The rest of the Valkyrie sprawled across plush red velvet couches in the mansion’s lounge. Gold trim lined the walls, creating an atmosphere of opulent decay. A half-empty bottle of amber liquor sat on a low table, testament to their earlier revelry.
One of the Valkyrie, his eyes glazed over, hiccuped. “So, these… ‘windup girls’…” he slurred. “What’s the deal?”
Another biker, slightly more sober, rolled his eyes. “You know. The ones they turn into… like, robot maids and stuff. For the rich folks.”
“Right, right,” the first biker mumbled, nodding slowly. “Human minds… robot bodies… drugs to keep ‘em happy.”
Behind the partially open door, one of the maids exchanged a knowing glance with another. “They’re letting loose,” she murmured. “The Lord won’t be pleased if they damage anything.”
Later that evening, after the Valkyrie had finally passed out, the maids quietly cleared the lounge, removing the empty bottles and straightening the cushions.
The next morning, Panji woke with a pounding headache. He groaned, clutching his head.
Vita, already dressed, looked down at him with a mixture of concern and amusement. “Rough night?”
“You could say that,” Panji mumbled, pushing himself up. “What time is it?”
“Time to move,” Vita said, gesturing towards the window. Outside, the Lord stood beside a rugged, military-grade Jeep, several Iron Maidens standing nearby, their motorcycles gleaming in the morning sun.
“Thanks,” Panji replied, appreciating the gesture.
“Oh, and some Iron Maidens will be joining you,” he added.
“Hey, handsome… I hope we’re not too much trouble for you,” one of the maidens teased, winking at Panji.
Chrome chuckled, “Heh! Not a problem at all… we could use some women around here. I can’t remember the last time we had any in our gang.”
“Hey!” Vita shot a glare at Chrome, crossing her arms.
“But don’t get it twisted,” the maid said, her tone serious. “We’re not here to be your lapdogs. We’ll be weapons in the fight.”
“Of course. I like strong women,” Chrome replied, his grin widening.
“Ehem! Alright, let’s get going,” Panji interjected, trying to bring order to the conversation.
“Oh, one more thing,” the Lord said, his expression turning grave. “There are hippies living in the mountains before you reach Los Angeles. They’re allies of sorts. They possess a rebellious spirit like yours. Just show your face, and they’ll know what to do. May God’s grace be with you.”
“Sure… you too. Valkyrie Maidens, let’s roll!” Panji shouted, pumping his fist in the air.
after Long pause. no one reply him
“Come on! Valkyrie + Iron Maiden… Valkyrie Maiden! Get it?” he added, trying to rally the group.
Chrome laughed. “Haha! Sure, genius. A 100% original name.”
“Fuck you! Valkyrie Maiden! Let’s roooooollll!” Panji shouted, leading the charge.
Later, on the Road
“Hey, I really don’t like the name Valkyrie Maiden,” one of the Iron Maidens said, crossing her arms.
“Yeah, me neither,” Chrome agreed, glancing sideways at Panji.
“Come on…” Panji protested.
“I also don’t like it,” Vita chimed in, her voice firm.
“Really? You too? Alright then, what’s on your minds?” Panji asked, frustrated.
“What if we called ourselves Red Summer, after the name of the mansion we joined?” the maid suggested.
“Red Summer isn’t a bad name, but it lacks vibe,” Panji replied thoughtfully.
“I see what you mean,” the maid said, nodding.
“How about… Maiden of Iron?” Vita proposed.
Both the maid and Panji shook their heads in unison. “NO.”
“Justice!” Chrome shouted.
“Huh? Justice?” Panji raised an eyebrow.
“It’s not a bad name,” the maid admitted, considering it.
“Yeah… a bit ironic, but it has a nice ring to it,” Chrome added, grinning.
“Fine! We’ll name our new group Justice!” Panji declared, feeling a surge of excitement.
Later, in the Joshua Desert, after a particularly bumpy ride
“Look at those trees!” Chrome exclaimed, pointing excitedly. “They’re so unique.”
“Of course. The hippies usually hang around here. We can head up that mountain for a better view,” the maid suggested.
“Hey, that was my line,” Panji remarked, crossing his arms. “But okay, let’s go to the mountain.”
“HA! What’s wrong, macho man? Don’t like it when a woman tells you what to do?” she teased.
“Listen, we might need a leader selection,” Panji said, trying to maintain his authority.
“What are you talking about? It’s clear you’re the leader… in Justice,” she countered.
“Ah, yeah… sorry. My head has been hurting lately…” Panji admitted, rubbing his temples again.
