“It’s not much, but I can show you where I left that Recon.”

“Yeah,” I said, smiling. “That’s not much at all.”

Chapter 9

After getting our weapons back, we exited the Sunset Gate, walking up the slope of the overpass to where Odin had landed. The Exiles’ bikes were lined up against the left-hand guardrail, and at the end of the line, I saw Marcus tinkering with his own bike’s motor.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Replacing the hydrogen fuel line,” he said.

I looked down at the motor, noticing there was a miniaturized pressure tank filled with several gallons of water.

“Do all the bikes run on hydrogen?” I asked.

Marcus nodded. “Conventional gasoline has a short shelf life, and is hard to come by. That’s why any vehicle worth anything burns hydrogen.” Marcus tapped the bike. “Pearl has been with me ten years now.”

“Pearl?” Anna asked, a smile on her lips.

“That’s her name,” Marcus said, proudly. “But I got to get rolling. Me and some of the boys are doing some recon.”

I wondered at the need of a recon at this point. It could have been just as simple as Marcus needing something to do. Or, more likely, he needed the excuse to get away from his brother.

“Good luck,” I said.

“How did things go in town?” Marcus asked, mounting his bike.

I shrugged. “I got attacked by a Howler, but at least Boss Dragon agreed to set up a meeting. I guess it could have gone worse.”

Marcus chuckled. “Guess so.”

“We’re meeting, probably, this afternoon,” I said. “You might want to get back before that.”

Marcus stared off into the distance, his sunglasses obscuring his eyes. “I’ll try, but we haven’t done any recon on the west side, yet. If the Reds are in town at that time, then it might be our chance to find something out.”

“Be careful,” Anna said.

Marcus started the engine with a roar, the high thrumming of the hydrogen tank sounding strange and otherworldly against the deeper sound. “Keep your wits about you, Alex.”

Before Char kicked off, Anna spoke. “Is Char in the Gilgamesh?”

Marcus didn’t answer, either because he didn’t hear or because he didn’t want to. Instead, he swerved his bike around, bringing up a cloud of dust, and headed down the overpass. Upon seeing their leader leave, six more Exiles rushed to their bikes, started them up, and left us in their dust.

“Well, there’s our answer,” I said.

Anna, realizing that Char was likely here, ran to the ship.

I turned to Michael. “She hasn’t seen Char in several months.”

“Neither have you, for that matter.”

I shrugged. “I was only with the guy a couple days. I don’t know him like Anna or Makara do.”

We entered the ship, finding Makara and Samuel sitting with Char in the galley. Char turned, his cold blue eyes surveying us and not missing a detail. When his eyes fell on Anna, he smiled. The combination of that smile with the marred face was uncanny. It reminded me too much of a Howler.

“Anna,” he said, his voice gravelly.

He stood, and Anna went to hug him.

“You seem well,” he said.

“I’m glad you’re alright.”

Char chuckled. “It takes a lot to kill me, kid. Those Blighters will get what’s coming to them, once we’re done here.”

Char stepped back from the embrace, turning to face me.

I reached out a hand. Char took it firmly.

“Good to see you alive, Alex.”

I nodded. “Same for you.”

The Alpha turned his eye on Michael.

“This is Michael Sanchez,” I said. “We knew each other in Bunker 108. He was an Officer.”

“An honor, sir,” Michael said, reaching out a hand.

Char took it. “It is good to meet you, Michael. The New Angels are always in need of strong warriors.”

“You joined up that quickly?” I asked.

“I am not as mercenary as my brother,” Char said. “My people and I have nothing, but if we join the New Angels, we have a chance to get it all back. Besides, this Blight business needs to be taken care of. If we don’t work to stop it, we’ll all be out of a home, soon, and not just the Raiders.”

“I’m glad to see you still alive,” Makara said to Anna and me. “What did you find out?”

“Boss Dragon is organizing a summit of all the gang lords for this afternoon,” I said. “It’s the perfect chance for you to explain everything.”

“Also, there are Howlers in the city,” Anna said. “It doesn’t seem like they’re many, but one of them attacked us at the MGM Grand. All the gangs, apart from one, stay inside the walls, using the old casinos as fortresses. The only time they come out is for food and water — both of which are located on the lakebed.”

“The Exiles reconnoitered that area earlier this morning,” Samuel said. “There’s another town over there, complete with a wall and everything. The water trucks were already running at that time.”

“I say we go right for the jugular,” Char said. “Take their water, and they’ll come to heel.”

“I want loyalty,” Makara said. “Going after their water is a good way to set them against us. I need an army to conquer Los Angeles. If all goes according to plan, we’ll get everyone out of here and leave the city for the crawlers.”

“You have your work cut out for you,” Char said. “Those gangs aren’t moving. Not unless you give them a reason to.”

“I plan on laying out my reasons.” Makara looked at Anna. “Where do they want to meet?”

“The runways, from what Michael told us,” Anna said. “The Dragons are going to meet us inside the gate sometime this afternoon, and then they’ll take us to the airport.”

From the look in Makara’s eyes, I could tell she didn’t like that.

“You’ll be fine,” Michael said. “Boss Dragon will be as good as his word in protecting you.”

“I want my own men having my back,” Makara said.

“They’ll be fine with you bringing a few,” Michael said. “They just don’t want an entire army coming inside the walls.”

“That means all of us will be with you,” I said. “Marcus, too, if he’s back on time.”

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Char said. “He’s still being a baby.”

No one said anything to that. Makara probably hadn’t spoken to Char about what we had learned from Marcus.

“Of course,” Char went on, “we might find out the gangs would rather side with the Emperor. If that’s the case, then we’ll have to strike first.”

That was something I hadn’t yet considered. If the Black Reapers sided with Augustus, who was to say other gangs wouldn’t as well? What Char said made sense. The gangs here had no reason to help us over Augustus. They were still trying to figure out what our motives were.

“Makara is right,” I said. “They at least have to know why we’re here, as soon as possible. If we can figure out the thought and motivations behind each of the gangs, that would go a long way.”

“I like how you’re thinking,” Char said. “What do we know about them so far?”

“We have our source right here,” I said, gesturing to Michael.

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