LAND of the FREE

by Michael W. Huard

  "So listen to me, find water, store water, hoard water, do everything you can to drink and keep more water for you and your family. I also want you to beware of Corporation bottled water; it's not very good for you these days. Toxins are rampant. Get fresh water whenever possible." The gathered crowd was very into everything the charismatic Q-Jin had to say.

  She continued, "Everything in life these days is difficult, nothing is easy, and nothing is for free anymore. You have to stand up for yourself and your loved ones and work for it. Don't settle for Corporation laws and regulations. They are not everywhere and they can't reinforce every law that easily. We are not their robots! We are human beings who deserve respect and a good standard of living!" The audience loudly applauded her statements.

  In the twenty-first row, an associate of the legendary bounty hunter, J-Rail, sat a woman listening rather closely. She was smarter than her average clothing would suggest. Suzy-Q, as he always called her, the partner of the Corporation's top hunter, had connections and imbedded neural implants to increase her intelligence. This led her to know that Chaya was also more then she appeared. The associate listened as Chaya went on.

  "Since this is a health conference, let's continue. All of you make sure to get at least seven hours of sleep per night. I know it's very hard to do this, but, and hear me loudly, it's needed to regenerate your body." Chaya also talked on about how not enough sleep can shut your reflexes down and be harmful to the body.

  All the while Tyne was scanning the hall for interesting faces and sudden or odd movement.

  Y-Wood would probably have spies here too, that she figured. But would they strike out? Or stay hidden? These questions kept her on top perception mode all day. Chaya had her katana hidden in her case nearby the speaker stand. Laser guns were not allowed in any area in the vicinity, as per Corporation regulations. Tyne Gem had hidden her guns discreetly, and as a partial cyborg, she had the ability to detect any such laser weapons within sixty-feet. None were near at this point in time. Her rifle could be created from her arm, and then the arm became fully healed in less than a minute using metallic liquid blood. Technology beyond words, helped by Sinaye and her expertise in such.

  Chaya kept going. "I want you all to understand that everything you put in your mouth has the power to either grant you a better life or decay it. Eating poorly creates bad health." Questions followed many other questions on availability, cost, and more. Chaya at one point wished Jansa had come. She had a better knowledge of health, but this was not just about health, it was about hope for the human spirit too.

  Chaya continued to talk about eating and how to avoid bad foods, instead seeking the fresh foods which would make a person healthier. "Fruit and vegetables, oh, and healthy nuts, are good choices," she added. "And do not let big wigs tell you to live a certain way, or eat a diet that they have recommended. The earth we live on has healed itself, and we can all make do growing the foods which are good for us."

  It was obvious to those in the audience that this woman was not just talking physical health, she was speaking on fighting the system as well. This was a no-no under law. The Corporation spy who sat amongst the mixture of women had growing suspicions as Chaya went on with her speech. The Corporation spy knew this woman needed to be killed, to shut her up at least.

  "I also want you to exercise. My friends and I work out every day, it keeps me feeling good." Chaya knew that was putting it mildly, her friends were freaks when it came to working out, the world depended on them after all. She chuckled to herself at such a thought.

  "All of you can still live a decent life. But, you have to work hard for it. As I said before, nothing comes easy in this era. But, believe me, you all have the power. You need the desire to do good, to be better, and to live well. Your friends, your family, all of them are counting on you to stand up and try your best, and they need your help to do the same for themselves."

  More questioned followed. The afternoon was a great opportunity to get the word out about hope, and Chaya was pleased at her efforts in doing just that. She had talked long enough!

  The associate, hidden in back, was not inspired or impressed in the very least. The only way for this Chaya woman and her pal, the blond with the sparkling blue, watchful eyes near the stage, to get here was on the train. Suzy-Q, also a cyborg, exited the place before any of the others. J-Rail was nearby with other Y-Wood operatives. She was sure these women would never make it back on the train to wherever they had planned on going.

