Dariüse crosses the finish line and meets up with the guy who was on the monitor.

Monitor guy: THAT WAS A HELLUVA RACE!!!

The crowd is cheering so loud it’s hard to hear the guy from the monitor even with him yelling.

Monitor guy: HERE IS YOUR PASS TO THE OTHER SIDE IT LAST FOR ONE YEAR. I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NOW!!!

The guy says it with an evil smirk. Dariüse takes the pass. They are a kinda sick reminder of the pre war days. They look like a credit card in every way. Serial number’s, expiration dates, barcodes that swipe on the back. No silly pictures, pop culture references, or bank logos though. Just a dumb, shitty reminder that there’s them and than everyone else. And maybe with this shitty card you too can become one of them. Dariüse catches up to Stan and Quiet at the eatery they stopped at the day before.

Stan: So how was it?

Dariüse: Ah… nothing big just some nigga tried to kill me. Oh this building almost fell on me and these fucking fire hydrants shot fire out at me. Crazy really, but you know I won so no big thing.

Dariüse tries not to look proud of himself as he talks. Stan laughs.

Stan: Well good for you. I think we are all set to take off then.

Dariüse: Wait, Where? What did you find out while I was racing?

Stan: Nothing.

Dariüse: Ok… So what am I missing here?

Stan: I was sent a Victim to hunt a couple weeks ago. She’s gotta have something to do with this. Plus it’s all I have. I was sent a Victim. I turned it down and now my wife’s dead.

Dariüse: Just wanted to know the plan going forward is all. You know I’m here for you… ….. Wait so why did I just run that race?

Stan: Well you wanted a ticket to the other side right?

Dariüse: I said it could come in HAN-DY.

Stan: Well now you will know if it does?

Quiet and Stan both laugh.

Dariüse: oh ha ha ha ha jokes on me? That’s kool.

Quiet: I think you hurt his feelings.

Dariüse grumbles to himself.

Dariüse: What would give you that thought? So where we going?

Stan still laughing answers.

Stan: A penthouse in California. When I was researching The Victim I found some rumors saying he might be hiding out in a penthouse in California somewhere.

Dariüse: Ok but which one? And Where? Cali kinda you know big.

Stan: San Francisco. Best I got.

Dariüse: How do we get there? We don’t have the plane.

Quiet: We would have needed more fuel before we made it there anyways.

Stan: Maybe we can take a train. Chicago used to be known for its trains. Gotta be one they use for people wanting to cross The Line.

A group of girls walk over to the three of them.

Girl1: Excuse me but you are the one that just won the race right.

Dariüse looks back at Stan and Quiet and grins. He looks back at the girls.

Dariüse: WHY yes it is me. Pretty crazy race hu girls.

All the girls snicker shyly. Stan rolls his eyes.

Girl2: Yeah that roll trick was pretty kool. Can’t lie we all thought you were gonna burn alive.

Girl3: Yeah for sure, but then you were ok.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Girl4: I have never seen anyone run faster then The Champ.

Dariüse: Well you see it’s all in…

Stan cuts in.

Stan: I hate to break up this beautiful connection between you guys but we kinda have places to be. You guys wouldn’t happen to know where the nearest train station is would you?

Girl2: Yeah but it’s kinda far.

Stan: We kinda aren’t in the position to be picky.

Girl1: Well it’s about eight miles northwest of here.

Stan: Thanks ladies. Nice clothes.

All four girls together: Thanks!!

Dariüse: You ladies take care.

It takes them about an hour to find the train station. When they enter they see about a dozen G.B.P. Peace Agents guarding the place. A voice comes over the intercom.

Intercom Voice: All those seeking passage across The Line need to report to the ticket area, and then proceed to board the train. Train will be leaving in 5 minutes.

They walk over to the ticket area and swipe their cards. Stan and Dariüse buzz in just fine. Quiet’s card gets rejected.

Quiet: Fuck.

A Peace Agent walks over.

Peace Agent: We’re gonna need to see some identification buddy. Your cards not working.

Quiet doesn’t respond as the agent draws closer.

Peace Agent: You hear me talking to you. Identify yourself. And take that hood off.

Quiet slowly pulls his hood back revealing his face. The Peace Agent quickly grabs his gun and points it at Quiet.

Peace Agent: IT’S HIM!!! IT’S THE FREEDOM FIGHTER!!!!

Quiet punches the agent in the head knocking him out cold. He then jumps over the ticket barrier and the three of them take off. The Peace Agents race over and begin shooting after the three of them.

Stan: We just gotta make it on the train and then we’re good.

They are able to catch up to the train and hop on.

Stan: Well now we won’t be able to take the train the whole way. We’ll need to get off soon to avoid the Peace Agents.

Quiet: Yeah cause I planned for that to happen.

Stan: I’m just saying our best bet is to get off soon.

They get off the train somewhere in Arizona.

Dariüse: Alright, how do you suggest we get to San Francisco from here?

Stan: I’m thinking.

Quiet: I mean we could always just steal a car.

Dariüse: Works for me.

Stan: Whoa, hold up this aint the Freelands we can’t just go stealing cars. There are laws and rules over here.

Quiet: Oh my bad, I didn’t realize I was supposed to give a fuck about the G.B.P, and all their “Laws”.

Dariüse: I mean as far as we know they killed your wife and are now trying to kill us. So that’s fair, why should we care?

Stan: Let’s at least steal a G.B.P vehicle then.

Quiet: Whatever floats your boat buddy.

They walk until they come across G.B.P. Peace Agent station.

Stan: Ok so we sneak into the garage hotwire one their vehicles and be on our way right?

Quiet: I guess.

Dariüse: Sounds like a plan.

They sneak around the back and find a car sitting by itself. Stan picks the lock and they all hop in. As Stan is trying to hotwire the car he accidentally sets off the alarm on the car.

Quiet: Nice.

Dariüse: Yeah no one heard that at all.

Stan : Ok everyone fuck off for a sec I got this.

Just then a bunch of Peace Agents come running out the back of the station.

Dariüse: I hope so cause we need to go and quick.

Shots start ringing out over head. They all duck as Stan finally gets the car going and pulls off.

Dariüse: That was close.

Two G.B.P. vehicles pull up beside them as they drive.

Quiet: We ain’t done yet.

Stan: Fuck.

Stan slams on the brakes as the two cars go to slam into them. The two cars smack each other and bounce off. Stan does a 180 turn and goes the other way. The two cars turn and chase them. Peace Agents lean out the cars and begin shooting.

Stan: Just shoot back whenever guys.

Dariüse: You gave me a tiny pistol.

Quiet: And me a shotgun.

Stan pulls out his two pistols one by one and hands them over.

Stan: Now shoot please.

One of the vehicles pulls up next to them. Quiet shoots the tire but it has no effect. Quiet looks and sees four people in the car and the person behind the driver is shooting. Right as the agent goes to shoot, Quiet shoots him in the shoulder causing him to shoot the driver in the head. The swivers and smacks into the car Stan is driving. Stan hits the breaks. The G.B.P. vehicle hits a pole. The other vehicle smacks into the back of Stan. As they go to ram the car again Dariüse shoots the driver in the head. Quiet gets out and rolls a grenade under the car blowing it up.

Quiet: I knew that last one would come in handy.

They drive off and head towards San Francisco. -- end of the Seventh issue???