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Post by Mirabilis on Nov 15, 2009 21:22:56 GMT -5
Today is the 2nd aniversary of Memories of Father!Yes, I'm writing on this story for two years already and much happened during this time, but I always found some time to work on it. I'm still having much fun with it and my English improved extremely during these two years. ;D And I want to thank all of you for reading this (pretty long) fan fiction, because an artist without audience is nothing, and also for encouraging and supporting me. Thank you very much!!! ;D ;D ;D I'll go on with it! Yes...keep up the good work Jay...I can't believe it's been two years!
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Post by clericjay on Feb 6, 2010 11:18:39 GMT -5
Finally, after a timespan, which felt like hundred years to me, I found some time to work on MoF again. Though it's hard to spare time for it I hope to write more regularly in the future to catch my "timetable" again. Here's finally new stuff, please enjoy and thank you for still reading my story. There's much to come up in Arthur's near future. But first he need to survive against the other three Gun Kata masters.
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Post by clericjay on Feb 6, 2010 11:19:22 GMT -5
Chapter twenty-one: Turning tables
The stream of sand became larger and larger, equally spreading over the small square. But instead of fleeing from this wave of heavy, wet sand, Arthur went closer to the central upright stream. It provided good cover, Lorenzo noted, as every of his projectiles were pulled downwards by the harsh stream.
Both turned around it, though every movement was exhausting, hard to move or even stand within this increasing layer of moving sand, which was slowing down at the edge of the spreading circle on the floor.
Whenever Arthur saw a possibility to try a shot, he carefully calculated his chances of hitting, but not even the few shots he made could penetrate the falling sand or meet their destination; a gushing cloud of dust was the only visible effect. Suddenly Arthur lost sight of Agent Lorenzo during his turn to the other side of the central sand-pillar, sounding like an oversized hour-glass.
Immediately he moved back to his former position, but did not see anything. Either Lorenzo was moving exactly in the dead angle or more likely he was hiding under a layer of sand like a flounder waits for a careless victim.
All Arthur's senses reached out to check the moving sand for something suspicious while he stood still. His head was turning to look all around, but it was hard to catch a certain movement coming towards him when everything around was moving, even streaming. How long could Lorenzo hold his breath? They tested it often during training--centuries ago, it seemed--but Arthur could not remember how Lorenzo had fared. However, he would soon need to breathe; Agent McGee had to wait carefully until it was about time only.
The stream of sand became weaker and thinner as second after second ticked by. Arthur's eyes flickered toward to the roof, a vulnerable moment.
Through the hole in the glass dome he saw the concrete shelter gate, installed to protect the glass like an eyelid its orb, but it stood half-open so that the sand could intrude into an artificial lacuna. Behind the edge of the shield dark deep hanging clouds were visible. Some raindrops fell through that gap, one even hit Arthur's nose, which momentarily irritated him. He felt tired.
"Arthur!" The reproachful voice calling his name brought him back to focus. "Tell what the heck you're doing here!"
Agent Samantha Fail stood at the edge of the sand-circle, pointing one of her guns, a tool of her craft, at her former comrade and friend. A flame of pure anger was burning in her eyes and she directed it right to Arthur's face.
"I was tired of doing something purposeless." Arthur did not see any reason for telling his new philosophy once again if even the others misunderstood it.
"Purposeless? Securing the life of thousand survivors of the most destructive war the world has ever seen is purposeless to you? Securing the existence of civilization is not necessary? Do you really think that saving human lives, lives of families, mothers and children of TX-13 would be a task that you can easily abandon, because you felt the sudden need to read damn old books?"
"The lives of these families will be wasted someday anyway if we don't stop this war. Don't act like you were my conscience, Samantha."
"I'm not your conscience; I'm your friend, wishing for you to get your mind back from wherever you've lost it. This war stopped already-- what we are seeing is the last convulsions of a starved beast! Don't be stupid, Arthur!"
"Maybe you should tell this Commander Smith. He wants to reunite and reinforce this rotten nation to conquer everything else. Isn't he out of his mind? Should the survivors of World War III do that?"
"Of course not, and Smith will become reasonable again."
"Whatever," Arthur said wearily. "Will you finally shoot me or do you let me follow my vision?"
Samantha Fail frowned, carefully checking Arthur's body language. He was not moving at all, his body full of tension with a face that seemed to consist of pure belief in his words. He had waited for Samantha to make her decision; his life was lying in front of her, completely committed. For his part, he knew that if Samantha had meant to kill him, she'd have done it already. He moved as to walk over to her, but was hit from behind.
Lorenzo had sprung from the sand, catching Arthur by surprise from behind, in a special hold, so Arthur was caught fast, with his arms held so his pistols pointed sideways, denying him a shot at his target. Thomas bellowed: "Come on, Sam! Shoot!"
Samantha hesitated.
She closed her eyes and turned her head to the side, when Thomas screamed it even louder.
Arthur's calculation confirmed itself. Slowly she let her gun sink, deeply sighing. "I just wanted us to go home alive all together, though I should have known it better." She looked up and into Arthur's eyes. "No matter how much blood on my hands, this is something different. Never ever could I kill my friends! It's not the same, if you know the man in front of your gun so well, isn't it?"
"Technically--not," said another voice.
Anthony Foster suddenly stood next to her. He stretched his arm to point his pistol towards the defenseless former Agent McGee. But his face betrayed thoughfulness.
"I should have done this at the bookshelf already, when you held us back," he said curtly. He swung his arm over to Samantha's head, which was slowly turning to face this killing instrument made of cold metal. She obviously wanted to react according to the training she had had since she was a young girl, but somehow her program did not work, her body did not respond--a mere tremor was everything she was able to call up for her self-defense.
Everything seemed to happen so slowly to all participants.
Foster pulled the trigger, his finger so used to his trigger that it had worn the metal. A sear lever forced the firing pin to smash against the bullets propelling charge in order to force the projectile to start its short journey, a process commanded by Foster's finger a million times before. But this time was different somehow, because at the same time another bullet was streaking the outstretched left arm holding that gun. The unexpected projectile pierced through a piece of flesh close to Foster's shoulder, spraying blood and making his gun arm jerk.
In shock, as in a dream, Foster and Fail turned to see the one who dared to shoot at one of the top Gun Kata masters of all time. Their eyes met someone unexpected.
In front of some of Mr. Benètt's men and women a young man was kneeling on one leg and basing his arm on the other one to support his aiming arm to secure high precision for his shot by holding it stable.
"Damn, I missed!" Juan Sanchez was furious about his mistake. He missed the best opportunity; he would ever get to rescue Arthur by killing the enemy's best man at place. Benètt's minions took over and opened fire at Foster, who overcame his surprise and dodged the fire as skillfully as he always did while returning the fire. Chaos broke loose.
While Anthony step by step came closer to the enemy soldiers, who started to overturn bookshelves and tables for cover. Uncountable bullets hummed through the Hall of Wisdom; few had the Gun Kata master Anthony Foster as their origin, but he was killing one by one while they were splintering wood and shredding books.
Arthur McGee used his once-in-a-lifetime chance. Watching the battle from Lorenzo's arms, he felt the hold loosen, and seized his chance.
With all the force he could get out of a short swing forward Arthur's head smashed his back against the other's forehead. The captor's grip slackened and Arthur twisted away and free. He put his foot behind Lorenzo while striking; the red-haired man, surprised before he could react, fell backwards into the sand underneath. Quickly Arthur had turned around and pointed his gun at the obviously unconscious man to eliminate another threat to his life.
He was about to pull the trigger to complete his victory over Agent Thomas Lorenzo, when suddenly a tender hand touched his outstretched one, making him behold. His view slowly went up the arm towards Samantha's face.
She said nothing but her eyes filled with a mix of reproach and pity ran through his eyes down to his heart to hold him in a much tighter grip than Lorenzo's. No matter how trained he was in bending emotions, how less he valued them, or no matter how often he had convinced himself that his heart was a organ responsible for transporting blood only, this view in her eyes could not leave him uncaring. The feeling of guilt came crawling upwards in response. In this most uncomfortable situation Arthur would have never been able to blow out the life-light of his former comrade as long as Samantha Fail was his advocate.
His arm slowly sank down and her hand left his alone. Arthur did not stop to look into her eyes though it was hard to stand these vivid eyes. She smiled and prepared herself to say something, but Arthur looked away and raised his hand to become a symbolic barrier between them, ordering her to stop before she could have begun. Later, he said rudely and went off at a run to the nearest line of bookshelves to support the others against Foster. They certainly needed his help. But in this situation the tables had turned and the chances for Arthur to survive this battle had become much better. Something like hope started to circulate within him.
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Post by Mirabilis on Feb 6, 2010 21:14:16 GMT -5
Hello? Readers? Where are you? I would be very glad to hear something from you again... Excellent as always!! Sorry Jay...not posting comments doesn't mean I'm not reading it...I read and enjoy all your chapters, trust me... ;D ...as I do with everyone who takes the time, effort (and talent) to post fanfics on this site.
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Post by clericjay on Mar 8, 2010 13:24:28 GMT -5
Chapter twenty-two: To the limit
Finding the battle zone was simple--Arthur simply followed the roar of gunfire. A few casualties were lying around; some of the living were getting attention. Mr. Benètt's private army worked surprisingly well. They definitely would serve Arthur McGee's ambitions for a better future as long as Jean-Jaques Benètt stayed on his side.
Arthur took in the scene. Foster had moved close to the entrance of the Hall of Wisdom, probably attempting to escape in hope of finding backup. But he had stopped at the same massive reading desk which had been a battle position before. “So the fight has taken a full circle through the library, leaving a lot of destruction everywhere it has been raging.” Arthur thought. To his shocking surprise he saw Juan Sanchez fighting. He was doing his best to shoot from a distance--defensive tactics rather than offensive. His movements were clumsy but enough to hold Foster away from exit.
Arthur immediately drew a bead on Foster's back--someone came between them--Arthur held fire, but to no avail as Foster turned and shot the interloper squarely in the chest; he fell with a suppressed scream on his lips. Now that Foster had seen him Arthur had to cover behind a massive wooden bookshelf and heard some bullets addressed to him screw into the wood at the corner of his shelter; splinters flew but Arthur moved to the other side and felt a punch on his shoulder--Frank Norman, the combat leader of Benètt's fighters, who nearly screamed the question: "Do you have a plan?"
