WARNING: If you're offended by swearing, sexual references, or underaged drinking (for our time anyway), this story isn't for you. Sorry!

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birdie: A roaring machine, a boxy vehicle or sorts, ripped through a barren plain of dust and scrap metal, and things that have long since died of thirst, be they plant, animal, or even human. The sky was just as blue as it had always been, but it was hidden by thick brown-ish clouds of hundreds of years of pollution and abuse. Blue skies were a rare, once-in-a-lifetime sight. The vehicle was racing towards black silhouettes, bent and broken--the ruins of a once great city, the name of which was forgotten. Just outside the city were small huts composed of salvaged scrap wood and metal and plastic, nailed together to provide enough shelter to keep out the rain and cold. Small boys were fighting with sticks outside, while the girls talked and traced patterns in the dirt. Older children who could fend for themselves more easily were sent out to search for materials the family could use or trade. Small machinery, parts, and devices were of great value even if they needed repairs. The only government that had brought this depression on had locked themselves away in their white towers only half a century ago, and only regulated their people by the boundaries they weren't to cross, lest they be shot on sight. Instead of local governments, gangs ruled, with their powerful gang leaders behind them. Violent, malicious, and cruel, they stole, raided, and killed without mercy. Often they would duel in the streets in small groups, injuring passerby and often killing them. In this nameless city, the ruling gangs were both powerful enemies. One, the Black Thunder gang, and the other, the Jacks of Spades. Black Thunder was known for the physical skill of its members and its leader, a man who rarely saw the light, or what was left of it, from outside his fortress in the desert. The Jacks were known for their technology, stolen, repaired, and salvaged. Their leader was a woman. Jet, the self-proclaimed Queen of Spades. She was seen often with her gang members, unlike her foes. She'd always be at the lead, armed, and quick to react to an ambush or attack. Women were seen in gangs often, but were normally outnumbered one to twenty, and most gangs only consisted of around twenty-five. Needless to say, Jet was a rarity, to have such a powerful position and keep it with a cold steel grip. The monstrous vehicle lurched and came to a stop just outside a small hut in a cluster of huts and a few men emerged, along with a woman. She was a woman of average height with a slender, yet muscular build. She had raven black hair that curved around her face in soft spikes and just brushed her shoulders, some of it falling over her crystal blue eyes. The men were all fit, and appeared to be strong. Their clothes were just as dull as the rest of the world, but they were armed--an instant warning for all around them that they were gang members. The woman was dressed entirely in black and carried several weapons, including a sword sheathed on her back over her shoulder. She nodded to the men, leaving one in the car to keep watch, and entered the small hut with her group silently.

akiko: Having just returned from searching the desert Erin was outside her hut when the vehicle arrived. She narrowed her eyes and squinted to see who the people were getting out of the car. Seeing the guns her heart flipped and she hurried inside to report to her caretaker. Erin was now eighteen and had lived with her caretaker for ten years. When she as eight Erin's family was caught in the cross fire of the two leading gangs, Black Thunder and The Jacks of Spades. Ever since then, the fear that was embedded into Erin's heart at the age of eight has stuck with her and always would. Erin went straight to her corner of the hut and pulled the holy cloth that was used as a door closed and sat down on her cot. Her red curly hair hung in front of her green eyes as she stared at the floor. Her skin was tanned from spending so much time in the sun and it was also stained from the mixture of sweat and dust. She pulled her hair back and tied it up with other strands of her hair.

birdie: Only minutes later, the group of Jacks reemerged. A Jack closest behind their leader carried a black briefcase of sorts that appeared to be thick and heavily armored. He got back into the open back of the vehicle and Jet said something inaudible to him, to which he responded with a nod and walked further into the cargo. The remaining Jacks left the vehicle again and browsed the braver merchants who hadn't immediately packed up and gone home upon the arrival of the gang.

akiko: "Erin!" The voice of an elder lady called from another part of the hut. "Yeah Gwen?" Erin mumbled and poked her head out from behind her screen. "I need you to go to the market. We're out of grains...I'm making rice tonight..." Erin sighed and moved back behind her screen. "Again?" She mumbled. "We always have rice." She said under her breath. Grabbing a faded cloak that was once black she threw it over her shoulders and flipped the hood up over her head. "I'll be back..." She mumbled and grabbed the several coins that Gwen held out. Stepping back out in the sweltering heat of the sun her face was shaded over completely and she headed to the market.

birdie: The small group of Jacks passed by just as Erin was headed out of her home. By accident, the leader suddenly collided with the girl, sending both off balance.

akiko: Erin fell backwards into a vegetable stand and knocked several items to the ground. She quickly regained her balance and looked up to see who she had collided with. Her heart stopped for several seconds and everything went black for a split second. She swallowed hard and opened her mouth to apologize but the words would not come out. The next thing she knew her feet were hitting the hardened dust below her as she ran.

