Mad With Power: Lost Horizons
By Ronin KIheiji
Mad With Power
Freaky Humanity
Prologue
We had dreams.
Big dreams.
Small dreams.
We worked together to fulfill those dreams.
We....had fun, we had hardships, we laughed, and we cried. But always together.
My nose took in a whiff of the dank air. I picked up the smell of piss, rot, and the faintest speck of fish. As my eyes opened I took in the brick face of the wall across from me. It was moldy, course, and dripping from the rain. It always seemed to rain, or was it that the rain always disturbed my slumber? The old man laying on the matt down the alleyway had gotten accustomed to it and was sleeping, or had he died? The rain echoed down the alley and mingled with the sound of footsteps and distantly I heard a baby cry. I hear lot of crying lately, I can’t tell whose it is, maybe me, or maybe it’s not even real.
The water that fell on my skin felt chilly. Was it fall already? Where had the sun gone? But my thigh then felt a little warm. Had I pissed my self or did someone piss on me? Whatever...at the very least I had better get to a shelter, so I get up. Weight on my left foot...good, weight on my right foot...it went thru the ground! I go to catch myself on the wall with my right hand and it slipped, damn this rain! I tried to brace my fall with my left hand and it too went thru the ground! My stump hit the ground,”Fuck!”,I bellowed as pain shot through my arm and ribs. That's right, my stump! I had to once again be reminded that I had lost my right leg and my left arm. The memories again were resurfacing. I can’t, I just cant. Not again......................... I would rather die then relive that. Not again!
I‘m just going to lay here and let the cold rain take me!
.....cold.....
.....so... cold......
....c.a.n.t.......s..e...e...... a.n.y.....
”.o....e......r.”
........n...o...i...s...e..........
“S.to.p..i.k....
.....what?....
“Soto Pem.ck..i.”
.....a name.....
“Soto Pemickori!”
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Mad With Power
Freaky Humanity
Prologue
MY NAME! Who... half to look...half to see...so weak...lift your head dammit! Who... who... WHO IS IT?......A uniform? “Sergeant Pemickori!”
“.....What..?”, who is this?.
“Sergeant Pemickori, The Parliament of Folkiram would like to extend an offer to you.” Ha ha he said it as if he expects a yes! Life is fucked up sometimes...
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Chapter 1: Ice and Fire
As I readjusted my scarf the snow continued to fall. The PMR-30 gun at my side was too cold to touch with my bare hands without reason and my legs were stiff from standing in one spot for too long. So I leaned my back on the wall... It too was cold, so I got off. The field in front of me was soulless and flat from all the snow. The cold, the cold seemed to penetrate my very soul. The night is lasting so long, what was I doing standing in three feet of snow in the middle of the night?....... Oh yea, I’m standing guard at this tech-plant. Doltant Labs, 'Rediscovering the future', one of the 'new' companies that appeared after The Crash. They send requests to CCC for guards almost every night, just what are they doing in there? The fence that surrounds this place is electrically charged and has razor wire. The building, on the surface, seems to be brick and is located just outside the city limits. If I just take a peak inside-a familiar voice hits my ears, “Hey! Newbie!”
I worked this job twice but this was the first time I’ve worked with HIM. “You know the rule. No intrusion in the affairs of our clients.”, he got back from patrol early, “Just because I left you in charge of the only door does not mean you can get all high and mighty and think your better then me. After all I’m eight star and your just two,” here it comes, “You know what that means? It means I’m better than you in every way and it also means I’m in charge. So follow the rules,” he’s been at this all night, “I didn’t get to eigh-”, he goes on for a while about his eight stars, little prick. He may look ten but he speaks like he’s 50. Unlike me he carries a DPMS Panther, with scope, on his back (I’m a bit of a gun nut) with a combat knife at the belt. “- and that's why you follow the eight stars. Now you wasted enough of my time, get to your patrol.” I walk off in silence, just glad to be able to bend my legs again.
Patrol, what a goosed up name, walk around the building and stop every thirty paces to scan the fence to see nothing but the black of night. But work is work and a paying job is a paying job. Got the job just as I turned twenty. That first year working was “fun” but now the work is steady. The kid, how did someone that young get eight out of ten stars? The Camp Central Company uses a strange way to rank us, but I think that’s to be expected of a company that was a "temp" service before The Crash. Now they're a multinational conglomerate with military, government, police, economic, technology research and bio research branches as well as their "temp" work that has been renamed mercenary work. Governments and civilians hire them out to do work for them but at this point they almost are the government, all because of The Crash. The Crash changed a lot, I hear. I stop to check the fence for incursion........nothing.
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Mad With Power
Freaky Humanity
Chapter 1: Ice and Fire
The Crash was...a large meteorite that hit the earth. That day The Crash wiped away everything....that day was a blur to me. I don’t remember much. Just the noise... the earth shattering noise is what sticks in my mind the most, then the fire...fire everywhere, then came the smoke that chokes your lungs, then gray snow that was hot instead of cold, then the pain.... in my eyes, wiped away all the memories of my life before. How long has it been since then? Ten? No fourteen years....has it been that long? I haven’t seen the sky since then, because of the clouds. Even as I stare at them now all I see of the moon is a blotch of white light which makes my ability of Veritas Vers so useful. We all got abilities, all the ones who didn’t die anyway. It was radiation from the blast, they say, that mutated the human race and gave us a blessing and a curse. Some were more cursed/blessed than others Like that kid, he’s a crash baby, most likely born with the gift. Stop. Check the fence. Turn a corner. Walk the back of the building.
