The Present

by Kenneth Thomas

  Method A wonders how the Commissioner knows about their coming; did one of the lower Elites tip him off, or was it a Jerseyan, or something else altogether?

  New Jersey is a formidable fortress. Its subway network stretches from its most westerly point, Newark Penn station, also known as ‘the exit’, controlled by Method A, to its most easterly point, New York, controlled by warlord Gangs Hater. Its total population reaching close to seven million. Living so deep underground, it is well protected from both the high radiation and heat as well as other threats, few weapons can penetrate its surface.

  The Jerseyans are not naïve, always wary of the Universal, they know full well about their deceitfulness and bloodthirst. Over the millennia, they bore witness to the Council’s takeover of the solar system. So far, their street smarts have kept them from living like that of Earth’s citizens as much as their physical adaptations and their super drug, Papini.

  Method A plays dumb, ‘Only Jerseyans, descendants here, Commissioner’!

  Warlord, come… Come now. Be sure not to take a gamble with me. You dare to risk this all, Newark and Gambler’s Den, for some land people’, Commissioner Ming replies plainly not believing her.

  ‘Nah… Looksie around, no land peeps around here. Respect’? Method A keeps a poker face, not flinching despite his threat.

  The Commissioner continues to smile but is not amused by her lie, ‘When you have lived as many years as I, you cannot be so easily fooled. I warn, do respect the all-knowing Universal Council’!

  Method A clenches her fist, she responds forcefully, ‘I lose respect, you break the PATH. LEAVE Commissioner, we gonna butt heads’!

  The Commissioner’s smile finally vanishes, he threatens again, this time citing the third commandment, ‘Be wise to know your place, Method A… In case you feel emboldened by the insurrection in Antarctica, be sure to remember all who defy the Universal Council will be destroyed’!

  Method A knows she is in danger and must act, as he finishes speaking she looks over at her guards and throws up a hang loose shaka sign - the middle three digits clenched, the thumb and little finger pointing up and away. Indicating for them to get ready for a confrontation.

  The Commissioner steps forward, demanding her to submit, ‘Tell me, do you defy’?

  Method A has her answer ready, jumping forward she headbutts the Commissioner in the chin - clack, knocking him down to the floor. Her guards simultaneously turn their Electrozappers on the Space Soldiers, who react in kind, entering into a deadly firefight. Clearly outmatched, the Jerseyans only hope is to slow their foe’s advance, to allow their boss to retreat. They fight with desperate courage as shots whizz all around. Method A turns and hurriedly pulls down the lever of an inactive slot machine, opening up another hidden escape route.

  It jolts forward to reveal a passageway. In New Jersey, there are many paths and tunnels, built so the Jerseyans can move around quickly and escape when needed, helping to protect themselves from rivals and raiding parties. Method A hopes to escape into the PATH network, to go from Newark Penn station to the next stop, Harrison, where her cousin, warlord Method Bee, is located. Only two of her guards manage to follow her inside.

  An infuriated Commissioner Ming lifts himself up and immediately orders the Space Soldiers to swarm all of Newark, imposing ‘Universal law’. A bloody clampdown has commenced. Powerful strikes from the SCC-300 follow, pounding the surface as Method A hurries through as bits of bricks and mortar break loose and fall over her, her drooping and wrinkled skin doing well to protect her eyes. The tunnel should be too small and narrow for the larger Space Soldiers to pass through, but their metallic limbs are able to elongate forward. Able to twist and flatten their bodies, they continue chasing.

  But the PATH network is a labyrinth that the Jerseyans know best how to navigate, Method A believes it will give her a more advantageous position to repel the Space Soldiers. Better still, king scorpions like Ken and Barbie will be able to help.

  A communication comes through on Method A’s earpiece, it’s her cousin Method Bee. The line not yet jammed by the Universal Council, her cousin is understandably shocked, ‘Cousin A speak to me! The Soldiers ‘ve gone crazy, firing down on Newark’.

  A panting Method A replies, resigned to the fact she is unable to hold her territory, ‘Newark lost… The crazy Universal broke the PATH. We at war’!

  Method Bee offers his help, ‘Get to Harrison. I got the backup, lots and lots of shooters, aye’?

  She is already on her way, thanking him, ‘You good, Bee. Coming’!

