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Post by BlackDragon on Mar 10, 2008 13:36:15 GMT -5
Amazing work Clericjay!!
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Post by clericjay on Mar 14, 2008 12:10:29 GMT -5
Thank you very much! But I want to become better! ;D This was just the "slow beginning" phase of the story! ;D
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Post by clericjay on Mar 23, 2008 11:41:15 GMT -5
The next chapter is a little bit out of the usual order. But I decided to write it this way to give you all the possibility to have a look at the things happened before the war started and to understand the character of Arthur as well as how he became, what he is: hardly working on his emotional control. The chapter describes, what Martin tells Juan. It's an important passage of Arthur's past. ;D After this chapter I'll go on with the "normal" storyline and their next mission, which will be the beginning of Arthur's change towards the person we know as "Father", the leader of Libria.
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Post by clericjay on Mar 23, 2008 11:45:50 GMT -5
Chapter five: The day, when he lost control.
Arthur was about 15, when he had to move into another village again. He got a new identity and new “parents”. Of course, they did not knew him before, but they were very friendly and warm-hearted. Anna and Alfred Agasy were members of a witness protection program and the secret service told them Arthur would have been a victim of organized criminals as well. He had to tell his parents that his own parents would have been killed by the Mafia. Arthur did not knew, whether this was true or not, even himself. Not even the secret service knew. Mr. and Mrs. McGee just disappeared and no one in this country knew what has happened. Arthur had to go to a new high school under another name. He had no problems to find new friends. Much to often Arthur had to forget the old ones and find new ones. It became very normal to him, though he never started to built a deep emotional relationship to anyone. He would have to leave them much to soon anyway. But this time something was different to all the other years. The difference was slight, but effective. This year Juliette Henson was sitting next to him, the most beautiful girl on the entire world in his eyes. He did not recognise her at the beginning of the school year, but it rapidly changed, when he started to be interested in all the things she did and he recognised her bright character, her wonderful smile. He felt in love with her. The problem was that she did not knew this. But nearly anyone else did. It has been the first time Arthur felt unsureness, since he has been involved in the Gun-Kata-program of the secret service. He did not knew how he should explain his feelings to her. He did not even understood himself anymore. Arthur hated this status of confusion, but he forgot everything, when she smiled. He was happy, when he could be near her. And one day he asked Alfred Agasy, what he should do. It was truly the first time, when he told anyone about his feelings ever. None of his many host parents ever knew, what Arthur thought. He never wanted any serious relationships to anyone. But this time everything was different. This time Arthur was confused and lovelorn. This time he asked for help. Alfred and Anna were teachers at his high school. They understood him and tried to support him. And they arranged a possibility for him to talk to her undisturbed. Arthur told her everything honestly and straight. He poured out his heart to Juliette and she listened without saying anything. Silence floated among them before she finally said something. Arthur's heart was broken after she told him that she would be sorry, but she loved someone else. Arthur followed her to her house, constantly asking, who it might be. He was desperate, when he blocked the door to hear his name. He knew the person she named. It was an older boy from the same school, who was popular everywhere. When Arthur was going home at this evening, he felt shattered, sadly shattered. He did not wanted to live anymore. He thought, how stupid he would have been to believe that she would have loved him too. On his way home he passed a pub. The young broken man stood in front of the big window and watched the boyfriend of Juliette playing Billiard with his friends. The sad man watched his arrogant rival being happy. He truly had reasons to be happy. But these reasons made Arthur sad. He went in to talk with the guy. Sitting next to them he listened to their talk and was shocked about the flouting way the guy spoke about Juliette. Listening to them and their jokes about her and him made Arthur angry. It made him mad. He went to them and asked, why they were laughing, why they made jokes of his love. But they did not stop. They just started their little party on the costs of Arthur's feelings. They started to push him around and to douse him with beer. These guys did not knew, who he was or what he was able to do with them. They continued making the Lyon angry. And this time he snapped. Arthur took a cue, smashed it onto the man standing next to him. It broke. Arthur had lost control over himself completely. He was driven by anger and hate. His strong emotions made him use the rest of the cue to pierce it into the head of Juliettes boyfriend. Arthur was blinded by anger. His eyes did not recognise the guests running out of the room, afraid and screaming. He saw the foreign blood streaming down his arm. His clothes soaked the streaming blood. Arthur watched the red liquid running without thinking. His anger slowly drained. He came back to consciousness. Finally Arthur realized that he had lost control. That he made a terrible and unforgivable mistake. It was no general problem to murder a human being to him, this was what he was trained for. But this one was innocent. This man had no chance. Arthur had no reason to take away his life. None he could have believed in. He had lost control. He had lost control over his feelings, over his emotions, over his doings, over himself completely. Arthur was dangerous. His thoughts ran through his head in circles, desperate thoughts, endless circles. He sank on his knees and started to cry. He cried until the police arrived. There was no struggle, when the officers led him away. The secret service took care to avoid any punishment for him. Officially he was imprisoned, but in reality he just moved into another part of the country, to another host family. The same story as always, the same story as it has been before. The program continued like nothing ever happened. Nobody knew, what Arthur has done, nobody knew, who he has been. But Arthur knew. And Arthur knew that he had to change something. He was conscious about his abilities and his duties. He existed to protect the nation and its citizens and he wanted to. Arthur realized that his emotions made him dangerous. His emotions were the reason for his blackout. He lost control because he allowed his emotions to overrun his intellect. Arthur McGee decided to avoid any blackout. He was to dangerous to let his feelings reign over him. Normal people might have abandon oneself to their feelings, but Arthur McGee was not normal, was not ordinary anymore. And he knew that. He had to decide to control his feelings consequently. He was a weapon and he accepted it.
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Post by Aedh on Mar 24, 2008 10:50:07 GMT -5
Well done! I do have one question, about sort of 'tying it together;' given all the secrecy, how does Martin know the details of this story? We do know he's an old associate of Arthur, but did Arthur just tell him? Personally I think it might be effective if Martin had been a witness to it, and that is how they met. What if Martin was a young policeman who was involved in Arthur's transfer, so that is how he was able to find him again?
My apologies if this is already something you are going to bring up in the next installment.
Other than that question (which is not criticism), I have to say again, I really enjoy your sort of rough-cut, action-oriented style. It reminds me vividly of the action stories I used to read in the old 'pulp' magazines like "Argosy" and "True Detective" when I was a kid. There is something refreshingly retro about your style. Have you considered getting a gig as a writer involved with Perry Rhodan?
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Post by reveria on Mar 24, 2008 16:24:44 GMT -5
gosh, I'm SO sorry it's taken me forever to catch up. I hate it when real life messes up my online activities anyway, I agree with Aedh... how come Martin knows? but I'll be patient and see if and how you'll resolve this.
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Post by clericjay on Mar 26, 2008 6:13:19 GMT -5
Well done! I do have one question, about sort of 'tying it together;' given all the secrecy, how does Martin know the details of this story? We do know he's an old associate of Arthur, but did Arthur just tell him? Personally I think it might be effective if Martin had been a witness to it, and that is how they met. What if Martin was a young policeman who was involved in Arthur's transfer, so that is how he was able to find him again? My apologies if this is already something you are going to bring up in the next installment. Very good question. I wanted to write about this in the next chapter and I wanted to go in a similar direction. But this suggestion is very interesting... Hmmm... Well... I'll see, which version I'll choose. But thank you very much that all of you are keeping on reading my story and thank you, Aedh, for this idea. ;D Other than that question (which is not criticism), I have to say again, I really enjoy your sort of rough-cut, action-oriented style. It reminds me vividly of the action stories I used to read in the old 'pulp' magazines like "Argosy" and "True Detective" when I was a kid. There is something refreshingly retro about your style. Have you considered getting a gig as a writer involved with Perry Rhodan? Interesting! I haven't red Perry Rhodan. Please don't ask me why... Maybe I had not enough time or something like that... But I red a lot of Ren Dhark and I enjoyed it very very much. Obviously this influenced me. Maybe I'll ask for a gig in Perry Rhodan after finishing the school, because the school costs to much of my time to write effectively and much.
