A quartet was crossing the imaginary line that served as the border between Chrome Hill and the Burned Circuit slum complex. They passed through the huge concrete manholes built beneath the abandoned sewage treatment center. The construction was intended to improve sanitation in the slums, but was never completed.

The leader of the group was a very thin man, full of modern, poorly installed implants. The cybertechs made his arms disproportionate to his body. The ripper had done a terrible job on him. He had an inverted mohawk, with spiky strands dyed blonde. He had deep dark circles under his eyes and his left eye vibrated.

He was addicted to customized drugs, braindance and joytoy. He would submerge himself in anything that gave him immediate pleasure. He couldn't get out of bed unless he was high on adrenaline. He was a typical booster with his leather and studded clothes, and forced his henchmen to dress the same.

Even though everyone thought he was a complete asshole, they did what he told them. He was Ata's little brother, the most fucked-up guy at the Cupola of the Fourth Estate militia. As if he were the bossy little king, he gave orders to the men who were supposed to be his bodyguards, or rather babysitters.

"So far, I don't understand why you brought us here, boss?"

"Jesus, bro! Are you stupid? Let's test the new long-range rifles on the mutant hyenas. Those fucking animals sleep here."

"But, boss, these things run around in packs and could slaughter us. Besides, we're in the Central Command area. They have a medium who's very scary."

Chekandino advanced on the man. He punched him in the stomach and made him throw up his breakfast.

"Fuck them! All ours and none of theirs, my brother. You're my gang, you have to obey your boss. Unless you want to contradict me, I could tell my little brother Ata."

"No, you don't have to, boss. We'll do whatever you want. We're going to have a lot of fun shooting those bugs.

"That's better."

⸎

Smoke was facing the public restroom. The toilets were dirty, water was pooling on the floor and only one tap was working. The boy stuck his fingers inside his mouth and groped for the two teeth he had lost. He was wearing a neck brace to prevent his chin from moving.

Yard was outside. He shook his head impatiently.

"Come on, Smoke, are you putting on makeup? You're ugly from birth. Nothing's going to improve that ugly face."

"Fuck you, Jarda! You stood there with the guy in your hand and didn't have the guts to shoot the son of a bitch. Aren't you a fucking man?"

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"Sorry, I didn't react at the time."

"Oh, fuck off!"

He left the bathroom. His eyes were deep-set, the irises as red as hot coals. He was taking intramuscular painkillers. He was the kind of person who hated pain.

"You've failed."

The two of them looked up at the ceiling of the public restroom. Yasini was there with his Ori Guardian. The pair of drug dealers couldn't see him, they didn't have the gift of mediumship. They were ignorant of the spiritual phenomena that surrounded the world in which they lived.

"Damn, this guy only scares us, Smoke."

"Shit, he looks like an ominous ghost."

"Leave the new guy to me, I have plans for him."

"Plans for him? Hunf! That's if I don't kill him first. Akachi knocked out two of my teeth. I should shoot that damned four-eyes a couple of times."

Yasini jumped between the two young men. He pulled out his scabbard and pointed the blade at Smoke's throat.

"The hill boss has decided. Stay out of this."

"Go to hell!"

Smoke pulled a firearm from his waistband. Jarda, on impulse, did the same. Yasini stood up slowly. At no point did she feel at a disadvantage. The two started shooting at the medium. He didn't react at any point and chanted a few verses.

"Zuber of the iron skin, who defied an entire army with a javelin. Grant me your strength, the unbreakable will that sustains your victory. Firm spirit."

The Guardian Ori Zuber entered into spiritual synchrony with his medium. He began to reproduce Yasini's movements and gradually overlapped the young adult's body. Until the two became one. Their Axé was shared. Yasini's skin became as tough as iron, and the projectiles hit his body and fell to the ground.

"What's that, man? His skin is armored."

"Idiots, we won't be harmed by firearms."

With a swift movement of the javelin, Yasini with his Ori Guardian incorporated knocked out the two drug dealers with extreme violence. Zuber left his medium's body after the brief fight. He looked at the drug dealers with contempt.

"You trash, if you knew the power of ancestry and what it can do, you wouldn't challenge us."

"You took it too hard with him, Zuber. They're no threat to us."

"We always have to set an example, otherwise they'll continue to disrespect us. Forget that rabble, let's go after Akachi. We need to stay on his tail."

⸎

Prince Happy looked at the vehicle that would take the four of them on their post-modern safari. It was a red buggy with four seats, covered with a steel cage and carbon fiber grille. Four-wheel drive, powered by hydrogen. The car had been tuned by Okafor.

"So, what did you think?"

I've seen more beautiful shark cages...

"Who's going to drive this thing?"

"Me, give me the key, Okafor."

The old man threw the key to Spin Bomb. The cage opened gull-wing style. Spin Bomb took the wheel, Prince Happy was in the passenger seat. The cameraman and Akachi sat in the back seat. It wasn't spacious or comfortable, but they all fit. After unlocking the car, he turned on the electronic key on the LED contact.

The buggy's engine rumbled like a rhino in armor. Spin Bomb put his foot on the gas. He drove through the streets like a getaway driver on the run from the police. He sped through the streets, making the car skid on the bends. No one in the buggy felt safe, but the girl was having as much fun as ever.

They drove through the gates towards the dump. They passed the road at high speed. With their hearts leaping out of their mouths, they reached the piles of scrap metal. Driving through them, Spin Bomb took the direction of the abandoned sewage treatment plant.