117: A Company of Fools: Shapers Market II

After agreeing to tell me why he was getting mixed up with those goons I have him back his evo and melted the ice around his feet, against my better judgment. I half expected him to run off the second the little shit was back in his possession, it's what I would have done at his age. But he surprised me, he didn't run off but did put hos evo back into his crystal, which was diamond shaped and on his tongue. It was a lot smaller than most farm crystals I'd seen so far so I didn't really notice it when he talked.

Instead of running he lead me to a dinner that was nearby but far enough away that those goons wouldn't find us immediately after they woke up. It was a nice little place, comfortably packed but not overly so that there wasn't seating.

I eyed the boy as he slid into the booth across from me. After getting hassled by gangsters he seemed surprisingly calm, while it could just be a façade I was impressed by his cool head. The staff was on their A-game, no sooner had we sat down was a waitress walking over and placing menus in front of us.

"Welcome to the Pit Stop. I'll be your waitress this morning. Can I start you off with some drinks?" She asked.

"Coffee!" The kid exclaimed.

"Yeah, no. He'll have a orange juice, I'll take a lemonade." I said quickly. The boy scowled at me and crossed his arms.

"Coming right up, I'll give you two a moment to look over the menu." With that she quickly trotted off to put in our drink orders.

"So what's your name? I can't keep calling you kid." I asked once the waitress was gone. The kid looked at me then uncrowded his arms.

"Bo, at least that's what everyone calls me." He replied.

"Bo…okay Bo, I'm Chase. I'd say nice to meet you but the jury is still out on that." I said. Bo scowled at me.

"Are you always this much of a dick?" He asked. I arched a brow at his choice of language, admitted I was cursing at his age but not around adults, or people period.

"No sometimes I get a lot worse. Now spill it why did those red iguanas corner you like that?" I replied. Bo frowned huffed and crossed his arms again. He stayed silent for several moments but I didn't pressure him. I could see the gears turning in his mind.

"My parents own a shop…it's not too far from here. Things used to be a lot better, people were coming into the shop all the time. Mom and dad were happy, we always had food on the table…then the Gold Razors were kicked out of the neighborhood." Bo started.

"Gold Razors?" I asked.

"They were the gang that was in control of the neighborhood before the red dragons. The red dragons were the ones that kicked them out actually." Bo answered. "When the red dragons took over things got worse overnight. They started demanding money for protection, breaking into shops and homes that refused to pay, attacking people, they even killed people that tried to stand up to them."

"Do your parents owe them money?" I asked.

"Everyone owes them money, but they hit my parent's shop the hardest in the neighborhood because they were the most successful until they showed up."

"Why haven't the police done something about them?" I asked. Bo laughed and shook his head.

"We're not in the golden city. The police don't care about what happens here, they don't even patrol down here." Bo replied.

"Golden city?"

Bo pointed out the window to one of the skyscrapers in the distance. The morning sun shined off its mirrored glass giving it a golden appearance. Now that I noticed it all the skyscrapers in the center of the city had that mirrored look, except those at the college. I was pretty sure that was all real gold.

"It's what those of us in the silver and bronze city call the center of Andromeda," Bo replied. "We're currently at the edge of the silver city, a few blocks is the bronze city."

'Bronze city must be that impoverished area I came through when I first got to Andromeda city…' I thought.

"So basically the cops only care about what happens in the Golden city and leave everyone in the silver and bronze cities to self-regulate," I said, taking an educated guess. Bo nodded.

"Usually gangs are the police in a neighborhood or section of the city. Red dragons used to be a small-time gang in the bronze city but suddenly they started expanding and took over bronze city entirely then they set their sights on the silver city." Bo said.

"How long ago did they start expanding?" I asked.

"I heard stories from friends of mine living in the bronze city that they were expanding about three years ago, they only made their way into silver city a year ago." Bo replied.

"But I'm guessing they don't control all of the silver city?" I guessed.

"No, mostly my neighborhood and a few that border it but they keep a tight hold on what they have. The other gangs are doing all they can just to keep them from expanding but there isn't much they can do beyond that since the red dragons have a lot of splicers." Bo replied.

"What counts as a lot?" I asked.

"More than one, most gangs only have one splicer if any and that splicer is usually the boss. The red Dragons have a bunch though, enough to make a small army. It's one of the reasons they've been able to expand so quickly."

"Are splicers uncommon here?"

"In Andromeda? No. Most of the golden city is filled with splicers but the further you get away from the golden city the less you see splicers. My mom and I are the only splicers in our neighborhood."

"I see…" I muttered softly. I suddenly felt uneasy, like I was being watched. I glanced around discreetly and saw that the tables nearest to us were glancing over at our table a lot more than normal. Our waitress also hadn't returned and the loud and vibrant chatter had died down slightly.

"Are we currently in Red lizard gecko territory?" I asked, lowering my voice. Bo shook his head obviously to the state of the diner around him.

"No, this should still be Water Fox territory," Bo replied.