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Post by clericjay on Apr 5, 2008 16:47:37 GMT -5
Chapter six: A loyal friend!
Juan looked at the ground. He started to think about his own emotions and how he once smacked his mother, after she had forbidden him to play with his friends. Mrs. Sanchez always worried about her son, but her behaviour disturbed Juan very much. So he hurt her one day. He hurt her, because he was angry. Because his feelings had overwhelmed him. Juan Sanchez was scared by this thought. He hurt his mother, though he once loved her. And finally he wouldn't be able to apologize any more. She didn't exist any more. Juan was shocked by realizing that his feelings decided how he reacted. They were his master and he was their slave. He was frightened now... But he wondered how Martin Franklin could have known those things. Finally he asked: “But how can you know that?” “He told me!” Martin said, “Haven't I mentioned this before?” Juan was dissatisfied. “It's just... I can't imagine that someone like Arthur just told it to someone else, someone he didn't know. Or did you know each other, when it happened?” Martin Franklin smiled. He was not surprised that Juan asked this question. Who would not? “We met each other a long time after this incident has happened. I wasn't there when he did it, but I saw the result next morning. I was a journalist for a small local newspaper of the village at this time. When I saw the body I did not understand how a 15 years old boy was able to do something like this. I was asked to write an article about it and I scented the most exiting story in the whole county. There never happened anything comparable. But on the other hand I wanted to understand how he could have done something this gruesome. I tried to interview Arthur. Of course they didn't let me talk to him, because he was a dangerous murderer. Even his parents didn't know what happened. They were perplexed, they didn't even believe the stories. They told me that someone else would have done this crime. They strongly believed in Arthur's innocence.” Arthur McGee did not know this until now. He started to remember Anna and Alfred Agasy. They never met him again and they never came to know the truth as well as they never met Arthur ever again. He even forgot their faces. Only their names existed in his mind any more. Though he had not thought of them for a lot of years and he did not care before, he felt sorry in the moment Martin told the young man that the old teacher-couple has strongly believed in his innocence. Arthur would not even have told them the truth if he had known, where they were or whether they were still alive anyway. It was better for them to disbelieve Arthur was a killer. But he was... And he accepted it... Though he wished for a better reason, a reason he could have believed in. Arthur listened to his own story, told by the mouth of his old fellow Martin Franklin. “He was arrested and convicted for life. Officially. He was transported to a maximum security prison and nobody in the village expected to see him ever again. But I wasn't the type of man to give up. I asked for an interview with Arthur McGee a hundred times, but they never permitted it. Searching for a way to go into the prison I found out that Arthur wasn't in the prison he should have been in. A guard of the prison gave me a list of the inmates. I proved his concerns, his wife would have cheated him, in return for the favour. I started to research, where he had been to and how he could disappear without anyone recognizing it. Obsessed by the idea of a com plot, I did researched in the whole country and finally I found someone, who had seen Arthur. This was the first hint after 4 years of searching. Following the traces I finally found the house he was living in at this time. He was a free citizen, like I had expected. I knew that he was dangerous. I went into his apartment with my gun. You can imagine that he disarmed me faster than I could even react in kind. Arthur pointed my own weapon at my head and asked me, who I was. I answered him honestly. He didn't believe me until I named him by the faked name he had, when he murdered the man. He told me to go away and warned me that I wouldn't survive, if I didn't go. I went out of the room, but I never thought of giving up. Not after all the years I had spent trying to find him. I knew all his fake identities, but not his real one or the purpose of all these red herrings. I followed him and didn't know that the secret service followed me in turn, until my house burned down and they suddenly arrested me. They declared me for dead. I would have been burned in the fire, caused by a technical defect. In this moment I already knew too much. They thought of executing me, but the war started these days. Arthur wanted me to be his driver and assistant for his missions, because I had been so adamant and able to find him. He convinced his leaders that I was useful to support the program.”
Now Arthur moved around the corner. Both looked at him like cars. He continued the story: “Martin has impressed me very much. I was convinced that he would have been a loyal assistant and he never ever disappointed me. He won my trust and I decided to tell him the truth, the true story. He became a loyal friend.” Mr. Franklin blushed. “You're flattering... I don't deserve your trust.” Arthur turned to Juan now. “I want you to be as loyal as he is. We will start the training tomorrow. You will become an Agent. Be thankful!” Juan Sanchez stood up now, saluting. “I'll do my best, Sir!” Arthur McGee turned around and went away. Martin Franklin smirked at Juan.
Juan was led through bunker TX-13, which consisted of many big halls, named by their function, connected with each other by plenty of tubes of different size. It was a huge labyrinth under ground. Juan had seen this often before. Nearly all bunkers looked the same. The constructions were different, but the image you always have in front of you is the same. Endless tubes, lit from the roof, high and impressive halls, a lot of side passages and apartments. Also the omnipresent military was familiar to Juan. Once he had been one of these frightening figures. And one thing also was still the same to all the other bunkers: The ordinary people still had the countenance of lost hope. The workers did not know what they were fighting for, why the war was on-going. But the soldiers prevented every rebellion. Juan's room was tiny. Only a bed, a small desk and a wardrobe. No windows of course. A small ceiling light lit the room. “Don't worry, mine isn't much bigger.”, was the last thing, Martin said, before he closed the door. A big block on the desk was ordered to bring the rules and laws of the bunker near to the new arrival. Suddenly a loud speaker in the gangway next to his apartment told the people to go to bed. And after ten minutes, which Juan used to brush his teeth in the public bathroom of his section, every light was turned out by the central office. They needed to save energy. Small blue lights in the gangway were the only sources of light in the living quarters. This night was terrifyingly dark. No light fell into Juan's room... Just darkness.
