Era Game and Her Cohorts in New Babylon
Era Game and her Cohorts in New Babylon - Book One : Jinx
Era game has always been possessed by the fame she finds in others, She never quite remembers that she is The most famous person in the world. Like every child of fame she grew into the habit of obsessing over money. Of course with Era nothing happens for her like it does for others. Her focus tended to be unique and prosperous, and like every domino ever, she would fall and crash into the next believing she should help others who were so famous to her.
This sort of thing could easily diminish another. But a thing like this glittered on her like a shiny coat that they wore on television. Often found wearing flats and a skirt, with a Button down dress coat that fit her curves, Era could baffle one with the juxtaposition, between what they think and what they know. Though juxtaposed, the two notions never called the other a liar.
Years in time found Era currently obsessed with the newest war in money, the boost war. The major daily theft of goods from the biggest suppliers of goods and services. The war between the major factors, raged on the metro streets as addiction to drugs and approval. Even narcotics that were sure to be supplied by the federal government didn’t seem to make a judgement call in this matter. In fact, Era felt that the narcotics classically supplied by the moonshine types disregard the whole matter, abstaining from the crime wave. Talk about confusion. The war raged on, the young liftting and the old making their drop.
“Thats why we call it Feddy, Not because its fentenyl, its cause its from the federal government” Said Mark, Eras closest partner this year.
“Thank God it's feddy! If the old cook was up to this I would ask copper if it was lonely.”
Era Smirked at her own comment.
“I don’t even know what an old cook looks like anymore.” Mark closed the cover of the people magazine that he had picked up at the doctors office the other day. “I don’t believe this shit anyways.”
“You shouldn’t, though you should keep reading.” Era prized intelligence, And the Fine Arts. The skills of writing and illustration talked to her like another person would. For anyone who possessed skills in those, she maintained a separate opinion. If the other was illiterate, it didn’t occur to her that they even had an understanding of what possessed mankind to be the way it was. If they were literate she would consider their position in the relationship, by what they had consumed of literature and art.
The relationship was an important subject with Era and she used what she learned in the conversation, with herself and the others, everyday. The combination of choices in everyday activity always led to fascinating new directions in the flow. To choose a new course and to announce that course to her cohorts had become a legendary occurrence. Sometimes in the middle of a quest she would change the agenda, leading to riches and wonder, as they realized “that they just did not know that.”
“So we need to go see Charlie." Era reminded Mark. “She has your drugs and I want to do them.”
Mark laughed . “How many trees is that journey?”
“Fifteen miles worth.” Era smiled and picked up her pack and the keys to their auto.
“Do we need more careosin?” Fuel for the auto was Cheap, but the tanks were small.
“We wont take anything with us, we may need to take Charlie somewhere. She may need groceries.”
“We can stop in at the fort and get Careosin and cigarettes.” Mark's eyes twinkled.
Ten miles later the two pulled their personal auto into the Careosin pumps, amid twenty other autos in different states of appearance. The station busseled with strangers from the greater metro area that looked to sit comfortably in the wooded land.. The highway was smooth and the auto had raced at 45 miles an hour. It had only taken them less than 20 minutes.
Mark exited the auto and bounced to his feet. “Wish we knew what groceries charlie may need.”
“I didn’t bring my call pass, or we’d go to the horn and see.” Era unfastened the throw strap that kept her in the pilot seat. “Besides, don’t you wanna ride with Charlie, I think you do.” She smiled.
“You’re right as usual.”
“You’re not a common kick in the pants yourself.” Era exited the auto and joined mark on the way the the exchange.
“I know that guy.” Said mark, without pointing.
“Oh really.” Era eyed the guy, and when he caught on to her gaze, he looked up at her, and she smiled like she had been doing so the whole time. “Stunning look to the fellow, without so much as one sequin”
“He was born on T.V.”
Era chuckled, “A Maranth I suppose.”
As they approached the exchange port, Mark gladly asked the port manager “One horn and one tube please?”
The port man chuckled. “I supposed you want a wire too.” The wire ran between horns and had magical qualities. If you owned your own wire they supposed the magic would be theirs, but no one did.