  ***

  As Chaya and Tyne left their hotel the following morning, the cool air and a welcoming sun greeted them. The train was to leave soon and the station was easily within walking distance. The first red flag Tyne Gem noticed was a drone flying near the train. It was well above it, yet still too close. It had to be looking for something or watching someone. "Chaya, if you look above the train to the left you can see "a watcher" . . . it's possibly looking for us. Follow me, we're going to make a rounded entry before getting anywhere near the bullet train."

  Chaya nodded her head in agreement. "I'm with you. For some reason I knew this wasn't going to be as easy as we'd hoped for." Both the woman walked to their right, rerouting their trip to the other side of the train tracks.

  They slid along the side of the train, not curving out too much to let anyone looking out for them take notice. A side door would allow them to jump on and hopefully not be detected. As both Mystical Slayers were about to board, standing right in the opening was a man dressed all in black. He had long hair and a dark goatee. Beside him was a woman with the biggest sudden grin on her face, blocking the girls' entry onto the train. The woman had curly red hair and a gun in her hand.

  Both assailants pointed laser guns at the ladies and seemed bravado in doing such. The woman blurted out, "What? Did you think you could skirt around the droid and get a free ride, suckers? We got them now," she added, looking at her partner, the notorious Y-Wood bounty hunter. Tyne had her rifle at the ready, hidden under her jacket sleeve and brandishing it out quickly, she immediately fired shots at both Corporation hunters. Each took hits and neither had time to fire back.

  Chaya already had her samurai sword slashing as she jumped on the train and into the opening where both her opponents stood waiting. Close ranks gave her an advantage over the pistols, but it was not going to be so easy.

  Suzy-Q had her arm hit, but not her shooting arm. She sucked it up and started firing back at Tyne outside. With Chaya in so close on the train entry door step, Tyne had to hold off shooting. All she could do was dart nearer to the train again, so she would be shielded from the oncoming shots. J-Rail had been hit on his good arm, so he had dropped his gun and he already held a long serrated knife in his offhand. He and Chaya were engaged, and blades were slicing at one another. Before Chaya did much damage she was forced back off the train and leaped down with J-Rail now in pursuit.

  Suzy-Q leaned around the train and fired at Tyne as the Mystical Slayer returned the shots. Tyne was about to shoot at the dark-dressed attacker who was going at Chaya when all of a sudden the crazy chick jumped from the train and charged her. Both fired their weapons and in an instant were at each other's throats, clinching in a combative bear hug.

  "It seems you have the long weapon and reach," the dark dressed man pointed out to Chaya as they circled one another. Chaya tried desperately to find her calmness and prepare to out-maneuver her assailant. Close by, the crazy women started kneeing Tyne in the body over and over again. She had gotten a hold of Tyne's neck and was pulling relentlessly down on it to get the leverage required for her knees become powerful. Tyne fought her off by pummeling her arms up through her attacker's grip and swung the bounty hunter away to the side.

  Meanwhile, J-Rail and Chaya battled on. Each slipped an attack, then another. Both were careful to not get cut. Chaya was a hell of a fighter, having spent a lifetime as a martial artist, day in and day out. Her weapons training was also good, but so was this special hunter. Hi
s technique was excellent. "You are good for a male," Chaya announced as she again tried to cut him. He smiled and evaded her slices.

  Tyne then ran at her opponent and climbed up the train’s side wall to lift her frame up in a quick, hard motion. Kicking out off the train itself, she flew in the air directly into Suzy-Q's head. The blow sent the part-cyborg chick's body into the solid bullet train. She spun to the ground and could barely get up. Her face was cut open and was revealing the metal behind her false skin.

  With no time to waste, Tyne dived for her rifle and in somersault motion she grabbed it, came up to one knee, and shot at J-Rail. He had to turn away and dive under the train to avoid getting shot further by her skillful and deadly aim.