"Cease firing!" Arthur replied, and Norman shouted it out.
Suddenly all fire died. A soothing moment of silence went through the air, balm for all these tired, strained souls.
It was beautiful. Reloading his guns Arthur was ready to disturb this beautiful moment with his rush towards the lonely enemy.
In a moment, he sprang out toward Foster, guns blazing. Once again a close combat raged between these two masterfully skilled Gun Kata fighters, a fantastic spectacle to all viewers, who did not dare to interfere for fear of hitting the wrong man--all but Juan, who could not just stay and watch.
Foster tried to cover the young apprentice in his firezone, but Arthur moved to block the tactic and keep him fully occupied. Arthur now had three tasks; keep himself and Juan alive, as well as break Foster's defensive moves--hard to keep up all three at once.
And then it happened--Arthur's gun hammer clicked on an empty chamber. Foster would have him.
Then, incredibly, slowly, as in a dream, Juan's hand move, throwing a full clip to Arthur. The lifesaving supply twisted, glinting, arcing through the air sweetly to Arthur's' hand. But in that moment, Juan had exposed himself to Foster, whose gun swung up to point at his heart.
Moving counter-intuitively, Arthur attacked--Juan, lashing out with a foot to kick him aside even as he slammed in the fresh clip.
Foster's first bullet had a very short way to pass until it was touching the surface of Juan's clothing, going through it as easy as a warm knife through butter and then crossing the skin to enter the left chest to do more harm.
It was rather surprise than pain on this young man's face, because the pain would need some more time until he would be able to feel it.
The first bullet was already about to leave its victim's body, when two more followed, hitting other parts as Juan moved to the side.
Juan and Arthur shared the thought of stopping this somehow in this very moment. Juan's left hand gun jerked up towards Foster's chest to repay the treatment, but with an easy arm sweep the Gun Kata master brushed his intention away. Juan's strength and tension left him and he crashed onto the ground. Slowly he faded without feeling a single smack of pain crossing the line to his consciousness until he did not recognize anything at all.
A rush of anger ran through Arthur's arteries, while he finished his kick against Juan with a turn around his own axis using the momentum. When he was facing his opponent again, he forced himself to center, regain the calm, despite questions hammering at his brain --how he could let that accident happen? Why did he not hold his apprentice out of a fight he was not skilled enough to handle? He had failed as a teacher! Arthur wiped off thoughts into that direction; he needed to focus on the fight. Odds were much against him as he had a single clip of ammunition left, and an opponent who could focus on him completely, still fresh and having plenty of ammo left. And then he got an idea.
Arthur McGee did not shoot any more. He completely concentrated on Foster's attacks which were fast, well placed as well as supported by some unexpected movements which were not taught by classic Gun Kata.
He sought an opening in Foster's defense, a pause in his attacking attempts, even the slightest mistaken move. Sharpened calculation and the whisper of his reflexes and experiences collected during thousands of battles controlled his mind; there was no space left for emotions or his surroundings.
Arthur was thinking like a predator with the only intention to find a way of killing an equal opponent, but Agent Foster was not even giving him a chance during his reloading phases.
The spectacle--block, move, block, move--went on without any changes in the situation between both.
Slowly, so slowly, Anthony's face reddened, anger about the failure of so many of his shots. He was losing what was inevitably necessary for Gun Kata fighters. Probably this had been the longest fight both of them ever had, as gun battles with only one Gun Kata skilled participant always ended in seconds.
The well-trained body of Arthur signaled him that little more was possible--the end was near--when a chance appeared. A small corridor in Anthony's space of action was unprotected for a very short time. This breach seemed to shine in a golden bright light to Arthur's lowering mind.
With his free hand he reached for Anthony's ammunition belt, slung around his upper body; he caught the right spot to open it and pulled it back. Anthony's attempt to hinder him was just too late, because his focus first laid on defending against Arthur's simultaneous attack.
Arthur slung the belt around him and closed it with one hand, while he switched tactics--not Gun Kata now, but random, bewildering moves, just to avoid any proper reactions from Anthony, who now had to save bullets to guard against.
But time was short for Arthur as his pain became stronger and more urgent to his mind. He needed to attack as fast as he could, as much as he could, as clever as he never fought before. Reloading was no problem at all with one free hand, so he was not wasting any time.
He felt that he would break down immediately, whether he would still keep it out of his consciousness or not. His powers were at their limits, like they had never been before since he had his first real mission. “Finish him now!” was the thought hammering into his mind. But the other Gun Kata master sensed this, saw his chance and copied his opponent's trick by throwing one of his guns away, then attacking and reaching out for one of his ammunition clips.
Arthur came to sharp sense right in the millisecond, when he felt the slightest pull on the belt around him and acted instinctively, before his mind came to a clear and calculated thought. He grabbed the clip, which was just about to be stolen from him and pulled it back. The burgling hand refused to let go, so he pointed his gun at it instead of using it against the vital parts of Anthony's body as his opponent was trained to expect.
Agent Foster recognized it too late and though he pulled the hand back, the bullet smashed through it causing excessive pain. The pain was drained from Anthony's consciousness within a moment by his concentration techniques, but the damage was done, the hand was unusable.
And Arthur did not think, he did not hesitate, for him it felt like he would watch himself act as an uninvolved spectator, when he threw the hard metal clip against his enemy's forehead, who reacted slowly, still trying to get his mind back into focus.
Anthony Foster stumbled backwards confused by the unexpected hit, which gave Arthur McGee his chance. He shot a bullet into every vital point he thought of in that moment, three into the chest, through heart and lungs, one through the neck and one through the head of the Agent and Gun Kata master, just to be absolutely certain he would not be able to counterattack.
Arthur's hand was still pulling the trigger aiming at the head, when the dying body fell to the ground, the killing gun emptied. But he pulled and pulled--he needed to be sure that the fight was completely over. His lowest instincts had taken over and they could still not believe that it was really over, that Arthur had won. Click ... click ... click ...
Suddenly Arthur's mind flickered to life, stopping his body trying to fire an empty weapon.
He felt dizzy; his view became blurred. He stood, looking down at his victim, lying on the back staring with his open eyes at the ceiling, while dark, sticky blood oozed out of him onto the floor. There was no feeling about his victory; no adrenaline soothed his pain as a reward for killing his former comrade Anthony Foster. There was only exhaustion, the desire to sleep and never to awake again.
Mr. Benètt's men came out of their shelters and ran over to him. Arthur's view wandered around and stopped at another body, which was lying close by. “Who was that ... ?” flickered a thought. Exhaustion was tearing on Arthur's mind, but slowly he remembered; it was Juan Sanchez lying there. Was he dead? If he were still alive, he would need medical aid immediately.
This thought made Arthur's arm lift once more, feeling unbelievably heavy, to send the men who intended to help him over to Juan instead. They understood and turned around for the young man, who needed their help more urgently.
Relief came over him when he saw that someone was taking care of his apprentice. Nothing was holding him upright anymore. He let all tension go off his body and off his mind, so he simply lost his stand and broke down to the ground.
Everything went away so fast that Arthur McGee did not feel his own impact as he fell.
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Post by Mirabilis on Mar 8, 2010 15:20:29 GMT -5
Wow! That was some battle! Masterfully handled Jay...I could really visualize the whole scene.
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Post by Aedh on Mar 9, 2010 7:53:22 GMT -5
Nicely done young feller!
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Post by clericjay on Mar 11, 2010 12:58:13 GMT -5
Thank you very much! ;D I'm glad but sad at the same time somehow that this long fighting sequence is finally over. It turned out to develop very different to what I imagined while plotting the story, but I had so many spontanous ideas I wanted to bring into it. I'm sorry if someone thought of it as being way too long and I can asure everyone, who liked it that it won't be the last in the story. But now it's time to transport the story further after some important things will be solved.
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Post by clericjay on Jun 12, 2010 13:18:40 GMT -5
Chapter twenty-three: A wonderful dream
The sky was a beautiful combination of red and yellow, slowly dancing between a few clouds as the sun was about to rest behind the horizon. An indescribable beauty enfolded this sunset, letting the spectator feel completely released, free of all his pain and sorrow, enjoying this dance of colors, mirroring in facades of skyscrapers below. If able to lower his eyes from the sky, he would have seen this endless beautiful city, this silent metropolis spreading itself along the ground up to the horizon. The mixture of red light and their original grey facades brought out an amber-colored impression. Every feeling being must have been overwhelmed by the endless divinity of this picture.
Thus was Arthur, letting his eyes wander and enjoy the scenery. There were no questions, no sorrow, no war, nothing on his mind but pure joy. It was too wonderful to be believable.
“Are you alright, Sir?”
“More than that!” Arthur replied and slowly turned around. The voice behind him had pulled him out of his thoughts. He did not want to leave the image, he wanted to stare on and on, but he was curious. Who had spoken to him?
He turned around and recognized that he was standing at a T-shaped window, which was much higher then himself. It belonged to a big dark office, which was furnished very plain, with a big black desk and a chair, which also had a T-shaped notch in its rest. The ground was black and as clean as something on earth could be. Light falling through the window mirrored on it, the reflections of the ceiling lighting combined on the ground to a strange pattern.
The man, who had spoken to him, was standing in front of the desk. He was a black-haired small man in a tailored grey suit. That man was calmly looking at Arthur, a slight expectation of getting orders was shining through his eyes. With a kind, nearly silky voice, he expressed his wonderment without showing it in his facial expression.
“Sir, what do you mean?”
“I’m talking of the sky. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life.”
“Sir, I don’t understand. This is a very natural phenomenon, which repeats itself every day, over and over again. What could be special about it?”
Arthur wondered. He invited the small man to join him at the window waving his hand. “You should see it yourself!”
The man in the grey suit went over to the window and looked outside. After a few seconds of scanning the fantastic view, he stepped aside and looked at Arthur with lack of understanding.
“Looks quite normal to me.”
“Don’t you feel anything about it?”