“Of course,” the maid replied, her tone softening.
then in The road to the mountain is a bit extreme. It’s better if we send some people ahead on bikes,” the maid suggested.
“Sure! Your bikes suit the rough terrain. From now on, you’ll be our scouts,” Panji said, nodding in approval.
“Were you in the military?” the maid asked, her curiosity piqued.
“Yeah, but please… can I borrow your bike this time?” Panji requested, a hint of desperation in his voice.
“Alright, General,” she teased, switching to the passenger seat. “Here.”
“Ahh, thanks!” Panji replied, revving the engine as they set off.
As they navigated the rocky path, trees suddenly fell, blocking their way. A group of people emerged from behind the rocks, armed with guns, arrows, and spears.
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
“Hey, riders! What are you doing here? Are you here to expand? Hehe… eat sand!” one of the hippies taunted.
“Not at all, man. Don’t you know who I am?” Panji asked, trying to keep his cool.
“Who are you? Michael Jackson?” the hippie shot back, his tone mocking.
Panji sighed, feeling exasperated. “You’ve never watched TV, have you?”
“Only crazy people watch TV…” the hippie replied dismissively.
“Red Summer…” the maid interjected, hoping to smooth things over.
“Ohhh… I get it. Iron Maiden. What do you want?” the hippie asked, his demeanor shifting slightly.
The maid quickly explained their situation.
“Mhm… it’s probably better if you head to the fort and meet Eden,” the hippie suggested.
“Sounds good,” the maid replied, nodding.
As they rode back onto the main path, they encountered a massive rock blocking the way.
“What is this? A secret door?” Panji wondered aloud.
“Of course. Say the magic words,” the hippie smirked.
“With God’s grace?” Panji offered, unsure.
“Eeeee… yeah, that works. But I want something more fitting for a heathen,” the hippie replied, grinning.
“Stop messing around…” Panji said, growing impatient.
“Wow, fine… look at this… ‘abra kadabra!’” the hippie exclaimed dramatically.
Suddenly, the rock began to shift, sliding aside to reveal a hidden passageway leading to a tunnel.
“Very original…” Panji muttered sarcastically as they entered.
They emerged into a stunning valley filled with lush greenery and a bustling encampment.
“Welcome to EDEN!” the hippie announced, spreading his arms wide.
As they stepped into this new world, Panji felt a rush of excitement mixed with uncertainty. Surrounded by the raw beauty of the valley and the promise of rebellion, he knew they were stepping into something bigger than themselves. They were not just a gang anymore; they were about to become a force to be reckoned with.
The sun hung low over the valley as the hippie turned to the group. “I’ll let Eden know you’re here. You can look around for a bit, but hey… don’t cause any trouble,” he warned, smirking.
After a quick scroll through the encampment, the Justice gang finally met Eden, an old woman with a wise face and a spirit that seemed to radiate strength.
“Hallo, children,” she greeted, her voice warm but firm. “We’ve heard your tale. It’s been a long time since we connected with the outside world. Ironically, our spirits are free, yet we are trapped by the system. That’s why we settled here.”
Eden paused, her eyes glinting with a rebellious fire. “But your story inspires us. Perhaps it’s time for the Free World to recognize the path of freedom… through violence. Bring some of our brave warriors with you. Let them taste victory!”
Panji’s heart raced. “Wow, of course, but may I ask something? What’s your connection to the Lord at Red Summer Mansion?”
Eden chuckled, a sound that echoed with unspoken history. “Ahh, dear. That’s a tale for another time… Until we meet again.” She reached into her robes and handed Panji a bracelet. “Give this to the Lord.”
Later, Panji wandered through the encampment, stopping at a marijuana greenhouse. The pungent aroma filled the air, making him grin.
“Uhh… it smells so strong,” Vita remarked, wrinkling her nose.
“Can I?” Panji asked, eyeing the plants with a mischievous sparkle.
“This is for health reasons, of course,” she replied with a wink. “It’ll help with our cancer rates!” She playfully punched Panji on the shoulder.
“Sure… health,” he chuckled, feeling lighter even as they prepared for their next move.
Day later, as evening fell, they gathered around a bonfire. The hippies began a wild dance, chanting in unison.
“HU! HU! HU! AHHH!! For the warriors… for justice! To the gates of NIRVANA!!!”
The Justice gang exchanged bewildered glances, unsure how to react.
“Culture…” one of the Iron Maidens said, nodding slowly.
They all nodded in agreement, still trying to make sense of the scene before them.
The Next Morning, As they prepared to leave Eden, a hippie approached Panji. “Will you hold this honor?” he asked, offering a ceremonial stone.