  The train began to move just in the nick of time, and both Chaya and Tyne took a running leap into an open cargo door. Chaya was successful, but Tyne, not so much. Suzy-Q had managed to get her pistol and had fired shots into the sister's backside. As the train began to speed off, Chaya couldn't grab her in time and Tyne fell from the entry doorway having never made it on. The flying drone now appeared above the train and it too began to fire rocketing laser beams at the opening as Chaya prepared to carry out another attempt to save Tyne. But it was fruitless. Tyne was being shot down as the train sped off.

  The bounty hunter screamed, "Rahhhhhhhhh, you fuckers!"

  Tyne looked helplessly at Chaya, "Go, don't try to save me, they need you, go . . . . Goooooo," she yelled as the train moved further and further away.

  "Tyne, noooooooo!" yelled Chaya, unable to do much as the shots from above rained down, over and over. The pain of her fallen companion struck her deeply. She sat with her face in her lap, tears rolling down her face.

  Chapter 18

  Raegan needed a much sought after workout during the down time. Lomax wanted nothing to do with her built up frustration over the Green Bug virus, or that of the impending attack on Boston underground, or even the aspect of a big hit by the girls themselves at the Y-Wood headquarters at Old Fenway. So she went to the training hall alone. The chamber was full of various weapons, swords, axes, knives, staves, pole arms, and the like. Training dummies were at one end, while the other end just had open space. It was the open end which the Q-Jin leader chose to occupy.

  She had choices as to who would be her adversary. Virtual opponents, up to twenty-five types and styles, were available on the screen before her. Today, she preferred a tough, somewhat savage fighter. She took her custom long sword from the wall, which she would often use two-handedly. She felt quick in her all black spandex workout attire, and the blade seemed at home when it first touched her hands.

  With the touch of a button, her virtual reality, hologram-like opponent appeared before her. He was a dark-skinned man, an image of raw power. He was Negro, with a large afro and muscles forged about over his whole frame. He had a sword himself, made of black iron. He bowed to the Mystical Slayer woman before him, then he bellowed a loud war cry and attacked!

  Raegan moved just as her black opponent’s sword came down at her; ever so slightly grazing her upward sword parry. With this movement, she spun more right and delivered a nice two-handed downward slash on his left shoulder. The hologram reacted in pain but did not stop his return attack.

  This time he attacked with several cuts all at once. He swung right, then left, then followed with an inside slash to cut the Q-Jin across her throat. Raegan knocked his backhand to the side, and stepping back slightly, angled left to cut down on his wrist. It was a clean hit and the virtual reality warrior backed up some in reaction.

  The two continued sparring with each landing a decent hit or two on the other. The workout felt good and Raegan welcomed the stinging, zap-like fake hits he landed on her body. She needed to sweat, to forget the world, to escape.

  He was now swiping at her legs, and she snapped her feet backwards, forcing him to miss. He came in at her legs again, even harder this second time. She jumped above his cut, landing and rolling to the side. He rushed at her as she was part way back up, and she did another tumble forward, a ninja roll, while slicing his midsection and rolling back to her feet.

  This time he pulled off his best move of the match. As the Slayer looked to avoid his thrust as they re-engaged, he faked it, and then reversed his blade's grip. She came in on him after knocking his fake thrusting blade aside, but he went low and sliced her in the upper thigh. This was rare for her to take such a serious hit. But her mind kept wandering and wandering.

  This hit woke her up though. She found her inner self, her one spot. She channeled her power, and her mind, body, and soul became one. The strong man before her moved from side to side, almost dancing to disrupt her plan. His curly afro hair shook, he was going wild, and suddenly he slashed at her, bent on victory. But, this time she was focused, she was ready.

  She swatted his blade aside multiple times. Her movements now took on her own personal dance style, which was a ball of the back foot forward and a powerful attack posture. It was her kamae, or "stance of the spirit". Her attacks did not miss. First, a solid slipping-out-of-the-way head strike, then a chest slash, moving at an angle, and lastly, a low leg swipe. The black man was overwhelmed and dropped to the floor.

  She jumped on him, ready to finish the fight.

  A solid, downward stabbing cut to his throat, and poof, the hologram disappeared. Raegan stood and took a deep breath. "I needed that," she said to herself.

