Read Online SF in The City Anthology by Joshua Wilkinson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Joshua Wilkinson
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demanded.
“I’m on Gaff Street,” he said.
“We’ll pick you up on the way,” Norn replied.
Once they had hung up, the four headed west to pick up the “fifth wheel.” Within two blocks, they ran across a Dèng’s Takeout delivery drone. They could tell that the machine had already dropped off its load by the speed with which it moved. The Treaty of Oscuro Martes made a rule that one projectile weapon was permitted per group. An all-girl group called the Unicorns had been using guns to blow away other crew’s “honorable warriors.” It was not long after this crew “disappeared” that the official gangs held their infamous conference.
Unfortunately Probably had the best aim of any Dingonek, so he kept the squad’s SV-98 with him at all times. A rifle could easily knock a drone out of the sky, and Charlisle had no problem hacking into the system of an airborne robot. With only melee weapons, it seemed likely that they wouldn’t secure some extra ECUs on this beat. Then it happened.
A shot rang out, and the drone came sputtering into the street. Coming around the street’s corner, three large boys carrying steel pipes and clubs looked at the damaged drone. Charlisle and company did not even need to look at the insignia of these new arrivals to know their identities. The Manticore gang had antagonized the Dingonek’s for several years. Once Norn had provided evidence that these rivals exceeded the five member limit, the Manticores had lost their popularity in the Gorse.
The leader of their crew, Proc Ocano, stepped out of the shadows, carrying a recently fired Bor rifle. If a fight broke out, the Dingonek’s would be completely justified. While Proc had shot the drone above Manticore territory, it landed on Dingonek turf. Without their fifth man, Charlisle’s gang faced a four on four fight with an enemy that had brought a long range weapon. However, Norn had a much better grasp of diplomacy than most gangbangers.
“Send out your hacker, and we’ll send ours,” the Dingonek leader shouted as his gang approached the scene of the crime. “We can split the ECU’s 50/50.”
“Did you shoot it down?” Proc said with his weapon leveled in Norn’s direction.
“It’s on our turf and you know it, scum,” Nettles shouted angrily.
The Manticores’ own hot head, Apollo A klys, stalked forward, a jitte [14] grasped firmly in his right hand. Nettles started swinging his chain through the air, hoping to give another beating before the morning was out.
“Do you have a rimation program in your hacking pack?” the Manticore’s official hacker, Maxime Oslop, asked Charlisle with a raised eyebrow. “I don’t have one, and we’ll need to split the ECUs somehow.”
“Boss didn’t give you permission to do that,” Apollo growled at Maxime.
“He also didn’t give you permission to draw a weapon,” the Manticore’s fourth member, Kosei Kanabō, spoke up for the first time.
“We’ll do it your way,” Proc scowled at Norn, “but if you cheat us, you won’t leave here with your heads still attached.”
“Understood,” Norn motioned to Charlisle, who broke into the drone and bypassed its security programs in only a few minutes.
Maxime looked on in amazement and checked his currency reader before turning back to his leader and nodding. The money had been divided fairly.
“Hey guys, how’s it going,” Probably said innocently when he arrived at the street corner.
With a raised eyebrow, Proc dismissed himself and his gang. The Dingonek’s watched them walk all the way down Flycatcher Street before turning to address their youngest member.
“How does it look like it’s going bozo?” Nettles punched Probably in the arm.
“We just got ourselves out of an altercation,” Vox said.
“ You mean Norn did,” Charlisle pointed out.
“Probably, if you arrive late to a meeting again, I will probably kick you out, for good,” Norn glared at the youth. “If you can’t fulfill your
“I’m on Gaff Street,” he said.
“We’ll pick you up on the way,” Norn replied.
Once they had hung up, the four headed west to pick up the “fifth wheel.” Within two blocks, they ran across a Dèng’s Takeout delivery drone. They could tell that the machine had already dropped off its load by the speed with which it moved. The Treaty of Oscuro Martes made a rule that one projectile weapon was permitted per group. An all-girl group called the Unicorns had been using guns to blow away other crew’s “honorable warriors.” It was not long after this crew “disappeared” that the official gangs held their infamous conference.
Unfortunately Probably had the best aim of any Dingonek, so he kept the squad’s SV-98 with him at all times. A rifle could easily knock a drone out of the sky, and Charlisle had no problem hacking into the system of an airborne robot. With only melee weapons, it seemed likely that they wouldn’t secure some extra ECUs on this beat. Then it happened.
A shot rang out, and the drone came sputtering into the street. Coming around the street’s corner, three large boys carrying steel pipes and clubs looked at the damaged drone. Charlisle and company did not even need to look at the insignia of these new arrivals to know their identities. The Manticore gang had antagonized the Dingonek’s for several years. Once Norn had provided evidence that these rivals exceeded the five member limit, the Manticores had lost their popularity in the Gorse.
The leader of their crew, Proc Ocano, stepped out of the shadows, carrying a recently fired Bor rifle. If a fight broke out, the Dingonek’s would be completely justified. While Proc had shot the drone above Manticore territory, it landed on Dingonek turf. Without their fifth man, Charlisle’s gang faced a four on four fight with an enemy that had brought a long range weapon. However, Norn had a much better grasp of diplomacy than most gangbangers.
“Send out your hacker, and we’ll send ours,” the Dingonek leader shouted as his gang approached the scene of the crime. “We can split the ECU’s 50/50.”
“Did you shoot it down?” Proc said with his weapon leveled in Norn’s direction.
“It’s on our turf and you know it, scum,” Nettles shouted angrily.
The Manticores’ own hot head, Apollo A klys, stalked forward, a jitte [14] grasped firmly in his right hand. Nettles started swinging his chain through the air, hoping to give another beating before the morning was out.
“Do you have a rimation program in your hacking pack?” the Manticore’s official hacker, Maxime Oslop, asked Charlisle with a raised eyebrow. “I don’t have one, and we’ll need to split the ECUs somehow.”
“Boss didn’t give you permission to do that,” Apollo growled at Maxime.
“He also didn’t give you permission to draw a weapon,” the Manticore’s fourth member, Kosei Kanabō, spoke up for the first time.
“We’ll do it your way,” Proc scowled at Norn, “but if you cheat us, you won’t leave here with your heads still attached.”
“Understood,” Norn motioned to Charlisle, who broke into the drone and bypassed its security programs in only a few minutes.
Maxime looked on in amazement and checked his currency reader before turning back to his leader and nodding. The money had been divided fairly.
“Hey guys, how’s it going,” Probably said innocently when he arrived at the street corner.
With a raised eyebrow, Proc dismissed himself and his gang. The Dingonek’s watched them walk all the way down Flycatcher Street before turning to address their youngest member.
“How does it look like it’s going bozo?” Nettles punched Probably in the arm.
“We just got ourselves out of an altercation,” Vox said.
“ You mean Norn did,” Charlisle pointed out.
“Probably, if you arrive late to a meeting again, I will probably kick you out, for good,” Norn glared at the youth. “If you can’t fulfill your
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