David walked down the hall of his monastery. Out of the glass windows, he could see a quiet
and peaceful river that ran beside. Various
aquatic life forms swam in the river; none of them were predatory. On the far side of the river, there was a
garden full of the most beautiful flowers from all over the Galaxy. David passed by another monk on the way. The two exchanged greetings before they each
went on their way. David reached the room under the surface of the
large pond through which the river flowed.
The room was walled entirely with glass that showcased the aquatic life.
The fish, and other creatures that could
be found therein, swam about as David searched through his files for a blueprint. He opened the file cabinet, and thumbed
through until he got to the Ps. He
retrieved from the file the designs he had been working on recently in his
quiet and soothing cell. A new class of
heavily armed bombing ship called the “P-52 Sweeper” designed to systematically
kill off any remaining conduit populations on conquered worlds before human
settlement could be made.
*****
317 hid behind cover as his human opponent, Mike Garretson, searched for him. He pinpointed Mike’s location. He requested a random number. The result was 35703, which instructed him to shoot and miss. 317 emerged from cover. Mike shot him. 317’s health variable was reduced from 781 to 595. 317 ignored the damage and shot slightly up and to the left. Mike quickly dove in the opposite direction, sliding across the sandy desert, and switched weapons. He nailed 317 with the rocket launcher. Health variable reduced to -407. Health variable less than or equal to zero; enemy object 317 removed. A short musical theme played as the words “Congratulations, you won” were displayed for Mike.
The
Image of a rocky desert faded away, leaving only the blank walls of what had
become of the gaming console in the year 4299.
Mike removed his virtual reality helmet. He spoke aloud to 317.
“Oh
c’mon 317, you’re getting easier.”
“I
have not altered any of my variables since you last instructed me to reset them
to levels even farther beyond the highest difficulty setting I naturally
possess,”
“Those
stock settings are for 17-year-old children who are seeking to relax and kill a
few simulations after school,” Mike said. “I am a heavily trained soldier, and the only
reason they let me play around on this thing is to hone my skills. Hence, stop missing intentionally because you
see your unlucky numbers.”
“Sure,”
317 replied.
“Also,”
Mike said, “stop helmet-watching me when I get the sniper because it’s annoying
and stupid.” As he finished his sentence
a loudspeaker called him into another room to be briefed on his squad’s next
assignment.
Mike
arrived at the briefing room on the human ship, the Domination. He stood in line with his squad-mates, Tim, Molly,
John, and Crystal, as he was briefed by their commander.
“Photons,”
The Commander said “Today the Shadow Squad is targeting David Anderson. David is a Alexian Monk living in a
monastery on 568 b. He is currently
working on the designs for a new ship, the P-52 sweeper, designed to aid in our
efforts to exterminate the Conduits by bombing conquered planets from orbit. We will be there guarding him when the shadows
arrive, and we will ensure that they get a solid start on their upcoming losing
streak. Am I understood?”
“Sir,
Yes, Sir,” The Squad said in unison.
“Good
then,” said The Commander. “Let’s go.”
*****
Meanwhile, the Shadow Squad sat in a conduit
drop-ship being cloaked by Kron, discussing their strategy as they headed
toward the planet.
“Aaron,
we need to learn from our mistakes.” Nax said, while crossing his arms. “We
can’t rely entirely on Kron’s cloaking again. We need to use actual stealth.”
“I
agree in theory,” said Aaron “But how else are we going to pull off our plan? We need to get one of us within inches of the glass
while remaining outside of his field of vision.”
“There’s
a waterfall on a nearby hill that leads into the river,” noted Mat. “If we land
nearby, Dany can sneak up behind him from under the water.”
“Alright then,” said Aaron. “Let’s go.”
The
Shadow’s drop-ship landed on the far side of a hill near the monastery. The squad emerged and Kron began cloaking
Nax, who headed to the peak of the hill with his sniper, prepared to eliminate
the target if he escaped what would remain of his cell when Dany was finished with
it.