“Of course not, Sir!” he made a pause, thinking and then went on: “If I might say that, Sir, you’re strange today. Probably I should check the air for chemicals or toxics, which might cause this irregularity on you.”
He started to walk over to the massive wood door at the other end of the office. Arthur slowly followed him, stopped at the desk and brought out the question, which just now started to form inside his mind. “Who are you, by the way?”
The grey-suited man stopped at half way to the door and turned around. He needed a moment to evaluate the situation. “Sir, something must be wrong with you!”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t remember your first secretary… Could it be that you had a serious accident recently, which might have caused amnesia?”
“I’m not sure… Why do I have a secretary?”
“Four secretaries to be precise and you need us to govern.”
“Govern? What do I govern?”
“This city! All of risen mankind. Everyone, who has opened his mind.”
“The city? Wait! What about the war?”
“War has ended forever! Sir, you should know, you have lead us out of the chaotic paths of selfishness and hatred. You have ended war for all times and now the world hears your voice.
“I… I can’t… believe it… How?”
“We have abandoned emotions and therefore we can be free of our own chains. Mankind gave in to utopia. You are the father of this new born nation.”
Arthur spoke more to himself, when thoughts started raging through his mind. He felt confused, needed some time to push his doubts aside, he wanted to believe it and slowly he did, so then he was endlessly happy.
“It worked… It was the right way… Peace is here… Finally… Oh, how I wished for it to come! It became true!”
Tears of joy rolled down his face. Maybe it was the first time this had happened, but when he turned around and watched the metropolis, which was no utopia anymore, he could not hold back. Arthur McGee broke down onto his knees and slowly turned over until his head touched the ground. His feelings overwhelmed him, he could not resist, he could not move, he could not control himself anymore. His dream was lying in front of him; everything he has wished for was ahead of him, manifesting itself in this wonderful image of a sunset over utopia. All the pain, all the fights, the struggles, even dead laid behind him, was far gone. He felt that all he was gone through, all he has done, how terrible it might have been… was worth it.
The grey-suited man went over and tried to lift Arthur back up again, but he was too weak, so he could only get the upper body into a straight position again. All tension was gone out of Arthur’s body, so it became very heavy.
Suddenly Arthur awoke of his lethargy caused by joy. He grabbed the arm of his secretary and lowly asked as if he was deadly wounded and pulled together his last power to say it. “What is her name? The name of the city?”
“Libria, Sir! But, Sir, we should get you to the hospital…It seems like…”
“Why Libria?”
The supporting man hesitated shortly, thinking about it and then replied as if it would have been the best known thing in the world. “Because it is born out of books!”
Arthur liked the reply. He smiled and slowly fainted thinking of it.
“Libria… Libria is perfect…”
When Arthur McGee opened his eyes the image in front of him had changed into the opposite. He stared at a rusty metal panel at the roof, hindering tones of stone to fall onto and crush every piece of him. It had some cracks, but was still stable enough to fulfill its duty. “It was a dream… It was just a dream… I wish now would be a dream… but it isn’t…” his thoughts started to run slowly, but then they got closer to normality.
Slowly Arthur lifted up his upper body, which was not easy, because his arm and whole body felt tired and heavy. He recognized that he was lying in a small bed, made of metal with a few rusty stains on it. The formerly white bedding looked dirtier then it probably was. He was not wearing his clothes anymore; it was a light blue pajama.
He was scanning the room for his clothes, his equipment and his weapons, but he found only Samantha Fail sitting next to him on a chair, leaning at the massive metallic wall. She looked at him and smiled softly. “Back among the living?”
“I… I had a dream… a wonderful dream.”
She closed the book, she was holding in her hand and laid it onto the small bedside table. “Tell me!”
Arthur had to look into a different direction to focus himself, to get back the image. He would not be able to concentrate, if he was looking into her vivid eyes, therefore he still felt too much for her. “I’ve seen utopia, an endless city, where peace reigned. Everything was so beautiful and I … couldn’t believe it…”
“Seems like you’ve been a bit too far from life. But your condition was not critical at any moment.”
“I… I wasn’t in heaven. Well, not really… It was on earth, but not the same, we are living on. Mankind had abandoned emotions and gained eternal peace.”
“You mean like it’s written in this book?” She grabbed the book again and showed the cover into his direction. The golden letters “Equilibrium” said everything.
“This book is so precious! It really works! I have seen it in my dream.”
“Arthur… What’s wrong with you? You have never been a dreamer and never wanted to be one.”
“I don’t want to go on and exist without a… a reason… I must change… change to something better!”
“And what if I don’t want you to change? I mean not in this direction!”
“That… is a good direction. You haven’t seen it.”
“But I read it. And to me it is… well… pointless. I mean even if it works, if you find a way to… numb emotions, you would destroy a big part of humanity. And it doesn’t guarantee peace!”
She came closer to him. “Arthur, I don’t want to tread on your dreams, but this is unrealistic, unnatural even. Don’t waste your life to an illusion. You could find peace somewhere else… personal peace. I’d come with you if that is, what you want. Leave it all behind and go to another place. It’s best for us all.”
Arthur listened to her closely and imagined a life somewhere else, alone with her, having a small self-made-house, living from fish, living from the fruits of their own fields, living with their children… He liked, no, he even loved this imagination. Never before he really liked such lifestyle, but after all these things he has seen during the war, this has become so desirable, all a man could wish for, all he needs. It would be a good life, simple, naturally and happy.
In his mind he saw his children, how his daughter stood next to Samantha and smiled at him. His focus came closer to the girls face. Slowly her smile disappeared and gave way to a desperate and reproachful expression.
Arthur remembered that girl; he has seen her on battlefield. She had looked at him full of accusation after he had pumped a bullet through her father, who had tried to safe her, but had no chance against Agent McGee.
Arthur could not move in that very moment. He wanted to shoot her, so her accusing eyes would stop slowing him, giving him his conscience back, a handicap in times of war. But he could not kill her, back in these days, when they were standing on the battlefield in this burning town.
She started to cry and ran over to him. Arthur was surprised that she did not punch against him like he expected, she slung her arms around him instead and hugged him tight. She cried and said: “I know you had to do this. You are hurt, hurt like my daddy was hurt. You have to stop killing and I will forgive you, like I have forgiven daddy.”
That day Arthur was completely thrown out of his world. He did not expect to hear that from any human being. That little girl had the power to forgive him. This did not match into his knowledge about humanity, about the law of this world: an eye for an eye… On this day he felt her body shaking from fear. He wanted to push her away from him, but he could not. He was paralyzed… and he enjoyed that moment somehow.
Suddenly the girl jerked and her grip slowly got lost. When she fell to the dirty ground, next to her dead father, Arthur could see the smoking hole in her head. He watched her on the ground, he did not think of his surrounding, his enemies, the war in that moment, he just felt sad and sorry for this girl. She has been so pure and was wasted away…
He looked up when another soldier laid his hand on his shoulder and told him that he had no time to waste to a civilian girl and that she would have died soon anyway. Arthur shot him. He shot his own comrade for taking this pure soul out of the world, which was so dark these days. Arthur was not strong enough to forgive.
He came back from his memory. He had forgotten this day and now thinking of it he could not go on without doing something. “Samantha, I cannot live in peace, while knowing that others have to suffer. So many have to die under circumstances they don’t deserve. And I can do something against it. I'm sorry, but I can’t be so egoistical to have a good live, while there’s no peace for the weak.”
Samantha looked disappointed, leaned back and sighed deeply. Her eyes wandered around the room without finding a point to rest. She was anxious, worrying about Arthur. Finally she stood up and walked over to the door. “You need some rest.”
She turned around and looked worried at him. “Please think it over!”
Then she left the room and left him alone with his thoughts.
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Post by Mirabilis on Jun 12, 2010 16:54:49 GMT -5
Very vivid and emotional! (Oops! Did I say emotional??? )
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Post by invisiblescientist on Jun 12, 2010 18:19:40 GMT -5
Excellent and sophisticated.
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Post by Aedh on Jun 12, 2010 20:23:54 GMT -5
I must warn you Cleric. I am detecting some more emotion here above and beyond the necessary amount for illustrating the madness of sense-offence. You have 1 (one) caution.
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Post by clericjay on Jun 30, 2010 4:40:30 GMT -5
Excellent and sophisticated. Thank you very much! I try my best! I must warn you Cleric. I am detecting some more emotion here above and beyond the necessary amount for illustrating the madness of sense-offence. You have 1 (one) caution. I must disagree here. I'm just trying to document every possible detail about Fathers way and his glorious doings. But leaving such aspects of emotionality (even Father had to change to the better) would be a violation of neutrality, which is necessary to come to rational and reasonable conclusion and not thinking emotionally.
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Post by clericjay on Dec 2, 2010 11:49:36 GMT -5
3rd aniversary of "Memories of Father" has passed by on November 15th. I suppose it's time for a new chapter... It's just so hard to find time and the right mood for it...
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Post by invisiblescientist on Dec 3, 2010 9:12:24 GMT -5
It's important to continue the traditional Equilibrium literature. Unfortunately membership attendance declined, but Equilibrium will always remain a major breakthrough in the film industry. I am sure that in a few years Wimmer can make another movie about thought control.
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Post by clericjay on Dec 19, 2010 15:05:49 GMT -5
And here we go again: After some forced hiatus for MoF, I got some time and support for writing a new chapter. ;D I hope much to be able to find some more writing time during the holidays and New Year, but we'll see. Nevertheless the upcoming chapters will be a bit "talkative", but then the story can go on and Arthur will return to TX-13, willing to change everything! Have fun and please comment, if you want to:
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Post by clericjay on Dec 19, 2010 15:06:35 GMT -5
Chapter twenty-four: The origin of Gun Kata
The door to his room was heavy and opening it taxed his limited strength.
The fight had taken a heavier toll on Arthur’s body then he would have cared to admit, but lying in bed and resting was not his preferred cure. He felt an urge to walk, and a desire to speak to someone about his dream, get some ideas other than Samantha's. But his door guard, who had meant to help by pulling the door, made the weak patient nearly stumble and fall.
“Are you okay?”
Arthur got his stand back and looked into the face of this man from Benètt’s troop. “I’m fine… It’s just I don’t like being tied to bed.”
