Bulletfoot One

by Marshall Rust

  The Prophet did not look convinced. "If you insist, I can only agree, but my reservations remain."

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Jessica13 took a deep breath. "I can't shake the feeling that this is a really bad idea."

  "And yet you are proceeding with it," Mini pointed out.

  "Well, yes, it's not like we have any other options. The only chance we have to return Auburn to some semblance of order is in the hands of Mayor Jones. The Knights have gone with Hammerhand and the Prophet, which leaves me with precious few people who would actually listen to me, especially after I tried to keep Robert7 alive."

  "The data corroborates that assumption. And in appealing to the highest power in Auburn, you will address the law on how people are punished and how they are treated despite their status."

  "In a town hell-bent on exacting vengeance on those who wronged them, finding a way to give people justice instead feels like the best path."

  "And yet you have reservations?"

  “Well, obviously. I don't know if Mayor Jones was involved in the lynching, but he certainly did nothing to stop them. It means he was either a participant or he doesn't have the power to stop them himself."

  Mini paused and the processors’ usage spiked for a second. "I now understand your reservations."

  But it was like he said. They didn't have a choice in the matter. What could a girl in a mech do against a whole fucking town?

  She opened the hatch, climbed out, and took a deep breath to calm her nerves before she walked into the small tent Jones had used as an office. He did spend most of his time out and about the town, but it was good to have a location where people could talk to him and discuss the various issues that confronted him.

  Which was what she needed to find him for.

  When she entered, she immediately realized that the man was in the middle of a conversation with the leader of the militia, a tall, powerfully built man with a bushy red beard and long hair.

  Both stopped talking immediately when they saw her. In the silence, she could hear construction happening behind the tent. Or maybe it was behind the nearby building since she hadn't seen anything like that on the other side of the small shelter.

  "Jessica13.” The mayor stood from his stool as the other man pushed away from the beam he had been leaning on. "How pleasant to see you again."

  The militiaman looked considerably less pleased. "Should I…"

  "Why don't you check on the progress outside? I have the feeling Jessica13 wants to speak to me in private."

  The militiaman made no further comment but walked out of the tent and glared at her the whole way.

  Once the flap dropped again, the mayor settled onto his stool.

  "Would you like to sit?"

  "I think I'll stand, thanks."

  "Suit yourself. How may I help you?"

  Jessica13 steeled herself and gritted her teeth. She wasn't used to these kinds of conversations and certainly not while outside her mech. "I don't suppose you knew about what was happening out there with people being lynched for presumed crimes."

  "I do know now. That's what Wilbur had come to report on, actually. I could not be more ashamed by the actions of my fellow Auburnites. In the rush to rebuild after we deposed our oppressors, we have failed to institute a justice system that would properly address the crimes committed during their oppression. I will admit some responsibility. My inaction was based on the hope that the townsfolk would be willing to wait. They were not and now, extreme measures must be taken for that."

  She sighed. "I think that trials should be instituted—a process that would prevent people from being strung up with no way to defend themselves. And you should probably find a way to punish the guilty that doesn’t involve simply killing them. As you continually tell us, there's considerable work to do. Having them work to make up for their crimes does seem more productive than outright killing them."

  "That is true, but for the moment, the people of Auburn need to see a more solid form of justice in action to calm their nerves and help them settle into their work. That means examples need to be made, and those examples need to be large, loud, and to the point. Here, allow me to show you."

  He stood again and gestured for her to follow him as he moved out of the tent and circled toward the back of the building behind it. She had heard the sound of construction but had assumed it was merely people working on the buildings and the temporary living locations that were so desperately needed. They all faced an enormous challenge in order to have everyone under a roof before the weather turned foul.

  Although without the balloons, there was no telling how long it would be until it rained.

  When they reached the other side, Jessica13 realized how wrong her assumption had been. They weren't focused on housing at all.

  The structures were elevated above the ground by a solid meter and a half, although the tallest parts extended well above that. Most of it was merely a scaffold propped on six wooden beams. Rising above it by about two and a half meters, two parallel beams supported a crossbeam over which five ropes had been slung with nooses tied at the ends.

  Across from the gallows, an open area had been created to make space for a large table and three chairs.

  Mayor Jones seemed proud of what he looked at. "Of course, as Auburn is still in a state of war, it precludes the use of juries. There will instead be a tribunal, which will enable crimes to be detailed and justice taken swiftly. I will sit as one of the members of the justice tribunal, together with a member of Auburn's populace and Wilbur, the head of our militia. As such, we will be able to listen to all sides of the argument, including those who are on trial, before we determine their guilt. We are not barbarians, not like Lady Hoot's raiders. We will have justice."

  Jessica13 swallowed against the bile that rose in the back of her throat. She felt nauseous, not only from watching the workers putting the finishing touches on the gallows but also from hearing the pride Jones appeared to take in their work and the system he had created.

  Mini had walked the Minato around with them, and she retreated slowly to the comforting confines of the mech.