“Sure,” Panji sighed, rolling his eyes. “Abracadabra…”
Suddenly, the rock began to seal the entrance behind them.
“Why are the words to open and close the same?” Panji asked, confusion clouding his thoughts.
“Hey, this isn’t Aladdin!” the hippie shot back, laughing.
“Understandable…” Panji muttered, shaking his head.
“Of course. Say the magic words,” the hippie smirked. He walked over to a nearby bush and pulled back some vines, revealing a small, rusty lever hidden beneath. With a grunt, he pulled the lever down. A low rumble echoed through the valley as the rock began to slide aside,
“Very original…” Panji muttered, but he couldn’t deny the impressive effect.
Later, as they prepared to depart, the maid spoke up. “I can send one of the maidens to deliver the bracelet to the Lord.”
“No, I’ll do it myself when we return from California,” Panji insisted.
“Very well, amigo,” the maid replied with a nod.
With that, Justice rolled out onto the highway, a convoy of jeeps, motorcycles, and hippie vans rolling together in a display of unity.
At a small town, the day began quietly, with just a few folks stirring. A single windup girl swept the store, her movements mechanical yet graceful. Suddenly, the calm shattered as Panji's convoy rolled in, kicking up dust and excitement. The windup girl paused, her stoic expression shifting as she spotted the maid among the newcomers.
“Ahh, sister!” she exclaimed, lighting up and waving enthusiastically.
The maid, removing her bike helmet to reveal her wavy brown hair, rushed forward and embraced the windup girl. In that moment, a sense of unity blossomed among the windup girls, a bond forged in shared experiences.
As the convoy came to a halt to gather supplies, a shopkeeper looked up, his face breaking into a wide grin. “Hey, I know you! You’re the one from TV!”
Panji lowered his red shades, a smirk playing on his lips. “Of course. You’re not going to raise the prices, are you?”
“Hell no! I’ll even give you a discount!” the shopkeeper exclaimed, excitement bubbling in his voice.
“Thanks!” Panji replied, feeling a swell of gratitude.
“Are you heading to LA?” the shopkeeper asked, curiosity glinting in his eyes.
“Yeah, I want to teach a lesson to whoever made that mess,” Panji said, pointing at the TV. “A rebel group spotted in the desert!”
The shopkeeper nodded vigorously. “So, what’s the plan after LA?”
“Maybe smash a few monitors?” Panji suggested, his tone light and playful.
“What about Zion’s army?” the shopkeeper pressed, concern creeping into his voice.
“Not sure… I haven’t thought that far ahead,” Panji admitted, the weight of uncertainty settling in.
“Oh, you’re really reckless, huh? But you’ll be a hero someday. We still hold a grudge against Zion here,” the shopkeeper said, determination shining in his eyes.
Later after resupply, the Justice convoy approached a bridge and spotted some children playing nearby.
“stay away boys!,! Justice arrive!” the maid called out.
But as the lead convoy began to cross the bridge, a sudden explosion rocked the structure. Most of the bridge remained intact, but several vehicles plummeted over the edge.
“Fuck! What’s happening?!” Panji shouted, his heart racing.
“The kids!” the maid yelled, panic rising in her voice as they realized the front of the convoy was now isolated from the rest.
“Hey, Panji! Vita fell into the river!” Chrome’s voice crackled over the radio, urgency lacing his words.
“WHAT?!” Panic surged through Panji as he looked toward the swirling water below.
“VITA!” Panji screamed, his voice raw with panic. He scrambled to the edge of the bridge, his breath catching in his throat. The river churned below, a maelstrom of debris and swirling currents. He strained his eyes, searching for any sign of her, but only saw the twisted wreckage of vehicles disappearing beneath the surface. His stomach twisted into a knot of dread. He gripped the crumbling edge of the bridge, his knuckles white, the world suddenly feeling cold and empty. He didn't hear the hippie approach until a hand touched his shoulder.
“Listen,” the hippie said, his voice steady. “We can join the others after they take an alternate route. It’ll take half a day or maybe even two days… assuming the other routes aren’t controlled by another gang.”
“Let’s check on those kids first,” he suggested, his voice firm.
“Sure. They ran off that way,” the maid replied, pointing down a narrow path.
The hippie gave a signal to the convoy on the other side. “Alright, let’s go.”
With the rest of the convoy beginning to turn around in search of an alternate road, only five members of Justice remained with Panji as they started to follow the trail left by the children.
“Maybe Vita is still safe…” Panji muttered, a flicker of hope in his heart.
“I hope so too,” the maid said quietly.