Later at a Red Cross medical station, I remember being treated for burns when the guy next to me started to scream and howl like a madman, even as the doctors tried to help him. Then came the sound of bones. Bones that splintered, bones that broke, and bones that cracked. The doctors started to back off and I saw him. He... he was... his skin was bubbling and splitting, spilling blood all over the floor as his arms as well as his legs shrunk. He was still screaming as his face contorted and cracked while his eyes popped out. He... he started to morph into an amorphous blob and I couldn't look away. I couldn't take my eyes from him as he screamed bloody murder. With his bones protruding from him and pools of blood on the floor, he was still alive. He was still alive!! It was to horrible to look away. Then, as what was left of his flesh rolled into a ball of muscle, bone, and blood, his screaming was muffled. Then stopped. Then nothing. It was mind blowing and, as if to call a finality to the whole experience, the fleshy mass just... exploded, sending bits of gore about the room. Stop. Check the fence. Moving on.
The next year, as people “awakened” the world fell into chaos and turmoil. The tattered shells of governments could do nothing to stop it. Nations lost their grip in half a year. Empires were forged and lost over the course of years, months, weeks, or days. I floated around from place to place always surviving off the lost battlefields and the dead. Then came Camp Central Conglomerate, small at first but then huge. Through the ruthless way it did business and the mercenary work it restored the piece. After a while I was adopted and given a home, food, clothes, and a name. Harlow, Harllow Orillis, Given to me by my father. Since then I was educated and trained in combat till I was Seventeen. Then I joined CCC as a mercenary, against my fathers wishes but I need to find out what happened to me back then during all the noise, fire, pain, and The Crash. Stop. Check the fence. Mov-what?! I hear gunfire. Shit, of all the times, run, run fast!
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Mad With Power
Freaky Humanity
Chapter 1: Ice and Fire
The alarms blaring from the lab drown out the sound of my heavy breathing. The search lights that follow nearly blind me. What ever is going on, it’s big. Even as an explosion rocked the ground the metal shutters were closing on the windows. Shit, this is bad, I need to be careful. I get my gun ready despite the cold and just as I come into view of the front door another explosion shakes the building. What is happening out there? Where is the kid? The gun fire from above signals his location on the roof, but how did he get up there so fast? Later, right now I need to see. A blue ball of light followed by a red light ball rockets to the front door and explodes on impact. No choice then, I need to see to shoot. I activate my Veritas Verus and the world around me gets as bright as day. I can see clearly and I see fifteen, no twenty of them five have been taken down. What is making those balls of light? I can't see the source. Is it a power user? Dammit no time to search! I take out my gun and remember the training. Step one: Hold the gun steady in both hands. Step two: Aim by looking down the sites. Step three: Squeeze the trigger.
*BLAM!*, the sound of my gun is deafening and leaves silence behind. I watch as the bullet flies to it’s predestined location in slow-motion. The target is a person, a male, has a life, a family, someone he loves. Oh god, what have I done? I can’t stop this, I can only watch as his brains are evacuated from his head in a spray of blood. Oh fuck! They told me about this but I never....I....I never thought that it would feel like this. Its quiet now. I can’t hear any more guns and the rumbling in my body tells me what’s coming. “Hey newbie! What the hell are you doing?!” I throw up all over the found. “Shit! Fuck’n newbies, I always got to babysit!” Someone grabs my arm lifts me part way up and then....then, I’m in the air! We land on a hard flat surface just as I finish coughing up what was left in my stomach. Who...did...? “Listen newbie, you can still see them right?”
What? Where are we? “Snap out of it!”, He socks me in the face, and almost knocks my teeth out, “Can you still see them or not!?” Why is he yelling? Then it hits me, we’re on the roof! Another explosion rocks the building....and then I hear it again, the gunfire! He was yelling over the gunfire! I take a peak over what little cover we have and see thirteen of them, “Yes! Yes, I can still see!”
The kid just smiles at me and says, “Good! I need that!” He pauses, I think it's for effect, “Now listen to me! I’m not asking you to shoot the gun again! ALL I’m asking for is for you to tell me the locations of these swine, so that I can run them through with my bullets for making one of the illustrious Camp Mercenaries fall to his knees! They deserve no mercy from the likes of us! For we fight for the peace and a better tomorrow! Now, tell me will you fight!?”
That little speech was so ridiculous that I almost forget my sickness and smile, “All right, I will!” I peek over the roof as another explosion hits the building again, only it had a different sound to it . The shutters are giving way!
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Freaky Humanity
Chapter 1: Ice and Fire
Damn, no time for this crap! I point at one of them and yell, “Right there!” He takes a well aimed shot, and now twelve. “ There!”, eleven, “There!”, ten. They start, moving? They've noticed the change in the battle and started moving around hoping to confuse us. “Crap, this just got harder.” Now I’ll need to predict their movements, see the pattern.
“What now newbie!?”
See the pattern. See It! “It’s nothing!”, got it, “There!”, nine. I go to point at the next one but the two balls of light come flying at us from further out!
“Get down!” I’m grabbed roughly by my collar and we’re on the other side of the roof, almost instantly! My perception can hardly keep up. We move so fast and the light from the explosion blinds me, “AHH!”, I scream. As my retina burns and the gun fire stops. I need to turn the power off, now! He notices me, “How many left?”