  "Are you all right, Jessica13?" he asked as she slipped inside.

  She shook her head. "Nope. I don't think so."

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  A tall woman dressed in a drab, gray robe that emphasized what Hammerhand assumed was a frail frame narrowed her eyes, which were made that much bigger by the glasses she wore.

  "If you'll allow me, let me see if I understand this correctly. You intend to overthrow FEMA City, as well as to depose and throw out those owl-faced jackals?"

  Hammerhand inspected their surroundings. He had never been the best at diplomacy and usually helped those in need, pounded his hammer into those who required it, and moved on. Those who had the skill handled the complexities of maintaining the peace he had so carefully arranged.

  As such, he wasn't sure if the woman was incredulous, sarcastic, or legitimately asking a question.

  They were at the edge of a massive lake made from a crater, which measured almost ten kilometers across. A small island in the center provided the access point to the bunker below. The water was mostly still and only the surface was buffeted by the powerful winds. Every few minutes, a heat exchange tower would emerge from the clear blue surface, remain visible for a minute, and vanish into the water again, only for another to appear at a different point in the lake.

  It was an incredible view and one he would have enjoyed a little more if they weren't surrounded by a group of mechs while he had elected to leave his Excalibur a few hundred meters behind them with the other Knights and the Desert Warriors who supported them. Only a handful of each group had come as a guard. The Prophet stood at his side, though, and they were surrounded by a troop of mechs painted blue, silver, and yellow.

  Thankfully, only five of them stood close, while others appeared to patrol the edge of the crater lake. Even so, five would be more than enough even if they
were in the dismount position.

  They were called the Gene Guard, at least according to the woman they were in discussion with, who went by the name of Archivist General Nina2. It was difficult to guess what she was thinking as her face was mostly expressionless and also hidden by the large, thick round glasses. Her voice was always a monotone, so that provided no insight either.

  But with them all seated at a small table sheltered by a small tent that was erected beside banners showing truce colors, it was clear that she at least intended to parlay with the Knights and Desert Warriors.

  Levi Stone had made the trip to meet once word had gotten back to them that the Gene Bankers had been willing to talk. He’d insisted that he was probably in a position to make concessions in exchange for their help. There was far more to it than that but Hammerhand hadn't followed most of what he’d said.

  In all honesty, there was something about the man that irked him. Maybe it was the clothes or the fact that he was somehow so clean all the time. There was no sign of grease on his hands and not even a hint of a callus. In a world where people needed to work to survive, how did he manage to have soft hands?

  It wasn't something Hammerhand would ever address openly, of course, but he'd learned long before to trust his instincts, and those told him unequivocally to keep a watchful eye on Levi.

  They had been joined by the commander of the Gene Guard as well, Lord Captain Gustav15. A tall, burly fellow, he had all the familiar looks of a man who spent most of his time inside a mech, including the blue, grey, and yellow flight suit and not even a hint of hair on his skin.

  "Overthrow might be a little harsh a term," Levi stated and folded his hands on the table. "Attacking them outright would end poorly, so we aim to force them into an agreement by removing their ability to be maintained by the surrounding area. We are, in the end, looking for an end to their oppression of this region with as little bloodshed as possible."

  "But there will be bloodshed, yes?" the lord captain rumbled while he scratched his chin idly.

  "We can't rule out the possibility that FEMA City will try to break us," Hammerhand interjected before Levi could speak. "But our goal is peace and certainly not a protracted war."

  "If that is the case, we have no reason to support either side in the conflict. Combat would drain our resources and all things considered, if the fighting makes it to our lakes, we are more than capable of defending ourselves. We have all we need and so, it seems, you have nothing to offer us in exchange."

  "True enough, in the short-term." Levi was quick to speak and glared at Hammerhand in an unspoken warning. "But you know the numbers the city commands and the weapons. Should they suddenly decide to remove you, they will be able to do so. With great losses, true, but your losses will be far more significant. You know what they did to the Hall of Ecologists. What is to stop them from offering you similar treatment?"

  Gustav15 clearly didn't like being spoken to in such a manner, and his hands clenched on the table. "The Gene Guard would withstand—"

  "Enough." Nina2 interrupted him and raised a hand toward the lord captain. It was clear that he held a great deal of respect for the older woman as he immediately fell silent. "As you say, Mr. Stone, we stand to profit greatly from each other in the long-term. However, for that to come to pass, certain guarantees must be in place for the Gene Bank's security."

  "Of course."

  "Firstly, and above all else, all parties present will recognize and guarantee the Gene Bank's independence from FEMA City. This will include the Knights Mechanica, the Prophet and his Desert Warriors, as well as the New York Western Railroad Company."

  Hammerhand couldn't help the feeling that the last was the most important.

  "I am in a position to make such a guarantee," Levi replied.

  "Secondly, that all ecological matters within the southwest region of what was once known as the United States of America will be ceded to the Gene Bank and its administration for all time."