“I’d need a dumpbox too I guess.” Yet another item no one owned by themselves.
“We are the world. We care a lot. Fill up number 22.” Era handed the square plastic exchange piece that looked like a plucking device for a stringed instrument.
“We are the people though, someday I'm gonna have my own horn.” A horn could be called any other horn, but was expensive and shared by everyone in the area and not even the rich owned their own.
“I wish you the best of luck” the port man said as Era pushed past the crowd and headed back to the auto which was hooked to the complicated Careosin fueling mechanism.
“If we’d had a Callbreed, Charlie would come to us.” Mark claimed
“I’m more fun than T.V., you agree.” Era hoped he did, for his sake.
“I choose to combine with entertainment, And that's you.” Mark agreed
“Besides where would we put it, and all the seats.”
“We could make an autobay out of it and have it outside. Or we could replace an exterior wall.
“You dream, I scheme, my genius.” Era began to say…
“Hey!” A voice shouted their way, and they both turned instantly at the same time to see the man Mark knew approaching.
“HI there, beautiful stranger!” Said Era Game, who eyed him with a thousand brilliant questions.
“Ahoy, what's wrong with me?”
“You're too tall, too dark and way too handsome.” Era quipped.
“This is Era!” Mark quickly explained.
“Hey you. Mark Right?” The Man asked.
“Era this is Adam.” Mark shook Adams hand and era quickly stole it from mark.
“You don’t say. What's up with you my fella?”
“Well I have a friend in North peaks with lots of Buisness.” Eras bright nature quickly faded. Business, Meant boost war profits. Boost war profits, meant game, that was Eras last name.
What was in North Peaks could lead to a stash of pure gold, or something even greater for all she knew, she was interested.
“North peaks are big , a lot of boxes!” Box Stores where goods were sold, were the main victim in the boost war.
The man smiled . “Ya, and they're as full as the day you emptied them.”
“You know Era then.”
“I haven’t emptied a box in forever.” Era claimed, not irritated at all.
“Where is forever, I forgot.” Mark offered. They all laughed and moved to the auto Era. Era was no longer in the lure of Adams Handsome nature as her mind was gnawing at the prospect of Profits in North Peaks.
The Peaks Metro area and its surrounding rural townships sat in the great wooded Range. The townships themselves were all hidden on the horizon, by the thick evergreens. But the Metro quickly rose above the tree line as it climbed up the peaks. So streets in Peaks seemed to go straight up. Most autos made it though, and Era was already thinking about everything she knew about the place that lay almost 100 highway miles to the east.
“This Auto Works!” Remarked Adam. The Three Wheeled, three man Vehicle made for personal use, looked all of the 45 miles an hour it claimed on the road. It was an opaque blue color that held a Semi Gloss with easy intent. It wasn’t a convertible like a lot of the cheap autos.
“It works its way up the mountain, it works its way back down, It works its way across town.”
Said Era while she turned from the Caretech who was removing the fueling system from the auto. She beamed at Adam as Mark pushed past them to enter into a passenger position. “You wanna go out with me?” Era
Adam cracked a smile, Era was too pretty to look at, so he looked hard in marks direction, almost asking him about their relationship.
Mark appeared out of the auto and said “She’s a cheap date!” With a smile.
Adam turned but couldn’t say anything Era pushed into him and then past him as she headed to the pilot side
“Tell me later. We gotta go see our friend bob, You cant go… errr…hes really picky.” era barked over the automotors that shot purple exhaust gas at the pumps.
“What the…” said Mark.
“No Time! We gotta work.” Era had explained too much she thought already. There was no way Charlie was gonna see this guy before she got a kiss. And two hugs, and maybe another kiss.
“Ya we gotta go but, north peaks is where to meet?”
“Ya…” said Adam. “Wow. Anyways we’ll talk about it in Peaks Era, meet me at moms palace. There's only one moms palace, I poked out near there.”
“Cant wait to meet your pokes!” Said era as she sped away.
Adam shook his head as he almost yelled “I love you.” as she disappeared into the township, instead he said “Picky about what?”
—-----------
“What do you mean I can't go with you?”