“Yes, that’s tough indeed. I hate doing nothing as well, but honestly… uhmm… I think you should rest some more before going on tour. Your body has its limits…”
“May be…”
The guard was right; Arthur had forgotten it over years of always being superior in battle, without any competitive enemy forcing him to his limits. Nevertheless he started walking, slowly first, but after some time it went better and better. Obviously he had regenerated and his legs remembered to walk properly again. The guard just grinned standing by doing nothing, but suddenly he had a thought, with a look of concern.
“If you go anyway, you should visit your comrade… You know, that young guy trying to help you in close combat.”
“Where can I find him?”
“He’s in the medical level right under your room. The stair’s right over there.”
“Thank you!” and on he went.
Arthur found the described room without any problem. The signs indicating the way to the hospital section were still visible and undamaged. Juan was lying in bed next to some medical machinery, which looked badly damaged, but obviously was still working properly. There was no one else to see anywhere.
Juan opened his eyes to catch a glance at the intruder. A very tender smile purled his mouth. “Good to see you!”
“I guess you have a minute?”
“Sure!”
Arthur sat down and they kept silent for some time. At last, he said: “Thank you for your support. I guess that really helped me out.” That was not really honest; Juan's inexperience in Gun Kata was disturbing him, but Arthur did not want to make him feel worse than necessary now.
“Never mind. I think I owed you that one.”
“What do you mean?”
“You did not shoot me back when we met. I guess in the old days that would have put me into some kind of life debt or something… I don’t know…”
Arthur did not reply to that. Life debt… This vestigial word for something that lies so far in the past, that it does not have any meaning to people anymore, while it has meant everything to these people back in history. Could it be that emotions would be degraded to empty words as well--words, which would not mean anything to people in the future?
Juan pulled him away from this thought by asking a very essential question: “By the way… I still don’t understand why you let me live and no one else.”
“Honestly?”
Juan nodded hesitantly as if this question was inconvenient to him.
“I do not have any idea…” He pondered shortly. “Could be that I wanted to do something different that day… Maybe the master’s speeches really got through somehow.”
“What did he say?”
Arthur sighed. “A lot. But I thought that reality was not appropriate to his 'wisdom' if you want to call it that way. But he caused me to think. I don’t know if you made that experience, but when you've killed as many people as I have, you have two possible choices… either you go numb and go on without questioning it… or… you start to ask yourself, when this injustice of your doing will finally end… when you can rest.”
“You mean by dying?”
“Not really… I mean by gaining peace… I thought I could endure everything as I was supposed to as an Agent of our 'glorious nation'… look where it’s gone to… Anyway, though I did not admit it consciously, but these thoughts were starting to roam within me and when you dropped your weapon… I saw a chance to do something different this time, to let you live and see, where this might take me to. Therefore I also could not let you be killed by someone else, so I thought to teach you Gun Kata.”
“So I’m some kind of experiment to you, to see if your master was right?”
“Could be… I’m not sure about it. That must disappoint you, doesn’t it?”
Juan looked somewhere else in the room, with a thoughtful impression on his face. “How awkward… Seeing Gun Kata for the first time really blows you away… Yeah I’m amazed by this stuff… And I thought it would be some kind of destiny, that you as the 'fury of death,' literally spoken, let me live… But maybe it was? Arthur! Do you believe in destiny?”
“Not really!”
“But your master did?”
“Which one?”
“Didn’t you just say something about your master’s teachings? Wasn’t that old man in TX-13…”
“No, he was like I’ve been… a living weapon… he started to change, when his disease became worse and he was tied to bed. There he had some time to think about, what the delegate of the monastery said, instead of attending to operations. He changed lately and told us to do so as well.”
“I’m confused right now…”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I should have told you a bit about the history of Gun Kata and the Agency first.”
“Yeah, please…!”
“Well… where should I start…? To make it short, I’ll only tell you the most important milestones on the path.
"At the beginning the whole thing was a project of the secret service, who thought of new ways to improve their agents close combat fighting skills, to make them better, then any other in the world. A young and ambitious team was formed, consisting of 4 different experts, coming from different fighting style backgrounds, joining their knowledge for the sake of this new martial art. But the key was the idea of a simple statistician, who was obsessed about recording thousands of battles since he has been at young age and analyzed them in detail.
He thought gun battles to be the most important part of the combat skills of agents, having improvement of soldiers in mind as well. This team went on researches all over the world, recorded martial arts battles, conventional warfare, guerilla and terrorist activities and even watched movies. They picked the best of all these things and checked their utility for the project. Then they tested their concepts and trained together. After many years the supporting group of 'researchers' recording more and more battles, especially gun battles, became larger and larger. I know that it sounds ridiculous, but this is how it started. And all group members have been very passionate about it.
Of course the concept and progress was checked, because the government was not willing to spend money without results. Surprisingly, the five first Gun Kata masters were able to defeat any soldier and any conventional agent on close combat, with any kind of weapon, only after about 10 years of development. This was more then anyone would have expected and the masters still improved and refined their skills, so the whole project was taken onto the next level.
Agents of secret service where taught to use the new martial arts, which soon got the name Gun Kata by someone, probably referring to a movie or so, but this term described it perfectly and has been adopted everywhere. But development stopped somewhere and the group thought of a reason for that.
They started to adept different self controlling and meditative techniques in order to raise their concentration and become even better. But all of them have been influenced by their experiences and backgrounds, so they did not reach, what they thought of perfection of Gun Kata. The idea of raising children in a way to integrate their Gun Kata concept in every aspect of themselves, like other martial arts have done it before, seemed to be the best way to go onto the next level. So they were using orphans, bought by false identity parents under governmental order.”
“Why taking orphans?”
“Simply, because no one was caring or responsible for them. I am of the third age group bought this way and raised in order to integrate Gun Kata into every aspect of them. The five masters and their supporters were hoping that they would then be able to bring their concept to perfection and make it and us invincible. They were convinced that their concept was the ultimate battle concept, absolutely unsurpassable.
To raise them properly to an age, able to start training, we were put into families of secret service agents and officers. But these foster families were rotating, when the emotional bonds became too strong and therefore the children would not concentrate onto training and education. Upcoming desires were denied and families switched. The only matures, who stood the same during my childhood were our masters, so we developed a strange obedience to their word, because they have been the only constant in our life besides Gun Kata… and to us they were personifications of Gun Kata.
Nevertheless, when we became young adults, some of us started to become rebellious. The masters were wondering about it and soon recognized that they have shown us a wrong picture of normal life. This mixture of loving family, which was taken away after some time, on the one hand and some kind of training and educational monastery on the other hand, was counterproductive and confused many of us. I did get along with this way of living quite well, but many others were very happy about this change of direction. But the change allowed us to go to normal schools, go into real families, who did not know our background. Of course they were well chosen and we carefully prepared for the world that was waiting for us out there…
I started to read some books by the time, learned as much as I possibly could and made my experiences on how different and strange people can be. Maybe this time was good for me, but the chaotic world confused me as well. And there was no one I felt related to. We were supposed to know the country and its people we would be going to protect against its enemies.”
“Could it be that your confusion was caused by those many contradictions in the basic concept?”
“Our masters were very different personalities. This worked very well in order to add the best ideas for development of Gun Kata, but as 'parents' their opinions were just too different and contradictory to work for educating children. The pedagogical concept just did not work well and when the first of us started to use their superior abilities for their own benefit and even fought with the police, the government stopped our phase of freedom. I personally have been very glad to return to strict training.
And soon the first quakes were running through society anticipating the upcoming war. When the war started, we were used against protesting and uprising civilians first. Some of us were sympathizing with them. During this time our masters have seen, how much our life among normal people has spoiled some of us, so they were able to deny obeying, shooting on civilians.”
“Did you obey?”
“In my eyes they were traitors and we have killed even our comrades, who have turned against us. Ironic… today I’m not different anymore… but this also caused a split among our masters. Two of them felt exceptionally guilty for these incidents and betrayed us as well. They took the arrested disobedient Gun Kata students and hid somewhere, always fearing revenge of our government and us. So only the truly loyal and emotionally stable were staying at service and were useful... indeed. Some thought about hunting the others of us, but then we were way to busy fighting the war.
After the conventional weapons failed and became less and less important, we as perfect fighting machines suddenly became very important, as we were able to destroy armies on our own. Slowly the war lost force and everything broke apart. Only one of our masters, but quite many of us survived. We were proving our superiority over our masters and brought Gun Kata to a new level. But soon there was no nation to defend anymore, no enemy armies. We had to find another orientation and gathered in TX-13.
Commander Cornelius Smith had always been a main supporter of our project, even at the stage of chaos. Our master thought we would use our abilities most useful there, because he believed Smith to be the one bringing stability back to the world as he had sworn in an oath. TX-13 survived very well and soon started to prosper even and we were its strongest line of defense as the Agency.”
“Wheeewww… Sounds like a very awkward story…”
“Life can be very awkward and humans don’t act logically…”
“Hm… I think you’re right. I should not judge about something I have not experienced.”
“That’s not it… It really is a stupid story if I think back now… But when you’re in the middle of it, you don’t get or take the time to reflect it. And ... well, the story isn’t over yet.
One day our two former masters, who saved the traitors, appeared at TX-13 and where surprisingly happy to find so many of us alive. We were astonished by their joy to see us again. Our master and some others were talking with them for a very long time. They said they would forgive us and that they survived somehow and build a monastery somewhere in the mountains to live there peacefully. Our master reconciled with them and they gave him a map, showing the location of the monastery. Most of us did not understand, what has just happened between them. Forgiveness and reconcilement were words, which had no real meaning to us.”
“Are you that heartless?”
“Heartless? All of us reacted differently to this encounter. Some of us became… well… softer, more trustful. Suddenly relationship to others became more important, especially, when new and older students of the monastery visited us and exchanged their experiences. And many of us were listening, because it distracted them from war. Samantha for example liked their tales. I was rather worried about the discipline and so was Commander Smith, who denied the others access to the bunker and the facilities above. And soon after, everything got back to normal. He even increased the propaganda in TX-13 in order to strengthen believe in our final victory and that the nation would come back to life.”
“Did you believe it?”
