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A Universe Scathed - Part One
Posted By: Adam Stark<Xvash2@sbcglobal.net>
Date: 21 May 2007, 4:52 am
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A universe scathed, a pox set upon itself by its very inhabitants. I, in my own little corner, my own piece, I began to worry as a darkness slowly seethed into the floorboards of my home, an infectious disease that would seem to eat everything it touched. I could not bear to watch as my land, my friends, my life wasted away into a cruel oblivion. The rotting ate away at my heart, like a tick sucking the blood out of your body. The heathens that occupied this planet, Macerr, showed no boundaries to their rape of the land, of nature. But I would have of it no longer. No more insanity, no more desolation. I wanted to bring life back to the wastelands I suddenly found myself in the middle of. But how will I do this? I pondered to myself. I suddenly noticed the two handguns lying there. I stared at them; their cold metal stared in return. I didn't think I would be able to do it. But now, I find myself here, wondering how I did it all. How I was able to finally find an Eden in the midst of the depths of Hell itself. How I was able to pry the tick away, and crush it under the heel of my shoe.
I stepped outside my multi-story apartment unit in the dead center of Macerr City, a bustling metropolis. Cars sped past, a lawless traffic like an untamed river; it rushed down the stream, a carelessness of those who were speeding around. I hailed a cab, stopping the flow, if only for a moment, to join it. The endless amount of urban sprawl rushed past my eyes as I journeyed into the outer edge of town. I had friends there who would get me started. The cab pulled to a stop. I paid the man, and he went on his way. I turned to the gray, concrete skyscraper that stood before me. I eyed the doors, hesitant to enter. I took a deep breath, pushing through the glass doors. It was lavish, almost like a palace or some other royal residence. The lobby, however, had a certain stillness to the air. It felt heavy, almost damp. After I had waited for a few minutes, seeing nobody come or go, I began to wander the corridors. I was about to give up, when at the end of the hall on the top floor, there was a door with my name on it. How out of place it was.
I hesitated one last time, grasping the handle. I closed my eyes and turned the handle, pushing the door forward. My friend sat there, laid back in an office chair. He stood as I approached the table he was seated at. In front of him were bags, plastic cases, all containing mysteries. He smirked, shaking my hand.
"Thanks for coming in. I've been in need of an associate for some time," he proclaimed with great enthusiasm. I smiled a bit, already caught up in the emotion. I had decided what I would do with my life.
I had been given many things. The first was my assignment. I had agreed to help his organization in taking down the people who were corrupting our society. It was the government. Mayor Greenfield, the devil himself, was appearing at a political rally to support the euthanasia of children that wouldn't be beneficial to the society. What the hell was he thinking!? The government has no right to decide if a child should live. The worst of it all was that people supported him. He had a grand following. It was sick. By the time I had calmed down, I had arrived. Tostovich Square.
Tostovich Square was positioned in the heart of the slums, a perfect place to deliver a political message. Well, it sounded good on paper at least. I set myself up on the roof of a condemned apartment building opposite the square. I pulled from the bag I had been given a SRS-99C S2AM Sniper Rifle. Its sleek, gunmetal-gray texture lit up my eyes. I was ecstatic to do this. My mind blanked, and the animal inside was beginning to take over. I locked the barrel into place, followed by the 10-power scope, then the bipod. I unfolded it. The height was perfect. I had half an hour to spare before the rally began, so I zeroed my crosshairs, sighting and resighting the weapon. As the hour approached, my heart raced. I took the four-round magazine and put it into the well, it locking into place. I racked back the bolt, charging the weapon, preparing for my time. There he was. He stepped onto the platform, waving to the audience as they cheered the new law. I cheered inside, training the crosshair on his heart, and as he opened his filthy lips to speak his nonsense, I pulled the trigger.
The crowd screamed and cried in terror as I racked the bolt back and forward. I pulled the trigger and fired another round, putting a hole into the abomination in a human form. He collapsed to the ground as his aides rushed to help him. I was already busy packing up the rifle by the time the crowd began looking for where I might've been. I stuffed the barrel into the duffel, right before puffs of concrete from the building emanated from the wall. They had spotted me. I unzipped the bag for a second, pulling out a compact sub-machine gun. I slung the duffel over my back and began running down the rooftop. I jumped from building to building, dodging bullets from police and security guards. I followed the route I had been given, down to the docks. I made my way down a fire escape on one building into an alley. I turned left, finding nothing but a cold, brick wall. My friend, he had betrayed me. I turned to see how much time I had left. No footsteps, but there was still a crowd dissipating into the surrounding area. I ran back down the alley to the other side, climbing a shorter wall onto the main street. I found myself in the middle of a squad of police officers. They unloaded their handguns at me. I ducked under their line of fire, rolling to the closest one. I put bullets into him, dropping him as pain seared through his body. I ran as they turned to fire. Bullets flew past me, one ripping into my shoulder, nearly dropping me in pain. I ducked into a different alley, returning fire with my gun. A clicking sound rang from the housing of the gun, signaling my doom. I tossed it aside, examining my shortly quickly, then running down the alley. I climbed a rusted fire escape as the officers ran into the alley and created an amazing sight as they fired off countless rounds as me. Sparks flew around me almost like a show on the Fourth of July. The distraction was only for a split second, enough to get me shot again. A small round hit me in the liver, stitching up my side with pain. I reached the top, stumbling around. I looked toward the edge of the building. I knew this would be my last few seconds. I ran and jumped, several hundred feet above the street below. I didn't care if I died, because I knew one simple fact.
One day, I will be a hero. People will realize the grand deed I did that day, and they will praise me as if I were a god. They will say I brought an epiphany to the eyes of the people. They will hold parades. They will create a holiday. I'm a hero for all to see. Even as I plummet to my death, they are preparing the ceremonies.
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