  Method Bee relays too a message he has received, ‘This Commissioner says Universal law in place. Says cease and do not engage’.

  Simultaneously, they say, ‘No way’! They will not submit to any intruder, however powerful.

  Despite the brave efforts of her remaining two guards to slow the Space Soldiers, they continue to gain ground. Even blowing up the walls behind does little to stop them, the Soldiers’ hands able to morph into rippers and blades, they shift the fallen bricks and mortar out of the way with ease. Method A uses her superior knowledge of the tunnel’s layout to swing left and slide down a ventilation shaft.

  Landing on her feet on the rail tracks, she receives a long and worrying message from Gs next, having only just managed to slip by the Commissioner’s SCC-300 - In Orbit Cloaked. Not Detected. Huge Ass SSC, Spaceships Firing Down On Newark. Thx Cancel My Wheel Debts. Stay Safe Boss.

  Too busy trying to save her own skin, Method A does not respond. Waiting for a mining cart, she scrapes from the wall some raw Papini, which she grinds up in her hands and scoffs down, giving her a much-needed boost that also calms her nerves. Screech! A cart finally arrives to pick her up. Hopping inside, the cart quickly accelerates in the direction of Harrison. The carts are frequent, so if any of her remaining two guards make it this far, then there should be another coming to pick them up.

  The bombardment is now so intense that, despite being deep underground, it shakes here too. Slowing her progress are dozens of Jerseyans who flee for their lives in the same direction. Notwithstanding the delay, she makes good speed and soon reaches Harrison station, the next stop on the PATH network, where a heavily armed Method Bee waits. Having blockaded the tracks with several overturned carts, the warlord of Harrison is ready for an attack. And with him are over 500 heavily armed Jerseyans, plus hundreds of king scorpions hidden in the nooks and crannies of the tunnel walls. The sound of heavy footsteps rises - the Space Soldiers are close.

  Method A arrives shocked and puzzled, in disbelief that her refusal to hand over this ‘traitor’ VanWest could have caused the Universal Council to break PATH. By establishing ‘Universal law’, they want to subjugate and control New Jersey, the chaos of Antarctica spreading across Earth. She also worries about VanWest’s warning that even more Space Soldiers are amassing to come to Earth. And knows that she needs more allies.

  Method A throws up a shaka sign as she hops out of the cart and gives her cousin a chest bump. The rest of Harrison’s Jerseyans return the sign in salute. However, before they can speak, a flash of light illuminates the tunnel behind her, forcing her to duck.

  Screech! She looks back as another bolt of light crashes into a wall close by, a cart is coming, this one belonging to her trusted guard, Bruva Tee. He struggles to slow it down as the heavy footsteps behind him hasten. Soon in view are dozens of Space Soldiers, they sprint in one long column at what must be more than 60 miles per hour.

  ‘Warning, resistance is futile, respect Universal law. Cease and do not engage, must comply’, the Space Soldiers repeat robotically, ordering the Jerseyans to lay down their arms and surrender.

  Waiting behind the overturned carts, Harrison’s fighters brace for battle and to engage as the Space Soldiers come closer. Many are armed with Subway Hunters, a specially adapted Plasma blaster made for the smaller, Jerseyan hands. Not too dissimilar to the Enforcer’s Corner Shot, whose shots travel around corners and chase their targets.


  Boom! Coming into range, Method Bee signals for his fighters to fire the first volley. The Space Soldiers continue undeterred, hardly flinching even when struck. Method A is quick to take shelter behind an overturned cart with Method Bee, she needs to discuss with her cousin about getting more support to fight the Universal Council. But it is difficult to talk, the flashes of light and the noise becoming ever more disorientating as the Space Soldiers fire back even more aggressively than before. Falling bricks throwing up more dust into the air.

  ‘We gotta go see Rulez Haah. Go to Journal Square, aye’? Method A poses the question to Method Bee. Rulez Haah, the powerful warlord of the east side of New Jersey.

  ‘Aye, but Rulez Haah bit crazy’! Method Bee replies, unsure how she will react to their request for help.