Juan was very glad, when the lights were turned on at the beginning of the next morning. The loud speaker was able to awaken the most tired man. The young Sanchez took a shower in the public bathroom of his living section. Even the water he could have used was limited by the central office. The same for the breakfast in the public cafeteria. Everything was limited, because the bunker had to ration his recourses. This was no different to any other place on the continent. Juan sat alone during his meal. Nobody has spoken a word to him. Suddenly Arthur appeared behind him. He asked, whether he was able to sleep well and sat down next to his apprentice, who started to talk about his experiences. “It isn't unusual that no one dares to talk to you. They don't know you and they must mistrust you. We had some people from elsewhere, but they caused some trouble. Some of them went crazy and took some hostages. We, the Agents had to kill them. I shot some too. We don't accept foreigners anymore and the people fear you. They think that you could become mad as well. It will take some time until they will accept you. Don't worry, everything will be alright.” Arthur managed to encourage Juan again. Juan got his new clothes. Clothes of the bunker TX-13, his new home. The young soldier finally became a part of this society, wearing their uniforms. He felt fabulous! He and the man he admired arrived at the Hall of Practice. It was a huge gym under earth. A lot of people did their workout down there. “What will we do at first?” Juan could not wait anymore. He was too excited to stand still. Arthur watched Samantha Fail doing some sit-ups. She was a beautiful blond woman, the most attractive one in the Agency. Arthur once asked her for a date, but a minute later he apologized for his question and explained that he would have to get his feelings under control. She must have thought that he was mad. Arthur seriously tried to lose his love for her. He asked her for a date from time to time, just to see whether he still had feelings for her. But they finally were gone. His own kind of conditioning was successful. Everybody thought that Arthur was a weird person. They did not understand his attitude and finally they ignored it. Arthur became more and more calm. He became inaccessible over the years. “What will we do first?” The question pulled Arthur out of his thoughts. He turned to Juan. “Fitness training!” was his answer. Juan was unhappy: “Why? I'm fit enough! When will I learn some Gun-Kata techniques? When will we practice shooting?” The young man gesticulated wildly, shooting with imaginary guns. “After you become able to control your body absolutely. Furthermore you'll learn to control your emotions. I'm sure that you already know why this is so important.” Arthur looked sharply at him. “Sure!” “You should warm up a bit. Run 4 rounds at first!” The apprentice started to run. Arthur watched him. The next weeks will be used for fitness. After this he had to learn to concentrate himself. Afterwards he would teach him the rules of the Agency and how to use a gun effectively. After some months they will start with the easier Gun-Kata positions. They will become more and more complicated and complex, before Juan will practice them finally fluently in some choreographies. Arthur will hurry, but Juan won't be able to fight fluently and efficiently before a year was over and even only if he was talented. Arthur McGee had a lot of work to do with his young apprentice. But watching him run, Arthur had to realize that this one was very motivated.
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Post by Aedh on Apr 11, 2008 21:58:25 GMT -5
Well done! Looking forward to more Cleric!
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Post by clericjay on Apr 12, 2008 13:00:03 GMT -5
Aedh, what are you thinking about my variant to explain, how Arthur and Martin met each other?
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Post by Aedh on Apr 24, 2008 12:28:38 GMT -5
Aedh, what are you thinking about my variant to explain, how Arthur and Martin met each other? I quite like it. Unusual. I did have one question about this sentence, where Martin says: I assume 'the favour' is getting the list. But whose wife?--I don't remember Arthur being married. Do you mean that Martin's action justified the concern? Whose concern ...? I'm afraid that one just threw me. You may want to clarify both "his"-es as well as the "him." But that's a minor detail. Looking forward to the next one!! Come on ... what's ultimately more important in life?? Your art ... or just some school foolery?! ;D
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Post by clericjay on Apr 24, 2008 13:15:59 GMT -5
Aedh, what are you thinking about my variant to explain, how Arthur and Martin met each other? I quite like it. Unusual. GREAT!!! ;D I did have one question about this sentence, where Martin says: I assume 'the favour' is getting the list. But whose wife?--I don't remember Arthur being married. Do you mean that Martin's action justified the concern? Whose concern ...? I'm afraid that one just threw me. You may want to clarify both "his"-es as well as the "him." The "favour" is getting the list. You know: "One hand washes the other." Or is this slogan known in Germany only? But that's a minor detail. Looking forward to the next one!! FABULOUS!!! ;D ;D ;D It's coming soon, very soon... Come on ... what's ultimately more important in life?? Your art ... or just some school foolery?! ;D According to whom? My mum says that school is much more important than art, but on the other hand she loves my stories. But she can't read English, so she has a problem with "MoF". Maybe I'll write a German version someday. If the world would follow my will, I would write and make movies the whole day long. I would draw, act and all this stuff. The school teaches me nothing new, except history! It's a waste of time for me, but I have to do it to get my "Abitur" (high level education exam), which I need to study or to have better chances to get a good job or... I'll see...
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Post by clericjay on Apr 24, 2008 14:16:38 GMT -5
Chapter seven: “I'll put him to the test”
Four months of intensive training passed by before Arthur taught his young apprentice the first Gun Kata techniques. Juan as well as his master had not left the underground areas of Bunker TX-13. Both hadn't ever seen the sun or the stars during this time. Juan had to train from morning to evening being watched by his teacher always. He finally got accustomed to the absolute darkness in his room at night, though he often thought of the twinkling stars he had watched every night, when he was out there, out in the chaos. His eyes had seen terrible indescribable things, but the stars were always silent, peacefully silent. A bright image. But now things had changed. Juan became more and more calm by using the concentration-methods Arthur had shown him. The young Sanchez made some friends among the inhabitants of his living section. Some were very friendly and kind. They helped him, whenever he had any problems. He felt at home. He just missed the sky and the stars.
The first things of the Gun Kata he had to learn were the basics of self-defence. Arthur was very patient, but on the other hand strict. Still astonished by his self-control Juan admired Arthur McGee like on the first day he saw him. Arthur himself was very satisfied with his student. He learned fast and was not without talent. Arthur was sure that he would become useful. Completely taken in his endeavour the Agent did not think of what was going on outside for a while. But he knew that the outside world would catch him again. And it would be unpleasant for him to go out again. He concentrated on the training of Juan and only this counted in this time. Arthur was still full of hope that the war would end very soon. The sooner, the better. Maybe before he had to come back to the surface again. Arthur wiped the dream out of his mind: “What a stupid thought! The world won't stop fighting while I'm down here.” He watched his apprentice going through the positions several times. They used a small side block of the gym in order not to be disturbed. It was a 3 meter high rectangular room, consisting of grey walls, two ceiling-lights and a small storeroom for facilities. The ground was covered with rubber mats.
A month ago Commander Smith ordered Mr. Franklin to escort Agent Avid Fararin and Frederic Zeiske on their mission. Both, Arthur as well as Martin, were not very pleased about the order, but they did not protest. The headquarters had not received any messages of their convoy yet, so nobody knew if Martin was still alive. But Arthur did not really worry. Zeiske was a very skilled Agent. He wouldn't be defeated by anyone.
Suddenly and unexpectedly the leader of the Agency, Basque Omag, came through the open door into the hall. But he looked different. “What happened to you?” Arthur's question was filled with surprise. Juan stopped his practising and looked at the tall man. He had not noticed him before, but finally the young Agent apprentice bowed towards the incoming man. “Well, I think I caught some lice on my way back from the monastery.” Slightly embarrassed Basque drove his hand over his bald head. His head looked empty somehow, after his dark black hair has been cut off. He smiled. “How is it going with the young man? Is he good?” Mr. Omag showed interest in the young man. Arthur answered short, followed by the question, which answer was more important then the student's skills: “He's talented! What did the Grandmaster of the Monastery say?” “Oh, he accepted the choice! What else should he have done?” “This is good to hear!” Arthur turned to Juan again, but Basque moved to him, leaning his hand on the other Agent's shoulder. “You say he's good?” “He is a beginner. I'll need more time to teach him!” Arthur did not look at his boss, who did not care about the disrespect for his authority. Arthur knew him well. Basque was never resentful. “I'll put him to the test!” The order surprised Agent McGee. Now he looked at the tall man standing on his side with eyes wide open. “He won't stand a chance against you. He has no experience!” Arthur turned around and looked deep into the eyes of Basque, which were turned towards Juan Sanchez. Basque reacted after some seconds and returned the look. “With unloaded guns of course! I won't kill your apprentice. You should know me better.” Basque threw out the munition of his guns and placed himself in the middle of the room. He lowered his head and waited for an attack.