“Sorry to ruin the mood, guys,” the hippie chimed in, “but I didn’t see Vita come up to the surface after she fell…”
After a while, they stumbled upon a small camp near the river.
“This might be where the kids are hiding,” the maid suggested, scanning the area.
“Are we going to do this?” the hippie asked, drawing his pistol.
The rest of the gang looked at Panji for direction.
“Uh… let’s try to catch the kids first. We don’t know what’s going on yet,” Panji decided.
“Of course,” the maid agreed, her hand hovering near her weapon.
“Look! There’s a small path leading down the cliff,” Panji pointed out.
They crept closer to the camp. Suddenly, a few children bolted in fear, but then cautiously peeked out from their tents.
“Hello, kids… did you blow up that bridge? Come on, tell us!” the maid called out, starting to remove her belt.
“Uh… what were you doing up there?” Panji asked, trying to maintain a firm tone.
“Stay back!” one of the boys shouted, pulling out a knife.
“Rick, don’t…” another boy urged.
Panji stepped forward, exasperated. He slapped the boy’s arm away, forcing the knife down. “Move aside, kid…”
The gang searched the camp but found nothing of interest.
Some of the boys began to cry, fear etched on their faces.
“Listen, what were you doing up on that bridge?” Panji pressed, kneeling down to meet their eyes.
The hippie rubbed his head in frustration.
“Hey, what’s this?” Panji asked, grabbing a necklace from one of the boys.
“Don’t! Give that back!” the boy shouted, desperation in his voice.
Panji examined the necklace, which contained a small insect robot tied together with string. “Where did you get this?”
“It’s none of your business!” the boy shot back defiantly.
Panji felt anger bubbling within him, but he caught himself and took a deep breath.
After a heavy sigh, he pulled out a few bills and handed them to the boy. “Sorry for messing up your tent, kids.”
“We don’t need your money!” the boy yelled, throwing the bills back at Panji’s face. “That money is useless here! They’ll just rob us!”
“Huh?” Panji paused, taken aback. A long silence hung between them.
“So, that’s how it is…” he said finally. “Can you at least talk about what you did on the bridge?”
Another long pause followed.
“This isn’t working, Panji. How about I show them how Eden taught me?” the hippie suggested, stepping forward.
“Don't!” Panji cautioned, raising a hand.
“Let me handle this,” the maid insisted, her voice determined.
“Not you too!” Panji exclaimed, exasperated.
“Hmmph,” she pouted, crossing her arms.
“Do you guys have any food?” Panji asked, trying to steer the conversation back to something productive.
The maid looked around the tents. “I don’t see anything here…”
“Alright then…” Panji said, pulling out an axe.
“Oh, so you’re a cannibal now? That explains a lot,” the maid shot back sarcastically.
“Not stupid…” Panji retorted, beginning to chop down small trees. “I’m trying to make a fish trap.”
“I’m a vegan, so I have no clue what you’re doing,” the hippie replied, scratching his head.
Panji finished setting the trap on the riverbank. “Well, if we’re lucky, we’ll catch something. Meanwhile…” He drew his pistol. “We can go hunting. Come on, kids!”
The boys hesitated, still fearful but less scared than before.
“Come on…” Panji urged.
Hours later, Panji returned with a rabbit in hand, his face triumphant. “Listen, use your knife to skin this. Can you do that?” He tossed the rabbit toward the nearest boy.
The boy looked at the rabbit with wide eyes, reluctant at first, but then slowly began to skin the animal under Panji's watchful gaze.
“Hey, why are you all just standing there staring at me? Fix your tents!” Panji commanded.
“Oh, right…” the hippie murmured, moving to help.
After a while, they began cooking the rabbit over a small fire.
“Alright, boys… who told you to blow up the bridge?” Panji asked, his tone softer now. “I’m not angry. I know you were forced to do it.”
“We didn’t know it was a bomb! Someone told us to put it on the bridge before you arrived,” one of the boys admitted, his voice quivering.
“Who told you?” the maid demanded, her eyes narrowing.
“Some guy from the next town over… He threatened us…” the boy said, looking down. “We used to steal for him, and now…”
“Ah, I see…” Panji said, understanding dawning on him. “So you have to follow all his orders now?”
The boys nodded, looking defeated.
“Who is this guy?” Panji pressed.
“We don’t know his name, but there’s a man with a cowboy hat who lives on the upper floor of the bank,” the boy replied, glancing nervously at the maid.
Panji clenched his jaw, determination hardening in his gaze. “We’ll find him. And when we do, he’ll pay for what he’s done.”
“Ahh, I understand now… alright, Justice. We know who’s causing the trouble,” Panji declared, determination igniting in his eyes.