The sinister man hangs up. Mike shakes with rage, adrenaline, and fear. He immediately runs out of the hospital doors.
One nurse notices his departure. “Mike, where are you going? We need everyone here. This isn’t the night, buddy.”
Mike ignores the nurse and keeps running. He frantically dials his home as he goes.
Yuri and his army of soldiers brazenly walk through town with guns drawn. They kill cops occasionally, but ignore most of the civilians.
“Leave the customers alone, gentlemen,” Yuri instructs. “A lot of them are going to need our product to get through tomorrow.”
Yuri puts a bullet into a wounded cop’s head. The 9mm round ends his suffering. “I’ve forgotten how exciting this can be. I must thank Julie for reminding me.”
Yuri observes the carnage and screams a challenge. “Miss Tress! Come out, come out, where ever you are!”
Mike speeds down the streets in his SUV trying to get back home as quickly as possible. The increased traffic fights his desires. He cries, which makes it extremely difficult to see where he’s going. He babbles to himself throughout the drive.
“I’m sorry, Honey. I don’t know how to save you, but God willing, I will save our son.”
Mike continues to speed along the streets of Colberton.
Yuri and his men walk the streets issuing challenges to the traitors of The Enterprise.
“Julie, shouldn’t you be flying in about now?”
The guard walking next to Yuri is shot in the throat. The man gurgles and chokes on his own blood as Yuri looks around. A second shot, this time to a guard’s groin, is fired. Yuri’s people make a protective wall around him. He looks surprised, then he seems to realize that his army isn’t the only one on the streets. There are many rifles aimed at his guards. Yuri’s people aim their weapons back, but from the disadvantage of the low ground.
“Julie? Is that you?”
Julie Tress steps out with a large sniper rifle in her hands and numerous knives strapped to her body.
“Hello, Yuri. Did you miss me?”
Yuri must want to inspire strength because he also steps out from behind his people. Both groups seem extremely tense from their respective leaders’ grandstanding.
“Actually, you missed me,” Yuri taunts. “That’s why I’m still standing here. Aren’t you wearing the wrong outfit? The one you had on last time seemed so much more efficient.”
Julie smiles. “I have no idea what that means.”
Yuri looks a little confused.
Without another word, Julie drops to the prone and fires into Yuri’s right elbow. Yuri screams and drops his gun. His arm barely hangs on by some remaining ligaments.
“Kill that bitch!” he screams in pain.
Both sides engage each other with gunfire. Julie rolls away from shots directed at her and amazingly returns fire. She jumps into a nearby building and drops her rifle.
Multiple men run into the building after her. She’s ready with knives drawn. Julie throws with rapid precision. Each knife finds a home in the neck of an approaching guard.
Yuri rapidly loses blood as his people try to get him out of the crossfire, which consists of dozens of men and women on each side. Several of his bodyguards fall over dead as they carry him. They were easy targets for Julie’s snipers.
Once again, the streets of Colberton are a war zone. Yuri is finally placed inside a car, and it tries to speed away, but it’s quickly shot to pieces. This car isn’t armored like his last getaway. The car drives barely a dozen feet before rolling to a slow stop. There’s no movement inside the vehicle.
“We know you’re in there, Julie,” men and women scream from outside of a local business.
Julie is pinned down by gunfire inside her temporary sanctuary, a deserted clothing store. She seems calm and collected but in a tight spot. She slowly works her way to a back door. A hand hesitantly grabs her from behind. Julie immediately springs into action and reverses the grip. She pulls on the arm until it dislocates at the shoulder.
“Aw!” Carlos screams.
Julie seems ready to put a knife into his neck but stops. “Great, a cop. That’s all I need right now.”
“Screw you, lady. Just do it. You already killed most of my friends.”
Julie puts her knife away and continues to move to the back of the building. Fortunately, the fight outside has kept any more people from coming after her.
“I won’t kill you, cop, unless you get real stupid real fast.”
“How can I trust you?”
Julie doesn’t respond. She just steps over Carlos’ broken body and heads to the back door.
“Wait!” he protests.
Julie stops and looks at him over her shoulder. “Do you hear that shooting? I’m not waiting here. I’ve got things to do tonight. I just checked the first one off my list.”
“Just help me,” Carlos pleads.
“Why would I help a cop? Just because I’m not killing you doesn’t mean that we’re friends or that I need you. It’s just bad business killing cops for the hell of it.”
“Please, just help me out of here. I can get back to my station. I’m just messed up right now. Just a little help. Please.”
Julie walks over to Carlos and looks him in the eyes. He’s relieved that she came back.
“No,” she states. “If you can’t save yourself, that’s your problem.”
With that, Julie runs out the back door, leaving Carlos in pain.
“Please! You bitch! Come back! Help me! Please! I’ll send people to arrest you, Julie! I’ll remember you! Just help me you devious bitch!”
Carlos lies back and thinks of the hopelessness of his position. “Fine. I’ll do it myself. I’m not going out like this. Karen would never forgive me.”
Carlos forces himself up by pushing against a nearby counter. The pain is great. He screams as he forces himself up, but he finally stands.
