Emperor

 INTRO 1.1

Dina was on her way to the Dogtown station in Elefant sector (sector 35). The tickes would be released today and she did not want to miss getting one. There had been a shooting so the military had stopped her and checked her id. Now she was late and would probably miss her train. Damn gangs, why can't we mutants at least work toghether, she thought to herself. Dogtowns guardians they where the only gang that cared about the people in Dogtown. She had even considered joining them herself. Their food program for civilains had  really made life easier for the poorest. She's far away in her own thoughts when she reached the station. There where a man by a thrash can not far from her. Suddenly he turnes around and runs into her on his way through the crowd. Dina nearly fell to the ground. Idiot, she thought as she looked angry after him. As she sees him hurry much father away, he pick up something from his pocket and pushs it. 

 The bomb in the the thrash can explodes. For Dina this is the last thing she experience in life as it all goes black. 

   1.2 

One week later in Roach sector (sector 86), Dogtown district. 

LORD JUSTICE, LORD JUSTICE the crowd screams as they wait for him. He may be human but is still quiet popular in Dogtown. If someone from the counsul of seven had come here to talk to the people things would probably not gone so good. 

There had been several bombings in Dogtown last week, so he was here to hopefully calm the people. He and many with him thought that Wart's army was behind the bombings. 

-Are we ready? He asked one of the soldiers.

- Yes sir, when you are ready 

He walks out on the balcony and the people start to cheer even higher. He raises his arms and waves at them. Out of the corner of his eye he sees a flicker when sunrays hit a window across the street. He ducks and a bullet fly by. 

People scream and run in panic 

- Protect Lord justice. Find the shooter, he hears the soldiers scream. One grabs him by the arm and drags him inside as the shooter fires a couple more shoots.

- He is in the building across the street.

- Yes, we are on our way Lord justice. 

Who dared trying to assassinate him. Thoughts flew through him brain as he and some soldiers moved through the house out to a waiting car. It took several hours before Justice recived a full report of the shooting.

- So finally. What can you tell me about this.

- I'm sorry for the delay Lord justice. But it's not as easy as someone want us to belive. 

- Go on.

- We found the suspected shooter dead, Suicide. He was dressed in a Children of damnations (C.o.d) robe. 

- You telling me Mother atom is behind this?

- No. The man. Conny Tar is from Motorway city distric. Hollowman road (sector 137) to be percise. He work in a small factory and has nothing to do with C.o.d. I also checked the body. The caliber of the bullet in him is not the same as the bullets fired at you. This is my theory. Someone kidnaps him, forces him to shoot himself. Then dress him up and plant him in the appartment, with the real shooter. Why dreess him up? because C.o.d. hates mutants. That one of them would be in dogtown is enough to ster up riots.

- The bombs, the shooting and blaming C.o.d. Someone is really after me. How many knows about the robe on the man?

- Me, you and three others. 

- Good, keep it that way. We don't want a riot on our hands. And contact Dogtowns guardians they are the biggest gang there and they really care for the people. Maybe they can help us calm people down.

- Lord justice i don't know how to say this, but i'm pretty sure that the only one that would dare do something like this must be a member of the counsul.

-Yes, i was thinking that myself. But who? Maybe all seven?

- No not all seven. There is more. An hour ago Leda was murded. She was on her way over here as three men opend fire on her car.

Damn. he thought to himself she was one of the few that he trusted in the counsul.

- Let me guess. They where dressed as C.o.d. ?

- Exactly sir. A few witnesses but we convinced them to keep that detail to themself. I suggest we be very careful onwards. We need proof if we are going up against them.

-  We need extra security at the concert. Nothing can go wrong.

- I shall see to that Lord justice.

    1.3

The world have its's entertainers but no one was as known and loved by all as Rick Dawson. His guitar playing was out of this world, not that he had that much competition. started playing in the streets, moving up to bars and clubs. To then be let into the inner city. Playing the big concert hall. There had been a buzz in the streets for some time now, that Rick was gonna do a big concert outside the inner city.With him through the good and the bad was his best friend and manager Luc. A happy and gentle spirtit, Just that he was a bit too glad for drinking.  No one really thought it would happen. Why would he want to go back and perform for " normal" citzens. But then it happend. On the jet city radio it was announced that Rick Dawson would do a Big concert outside inner city.This was the biggest thing this side of L.D. People from all over the city would come to see him. Even folks from outside the city would pay ghouls, the lurker gang to be led in through their smuggler tunnels into the city only for the concert. Which takes us to the following night.

The moon shined brightly over the docks district in Jet city. In the sector named Shining oyster (sector 99) Rick and Luc, stands near a house waiting. 

- Why the heck does lord Justice wants to meet here. He is a bit intimidating. Why not a sector in the inner city. Sure this one is goverment controlled, but still.

- Stop complain Luc, you have heard the roumurs that some high folks wants him gone. Maybe even someone in the consul. It should make anybody suspisious. And how did you bring a mug of gruff brew. I never see you without that mug how much those it hold?

