Short Bursts

White Gold
by Matt Riggsby

The next edition of Car Wars is coming! To help prepare, “Who is the vaquera supreme of Nevada?”
Pyramid proudly presents this vignette, spotlighting one aspect “QUEEN MOB!”
of its bold new world. Visit carwars.sjgames.com to keep Queen Mob descended from the ziggurat of destroyed vehi-
abreast of the latest developments! cles. The polarized visor of her white-and-gold helmet finally
tamed the burning midday sun as she fitted it over her kinky
YYY
hair. She switched on its internal microphone.
As the din of mechanics shouting over the humming fabri- “Bring me my cycle!” A pair of mechanics wheeled out a
cators rolled out over the parking lot, the drivers rattled belts huge cycle, its works hidden beneath a freshly-fabricated
of ammo and racks of rockets into place. Whatever the vast casing of gleaming white armor plastic accented with gold.
concrete slab had once been, it was now home to a ziggurat Another stumbled alongside, tightening the last connection on
of crushed cars dragged over from the rusting scrapyard, sur- a pair of rocket pods hanging from either side.
rounded by a wolf pack of motorcycles. The woman in white “Bring out the eyes so that all can see!” A technician flipped
leather and gold appeared at the top of the tower and thumbed a switch, and a cloud of tiny camera drones rose from their
the switch on the microphone. Her voice boomed out from charging racks by the fabrication shed and took positions
dozens of salvaged speakers across the lot. around the pack of motorcycles.
“My hunters!” Queen Mob threw a leg over the seat of her cycle as the rest
The bikers became no less noisy in their preparations, but of the bikers hurried to mount up, slamming closed the last
they cheered loudly as they worked. Some ripped off short open hatches and snapping up stands. With a near-leap, she
bursts in salute. kicked the cycle into roaring life.
“Today, as on so many days, we ride to defend our honor. “Let’s ride!”
Today, a convoy will try to pass over our roads. With no toll!
As though they owned the road!” The crowd below made exag-
gerated sounds of disbelief.
About the Author
Matt Riggsby has written over 40 articles and supplements
“The Franciscans give us no respect!” Loud boos and
for Steve Jackson Games.
shouts from the bikers showed exactly that they thought of
California. “The Yankees give us no
respect!” More shouts and a few more
rounds of gunfire; it went double for
what was left of the United States.
“But we shall have our respect!
And we shall have our tribute!” The
jeers turned to cheering. This was the
part they wanted.
“They shall fear us and give us
what is ours!” More cheering, more
gunfire.
“Now, tell me, hunters, who leads
you to victory in every battle?”
“Queen Mob!” the bikers shouted
back.
“Who wins you Sonoma wine and
Philadelphia medicine?”
“Queen Mob!”
“Who is generalissima of Elko and
Battle Mountain?”
“Queen Mob!”

Pyramid Magazine 34 November 2015