Mark smiled as he finally realized why Era had acted the way she did. “Who’s Bob anyways?”
“Bob?” Said both women as the blushed rose from their heated quarrel over the journey they were going to plan.
“Adam doesn’t know Bob either.” Mark stated.
Era was sitting on an old couch with her friend Charlie. Both significant beauties, both completely aware that there was no time left to be waiting for love to come to them, they didn’t even know they reached out and threatened love, and killed it too, with their looks. Looks were nobody’s fault so, love forgave them and warned the rest of nature to watch out. Era launched herself toward Mark who didn’t flinch.
Charlie, surprised by the quick move, asked “Who's Adam?” as if she had started an auto.
“Bob's friend!” Said era.
“Hes a friend, we're going to see him in north peaks, after some boostpro. You should go babe, you got Box hands.” Mark offered having no clue about Eras secret plan to hide charlie from adam and adam from charlie.
“After some profits?” Charlie got to her feet standing in front of a Color painting of a large television screen that most homes had in one room or another. “Whats this Adam look like?”
Era hit mark in the chest with a ball fist. “Now you've done it. You thief!!!!”
“You tell me what he looks like or ill hit you in the boob too.”Charlie threatened Era
Mark smiled, “I don’t have boobs.” Era hit him again. Mark stuttered an ouch.
“Is he handsome?”
Era collapsed almost sitting on the dark green rug that covered the living area floor. “Oh my god of wrath!”
Charlie already had her coat on and her things packed. “I bet he’s good looking.”
Era screamed “Good looking!!!, Mark is good looking, This guy is Brilliant looking, this guy is super duper!” She put her hands over her stunning face. “He was almost all mine!”
Charlie laughed, ignoring Era who was getting to her feet. “Oh what!!!!”
“Im good looking? Nice.” Mark laughed.
—---------
“Are we there yet?” Asked Charlie making the most of the available space.
“Yes!” Era assured.
Charlie opened her eyes and looked up to see the Highway. “No where Not!”
“We'll be there in 10 minutes, Charles!”
“I like that name, You look more like Charles!” Era boomed, tired of working.
“Well see what brilliant adams thinks that, scooter.”
“I wish I had a scooter.” said Mark, making a mental note to look into a scooter.
“Are you talking about me?” Eras wind styled hair flew like a flag over charlie, half laying in back.
“No, but I’m always thinking about you.”
“That is so sweet! You're only going 39 sweetheart, speed up!”
“I'm so glad we brought Charlie with us.” Said Mark.
“...of wrath I tell ya” Era floored it with care.
—-----------
Moms Palace was open all night. It was an old Chinese restaurant which was now a pool hall. The trio had parked the auto a few blocks away and secured it..
“I hope he’s here. After that all that work his cuteness wore off. I want some Boost.” Era reported.
The problem with boosting, isn't box site officials, the employees of the box guild higher companies who could catch you, and sell your statistics to the Interpol. They legally cant touch a booster, but they were intimidating and they could scare boosters into giving up and possibly spending the night in jail.. The problem wasn’t the officials, it was gang territory.
North Peaks controlling gang was the same color as Eras auto, And their boss was named Jinx. Era Knew that like she knew she was awake and not asleep. She hadn’t met Jinx, but she knew that absolutely no one survived a Fight with That Gang, no one had for years, so many years that no one remembered when they weren’t north peaks.
“I think I see him.”
“Where.” Charlie sped up and wrapped herself around the era to see.
Adam was playing pool with a friend, while a pack of women milled around the table watching. Era grimaced. Charlie's eyes went wide at the sight.
“Is that him?” Charlie pushed past era and mark and beamed at Adam. Just then Adam saw them approach. He smiled at Era.
“Hey Era!!! You made it.” he threw up his arms.
“Hey….” era tried to start.
“Oh! He knows your name! That's not fair!”
Adam saw Charlie and Era realized he must have fallen in love with her right away. Her spirit for love faded and was replaced with a quiet lust for money.
She loved her friend charlie so it was for the best. She loved everyone in a way, as much as she could. Good thing too, cause ‘who are all these women looking at him.’, ‘Oh Well, let's boost this scene and get out.’