“Shit, that hurt,” he says.
Carlos starts to limp to the door. His dislocated arm dangles by his side. Each step is agonizing pain, but he finally gets to the door that Julie left open.
A bullet slams into Carlos’ back. Carlos falls forward. A pool of blood forms around his body. He breathes heavily while he lies facedown. As his vision goes black, he just thinks about the rotten luck of a random shot hitting him.
Chapter 10
The D2I studio is busy with activity. There are numerous reports coming in of violence everywhere in Colberton. Claire helps Larry control the chaos to the best of her ability.
“What’s the status in the streets?” Larry asks.
A producer runs up with a fresh report. “The streets have erupted into extreme gang violence in at least three areas. There are numerous reports of smaller scale crime and rioting.”
Larry looks at the floor, then he puts his head in his hands. “Where the hell are the police? What about the National Guard? Aren’t they supposed to be handling this?”
Claire attempts to cool Larry down. “Boss, the National Guard is still about an hour away from the city. They’re trying to get here, but they can only go so fast.”
“The city might not be here in an hour,” Larry complains. “Have you seen these reports?”
Larry throws a stack of papers onto the floor.
Claire knows what they say. “The police weren’t ready for Yuri Osaka to be so brazen and attack. They were expecting riot control. I don’t think they had many lethal weapons because of the risk of rioters getting a hold of them.”
Larry gives her an “I know that” look. “Did your boyfriend fill you in on all of this?”
Claire becomes a bit upset. “No, Boss, I’m capable of interpreting the obvious. If you must know, Benji hasn’t gotten a hold of me for some time.”
Larry’s glare softens. “Sorry, Kid. I’m sure he’s alright.”
Claire nods. “The police didn’t lose everywhere. They were hit at five locations, but two of them were able to hold.”
<
br /> Larry seems lost in thought. “Well, that’s something. Make sure we bring that up the next time we come back from a commercial.”
The nearby producer writes down a note and runs off to tell the reporter at the desk.
“So, where the hell is your First Line?” Larry asks.
“He’s not mine,” Claire says. “I don’t know. I told everyone that I don’t know what he does.”
“Well, get on the air and beg him to intervene on our behalf. A lot of good men and women are dying out there. A lot of innocent kids are being trampled because one guy got embarrassed. Our ‘hero,’ if he’s even that, needs to help.”
Claire glances at the camera filming the current reporter. “I’ll give it a shot, Boss.”
It’s chaos in the police station. Organization seems to be lost as wounded and terrified officers slowly return. It was the rally point for the officers if something terrible happened.
Captain Jefferson attempts to take roll call of the officers as they make it back. Benji assists him.
“Okay, Reid, who do you have with you?” Captain Jefferson asks.
Detective Reid approaches, a bit banged up, but mostly alright. “I found Smith and Twileager out there. We got scattered to the four winds. They had mini-guns out there. How the hell are we supposed to take on that with pepper spray?”
Captain Jefferson and Benji are grim.
Captain Jefferson takes the report. “Turn in your non-lethal shit and get the heavy stuff from the armory. SWAT is already out there, and we’re close to ending the fight at a third intersection.”
Reid nods and limps off.
“Reid, wait,” Benji says.
Reid turns around. “What?”
“You said Smith is back now?”
“Yeah, why?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Benji says. “Where is he? I need to speak with him.”
Reid points down the hall. “Last I saw him he was raging over by the armory.”
“Thanks, man.”
Benji runs straight for the armory. The closer he gets to his destination; the louder Smith’s protests get.
“I don’t give a damn about protocol!” Smith screams. “I need the SWAT gear!”
Benji catches his breath and walks up to Smith.
Smith turns as Benji approaches him. “What do you want, Tanner?”
Benji cracks a smile. “Smith, don’t you like any of us?”
“I don’t have time for this shit.” Smith turns around again and continues to harass the armorer.
“Smith, listen to me, man!” Benji shouts.
Smith turns back around. This time he doesn’t seem as hostile. “What, man?”
Benji sees it as an olive branch. “You used to be in the Navy, right? A SEAL?”
Smith looks puzzled. “So?”
“Are you still in the reserves? Does the government contact you from time to time?”
Smith’s eyes widen, and he turns away. “I’m done with this conversation.”
Benji grips Smith’s shoulder. Smith immediately grabs the hand and rotates it over.
“Ah,” Benji groans. “Sorry, sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
Smith lets him go and starts to walk away. He’s apparently given up on trying to get better weapons.
Benji takes this as a good sign. “Good. Leave! I know you can do more out there for us than you can in here. Just hurry up and do it!”
Smith looks back at Benji. He walks straight to him with determined strides. “I don’t know what you think you know, but keep your mouth shut. Rumors spread quickly in a place like this, and I don’t need another reason for people to bug me.”
Benji looks into Smith’s eyes and senses that Smith is pleading with him. “I get it, man. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
“Thanks. I think you’re right about one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I can do more good out there than waiting in here for someone to grow a pair.”
Smith heads out the door, leaving a smiling Benji behind him.
Claire rushes over to the anchor’s desk and sits next to the reporter currently on the air.
