Chapter 69: Interview

The limousines were still circling outside, beyond the sea of cafe tables where dozens of early risers were watching the circus while they ate. Hugh watched for a few minutes, as well, when a news crew came out of the nearby subway station and set up on the sidewalk with cameras and sound booms pointed at a pretty young newscaster in a red silk blouse.

"Should we take the subway?" Hugh asked. "I'm not certain how we're supposed to summon our mounts in this mess without walking out in the street and blocking traffic."

"That's because they're using the roads wrong," Dex said, crossing his arms over his chest. "If you look at the map, the road on this level is a one-way roundabout, not a four lane highway. The two inside lanes are for moving traffic and they're the only ones connected to the highways. The outside lanes are for loading and unloading."

"Is that why it seems so backed up down here? People are trying to drive down the lanes meant for summoning mounts and they're hitting roadblocks?"

"Precisely. I honestly don't see how this could have happened. There are signs posted and arrows painted on the road around every ingress and egress."

"I know how. Someone did something stupid and the people behind him followed like sheep. Hopefully Security Central sends some drones down to get this mess cleared up. Actually, what would happen if I summoned a drone?"

"Everyone driving the wrong way will have their cars impounded," Dex replied with a malicious grin. "Those who drive down the loading zone without trying to merge will be ticketed."

Hugh grinned back and jogged over to stick his head in Kanani's place. "Hey, Kanani," he called. "You'll want to come see this. I'm about to take care of the parade outside."

"What are you planning now, brah?" Kanani asked as he came out of the kitchen with a towel over his shoulder.

"Just come watch. It's going to be funny as hell, I promise."

Kanani followed him outside, taking up a watchful stance outside his shop door, but Hugh didn't immediately go to work. First, he walked over to the camera crew and tapped the main cameraman on the shoulder. "Sorry to bother you, but I thought I should warn you I'm about to royally screw up your shot."

"What?" he asked, startled.

"Hello," the newscaster said, breaking off mid-sentence to greet him. She walked over to him, holding out her microphone at a higher angle where it would definitely capture his voice as well as hers. The cameraman automatically followed, turning and taking several steps back to get Hugh in his viewfinder. "I'm Kara Tarkina of Channel 62 Net News, Nexus Edition. You're EXP Honey, correct?"

Hugh blinked down at her, nonplussed over being recognized. "Uh, yes. How did you—"

"And you say you're about to do something worth watching?" she asked, leading him in the direction she wanted him to go.

It took him a moment to decide, but he chose to play along. "Yes, I think so. As you can see, traffic is a mess down here. It's not supposed to be. The roads are clearly marked to let people know this area is one way only, but drivers are trying to use it as a four lane highway going in both directions, which is causing it to get backed up. The outside lanes are meant to be clear space for people to safely summon their mounts and merge with traffic, but I can't do that because people are driving down them. What I'm about to do is fix that problem."

"How so?" she asked with a bright smile.

"Just watch," he said. Pulling his Book out of his pocket, he woke it up and let it hover in front of him. He pressed the Table of Contents entry for Security Central and let the pages flip on their own. When they settled, he explained.

"One of the great things about living in Nexus is calling the cops is as easy as pressing a button." He pressed 'Summon Police Drone'.

A drone shaped like a toy helicoper appeared in front of him, hovering two feet over his head with red and blue lights flashing under it. Out of it, a tinny voice demanded, "Please state the nature of your emergency."

Hugh gestured to the circling limousines and said, "Patrol the road and see for yourself."

The helicopter buzzed as it turned its nose toward the street. A beam of light shot out of it, scanning the road to diagnose the problem. Less than two seconds later, the sound of a police siren filled the air.

An entire swarm of drones answered the call, appearing out of nowhere and flooding the air over the moving traffic. For those driving down the loading zones, the drones flew toward their windshields, scanned the vehicles with a yellow beam of light, and announced in booming voices, "Warning. Moving violation, yellow light. This area is for loading and unloading only. Merge immediately or be fined according to World Council Traffic Standardization Law 7B."

It wasn't hard to make out what they said, since dozens of them were saying the exact same thing. The rest swept over the cars moving the wrong way and shot out beams of red light. The beams brought the vehicles to a standstill, then vaporized them, leaving the drivers—and sometimes passengers—hovering midair. The people continued to hover until the beam carefully carried them over to the sidewalk and set them on their feet.

The shocked expressions on their faces were funny as hell and worth any ire Hugh knew he'd receive for doing this on camera.

As they worked, the drones announced, "Moving violation, red light. Your actions have been deemed dangerous to fellow citizens and your vehicle has been impounded according to World Council Traffic Standardization Law 122K. As this is your first violation, fines will be waived. You may pick up your vehicle either in person at Security Central or using your Book of Life. In the future, please drive more carefully."

It took less than five minutes for traffic to move correctly and the loading lanes to clear. As drones were needed less and less to keep order, they disappeared. One of the last ones approached Hugh and asked in a tinny voice, "Have your concerns been dealt with in an appropriate manner, citizen?"

Hugh smiled and nodded. "Oh, yes. Very much so. Thanks, officer."

"Thank you for reporting it. One crime-stopper merit has been added to your profile in appreciation. I will remain here to monitor the situation further, so please rest easy and have a pleasant day."

As the toy helicopter rose up to take a watchful position over the street, Hugh slapped his Book shut, turned to the newscaster, and smiled. "And there you have it—stopping crime with the press of a button."

"Incredible," the newscaster replied, her eyes shining at the golden line he'd just given her. As she turned to the camera to give a spiel about 'you saw it here first', Hugh waved farewell to a laughing Kanini and stepped out into the newly emptied loading zone. After putting his Book to sleep and tucking it safely into his pocket, he used a voice command to summon his hoverbike while Dex did the same, materializing his hoverboard a few feet away.

Hugh felt the camera on them as they mounted up, but he was very careful not to look back.