“This could take days, huh.” Charlie asked.
“It Better, a lot of work if it doesn’t.” Era told Mark, because Charlie ran ahead.
Era heard Charlie introduce herself. “Hi!!! My name's Charlie!”
Era grimaced and Mark filled his face with the biggest smile as Charlie ignored Mark's hand and jumped on him. “You are so cute. Era said you weren’t.”
“Ok! I did too!!”
Mark was so helpful all the time, he knew Era needed him so he was always on point. “Era asked him out, you know, Back in Red Pillar.”
“That’s enough.” Era commanded.
“I hope he said no.” Charlie.
“Don’t tell me this is Bob.” Adam wondered and then snapped his way of thinking back around to the fact of beauty standing right in front him. “Wait, I hope it’s Bob.”
“Well he never did get a chance to answer, We had to get to your place.” Mark hugs a blushing Era from the side.
“You don't say.” Charlie released Adam and bounced around to the pool table to see the game the way it lay on the table. “So who are you gonna go out with?”
“Now, She is not a cheap date. I'm just saying." Mark assured Adam.
“Oh my God she’s so expensive.” Gurgled Era. “Break you…I just wanted to pet him.”
“Well. How about both of you.”
“Who’s winning?” Chop adams question with a curt.
“Well what's up now, we're here.”
“Oh… you're all business Mark.” Charlie pickled up one of the balls from the billiards set in play. Adam ignored the foul.
“Good.” Era reached its mark and drew him close. “We gotta get back to our small town. We left the lights on, terrible in taxes.”
“Ok, games over.” Adam announced.
“Damn Right, you know Era, you were right, Adam is so gorgeous, He does make your pants fly right off looking at him.”
Era barked in laughter. In horror, Era offered, “Adam you can sit with Charlie in the back….there’s a big caboose for the Boxpro”
___________
There was a large scratch near the lock and the Auto door was partially open. They had secured the auto before they had went, so Era knew it had been molested while they were at the palace.
“Damnit.” Mark hustled into the auto and yelled. “They took my!!!!!!” he threw his hands up.”Pack!!!!” Era and charlie had been wearing theres. There was nothing in the auto other than Mark's pack, some tools and a spare. The caboose still contained the tools and spare. Adam hadn’t brought a pack with him.
“Oh shit mark, I'm sorry. We gotta work though, If we're gonna meet up with the buyer.”
“Im sitting with Adam.” Charlie bellowed making Adam smile.
Era Shook her head “ Lets go good looking.”
“You really think so…” Mark asked.
“Oh shut up and get in.” Era Finished.
________
The crowd in Bristol was thick with serious Tax payers. The shelves were full of so many good items Era would never get. The buyers only wanted specific items, and buyers were precious. Adam had made a list for each of them and they quickly mobbed through the store and beat feet four blocks away to find Eras Auto unbothered.
Era had mainly grab industrial soaps worth a fortune. Mark and Charlie had infant supplements and diapers. Adam had grabbed Night Flashes and Camp fuel. They had a little stack of port chips in their haul.
The Buyers were standing near a pallet full of boostpro when they sold their goods. They got less than half tax for their Goods, but that was more than Era had predicted. At this rate they could hit four or five boxes and work their way back to ruralship.
Era eyed the pallet. It was stacked high with goods and it would make anyone enough taxes to pay for a home out there in ruralship. Or a downpayment on an Auto like hers.
“Where’s all that pro going I wonder.”
Adam turned away from chatty Charlie to look Era in the eyes. “To the Boss.”
“You mean Jinx?”
“Ya…you know Jinx.”
“Yup” Era Lied. She felt like she knew everyone though. And Adam didn’t know Eve. “Where is he right now?” Era asked with a charm.
“On the Southside.”
“Perfect! We need to go through South Peaks anyways.” Said Charlie.
“Hold on, you're not gonna go see him!”
Era looked at Charlie who was formulating the next part of her private conversation with adam. “Why not?”
Mark laughed. “Era just works her way, all day I tell ya.”
“Why not? Cause I wanna go with you.”
Era Smiled, “You guys, good friends?”
“I never met him,I never even heard of him,” said Mark.
