they seemed to walk away, I let out a tense breath. A mistake, I assure you, as the action seemed to perk the ears of the other gangster at the entrance to the alley, one of the canine aliens.

  Soon enough they were looming over me, stun gun in hand.

  At this point I was already mentally exhausted, so I just shrugged.

  “Shit luck I guess”

  “Call it what you want kid. Could have been worse”

  “Suppose so”

  With that brief exchange over, the tesla coils glowed, and I saw naught but darkness.

  —----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Ugh, is this what a hangover feels like?

  The fact that I had not had alcohol the last time I was awake, and in fact had never partaken seemed to escape me at the moment, along with most of my cognitive functions.

  As I blinked my eyes awake, rubbing my forehead in a vain attempt to somehow tell the pain to fuck off, I noticed that I was in some sort of moving vehicle. At least a dozen other people were in here with me, of varying races, though they all seemed to be on the younger side, at least amongst those whose signs of aging were more obvious.

  As I went to stand up, steadying myself on the handlebar behind me, I noticed the windows. While they were barred, with what seems like hastily slapped on armor plating, there was still a view of the outside.

  We rushed through the air, the infinite metropolis of the spire city stretching so far in front of me that I could see clouds forming. Whatever flying vehicle I was in, it was moving at a decent speed. 30~45 mph(48~72 kph) was my best guess, and considering the apparent size of the megastructure we were in, it would be a while before we arrived.

  Not wanting to tire myself out before whatever ordeal awaited me, and seeing no way to escape on account of our verticality, I settled down into my spot and tried not to break down.

  (Spoiler: Didn't work)