The Beginning: Breath of War

by R. Malak

  Jay, his head pounding and body aching, sat up trying to remember where he was. Feeling a lump on the back of his skull, he touched it and winced. Looking up, he realized he was back in the office where he had that odd conversation with Jackson not too long ago.

  Gritting his teeth, he hopped off the pool table, which had Connor almost leaping forward to grab him in case he fell face first. “Easy there my boy, easy, you need to take things nice and slow.”

  Jay nodded his head gingerly, still feeling a little woozy. And felt a wave of pain ripple up and down his aching arms, legs and ribs. Grunting at the unexpected stab of pain in his chest, he sat back down on the pool table and clutched his sore ribs. Those bastards had truly done a number on him, but luck it seemed was on his side today at least. Besides having a few bruised ribs, a bump to the back of the head, a sore jaw and swollen cheekbones, he felt no worse for wear.

  But he knew deep down his problems were far from over. His son was still missing, two of his new companions had tried to kill him, and his guide out of this place was a man he wouldn’t trust to put him out, if he were on fire. Yes, things were not going too well for him.

  Licking his busted lip, he asked, “What happened?”

  Connor bit his lips pensively and looked away from him, his mouth quivering. “You took a mighty good beating from a baseball bat, that’s what happened.”

  Jay cracked a smile at Connor’s frank and honest tone, which hurt his jaw. “I meant, what happened after I got knocked out?”

  The tired old man scratched the stubble growing on his cheeks. “Well, as soon as you were down, one of Jackson’s boys the man with green hair wanted to toss you out onto the streets to fend for yourself, but Gregory managed to talk them out of it, a good man that one, a pity he didn’t do anything to help you out, as for Kara she went back with the pair of fools who attacked you.”

  Jay almost laughed at that, the woman gets him beaten half to death and abandons him like nothing ever happened. In any case he was way better off without her.

  Connor his eyebrows drooping in a frown looked down at his feet. “…listen lad I’m really sorry, seeing you get hurt like that was never my intention…you nearly died on account of me…”

  Jay stood up his black eyes hardening and took hold of the frail old man’s shoulders. Connor looked up at him with rheumy blue eyes. Jay spoke quietly, “There’s no need to apologize my friend, one way or another, those two were always going to be looking to pick a fight with me.”

  Connor stared into his eyes, before patting Jay on the shoulder and smiling. “You’re a good lad Jay, too good for this world.”

  Jay grinned and felt his mouth throb again in response. That may be true right now, but that hadn’t always been the case with him. Having two sons and a wife had definitely changed him for the better.

  A knock came from the door. Jay looked up at Connor, who shrugged his shoulders in answer to his unspoken question.

  “It’s me Gregory, can I come in?”

  Curious to know why he was here he replied, “Go ahead.” The door slid open and the former police Chief entered the room avoiding all eye contact to stand in front of him, clasping his belt buckle in both hands. Jay instantly could tell there was something wrong with the big man. The oozing confidence and charm that he had seen in the man back in his hometown was long gone, replaced with a timid, shy man, who nervously blinked his eyes repeatedly.

  “Shit, how do I fucking say this? Fuck it, here it goes. I’m sorry, alright,” he said. Still not looking up, Gregory paced up and down the room, waving his arms about. “I shoulda stopped those bleedin’ fuckers from beating the sauce out of you, but I was too fucking scared those dickwads would give me the boot. It was a stupid and cowardly thing to do, and what’s worse, you could have fucking died.” He ripped off the badge from his chest and tossed it onto the carpeted floor. “I don’t deserve to be a cop.”

  Jay said nothing, but stared at the man, until Gregory at last lifted his head up to meet his grey eyes. Fear, anxiety, and self-loathing flitted across the big man’s face.

  Jay, understanding the man’s fear, replied simply, “Connor tells me you helped save my life by convincing the men out there to not throw me out. Is that true?”

  Gregory furiously bobbled his head up and down.

  Jay, feeling oddly calm, gestured for the police officer to come closer. The big man hesitated for a brief second, and then walked forward.

