by Mark Neiser (aka
nouseforaname)
Commentary | 1
| 2 |3
"Clerics
we are approaching District 1138."
"Ok pull up
and stop just up ahead", said Partridge.
The vehicles
came to a stop and the Sweepers filed out of the trucks and began
falling in line to await orders. Since this mission was rated Class 10
the orders would come directly from the Clerics themselves. Usually the
Sweeper squads were given orders from their own commanding officers but
in some cases, such as this, an exception is made. Preston began to
give the orders.
"All right
as your Squad Commander told you in the briefing we do not know what
awaits us ahead. We do know that former Cleric Sean Davidson is
somewhere in this vicinity and he is obviously considered armed and
extremely dangerous. District 1138 is a smaller district and there are
only four building that are still structurally sound. Our intel says
that Davidson and whomever he has with him are in an old dance club two
blocks from here so it's not a very big building. Two teams of Sweepers
will approach from both sides and form a perimeter. When the building
is secure Cleric Partridge and I will enter and confront Cleric
Davidson our selves. You have ten minutes get moving."
While the
Sweeper squads moved into position Preston and Partridge went over to
the weapons utility vehicle. Preston had his two regular issue guns
plus the back ups tucked in his sleeves but he figured he may need more
for this mission. He selected a small automatic machine gun that was
lightweight and he could carry over one shoulder. For the other
shoulder he chose a katana. Last but not least a belt carrying extra
bullet clips. Partridge grabbed an additional machine gun and an extra
clip belt. There was not a weapon a Cleric did not know how to use.
From birth they are trained in combat and weaponry to be as efficient
as any man could be. They are the last lines of defense.
"All right
Clerics we've surrounded the building. Would you like us to smoke the
building sir?"
"No that
won't be necessary Lieutenant."
"But with
all due respect Cleric we have no idea how many men are in there."
"It's all
right Commander, we are trained for this, and something tells me he is
alone or we would have met with resistance by now. Tell your men to
stand by and await further orders."
"You think
he is alone Preston?" asked his partner.
"Yes. I just
can sense it for some reason."
"I've heard
about some of the newer Clerics being intuitive. Maybe you…"
"Perhaps. It
is time to move Cleric. Let's go."
Preston and
Partridge approached the building guns ready, body and mind ready. The
front was the only way in or out because the back door was blocked by
debris.
Go.
The Clerics
entered the building in a running roll and came up with guns outward as
their eyes scanned the room.
Nothing.
This was the
lobby of the club so the room was small but there was no where for
anyone to hide. Then they heard gunfire from outside.
Two shots
fired.
Preston
moved towards the door at the back of the lobby. Partridge waited as
Preston checked out the room.
Three more
shots fired.
Preston
entered to find the large room which was the dance club itself. Nothing
in here either as he again scanned the room quickly and efficiently.
"Partridge!"
yelled Preston. "The room is secure!" But Partridge did not answer.
More gun
fire outside. Louder and continuos this time.
What was
going on Preston thought? The room was clear. Time to return outside
Preston considered as more gunfire came, closer this time.
"John
Preston!"
Preston
turned to see his former Commander standing with a katana in his hands
on the other end of the room.
"Davidson
your are to be placed under arrest for the crime of possession of items
rated EC-10 and for abandoning your post in the Grammaton Clerics."
"Save me the
speech Cleric. I've heard it already. And don't look behind me for help
from your partner. or the Sweepers. He's taking a nap right now"
"If you
killed him the sentence will be even more severe."
"No he's
alive I ran out of bullets taking out the Sweepers so I just knocked
him out. Figured I could deal with you and then him. Even I can't take
two Clerics on at once."
"We don't
have to do this the hard way Sean."
"You just
don't understand John what they have taken from us. What it means to be
free and to feel? Unfortunately like I said, I used the last of my
bullets and those blasted Sweeper weapons are fingerprint coded, but I
found this sword outside though. It will have to do."
