Author's Note: What you are reading here is not really a preview, not really a teaser of Chapter 7. Quite the contrary, actually, as I have not edited nor masked anything below for the sake of hiding things from you, creating suspense, and/or pissing you off. Instead, as a way to apologize to anybody who may or may not read this story and has been waiting a long time for Chapter 7 to arise. So during the time where my home internet isn't working (I'm posting this from school :D) I would like you all to enjoy what little bit I have written in my free time.

- Nathan

Jack sat in the driver’s seat of his new SUV, staring out into the road from the parking lot of a convenience store he had just gotten out of. He’d calmed a bit by now, but only enough to where he could use words for more than 10 seconds without snapping. He’d gotten a useful piece of information after asking about a crime such as what happened to his family, and had learned that the gang that may have been responsible was known as the Spiders. A very generic name, however; Jack would have to venture to the only place gangs normally set up shop, and that was Banaro Deep.

His fingers traced the outside of the gun in the middle front seat of the car, looking at a picture of the gang’s symbol. Simply put, it was a radioactive warning symbol, but inside of it was a black widow spider. He’d basically have to drive around looking at walls for tags of the symbol for even an idea of where to find anyone closely related to the gang. Working in Banaro, he knew how gangs worked, and normally you wouldn’t find a tag on a wall unless the gang that owned it operated in that area. It was their way of claiming territory; once the tag was replaced or washed off and another was in its place, you’d know that another gang was running the area.

So Jack started the car back up, placing both hands on the steering wheel, shifted into drive and pulled out of the parking lot. It was time to go to Banaro Deep.

Hiro was standing outside of the Rippers’ abandoned boarding house in the garage, along with Nail, Vic, Shark, and the car that the little boy Stephen was sitting in. Vic was explaining anything and everything to Nail that he could about the situation, and meanwhile Hiro was gearing up in his biking gear yet again. He thought that maybe after being a “hero” (which was not only untrue, but was a terrible thing to call him in regards to his real name) he’d be able to get a little rest, but he was wrong, of course. He had the jumpsuit on and was holding his helmet under his arm, looking at the others as they spoke.

His thoughts wandered, as they usually did. But this time they went back to the events from earlier that night. The man that saved him... seemed like he was waiting. Like heh ad known Hiro would be coming around the corner, and was ready to help. But it was too odd to just let it go, because Hiro had grown to not be trusting, even of someone who helped. He immediately thought the man had some ill intention behind it all.

Hiro's thoughts were snapped back into the real world at the sound of someone calling his name.

"Hiro!" A voice yelled to him. He shook his head for a moment and looked up at Nail. "You ready?" Hiro nodded and placed the helmet on his head, not yet pulling it down over his face. Shark walked up to him, looking down with his brown eyes and grabbing Hiro's shoulders. He shook him slightly, looking intently at his face.

"This isn't small shit like a robbery, Hiro," Shark began. "This is for a friend. For blood. Blood is way more important than money in this gang, I would hope you know that." Hiro didn't say anything, still partly shaken that he was chosen for something so important. He nodded, letting Shark know that he knew. "Good. Don't let me down. Or any of us. This means a lot to me and Nail." Hiro nodded again, and pulled the helmet down over his face. Looking through the visor and knowing Shark couldn't see his face, he got his first bit of confidence all night.

"You can count on me, Shark."

"That's what I like to hear. Nail! All ready to go?" Shark called behind him.

"Yep, we're all set. Hiro, you know how to get to Gargantuan from here?" Nail had a bit of uncertainty in his voice. Hiro lifted the visor on his helmet, looking at Nail with a smirk.

"You kidding me? I know this city inside-out!" He laughed. Closing the visor, he turned his bike on and revved the engine a bit. "Besides, that thing's hard as hell to miss!" He gripped one handlebar and rode up beside the car. He turned his head to Vic, who was sitting in the driver's seat with the door still open. "Ready when you are."