*****
Meanwhile
down at the pond, David was in his work-room making progress on the Sweeper. The Photons were all nearby. The Commander was keeping direct watch over
Anderson. Tim was watchfully pacing
along the crystal clear river. John was
on another grassy hill with a sniper. Mike
and Molly were scuba-diving in pond itself. Mike was on David’s right and Molly was on the
left. Lastly, Crystal was in the hallway of the Monastery, near David’s cell.
*****
Dany
went around the hill, and headed toward the waterfall. Nax, under Kron’s cloak, was on the hill,
keeping close watch with his sniper. “Be
careful,” he radioed Dany. “There’s a
sniper on the opposite hill. He looks to
be…” Nax paused in confusion. “It looks to be Human Special Forces.”
Dany
looked up, and saw the human watching for movement on the river banks. He slowed down to be less noticeable. He made his way over to the waterfall and dove
into the river. The resulting splash was
indistinguishable from the churn of the waterfall. Dany swam below the surface. Once he got to the edge of the river, he saw
the rest of the Photon Squad in and near the pond. He reached for his radio.
“Aaron,
there are two special forces in the water. It will be impossible to proceed
without them noticing. Can I get a diversion?”
“There
are what?” Aaron responded, wondering what Special Forces would be doing around
the Monastery. “I’ll send one over, I
suppose.” He turned toward Mat. “Dany needs a diversion to force some divers
out of the water. After Nax fakes out
the sniper, make a big show of ‘sneaking’ along the river banks.”
“Got
it,” Mat replied.
“Good. Nax, go for the sniper.”
“On
it,” said Nax. Nax took aim and fired,
going high and to the left of John.
Mat
made his way down and walked along the river banks, trying to strike a balance
between being obvious and not looking like he was trying to be obvious. He succeeded.
The commander noticed him and, falling for the diversion, sent Tim after
Mat. The rest of the squad, except Crystal,
was sent after Nax on the hill.
*****
Tim
rushed at Mat with gun in hand. Mat did
the same. Both fired. Their bullets hit each other in mid-air and
dropped to the ground. Tim leaped up and
tackled Mat, knife drawn. Mat, got knocked
down by the force of the tackle. He
quickly kicked Tim off of him before he could slash his throat. Mat, knowing that Tim was likely to speak his
language spoke aloud.
“I’ve
always noticed that you Humans are partial toward the mass death of unarmed
non-combatants.” Mat said, referring to the sweeper.
Tim
charged at Mat and managed to slash his arm.
“I’ve
always noticed Conduits are partial to complaining about things that they not
only are aiding in at the moment, but do all of the time and have been doing
for thousands of years.” Tim replied.
Mat
aimed his weapon at Tim’s head after he spoke. Tim ducked and evaded the shot.
“We
are the judges of this universe, by divine dictate,” Mat replied “In addition,
I happen to be an assassin. Thus, my
body count is more quality than quantity.”
Tim
lunged at Mat. Mat jumped up, and kicked
Tim down. Tim landed on his stomach, but
managed to turn over before Mat landed on his knees on top of him. As Mat reached for his own knife, Tim punched
Mat in the gut knocking Mat off of him, then stood up facing him.
“Well, given that you
just tried to pin me without restraining my hands, I don’t find it difficult to
believe that you’ve never managed to kill a civilian.”
A
loud explosion was heard at the pond. Tim turned to see what had happened. Mat quickly slashed him in the back with his
knife.
*****
The
massive explosion Dany had caused shook the pond, violently detaching David’s
chamber from the hallway it was previously connected to, briefly replacing
visibility with churning white and bubbles.
The plans for the P-52 Sweeper, as well as all of the other warships
David had been working on, were waterlogged and dispersed throughout the serene
little lake. Anderson himself was
trapped under the chamber whose only open side was pointed down.
Dany
spoke into his radio, “Mission accomplished sir.”
“Great,”
Aaron said, “Now report back to the hill immediately.”
“Yes
sir” Dany said, and did as instructed.
*****
In
the monastery, Crystal was startled by the explosion. She dove into the pond, seeing David trapped.
*****
Before
Mat was able to finish Tim off, Aaron called him to aid in the situation on the
other side of the hill.