“Good question… I think I always focused on improving myself and my abilities. And I thought that my doing has a purpose in rescuing the survivors. But recently I started to think differently about it. I mean, how many people have I killed to safe so few? And stability and peace aren’t returning. My “work” seems to carry no fruits so far. But now I have seen… I know finally, what I have to do. In the library I have found that book, which described the source of all this confusion and hatred.”
Juan Sanchez tried to sit upright, felt his wound hurt and gave up on it. For a moment he had forgotten about it. But nevertheless he wanted to know more: “What is it?”
“Human emotion…” Arthur explained the idea and described his dream in detail to Juan, who listened very attentively. When Arthur had finished, both sat there in silence until Juan shortly replied.
“Libria… I think that is worth trying.”
“You think so?”
“If I recall my few history lessons right, there has not been anything comparable in history. I think if you have such a vision, you should try to realize it. I mean, who else would do it, if you don’t? Maybe Libria is the solution mankind has been longing for?”
“I’m glad that you agree on this.”
“Hey, I’m just a young idiot, maybe you should talk to this Frenchman; he makes a very experienced impression.”
Arthur nodded shortly, stood up and went to the door.
“Arthur!”
He turned around, having opened the door half.
“I believe it’s been destiny, not to be killed by you and I will follow you, wherever you lead to!”
Arthur McGee did not know how to react to such a declaration of loyalty, but it slightly reminded him of his oath on the nation back then in a past that seemed so endlessly far away: “You won’t be the only one!”
Then he left the room and started to look for Jean-Jaques Benètt.
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Post by Aedh on Dec 22, 2010 8:35:12 GMT -5
Well done, it really carries the concept forward. Thanks for the Christmas present!
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Post by invisiblescientist on Dec 23, 2010 3:29:49 GMT -5
Very good work!
Actually the totalitarian systems, both fascist and communist, often rely on rituals that use some secret training involving some kind of ceremonial fighting system. It's not just the scientific efficiency of the gun kata, but also the symbolism that reflects the power of the government that is essential for such authoritarian systems: image is everything for them.
In the movie Salt you see that there are some rituals that the Russian leader is using to train his spies psychologically. In such systems there is always some kind of ritual.
BTW, there are 3 alternate endings in the new DVD (Unrated Edition) of Salt, but the director recently said that he no longer wants to be involved in the sequel.
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Post by clericjay on Jan 15, 2011 11:45:50 GMT -5
Thank you for encouraging me! I was not really sure about this chapter, but glad to hear that it adds to the story. I'm relieved...
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Post by clericjay on Aug 29, 2011 10:25:37 GMT -5
It's truly a shame for me that this is going to be the first chapter I've written this year, but I have been using my free time to write on two scripts (one for a short film, we're producing these days (with slow process ) and another for a larger sci-fi project). But finally I have made another chapter and hope that you all haven't forgotten, what happened earlier on... Just in case, everything should still be at this thread...Please enjoy and comment, if you want to:
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Post by clericjay on Aug 29, 2011 10:26:03 GMT -5
Chapter twenty-five: A Historic Necessity
The old Frenchman in the stained white suit had been told that Arthur was up again, so he awaited him in his improvised new office and welcomed him with a cup of steaming tea. Arthur thanked him shortly and sat down, taking a sip of the drink, which was still too hot for enjoyment.
Jean-Jaques Benètt leaned back and waited. Without unnecessary words, Arthur told him of the vision of his dream, and the experienced politician listened closely without commenting. After Arthur finished, Benètt tested his patience by remaining silent for some time. At last, the spell of silence was broken by a simple question: “And how do you want to establish this Libria?”
“My plans are still very vague, but it will be very important to convince the people of TX-13 that this will be their future and that to accept and support it will be the best way to find sustainable peace finally.”
“Why is TX-13 so important? We could establish it everywhere…”
“No, TX-13 is one of the very few places we know which has a working infrastructure, personnel and resources to lay the foundation of such a megacity, which will be an example for all other societies and nations. I am convinced that someday others will rise from all these ruins as well. We must establish a successful role model of our new society and then many people will see the superiority and healthy force of a society without greed, fear, hatred and grief. TX-13 is the best starting point and capable of defending itself and its citizens.”
“I see… though you should consider that these people won’t understand your idea and won’t follow you. Let me tell you: most of humanity always prefer the way of things they are used to. They don’t like to adopt their minds to new things and new ideas. It’s secure and convenient if things stay as they have been, so they love to live a quiet life in conformity. History has shown this clearly. Arthur, you might be different in this, because your biography might have been very different than an average citizen, so… I don’t want to insult you… but you may not really understand, what’s in the minds of most people.
“In the old world my party--and I as well of course--have profited from this inflexibility of people, voting for what they believe they know. But the truth is that our government has often misused the trust of my people, who never realized it until everything fell apart. It’s ridiculous how quickly people forget the failed promises of politicians as soon as the election marketing’s rolling again for next legislation.”
“But all these people have been through the hell of war, have lost everything they have known and loved… for them, the security you speak of doesn’t exist anymore. They’ve got nothing! Why shouldn’t they be open-minded, if we show them a desirable alternative? They have been disappointed by the old world and they are tired of the current world!”
“Are they? I haven’t been to your bunker, but as far as I have heard of it, it’s a small harbor of safety in this cruel wasteland. The military is guaranteeing their safety and in exchange they accept their rule over them without question. My friend, they have already arranged themselves with this new reality. Changing this, overthrowing the Commander’s government for your social experiment, will not attract them, especially if you ask them to give up such an essential part of themselves like their emotions. Honestly, I cannot see this working…”
Arthur shook his head slowly and starred at the tea cup in his hand, which reflected his sorrowful face. He rather told himself: “But then there’s no hope for humanity…”
A chaotic mix of emotions whirled within Arthur McGee and was about to throw his mind in an anxious state, about to realize that his wonderful vision would not become true because of human nature… once again.
No way!
He could not give up humanities future just like that at the first resistance in sight. Freeing all of them of the burden of emotions was the only way and must not fail. And if the people would not be willing, there could be other ways… A dangerous thought grew inside Arthur…
“What if it did not happen democratically, but by strict leadership?”
“Do you plan to force all of them? Wouldn’t this make you a despotic ruler?”
“This is way too important to let it be delayed by anything. And if it’s true that people have to be led by a strong hand to their own best, would it be wrong to bring them there?”
Jean-Jaques looked sorrowful. “My experience--and you can trust me in this, because I have been making politics on a high level in the past world for a very long time--and having had the fortune to see behind the facades, tells me that power corrupts people! So how can you ever be sure that you would not betray your idealistic aims for your own benefits, once you’re in charge of these people?”
“Because I will be the first to show the people that it works. I will use Prozium myself, will cease my emotions and will lose the little part of me, which might be willing to give in to the inebriation of power. This concept guarantees that I will never fall into temptation and betray these ideals. Letting go his selfish emotions is something no ruler of the past has ever been able to, but for me the benefit of all would truly be achieved and this won’t be a phrase, but filled with life and truth.”
“So you will be their icon then…”
“I’ll be their teacher; I will speak to them and convince them by argument. Maybe it would even be best to explain examples of the past, so they will understand the necessity of Libria and embrace its logic and prosperous peace. Dictatorship, if you want to call it this way, would be a historic necessity in order to establish a society of peaceful people, which follow pure logic and this logic will tell them, all I will do needs to be done to bring humanity onto a higher level. Libria will prosper, because no one will steal anything from the community driven by egoism and everyone will do their part to build it. Everyone will share with others. Logic will tell them to do so. They will truly understand that everything is connected to each other and everyone will profit, if they take back themselves and integrate in a society working effectively, undistracted and undisturbed. Everyone will become a part according to their ability. Nobody will face any shortcomings or injustice.”
“Sounds much like Communism to me, which didn’t work as far as I know…”
“But communists still had their emotions. Jealousy when they were on the low levels of society, greed when they had reached power. You cannot compare them to the society I am talking about. Following the way of Libria humanity could grow to heights I cannot imagine yet as soon as they abandon, what’s holding them back… There will be a point, when this transformation is finished and humanity has accepted Prozium, there should not be any problem to return to a democratic rule, which will be much better then all of the past. Democracy truly works, when people adapt to pure logic leading them to correct decisions, unstained by any ideology or egoistic interests. Don’t you think that this will be a much better world?”
“So everyone would be happy?”
“Nobody would ever have to die for the greed or hatred of others! It would be worth everything that’s needed to get to this point! Imagine: No more war!”
Mr. Benètt put his fingertips together and lifted his hands closer to his face in a thoughtful gesture before he continued. “What would you do to the people not willing to be… taught by you?”
“They will be free to go wherever they want to. But I tell you, when they see our society rising and prospering in peace, while they will suffer in chaos, they will come back voluntarily. There is no other way to let peace reign in human hearts at least. It is time that we finally learn from our history and take the next step.”
“But… Nevertheless I cannot imagine sacrificing what is an undividable part of me as a human being. And what about all the positive emotions, like love, joy, gratitude and compassion? Wouldn’t we lose a part of ourselves which is needed to build something better?”
“It’s not possible to keep these and still lose their negative opposites. This is all or nothing… They will be a sacrifice worth the taking.”
“Well… Isn’t a life without emotions… purposeless?”
“Isn’t the death of millions for the egoistic feelings of few purposeless? For me a world without war, without evil at all, is the most desirable purpose I can think of.”
“It seems like you really believe that you can build it…”
“At least we can make a start, lay a good foundation… But if we don’t start today, who will?”
The Frenchman had to stand up, he was too uneasy to be able to sit still. He turned his back to Arthur and slowly walked some steps away from his guest, before he turned around half way. “But all of this can only work with this drug, suppressing emotions, doesn’t it?”
“Yes!”
“How could we find out, if it works?”
“There is a biochemist at TX-13, who should be able to produce and test Prozium. I would have to go back and show the Equilibrium book’s instructions to Dr. DuPont, so he could evaluate them.”
“Did you say Dr. DuPont?”
“Yes, the famous biochemist who developed the medicine which made so many people more resistant to all the nuclear pollution and saved thousands of lives.”