Counting the two further out, “Eleven...” Oh fuck, my eyes! I had it on for too long. “You going to be all right, newbie?”, I sit in the darkness of my own creation and nod, “Good. Then stay here, I’m going to check the wall. It’s too quiet.” He was right, it was. I can’t hear a thing out there. I here a swoosh and he is....gone.
I’m alone. I know, I’m alone. The memory of that man comes back to me in this endless darkness. My brain plays it over and over and the sickness returns like a bad tumor. It was part of the job, I can’t let this get to me. He died by my hand. No, he chose his fate by attacking us. BY MY HAND! NO! You were trained better than this, you...can’t.....let......t-this.....g..g-get.....to........a tear runs down my cheek and my hands don’t stop shaking., “Stop....shaking, Dammit!”
....can’t stop, I can’t....
I didn’t even hear his approach, “ ...The first time is always the hardest,” can’t let this kid see me like this, “It’s all right, they used the flash to retreat. So it’s ok man, let it out...,” and I do. I sit and cry, and cry. He sits down next to me, “Don’t be ashamed of this moment, but don’t forget it either. I did once, and I still regret it.”
We sit their till the cleanup arrives from CCC. Did the kid call them? “Well, we need to write the reports for this mission but since you did an ok job today I’ll right yours, just this once,” What? That's so illegal,” But only if you tell me your name.”
I can’t speak at first, my name stops in my chest. I need to force it out, “H-Harllow”, it sounds so hollow and empty.
“Names Ando Kravich. Stay here Harlow, I’ll deal with Richerd and that paperwork. Got’a tell you now, not looking forward to that.” Swoosh, he was gone. My sight was returning enough to see the flashing blue and red lights through blurry eyes. I feel like crap. Don’t forget this? Right...I don’t think I ever will. The doctor arrives on the roof to check me out.
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Mad With Power
Freaky Humanity
Chapter 1: Ice and Fire
Checks my pulse, my respiration, and my eyes. “It looks like your eyesight will return but don’t use your power for at least a week or you WILL go blind. And every thing except that cut and burn on your face will be fine.” My, face? I touch it not believing her words, and there they were. The burn on the left and the cut on the other side. My cut felt cold can't say from the cold weather or what. ”Stop touching them, you’ll get an infection! ....Here let me treat that.” I can’t help but notice, as my eyesight was retuning, that the doctor had pearl white hair. She treats my face and then moves on without a word. Who was that woman with the white hair? Wait! I know that white hair....I know her from that one time that....we....I....my memory will not grasp it. She touched the back of my head. Did she, did the white hair do...do....something....? Wait....what was I thinking about? Something white....I think. I remember now. I just killed my first human! Ah! My stomach is cramping up. I still feel like shit but I need to get off of this roof. My adrenaline is thinning out and the water on my face is freezing to me. Can’t see to far, but I can. Did I put these bandages on my self? Um....I must have. Oh well, that doesn't matter now. The fire escape is still in the back. I’ll....I’ll use that. I feel the old stairs rattle and shake. How old are these? I guess that the building code hasn’t been around for a while? I feel a bit more comfortable as I reach the ground and the snow at the bottom of the ladder. I need to get around the building after I shot....dammit! Need to get my mind off of this! I can’t file my report about the mission in this condition. They would laugh at me, and I will not have that. “But I killed someone,” no!, “shut the fuck up!” I know I did! I know I did.....and I can never take it back....never. Come on, at least get to the front of the building.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Finally got to the front of the building and pulled my self together. But I did brake down a few times, so don’t get arrogant. The CCC Interpol set up a temporary camp to investigate. After CCC took control of most of the world an international police force was inevitable. Wait a minute, how did they get here so fast? “Hey newbie!”, oh no, “I’ve been looking for you.” Ando walks up to me, “Did you apply those?” He points at my face, “Yea, I think I did?”, I honestly don’t know.
“You...think? Man, newbie. You must be really fucked up. Speaking of which...” He motions me to lean in. I hesitate at first, but do it anyway, “...how ARE you doing?” He surprises me again with the ability to drop that arrogant attitude of his. Is that an act? I'll be honest, “Better.”
The kid spins around and says in a loud voice, “Good, because Richerd wants to speak to you and I can’t have you blubbering all over her! That would look bad on my eight star reputation!”
That’s it! “Fuck you kid! I've had to listen to you and your talk of stars and rank all fucking night, but your just a fucking kid with a fucking attitude!” The next moment I’m falling on my face, a hand clamped on the back of my head.
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Mad With Power
Freaky Humanity
Chapter 1: Ice and Fire
“Remember who your superiors are, newbie, and don’t talk back. Not to me.” I try to get up but he’s too strong, ”Now go see Richerd at the heli, and try not to pee yourself.” He lets go and in the blink of an eye is gone. Dammit! How can a ten year old be that strong!? My anger still smoldering in my stomach I get up and head over to the helicopter. She’s still there getting reports on the attackers, “Yes sir they all had night vision, and as we suspected they were all from Folki-,” the lieutenant stops at my approach and the woman in charge of the CCC Interpol turns to me, Richerd Haner. The ten star head of CCC Interpol, the woman that has one of the few aura powers: Fides Praesentia. No one can lie in her presence not even herself. "You! Stay where you are and speak your name!" She reports directly to the head of CCC and no one else. Harlow.....Orillis." Said to be level ten with her double tonfa. "Oh? Lieutenant, leave us for a bit!" And has hit targets over three hundred meters away with her modified Tanaka S&W M500 8.3inch magnum revolver. I wait till the lieutenant is out of ear shot before speaking, "You need to speak to me, sir?" Its better to show respect for now.