“He’s the scariest gangster in the world.” Charlie interjected.
“He’s a nice guy. Come on.” Said Era.
“Well now I'm curious.” Mark admitted.
“Me too.” Clipped Adam.
“You think I should go topless.” Laughed Charlie.
“No!” Yelled Era. “You!!!”
Mark laughed, “Please!”
“No, I changed my mind.” Charlie sounded firm.
“Oh Good!” Era cracked right here on the spot.”I hope you two have many children to feed and nurture.” And shook Adam's hand.
—----------------
The hood was hot with activity, criss crossing in and out of the shadows at a comfortable rate. They had hit two more boxes on the way south and would sell them for profits later in the morning.
Era had worked through 100 tedious blocks in South Peaks before she parked the auto. Her intuition had brought her all the way where she suspected she would find Jinx. And sure as betting she had. THe dark street was sporadically lit with a pale orange light. The Poke outs where The people who lived on these blocks caught shelter from the outside were small apartment type rooms, where alive with noise inciting the riotous behavior of the people who lived there.
“No!!!” said Mark. “You're not going alone!!! Its as dangerous as bear woods!”
“I'm taking Charlie with me, you need to guard the auto. We’ll be ok, look at us!” Era cinched her pack and grabbed Charlie who had to let go of Adam.
“What if someone tries to steal the auto?” Asked Mark.
“Don’t hurt yourself!!! But try and stop them.”
“Dont you let them get our pro marky!!!” Charlie Commanded.
“Itll be here. I should go with you.!” Adam said.
“You know where he's poked out at?”
“Not really.” Adam answered. “Somewhere in Peaks I assume.”
“For the record Charlie. Keep Your Shirt on.” Mark offered
Charlie Bark a Laugh and Era Followed. “Whats that supposed to mean?”
“Just Make it back, and hurry up! This thing is full of pro, we should be hiding out right now.”
Mark said “ Hes Right you know Era.” Charlie pushed Era away and started away from the auto.
“You so funny mark.” Adam smiled. “I’m rolling on steam here.” and with that Era turned and disappeared into the dark with charlie, who had a mind to see jinx and be gone.
“I’ve never seen one of her hunches end up bad, in fact we always score!!!”
“Oh Good! I’d be surprised if we didn’t have a crowd by the time they returned.”
“I should follow them. WE can't leave the auto though.” Mark reminded himself out loud.
“I could scare 'em all by myself you think.”
___________________________
When Era Found Jinx She wasn’t surprised to see him. She was surprised by the interior notion to love this man. He was watching a frazzled stardust emulator screen. Its dazzling display was filled with swirling particles flying in quick sequence across the screen, at split second intervals a random picture of something or someone would appear and disappear. Era and Charlie had entered the poke out, the first poke out they had both felt contained what they were looking for.THere was no one to stop them until they found Jinx.
The complex patterns of sound that came from the emulator stopped. Era was never quite sure if Jinx had known they were coming, the way he was ready to receive them and knew exactly what to say.
“Watch Your Step.” Jinx’s voice paralyzed them though. “Its dark in here sweetheart and there's stuff to trip you everywhere.”
“Hello.” Era Let out a greeting.
“Ya HI!” Said Charlie in a squeaky voice, From behind Era in the doorway to the room in which Jinx was occupying.
“Whats your name?” Jinx asked and stood revealing a large athletic frame. Era pondered his deep masculine curves as she let Charlie through, who was pushing past her to get into the room.
“Who Me?” Charlie says before Era could react. Jinx was standing tall enough in the darkly lit room. His Frame was thick with muscles, Even in the low light era suspected some sort of beauty. Charlie knew beauty in the dark and continued. “Charlie! You must be…”
“Jinx!” Blurped Era.
Jinx peaked out of the dark into the radius of the Small lamp on a piled high table by the door. Charlie and Era both gasped. He w as beautiful and his visage took hold of them from deep within.
“What does Era and Charlie want with Jinx?” Said Jinx with a smile.
“Your Jinx Aren’t you?” Era Asked.
“Maybe…” Jinx gave up nothing, Charlie came in closer to jinx between him and Era.