“Because of his medicine it was much easier for the rulers of the old world to push all these red buttons, assuring that they could survive the time after the war.”
“But without it, human kind would possibly not exist any more…”
“True… So he survived at least…”
“Indeed. His wife died, though his son has survived so far. I could contact him, so we could assure that Prozium works before we would take further action.”
“You’re talking about taking over TX-13! Arthur, I have some very good men, but fighting against an army of agents mastering Gun-Kata is literally suicide. You cannot ask me to fight the whole agency!”
“It would not be all of them… I’m very certain that I can convince most of them to join our course. We will need them afterwards as well to guarantee order and defend the new city. A growing city would surely attract bandit armies and have other enemies. Convincing most of the agency will be another key for success. Anyway this is my business. I’m one… well, I have been one of them…”
The old man in the white suit nervously wandered through the room, throwing a worried look at Arthur McGee from time to time. A nervous tension filled the room between them, while Mr. Benètt considered carefully. The tea in Arthur’s cup had become cold by the time the old man made his decision and sat down again. He mournfully looked over to him, when he spoke.
“I don’t want to risk my men’s lives in a fight which is not worth it. Nevertheless, we all know that the old world with all their different concepts, ideologies and religions, failed and brought us to the edge of extinction… I believe that the time’s right to try something new and your… let me call it vision… sounds interesting, has never been tried before. I am not convinced yet, but maybe it’s the way out we all have been seeking for so long. In this case it would be the biggest mistake I could make not to support you. So I will support and advise you, but first I have to know whether this drug works.”
“As soon as I’m okay again, I will go back to TX-13 and find out…”
“Alright, we will talk afterwards then.”
“Thank you very much, Mr. Benètt.”
“You can call me Jean!”
Arthur nodded and smiled slightly, drank the rest of his cold tea swiftly and went to the door.
Outside he had to reconsider what has just happened and realized to his own surprise that he had left with a plan for the next steps to take and the support of the old Frenchman. His heart was delighted, when he realized that there was a clear way to proceed in front of him and that his dream of Libria had a chance to turn real. Very soon he would travel back home to bunker TX-13 and get into contact with Dr. Frederic DuPont.
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Post by BlackDragon on Aug 29, 2011 18:46:55 GMT -5
Ahrghgr... I'm so far behind.... shame on me... I'll try to catch up as soon as possible!!
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Post by clericjay on Dec 30, 2011 17:42:06 GMT -5
Holidays make it possible for me to write a few new chapters at least... And to make all the waiting a bit more worthwile I'm posting three new chapters now and hope to be able to add new ones more regularly again next year as exams end in January finally. I want to thank everyone who's still reading this story! Of course your opinion and comments are indeed very welcome! ;D
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Post by clericjay on Dec 30, 2011 17:46:58 GMT -5
Chapter twenty-six: Back home
It was deepest night already, when the first signs of TX-13 came into sight. It was a beautiful clear night and the pitch black background was covered with millions of bright stars of differing size and brightness, each small and weak on his own, but giving an awe of natures pure beauty and wonder when gazed in total, painting a wonderful picture above earth. The greatest gift of a world almost stripped of men was such clearness of the sky at night, when no irradiance of light-smog of large cities of the past hindered the view from appealing to the observer’s eye. And in a past, which seemed so endlessly distant to Arthur McGee these days, mankind dreamed of wandering among these stars one day as they have sailed the world seas in the past. Unwillingly he smiled a very sad smile, when he thought of how distant this very dream was these days, when the survival of mankind itself was at stake due to its own failures and ill-designed nature. Maybe one day they would remember this dream again and be able to follow, but he himself would need to order human kind first, otherwise war would rage on, even among the stars, because man never changed their inner ways because of technological advance. Reaching for the stars without reconciling mans very heart would only make a new and endlessly large battlefield.
His thoughts were interrupted, when the outer wall of bunker TX-13’s surface areas came in sight as a dark line over the horizon, presenting itself more and more as a barrier to the road the closer their rover approached it. The large central tower was only a silhouette, a black cover in front of the stars. At night no light would leave the tower to the outer world, kept inside by blinds. Suddenly lights flashed in front of them, forcing their eyes to close immediately. If their eyes had the ability to scream this would certainly have been a reasonable moment to do so. Martin Franklin slowed the vehicle and now advanced in a walkers-pace. He knew exactly where to stop by passing this gate countless times in the past after every successful mission of Agent McGee was accomplished and returns back home were made in honor. But this time they returned with another aim, this time Arthur acted on his own behalf, on his own mission, but he could not let anyone know yet. The hard metal muzzle of a gun tipped at the window glass next to Martin, who lowered it. Cold fresh air streamed into the driver’s cabin. The old soldier demanded papers and lighted his torch into Martin’s face. He must have recognized him, lowered the light, begging his pardon and starting an easy chat until he recognized Arthur next to him.
“Who’s that?” the guard asked and lighted the co-drivers face. His hand began to shiver, when he recognized the high ranked former Agent.
“Is that Arthur? But I heard he was dead or at least lost somewhere in the desert… Well, it seems much like false information.” He said openly wondering.
Another soldier now walked over to the rover from his post, becoming curious from what his older fellow said. “Arthur McGee? How can that be? Albert, don’t you remember that we’ve got order to arrest him by sight?”
The older soldier looked obviously confused. “What for? And how by God’s grace should we arrest an Agent? You know you’d have his gun in your face, before you could even grab your cuffs. Maybe I’m not the youngest, but don’t think me stupid.”
“Stop babbling, Albert! It’s said he was a traitor and disobeyed orders.”
“Then we might ask the accused himself.” The older fellow turned his attention back to Arthur, but Martin jumped into explanation.
“Your information is right. And Arthur has gone into captivity on his free will. I brought him to explain his case, so he might regain his position again.” He showed them Arthur’s guns as proof, but the younger soldier still looked very skeptical until Arthur lifted his tightly cuffed hands into the light of gates searchlights.
Surprise was big in the soldier’s eyes, it might have been almost considered as shock. Suddenly a third gatekeeper came out of the steeled shelter and enquired the situation. The younger soldier told him to call headquarters for instructions. It took a minute or two until the order to bring Arthur in came and the gate was opened finally.
The older man grinned friendly, when they passed him. “Welcome back home boys!” Of course not the slightest idea of what Arthur was going to do appeared to his mind, but he would not have been able to hinder him even if he intended to do so.
Inside the rover was conducted into its parking position and Arthur welcomed by four Agents, who looked tired, but became very attentive and suddenly awake, when they realized that it really was him they were waked for. He was led to a lift and turned back to the garage once more, when they were standing inside. Sharply he looked at Martin, who handed over guns to another Agent and only for a very short moment once more looked towards the captive. He knew exactly what he had to do after all attention was on Arthur McGee. Martin Franklin had a copy of the Prozium formula from the mysterious Equilibrium book, which he was going to pass to Dr. DuPont via reliable messengers for final approval of having the key to a new age by a special drug. Arthur was absolutely confident that his friend and long-time support Martin would pass the information and get back the result of DuPont’s studies to him.
The lift door closed and the journey up the tower started with constant speed. For a moment they stood in silence, but suddenly all the Agents lost their order and countenance, asking him questions over questions wildly, where he has been, what had happened at bunker TX-1 and whether he really betrayed them all and what for.
Arthur earnestly faced the metal door in front of him and waited until the storm of questions from his former brothers and sisters had ebbed down. In an exerted silence Arthur waited, then looked around into each of their troubled faces. He was indeed moved when he saw that they really and honestly cared for him. Probably these four could and would not understand or want to believe that he could possibly fall fromTX-13 and turn his back to their order, sharing a common past, destiny and philosophy. They did never doubt his faithfulness, so the accusations must hurt them as well. Indeed Arthur was moved, though they had no idea of his intention. None of these orphans welded into living weapons had the slightest idea of his heart and the decision it had made. He would have very good use for their faith and affection. By using their loyalty to him he could gain things of greater importance and they would understand and be grateful afterwards, when they would face his utopia. For this very moment he would stay cryptic even though he whished to tell them openly.
“Whatever you may have heard… Believe me; I have good reasons for everything I do. Unfortunately I cannot tell yet, but I will make everything open to all of you when time is right. Until then please trust in me.”
The silence that filled the small lift felt almost sacred until one of them said what Arthur had hoped to hear. “Whatever you mean by that, you never fooled anyone.” Someone else added “You might be grimly taciturn sometimes, but always reliable.”
Arthur smiled knowing. “Believe me, I have to say much and will do so in the future. You’re facing a new Arthur McGee soon.”
A hard hand smashed onto his shoulder in a friendly-minded act. “I never knew you can be so melodramatic…” The large smile on this guy’s face accompanying these words assured Arthur to keep his mouth shut for now.
For the rest of the journey into the highest levels of the tower he considered, whether he really was melodramatic sometimes. He might have to find a matching style of speech to his ambitions, though things were too important to be put plainly.
Suddenly the lift stopped, its door opened and gave way to the worried face of Basque Omag, head of the Agency. He shook his head, when he moved closer to Arthur, who stepped out of the lift. “It’s good to have you back!” Basque started to smile warmly according to his fashion, but there was a weight on his heart, which mirrored in obfuscating his eyes. An unexpected but brief welcome hug followed. And again Arthur was surprised by a very strange gesture of affection towards him, leaving every military standard and discipline aside. What has happened to all these Agents he thought to have known so well? Where was their self-control and strict order? He could not understand, what might have changed. Did he really mean that much to these people? They always have been a sworn and tightly bound band of elite soldiers, but this was somewhat very different to what he knew. Arthur felt uncomfortable and irritated. In the very moment he finished these thoughts Agent Omag suddenly returned to this world and his duty. His body stiffened and he asked in an ordering tone to follow him.
This brief episode of affection was over and Arthur, who always preferred the cold and distant military fashion, was really glad about it. Everything else only confused him and might irritate his plans. He clearly saw a danger in knowing the appreciation of his comrades as he has never known it before. It was seducing to like it, but every emotion would only hold him back from doing what needed to be done. Arthur never really understood what had happened this very day and he could not get rid of the thought that the others might have known his plans and tried to stop him by acting completely unexpected. But he had to stay strong and cool every trace of thankfulness. These evidences of faith in him had to be used for Libria’s sake and not otherwise.
