II: Abduction

The MallRats were in a bad way. Alice, May, Tai-San, and Amber and Bray were all missing. Lex and Ellie mourned their loved ones while Ebony tried in vain to rally the city against this new threat. Jack and Pride tried to comfort Ellie while Lex argued with Salene on the best course of action. Lex thought they should all get out there, attack with force and rescue his wife, but Salene thought that maybe they should take things a little slower and meet with the tribal leaders-the MallRats agreed.

"Lex and I can go out and assemble the tribe leaders and bring them back here. Better prepare a speech, Miss City Leader." Pride told Ebony before he and the sheriff left on assignment. A few minutes later KC brought in Dee, a member of the now-disbanded Mozquito tribe. "I found her wandering the streets guys." He reported. Ebony looked at Dee. "Where's your tribe, where's Moz?" She asked.

"I don't know, most of them were taken by those big trucks. Moz disappeared in the confusion and I got away." Dee explained. The MallRats all looked at each other with concern.

Aspen and Coda continued on their way through the streets openly now because they were in an undisturbed district. They walked along, picking through the occasional rubbish pile or stepping over debris. After a bit they found themselves on straight clear road.

"It's too quiet, it doesn't feel right." Coda worried and Aspen nodded her head. He was right; unseen eyes were marking their passage.

"Just keep walking." She said quietly and looked around.

The city hadn't changed much, she noticed. Graffiti still covered the buildings, trash still lined the streets, the only real differences she saw were in the form of CHOSEN graffiti and posters proclaiming the late Zoot a god.

"What's happened here anyway? This Chosen tribe make some kid a god, wreak havoc on the city with brainwashing and enslavement and just when they leave, the place is overrun by guys in metal masks who are driving trucks and flying aeroplanes!" Coda commented as they stopped to scrutinize one of the ZOOT propaganda posters.

The sound of vehicles approaching sent the two of them behind the next corner, which led into an alley. They watched a small convoy of covered trucks move down the street until it disappeared from sight. Each could remember seeing glimpses of people, captives, held in the trucks and hoped the rest of their tribe was safe.