Kyle West - Revelation

Michael shrugged. “Not really. I’ve had a boss in one form or another all my life. I could have done much worse than the Dragons. I’m glad I came across them first, rather than the Kings or the Reds.”

“What’s so bad about the Reds?” I asked.

“The Reds are bad because they live outside city limits. It was actually a good thing for them at first, because being so distant made them safer from attacks. Now, though, they’re an easy target for Blighters.”

We stopped before the open doors of what used to be a fancy restaurant. Within the dark interior, torches burned from the walls, and a line of candles lit a table where a muscled black man in dark clothing sat. His face was hidden by shadow, but his forearms, in the light of the fire, were visible. On each one was a tattoo of a dragon, one light blue, breathing ice, the other red, breathing fire. They both seemed to glow in the darkness.

The hands raised, gesturing to nearby seats. “Sit.”

Michael led us inside the restaurant, and we sat. Closer, we could more easily see the Boss’s facial features. He was a big man, maybe in his late thirties. He wore all black — black pants, black shirt — which, coupled with his dark skin, made him blend in with the shadows.

“You Makara?” he asked Anna.

Michael answered for her. “She is meeting with Char and the Raiders. I brought two of their high-ranking members here to represent her.”

“High-ranking?” The Boss gave a sideways grin. “What is this, Lord of the Flies with spaceships?”

I had to smile at that, even if it was an insult.

“She’s about our age, yeah,” I said. “We’re not kids, though.”

Boss Dragon snickered. “Yeah, alright. Of course you’re not. The question is, why should I listen to you?”

Before I could answer and get us into any trouble, I felt Michael kick me under the table. “Actually, Boss, the New Angels were hoping to have the opportunity to meet with you, as well as with the rest of the gangs.”

Boss Dragon eyed Michael skeptically “What kind of business would we have to discuss? If it’s protection, that’s already been decided. We’re not letting anyone in until this Blight mess is over.”

“Then no one is getting in,” Anna said. “The Blight mess won’t be over until Vegas is gone. Makara wants a meeting to decide what to do about that. And she has a plan to stop it.”

Boss Dragon looked at her. “I don’t care if it’s about tea and crumpets. The gangs won’t meet for any reason. Too much blood, and not enough water. No one will meet unless safety is guaranteed.”

“We aren’t going to try anything,” I said. “We can meet somewhere that’s open, so that there’s no chance of an ambush.”

“We could use the runway,” Michael said.

Boss Dragon looked at Michael, as if wondering whose side he was on. “You said Makara has a plan. What is it?”

“We figured out how to stop the xenovirus,” I said. “The xenovirus is what controls all the Blighters. And…” Anna looked at me, and I realized I probably shouldn’t reveal too much, too soon. “Makara can explain the rest at the meeting. But one thing you should know is that the xenovirus and the Great Blight are a lot more powerful than you think. First it was Raider Bluff. Next, it will be Vegas.”

Boss Dragon’s eyes appeared troubled. After sitting in silence for at least a full minute, the candles on the table burning on, he looked at Anna and me in turn.

“I’ll arrange a meeting. By tomorrow, every gang lord will know that Makara will be parlaying on the runways.”

“We can let her know tonight,” I said.

“Actually, you both will be staying here tonight,” Boss Dragon said.

“I’m not staying here any longer than I have to,” I said.

“I’m not taking you hostage,” Boss Dragon said. “It’s too dangerous to be out on the streets this late. I would be remiss to allow it.”

“Staying is a good idea,” Michael said. “Especially if Howlers are out.”

I didn’t like it, but I decided to trust Michael’s judgment.

“Until tomorrow, then.” Boss Dragon looked at Michael. “Escort them to some of our guest rooms. You are to stay with the Angels until the meeting is over. Keep me updated.”

Michael gave a slow nod, and just like that, the meeting was over. We got up from our chairs and followed Michael out of the restaurant, toward the bank of elevators we had passed earlier.

“At least he agreed to set something up,” I said. “We got what we wanted.”

It was hard to tell if Boss Dragon was friend or foe, but for a gang lord, he didn’t seem that bad. Michael led us up some stairs, taking us to the third floor. The interior was dirty, smelling of dirt and must. I guess that’s what happened when a carpet hadn’t been properly cleaned in over thirty years. The doors — at least most of them — were still intact.

Michael led us to the end of the hall, opening a door on our left.

“You can stay here,” he said. “I’ll come back for you in the morning.”

Makara was going to be wondering where we were tonight. “Is there any way you can give Makara word about where we are?”

“Give me the right channel, and I can try contacting Odin.”

I gave him the channel, and he brought the radio to his mouth.

“Odin , you have a copy?”

He waited ten seconds or so, before trying again.

“Odin , do you have a copy?”

“They must be off the ship,” Anna said. “You can try again later.”

“I’ll try to let her know what’s going on by tonight. As far as you guys stand, you have nothing to be afraid of. The Boss sees you as messengers, and he won’t do anything to provoke Makara. Stay here until morning. We’ll meet by the fountain. You can catch me up on everything then.”

Michael reached out a hand. I shook it.

“Alex. It’s good to see you alive. Try to stay that way.”

He nodded to Anna, and walked down the hall.

We went inside the dark hotel room, and locked the door behind us.

The next morning, Anna and I sat on the edge of the empty fountain out front while Michael went to find breakfast. He came back a few minutes later with some corn bars and water.

“Sorry for the small portions,” he said. “We’re being careful about food around here with the Blighters around; our supply could be cut off at any time.”

“When is this meeting supposed to happen, specifically?” Anna asked, taking a big bite of her bar.

“Not sure, yet,” Michael said. “Probably sometime this afternoon. I’ll have my radio on me, so Boss Dragon will let me know the details when he arranges something.” Michael turned to me. “Now that we have some time, maybe you can catch me up on everything that has happened. How’d you get out of Bunker 108?”

So I told him — the whole thing. I started with the fall of Bunker 108, and getting out with Khloe. That all seemed so long ago. The memories were distant, but all the same, the cold fear of that night was still there, along with the pain of losing Khloe and my father.

“Me and my family must have gotten out just before you,” Michael said. “We headed for the motor pool and took one of the Recons.”

“Smart,” I said.

“It was one of the Recons that was already prepped with some supplies, so we were able to set out into the dust storm. We didn’t make it far that first night. I only went far enough to feel safe before parking near the mountain.”

“How’d you end up here?”

“I knew L.A. was bad, because of the Reapers, so I set off for Vegas from the start. On our way we ran into raiders and Blighters. We ran out of juice halfway, not able to find water to fuel the vehicle. We ditched the Recon and walked the rest of the way, making it to the Vegas outskirts a week after leaving Bunker 108. There, a Dragon patrol found us. Before they could do anything, they were ambushed by some Reds. I helped fight them off, and the Dragons right then and there led us into the city. They gave us food and water, and then I met Boss Dragon himself. He asked me to join up with him. So I did. Since then, my wife, daughter, and I are all staying here.”