  Jay continued, “Listen don’t trouble yourself with what happened down there, a lot of people in that room did nothing as well. We are still in this together, and from now on we have look out for one another. We won’t survive otherwise.”

  Gregory nodded his head, tears glistening in his eyes. “Thanks Jay, I needed to hear that.” The big man scrubbed his eyes abashedly, thanked him again and walked out of room.

  “That was a real nice thing to say,” said Connor.

  Jay stood back up and moved towards the doorway. “Well, it’s true, we won’t make it through this place, without each other, those pricks out there don’t give two shits if we live or die.”

  Connor smiled thoughtfully, and dipped his hand into his into his pocket to pull out Jay’s magnum revolver. “That reminds me. Here, before you leave, you’re going to need this back, it fell out of your pocket during the fight.”

  Jay’s heart almost stopped beating in his chest. Had anyone else seen the gun? If so were they going to tell Jackson? Dark thoughts crawled rapidly through his mind, ending with grim conclusions.

  Seeing his trepidation, Connor held his hands up quickly to placate him, “Easy son, don’t you worry, I managed to tuck it away, before anyone saw it.”

  Jay let out a huge sigh of relief, if any of those men from downstairs realized he was armed… well let’s just say, he didn’t want to find out, what would happen to him. Walking back over to Connor he took the pistol from him and stuffed it back into his coat pocket. “Thanks, old timer, you’re a real life saver.”

  Connor smiled in reply and waved his hand in the air as if to say it were nothing.

  Jay headed out into the hallway with Connor right behind him. Seeing another restroom upstairs he waved Connor on ahead of him. “Listen I’ll meet you back downstairs.”

  Connor, seeing where Jay was heading, nodded his head and went back downstairs alone. He walked towards the restroom door and pushed it open and was pleasantly surprised by the smell drifting out. The place was immaculate with silver faucets, marble tiles and sparkling clean mirrors. Whistling softly in appreciation, he headed over to one of the golden framed mirrors above the sink and looked at himself in the mirror. One of his eyes was swollen with blood around the pupil, he had several purple bruises on his face, a split lip and dried blood on his forehead. It was not a pretty sight. Turning on the tap, he cupped the water pouring down into his hands and splashed it onto his face. Then rubbed the dried blood off his forehead, and dabbed lightly at his wounds. Feeling slightly refreshed he left the restroom. Took a deep breath to steel his nerves and headed downstairs.

  Everyone in the room stared up at him as he made his way downstairs. Peter and Tony sitting on stools by the pub peered up at him and gave him smug looks with Kara sitting right beside them with her arms folded up on the table. Ignoring the stares coming his way he took a seat beside Connor. Jackson who had been quietly talking with one of mercs in the corner of the room glanced up at him, but said nothing.

  Gregory, deep in conversation with Roland Durkins, the history teacher at his son’s High School, and Clemens a nurse from the local hospital, broke off his conversation abruptly and walked over to take a seat across from him with Roland and Clemens doing the same.

  After scanning the room for anyone eavesdropping, Gregory bent his head down and whispered, “Glad to see you’ve cleaned yourself up.” Jay curious as to why they had sat down at his table stayed silent. “Listen about what you said upstairs, about us sticking together, I think your right. We can’t trust thes
e scum to watch out for us. I say we take our chances out there on our own.” He nodded his head to Clemens and Roland. “Both of them feel the same way, as I do.”

  Jay’s mouth dropped open in surprise, these three wanted to go out there alone? That was insane! “Are you serious? We still haven’t passed the military checkpoints yet,” he said worriedly.

  Gregory sniffed his nose at his response. “Fuck that, we have the tags, don’t we? We don’t need these fuckers anymore.”

  Clemens, wincing with every swear word out of his mouth, gave Gregory a scowl and said coldly, “Would you please, watch your language?”

  Gregory rolled his eyes and leaned back in his seat. “So, are you with us?”

  Jay exchanged looks with Connor, who was shaking his head at the notion.