  ***

  Lomax stood at the doorway to the room and peeked in to see young Johan. It was rare these days to see children, let alone a young boy. Laws on birth rights had become so strict that one needed to be pretty high up in the world just to have the right to have a child under Y-Wood's hardcore watch. His son was not registered; he knew nothing of the world as it was today. But he was beautiful, innocent, and the prize of his life. His mother, Raegan's good looks did him well. An awesome wife and son, what more could a man want in this weird lifetime?

  But as freedom fighters and parents, they were now both so tired. Something big had to happen, or the end was near. The Corporation was too powerful. They were closing in on the last of the Q-Jin, the Mystical Slayer sisterhood, which his wife was so proud to be a part of. He hoped that Johan would see a better world. Lomax found a tear running down his cheek; he hadn't cried in such a long time. He thought he was tough. But even his hope was beginning to falter.

  Johan began to stir and opened his sleepy eyes, "Dad, what are you doing just standing there?" he asked with a smile.

  Lomax smiled back, "Oh, just looking in on you. Did you sleep well?"

  Johan nodded his head. "Where's Mom?" the child asked, sitting up in bed.

  Lomax ran his fingers through his thick brown hair and mimicked a fighting form and karate chop, "Rahhhhhh, she’s in the training hall, the dojo," he explained. He then entered the room and sat with his son. Together they shared a father and son moment. They sat in a world gone mad. Young Johan knew nothing of that world. He had his mom and his dad, and the young boy believed together they could defeat anything and anyone in the galaxy.

  Raegan rounded the doorway and saw the two together, "Hey, you guys," she blurted out, making her way to the bed to sit with her favorite men. "What are you all talking about?" she asked, hugging her little boy.

  Johan nestled his head in her lap and asked for the umpteenth time, "Mom, why do you have the lip thing again?"

  Lomax and Raegan shared a knowing stare with each another, then a slight grin. Raegan didn't mind telling the story over and over again. She brushed her child's light brown hair from his forehead and began.

  "The day you were born, was the best day ever for your father and I. Unlike most parents, we were not being monitored by anyone, which meant you could be a boy or a girl, and never, ever be taken from us. We were both so excited. I couldn’t help but think of all the mommas in the world about to give birth who, unlike me, were scared and would possibly have to give up their newborn. I bit down so hard on
my lip, feeling the pain those mommas must have gone through, it bled like crazy as you were bursting out of me." Raegan ran her finger along Johan's lip before continuing on.

  "So, to avoid the mess, I asked sister Jansa to grab something to not only stop the flow of blood, but to also be a sort of symbol of the anguish these other mothers went through. Jansa hesitated, but then crazily grabbed an earring from her own ear. It was perfect. We pierced it through my lip and here it stays to this day. But I don't just look at it as a reminder of pain; I see it also as a sign of hope for better days, for the day when all moms can have their children without monitoring and without fear."

  Johan always listened so closely to this story. He smiled up at his parents, "It will be okay, Mom and Dad, I believe in you both, and the other girls too."

  The three of them now embraced, she hugged them both so tight with true, everlasting love. She, as a leader, knew it would take all she had, everything she and her sisters could muster to take out Y-Wood before any other person she cared about was hurt ever again. Slowly, the three of them drifted off, or so it seemed.

  Raegan dreamed, as she often did, with a vision in her head. But this one she did not recognize. All she saw was a large computer screen, a monitor of some sort. Flashing across the screen was a single, long line, almost like that of a flat-line when a person dies. It was eerie, yet for some reason, she was not afraid. When she awoke, dad and son were already out and about.

  ***

  Resin Cador was the best schemer in the world. As soon as he heard Arn Marcou mention his fantasy of having the young lawyer girl, Zaey, he had twisted his desire into a plan to also get what he wanted; the ultra-hot scientist, Sinaye. President Marcou had fully let his guard down, he was lost in lust, and this gave his assistant the opportunity to craft a grand plan of action.