“I don’t know who you are, but your looks are deadly.” Charlie went to poke at his chest. Jinx Let her. His hands were big and strong and his arms long connected to an apeman frame. Jinx didn't miss the fact that the two Women were stellar constellations of female perfection.
“We came to you about some pro. I have good intuition, and we worked our way here real quick, I just knew I would find you.” Era pulled her pack off.
“I am Jinx..” Era’s heart dropped, feeling space and time alter. “But I don't have any tax for pro, not here.”
“We got a buyer, we want in on some arm” To arm a booster in the war was like hiring mercenaries to do your dirty work.
“You wanna carry my pro?”
“Oh shit!”
“You mean haul one of those pallets?” Era asked. She opened her pack and rooted around until she found her portable light. Pulled it out already shining.. It was very bright and three of them winced.
“Jinx!” another voice interrupted.
—--------------------
Mark and Adam hadn’t waited with the auto, they showed up in a struggle crashing down the hallway in the poke the girls had found Jinx. They were literally in the dark until the era flooded the poke out with her light. The two had been fighting with three other individuals, Adam sporting a bruise on his left eye.
The boys looked embarrassed as they fell about, before jinx broke it up.
“Era!” Said Mark. Jinx eyed Era. He had gotten his answer.
“Why didn’t you wait with the auto.?” Era asked. “Our Pro will be gone for sure!”
Jinx glanced at one of the men who the guys had been fighting. The man was righting himself after the scuffle as he caught his glance he shook his head to say ‘No’
“Your Auto is fine, No one will touch it.”Jinx assured Era.
“Oh…Its Jinx” Adam’s tense look faded quickly.
“Hey… You found him.” Mark, now on his feet, walked into the room. “That was fast.”
“We were looking for you.” Charlie was now pulling out a light of her own. This one is even brighter than Eras. “Era is the Best tracker alive. I’m not sure if I could have found you without help, but Era…”
Jinx told one of his guys to make sure the Auto was untouched and ready to go.
“You know it’s dangerous out there then. More than most people know I assume.” Jinx asked Era.
“Its not that dangerous.” Era claimed her beliefs with conviction.
“You do look tough and you act smart.”
“She’s smarter than a wire and two horns.” Mark added.”She works without wheels, I'm telling you.”
Jinx glowed at this information. “If you want to carry some pro for me today, you're in luck. I have a pallet waiting in East Peaks. If your Auto can handle the load, the job's yours.”
“Ill take it.” Era didn’t expect this opportunity to be offered,
‘
“In return you can have half the tax on it. Just this time though.”
“Half!!” Adam squeaked.
“We’ll Take it!” Era Beamed and Lowered the intensity of her light. “ You look better than you used to… I Mean You're good Looking… I mean I really like you jinx and I just met you.”
Everybody Smiled at Era’s admission. Adam put a hand up to his eye. The guy who had hit him smiled even beiiger and reached over and gripped adam shoulder. “Your alright!”
“She means You're a Beautiful ape!” Jinx reached over and squeezed Charlie's arm.
“Thank You.” Jinx said. Charlie melted and pounced over and hugged him.
“You are too much CHARLIE!” Era gasped.
“But I want you to watch out for Chilldred.” With that warning Charlie dropped from the embrace. “He’s a lowlife and his pack is dirt. Hard to handle. He’ll strip you of everything. Maybe your life.””
Jinx wasn’t worried about the Pro. That was never ending. He was looking past Charlie into Era’s eyes, lost. There was so much going on there.
____________________________________
Era and her friends had left the Poke-out Buzzed off the huge payoff coming up. After they left Jinx leveled his gaze on his two soldiers, both cut and fierce looking, Each looking to kill ten men before anyone could react, and that was with their bare hands. They were loyal to the Peak Heights Killers and loyal to Jinx.
“I want them to make it there and back. Don’t let anyone stop them. I want that girl….and her friends to make it back home with what I promised.”
They would do it, They looked at each other and smiled “I feel sorry for anyone that gets cross with us tonight.”
