if [tribe] =

if [tribe] = // Chapter 2

The night erupted with sickly orange light from the small space in front of Mu’s fingers. A fireball about the size of a basketball shot across the street trailing wisps of flame behind it. It struck the car dead center with fire and force, the explosion flipping the vehicle over like a child’s toy. Engulfed in flame, it spun once, twice, a flaming body flying from the back and landing on the opposite curb in a heap. Coming to a jarring stop, the sedan wrapped around a light pole and exploded again, gouts of fire thrown off in all directions. Nothing escaped from the wreckage. The unfortunate gunner that had been thrown clear did not stir. Mu smiled, held up his thumb and index finger in the shape of a gun and blew across his finger. A tiny puff of smoke dissipated from his hand.

“Did you see that, Bridge? That’s some serious wizard shit!” Bridge scowled, but the dour expression did nothing to diminish the wizard’s exuberance.

Bridge surveyed the scene. At least five bystanders had been hit, and two lay silent and unmoving. Most of the bullets had flown over the area behind Bridge and Stonewall. Bridge couldn’t be sure whether the intended target had been his friend or himself.

Stonewall had sprung into action as soon as the shield dropped, dashing across the street towards the gunmen lying on the street. He kept his weapon trained on the attacker the whole time, but such caution wasn’t necessary. Stonewall kicked the man’s leg and got no reaction. Satisfied the danger was past, the ex-footballer holstered the weapon under his jacket and flipped the dead man over on his back. Patting out the last vestiges of flames, Stonewall searched the dead man’s empty pockets.

“Are you unharmed?” Aristotle asked. He seemed unsteady on his feet.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m good,” Bridge replied. Mu walked up to the pair with that shit-eating grin still plastered on his face.

“Good work, you two,” Bridge began. “Could you have been any later there, Aristotle? You were supposed to be here almost an hour ago. Sober.” Bridge fixed the man with a hard stare, and the bodyguard stood with an embarrassed, hangdog pout. Mu grinned from ear to ear, but Bridge had his share of criticism for the technomancer as well.