Davidson ran
towards Preston, sword at the ready. Preston waited patiently and just
as Davidson swept the sword forward, Preston sidestepped to the left at
just the right moment avoiding the blade, and with his right arm he
threw Davidson to the ground belly first. Then in another quick
movement Preston jumped onto Davidson's back knocking the sword from
his hands and pinning his former training officer. But as quickly as
Preston moved Davidson's own defense kicked in and he quickly threw
Preston from his back and regained his weapon.
Preston
stood up and drew his katana. Davidson slashed forward as Preston's
steal met with his blocking the blow. Davidson swiped downward but
again Preston blocked.
"You're very
fast with the sword Cleric," said Davidson as he took another swipe,
this time upward at Preston's head but again blocked with ease by his
own blade. "Why not just listen to me John? I have seen the world in a
different way than you have. A world without Prozium or the Father
feeding us lies."
"You are
mistaken Sean. We do what is necessary for the good of Libria. It is
life."
"No you are
the one who is sadly mistaken. Perhaps one day you will understand. You
see, no matter what happens in the next few minutes here between you
and I, it has already begun. The first steps towards a new revolution,
a resistance against Libria. It may take a year, it may take ten, but
in time things will change but you will not live to see it John."
Davidson
began to back up towards the where Preston and his partner had entered.
Then after a few steps he turned and ran.
Preston
followed in pursuit but when he made it outside Davidson was gone. As
Preston scanned the area his eyes met the dead Sweeper squads around
him. All killed in a matter of minutes by the man he was chasing. He
also saw Partridge out cold but beginning to come to. This has gone on
long enough he thought to himself. Preston dropped the sword and drew
his guns. It was time to end this.
"Partridge!
Wake up!"
"Did you get
him yet Preston?"
"No. I'm not
sure where he is. Go check the right side of the building. I'll check
the left."
Preston
walked to the left of the building to take a look in the alley. Nothing
it seemed but more dead Sweepers. In the distance he could hear a
chopper approaching. One of the men must have gotten a call off in time
for help.
The Clerics
met again in the middle.
"Nothing
Preston. Where could he have gone?"
Preston
pointed up.
"The roof?"
whispered Partridge.
Preston
nodded and said quietly, "There must be a ladder on the back side. Wait
here and I'll go around and check it out."
Preston
began to walk around the building when the chopper he had heard came
flying by and stopped over the roof of the club.
"Clerics, he
is on the roof", a voice from the chopper's intercom yelled. "I repeat
he is on the roof and headed your way!"
Then the
Clerics looked up as Davidson came leaping off the building but instead
of a sword, he was raising a gun. In reflex the Clerics arms came
forward firing both weapons. As the assailant came flying at them they
unloaded the entire clips from both of their pistols into the chest of
the former Cleric. He hit the ground with a thud as they quickly
reloaded in case it wasn't over. But it was. Former Cleric Sean
Davidson was taken care of.
"Are you all
right Cleric?" asked Preston.
"Yeah I'm
fine. He hit me from behind as soon as you left the lobby."
The chopper
landed and Commander Vaughn got out.
"Well done
Clerics. Did you speak with him? Find out anything from him."
"Davidson
was saying something about how a resistance has begun. That it didn't
matter what happened to him that it would happen one day. We need to
have this area swept to see if there are other sense offenders in the
district."
"A
resistance you say? Davidson was compromised Preston. He had been
affected by things we no longer see fit, you know that."
"You're
right sir. But…"
"Don't worry
about it Preston. We will bring a Sweeper team in and cover the entire
district to make sure it is clean. Any influence Davidson may have had
will be gone soon. Let's return to Libria shall we."
The Clerics
followed Commander Vaughn into the chopper as a ground unit arrived to
clean the city and to take the trucks and weapons vehicle back into the
city. Preston's thoughts swayed to the events just minutes ago.
A
resistance? Maybe I will look into this....no that won't be necessary.
Davidson had been compromised. He was filled with lies and deceit.
"What are
you thinking about Preston?" asked Partridge.
"Nothing
Cleric. Nothing at all. Just a bit tired."
Nothing
at all. No feelings or emotions. I am trained for this. I am
uncompromised in my thoughts and actions. I am a Grammaton Cleric.