  This warlord is not known to be the most hospitable, Method Bee has had several minor clashes with her before, including incursions for moolah and displays of dominance. However, these invading Space Soldiers leave them with no other recourse: they are outmatched. They are only a vanguard probing for weaknesses - more will come. To reach her they must go to Journal Square station, taking them through the dangerous no-man’s-land of Turnpike. The Jerseyan’s lands are roughly split as follows by four warlords, among the PATH network:

  - Newark Penn ‘The Exit’ - Method A

  - Harrison - Method Bee

  - Turnpike - no-man’s-land

  - Journal Square to Exchange Place and Hoboken - Rulez Haah

  - Christopher Street and World Trade Center (Manhattan) - Gangs Hater

  Boom! A new series of shots strike their cart, badly damaging it and removing their protection. The Space Soldiers are only yards away now, they must engage.

  ‘Let’s mow these machines down’! Method A shouts.

  Method Bee signals for all his fighters and king scorpions to charge; in unison, the Jerseyans jump over their overturned carts and fire everything they got at the Space Soldiers. The king scorpions crawl out from the walls to join the fight, catching them by surprise as they leap on top. Their powerful claws clamping onto their metal limbs, and stingers striking down from above - albeit their venom has little effect on the cyborgs.

  More support arrives. Having followed from Newark Penn station, Ken emerges from behind with more scorpions - though without his partner Barbie who stays out of this fight to protect their babies. These tunnels are as much their home as the Jerseyans. The Space Soldiers are pinned in, those at the sides locked in claw-to-blade combat with the scorpions, and those in front exchanging fire with the Jerseyans.

  Even with the king scorpions helping, the Jerseyans still struggle to progress against the formidable Space Soldiers - many struck down in quick succession. Ken manages to progress, adroitly dodging a volley of shots as he reaches one, pulling it down. But it takes more than 5 king scorpions to finally snap a Space Soldier’s limb off. Knowing the odds are against them, the Soldiers sound the retreat, hacking their way through the king scorpions to withdraw, who continue to snap and sting.

  Seeing this, Method A and Bee halt the Jerseyan advance. It doesn’t feel like a victory, rather the beginning of more fighting.

  Beep-beep! A most ominous sound can be heard; the neutralised Space Soldiers beeping loudly. Method A instinctively grabs Bee and pulls him down behind some fallen rubble. Kaboom! The neutralised Space Soldiers explode, taking out whole swathes of king scorpions, who hiss loudly in pain, as well as many Jerseyans. The flames sweeping through the tunnel, Ken is just able to take shelter as he crawls into a crack.

  Method A’s quick reaction has saved not only her own life but also her cousin’s, they re-emerge as the flames pass to find a scene of utter destruction. Close to 100 fighters and king scorpions have perished. The Space Soldiers having left a cunning and sick trap: forcing so many to amass for maximum damage. Her last loyal guard, Bruva Tee, is one of those mortally wounded, he lays on the floor gasping his last breaths. Her ears still ringing, Method A staggers over to comfort him.

  Placing her hand on his wrinkled forehead, ‘Bruva Tee, thank you, the little ones I take care of always, aye’. Drawing his final breath and closing his eyes, she eulogises, ‘Go feast now in the Chamber of Warriors’. A Jerseyan belief that warriors transcend to a great feasting hall upon their deaths.

  Staggering back over to the overturned carts, Method Bee and Method A put up a shaka sign in respect and homage, the remaining fighters and king scorpions gathering around. Fortunately, most of the king scorpions have survived protected by their hard chitin exoskeleton and quick retreat into the cracks. Their bravery and sacrifice has saved many Harrison Jerseyans as well as those seeking refuge from Newark. With the bombardment overhead only intensifying, they know another attack is coming. And, as expected, the last few refugees confirm that Commissioner Ming has taken full control of Newark, disabling all communication lines.

  Method A and Bee instruct the fighters to hold the station as they go for help, ‘Stay strong, we gonna go to Journal Square. Aye’!

  ‘Aye’! Many badly wounded, their resolve remains strong.

  The Method cousins climb inside a metal mining cart further down the tracks, which promptly rolls eastwards in the direction of Journal Square station. Ken follows with a few other king scorpions to provide protection through Turnpike’s no-man’s-land. They hope to find a hospitable Rulez Haah, she is more powerful than them and maintains a much larger territory. News of the PATH infraction will have surely reached her by now.

