The Siege of California

A Few Nights Later

Jessie watched the sea of lights that was Los Angeles from atop the Hollywood Hills. He still marveled at how quickly the natural light of the night sky had diminished and eventually vanished with LA’s growth. The stars of the night sky bowed out to the ever-expanding glow of the modern age. Something that he had never really became a part of.

‘Nines’ came up the trail towards Jessie and the vantage point of the city. “Looks like Isaac was right for once. There’s a small gang of fifteen riders coming up on us. Our spotter on the I-40 saw them coming into LA from the east.”

Jessie turned away from the nightscape of LA and faced ‘Nines’. “Well, it would seem Isaac can be right about some things every once in a while. You and the rest of the boys make yourselves scarce, but don’t go too far… in case this becomes something I can’t handle.”

‘Nines’ nodded and let out a sharp whistle to get everyone’s attention. He then led off a group of six of LA’s proud anarchs, leaving Jessie to await the arrival of their guest.

Jessie knew his choice in making ‘Nines’ his second was a good one. He knew Isaac wouldn’t be able to keep them all under control, since Isaac was a big fan of playing prince in a community that had given up that notion. But, a few still played the game with Isaac in hopes of certain boons here and there. No one cared though, everyone was free to do as they pleased. A strong central figure was still needed though to keep all the heads from butting up against one and another. This was the role Jessie had stepped into, willing or not. The majority of the LA anarchs minded what Jessie had to say and in most situations did as they were told.

In Los Angeles, it was Jessie and Isaac. In other cities, it was someone else calling the shots. The Anarch Free State of California wasn’t so much a state, as it was a collection of mostly aggressive city-states. No central authority to keep things in check and perhaps a breeding ground for Sabbat warriors, or at least that’s what Jessie was thinking. Why else would a supposedly Sabbat Paladin be showing up, but to establish a foothold in California. Though requesting a meeting of presentation was definitely odd, and with Isaac’s self fancy of being prince, the urge to send an anarch representative was without question. Isaac himself would never step out from behind his desk in Hollywood, so it was left to Jessie to stand toe to toe with this Paladin.

“Cause Isaac ain’t got the nerve…”, Jessie mumbled to himself as the headlamps of the approaching bikes were becoming clearer. The convoy of bikes came to a halt about one hundred yards from Jessie. A lone figure shadowed by the lights began to close the distance between them. Jessie watched the approach noticing the ‘skirt’ and sword strapped to the newcomer’s back, and Jessie thought he was archaic.

“That’s close enough friend”, Jessie said as the newcomer came into sight a few yards away. “I go by Jessie… what’d they call you?”

“Axis is what they call me… and where’s Isaac, we contacted him… not you, friend”, Axis responded.

“Isaac is down there sit’n behind his desk. So he sent me instead. He does his best to steer away from trouble when he can… and that’s most of the time… friend”, Jessie said with a smile.

“Well Jessie, I’ll tell you upfront, I’m not here for trouble. I’m here to meet my people.”, the infamous grin of Axis’ matching Jessie’s smile.

“A Sabbat Paladin ain’t gonna meet any of his folk around these parts of the country.”, Jessie said with an edge to his voice.

“Oh yes… how I forget. News does tend to travel slow in ‘these parts of the country’, don’t they friend?” Axis was holding his grin. “You see, my friend, ol’ Axis here has given up the Sabbat, and I’ve declared myself and my kind to be bona fide Anarchs. So where else should I go… but to the Anarch Free State of California?”

Jessie pondered this new development. If Axis was telling the truth, a new group like his arriving on the scene could cause major tensions and even wars between the anarch groups vying for central power in California. “So… you don’t say eh?… Why’d ya come to LA to tell us that then?”

“I’ve heard that Isaac, or should I say you… has a way of running as tight a ship as one can expect when dealing with anarchs here in Los Angeles… and frankly, I like organization, call it a throwback to my old job. But, I see big things in the future for California and I’m looking to bring along those who want to see that big picture developed.”, Axis grinned as he delivered the proposal.

