Seven

Leeper was pleased. As he roughly pushed Tom around the street, he felt a sense of control that he knew he couldn't have in that ultra modern sci-fi world. He did not bother for the cameras all around the boulevard or for the people nearby as he knew he was being cloaked by some flying gizmos.

Yes, he had known about the projectors for a while now. Sometimes light shone off them at odd angles and he had even bumped into the instrument once. Coupling these instances with the general disinterest expressed by people and even by the local authorities at them made it certain that they were being helped. The prospect of an ally in this alien world made Leeper smile.

Leeper, in general, found this new world bearable. Sure, the people here had pampered themselves with technology, but he found that the same sense of hierarchy prevailed here. They experienced the same fear that the inhabitants of his own world did. The fear of that girl who had betrayed Tom in the cafe was as palpable as that of Tom himself. Some things can't change, even by technology it seems.

Presently, the gang took a turn and hit an unexpected dead end.

"But the door WAS this way, Leeper!" exclaimed a person in the gang.

Indeed it was, though Leeper. In all his years of roaming around in the ruins, Leeper had never lost his way. It was a skill you required in a failed state that didn't have google maps. Leeper looked furtively at the nearest drone.

"Better to play along for now", he thought.