"Yes. Did you get a look at the power user with those eyes of yours before the explosion?" Is it any wonder she's the head of the world police.
"Yes sir, one had short red hair and used a fire biased power. The other had shoulder length blue hair and used an ice based power." As I tell her the details her face is grim. "So Fire and Ice have retuned."
I haven't heard of them before. "Who, may I ask, are they, sir?"
She looks at me as if coming out of a daze. "You may not. Now, get your self cleaned up and ready to leave."
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Chapter 2 Family Lost and Found
The trip back to CCC headquarters was uneventful, except for the turbulence from the updrafts that hit us now and then. The kid seems to have gone another way. That's good for me because I don't think I can take any more of him this morning. We were going over the Camp City now with its vast array of buildings both wide as well as tall. The largest of these, like a giant double edged knife stuck in the earth, is the CCC main office. It houses the executives and most of the ranks eight through ten. What of the dull sun that struggled through the clouds refracted off of the main office and was at least nice to look at. As we land on the heliport that was placed at about one-third of the way down, one on either side of the building. I have a bad felling about giving my oral report. Last night was not the best mission and I would rather not go through that with 'him'. The sound of the engine dying finally gives me a chance to hear just how fast I've been breathing.
I've got to calm down steady my breathing. Can't let anyone else see me like this. Come on, can't let last nights....incident get to me. Suddenly the dead mans face flashes through my mind. Dammit, not here! Do not brake down here~* "....to go." The voice broke my train of thought. "What!?", I say almost yelling.
"I said that it is ok to get off now. The engine stopped, sir."
Crap I'm losing it. "Oh, right. Thank you". As I step off the plane the early morning wind chills my skin. Need to get inside quickly before I freeze. Inside the heater was working just fine and I started to feel warm for the first time in a long while, but I better keep my coat on till the chill stops clinging to me. The elevator down the hall would take me up to his office on the one hundred and fifty-second floor. But I need to go to the ninety-ninth floor, one down, to see my sister. Cattiy Orillis, she should be there sharpening her throwing knives in the armory, or making more. On the way down to the elevator I pass some of the cleaning staff as they gab on about nothing that I care about. The hall is four persons wide and had always had this wooden old world look to them, yet the elevator had a sleek futuristic metal look. It always looked weird to me, but a home's a home.
This elevator music will play in my personal hell. While I'm adopted Cattiy is the biological sibling, our father is a traditionalist in his business, and though she is older I'm the male. Personally I think she is far more qualified than me. I've never asked her opinion on the subject. She's never said anything either, but I doubt she feels good about it. Her power is Totalis Obspervatione. Anything she sees, hears, smells, feels, and tastes she remembers in all it's glorious detail. As I step off the elevator, I can already hear the sounds of blades sharping from the ajar door to the armory. She was hard at work with her back to the door, already, this early. "Morning Harlow."
Damn she's good, "Morning sis".
She stops what she's doing and turns her head slightly toward me, "You know father hates it when you call me that".
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Chapter 2 Family Lost and Found
This again, "And you know that I can't help it, you're my family now. I can't be formal with you all the time".
"Yes, I do. Still, do not let father catch you, ok little bro?", she says as she turns back toward her work, "Anyway, why is your voice shaking? Did something happen related to the marks on your face?"
Crap, I can't hide anything lately, "Well, last night I....killed someone," my voice is shaky and getting worse.
This time she puts down her tools and does an about face, "Explain it to me," such a demanding tone.
"But, I can't d-"
"Now!", she cuts in, "you need to talk about this and I'm willing to listen to it. Now, talk to me." So I do.
By the time i'm done I'm crying again, in front of sis of all people. "....and then I cane to see you sis."
She waits for me to stop, "Yea, my first time killing was hard on me too."
I end up feeling a little worse than I did, "How did you deal with it?"
What was her solution? "Well, dad was here to help me," what?! Dad helped someone? I've never known him to. "...and now I'm here for you." She thinks of me as family. It wasn't to long ago that I didn't even know them (father and sis) even though father still has reservations about calling me family. "Thanks sis, don't you leave me too"
She gives me a look of worry and concern, "Hehe. Stupid, I'm not planing to go anywhere."
She says it with such, reverence that it instantly calms me down, "Thanks again, sis. Now I've got to turn in my oral report to the president". He's not easy to talk to.
"Well, good luck with that. That's not an easy feat, even for me. Well, get going and good luck." She turns around and goes back to her work.
"Right." I turn around and go back to the elevator and push the up call elevator button, and then later get reminded of why I hate this song. It reminds me of 'then'. The time alone in vast wastes. Only the sound of your own foot steps and shadow to keep you company. I remember what someone told me back then. It was to be careful who you let get too close. The elevator doors open and the first step out feels like a hundred steps. Calm down, he won't like it but you must report your findings. The door to his office was made out of real wood, a rare find since the wood is hard to come by after The Crash. Cattiy was missing from her normal post at the desk outside the door. She acts as the CEO's secretary and bodyguard. I knock on the heavy wooden door, the sound it makes is as large and imposing as the door itself, a muffled gruff male voice responds to the deep rumbling of the door, "Enter." I take a breath, and open the door.
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Chapter 2 Family Lost and Found
He has his back to me, as is his custom, looking out at the city. He turns around slowly as I enter, the door closing behind me with a thud of ill intent, he looks me once over but shows no emotion, "I had heard you were back, welcome." The man at the head of CCC was sitting at his metal desk, the CEO and president, as well as...,"Hello, father,"...my father, Garfinador Orillis.