_____________________________________
They worked its way through the street that was crowded by parked autos. It was getting near dawn and they were almost to the place in East Peaks that Jinx had directed them to. Era Knew peaks pretty well, It was big and tall, Taller than the trees.
She couldn’t park too far away from the place they were headed, if they were to load the pallet in time to take it to the, correction to take half of it to the place Jinx had told Era about. The pro would barely fit in the auto, but they would manage.
“Uh Oh” Mark said.
“I see em….” Said era gripping the wheel.
Era and Adam had spotted some hoods watching them from another auto parked down the street. And then another auto. The hoods were literally staring at them.
The sun was about to come up, and they didn't have much time. They wouldn’t have help loading the pro. As long as they were at the location they would be safe from Robbers. As soon as they left though, they would have to work through East peaks Back south. NOt to the same place they were the night before with Jinx, This one was close to the buyer Adam knew. Era knew some buyers but she didn't wanna hassle with that. She liked Adam and wanted to learn as much about him as possible.
“Okay just drive up to the big doors, they're waiting for us. Jinx had them clicked in.” A clicker was the fastest way to send a msg without a horn. It operated on invisible radio waves and sent a complex code to another Clicker which read off the Info
“Okay we gonna pack this thing and try and get all the pro off that jack.” The pallet would be on a wheeled jack.
“
There were only two men waiting. When Era pulled up they opened a large door and wheeled out a half pallet that was stacked high. Era could see it was all very expensive items. Some she had never boosted herself.
The two men waiting while Era and Mark handed Pro to Adam and Charlie, who stuffed it tightly into the dirty Blue auto. “We need to clean this thing.” Mark commented.
“It looks fast enough to out run a jalopy.”
“Jinx said to watch your back!” the other said. “No cops, all robbers out there.”
“Ya we saw..” Era muttered then. “ Well work. They wont. I saw their rides.”
“Could be a sleeper.” One man reported.
“I can do 46!” Era claimed.
“No you can’t.”
“Ive seen it.” Mark backed Era up. “It's wicked!”
“Youll only need 45, those sleepers never bust 38.” They finished loading and took the pallet back into the building and shut the door. “Work hard.”
And they were off.
—--------------------------------------
“Their Following Us.” Charlie declared as she hung half way out the auto to see past the mountain of pro strapped tightly to the auto. Adam was holding her legs and helped her back in.
“We’ve got plenty of fuel.” Era turned the wheel and thrust the auto into a pitched angle around the corner onto another block. “We won’t stop until we get there.”
“I think the clicks are being jammed.” One of the tactics was jamming the clicker signal so the different post wont get the orders. “Everything seems against us.”
“They at least know where to come?”
“Try not to run into anything.” Charlie begged Era.
“Easier said…” They just about clipped an auto hatch that was opened at the last second. “...Then Done.”
“We can't get any speed here.” There were three autos following them and close too. “ When we get out on Broadway we'll lose 'em.”
“We're gonna lose 'em now.” Era saw a larger one passenger Truck with a giant box on it starting to cross the road she hit the Gas and worked her way across the bow of the truck. The driver of the truck was startled and slammed the brakes hard. , but the weight of the load kept the vehicle lurching forward. The truck just barely missed Era’s auto and threw the trucks load over the cab to come crashing down in the street.
The autos in pursuit were hit by the load. The first auto made it past the truck, but the second caught the full impact. And rolled over and crunched under its tow packed in the front. The third slammed into the side of the truck with a loud steele clap. The first auto went off the street and wedged itself in between the build front and a row of parked autos.
In The Excitement Era looked away from the street to see if they were still being followed.
“Era look out!!!” Said Mark.
Era Slammed the brakes trying to avoid rear-ending an auto that had just appeared. That sent the Auto skidding to the right. They screeched into nearly a 360 degree turn before it came to a halt in a cloud of tire smoke and the sound of the screaming girls.
“Oh My god… Let's get out of here." Charlie commanded.
“Those fools crashed hard!!”
“I can't see, hold on.” The tire smoke was thick.
“Is that a baby crying?” They all listened intently and sure enough it was a baby crying..
The smoke blew away in a gust of wind. To their horrified shock, not more than two feet from the auto was a poor mother holding a crying baby and two young children on either side of her. One of the children began to cry also while the other was only wide eyed with surprise.”