Arthur was prepared to go and face Commander Smith, the very person he would have to kill above all others, though it was much too early for that. This time he would have to stay silent and accept his stand as the accused and the one out of right. The end will prove him right after all.
When Arthur McGee entered the office of Commander Cornelius Adam Smith once more his inner self was absolutely silent and without any trace of passion. There would be no feeling inside him, only the very reason for his return on his mind: preparation for revolution.
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Post by clericjay on Dec 30, 2011 17:48:42 GMT -5
Chapter twenty-seven: Tribunal
In front of him stood a very long massive desk reaching almost from one end of the room to the other. Behind this barrier sat the tribunal, which was to question and convict him. They looked very impatient and troubled, when he entered the room and stood in front of them all, confident and erect. So he was confronted to the usual holders of power of TX-13 first of all Commander Cornelius Adam Smith who did not even try to hide the fire of pure anger alighted by absolute intolerance for disobedience. The disloyal Agent in front of him was not only a spark but a flaming torch. Seeing him this time seemed to Arthur as he had never met this man before, though it was not the Commander who had changed, but he did. His superior has always been of a very raging character, possibly a useful feature to hold everything together while the world around them broke apart with chaos and anarchy spreading all over. He could be respected for holding this community together with a hard hand until it was stable enough to prosper again. And the common people of TX-13 respected him not only for securing a little order but even more for being successful, bringing even growth and little luxuries back to people who have been very rich in the past and never able to value their bliss back then. However this success was possible because of two other factors despite the Commanders ability to organize: The Agency and all their Gun-Kata practitioners were securing his gains from all the enemy armies, roaming bands and any kind of rebels from within. Their power was feared and appreciated as well, the true backbone of his reign. The second was the rescue of the brilliant physician and chemist Dr. DuPont, who was able to ease and partly cure the consequences of radiation to the people. Even though his discoveries were spread knowledge far outside the bunker, he still was an able motor of invention and guarantor of progress for the future. If his revolution should have a chance of success Arthur must strip the Commander of these two factors. Some might have seen it as a sign of destiny that everything Arthur needed to built Libria was right here gathered in TX-13, he had to grasp his chances only. Arthur himself did not really know whether to believe in some kind of destiny or greater power, but he knew that the time was ready for his vision, for progress in human kind’s ways. But first he would have to get through this tribunal.
The Commander rose from his seat. “Agent Arthur McGee! You are deeply disappointing me. No, you’re betraying this community and this army, which is everything you have ever fought for, indeed faithful and reliable. This is what has moved me to agree to Juan Sanchez’s training. Do you remember? I trusted in your judgment in this case and many more, you have always been a loyal soldier. You never failed us, not even once in all these years you fought for us. Never has any Agent disappointed us at all. Not a single one. And you were always one of the best we had. So I ask you: WHY THE HELL DID YOU DISOBEY YOUR DIRECT ORDERS?”
He rather screamed the question and leaned over the desk in a threatening way. Everyone in the room was waiting eagerly and curiously for Arthurs answer, his justification, his surrender. The Commanders son Michael Alfred Smith was the only exception, who made a rather bored impression. Arthur did not know his mother, but he doubted that this man might be the true son of the Commander as he had nothing in common with him. Nevertheless this young man should learn the art of government, but Arthur soon would lighten him of that burden. His distracting thoughts were interrupted, when the question was repeated.
But Arthur McGee kept his silence. There was nothing to be said from his side. It was too early to show any enmity openly nor was he willing to bow in front of this emotional dictator, who had surpassed his time. It was best to keep his mouth shut this time. A disquiet murmur came up among the attending as they discussed this silent former Agent, who stood still and faced the Commander of TX-13 without showing any motion. He was a pride statue of silence totally in peace with itself. Arthur felt nothing but a slight taste of disgust about the inability of his former superior to handle his anger as he marched besides the large table to face the subject of trial closely.
Basque Omag, still standing next to Arthur, wanted to hold him back, but could only express a short “Sir, I don’t think you should…” before he was interrupted. “I’m aware of any risk.” Then he stood closely in front of Arthur, who had to look up to him a little as the Commander was taller then him in stature. Smith tipped his finger hard onto Arthur’s chest.
“Agent, you’re starting to anger me. As your High Commander I order you to explain yourself immediately!”
But no reaction followed and still Arthur gazed motionless into the Commanders eyes. Everyone was able to feel this tension between both when the accused obviously challenged this uniformed leader of the most powerful bunker and possible last governor on the continent by keeping his silence. Suddenly an angry scream broke through any restraint left inside the Commander.
“Say something, you worthless scum!”
There was a little spit landing in Arthur’s face, when he was screamed at, but he kept his calm stand and waited for the other to loose patience with him completely and to put him into prison finally. It seemed like Commander Cornelius Adam Smith really lost interest in this single-sided conversation, when he turned away from the accused, only to turn back very suddenly and punch his strong fist into Arthur’s face with more swing and force. The victim was swept off his feet by the strong blow and fell hard.
It left like his face was pressed inside his skull for a moment, but strangely without much real pain, which nevertheless became constantly stronger after Arthur had been pulled back onto his feet by two guarding Agents. He tried to remember the last time he had felt a strike hitting his face, but he could not recall a single time he really was hit in the face ever. Anger started to effervesce from deep inside him as a natural reaction to what just happened, but he was suppressing it successfully before it could reach the surface of his mind and might poison it.
Back on his feet Arthur straightened his stand again and digested the pain without showing any reaction, facing the furious view of the man in front of him just like he did before. All the self-control techniques he had studied all his live were preparing him for such moments. They could have tortured him and probably they would, but he would not explain himself before the time was right for it. Finally the Commander gave up and ordered to put him out of his sight while he would consider what to do with him.
So Arthur was brought out of the room and back to the lift.
It was Basque, who whipped the stream of blood from Arthur’s nose and lips, while he asked him, why he did not say anything.
“I’ll tell you later, Basque. Please trust me.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“You’ll know everything, when the time’s right, but not know.”
“What happened to you Arthur? You never talked like this before. I cannot understand your motives, so I cannot defend you.”
He pulled Arthur over closer to him and whispered to him. “I don’t want to kill you, but I would if you give me reason to, as sorry as I might feel about it.”
There was no response from the prisoner, when he was released to pull back his ear again. He looked at Basque and he knew that he meant, what he said. As easy and loose Basque Omag sometimes seemed to be, he was very earnestly and absolutely uncompromising when it came to his duties. The head of the Agency would either be his most reliable ally or the largest threat to everything Arthur was plotting to do. But this decision would be made by Basque alone, so the attempt to convince him would have to be made very carefully. But not yet, so Arthur walked on into the lift, which had opened its gate just in this very moment.
He was put into one of isolated prison cells held for the most dangerous or most valuable prisoners. These cells have never been used as valuable prisoners were very seldom these days and Arthur was the first Agent to be put in captivity here. Every of these cells had its own corridor leading to its special hardened glass. These doors had been designed for other parts of the bunker, when it was built, but put here so the two Agents guarding it from the other side could always see everything within. The corridor was blocked by three thick steel doors and each segment could be flooded with narcotic gas as well as the cell itself.
They felt Arthur to be held safe inside as he had no way pass the doors or the thick outer wall of his cell even if he would be able to kill the guards somehow, which might have been impossible for any normal prisoner. But Arthur himself was a master of Gun-Kata and to be secured in addition his hands were closely tied to his bed, so he could not move in his room without help. All these preparations would not hold him, when the time for escape would have come, but they should believe this to be safe. But he was waiting for message and support from outside these grey walls.
Meanwhile he could talk to the guards, who of course were well known comrades to him. He questioned them about the shifts to come while they spoke of old times. As always their most burning questions enquired the rumors about his betrayal, whether true and what his reason might have been and what for he came back to TX-13 afterwards. Arthur was able to use their curiosity and tell them little about his new ideas and believes in return, though he shared this in small portions and carefully. Nevertheless he caught interest of his guards, who wanted to hear more and therefore hoped to understand his movements and evaluate his new ideas for themselves. Arthur was convinced to be able to pull them onto his side as they found his arguments to be reasonable and matching the philosophy they have been taught in Gun-Kata.
The days went by very quickly with many arguments exchanged between Arthur and his guards. He was glad to be able to use the time while he was tied and the guards in exchange had some food for thought followed by long discussions. Some were very attracted to the idea, others skeptic of how to put the idea into practice. But to Arthur’s fortune none of them did talk about it to others, like they promised to him, before he first told them anything at all. They got more and more into detail, but with every shift he was talking to they touched the point of Prozium drug’s effectiveness, because without it everything would be very difficult to realize. And he was patiently waiting every day, every hour until he might get message from Dr. DuPont.
He almost lost hope, when suddenly another guard showed up with the next shift looking for him. The young man smiled brightly, when he saw Arthur sitting up on his bed to receive his meal with the new shift of guards. Whoever this guy might be, he definitely was no Agent. Arthur knew every single Agent of TX-13, but this guy might wear their uniform and was treaded without any suspicion from his fellow guard, who indeed was a Gun-Kata master of Arthur’s own generation. Questioning Arthur looked at the Agent he knew and trusted, but this man just nodded knowing and secretly. Then the young man spoke for himself.
“You might wonder who I am… Well, I am just a messenger.”
“Then I’m more interested in your master.”
What he then said was truly putting Arthurs mind, slowly decaying from inactivity, alight again. “Dr. DuPont wants to see you. And I have arranged everything to bring you to him.”
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Post by clericjay on Dec 30, 2011 17:51:05 GMT -5
Chapter twenty-eight: Meeting DuPont
Though he was waiting for this very message he just received by an unexpected messenger, he still could not really trust his ears, so he told this young guy dressed up as Agent to repeat his message.
“I said you’re going to meet Dr. DuPont right now.” His bright smile vanished and a look of lacking understanding took its place as if he doubted Arthur to listen. Obviously he did not understand that Arthur could somehow not believe him, so he explained himself a little more:
“I’ve got an arrangement with the door-keepers to let you out right now. None of them is going to report anything of what’s going to happen today to the authorities. Don’t worry, the few soldiers of this complex are good fellows of mine, they’ll keep their mouth shut.”