"I will NOT tell you again, if you chose to be a part of this company you will refer to me as 'sir', got it boy!?" I can't believe I said that. That was a mistake I can't afford at the moment.
"Yes, sir!", I say as I salute.
He glares at me for what seems like hours, "Good! Now on to more serious business. You reported that there was twenty-three of the assailants, is that correct?"
It was a test, he was trying to fool me, "No sir, there was only twenty-two of them, sir." He shifts in his charr and I notice that I'm unconsciously standing at attention.
"...And Ando?"
I think for a minute, "He is by my evaluation rude, callous, quick on his feet, and quick with tactical thinking. He is an expert sharp shooter and can follow instructions, but has a tendency to bend the rules for others. It is my opinion, he should not be moved up to nine stars."
Father shifts in his seat again while he thinks, "Thank you for checking on him for me. Your five star rank is now restored to you and you will get a bonus in your pay." Good, I was useful to father. He continues to speak, "As for you, I read that you killed for your first time, and I read that you didn't take that well. Along with the injuries, I will have to deny your request for six stars."
Damn it! Denied again. "Yes...sir. Is there any thing else you need from me?"
He gives me one of his many glares, "Yes that is all, go to your quarters and await further instructions. Dismissed!" The monolithic doors behind me open and I leave. I stop just out side the doors as they close to gather my thoughts. As the wooden doors shut with a deep clu-clank I hear tapping to my left, "You know, he's only that hard on you because he cares." Cattiy was back at her post sitting at the desk.
"I don't know sis, he always seems to be angry with me."
She continues to type at the computer, "That's not true, in fact he was up all night worried about you."
The intercom cracks to life like an old radio, "Cattiy, get in here!" Maybe she was right, he seems angry with everybody.
"Yes father", She gets up and begins walking to the tall door, "Well duty calls. Latter Harllow" I nod and walk back to the elevator.
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Chapter 2 Family Lost and Found
In the morning I awoke to the sound of the alarm next to my bed, it was like glass in my ear, the reverberations of the alarm shattering any hope of sleep. Like all mornings these days it was dark, the shadows rising with me. From my window on the hundred and twenty-forth floor I saw that the clouds hung over the world like a thick blanket, they didn't always seem that way. At one time they looked like a wall, a large wall that wouldn't let anything through. That heavy wall of clouds that let no light in, is not as scary as it once was but on some deep level they still scared me, as they did back then. Back then, after The Crash, it was hard just to live. No one had time to think of the future, of what life would become. Despair griped the land and its people, all hope seemed lost. The rulers at the time tried to keep order by giving aid, trying desperately to save them. That is until the people showed signs of powers. Then the revolution began, the despair driven mad people of the earth lashed out against each other. They formed communities of like minds, but still killing each other like animals.
When father appeared on the scene at the head of CCC, whether for greed or to bring order to the world. He, along with everyone under the CCC banner, took control of the world. Sis tells me it was hard for them and he had to build this tower just to get by. This tower...was...what am I doing, thinking about that now? I need to get ready for the day, so stop starting out of the window. You've been doing that for two days now. Get up, get a wash, get dressed, and get your gun. My place is just two rooms, being the presidents son has no real perks. As father put it, 'If you want to be a part of this company. You'll have to make your own way up in this company.' ...Well, if I want to continue to live here I better go down to the post-bored on the first floor and see if there is a new job to-*knock**knock**knock* Someones at my door? As I open it the most monotone voice hits my ears, "Young master, the master wishes to speak to you."
It was my old teacher, "Hay, Gafriy. What have you been up to?" Gafriy Jalitosky the man who taught me all he knew about the world, and is my fathers other bodyguard. "Young master, I was given explicit intrusions, that I was to bring you to the master."
He's been this way as long as I have known him, "All right, you'll drag me away if I refuse I take it?" I have no idea what his power is.
"Yes, I was given instructions to that letter, young master. Now if you would be so kind as to accompany me to, the master's office." He uses no weapons at all choosing instead to fight with his bare hands.
"Tell him that I'll be up soon, I need to check on something."
As I turn to close and lock the door behind me he grabs my shoulder like a vice, "I insist that you come now, as the matter is urging you come and this matter requires your immediate attention." I turn to see him glaring at me over his rimed glasses, "Now, young master." His grip tightens on my shoulder.
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Chapter 2 Family Lost and Found
"Ok, ok! There is no need for force Gafriy, if he needs me now, I'll go now. Lead the way." He looses his black gloved hand and steps back, "Of course, young master." He kept his voice steady the whole time, but that grip said urgency. Father wants to keep it private or he would have just paged me. What's going on?
As we step on to the elevator the music from my personal hell starts up. Crap....ummm, need a distraction, "So Gafriy, what have you been up to? I haven't seen you around lately." He relly hasn't, and this might drown out that damned music.
"I have languid in the service of, the master and have used my skills in his service, young master." Never one to share, Gefriy not only serves as fathers bodyguard, and on occasion disappears without reason.
"Did you go anywhere sunny this time?" This conversation is so bland, but at least I can ignore that song.
"Young master, you know I am forbidden to speak of such things. The master instructed me, himself, that any and all information that I observe will never leave his office."
There he goes again, "Yea I know the president trusts you, I just wish father trusted me more...." Father never lets me in on anything that goes on around here.
"Young master, while I can understand your need to be close with, the master. You were given instructions to refer to, the master as mister, president, or sir." I'm slipping can't even maintain in front of Gefriy. "And another thing, young master, the master did not trust me at first as well, but you are being given a chance to earn some of that trust today." What!?