  The man’s lips twitched downward. It was something he had hoped not to hear, but he nodded. "On that I can place a guarantee as well."

  Hammerhand nodded his agreement, but the Prophet looked more dubious.

  "If you will forgive my curiosity…" He let his voice trail off until Nina2 nodded to encourage him to speak. "Thank you. I would only ask why the Gene Bank administration would consider supporting us at all. Even with these parameters in place, it would seem you and your guard would be capable of putting up your own defenses and making your own guarantees without our help."

  Nina2 looked down for a moment, then at him again. "I have reasons—two of them. One is practical. Allowing you passage is not a passive act that FEMA City would forgive. To grant you passage is to cast our lot in with you. If you march at all, it must be with us. As Mr. Stone has stated, a siege would be to our disadvantage and could lead to the death of the people in my charge. This I will not tolerate."

  She took a deep breath before she continued and spoke quickly in her monotone. "The second reason is more personal. I have seen what Lady Hoot and her owl-faced cretins have done while given free rein in this area. She is monstrous and dangerous, a condition that compels one to put her down as one would a rabid dog. I would add, furthermore, that whoever knew this woman before she became the animal we now know and before she was equipped with such a unique weapon has failed the world in a terrible way."

  Hammerhand couldn't tell if the woman was speaking to him. Her voice and lack of any expression made it difficult to pinpoint if she knew that he and Athena had once been partners or not. The fact that she didn't look at him once while she spoke indicated that wasn't the case.

  Even so, she wasn't wrong, and he couldn't help shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Hammerhand had never been the best at waiting for people to talk their way into some sense. True, that was the aim—for people to talk instead of fight—but he wouldn’t pretend it was his strength.

  And he could tell that the lord captain was more of a fighter than a talker as well. The man looked as bored as he felt and yawned and stretched his arms over his head while Levi and Nina2 did most of the negotiating. Levi had brought a map they marked to show which points the Gene Guard administration would have control over. He intended to make sure there was no room for erroneous or creative interpretation in the guarantees he would give on behalf of the New York Western Railroad Company.

  All in all, it seemed that Levi was only a middleman and would transfer all the information to his employers at the company. He said on more than one occasion that he had been sent and granted the power to accede to certain demands as long as they did not contrast too harshly with the ideals of his employers. From that point forward, there was little else to say other than semantics.

  According to Tinker, this was how people did business back in the day. The Cities-That-Were had once used paper to enact certain deals and contracts and the like, which created all kinds of issues not only with its manufacture but also with ways to store the documents. Hammerhand could only be happy that this was a small taste of that particular way of life.

  After a few hours of discussion, Levi finally stood, shook Nina2's hand, and gestured for the others to do the same. That somehow led to everyone shaking hands and Levi plastered on a greasy smile that wouldn't go away before they began the routine journey to their mechs. The Gene Guard now appeared to be a little more relaxed, and even Gustav15 seemed a good deal less incensed than when the debate had started.

  Nina2 still looked her regular, immovable self and chatted to the lord captain while the other three men made their way to where their mechs waited for them.

  "I would have a word with you in private if you don't mind," the Prophet said suddenly once they were out of earshot of the Gene Bankers.

  Hammerhand turned, expecting the man to have spoken to Levi, but realized he had, in fact, addressed him. He indicated for the NYWRC man to walk on toward his transport, which w
as a dune buggy similar to what some of the Desert Warriors used but without the spikes and other accouterments.

  "What do you have in mind?" he asked and raised an eyebrow at the man who strolled slowly beside him.

  "How do you feel about our new allies, the Gene Bankers?"

  "Let me guess, you don't trust them either?"

  The Prophet shrugged but kept his hands clasped behind his back. His long black hair whipped in the winds that gusted around them. "I cannot say that I do. They are fiercely independent, yes, but I think they would likely make an alliance with the City as readily as they did with us if they achieved that which they desire."

  "Why would they agree to treat with us, if that was the case?"

  "Well, they hold a higher position. Should we move our troops through their territory, their two companies could find our troops quite vulnerable during that stretch of the march. They know their tunnels and are quite well-armed. Should they choose to support the FEMA City instead of us, they could prove the fatal thorn in our side. I feel the chance that they could double-cross us cannot be ignored given the consequences of what would happen should they make that choice."

  Hammerhand couldn't help a deep scowl from touching his face as he thought about the Prophet's words.

  "What is your mind on the matter?" his companion pressed.

  "I feel like we need to trust them. And should, in this case, show that we are willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, which would go a long way toward making them trust us. They are rightfully wary of outsiders, and it is thus important for us to take that first step."

  "And yet, should they prove untrustworthy—"

  "When one looks for suspicion and double-dealing in others, one most often finds it. I've learned that the world is much more livable when I look for the good and honest in others instead. Of course, I would be disappointed and that can't be helped, but I'll be rewarded for that expectation as well."