Juan walked over to Arthur. He was confused: “What should I do now?” “This is only a test, nothing dangerous. Don't worry and concentrate! Calm yourself down! It's only you and your opponent. You and his guns. Nothing else matters!” Juan nodded, unloaded the guns, which were produced for him. He'd possessed them for a week only and now he'd handle them in this first battle-simulation.
Both opponents stood in front of each other without moving. Basque raised his head. Silence was flowing among them for some seconds. Juan made the first move and started running. As quick as a wink Basque lifted his left hand and pulled the trigger. A loud “Click” was the only consequence. But the shot would not have hit the young man, who jumped out of the fireline to his right side. He had not reached the floor again, when Basque pointed his right hand gun into the trajectory of Juan's body. The sound of the unloaded weapon in front of the shooters chest bespoke Juan's loss. Juan landed rolling over the floor and stood up very quick. “Shit!” was his commentary.
Arthur stepped into the “battlefield”. “I just taught him defence techniques. Maybe you should take care of that.” Basque Omag threw one of his guns away. “Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't know that. Sorry!” A short beckon was all that the frustrated apprentice deigned his sparring partner. “Hey, don't be mad. This is just an exercise. I don't want to annoy you.” Basque's facial expression showed true concern. Mr. Sanchez went back to his basic position. “Okay!” This time the experienced Agent attacked. He came close very quick and a close combat started. Juan had two weapons, but he was not fast enough to get his enemy into fireline. On the other hand he was able to keep himself out of fire. A lot of “Clicks” were produced by Juan's weapons, while Basque saved his virtual ammunition. Arthur counted the “shots” and recognized that Juan would have used every cartridge he would have had if his guns were loaded, without gaining any hits. But he would not ever have expected anything else. Even he had no chance against Basque Omag in a direct battle. The fight lasted a whole minute already, when Basque positioned the muzzle at the young man's chest. Both knew that the battle was over, when the sound of an not-existing shot smashed Juan's heart. Finishing the move he had begun, Juan swept the gun to the site, though it was too late already. Basque started laughing for a second, when he saw the apprentice's gun pointed at his neck. “You're very good, boy! Looks like we're in deadlock! Well done!” He smiled and soon Juan smiled back. “Thank you! But seems like I'm too slow.” Juan's fast study of his mistakes astonished Basque. He stored his weapon back into its holster. “Absolutely correct! Your reactions are fabulous. But your movements are much too slow and imprecise. This is a matter of practice. Arthur will train you well. I'm sure that you'll be the best of us one day.” He turned his head to the master. “You do have an excellent apprentice! Congratulations!” Arthur nodded to express his agreement. Basque walked over to the place where his second gun lay. His message was told casually, while he left the room. “The Commander wants to see you on the mission briefing in ten minutes. We'll meet there!” “What's going on? Aren't we apart from missions, master?” “I don't know... Seems like it's something serious this time.” Arthur stared at the door, which slowly closed itself. He wondered about the order. His work has not finished yet, so he could not go on a new mission. Arthur McGee did not want to accept a new task before he has finished the last one. He thought for some seconds. “I'll go. I'll see what's going on. I'll be back in some hours. Do whatever you like!” The master went out of the room, through the Hall of Exercise towards the lift, which was able to bring him back to the surface, back to sunlight.
The sun felt incredibly warm. No cloud covered the sky and the clear azure upon their heads encouraged a lot of citizens of Bunker TX-13 to lay themselves down in the warm sunshine. It was Sunday and even the militaristic government held on to many old traditions. Arthur accessed the shadow-field, created by the high skyscraper, the symbol of power. The foyer of it was gigantic. A round room of brown marble, bounded by high pillars and entry doors for the ten lifts of the building. The ground was painted with circles and lines, which automatically led the eyes of the incoming persons towards a huge fountain in the middle of the room. A pillar in its center bore a brown statue of a pained man carrying a destroyed world on his back. The globe illuminated the hall. It shone bright and must have impressed every viewer. But its continents were deformed ugly black stains, stealing its brightness. Arthur liked the statue very much, because it expressed how he saw the world. The man, suffering in pain expressed clearly what happened to the world. He knew the artist, who produced this piece of true art. The old man died during a rocket attack some years ago. Arthur talked to him many nights and admired his wisdom. Huglial Balsac was a wise man. But he died much too early, like many great men had to die during this senseless war. Arthur awoke from his daydreams and memories. He stood some minutes looking at the masterpiece of Balsac always, when he entered the foyer. The Agent went to the next lift, entered his access card into the device to open the door. The conference had always been on the 20th floor.
Darkness reigned, when Arthur entered the conference room. Only a big flatscreen at the wall resisted and gave some light. Commander Cornelius Adam Smith stood in front of it and watched the incoming man. “Agent, you're late! Take a seat!” Arthur sat down and listened to the instructions given by the Commander and visualised by the screen, which showed different pictures and maps. “Well, like I've already said, Bunker TX-1 offered us an alliance. We delegated two representatives to lead negotiations about it. Agent Ferrow and Walter guarded them as well as twenty of our soldiers. They should have been back two weeks since and we can't reach them by radio. Their delay worries me very much and I have decided that we will send a squad, consisting of Agent McGee, Agent Brandt, Agent Schweißer, Colonel Jameson and Mr. Rupert with their men, to search, find and if necessary rescue the delegation.” Agent McGee lifted his hand into the lightbeam of the projector, which threw the profiles of the missed representatives. The Commander wondered and went on with his explainations, but Arthur waited. He changed the raised hand in between, because his arm had become heavy and bloodless after some minutes, before his Commander asked him, what he would have to say. “Commander, I'm very sorry, but I have to decline with thanks. My apprentice, Juan Sanchez, is still in training and I have to finish his training before you can count on me and include me in your plans. But at the moment my service is not available.” Arthur had not expected, how furious his boss would become now. He came close to Arthur and screamed in his face, but he was not able to hold back some small spittle drops. “Are you playing with me, Agent? I decide, when you are available, not you. And I say that you will support this mission, because we need you and we have no other “resources” left!” He straightened himself and went back to the screen with the projected picture on it. Arthur stood up. “Sir! I beg for permission to take Mr. Sanchez with me to continue his training during the fulfilment of our mission!” The Commander of Bunker TX-13 stood still and thought about the question. He turned around and looked at Arthur “Why not. If he won't disturb you. You should keep this tone, Agent!” Mr. Smith continued to explain the mission and the route and the equipment they would take with them as well as give some information and sketches of Bunker-1's architecture. Arthur was not satisfied at all, but he was glad that he could take Juan with him, so he did not have to waste time. He did not have a presentiment about the meaning of this mission for his life and the life of many many other people. This mission was the ignition for all the proceedings, which led to the foundation of Libria.
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Post by Aedh on Apr 24, 2008 20:12:54 GMT -5
My mum says that school is much more important than art, but on the other hand she loves my stories. OK--so. The next time this discussion comes up, ask her what school Goethe went to ... or Heine, or Hoelderlin, or Novalis ... or Caspar David Friedrich, or Wagner, or Brecht, or Schiller, or Thomas Mann, or Hermann Hesse, or Robert Musil or Guenter Grass? ;D Of course, she won't know. No one pays any attention what school someone went to, unless they're a teacher or doctor or professor. But their works live forever ... it's their art that makes them immortals. For good measure, a story about Albert Einstein's schooldays: his physics teacher, Jean Pernot, exasperated at his unorthodox habits, told young Einstein: "You're enthusiastic, but hopeless at physics. For your own good you should switch to something else: medicine maybe, literature or law."