“You
got lucky this time,” Mat said, “Do not expect this to happen again.” Mat began running toward the hill.
Tim signaled for a
wormhole back to the ship, but was denied.
“I
don’t care if he lobbed your arm off,” the Commander said. “There are 4 Shadows
on the other side of the hill, and you are going to be helping us out with them.
Understand?”
“There
is a rather severe wound in my back!” Tim shouted.
“Perhaps
there is. I’ll tell you what, if you die from the bleeding, I’ll pretend to be
sad at your funeral. Now move soldier.”
“Yes,
Sir,” Tim said before rushing around the pond and to the other side of the hill
with what little speed he could muster.
*****
Crystal frantically
looked around the lake as David grew closer and closer to drowning. She eventually found a large stone, which she
could barely lift. She grabbed it and
with great difficulty swam above the room and dropped it on top. The glass that walled the chamber
shattered. She went inside, found David,
and swam out dragging him behind. She pulled
him ashore and gave him mouth to mouth.
As he began to breathe again she requested a wormhole for them. It was granted. Having completed their mission, the rest of
the Photon squad worm holed back onto their ship as well. The shadow squad, having failed, also
returned to theirs.
*****
The
Shadow Squad conversed as they ate at the dinner table on The Righteous Judgment.
“It’s
quite the coincidence that there just happened to be a Special Forces squad guarding
the area,” said Nax.
“You
note this for what purpose?” Aaron said.
“The
incredibly obvious fact that they knew we were coming,” Nax responded.
“How
could they?” Aaron asked, “They’d have to know who we were targeting, and there
is no way to acquire that information. It’s
not as if there are no safeguards against that kind of security breach.”
“Well
it appears that they did know somehow” Nax Replied, before going off to bed.
*****
Tim
emerged from the medical ward on the human ship, Domination. He reflected on
the battle.
“How could I allow myself
to be distracted by that explosion?” he thought. “Crystal was able to save the target this
time, but that may not always be the case.
I can’t fail, I can’t ever fail again.
Not after that … that awful failure.”
*****
Aaron,
having finished his meal, put his feet up on the table.
“Aaron, the general is
ready to speak with you.” The briefer announced over a loudspeaker.
Aaron
walked into what was usually his squad’s briefing room. “I’m here sir,” he said aloud.
“I
can see that,” the General replied. “Now what is this I hear about my best
squad failing?”
“We
were able to destroy the plans. Not just for the sweeper, but everything he
had in progress. But the target himself
was rescued from drowning by Human Special Forces” said Aaron.
“Human special forces?”
asked the general, “I find that interesting.
And who is responsible for this failure? Was it because of your newest member?”
“No,”
Aaron quickly responded. “He had nothing to do with it. He performed
perfectly.”
“Then
who?”
“Me,”
said Aaron “I should have anticipated that the humans would have someone
stationed inside the Monastery and had Dany wait to take out anyone who
attempted a rescue”
“I see,” the General
said. He looked directly in Aaron’s
eyes. “Are you afraid of me?”
“Yes,”
Aaron replied. “I’m afraid that you will somehow punish my squad for my
personal failure. All of them followed
their orders and performed their appointed tasks perfectly and-”
“Aaron
we no longer punish soldiers in excessive ways for failure.” the General said. “The knowledge of the innocent deaths that
Anderson’s survival will lead to should be torturous enough for your entire
squad.”
“Yes,
sir,” Aaron replied. He went off to bed.
*****
Later
that night on Domination the
Commander sat back in his chair, holding a drink in one hand, and read from a
display screen in front of him.
Molly
walked in. “What did you call me to see,
sir?” she asked.
“The
Shadow Squad’s target for a specific day isn’t decided upon by their leadership
until the night before they receive a given assignment,” said the Commander. “But they keep a shopping list of individuals
they are planning to get to soon.”
“Interesting,”
Molly replied. “Why are you telling me this?”
“The
Healer is on the list.” the Commander replied.
“Has
he been contacted?” Molly asked.
“Of
course he has” the Commander replied. “He should be out of harm’s way
soon. We wouldn’t want to lose the sort
of icon he’s become.”
