Book 3 Chapter 12: Favor for a Friend

Book 3 Chapter 12: Favor for a Friend

We stole everything we could carry, loaded up our dead, downloaded all the data we could, and burned everything else to the ground. I stood with the other deadmen, watching their yellow, red, and orange eyes reflect the fire that matched them in color. I saw sadness in some of them, rage in others, and determination in all. The undertaker that led them was the only one unphased by the losses and violence. I took a moment to wish him luck, and then broke off from the rest of them, heading deeper into STAR territory. Matthews and her operation had been our primary target, and I knew Id need to assist with it, but I had another thing to take care of. A debt I felt I owed to a friend. I had discussed my plan with Julian and Nico. Nico had warned me against it, saying it was an unnecessary risk, but Julian had noted that it worked in our best interests by further destabilizing the Remnants.

I walked through the night, and a large part of the day. The facility wed attacked had already been close to my target, I assumed because the medical equipment they were using had been liberated from it with my help, and it made sense to simply set it up nearby. The Remnants were in a rush to see us gone.

By evening what was left of the Republics walls came into view. I could see American flags flying high atop those parts of it that still remained. I found a small patch of trees a few miles from the walls and waited for night to fall. I checked my notifications to pass the time.

Congratulations Citizen! You have earned ranks in Melee Weapons! From Bowie knives to Picketts charge, the US may have been too advanced for swords, but its spilled blood for freedom!

Congratulations Citizen! You have earned a rank in Pistol! Good job exercising your 2nd amendment rights!

I found it interesting that the las-pistol also seemed to earn me ranks in Pistol. I wondered whether that was because recognizing them was built into the system or it was a result of whatever A.I. that helped upgrade the system doing what it could to keep things running. I felt a small amount of sympathy for it, having to keep a system running that had been described by its own architect as being held together by spit and duct tape was almost certainly a full time job.

I sat and watched the walls with my binoculars. I noticed commotion, and a lot of movement. Likely word had reached the soldiers of the various attacks that both Potts and the Horde had carried out in the last night. Instead of fortifying their own position however, I watched as several transports carried STAR soldiers away from The Republic, likely to reinforce taken positions or counterattack. It was a good strategy on paper. They likely didnt think wed strike so deep into their territory in a followup after our initial attack, and they had higher priority targets to protect then the hollowed out captive city state the Republic had become.

When the night hit its darkest point, I moved from my shaded hiding place and began circling around the walls, searching for the area where the defenses were at their weakest. I wished I had a jump pack to simply carry me over them, but Julian had requested I leave them with him to study, and I obliged. I needed the advantage less than I felt the other deadmen did.

I found an area where the wall was simply cracked and crumbling rather than torn down. There were no patrols, and I ran from cover to the base of it, hoping that my black coat would camouflage me in the dark. At the wall, I used the areas that were cracked as handholds and pulled myself up and over the top without issue. I leapt down onto the other side and stood still for a moment, listening for movement and taking a whiff of the air. I detected a few people, but none seemed to be moving toward me, and the scent of them wasnt mixed with gunpowder or ozone so I presumed they werent guards or armored Remnants.

Fine, said the other man with disgust in his voice. We may be able to work something out. There were plenty of states rights loopholes when it came to marrying girls under the age of consent back before the bombs fell. Youd be limited to just one girl at a time though.

Hmmm, I could work with that for now.

Id heard enough. I walked out from the hallway and into the room. The prophet looked surprisingly like the murals that depicted him. He was older, and handsome, and actually was nearly my height wearing a self satisfied smirk on the corner of his mouth until he saw me and his expression changed to one of horror.

I Froze him, and approached the man across from him, wearing the black uniform of the Remnants.

Whats the face for? Im giving you what you wa-

I drove my knife into the back of his skull, killing him instantly, and gently lowered his body to the ground. I then lifted the prophet up, freezing him again, and started making my way to the trapdoor. I dragged him out, keeping him still, and placed him in the center of the rooftop. I took rope from my bag, and tied his hands and feet. Then I pulled one of the timed bombs Id received from Mercy out of it. I set the timer for four minutes, and pried open his jaw. There was some resistance, but once it was dislocated I was able to fit the bomb in his mouth with no issues. I tied a rag around it, and let the Freeze fade.

The Prophet let out a noise that reminded me of a wounded animal, but it wasnt loud enough to draw any attention.

I took a moment to look him in the eyes and smile. I couldve done this slow. Its not really my style, but some people deserve it In your case though, I thought Id give you a bit of Mercy.

I didnt wait for him to react to that statement, the clock was ticking after all. So I leapt to the nearest roof, and made my way toward the wall, making it nearly a quarter of the way before I heard the explosion.