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Post by clericjay on Apr 25, 2008 7:31:12 GMT -5
But thank you very much for your support. It's interesting that you compare me with all these people. I feel flattered somehow... My mom agrees and she says that it's very pity that you need a good exam to GET even the CHANCE to show what you are able to do in Germany! The bosses always look, whether your exam was good, before he even invites you for a talk... A good qualification is needed here. But I'm pretty good at school. I don't have to worry. And what do you think about the chapter...?
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Post by Father on May 29, 2008 5:57:59 GMT -5
Great work Cleric jay, I am surprised by the amount of detail you put into setting the situations and characters. And I happen to agree with most of the comments made before me. Looking forward to more!
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Post by clericjay on May 29, 2008 10:18:34 GMT -5
Great work Cleric jay, I am surprised by the amount of detail you put into setting the situations and characters. And I happen to agree with most of the comments made before me. Looking forward to more! Thank you very much! I'm always very glad to have a new reader! ;D And to get a compliment from FATHER is great.
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Post by clericjay on May 29, 2008 14:37:52 GMT -5
Chapter eight: Minesweeper
The convoy started early, consisting of five armored trucks and ten rovers as well as six motorbikes, which had the most important task to scout the route for eventually appearing enemies. One of the scouts would always be an Agent. They changed in regular shifts. Juan and Arthur were sitting in Mr. Rupert’s truck. He was a diplomat without any temperament. Arthur did not like him at all and it seemed like Alfred Rupert did not feel very pleasant near the Agents in return. This man feared being outside of the Bunker in general. Arthur could not imagine how this fearful man became a diplomat, though he was not first choice of course. Mr. McGee was able to imagine that he was afraid of fighting, but wanted to enjoy privileges on the other hand. So becoming a diplomat was an acceptable opportunity. Their truck was driving at the front of the convoy, because it was hardest armored by huge metal plates, but the mood in it was more strained and very unpleasant for everyone sitting in it and watching each other without saying anything. Mr. Rupert became very nervous, when he recognized that Arthur watched him working on his PC. From time to time he dared a careful view at the Agent, sitting on an installed couch. Whenever Arthur watched back the scared, thin man turned away his head in a twitching-like move. Juan had already fallen asleep. Sitting in a dark room, being shaken by rocks, which were laid on the street by the enormous power of nature, and waiting for something to happen, was much too boring for the young Gun Kata apprentice.
During the seldom pauses, Arthur and Juan trained. They did not want to waste any time, but they did indeed, while sitting in the truck. Both were watched by the soldiers during their training with high interest. The group of men were very disturbing, so that the lessons were not effective. They would probably arrive in two days, finally.
Their journey would have been over soon, when Arthur had to go on the scout shift pretty early in the morning. The sun was rising in all its beauty and glory behind him. The grass beside the old damaged road was more brownish than green as it should be. Some lone trees stood at some distance. The motorbike pulled a huge dust cloud behind it. Arthur went onto the asphalted road again, to avoid the dust, which made him viewable for many kilometers. His senses were sharp, but the morning was beautiful. Arthur’s thoughts went back to the time before the war, when everything was better. To a time, when he was not able to cherish all the luck he had. Back then he did not know, how lonely and gruesome it was to be a weapon. He did not see the sudden explosion coming, which launched the bike into the air as if it were lighter than a feather. Arthur’s surprised mind reflected the situation: “What was this? A rocket? A grenade? No, I did not see it coming. I would have recognized it if it was a projectile. But… I have to get off the burning bike!” The Agent got his senses back and jumped off the burning bike, rotating through the air. He landed in a sandy hill, next to the road. The sand was not the most pleasant landing platform and the impact was hard as expected. Arthur’s body rolled on the ground to avoid serious wounds. He stood up and looked for his bike and found it, flying ino his direction. His reflexes, not his mind, decided to jump to the side, where he landed on the brown grass. The Agent did not need another second to stand up and run away from the burning motorbike, which finally exploded a second time. The pressure blew the well trained man to the ground like a matchstick. Arthur did not believe that he was still alive, when he turned around and saw the smoke cloud rising from the machine, which was once called a bike. The heat made him aware of the fact that his own jacket was burning as well. He ripped it off his body and threw away the black helmet. He checked immediately, whether his body was alright. Some scratches were the only thing, he could see. And slowly he started to feel again, to feel the hurt. He felt on his back, because his equilibrioception was not working adequate enough to stand for a while. This was not the first explosion he had survived this far. He did not worry, because he knew that his sense of balance would come back after some time. The only thing he could do was to sit and to wait. But in the far distance he saw the first truck of the convoy appearing at the horizon. It would be long until the convoy would roll on the same road. Maybe there were more mines. He was sure that it was a mine, he has hit. Otherwise his enemies would assault him until they were sure that he was dead. If there would have been enemy soldiers, they must have seen him moving, running away from the explosion. But there was nobody coming to get him. Nobody wanted to be killed by him. It must have been a mine. And there would be more of them on the road for sure. Arthur got up to warn the convoy, to stop them. But he was hardly able to tumble back to the point, where the mine got him. Walking this way was strange and difficult. But Arthur McGee managed it. He stood on the road and raised his arms into the air to give the rolling convoy a stopping signal. A scouting bike came to him. The man on it asked, what happened. When he looked for the burning bike and saw the little sinkhole on the road, he did not ask anything more. The situation was clear to everybody, so the convoy stopped.
Agent Schweißer came to help Arthur into the truck. “What happened to you?” he wanted to know. Ronald Brandt answered instead of Agent McGee: “He lost his jacket!” Arthur looked at him. He was not amused. Brandt understood that his joke did not hit and looked sadly to the ground, saying: “Sorry, man!” Konrad Schweißer took a sniper rifle and climbed onto the roof of the truck. “Don’t worry, Arthur! We’ll play a bit “Minesweeper”!” “Yeehaaa!” was Ronald’s excited comment, while doing the same. Juan watched them standing on the top of the truck and shooting for mines. Whenever one of them shot, a loud and bright explosion followed somewhere on the road, mostly followed by a shock wave. The guys had their fun. Juan went up to them to ask, how they knew, where the mines were situated. Schweißer searched for another one, aimed it and gave the sniper rifle to Juan. “Try yourself, boy!” Juan did not hesitate and took the rifle. His eyes followed the finger of the older Agent, who pointed at the place, where he guessed the next mine. Juan searched in his scope for any sign, which would show him the place, where the mine was sleeping and waiting for its deadly awakening. But he found no mark or sign in the asphalted ground. The master of weapons helped him. “Do you see these lines of this sand on the road? Look which form the sand-line has!” “They… They are… Ain’t these some kind of circles?” Konrad nodded. “You’re right boy! Whoever built this minefield knew his job very well. But asphalt is not the best ground for placing mines. So they had to cut out some pieces of the asphalt and lay the mine under. But the sand deposits in the thin rifts in the road. See that? It must have been difficult to mine this street. And now you should shoot!” Juan did so. The bullet hit the part of the road the young apprentice was aiming at and caused a bright explosion. The light of the inflamed chemicals and air dazed Mr. Sanchez through his rifle scope. He was forced to look away. Agent Schweißer was laughing. “Sorry, kid. I should have told you! My fault.” But Juan liked it and so they went on, while the truck slowly moved forward. In the improbable case that they missed one mine, the truck would stand such a small explosion, like these mines were producing. Arthur went in to rest for some time.