- Who's complaining now? And you know i get thirsty when i'm nervous. What do you think he wants? Luc ask as he take a shug of the brew.

- You get thirsty for anything, nervous or not. It's probably about my concert. Or maybe the wasteland tour.

 Some day he would go to the bottom with that bottomless mug, Rick thought to himself.

- How did you come up with that idiot idea a wasteland tour? Asked Luc.

- Everybody wants entertaiment and i want to give them that, something to make their lives a bit easier for the moment.

- Yeah, but i would rather been at the club Sunken ship in the Compass sector ( sector 16). 

- You know that's Jackpots turf. He takes it here because its under goverment control.

Just then a armed bus comes. Some soldiers come out, two of the goes into the building. Moments later one comes out and tells Rick and Luc to get in. He then gives the ok sign to the others. They don't have to wait long before lord Justice comes in. 

- Thanks both of you for coming on so short notice. As you probably heard someone tried to kill me. Don't know who but they want to throw the city into chaos.

- What has that to do with us?

- I think your concert can be a target. I have orderd higher security. And i want to ask you a favor? Don't play the songs Mother atom put a spell on me and Friends with endless pockets.

- I don't like beign told what i can play and not. Rick says

Luc shakes his head and takes a mouth of brew. You should not question those that have the power. But Rick had always been like that. Going his own way.

- C.o.d don't like when you joke about Mother atom. And everybody knows that Friends with endless pockets is about the corruption in this town. I know it's not perfect but it can be hell of a lot worse. Usually i don't care what you play, but for the moment it could cause trouble. They have also killed Leda in the counsul.

It's totally quiet for a long time. Except when Luc takes another swing of the mug. Then Rick nods his head.

- Ok i will not play any of them if it means that much.

- Thanks. I thought  i could count on you. You mean a great deal to this city. I still meet people that say that when they heard your song Hello to you all. Right after we got the radio to work after the Jet city war. It's one of their fondest memories.

- Yes i know what you mean. Rick say with a smile.

-Nothing can go wrong with the concert and if something happend to you it would look really bad. So i want to introduce you to someone. 

As Justice just ended talking the door opens and a man comes in. He is middle aged, black hair. Dressed in a cape and beret. With a calm emotionless face. 

- This is Zack. He will be your bodyguard. We know each other well, he served with me in the Jet city war. If all works well he will also be your company on your insane wasteland tour. 

- Don't go to far ahead. It depends what i like this job or not. Im here as a favor to Lord justice. Zack say as he looks at Rick and Luc, that he can't see so much of as his face is hidden behind the mug.

- Zack is a bit harsh but he is the best. If someone wants to hurt you, this is the man you want on your side. Said Justice.

- It will be fine. says Rick as he walks over and shakes Zack hand. Luc does the same but with more hand sweat. 

- I have to go now. But if this go as planed i see you three at the concert Lord Justice says on his way out. But stops and look at Luc. 

- Is there no bottom to that mug? he ask but don't wait very long until he continues out the door.

- What did i tell you about that mug. Rick say with a smile on his face.

- Just shut it. Luc answer as he takes another hit on the mug.

1.4

For Rick and Luc everything goes smoth til the concert. Probably thanks to Zack beign very cautious and protective. The same can't be said about the city itself. The bombings continue. shootings is common beetwwen the gangs. But now there's shooting's at civilians just to steer up things. The big gangs tries to keep the streets calm, with the execption of Children of damnation and their friends in Street preachers. Mother atom have big gatherings in  the Cryptopia district rallying the people against the counsul and lord justice. There is a tension in the whole city, but not even this can take away the joy and happiness people feel on the night of the concert. It's held in the Rainbow district, the Sun sector (103) thanks to it's big open field 

The crowds roar was earth shattering as Rick came out on the stage.

After  only two words to the audience good evening, he starts playing Hello to you all. very fitting with that it was the first song when they got the radio to work after the Jet city war, and now it once agian gives hope in a dark period. It may look a bit naked and empty on the stage with only rick and his guitar. But no one cares. there is a truce beetween the gangs this night. Many leaders are here. Gianluca Barone the leader of the Suits.

She-wolf sisters of Black widows.

The Mechanic and his brother Bo of the Wreckers.

Ken whip of bloodhounds 

And Hector shock leader of Deathbringers. The only gang to have mechon (robots) and technoid (cyborgs) members exclusively. He can be seen flying over the audience 

Rick continue the show with Dogtown blues, Wicked wasteland woman and the crowd favorite A mutie rat in my pajamas.

The audience loves what they hear and see.

 Zack stays as close he can without beign on the stage.

Behind the scene Luc and Lord Justice Watch the show.

It's a very plesant night. You don't find many of those in jet city, especally these days. Everybody's having a great time, they don't even want rick to leave the stage when the concert is over. He does a couple of more songs. One new that he plays for the first time Radiation love. The counsul and Lord justice insist to have a dinner in the Inner city with Rick and Luc to celibrate how well the evening went. 

To be continued