*bing* The elevator doors opens. "Now go, young master and make me proud to call you my student." He pushes me out of the elevator. That is the first time I have seen him compliment anyone. I turn around and see him smile as the doors close.
I hear sis clear her throat, "As funny as it is to watch you and Gefriy be all buddy buddy, time is short." I can't say I'm not embarrassed.
"Of corse.." I turn to see that the monolithic wooden doors to fathers office are opening, "...si- Ms. Vice President."
Father is glaring at me again. "Harllow! Get in here, now!" I nod to sis and practically jog inside the office. As he waits till the doors are closed, my eyes rest on the new edition to the room two chairs in front of the desk. "Sit!" I sit. "Harllow, what I'm about to say must reman between us alone."
This is what Gefriy meant, "Yes, sir." It must be serious.
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Mad With Power
Freaky Humanity
Chapter 2 Family Lost and Found
"The Emperor of Vicatiney, Lokanta Hasial's illegitimate son has been kidnaped. They have threatened to kill him if he refuses to hand control of the country to the Folkrium Parliament. If the kid is killed it will reveal the kids existence, and because of the law there that states that the Emperor can have only one son or be dethroned, Mr. Hasial needs to keep this under the table. Here is the file on that," he hands one of the many files on his desk to me, "look at that later. Now since CCC or Vicatiney can't be connected to this you will need to have a contact in the city. Their file is, here." A second file is thrust into my hands.
"Any questions?" I think that this is the most that father has spoken to me, ever.
"Do we have information on who did this?" I have no idea what to expect from anything he says anymore.
"We have only heard rumors that the suspect has the power of Umbra Serpo, the power of shadows, which makes you the perfect tracker. Now this little Q&A is over. The helicopter is fueled and ready on the helipad."
He wants me to go now? "N-now sir?" Oh shit! The look he's giving now would, if not for the distance between us, freeze my blood.
"Yes, now!"
I get out of the chair, "Sir!" Don't forget to salute. I run/walk out of the office, The titanic door slamming behind me. Before I can recover my composure sis pipes in, "Better hurry." I step on to the elevator. This is my first mission alone and by the sound of it I can't fail or Vicatiney will join Folkrim. Wait, what is Folkrim? Going by what dad said, they are not good for CCC. So for my new family, I'll do it.
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Chapter 3: Alone, in the Dark
- Name: Calinas Ralina
- Age: 47
- Sex: F
- Nationally: Russian
- Power: Unknown
- Bio: Was originally in the Spetsnaz Vityaz unit stationed near Kyiv. Made Sub-Polkovnik at age of 32. Has tank training as well as many other weapons including the garrote, Jōhyō, Flying Claw, and Meteor hammer. After The Crash whereabouts unknown till she entered Lokanta Hasial's service as a personal guard.
So this is my contact. Seams like good help has been provided this time. We were nearing the Vicatiney border. Father was kind enough to provide me with five extra clips for my gun, so that leaves me with, 209 rounds. Vicatiney was a country normally full of sand and heat, basically the desert. After The Crash it became a tundra of ice and cold. The capital city of the empire Daltan would come up in an hour. Let me review that kids file again.
- Name: Bartosa Hasinas
- Age: 6
- Sex: M
- Nationally: Vicatineyan
- Power: No signs yet
- Bio: Born in the slums. Has been raised by foster family with contributions from the plaice on the clam that the Emperor felt sorry for the kid. Receives regular visits from Calinas Ralina.
Visited by Calinas....probably to keep a watchful eye on him. Nice job declaring that you're supporting him, you can hide him in plain sight and if the real heir dies you can just 'adopt' him as the new heir. Unfortunately, someone found out. A shadow user, hmmmm. That will be hard for me since I can't use my power for a while....wait, who told me that? It.....was.....ummmmmm. I can't remember, but it was someone I trusted? Was it? Why can't I remember? "Sir, we will be on the outserts of Daltan soon." The pilot was taking me to the city limits only to lower suspicion.
"Thank you Linast." As I was told, I am to make my way inside the city and Calinas will then find me with this tracking beacon I was given. The helicopter descends and I am ready. Father, are you watching? Watch as I make you proud. The bump tells me that the helicopter landed. The pilot turns around to face me, "Sir, we're here. I'm going to fly to the heliport, after I drop you off, under the guise of delivering cargo. Next time you need a pick up for any reason turn the beacon I gave you off and I'll go to the last known coordinates. When I get there turn it back on, if no signal is received when I get there you are to be presumed dead and I will return to base." I nod. I get up, pull the leaver to open the bay door, and step out into the cold wind.
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Mad With Power
Freaky Humanity
Chapter 3: Alone, in the Dark
The helicopter was no different than the normal ones CCC uses, the way it looks in the dead of night never did set me at ease. The black color was the unsettling part, with the sound of the twin sets of blades made it sound as if death was behind you. I've been told that helicopters use to run on a fuel called gasoline, but now they run on fusion generators. The icy wind that hit my face as the helicopter takes off stings like cold flame. It reminds me of that fight at the teckplant. The helicopter then flies away to the city as is the plan. I turned on the beacon that is, amazingly, shaped like a small disk. Doltant Labs, just what were they doing in that billing to attract that kind of an attack, and how did the CCCIP get there so quickly, and why was the Chef of CCCIP there? That's a lot of questions, too many questions for me and soon, I'll have no time to think about them. As I start the long cold trek across the cold desert tundra I guess I'll think about it now. It's all vary suspicious, and the way that lieutenant shut up when I got there. The cold isn't the only thing sending shivers up my spine. Just what is father up to in that billing-no...he's your family now, you can't think that way. Just trust that it will work out, like last time.....