In the afternoon the convoy had left the minefield behind and reached dusty, rocky and sandier regions of the continent. The sun shone terribly hot, but the journey went on. The mission had to be fulfilled. It was the next day, when they finally arrived at the hidden main entrance of Bunker TX-1. It was a huge red rock, surrounded by other rocks like it. The first truck halted in front of it and so did the whole convoy. Colonel Jameson, who led the mission went in front of the hidden gate and fidgeted with his arms. Arthur went to him. “Why don’t they open? Did we go wrong somewhere?” The Colonel had no doubt. “We are right! I don’t know why they don’t open. They must see us…” He turned around and sent his soldiers to search for another possible entrance. After about ten minutes the first group came back, saluted in front of their Colonel and reported. “Sir! There’s a ventilation shaft over there. It’s big enough for us to enter the bunker through it.” “Excellent! The Agents and your group will enter and see what’s going on inside. Find a way to open the gate for us!” “Yes, Sir!” The soldier turned around and told his comrades the order of the leader. Agent McGee, Agent Schweißer and Agent Brandt went to the ventilation shaft and broke the protective grill. Arthur was the first, who jumped into the dark tube, which led him into the dark underground, down into the unknown construction of Bunker TX-1.
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Post by Father on May 29, 2008 17:09:56 GMT -5
Excellent development Cleric Jay! Again lots of detail and personal/psychological content. IMHO you could easily turn your writing into scenarios just because of the sheer amount of details and the constant interaction between different elements. Being it people, objects or places. Great work, once again!
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Post by Aedh on May 29, 2008 21:36:22 GMT -5
Well done! You are getting better at this ... I could really see and feel the scenes along the road.
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Post by clericjay on May 30, 2008 6:55:06 GMT -5
Excellent development Cleric Jay! Again lots of detail and personal/psychological content. IMHO you could easily turn your writing into scenarios just because of the sheer amount of details and the constant interaction between different elements. Being it people, objects or places. Great work, once again! This matches the situation VERY good, because I'm interested in becoming a movie director. ;D And I actually have written some scenarios, but in German of course. Like I said before: This is my first work in English. And if I won't be able to work as director, I'll write some books for sure. Thank you and of course all the others (Mira, Aedh...) very much for reading and loving my story. ;D
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Post by Father on May 30, 2008 8:27:35 GMT -5
Cleric Jay, You might already know the site but if you don't - go give it a visit. www.screenwriting.info/If you ever plan to write screenplays and give em over to professionals, it's gonna have to look professional. If your play looks strange or unfamiliar (not the story itself but the structure... example you use a different font type), it's bound to end in the trash-bin.
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Post by clericjay on May 30, 2008 12:42:14 GMT -5
Cleric Jay, You might already know the site but if you don't - go give it a visit. www.screenwriting.info/If you ever plan to write screenplays and give em over to professionals, it's gonna have to look professional. If your play looks strange or unfamiliar (not the story itself but the structure... example you use a different font type), it's bound to end in the trash-bin. Thank you very much! ;D This is very useful! In Germany this is different as far as I know. But who knows... Maybe I'll write for Hollywood someday.
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Post by clericjay on Jul 2, 2008 12:54:41 GMT -5
Chapter nine: The “Hall of Wisdom”
The ventilation shaft was long and led deep into the hard red rock, into the lightless underground. The little lamp to Arthur’s west showed him, what was right in front of him, but it was simply not bright enough to show him the end of it. The air became hotter and smelled very old and stale. The good news about this was that the ventilation system did not work any more, so he did not have to fear the ventilators. But on the other hand the air became very unpleasant and stank horribly. The experienced Agent reached the first rotor, which was off, so he could slide through it easily. After the second rotor the shaft changed its direction and went on at a lower angle. Finally Arthur reached the ground, which was a T-crossing of his shaft with another, an even one. He decided to take that direction, where the air was worse, because there had to be something interesting. But he stopped crawling through the low tube and took a look at the little map. It did not show where the tube had its exits, but the direction was good to finally reach the entry hall, where his comrades were waiting in front. Heat was streaming over his skin and the stench became nearly unbreathable. Arthur had to take out his little gas-mask, but he was steadily thinking of the terrible smell. He did not like the thought of what smelled that way. The smell suggested death. And this could not mean anything good. The first exit appeared on the ground of the tube. Arthur switched off his light, because he had to expect the worst. Probably enemy soldiers were in the complex. Thinking about it he decided to call Agent Schweißer on the surface by his communicator. “McGee here! I reached a possible entry to the Bunker. On the T-crossing I took the north-western direction. The ventilation system is turned off and the air smells terrible. I don’t know exactly, but there seems to something rotting down here. I’ll check out. Over and out!” He whispered into the mouthpiece. “Understood! Over and out!” was the quick response from above. Carefully he unscrewed the grating and laid it to the side without producing any noise. He was completely blind, but he did not want the risk that enemy soldiers would discover him. So he listened into the dark room. His senses were well trained and incredibly sharp. No sound crossed the air. No movement pushed the air in the room, so his eardrums only felt the rushing of Arthur’s own blood. He concentrated and was able to ignore it. But no sound at all. Only dead silence and total eclipse. Arthur dared to take one screw and threw it through the tube's ground exit into the room below. The Agent tried to assess how deep the room under his feet might have been by counting the time that passed by until he was able to hear the screw hitting the floor. It was a very short time, so the ground was only about three to four meters under him. No problem to jump downwards. He jumped out of the tube, his feet hit the ground, causing a nasty sound according to the silence, which reigned the darkness. Arthur jumped to the site and laid himself on the ground. This way he was a bad target for enemies, which could wait in the room for him. He did not move. The guns within his hands were unlocked. He would not need to see to kill his enemies. But there were none. Total silence reigned the total eclipse. Obviously he was alone. So he stood up and slowly sneaked forward, fumbling with his feet along the ground in front of him. Some stones gnashed under the weight of his body. The ground was covered with them, so it was not possible to walk without producing sounds. But nobody was there to hear Arthur walking slowly through the darkness on his own. Suddenly his feet hit something hard. He tipped at it with his hand. It was the wall. A smooth cold stone wall. So his journey went on. Shortly after the incident his feet hit something else, something, which was much softer. He reached out his hand and touched something. It was cold and wet, nearly slimily. And then he touched something hard. There were a lot of hard little pieces. Now Arthur knew what he was touching. His hand discovered the mouth of a dead body, the dead body of a former human being. Arthurs hand twitched back. It became undeniable that what he smelled was reality. Someone died down there and was rotting in the darkness. It was time to switch on his lamp. He took it in one hand to be able to move it more easily. Now he saw the result of a terrible massacre. Arthur was standing in a long corridor. Some shooting holes covered the walls, pieces of stone covered the floor and the half rotten body in front of him was not the only one. The Agent had no problems with the things he saw. He has seen this very often, he has caused this very often. He saw at first sight that these people were shot by guns. Probably machine guns, because the shooting holes at the wall were very close to each other. Conspicuous was that only men covered the ground. Arthur called his fellow Agent. “McGee again. I’m in a corridor, which is filled with some male bodies. They were all shot. I haven’t met any enemies. The Bunker is dark and dead so far. Over.” The answer followed: “Do we need to follow? Over.” “I don’t think so. I’m on my way to the entrance hall to let you all in. Just wait for some minutes. I have to orientate and find the lift. I’ll call, you, when I meet someone alive. Over and out.” It did not take long until Arthur found the lift, but it was not working. So he had to open the door and to climb up the lift shaft. When he reached the level he wanted, he opened the half opened lift door again. The same picture as some levels downwards awaited him here. Someone had killed the whole population. On this corridor he also found some women. His map showed him the way to the entrance hall. He was surprised that the big entrance hall, where a lot of trucks and cars were standing around, was still lit by some ceiling lights. A road led into a tube, which was flowing deeper into the red rock that was covering the walls in there. At the end of the tube would have been a big underground parking area for the vehicles, if the map was reliable. Arthur had no problems finding the small steel door, which led into the controlling room. From there he was able to watch the whole hall through a thick glass wall, which was probably bullet-proof. He took his communicator and told his fellows that he would open the gate. While the big steel gate slowly opened, he recognized that there were not any bodies lying in the entrance hall. Agent McGee was not able to imagine why. The bipartite gate was covered with red rocks on the outside, so it was completely masked to hide its existence from the outer world. The army of Bunker TX-13 was entering and immediately swarming out to save the area. Colonel Jameson was walking very slowly in front of the first big truck, but shouting loud and clear orders. Arthur went out of the controlling room, which was occupied by other soldiers. The Colonel ordered Agent McGee to search for the central controlling room. He allowed taking Agent Sanchez with him. Juan felt honored to be called “Agent”, but he lost no time in following Arthur, whio led a small troop into the Bunker.