  He opened his mouth to refuse the offer, when he heard a distinct buzzing sound coming from outside the Tavern, a sound that was getting louder and louder. Jax a short petite woman with short black hair wearing body armor with the words fuck you painted on them called out to Jackson, “We’ve got a fucking drone coming our way.”

  Jackson waved his arm down furiously and ordered, “Everyone get the fuck down and keep quiet, or I’ll blow your fucking brains out.” All talk in the room ceased immediately with everyone scrambling to hide beneath the tables. Jay panting sat underneath the table gazing out the window trying to see whatever was out there.

  The buzzing sound grew louder and louder until he could feel the floorboards beneath him vibrating. A large metallic eagle with long wings that shone in the sunlight flew into his field of vision, hovering outside the Tavern. Its red bulbous eyes scanned the ground below with ultra violet lights, seeking heat signatures. Jackson’s men gripping their weapons positioned themselves by the windows, ready to open fire in case they were spotted. The eagle drone circled the air above them, continually emitting that awful buzzing sound, before hovering away. With the buzzing sound of the drone fading away, then disappearing altogether; Jackson’s men relaxed and stood back up.

  Jay, having never seen a drone before, couldn’t understand why the technicians would design the drone to look like an eagle.

  Roland as if understanding his thought patterns answered his unspoken question in a lecturing tone, he assumed put his students to sleep. “Ah, the good old drone from the United States, a symbol of their supremacy over the skies. A pity we only got to see the old generation model. The newer models are generally much larger and sleeker with the ability to detect creatures and humans from miles away with detailed accuracy, not to mention having a heavy arsenal of weapons. Eagle Drone II isn’t too bad I suppose, it does have infrared technology and heating seeking missiles, but their detection systems are appalling.”

  Jay almost burst out laughing at the man’s assessment, which almost sounded like he was disappointed at not being detected. He at least was grateful that they hadn’t been spotted. The military did not take kindly to shirkers, who attempted to flee the safe zone instead of enlisting.

  Jackson glared angrily at everyone in the room. “Get your shit together we’re leaving!”

  Within minutes they were back outside on the streets, traveling along the road heading North West. Jackson moved at an extremely fast pace that had, Jay biting his lips to stop from screaming at the agony shooting up from his ribs. The green haired punk seeing his anguish leered at him distorting the tattoo on his cheek. No time to think about, what the young idiot had planned for him, Jay focused all his attentions on placing one foot forward after the other.

  Connor, in relatively good shape, stayed close to his side, shooting him worried glances at him every now again to make sure he was okay. Gregory, Clemens and Roland were also not far away from him and by the looks they were giving him. He had to assume they were deciding whether or not to bring him along for their excursion. Not that there was any chance of slipping away, while the mercs were watching.

  The party walked at least several more miles, before going down a set of concrete steps leading into a dark underground subway. Abandoned long ago for more efficient methods of transportation on the surface, the subway had been completely barricaded off with thick blocks of cement and red tape that said un-authorized access not allowed.

  Jackson pulled out a flashlight and switched it on, his men doing the same. Torchlights shone on the graffiti that covered the walls around them. Motioning for them to follow, Jackson led them towards a heavily reinforced metal door on the right side of the wall. Delving into his pocket he pulled out a key and unlocked the door.

  Jay feeling a little edgy at being underground followed the party through the doorway, past Jackson and into a narrow corridor.

  With everyone inside, Jackson closed the door behind him and locked it again.

  Heart beating like a drum, Jay felt his breathing quicken in the small confining space.

  Connor familiar with Jay’s fear of small spaces patted him reassuringly on the arm. “Don’t you fret lad, we will be out of here in no time.”

  Jay his lungs on fire, hoped so, he didn’t think he could take much more of this.

  Jackson with a sneer at Jay’s weakness, pushed his way past him and took the lead once more, again setting a harsh pace that taxed the legs and lungs. After minutes of agonizing torture, the group eventually broke free of the narrow corridor and came out onto a train platform. If not for the torches the mercenaries carried, he doubted he would have been able to see anything in the pitch-black darkness. Jackson dropped down onto the railway tracks and started walking once more. Feeling better now, that he was out of the tight confines of the corridor he leapt down onto the tracks, nearly slipping on the gravel. He then turned to help Connor and Clemens down. Flashlights moving in the gloom, the group sped up to try and link up with Jackson, who hadn’t stopped moving. With no way to tell what time it was down here, they kept walking for what must have been hours with no breaks.