  ‘Jerseyans’ is a collective term used by outsiders, internally they refer to each other by their PATH station - seeing each other very much as rivals rather than one homogeneous group. Separating the warlords is Turnpike, it is filled with tens of thousands of homeless Jerseyans. Many are vagrants, gambling addicts and those addicted to the highly concentrated, hallucinogenic form of Papini called Liquid Blue: a scourge that starts to inflict many in the Antarctic settlements as well. Living in Newark and Harrison is tough, living in Turnpike is fatal: sooner or later your number is bound to be up.

  As they speed on, the only positive of the bombardment above is its effect on the vagrants, who cower away and do not attack, allowing them to pass through the tracks unimpeded. The distance is far longer than that of Newark Penn to Harrison, they watch as thousands upon thousands of eyes stare back at them, lost and unknowing of what comes next - ‘Universal law’ spreading eastwards from Newark.

  Finally entering Rulez Haah’s territory, Method A signals to Ken and the other king scorpions to wait at the border. Their metal cart slowing as they approach Journal Square. Here the walls do not vibrate, and there is no bombardment, the Commissioner yet to attack. Lining the platform are dozens of heavily armed fighters, visibly on edge at seeing two rival warlords arrive after the news of all that has transpired. They point their arms at them as their cart comes to a halt. Several king scorpions emerge from the walls, hissing and rubbing their two front claws over their heads, their stingers pointing menacingly down at them.

  The cousins immediately hold their hands up to signal that they come in peace. Method A calls out, ‘Come to speak with Rulez Haah, aye’!

  They wait several long, tense minutes as neither moves. The cousins are unsure of what is going to happen to them next. But then a strange rhythmic sound breaks the silence - Bam-tap-bing! The sound of hollow metal pipes being knocked against each other, signalling Rulez Haah’s arrival. Coming down the platform are four strapping young Jerseyans, their near-transparent skin showing as they carry a palanquin, encircled in bright red curtains. She sits inside on top equally bright red cushions, her hair bright-purple and her face partially hidden behind a burgundy laced veil.

  With her guard’s weapons still locked on them, they are ushered out of the cart and onto the platform to follow the palanquin. Escorting them up a flight of grey, concrete stairs, they enter into a lavish well-decorated floor of the station. The walls are bedecked with ornate portraits, many of which seem to belong to the same
family, each with a characteristic frill neck and double chin, many too sport purple hair.

  Walking through beaded curtains, they are greeted by scantily dressed servants. The Method cousins are somewhat relieved, it looks like a hospitable reception. With the palanquin placed down on a blue-tiled floor, more servants rush in carrying delicious looking bowls of multi-coloured Papini, which they lay in its centre. There isn’t just one type, the usual white powder form, but several: red, yellow, pink and violet. Each with its own nutritional value and packed with much-needed vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help to decrease and reverse the effects of radiation poisoning. Also served is enoki wine, also known as flammulina velutipes wine, an alcoholic drink made from mushrooms.

  Bam-tap-bing! The same coarse beat plays again as Rulez Haah finally steps out. The carriers are taking handfuls of the Papini powder and shower it over her as she makes her way to a round and pink silk cushion. She is ostentatiously dressed, her flabby skin pierced with rings of diamonds and decorated with tattoos of king scorpions.

  She addresses them, offering each a cushion, ‘Methods… I expected you to come’. She seeks to take advantage not realising the gravity of the situation, ‘We not always see eye-to-eye, but I’m forgiving Rulez. You come for my help, to make deal, aye’?

  Method A replies first, trying to lead the conversation to one of collaboration, ‘Dawg, we need to team-up. They too strong, defeat us station by station if not’!

  But Rulez Haah disagrees strongly, ‘Nah! They’ve come for you, looksie around… They not here! This problem yours, aye’!

  Method Bee stops Method A answering further, trying to keep the conversation cordial, ‘Great warlord Rulez Haah, believe us. You see our peeps fleeing, aye’?

  Rulez Haah shakes her head, still believing the issue to be theirs alone as she makes her audacious offer, ‘Nah! This fight is about you helping that traitor, VanWest. You need my help. I offer good deal… Give me Harrison, Newark… I speak to Universal Council. Tell them big misunderstanding. You give them VanWest, serve me. Simple, aye’?