"I'm not so sure…lets go somewhere else…" I said and stood up. Bo gave me a look like he was going to say something smart but that look disappeared when I heard a bunch of chairs scrape across the floor behind me.

My vision blurred as Bone-lasher shared his senses with me. Three men and two women stood from behind me and were currently making their way toward Bo and me.

'Fuuuuck…' I thought as I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turned to see a very large man dressed in a black business suit standing directly behind me flanked by the four men and women who had stood up when he did.

"My boss would like to have a word with you over here…" He said. The man spoke softly but the deep rumble of his voice made the words sound harsh and threatening. He stepped to the side and glanced over to a thin man dressed in an expensive silk dress shirt and slacks seated at the table the behemoth stood from.

I glanced over at Bo, he'd turned as white as a sheet the moment he laid eyes on the man. He looked to me like a man who was trying his hardest to pass himself off as one of the pampered high society assholes of the golden city but a simple glance could tell you that he was nothing like them. He gave off the same predatory air that Bone-lasher and Alpa'nagia gave off.

"Bo, why don't you run home while I talk to this guy?" I asked flashing Bo the brightest smile I could manage. Bo nodded slowly then moved to get out of his booth and one of the smaller guys moved to block him.

"The invitation was for both of you." The behemoth added. Bo swallowed hard and quickly moved next to me. I placed a reassuring hand on his head and ruffled his hair, hoping to calm him down then the two of us walked over to the behemoth's boss.

He was leisurely sipping a cup of coffee while eyeing us over the edge of the cup. As we approached he set down the cup and motioned to the empty seats in front of him.

"Have a seat." He said. I frowned but did as I was instructed. Bo quickly sat close to me and kept to eyes pointed downward. A complete three-sixty to how he was acting before.

"To what do I owe this inconvenient invitation?" I asked. The man chuckled and pointed his finger at me.

"Well, I've heard stories of your…interesting personality Chase Kingston but I never thought I'd get to see how interesting it was for myself." He said.

Any cockiness I had or snarky comebacks vanished in that very instant. I hadn't expected that guy to know my name or for there to be stories about me, at least not any outside the college. Through sheer force of will I managed to keep my facial expression neutral.

"Well, well, I didn't know there were already stories about me or that I was so easily recognizable." I said. The mysterious man chuckled again and pointed to my right hand and my star crystal.

"That crystal of yours is a dead giveaway. It started quite a stir-up at the college when the fools saw it I bet. For a few weeks down here in the silver and bronze city it was the only thing anyone would talk about. The miraculous new star crystal holder that had made his way to the college. I have expected you to be another pampered noble like everyone else up in the golden city. But you look…surprisingly average." The man said.

"Average!" I exclaimed. "I've never been average a day in my life!"

"I mean no disrespect, I simply mean you look like a man that's used to working for what he has. Unlike many of the splicers in the city." The man quickly added.

"Was there something you wanted or can we leave? I have things to do." I said then glanced over my shoulder at the behemoth standing at my flank.

"There was actually…" The man said then took another sip of his coffee. When he set the cup down he pulled out a red handkerchief from his pocket.

'Ooooh…fuck…he's with the red geckos…" I thought. I glanced back over my shoulder at the behemoth behind me and noticed that his tie was the same shade of red as the mysterious man's. In fact every one of the mysterious man's guards was wearing a red tie. A glance around the diner and I started noticing that almost everyone in the diner was wearing something red. For most of them, it was something small and unnoticeable like a red hair clip or red socks.

"Everyone in here is with the red geckos aren't they." I said suddenly. The mysterious man's jaw clenched slightly and his smile wavered slightly.

"Yes…though we're called the red dragons not geckos." He said with a strained voice.

"Yeah I'm not calling you that…it's a matter of principle at this point." I said dismissively. The man chuckled and shook his head.

"Well aren't you an annoying asshole?"

"Thank you it's my best quality." I said sarcastically. "Given the fact that all these goons are listening to you, I guess that makes you their boss?"

"Second-in-command actually. Audin Akkesin. Sorry I didn't make an earlier introduction." Audin said.

"You're a little far from home aren't you? I heard that this is water fox territory." I said, then glanced over at Bo, he was still white as a sheet and trying his best to not make eye contact with Audin.

"Not after today. The boss sent me over to personally…take care of the water fox gang. This neighborhood, like all others, will soon be under the control of the red dragons." Audin replied with a devilish smirk. "But back to the reason I invited to over here…I'd like you to join the red dragons."

I was taken aback by the request. I had expected him to demand money, or warn me against talking so publicly about the red dragons with Bo but I wasn't expecting that. I glanced over at Bo and he looked like he was about to pass out.

"Hey we ordered some drinks earlier, can we get those real quick! The kid looks like he's going to die of thirst!" I called out to the kitchen. Audin glanced over at Bo then smirked and snapped his fingers.

"Get them their drinks." He said. A few moments later our waitress rushed over to the table and placed our drinks in front of us, her hands were shaking so bad she nearly spilled Bo's orange juice as she set it down. She then quickly rushed off to the kitchen again.

