Flee or Kill: The Future Of Reality TV (Future Forward Book 2)

by D. Frank Green

  The veteran survived that first minute with his laser beam at full width to create as broad a fire pattern as possible. He remained by the door keeping the crowd at bay until his partner went silent and a flying body knocked him back through the door. As he stumbled backwards, he blew a hole in his attacker's forehead, then turned, set his suit to full power and speed and made it out of the bar alive but quite shaken.

  The bars were full, and the overflow choked all traffic on streets full of partying bodies. The night was at its busiest, full party mode when the trooper staggered out of the bar with what, from above, resembled a hive of angry bees closely behind.

  "Fokker killed twenty-five people!" shouted a voice, and the crowd saw a trooper, covered in blood, running down the street. Feeds quickly showed the carnage inside the bar, the pile of dead bodies and the dismembered, twitching, still-uniformed parts of the dead trooper. These were all broadcast by the bar's survivors to the social media sites. His weapons were nowhere to be seen on any of the videos.

  The fleeing trooper repeated the call to his Corporal and again requested immediate assistance with armed backup in force. Even he was in a panic now and didn’t pay enough attention to his pathway between the crowds. A foot snaked out, knocked him off balance and as he staggered, another vicious kick hit his other leg. He went down, and the crowd surged to block him from camera and sensor view. His screams were not blocked and were heard by every trooper.

  "Two down. How many more to help the Captain?" shouted a voice.

  Records indicate the speaker died in a fight later that night. But now, the crowd reacted as the senior trooper had expected. They got mad, they yelled, screamed at the security cameras, most of which were destroyed by tossed garbage cans and booze bottles. Until somebody else yelled, "This way to Security. Let's meet him there," and the mob surged forward into the line of troopers whose orders were to contain the mob at all costs. The troopers had heard their comrades die and were now in a foul mood so there was no thought of mercy.

  Hundreds died in the first assault and the Security line held firm. The crowd pulled back, uncertain but still angry. Things may have been stalemated at this point except for one enterprising young man.

  Less drunk than his friends, he said he had the control code for his father's delivery vehicle. If they went through the basements, backyards and rooftops like they used to do when they were kids, they could get the machine and smash into the back of the trooper lines. This seemed to be a very good idea to his beer-soaked friends and together they ran or staggered their way to the garage. All except one who ran into a garbage can and knocked himself out. His buddies laughed at how far the stupid fokker had gotten in his state.

  Fifteen minutes after they had started, the young drunk yelled, "Here she is boys, all aboard," and the friends crowded into the cab. A few minutes later, the crowd watched a two-ton delivery truck smash through Security force lines, careen wildly around a corner aiming for the Security line in the nearby street to complete a circle of destruction.

  "Now!" yelled a young man, who rushed forward to be dropped dead by multiple shots. And with a primal growl, the crowd surged toward the confused Security troops.

  In their truck-shattered lineup and confusion about which surviving officer was in charge, there were two kinds of troopers who faced the mob. The younger troopers believed the crowd would back down and tended to listen to one young panicking Lieutenant who was ordering a stand and fight resistance.

  But there were also veterans who took at look at the numbers in the mob and the numbers of security forces who survived the truck disaster, and quickly calculated a likely outcome. These veterans, commanded by a well-regarded Captain, began a retreat to a more secure location and extra firepower. Unfortunately for both groups, the Captain was not able to control the panic-filled Lieutenant and the forces split.

  The Lieutenant’s group created an incredible amount of carnage before it was overrun by the mob. The second smaller group worked as a team to delay part of the mob for a half mile as it retreated to make an escape. But as soon as the Lieutenant’s group was overcome, the full anger of the mob turned on it. And while they fired and fought valiantly, they too were overcome when the mob started using their dead comrades weapons.

  The crowd now had full and free access to the city streets and it boiled out of the entertainment area. The social nets were full of bloody images and video and a shocked city soon turned to outrage as well. When pictures of their children’s bodies filled the feeds, every man felt he had to respond. The mothers were told to stay at home and as the fathers emerged across the city, the fight was fully joined.

  13/06//2167 22:00:00

  As the fight raged across the city, the Captain and his men ran across the countryside at full battle speed. Without the threat of ambushes or Sky-Sec lasers, the Captain abandoned the thought of a cautious approach and set speed records on the last few miles of their run. Jake had established a fast-recovery cycle to keep their batteries and weapons charged; each trooper was invisibly tethered to a satellite battery charge feed and would arrive in the city at full power.

  After an hour, just about the time the streets turned into a bloody mess, the team entered the city outskirts.

  "Captain Fraser, this is what’s currently happening," Jake said. And a series of visuals and data flows appeared in every trooper's feeds. They all saw the Secretary's speech, the firefight at the bar, the outcome and the bloody street battles and the gutter flow of blood into the sewer systems. The positions of every light-armored Security trooper was highlighted on a command feed and overall-readiness stats scrolled in one view. In short, the Captain had enough data on hand to wage a full war should he decide to.