birdie: Jet only glared at the girl with the one eye that wasn't covered by her black hair as she ran off. "She probably stole something..." Jet growled and looked down. She checked every weapon and pocket on her outfit and looked back up at the girl. She shook her head, and the group continued back to the vehicle.

akiko: Erin panted as she stopped running and doubled over to catch her breath. As she bent over a small hand gun and pouch full of money fell out of her cloak. She gasped and covered her mouth.

birdie: "What'd she take?" one of the other men following Jet asked. "Nothing that can't be replaced." Jet said. "We got what we came for, that's what matters." The men nodded and followed her, while two paused to look over their shoulders at the girl before getting back onboard the vehicle.

akiko: Erin sighed and reached for her sun glasses. Her hand reached the spot that they were usually kept but there was nothing there. Her eyes widened as it hit her that her father's sun glasses had snagged on Jet. She looked over to the vehicle that was still in sight and her heart began to race.

birdie: As Jet sat down to prepare for the ride back to the city, she felt something poking her in the side. She reached down and pulled up a pair of sun glasses, then narrowed her eyes. She turned them and blinked. "Hm...interesting parting gift for a thief..." she mumbled, only heard by herself over the roar of the engine as the vehicle lurched again and started.

akiko: "No..." Erin's stomach knotted and she ran after the vehicle.

birdie: The vehicle sped away from the village and back out into the barren plain, where it would be too dangerous for anyone without a weapon too follow alone. In these plains were one of the only things left alive, and the most dangerous--dogs that have adapted to the harsh environment and become hunters and vicious killers.

akiko: "Fuck..." Erin swore and kicked the dust. A single tear slid down her cheek and turned the dust on her face to a crusty mud. She turned around and went back to her hut with the money and the gun. Before saying anything to Gwen she went to her cot and curled up under the raggedy sheet.

birdie: A few hours later, (though almost no one kept track of time by hours anymore) a familiar mechanical roar rolled through the village and came to a shuddering stop. There was silence, then some worried voices as villagers armed themselves for what sounded like a gang raid.

akiko: Erin was asleep by then and heard nothing.

birdie: There were more commanding voices, and somebody pushed open the cloth of Erin's hut. Four men entered and one of them pointed at her, while another nodded. They all came in closer and, at once, grabbed her. One covered her mouth, while the others bound her hands and feet.

akiko: Erin's eyes snapped open and she screamed through the man's hand. She struggled and kicked as they tried to bind her. She tossed her head from side to side and bit the man’s hand hard enough to draw blood.

birdie: The man swore and slapped her hard across the face, then covered her mouth again, tighter this time, and the four of them lifted her and hauled her outside.

akiko: When Erin had the time she yelled for Gwen. The old lady, being old, remained sleeping since she couldn't hear.

birdie: The men finally got back to the monster of a machine they'd rode in on and three of them got in back, carrying Erin with. They held her still, and the engine started again, then they drove off back out of the village.

akiko: Erin continued struggling and used both of her feet to kick the man holding her legs in the face.

birdie: For several minutes they held her, but eventually, their grip loosened. "Listen up." one said gruffly. "You can jump off if you want, but you'll only be eaten alive by hounds. We heard them howling on our way here. Your other option is to sit here, stay quiet, and live. You choose." he said and they all let go.

akiko: Erin hit the ground and stared up at them angrily. "What’s the meaning of this!?"

birdie: "I said stay quiet!" the man yelled. "We won't have a problem pushing you out either."

akiko: Erin kept her mouth shut and sat up.

birdie: It took a long time to get to wherever they were headed, but when they got there, the strange shapes of skyscrapers long since burned and torn down surrounded them. The vehicle stopped, and before Erin could jump away, the men grabbed her again, but didn't bother to cover her mouth. Erin was walked to one of the ruined buildings, the bottom two floors of which were still mostly intact. They took her up to the heavily armored front door of it and knocked twice, then a slat in the door slid open. Another man stared at all of them for a long moment, then unlocked the door and opened it for them without a word. They trooped inside, the door closing behind them, and headed for stairs that led underground. They brought Erin down to an open area, where many other men were all talking, laughing, eating and fighting for fun. There was a bit quieter as they began to notice Erin, but the noise resumed as they passed. She was taken to a separate room, where there was the sound of gunfire and some thing breaking, obviously a weapons chamber. The same woman that Erin had run into stood at one end of the room with a gun in her hand, aimed across the room at a target drawn into the wall at the other end. She fired a couple of times before taking notice and finally laid eyes on Erin. She lowered her gun and took a step towards them. "What's this?" she asked. "We captured the girl that stole from you." She nodded and looked down at the girl. "What do you have to say for yourself?" she asked. "Stealing from a gang leader? That' pretty risky..." she said slyly and cocked her handgun.

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