Bo quickly grabbed the glass of juice and started gulping it down. As one would expect he starts to choke and starts coughing. He doubles over his head under the table and coughs loudly. I reach over and smacked his back until he stopped coughing. When he sat back up he looked less pale.

"You okay?" I asked. Bo simply nodded and kept go's face looking down.

"Now, about my request Kingston?" Audin spoke up. I took a few seconds and pretended to think it over then looked at Audin and shook my head.

"A tempting offer but I'm going to have to decline. I have better things to do than play gangster. Thanks but no thanks." I said dismissing Aduin with a wave of my hand. I saw a tick form in his jaw as he looked at me but managed to keep his cool.

"Play gangster…Chase, I don't think you fully understand what the red dragons could offer you…you're your current situation." Audin said then snapped his fingers. Everyone in the dinner stood up and walked over to the table and surrounded it. "…we're not at the college or in the golden city boy, a lot of things can happen to someone who makes the wrong types of enemies. I can assure you that the red dragons are a gang you don't want to make an enemy out of."

"That speech was nice and all but I don't think you fully understand me. I'm an American splicer, I grew up in a country that despises us. Where on any given day I could be dragged into an alley and beaten to within an inch of my life for just existing. I'm used to threats against my life. I heard them practically even day, usually from my own family." I replied looking Audin sternly in the eye.

"You might be used to threats against your life but what about that young boy with you? Is he? Are you used to people threatening those around you, those near to you?" Audin asked.

"I just met this boy thirty minutes ago. You think I care what happens to him." I bluffed crossing my arms.

"Oh, I think you do. Why else would you try and send him away when I sent my men to escort you over?" Audin countered. He held his hand out and started casting an axiom spell sigil and a large gash opened up on his palm and blood spilled from the wound and collected into the shape of an axe. He pointed the axe towards Bo and smiled devilishly. "Could you live with yourself if something happened to this boy?"

I looked over to Bo, who looked absolutely terrified as he stared at the blood axe only a few inches from his face. Tears were streaming down his face however to his credit the kid didn't make a sound.

[SLAUGHTER!] Bone-lasher roared through our connection.

[How dare he threaten you Sssssstar Ssssssshaper!] Alpa'nagia hissed.

[NONE SHALL EVER HURT THE STAR BOSS!] Grimm-Guard cried.

Hearing my evos planning to brutally murder everyone made me chuckle. I couldn't help it. Audin frowned at me and pointed his blood axe at my throat.

"What is so funny?" He demanded. I wiped away a single tear and then looked at Audin.

"How much I was overthinking this situation. If you want to attack me and him fine…it'll be the last thing you ever do. My evos will make certain of it." I replied then held my right hand up to show my crystal. It was glowing a dim red, not because of mana overlap but because my evos were pissed. "it might be a tight squeeze but I'm sure my liger shark would enjoy tearing your men to pieces. My Millitanto definitely wouldn't fit in here but hey what building wouldn't benefit from a new skylight, I'm sure he'd eat all of you slowly after he paralyzes. I can't forget my Dr'idi'saiyo. Nothing like a massive snake screaming in your face and turning your brains to mush."

As I spoke the glow on my crystal got brighter and brighter and began to pulse. Audin eyed my crystal. He narrowed his eyes at me and pressed the axe against my throat.

"You think I'm scared of a couple of evos?" He hissed. I opened my mouth to say a smart-ass comment when the smell of smoke suddenly entered my nostrils. A waitress ran out from the kitchen and a billow of smoke filled the dining area.

"FIRE! FIRE! THE KITCHEN'S ON FIRE!" She screamed. Everyone turned to look towards the kitchen and in that instant Bo grabbed the table and flipped it onto Audin, knocking coffee and the rest of our drinks all over him.

I channeled volt attribute mana throughout my body and grabbed Bo by his shirt and jumped up to the ceiling and kicked off towards the front door. The diner was thrown into chaos as all of Audin 's guards moved to protect him and get him out of the diner quickly filled with smoke. With Bo tucked firmly under my arm I ran out the front door and ran towards the closest alley. I rapidly climbed up a fire escape of a building and onto the roof then ran as fast as my legs could carry me, jumping from roof to roof.

"HEY! Hold on! We need to wait for Gadget!" Bo exclaimed and tried to wiggle out of my grasp.

"Gadget?!" I exclaimed as I jumped across another roof and skidded to a stop atop an abandoned looming apartment building. "Your evo?"

"Yeah! Who do you think set the fire?" He replied.

"When did you….oh! When you were coughing, you actually summoned your evo." I said. Bo nodded then wiggled out of my grasp and fell on his butt. He quickly jumped to his feet then walked over to the edge of the roof.

"He should be coming our way now." Bo said.

"Quick thinking, good job." I said with a smirk and held my hand out. "Bone, go get that little shit and bring it back."

[Star boss if you summon Bone-lasher then you'll fail your assignment today.] Grimm-Guard reminded me.

[Fuuuuck! I forgot about that assignment.] I replied.

"Or maybe not…we can go back to get him…"