  "Hell. What are those idiots doing in there?" asked George. "I sure as fok hope my son isn't in a gutter somewhere or there will be shit to be paid."

  "Shut your asshole," said the Sergeant, "We all have family back there but your first duty here is to your Captain and you'll do your duty or I'll take you down myself. Do you understand me, George?"

  "You got it, Sarge. Wrong call, won't happen again," said George.

  "Hey, Troop," the Captain said as he connected to the Security Troop commander.

  "Captain Fraser, well if this isn't a pleasant little surprise on a totally fokked up night," said Troop.

  "Troop, this call is not recorded and not broadcast, it's between you and me, old friend," said Fraser.

  "Captain, one, I'm not your old friend, you wet-eared, rookie, I'm your training Sergeant. And two, I taught you everything you fokking know. Are we clear on that? I've forgotten more stuff than you think you know," said Troop.

  "Yes, Sergeant, yes indeed," laughed Fraser. "Mind you, if I recall I did outfox you on more than one occasion,"

  "You think you did. I still don't know how you wound up as number one in your class with all those demerit points you had unless it was because I didn't report about half of the ones I should have," Troop said.

  Fraser laughed and said, "Troop, you're probably right on that, too, but we have ourselves a little problem here and I need to get it laid out between us. Here's the deal and no matter how you stack it, you're looking at seven full heavies. We're about ten minutes out and we’re at full battle power."

  Troop absorbed the information and assessed the damage seven heavies would do at full power. He had assumed they'd arrive with far less after a run like that. Well, that clearly changed a few things. However he simply said, "Got yourself a server connection and a full mobile fast-charge unit I see. All seven of you got one?"

  "Yes, Sir," said the Captain.

  "Whoa, there’s a hefty bill to be paid," said Troop.

  "Not my problem, Troop. But here's the deal. We have full server connectivity for communication and we have all your troopers positions mapped. For example we both know twenty-five troopers can do some damage to one of my people and you've massed them around Security headquarters. But here's the deal Troop, we won’t split up
against large numbers. All seven of us will come in hot and loaded against one side. This means you’ll only have seventy-five lights against our heavies and there's no way it will go well for your people. Once we take out one side, we'll simply roll around the building to take out one nest at time. You're about to lose two hundred men and I won't lose one. After that, it's simply a mop-up operation or the mob will do our work for us," Captain Fraser said.

  "Troop, I don't expect you to believe me, but here's the map of your positions and my battle entry plan," said the Captain sharing his eye feed over the connection.

  "Well, I agree this view doesn't give us too much of a chance but I can always move my people when you arrive. We can take you from the flanks," said Troop.

  "Troop, tell me you aren't senile, too. You’ll send light troopers out into the open against heavies?" said the Captain.

  "Nah, you stupid rookie, I just wanted to see what you'd say," said Troop. "Even I'm not that old and out of it. Here's my problem rookie. I have you in front of me and the Secretary behind me and my troops are the meat in this sandwich. I'd rather not have my men eaten by either but…" He was cut off.

  "Troop, listen to me carefully. The Secretary has been cut off all server control. He has nothing up there and his server teams are well and truly isolated. If I can control Sky-Sec lasers, don't you think I can do something far simpler like lock him out of his own system. You saw the vid that ordered you to full power. Who do you think broadcast that? I got him tagged, all I need to do now is bag him. Bagged and tagged before the night is over, Troop," said the Captain. "With you, or through you," he added.

  *****

  As the Captain took full responsibility for all the server control instructions, Jake smiled. This would work out much better than he thought; the captain actually thought he was in charge and running this show. The doppelganger added, "Ah, I get what you mean. Good call," and they went back to the monitor.

  *****

  "Fraser, you are one persuasive son of a bitch. You surely are," said Troop. "So what do you need my people to do?" he added.

  "Stand down, Troop. I'd suggest you set up guard posts around the main server, power locations, Corporate and Security. Give up the rest of the city, but mass in bulk around those locations. I'll protect them with lasers should the crowds want access, but I won't protect anything else. Let them vent their rage, let them do what they want. Buildings are easy to replace, servers aren't. Your people aren't. Don't worry about the mobs if they want to kill themselves. Let our bloody part end now though. Hold all positions. Do not fire on us when we approach. There's no exceptions to this though, if one of your people fires on one of my people, I'll take out the entire group. I can and I will," said the Captain.

  With these inescapable facts plainly laid out, Troop said, "You got it, rookie. Give me full control of my comm channels and we have a deal."

  "Troop, you are the only person I'll take shit from. You know it and I know it but don't tell anyone else or my reputation is ruined," said the Captain as he tried very hard not to laugh. He, added, "And fok you, too, Troop, no way did you ever catch me and not report it."

  Troop smiled and issued orders to his people across the city. Very soon afterwards, Security troops began to protect critical infrastructure while the crowds ravaged the unprotected zones.