They went through corridors, halls, apartments, depots and many rooms more. Everywhere the same thing was fact. Everywhere bodies and rubbish were lying around, the installations were destroyed and shooting-holes everywhere. Bunker TX-1 has been destroyed by another army. But they found no one alive. And finally they found what they were searching for in a meeting room. On a chair laid the body of the ambassador of TX-13. Some pieces were missing, but it was him. No doubts about that. The catastrophe was perfect. But the catastrophe was already over. The soldiers wanted to return to the Colonel to tell him, what they have found, but Arthur forced them to go on with him. The group went on. Always the same gruesome image. The only difference the rooms had to offer was the simple question, whether the lights were still working or not. Some did, some not.
They were going through a corridor, which was about five meters high and very wide. The total eclipse was enlighted by the hand-lights, which were installed on the soldiers’ rifles. At both sides of the gangway were thick steel doors. They had entered the “safe complex”, where the most important things were stored. Arthur’s group was ordered to look for the central computer, which controlled the whole Bunker and to check out, whether it was still working. Therefore they had to reach the end of the gangway. The map told them so. The result was that nobody paid any attention to the side-doors. But one young man did. Suddenly Arthur turned around and saw that Juan was standing in front of one of the doors, which was made of massive brown wood. “Juan!” The called turned around. “Oh, it’s just…” he was answering, while taking a look at the map and then pointing his light beam back at the wooden door. His repetition of the action made his confusion obvious. Arthur went over to his apprentice and it did not last very long until their comrades realised they were missing and they returned. “It’s … This room is not on the map. I counted the doors and this is one isn’t on the map.” Juan stopped to repeat his action and looked for his master in a questioning kind. “Well, you know that our maps are still from the time, before the war started. It’s logical that they have changed something. Our info isn’t up to date. Don’t worry!” The young Hispanic stared at the door. “But this door seems to be special. Look, what’s standing there!” Arthur pointed his light at the inscription at the door. There stood “Hall of Wisdom” on it. Finally Arthur’s curiosity was awakening. A soldier came to his side, looked at the inscription and then back to the Agent. “Sir, may I remind you that we don’t have any time to waste? The Colonel awaits results and we’re not authorized to look for things at the side of our way.” Agent McGee turned around and looked into the eyes behind the gas mask. “Nobody forces you to stay with us. I’ll take a look into this room and afterwards I’ll follow you.” The soldier leaned back, because Agent McGee’s serious face, which was not covered by a gas mask like everyone’s else, scared him. He said nothing, took a step backwards and nearly stumbled over a body, which was lying on the ground. He saluted to the Agents, turned around and went back to the group, which went on to look for the “Hall of Control”. Juan went to the door and opened it. It was heavy and creaked deeply. Through the gap between the doors halves shone close blue light and a lot of very old smelling dust streamed along the newly opened airstream. But what was behind the door was overwhelming for them. The gigantically high room was filled with high wooden bookshelves. And these many bookshelves were completely filled with old books. Between the shelves were some long wooden tables, where many chairs were standing around. The air smelled like thousands of old books usually smell and was filled with old dust, which slowly wavered through the room. The floor was grey and covered with a thin glittering dust layer. But no body was lying in the room. No shooting holes, no destroyed interior, everything was tidily sleeping. Like the invaders would not have been able to enter the room for some fathomless reason. On the ceiling were no lights. They were not necessary, because a huge cupola made of glass opened the way for the close dark blue, nearly grey, light. But the window to the sky was covered by sand, which laid itself over it like dark shadows. The sand layer must have been thin, because otherwise the light would have no chance to flow through it. Both were fascinated by the image. Juan has never seen something comparable and Arthur had already forgotten that something like this gigantic library have ever existed. They were staring in peaceful silence, which felt sacred to them in some kind. Suddenly Arthur looked at Juan and he looked back at him. Arthur took a look at his watch. “I think that we do have some minutes.” Juan did not need to answer. Both were walking into the room to take out some of the old books, which were covered by a thin layer of dust too. Juan found an encyclopedia, which seemed to be worth enough to be read at first. He just went through the book to get an overview and soon took it back in its place and grabbed the next one. But the first book Arthur was holding in his hands was a history book. He had a reason to take this one. He hoped to find possible answers in the history of humanity for the question, which moved in his heart and which did not let him sleep sometimes: “Why do humans fight wars?” He stood in front of his chance to find answers. If not there, where else?
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Post by Aedh on Jul 2, 2008 23:46:36 GMT -5
Very good! You have a gift for creating vivid imagery ... awaiting more!
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monicaop
Sense Offender
Made by ClericWilkinson
Posts: 3
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Post by monicaop on Jul 29, 2008 10:07:27 GMT -5
You are really good at this, you went deep and it shows, this is really interesting!!! Keep writing , be well and take care.
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Post by clericjay on Sept 4, 2008 9:28:24 GMT -5
Chapter ten: Breaking the vicious circle
Arthur and Juan went through the impressively high bookshelves, covered with a silver-colored layer of dust, which was sparkling in the dark blue light. Both, the younger one and his master were fascinated by the overwhelming library, called “the hall of wisdom”. Carefully the first book, which had the privilege to go through Arthur’s hands, was opened and Arthur read the register. It seemed to be a typical history book. The pages were alright and readable and the book did not appear as a thing which would break into pieces immediately. He quickly leafed through the book to take a look at the date, where the book ended. According to its appearance the book must have been from the last century, but it had been printed only a few years before the war started. Therefore it was a complete summary of the younger history and perfect to start with his studying on his way to find a way out of war for humankind. He went to the massive wooden reading table. The brownish color looked much darker, when the dust layer has been swept away. Only a few seconds after Arthur has set himself into one of the very comfortable chairs, Juan came back with a couple of big books. He slammed them onto the table, because he was not able to carry the weight anymore. His master looked at him. Their views hit each other. No one said anything until Juan finally smirked. “Seems like I like this place.” was his comment. “Have fun!” Arthur said and focused on his book again. Both read in total silence. Mr. McGee started to remember some of the facts he was reading. He had to admit that he had forgotten most of the things he had learned in his school time.