“There are traitors in the ranks of the army and out of all exactly these guys are sitting in watch for my cell gate?”
“Don’t act so astonished, some might think you’re naïve. Not everyone’s as loyal as the Agency. My friends upstairs are terribly bored as there usually are no prisoners to watch over, because you Gun-Kata dudes mow down everything, so none’s left to be imprisoned. These soldiers down here in the arrestment floors would really love to have some fresh wind in this dusty facility… And you might be their man, putting everything upside down.”
Arthur felt himself a little amused. “Who are you to dare talking this disrespectfully of the government and the Agency?”
“I’m just a well-connected young fellow roaming the bunker looking for something worth my time.”
“And your name if I might ask?”
“Why should I tell you?”
“Well, I might have some use for you in the close future and I’d like to know who I’m dealing with.”
The young man looked as if he had to struggle with himself to tell his name to Arthur as if he was not worthy to be entrusted to this secret. His eyes wandered through the room aimlessly and finally returned to Arthur, patiently waiting for a reply.
“You’re going to be the leader of a new government soon?”
“Maybe… That depends on a few factors.”
The young man was musing for a moment. “No, I think it might be a good idea to bet on you. You indeed look like someone worth a leader. I can see it in your eyes, your will is strong enough to break every resistance. And I shouldn’t stand in your way, when hell breaks loose in TX-13.”
So he bowed down to open Arthur’s chains and then reached him his hand. “My name is Timothy Archer.”
Arthur accepted his hand, but had to speak his mind. “Nice to meet you! You’re a brash young man if I might say that.”
“Well, I’m often underestimated, so I have to make clear that you shouldn’t commit the same mistake. I know what I’m doing and we should get out now.”
So they went out of prison, leaving the Agent door guard behind. Three thick metal gates opened in front of them like they would willingly surrender before risking experiencing violence upon them. In the corridor outside they passed the watchmen’s room, covered by large security glass front. The guards behind were ordinary soldiers, pretending not to see anything, while they went by as if everything was totally normal. When both reached the lift and went upwards, Timothy started to strobe the walls until he pulled a part of its facade out. He took a bag from a hidden storage and gave it to Arthur. It contained normal civil clothing and Arthur exchanged his prisoners dress with it and stored them back in the little hiding place. The lift stopped and beyond the door one of the larger community halls opened in front of them, crowded with a lot of people and soldiers enjoying their little leisure time in this large hall, where they could feel some space around them in times they weren’t allowed to walk the surface for safety reasons. The true reason was to be able to lock the people down there in case anything unexpected would happen like attacks, panics or uprisings. Arthur followed Timothy walking across through the crowd as if everything were totally normal and it would not be a prisoner taking a walk with his guard to visit the most brilliant scientist of this mighty facility. There were a few people who Arthur knew and who might have recognized him, but he was able to pass them without being recognized as people here were occupied with loose chats, eating their meal or relaxing a little on some small artificial grass spots in the hall.
Finally they left this place behind and marched further into the living and apartment sectors until Timothy suddenly stopped at one of the many doors. He took a careful look around and then knocked a quick cascade of seven strokes against the door, which opened instantly. An old lady opened, smiled at him and asked to enter her rooms. She asked them about having something to drink, but Timothy rejected in the name of both and started to pull the grill off the tight ventilation shaft. The young man told not to worry as he has uninstalled every possible blockade in the shaft, which would lead to DuPont’s laboratory through the backdoor as the front is carefully watched and protected. So they were crawling though this shaft, which might have been tight, but still large enough for men to go through. Timothy Archer led him through this labyrinth until both finally dropped out of it on the other end. They fell head over heels out of the entrance and landed on a large soft mattress obviously prepared for visitors to comfort their entrance through this secret entry.
At last Arthur met the genius Frederic DuPont. The small black haired man showed some first signs of ageing by some grey hanks of hair and a crooked back from many nights hanging over books, computer screens and microscopes. He enjoyed a cup of coffee, when his visitors fell, looked up to them and immediately put his cup aside to welcome Arthur, while he was getting up onto his feet again.
“You must be Mr. McGee! Where did you find this formula?”
“You’re obviously very much to the point, aren’t you?” Arthur liked that attitude and he told everything about Equilibrium, its philosophy, the Prozium formula and what he intended to do.
DuPont listened carefully marveling and deeply sunken into his thoughts. When Arthur was almost finished, the laboratories door suddenly opened. A boy about eight or nine years old went in, stopped surprised and stared shocked at Arthur, who must have popped out of nowhere to him. Then he looked at Dupont with large eyes and asked loudly “Daddy, who is that strange man?”
The proud father smiled brightly at him and stretched an arm to welcome the boy. “Gabriel, please come closer. This is Agent Arthur McGee! He has got a very challenging task for me.”
“Oh, then he is invincible with all this Gun-Kata?” Now his eyes really were about to pop out of his skull and pure excitement broke through, when he started to ask countless questions about him, his fights and Gun-Kata and how it feels to be mightier then any other man. It was like he saw some kind of superhero in Arthur, who wasn’t able to answer because of more and more questions and excitement flowed out of the lively child until his father finally stopped him before Arthur came to answer any of it. “Easy, Gabriel! Mr. McGee will be back again and tell you all his thrilling tales another day.”
Pure disappointment broke through, when he complained that he could not wait until then, but his father stayed consequent and send DuPont junior out of the laboratory. He pressed his fingers onto his eyes and circled them a little, before he looked up again and tried to focus his view. “So now you know my only son Gabriel. He is very excited about all this Gun-Kata and fighting stuff. You know how boys of this age are, when they are locked in an underground prison with little to do except daddies boring studies, there’s simply too much energy in them.”
“I don’t know anything about children I’m afraid.”
“Maybe… However, you should know one thing for certain: He is everything I have got and I still value.”
Arthur frowned. “Your inventions saved lives of countless number. Maybe mankind itself wouldn’t exist at all after this war, if we would not be able to reduce radioactivity effectively by your substances. We all owe you our life. Doesn’t this have any value to you?”
“No, that’s too much the praise. I have been nothing but a tool. Nevertheless the future on this devastated planet is too dark for my son to live in.”
“Then believe me, I will restore order again and with your help I could lift mankind onto another level. Prozium will pacify everything evil in man’s heart by taming its wild emotions. I know you understand me.”
“I do… and it might really happen, who knows.” He came closer to Arthur and looked deeply into his eyes to underline the importance of his message. “But I really don’t care about all these things any more. I’m getting old and really weary of all these shifting tides, especially politics. The only reason I continue to live is to secure a future for my son, his sons and many more to come. You’re idea might work or it might not, that’s of no relevance to me. However, I will help you with this under one condition: You will take care of a prosperous future for my son.”
“What should I do?”
“Give him an influential position in your new order; teach him Gun-Kata so he can defend his life against all odds and one more thing: Hold this drug off him!”
“Making exceptions on this is impossible. Any of such unjust exceptions could danger the whole system.”
“Then there will be no system at all. See, I cannot let it happen that my family has to live manipulated by a drug of this strength.”
“No manipulation but purification.”
“Call it as you will, but I will not invent your drug without having your promise.”
“And you don’t doubt my promise?”
“Not a bit. You are an honorable man, who’s possessed by an idea, a vision he wants to make real whatever it costs. And as you’re an Agent, you might be able to set up a new society and lead this flock of people. But one piece of puzzle will always be missing to you and that’s Prozium.”
“So the formula isn’t working?”
“Oh, it’s indeed quite clever, though far from perfect. You could synthesize this, but side effects would soon destroy the nervous system of all your dear people as it is much too strong.” He waved the note paper showing the formula of the Equilibrium book in front of Arthur. “This needs some adaptations and also variations to match different hormonal states for infants, children, puberty and pregnancies.”
Arthur looked sharply at DuPont carefully considering. “And you are able to do all these?”
“Trust me… you will find no better man to do it than me, Mr. McGee… and you know my price.”
Within Arthur everything was fighting against the decision he had to make. The purity of his vision would be at stake if he would loosen the principle of equality on ceasing emotion forever and for every man. How could he be an honest and just ruler, an incorruptible watchmen over Libria’s birth and growth until it would be able to exist and survive on its own, if he started to make deals about its integrity right from the very beginning? His conscience forbid him to accept this deal, but his mind knew that he had to close it for there would not be any chance for Libria to rise at all without the very foundation of Prozium.
His heart and mind struggled over this extortion, while Dr. Frederic DuPont leaned back in his chair grinning knowing and sipping his coffee, which was cooled down meanwhile, patiently waiting for Arthur McGee’s decision, which would decide the fate of Libria and his own, maybe even the fate of the whole world.
This was a historic moment indeed.
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Post by Aedh on Jan 1, 2012 10:33:27 GMT -5
I'm still reading!! Haven't finished yet but I like what I see so far!
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Post by invisiblescientist on Jan 1, 2012 10:36:48 GMT -5
Excellent work. We need more details about how Prozium works, and its effects on the nervous system. Apparently the early versions of Prozium turned out to be too strong, destroying the nervous system. Probably they later designed less powerful versions, but then more people gained back their emotions...
But we need more explanation about the need to take Prozium very frequently. Why did they fail to make sure that the effect lasts at least a few days? Maybe they had to reduce the dosage (or invent a weaker version of the drug) to make sure that the nervous system does not get damaged severely, but then this low dosage (or weaker drug) required taking the medication much more frequently.
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Post by clericjay on Jan 6, 2012 8:13:41 GMT -5
Excellent work. We need more details about how Prozium works, and its effects on the nervous system. Apparently the early versions of Prozium turned out to be too strong, destroying the nervous system. Probably they later designed less powerful versions, but then more people gained back their emotions... But we need more explanation about the need to take Prozium very frequently. Why did they fail to make sure that the effect lasts at least a few days? Maybe they had to reduce the dosage (or invent a weaker version of the drug) to make sure that the nervous system does not get damaged severely, but then this low dosage (or weaker drug) required taking the medication much more frequently. I was thinking in that direction as well and this will be discussed between them in the next chapter. But I don't think that'll go too much into the details... or should it?
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