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Falling, falling into the darkness. Seemingly forever the laughter was soon to fallow, that cackling laugh. I hated that laugh. The wall that is the ground hits me with a dull thud, "Ahh!" The bottom of the pit, hurts.
"Let's see how long that smart mouth lasts down there, huh kid?"
Those damn bandits, bunch of cowards they aren't human, "You're not men, you...you're cowards!" He just laughs that cackling laugh and walks away.
I hear a shifting next to me, "You shouldn't make them angry," she(?) looks up at the opening above us, "they sometimes don't feed us when they're angry."
I look around and see others, "Come on, there are eleven of us here, we should just climb out and take them."
The woman(?) shakes her(?) head, "No, you are wrong, there is only three of us left, and he hasn't been conscious for a while now." She points a vary boney finger at one of the others, "And, as you can see I'm not so good as well." A low raspy cough escapes her throat, she is wearing a brownish-tan cloak that covers her face, her hand is missing most of it's skin and it's raw almost to the bone, but her eyes, her eyes are kind and warming and she is more laying than siting on the ground.
"Oh, well I'll climb out and get us some help then."
She chuckles in a raspy/coughing sort of way and smiles, "You are welcome to try."
It sounds as if she has given up, "Don't give up, not yet. You're still alive, and as long as you're still alive you can still act, so don't give up!"
"You are still young it seems," she says in a almost whisper.
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A blizzard is coming in, just my luck, I need to hurry. That old woman already knew that it was impossible to climb, but I think she didn't want to brake my spirit to much. She was a nice, yet strong person even as the life was leaving her body. After my repeated attempts to climb out failed we ended up talking about many things, nothing special, we just had a lot of time in that deep hole. She got a lot weaker as we went on, as if the act of talking was draining her life. What made her talk to me even though she didn't know me? Did she feel that she had to shield me from the horror of the situation, or was it the she was covering up her own fear or was she just lonely? The man died in his sleep during the night and by morning she was on her last bit of life, our conversations being interrupted with long periods of silence.
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Mad With Power
Freaky Humanity
Chapter 3: Alone, in the Dark
"Oh, look. The love birds are cuddling. Kakakaka." I can only glare at them. "Hay Jebora, take a look at this sweet, sweet moment." We sat next to each other for warmth.
"Yep, them there is a right pr'tty picture that is. Yep." The night got cold and had to snuggle up, to stay warm.
"You assholes! You need to feed us before she dies! .......Please!" She wouldn't wake up as I was trying to wake her.
"Ohohoho, looks like you still haven't learned your lesson about holding that smart mouth of yours, but I'll be a nice guy and let you in on something kid. Your wrong about her. that 'lady' there is not the nice person you think she is. That 'lady' there broke into our camp and killed over thirty of us before we dropped her in here, but not before we had a little", he licks his lips, "fun with her. Kekehehehe!"
Fun what the hell does he mean by that?
"Oh and one more thing, call it a freebie, you have noticed rite? I mean even stupid Jebora here can see it. She's already dead." WHAT?! No...no...no...he's right. She is-was...a good person, wasn't she?
"Then why! ....why did...why...why did you let her die!" I need to get to them! I need to kill them, to make them pay! The dirt wall of the pit gives way to my grasping hands and the rocks scrape my fingers. Almost there, my fingers are beginning to bleed but I don't care, they have to pay, they have to die! Almost there, almost...
He grabs the top of my head, smiles, and looks me dead in the eye with a wild stare, "Because, it's fun." He then just pushes me, falling...falling falling into the darkness again.
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The impact with the ground knocked me unconscious and I woke up the next day in my own blood. The hunger along with the blood loss was unbearable like this ice-storm it pounds away without relenting. Lucky for me there was rain that night and I got a little to drink...but I remember, feeling the hunger then, the overwhelming need to feed on anything my hand could reach. I didn't even have time to think on that poor woman who gave her last to keep my mind off of the monstrous hunger. The ravaging hunger that striped away all thought and reason. The hunger that took my mind and made me a beast willing to trade the world for a crumb of food, and made it hard to keep awake so that I was napping all the time.
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"Hay! I think he's still alive," they're back, "Hay, you still alive down there?" Did they come to make fun of me again? "Answer me you little shit!" *Thunk*
A rock rebounds off my head, and the pain shoots through my brain, "Ahhhh!" Why does he keep doing this? I hold my bleeding head and slump to my side.
"Ha! Tough little bastard, an't ch'a? You seeing this Karton? Even after three days without food or water he's still alive, Isn't that amazin'?" ....help...
"Shut up Malfo! We have to get to our work with the others, I've let you play with your little pet long enough. Now come on." ...help. Mama...help. I can't do this alone mama. Help me, please. They put me down in this pit and haven't fead me, so I need your help...it's...dark here mama. There where others here with me but....they're not anymore. I can smell them mama. I'm so hungry mama. I NEED to eat mama. No, no, no I can't mama. I can't hold out for much more mama. I'm tired mama, I need to sleep.