Some time passed by until a soldier appeared in the entry. He turned back into the gangway and screamed “I’ve got ‘em!” to his comrades and went back into the room. “Sir, we were searching for you. You and Agent Sanchez did not come back, so we started to wonder and went back to check whether everything was alright.” The man seemed to be nervous. His face was not visible, because he still wore his mask, but his voice was shaking and he spoke very fast. Arthur seemed to be the opposite, when he answered calmly. “As you can see: We’re fine.” He looked up at the soldier. Some more came into the library. Everybody’s reaction was the same. First they stopped walking, then their astonished heads wandered through the room, some took off their gasmasks to have a clear view and finally they started to go on very slowly. The soldier who spoke to Arthur at first started again. “Sir, we do have orders to send you to the Colonel. He wants to see you!” Arthur did not look up at them. “Would you please explain what you found out in the center?” “Well, obviously no one’s still alive in this bunker and the central server has been crashed. It might be that some records of the surveillance system survived and we could figure out what happened here. But we’re not sure and Colonel Jameson says that we’re wasting our time.” Arthur’s answer had a sarcastic undertone. “Wasting our time, figuring out, where two of our best Agents and some of our comrades have gone to and why the ambassador died?” “We have found them in the Hall of Control. They are dead as well.” Now Arthur stood up. “Do we have no interest in finding out which incredible army was necessary and able to destroy Bunker TX-1? Might it be that they are threatening TX-13 as well?” A whiff of anger went into Agent McGee’s face. He did not want to leave this place so early. He wanted to search for answers. “Agent McGee, I’m very sorry, but I do have orders to bring you to the Colonel. And we do not have much time left, because we’re leaving.” “I’m coming!” Arthur went out of the room. Juan closed his book and ran after him. It was the first time that Agent McGee wanted to protest against an order. But he had to think about a possibility to end this war, to end all wars. This search and this thought never let him alone. And the answer, the solution was more important than anything else to him. The vicious circle of hatred, killing and vengeance must be broken for man’s sake.
Everyone was very busy in the entrance hall, preparing their quitting. Among all these busy bees was one man standing still and watching them all. Colonel Jameson seemed to enjoy the organized chaos all around. But his joy found an early end, when Arthur went to him and asked for a longer abidance in TX-1. The Colonel disliked the idea. “Agent McGee, I can only repeat myself again, no matter if you disagree or not. We do waste our time here. There’s nothing of importance left, so I don’t see why you have to stay.” “But it could be possible that we would win important information about the assailants. Maybe they’re threatening TX-13 as well.” The Colonel's look was filled with incredulousness. “Honestly I don’t think so. The base is very far away and we don’t know anything about such a big Army near our territory yet. But the final decision is on the Commander.” Arthur thought it over. He did not know, whether he should say the truth, but he was running out of arguments. He forced himself to beg. “Well… Sir, I have to admit that I was not completely honest to you about my motivation to stay.” Colonel Jameson looked at him as if he would not know the meaning of the spoken words. But Arthur went on. “There is a question, which has bothered me for a rather long time now. You must know that I’m constantly searching for a sense in all that. In the things we’re doing. And why we’re still doing the same gruesome things again and again through the whole history.” Some people, who went by, stopped as they listened to what Arthur was about to say. “There is a gigantic library down in TX-1, where some documents and books lie, which won’t be available at home. Sir, you must understand that I’m searching for answers and here’s…” The Colonel, who seemed to be more and more disgusted by the words coming out of Agent McGee, interrupted his speech. “What the heck are you talking about? Who says that you’re supposed to think? Soldiers are made to fight, not to think. I thought you’d know! ” Arthur was disappointed. He never realized that this man was so ignorant. But what should he do? The Colonel looked at him. “We’ll leave this rotten place and you’ll come with us!” He turned around and went away. Arthur McGee looked to the ground. He had to make a decision. He had made it in his heart already, but he feared the consequences if he should disobey. His fear went up to his brain, made his thoughts become wild and confused. Fear did not appear in his heart for many years. But he was about to lose his home, his friends, everything his life was based on. He might have to shoot his comrades. What for? For a room filled with books? For finding answers? For finding a way to break the vicious circle of killing and vengeance! For rescuing mankind from itself! He made his decision. “No, I won’t!” Suddenly the Colonel stopped and slowly turned around. He came back very slowly. “Did I get that right that you want to disobey my order?” Arthur was cold as a stone. His fear had drained. “Yes.” Colonel Jameson became angry. “How can you dare to disobey MY orders? Did you forget that you have to function?” He took his gun out of its holster and tipped it against Arthur’s head. “Do you really decide to desert? I would have to blow your head off your shoulders immediately, if you do so.” Arthur said nothing. He just needed to stare back at his former commander, who unlocked his gun. “Will you become the good soldier, you always have been or do you want to betray us all for nothing?” Arthur unlocked his guns also, which where still pointing to the ground. But he did not make another move. Everyone around recognized Agent McGee’s decision and lifted their guns, pointing at the lonely man. Juan did not know what he should do. The situation was dangerous for everyone involved, especially for his master, but the young man did not dare to fight against all these people, because some of them were his friends. Fortunately Agent Schweißer and Brandt were not present, which increased Arthur’s low chances of survival. Time seemed to stand still as Agent Arthur McGee and Colonel Jameson gazed at each other. Arthur waited for what his counterpart might do. The decision to live or to die was up to the Colonel, who finally recognized his mistake. His face showed that he recognized that he was holding a gun at the head of an Agent and that he wouldn't have any chance to win. Arthur would die for sure, but he might as well. He knew what Arthur was able to do. He looked around. He saw his brave soldiers shiver in front of Arthur. They also knew and feared what Arthur had shown them some time ago. The situation was new to Arthur also, because his enemies never knew, what he could do. They usually started to fear him within their last second of life. He did not want to shoot his comrades. Colonel Jameson spoke very low to him. “You could kill us all in a minute?” “I wouldn’t need that long!” Again some seconds of silence went by. But Arthur saw the fear of death crawling upwards in his opponent. He had won, before the fight really started. Finally the Colonel gave up and put his gun away. He turned around, saying: “Well, give him a lunch box. We’ll leave as fast as possible.” Everyone took away their guns and went on with their business. Juan Sanchez went to his master. “What should I do now, master?” “You are too inexperienced to walk alone. You will go with them and I will follow later. Don’t be worried about me.”
The army of TX-13 left the building. Konrad Schweißer and Arnold Brandt talked to Arthur McGee before they left. They understood his point of view. Agent Schweißer assured to care of Juan Sanchez as long as Arthur was gone. Finally Arthur was alone and started his studying.
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Post by Aedh on Sept 4, 2008 10:37:06 GMT -5
Nicely done ... I like the suspense! This would have made a great film scene.
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Post by marphlets on Nov 12, 2008 23:29:57 GMT -5
Ooo! So sorry I've missed this for awhile. It's just brilliant! The action is clean and intense - perfect for the story. You develope Arthur swiftly, yet subtly - I especially love the way you treat him and Juan. Very nice! I'm glad I'm finally caught up.
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Post by clericjay on Nov 25, 2008 7:35:59 GMT -5
And I'm very glad as well that you still read my story, marphlets! What's an artist without audience? So I finally wrote the next chapter, which I thought would be very hard for me, because it contains a lot of pretty philosophical thoughts and is very important for the story. I worried that I might fail writing this chapter. But when I started I was seriously surprised how easily it went on. I personally like it and it is probably the most deep thinking stuff I have ever written in English so far. I hope you like it though. ;D And at this place I want to thank Mira and Aedh for their kind support. I appreciate it very much.
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