  Jackson having become a distant figure, with only his men able to keep up with him finally stopped and waited for them to catch up.

  Jay feeling blisters growing on the soles of his feet, tried to burst them by stamping his feet as he walked over to stand in front of the mercenaries.

  Jackson seeing everyone had arrived lifted his torch and pointed it up towards the concrete ceiling. “Above us is the first military checkpoint, once we leave this place, you will show them your ID tag, and if they ask you where you’re going, you will say you’re going to sector P7, understood?”

  Jay relieved the trip was coming to an end eagerly nodded his head.

  Jackson hearing no questions turned and climbed back up onto the train platform. He then led them through another door identical to the one at the other end of the tunnel and up a long set of stairs.

  Back outside, Jay gulped in the intoxicatingly fresh air and sighed. The pressure on his lungs eased and he no longer felt like he was suffocating anymore.

  Connor a big smile on his wrinkled face pointed behind him.

  Jay twisted round and grinned as well. There it was, the way out of the safe zone, a massive drawbridge with a beautifully carved archway at the front with images of nude gods dancing upon clouds and in the distance the awe-inspiring glass towers of Portland that almost touched the heavens, surrounded by sparkling clear water. This was the great city of Portland, home of Tal’s friend George. All that stood in his path to finding his son now was a bunch of tanks, drones and soldiers in newly designed battle armor. With renewed determination flooding his veins, he vowed yet again to find his son and bring him home.

  One of the soldiers spotting humans appearing from out of the subway alerted the rest of the soldiers. The turrets on top of the tanks swiveled round to lock onto their position with armored soldiers rushing to form a defensive perimeter using the tanks as cover. Four Eagle drones hovering above the blockade quickly repositioned themselves to flank the humans on either side, shining bright spotlights down upon them.

  Smoother and more agile than the previous Drone
he had seen, these drones had inbuilt speakers that blared into life. “This is the united nations military! Identify yourselves! Or we will be forced to use deadly force!”

  Jackson completely unfazed by the militaries’ show of force, walked out in front of Jay holding up his ID tag towards the drones. “I am Sergeant Major Alexander Doltoff of the fifty third United Nations infantry division! These men here with me are new conscripts!”

  A bright red light shot out from the drone on Jay’s right to touch the ID tag in Jackson’s hands.

  Jackson without turning muttered angrily, “Pull out those ID tags already.”

  Jay swiftly took out his ID tag and held it up to be scanned by the drones overhead. The red light moved from one tag to the next, till all the tags were verified. The bright spotlights coming from the drones suddenly switched off and the drones returned to their positions circling the bridge.

  “Remember, what I said, you’re going to Sector P7.” With that final remark, Jackson strode forward towards the line of soldiers, who still had their assault rifles raised at them.

  Following him closely, Jay watched with interest as the soldiers lowered their weapons at Jackson’s approach. One of the soldiers a tall gangly man with a thinning hairline wearing no body armor moved out to meet the mercenary and shake his hand. The pair of men spoke quietly with each other, with wary glances in their direction, before shaking hands again and parting ways. The soldiers in combat armor with advanced heat seeking lenses attached to their left eyes, lowered their weapons fully and returned to the bridge. Passing through a barricade made entirely of sandbags and barbed wire fences, Jay stood directly beneath the wondrous arc and gaped with amazement. Inscribed within the arc’s frame were dozens of clashing images that told the story of how the world was born.

  Roland also in awe of this marvel of history, stood beside him to gaze upwards. “Glorious, isn’t it? This grand piece of architecture unfortunately was not made by humanity. History teaches us that before these other ghastly creatures appeared on our world, a race of creatures with faces too beautiful to look upon entered our world and built monuments all across our earth, then vanished like a puff of smoke.”