Rowdy Dead Productions

By David C. Daoust

Raymond Haul had never once imagined himself in such a position as he now found himself in. What started as his small crew, a group of friends he’d been running with since his early years on the City-station, heading out to do a ‘job’, now found they represented the First Wave for the entire moon- with Raymond at the head.

Raymond knew WHY he was doing it, it needed to be done. What he didn’t know, was why these people were listening to him. He guessed because he’d spoken up at the right time, offered to help them in their hour of need, by offering up meds. They had no idea, he had stolen those same meds from them, but moments before the black out.
He was playing things by ear, pushing people’s attention away from his family. Away from the kids that initiated the Drone Raid- and the adults that let it happen.

This deflecting of the Confederate Judges, also gave pause to the real fact that they had a confessed murderer on the moon, with a murder victim; the Community leader of Grady, Emanuel H. Grady, himself.

They’d all been sealed in the council chambers, on the upper floors of the Starport, since that morning. The goal, was a Compact, a compromise between both Grady and First Wave, something that would insure equal say in the goings on, on the moon. Ultimately, they were seeking out common ground.

Raymond had spent his life outside of government, though his young life could never be called free. He spent his years ducking a corrupt system, staying out of it best he could, though still forced to do what he could to survive. The freedom he found on Twin Crown was unlike anything he’d ever known. Now, they were looking at him to what? Preserve that freedom? Or end it?

The people of Grady lost everything. They were in no position, to press anything, other than how they would survive on the moon. They were over a barrel and they knew it. It may not have been a fair position, but Raymond was not about to relinquish his advantage. An act which, in itself, was a resistance to that ‘common ground’ they all sought.

Raymond was stubborn, but he was not the only one. The other side had their own resistance. Eduardo Bram was one of the richest men on Twin Crown, and would bounce back long before the rest of the moon.

Bram maintained they had no need to deal with the First Wave at all. Bram insisted that walking away from the Confederation could only hamper the Moons future. Not to mention the call for justice against the First Wave for the Drone Raid. Eduardo was not alone in this desire. Pointing a finger at an individual would be hard though, and none of the First Wave were going to give up the truth.

The sudden outburst came from the First Wave, his men were all on their feet, clamoring, threatening action against those from Grady. It snapped Raymond from his thoughts, he was up, trying to bar the advance as the room threatened to devolve into a barroom brawl.

JJ was at his side, but he didn’t look much happier than the rest of the men. Raymond, still not sure what had instigated the sudden change, looked to JJ questioningly.

“One of Farrah’s girls…” JJ whispered, practically seethed, in his ear, “was beaten black and blue.”

Raymond’s anger didn’t help to calm the room. He could not think why he was still trying to hold his men at bay.

The call for Justice was coming from both sides of the room now. Justice which was on hold until the Compact could be formed.

Raymond glanced to Denali. The UM rep had seated himself at the head of one of the larger tables in the room, he was trying to act as some sort of mediator for the Compact, though had fallen silent some time ago, especially as the stalemate had grown long. Now that everything was about to go up in flames- still he sat silently watching.

“They say it was Bram’s boys that done it,” JJ passed on.

Raymond’s angry gaze bounced from the UM rep, to Eduardo, then scanned the room. Most of the men from Grady looked shocked, even scared, Eduardo though, sat with a stone face. Raymond had to assume, he’d been informed as well. Raymond knew the first hurdle had just been obliterated. Surely, Bram’s tune would change now that his own family was on the docket.