“Oh My God!” Cried Charlie “We almost hit them!”
“Are you O.K. mam? Asked era as she jumped out of the Auto.
“Let's Go!” Yelled Mark.
“Hold on.” Era said as she quickly grabbed a few items off the load. She wheeled around the auto to the side with the mother and her crying children. She looked over her shoulder and saw three thugs approaching with long blades. “Here they come.” Era stops at the mother. “These are for you, you can have them. I'm so sorry.”
The thugs began to run at the auto, they would be upon them before Era could work out of here at top speed. Adam jumped out of the auto with a steele pipe to fend them off.
“Mark get your ass out here, they got swords!” Mark appeared on the other side of the auto. Era hopped in the pilot's seat and started the auto as adam and Mark began swinging metal pipes at their assailants. Who were upon them.
Before the thugs could X out either mark or Adam, two fell face first both giant knives in their backs, retching as they perished. The third assailant ran away from the scene with two other figures, possibly Peak Heights Killers, in pursuit.
“God Damn it that was close,” said Mark.
“Let's go.” Era bellowed, and they entered the auto as it sped away.
—-------------------
“Wow, that was easy.” Said era They had delivered the load and received the envelope of tax chips,
“We gotta go back, they gave us too much!” Said charlie counting the chips
“What? How Much” Asked Mark.
“Here you count me.” She handed the envelope to Adam. “They gave us twice!”
“No way!!! We are rich!!!”
“They said Jinx wants us to go home and come back in a couple days! They're gone by now!”
Mark said then laid out the options under his breath.
“You know what, they paid us for all of it.” Era said.
They were told to get out of town pretty much Era assured herself. It would be dangerous for a couple days. Adam was going home with them to Charlie's Glee.
“She right, there's twice as much here.”
“I hope that wasn’t a mistake.” Mark said.
“It wasn’t. We gotta work, but I gotta make a quick stop.” Era warned them as they sped down a deserted rural street.
—---------------------------------
The scene of the crash had been cleared by the time Era and her Cohorts returned. The bodies had been cleaned up, and everything had returned to normal. They had a tail, Jinx’s soldiers were still shadowing them making sure they made it back home with none the wiser, But they didn't notice them.
Era had parked down the block and walked. up to where they had almost hit the poor mother and her kids. After looking around she spotted one of the Children as she approached, "Where's your momma little one?” The kid pointed towards a poke out and Era said “Thank You.”
The poke was busy with kids and mothers who were cooking for the men who were still working. When they came home there would be a giant Meal which would feed 20 people. And then they would go to bed.
Era spotted the Mother who was peeling big potatoes with a peeler knife. She was chatting busily with another mother who was also peeling potatoes. The mother spotted era and her eyes went wide.
“Era I hope you and your kids are O.K. we shouldn't have been racing.”
The women stopped their chatter and listened intently .
“This is the woman…” Era winced just waiting for the report. “...That was so generous to give me those supplies.”
Expecting an accident report she was surprised to hear the admonishment, and blushed.
“Thank You so much, I was so happy about it I couldn't speak for an hour.” The mother said.
“Oh My, I'm Just so glad you're ok… and your kids.!” She welled up with tears. “Here this is for you, I gotta go but I wish you and your family a long happy life.” Era handed her an envelope with tax chips.
And with that Era was gone.
________
It had taken 4 hours to get to their rural Township. They had plenty of chips, and would sell their other pro somewhere else.
Like many long adventures It ended with all the Cohorts lying on a thick pallet of Quilts and Blankets listening to Music with the lights Low . Era had her head In Marks chest Falling fast asleep on top of the world From the score Jinx had given them. Charlie had given Adam a bag of ice for his eye. Era was almost asleep but charlie was still scooter at full throttle, and before Era could escaped into the world of dreams Charlie Asked.
“You thin I should take my shirt off?”
Era screamed “Fine! Take it off, see if I care!”
Mark Clapped in applause and laughed saying” Yes!! Bravo!”
Adam smirk at Charlie and took the bag of Ice from his eye.
The End.
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