“Once again, the hot spots of the city are--whoa,” she says as Claire startles her.
“I’m sorry,” Claire apologizes. “I need this camera.”
“Anything for Claire Kennedy. Is there any--”
Claire interrupts her. “First Line, or whatever you call yourself. We need you now. Your actions have been a mystery for many of us. Many of us, including me, have tried to exploit your actions for our own selfish reasons. I apologize. Please don’t let this city burn just to prove a point. I know you want to stop Yuri Osaka. I believe you may be the only one who can. At least fast enough to still have a city left when you’re finished.”
Inside Votary’s secret lair, a foot slides into an armored boot. Claire speaks to him on a television in the distance.
“Please don’t sacrifice us. You saved me once. I told my story, my way. Please come back and tell your story your way, with justice and protection.”
His armored gauntlets slide over covered wrists.
“Not that you need my help, but the biggest crowds of gangsters are at the intersections of Meade and Hood, Lewis and Bragg, and Campbell and Drum.”
A large, gray body walks past the Votary helmet on a table. The body stops in front of several racks of various gadgets and weapons. Numerous items, many not used before, are grabbed and placed into the compartments that cover the Votary armor.
“I believe in you, First Line. I know you’re a good guy. I know you’ll save the city. I know you’ll do what needs to be done. I just hope that it starts now. This is one intrepid reporter who doesn’t want to end up dead. Please.”
Votary walks in front of the helmet. Two hands pick up the helmet and secure it in place on his head.
Alpha and Bravo are secured to his shoulders. Votary looks at Claire Kennedy on the television. “I’m coming, Claire. I’ll do my best to save everyone else.”
The television is turned off, and Votary flies up and out of the secret location through an opening above him.
Claire looks at the reporter and smiles. “Thanks. I hope that worked.”
“So do I,” she replies. “Thank you, Claire, for calling for the assist. I’m sure that Colberton thanks you, too.”
Claire walks back to Larry. “Well, Boss, I did my best.”
“I hope it worked,” Larry admits. “When do you think we’ll know?”
Claire just shrugs. “When we start hearing about purple walls blocking line of sight.”
Claire and Larry stand there and wait.
Votary flies, quickly through the sky over Colberton. He heads to the first of the last two gang fights. Votary looks down and to his left.
Votary sees in night vision. He has a reticle that gives him distances to various targets on the ground. He also picks up voices below.
“Keep shooting. The Chairman wants all of them retired,” he hears.
Votary finally flies over the fight. He sees numerous muzzle flashes. He starts to accelerate toward these targets below.
The two factions of The Enterprise brutally engage each other, sans leaders. Yuri’s “escape” vehicle burns and is riddled with bullet holes. Julie’s store has likewise been used as a bullet sponge. Several more people are shot on each side.
A purple barrier suddenly surrounds the people. They’re visibly frightened. They all seem to know what this means. The assembled look up in all directions to see where the attack will come from.
Votary slams into the ground in the center of the two groups. An electric shock sizzles between the bodies of the closest dozen or so fighters. They’re thrown back and convulse once they hit the ground.
The moment that Votary slams into the Earth, he ejects both Alpha and Bravo. The drones also land with the same electric shock slam and add to the list of convulsing gangsters.
Team Votary then stands in the center a
s all the assembled start to fire. Team Votary immediately takes to the sky, as much as their dome will allow, and flies around.
They’re hard to track in the air. Plus, there are still two groups. Some take the opportunity to fire at the other side, since many have forgotten that they should use some cover and concealment.
Team Votary starts to swoop down and scoop up individuals one or two at a time. They fly them up about twenty feet, then drop them. These thugs break on contact with the ground and roll in pain. Team Votary has decided to go non-lethal for this round, even Bravo.
The shooting slows. Most of the armed thugs have run out of ammo. They weren’t carrying a military soldier’s basic load. At the sound of the dwindling shooting, Votary and his drones land again.
Like pack hunters they tear into their opponents on both sides of The Enterprise split. Votary shoots a small disc onto the back of one thug. He then shoots a second into a man fifty feet away. Votary dodges a butt stroke from a rifle and grabs the man in a choke hold. While choking the man unconscious, Votary pushes a button on the inside of his gauntlet.
The two men with disks buried into their flesh are pulled into each other at extreme speeds. The two magnets that Votary shot them with are powerfully drawn to each other. The bodies collide, then cease moving.
A man swinging a wrench charges Alpha. Just before he hits Alpha, Bravo stands there instead. Bravo uppercuts the man and puts a blade into his mouth. The man drops the wrench and screams as he holds his gaping jaw. Bravo spins to give a backfist, but instead, Votary connects with one of his escrima sticks.
The three heroes are instantly teleporting to each other’s position. It’s a new ability that Votary has been saving for a fight like this. This technology allows Votary to swap positions with one of his drones and complete brutal combos. Alpha and Bravo are also able to switch locations. The technique proves effective because it bewilders their targets.
The two factions occasionally fight each other as well. The enemy of my enemy mentality isn’t universally observed. Two men roll on the ground trying to get the upper hand on one another.
Bystanders Page 28