  As the seven troopers moved down the main entryway to the city, they saw flames and bodies in increasing numbers the closer they came to the downtown core. Rounding the corner to the Central Security headquarters building, they came upon their first mob. The shops and buildings on the streets had already been broken into and looted, and they were only seconds from a charge across the plaza toward Security.

  All troopers slowed and spread across the street. The Captain opened his broadcast mike. "People, look behind you. I'm Captain Fraser, these are my men and I need you to get out of my way. I don't want to hurt you but you need to move right now," said the Captain.

  "We'll do it with you," came a drunken reply from within the mob.

  "People, that will not happen. This section is my fight. Go find another one," the Captain broadcast.

  The same voice said, "Fok you, too!" and laughter rang through the out-of-control crowd.

  "Right about now would be a good time for a small laser display," said the Captain, and he hoped his anonymous friend would come through. "Or, I'll burn my way right through these people," he added.

  He got what he wanted. A wall of laser fire moved slowly towards the crowd giving them the option to take the side streets or be fried. They took the side streets to run for their lives. A few at the rear, too drunk to run quickly, almost became additional casualties to add to the night's tally except the lasers curiously misfired as they passed over them. The doppelganger smiled at Jake’s decision to do this.

  The main city video feed now focused on the Captain as he led his men towards the building, and when he got within twenty-five yards, he said, "Gentlemen, I trust you've heard from your Troop Commander on this, but let me clarify something. I'm serious here, I controlled that laser show, and I have seven heavies. You do the math. And then decide if this is the day you want to die and take your friends with you. Don't let me see a muzzle."

  And with that, most put their weapons on the ground and spread their empty hands wide. The others left theirs holstered but their hands also went straight out and away from their weapons.

  The Captain smiled as he and his men then entered and swept through the lobby. There wasn't a gun to be seen. Every trooper had his empty palms spread as far from his body as possible.

  "Take the stairs."

  "Sergeant, you and Jackson take the point. Fire to kill on resistance." Contrary to the Secretary’s orders there were no troops to protect the stairs, they was no threat here. Under full suit power, the squad quickly climbed the thirty-five floors to the Secretary's office suites.

  "Now, where is that fokker?"

  13/06//2167 23:00:00

  The Team entered the corridors of the top floor and half-ran, half-walked down the short hall to the first junction. "Jackson, with me. Sergeant Price, George, take the support offices. The other three of you, control this point. Anything moves, take it down, no warning shots. Don't shoot the Secretary if he comes out of his office."

  The four moved down the side corridor to the first two doors on the two-hundred foot stretch. The one to the inner side, the left, led to another maze of small offices for support staff. These people kept the Secretary supplied with whatever he requested. The door to the outer, windowed area was entry to Lieutenant Chamber's kingdom, the server control systems for Security. The Captain and Jackson went right while the other two checked the support offices.

  "Good evening, Lieutenant, gentlemen," said the Captain as he walked through the doorway into the large central command room to see a wide circle of men all pushed back from their work station monitors as if they wanted to be ready to run. Lieutenant Chambers stood facing him at attention just inside the doorway.

  Ah, good for them, they monitored our approach, the Captain thought.

  "Jackson. Check hallways and office areas off this room."

  "Nobody down there Captain Fraser, Sir," said the Lieutenant. "Nobody else on this floor but those of us in this room and Secretary Carpenter down the hall. I assume he's still there, Sir. I ordered all non-essential computer and support staff home. It seemed safer for them, Sir."

  "How do I know you and your people aren't a problem?" asked the Captain.

  Lieutenant Chambers snorted. "Sorry, Captain Fraser. That was an inappropriate response. Sir, have you looked at any of us carefully? Not to be too blunt about it, but none of us could pass basic training. We're not athletic, we're not muscular or close to what you and your men are Sir. There's not an athlete among us. We were not popular in school, and by your standards, we are one sorry-ass lot.

  But Captain, we can make computers sing, we can hack and crack our way into damn near anything because, Sir, yo
u are the best at what you do and we are the best at what we do. And here we sit, while you to make up your mind about us."

  The Lieutenant then smiled and said, "And if I may be so bold, you are suited up in heavy and we don't have a weapon in the place other than our brains. Gonna be a really, really short exercise in slaughter." "Sir," he added.

  The Captain took them all in one by one, then turned his attention to the scribbled wall. He almost chuckled out loud when he saw, "Fokked" circled in the centre but he hadn't a clue what the surrounding formula and symbols meant with all the notes. It was that incomprehension as much as anything that made him smile and connect the dots. He had the man he wanted, right in front of him.

  "Lieutenant, let's chat," and he led him into the corridor out of earshot. "You're the one who found the anonymous hacker for the Secretary." It wasn't a question but the Lieutenant nodded and said, "Yes Sir," as if it were one.

  "You know who it is."

  "Yes Sir."

  "Tell me. Now. If you do, I'll allow you and your men to live, to continue with your jobs and indeed, there will be bonuses and a welcome change in the threat level around here," the Captain said. "But first, I want to know the name. We can move forward from here."