Benjamin Wray: Acid Reign: Genesis

He could feel his armor filling with blood. His vision blurred and he could no longer struggle against the Fringer’s grip. He lay back, ignoring the jostling and banging of his helmet against the ground, and focused on the small hypnotizing lights passing above him.

There was an enormous cavern filled with layers of uneven makeshift shanties that littered the walls and created multiple levels. Fringers of all ages and sizes dotted as far as he could see.

“Children,” he said to himself.

He didn’t want to believe it, but it made sense. They had managed to survive for generations underground. He imagined people running to the basement after the Fissure, seeking refuge, and stumbling across this cavern. Considering the primal state of the cavern’s citizens, the lights and shanties had to be a contribution of generations long past.

The Fringer tossed him through the air. The cavern lights danced around him then disappeared into darkness as the spinning cavern came to a sudden and violent stop. He couldn’t see anything, but he could hear the chanting all around him. He was confused as sharp tugs and pulls on his body began, and then the horrible realization of being eaten crept into his mind, just as a large rock slammed down on his helmet.

Ripp gave a thumb’s up to an excited Gus, who was climbing in the driver’s seat of the soldier’s transport.

“Gunfire stopped,” Gus pointed out.

“Lasted longer than I thought it would,” Ripp replied.

“They were kind enough to leave the keys,” Gus said as he started the engine.

“It’s got a perpetual drive,” Gus yelled.

“That’s great, but you know you can’t drive it back into Nucrea, let alone sell it?”

“You let me worry about that. There’s a place I can store it, until I can break her down.”

“That’s all you, brother.”

“More credits for me,” Gus shot back.

“Now that all the fun is over, should we get back to work?”

Ripp checked the gauges and rerouted the navigation system.

“Lead on,” Gus said.

Ripp finished logging an environmental scan into the transport’s system, backed up and turned back down the narrow road, with Gus beaming in his new transport behind him.

The lights of Nucrea’s nightscape cast their blue and red hues into Yeong’s dark office. Yeong and Nun stood looking out at the city together.

“There are very few of the third generation left, but those who are will understand, and that is all that matters,” Yeong said.

Nun looked out onto the city with his hands in his pockets.

“Is it really all that bad?”

“The people do not remember the cost, and now they bite the hands that feed them.” Yeong turned away from the window and looked at Nun.

“You should have some windows facing east. You would see some who do remember,” Nun said as an intentional jab.

Yeong laughed a short, pretentious laugh.

“You of all people to lecture me on having more than others.”

Nun wanted to point out that he had built his own fortune as a Runner, while Yeong inherited his wealth through a lineage that caused the Fissure, but decided to keep those thoughts to himself.

Yeong moved to his desk and pulled out two cigars. He cut the end off one and handed it to Nun.

“Thank you,” Nun said as he held the cigar to his nose and relished the scent.

Yeong watched Nun admiring the cigar for a moment then offered him an electric lighter.

“What are you looking for in the Fringe?” Yeong asked.

Nun reverently lit the cigar.

“Trinkets here and there,” he said before taking a long draw and letting out a cloud of thick smoke.

“Let’s speak plainly with each other Alanon.”

Nun felt Yeong’s irritation at his deflection and noticed that he hadn’t cut or lit his own cigar.

“Anything I can sell or use,” he amended with more assertiveness. Nun didn’t like being tested or questioned. In fact, he hated it, and though their relationship went back five decades, Nun struggled to be in the same room as Yeong at times.

“I find it hard to believe there isn’t something that you aren’t specifically looking for.”

“I don’t believe you brought me here because you care about what junk I dig up. Speaking plainly, what do you want from me?”

Yeong looked him in the eyes and moved closer.

“I want to know what it is you want. Nucrea?” Yeong added.

“I want to survive,” Nun answered, finally knowing what Yeong was getting at. “I want Nucrea to survive, same as you,” he added.

“Similar perhaps, but not the same as me,” Yeong replied with less respect than he had been showing. “You want to control all of the markets, and you should. I, on the other hand, want to ensure that these people don’t destroy what we have saved because of ignorant freedoms.”

Nun looked at him with a devilish smile. “You are planning to overthrow the council aren’t you?”

Yeong pretended to be surprised at hearing it out loud. “Yes, as you must also see that we need to return balance to this city before we destroy ourselves completely.”

Nun made sure his cigar was out completely and reverently put both cigars it back into the box.

“Very much so; but personally, I feel pretty balanced at the moment.”

Yeong ignored Nun’s comment.

“The council will be overthrown. You will be given stewardship over all the markets and will also be given a seat in the new council.”

“You can skip the council part for me, but the markets I’ll take. You know, this all sounds wonderful, but also sounds like a mess, and wonderful messes are something I don’t take part in.”

Yeong walked over to the cigar box, slowly took Nun’s cigar out of the box and set it aside. “I just need you to ensure that the other market barons do not interfere. I give you my blessing to do whatever you feel necessary to ensure that. You will have access to whatever you might need outside of your own resources to accomplish this.”

Nun thought for a moment. He knew Yeong was a brilliant tactician, but he was not a liar. There was no reason for Yeong to mislead him.

“Access to your feeds is all,” Nun threw out, expecting hesitation.

“Done.”

Yeong pulled up his access portal on the holo-desk, swiped through a couple of screens, and held his face close to the table. After the scan was finished, he stepped aside, opened his hand, and motioned for Nun to approach.

“Hold your face above this screen,” Yeong said as he backed away.

The desk scanned Nun’s features.

“You will now be able to access the city’s feeds, assuming that you understand the need for secrecy.”

“Easy enough,” Nun said as he pulled his sleeve back and linked the feeds to his own Pigeon.

“Then we have an agreement?” Yeong asked as he walked to Nun with his arms out.

“We do. Until the morning,” Nun said as he embraced Yeong.

“Until the morning,” Yeong answered.

The pits were a hodgepodge of poorly welded metal buildings, and gapped walls, serving as ventilation. Some came looking for a chance to step up in life. Although it was no more than a glorified dumpster, hundreds came daily for the excitement.

Some came to the pits because they wanted to feel rebellious for the first time in their lives. Some came just because they wanted to show that if they lost money it didn’t matter, but most of all, if you wanted to get something for nothing, the pits was were you went. It was also the only place in Nucrea where the illegal consumption of alcohol and chemical injections, for the most part, were overlooked.