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Mad With Power
Freaky Humanity
Chapter 3: Alone, in the Dark
Why do I think of the past on these cold nights? They seem to drag the past out of me and into the present.....well whatever, it was hard then, as almost as bad as now. The city was closer but the cold wind was picking up scattering the sandy-ice around and into my eyes. Looks like a big blizzard, if I don't get there in a few minutes it will not matter. My luck seems to give in and brake, but I will not today, not ever, not anymore....not after what happened to me on the fourth day. The horror of the fourth day still rings in my ears, but that is also the day that my troubles ended and I had help for the fist time in a long time.
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"...Hungry", I groan as my stomach eats a little more of me. *bang* ....what? What was that? Mama, are they shooting their guns off now? *bang*bang* They must be having fun mama. What do yo-MUST EAT, "Unng!" It's bad, isn't it bad mama?
"Y.u ..e u.d.. a..e.t ..r .ct. .. ....t, .r..n, a.. k.d..p..g, ..y d..n ...r ...p..s, s...e....r, ..d y.. ..l. .o. b. .a...d."
What...was-HUNGER!! "Unng!" Mama, I can't hear so well, can you help?
"I repeat, You are under arrest for acts of theft, arson, and kidnaping, lay down your weapons, surrender, and you will not be harmed!" ...! What?
"Fuck you pigs!" *bang*bang*bang*
"As you wish.....OPEN FIRE!" The sound of a war zone opining up above the hole in the dirt and the earth shook with fire. Did hell finally open for me mama?
"Ahhhhh~!" *Kracunch* Someone fell in the pit mama.....it's Jebora, that blob.......wait, he's made of meat, isn't he mama? He is already dead, isn't he mama? He was mean to me, wasn't he mama? He can cure me of this hunger, right mama? I have to eat, don't I mama? See how much I'm drooling mama, I need this. But, Isn't he a human mama? Isn't it wrong mama? Mama, I can't stop. I can't.....I can't....I can't...I can't..I can't, I can't I can't I can't I can't, no no nononononononononononononononononononononononononononoNONONONO NO! I CAN NOT! NO, STOP! Don't move to him! No, no, NO! Don't grab his leg. STOP! HUNGER! MUST FEED! NO MAMA, NO! Don't open your mouth! NO! STOP! "NO! DON'T!" Mama, help....I can't stop myself! No, don't bite, don't bite, don't bite. EAT, NOW! Don't bite don't bite don't bite don't bite don't bite don't bite don't bite don't bite! DO NOT BITE DOWN!!!!!! STOOOOOOOP IIIIIIIT!..............................................................
.....*crunch* The iron taste of blood enters my mouth as I rip off a pice of Jebora's leg and chew hardly. Greedily I eat. The soft flesh of his leg is like the finest dinner I have ever eaten. .....I'm sorry mama I can't stop anymore, I was to weak. I'm so, so sorry Jebora, but thank you.
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The explosions around me that day made the walls settle enough to walk out and Gefriy found me wandering the battlefield, my face was a mask of blood with the rest of it running down my front. I had eaten my fill of Jeb. Gefriy had thought that I was injured, I think he knows what happened but has never said anything to my knowledge. At the med station my adoptive father just happened to visit that day and found me. But today I arrive at another door with the aid of yet another.
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Chapter 4: Shadow Games
The walls of the city loom over me like a tidal-wave of stone, ever present but never to crest to peak and fall upon me. The gate to the city was no less impressive. It had ornamental decorations thrashing about upon the edges. Gold leaf on the head of the lion adorned the center, the symbol of the city showing proud even in the dark. The screeching of the impressive door as it opened showing years of use in the heavy noise. The kindly stranger was vary helpful in dragging me across the threshold. He (or she?) had found me laying in a heap of half-frozen flesh in the snow and had figured me for dead. The wind was stifled in these encompassing walls, trapped on the out side, by design, nevertheless the snow was thick inside the walls. The first billing to greet me, and the only one to be accessible at all directly inside the walls, was the Immigration Office, a rather small office considering the size of the city. A hitched roof dusted in snow with a brick face disguised a modern inside. Once inside the temperature only razed only slightly above freezing. Are all billings like this here? The kindly stranger said her good byes. The woman siting on the other side of the desk was not so kind, "Oturmak!" ....what?
I'm so shocked I say it, "....What?" She just grimaces at me and points to the char opposite her, "Oh!" I sit down.
"lenguaje?" I shake my head. She just sighs in the most exasperated way and holds out her hand. "What?", did I forget something?
She points to my hand, then her hand. "Oh!" I say. I put my hand in hers and she squeezes it like she's trying to brake it and her hand glows for the briefest of moments. After she releases it she speaks to me, "Why didn't you say more then 'oh' and 'what' asshole! I can't figure out what language you speak if you don't do just that!"
"I'm...sorry?" I don't know what to say.
"You're sorry!? I swear to Allah you are the tenth person today! Eeeeaaaaa!"
After meny exasperated sighs later. "All right, let's just get this over with.....whare are you from?
"CCC"
She give me the briefest of looks, "Are you here for business of pleasure?"
"Business."
She gives me another look, "What is your business here?"
"I can't tell you that," what with my mission being secret and all.
She Stares me down untill, "Вам не нужно беспокоиться о нем, он здесь от имени царя, и если вы вмешиваетесь больше вы будете иметь дело с последствиями. Я совершенно ясно?" A woman I intantly recognize as Calinas Ralina steps up behind me.
"Конечно, мадам я не хочу вмешиваться в царя и его бизнеса," the desk lady replied with such quickness I didn't have time to look back.
"Good. Now then, Harllow, if you will please follow me I wish to get this search under way as soon as possible."
Someone was kind enough to point out a mistake of mine involving the word "there". I think I got it fixed.
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