“And for them that don’t want to see your big picture?”, Jessie asked.

“Oh, I’m sure some diplomatic talks… and of course busting of heads will be in order. But, you seem to be one of the sensible types, and I’m definitely not looking to start off my visit to California by starting trouble with some old gruff son of a bitch that does a good job of keeping folks in line… friend.”, Axis chuckled.

“So… you think you can just roll into California and straighten everything out… like a new sheriff in town, eh?”, Jessie asked.

“Nice… I like that… ‘new sheriff in town’, sounds Old Westy… that really has a ring to it. But, yeah… that’s what I plan on doing. California has a bright future, but first we anarchs need to realize that we are all one big dysfunctional family. Then, they need to realize that I’m like the crazy drunk uncle who gets court custody of the brat kids after mommy and daddy got hit by a bus and no one else in the family hates themselves enough to take the misfits.”, Axis said with a smile.

“You’ve certainly got a way with words… friend. But, why come here to tell us about your big picture?”, Jessie questioned.

“Well.. let me tell you all about it Jessie. You see LA is the most organized of the family… and you seem to be one of the few places with a big chief on the scene keeping things in order. Which now seems to be you, and not Isaac as I was originally told. And myself… I need a friend… a compatriot… someone who doesn’t blink an eye when asked to stand toe to toe with a Sabbat Paladin… I need someone like you Jessie. A strong gruff bastard to hold down the fort, while me and the boys ride out into the wild frontier to establish law and order. To make this Anarch Free State something that will last, and not some odd collection of warring heads that will eventually fall apart, and be overrun by one sect or the other. What do you say Jessie? Will you be my friend?”, Axis asked with outstretched arms. He had found in Jessie what he had hoped to find in LA, someone stable in the mind and willing to see things through. With Jessie holding down LA, Axis would be free to roam all of California and demand or force cooperation with the other cities and areas. It would take time, but it was very possible. “Come on Jessie… I don’t have many friends any more… You can be the sane uncle that the kids look up to.”

Jessie thought about the big picture that Axis was painting, and for the most part, he was right. If something didn’t happen California would become a breeding ground for the Sabbat eventually, or the Camarilla would sweep in and start dividing up cities… wouldn’t Isaac like that. If Axis could pull this off, then the offer on the table was definitely worth the consideration. But, was Axis the one who could pull something like this off, could he stand up to the other self-proclaimed leaders and win through words or force. “How’d ya call it quits in the Sabbat?”

“It was easy. I walked up to the Regent, told him to take this job and shove it, and then I cut his head off from his shoulders. His guard didn’t really appreciate that too much. From then on, things got kinda violent.,” Axis said chuckling.

Jessie chuckled with along with Axis thinking that this was indeed perhaps the craziest man he had ever crossed, besides the fact that he was in a skirt. And if what he said was true, then Axis probably was the one to paint this big picture in California. “Come on Axis, let me introduce you to ‘Nines’ and some of the boys… we can talk more about this proposal with some of the kids. I think its only appropriate that they hear what their crazy uncle wants to say.”

Axis grinned and waved back to Odo with the rest. They all caught up with Axis as he followed Jessie to meet the LA anarchs and ‘Nines’. Axis was pleased, the reports Angus had gathered were right, except they confused Jessie with Isaac. Isaac wasn’t the real power in LA, it was Jessie. He was glad Isaac had sent Jessie, cause it saved himself the time of finding the strongest anarch in California, and Axis was sure that he and Jessie were about to become fast friends.

“So.. why’d ya and them others wear those skirts, friend?”, Jessie asked as he lead them off into the distance. Jessie just hoped he hadn’t started talks with a crazed lunatic who’s big picture was everyone in California wearing skirts. The truth though, was closer to this than he ever dreamed.