-I trip to the past. This story takes us back to the Annexation of Canada during the Chinese occupation of Alaska. The newspapers and live covering told the story like this.
When the Chinese took Alaska, Americans demanded that Canada allow them access to fend off the invaders. The Canadian government was not so obtuse. They knew this was a plot to gain access to their own oil supply in Alberta. With the heavy threats taking hold finally Canada had no other option and backed down. As predicted, Canada was annexed which lead to pandemonium in the streets across the country. -
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Chapter 1 - Pilot
"I swore I saw her go in here," the deep voice of a man explained as he moved across the kitchen floor with calculated steps. In the crawl space beneath his feet, terrified green eyes gazed up through the slits in the floorboards. A hand - her own hand - covered her mouth to muffle any sobs she may cry. With each heavy step, a trickle of dust mist her pale, young face.
"Have you been drinking again, Haynes?" another man's voice replied with a tone of arrogance. His voice was much higher than the others. "Come on. We need to get back with the section. I think that news broadcast will air tonight. Did you see how that guys brains just came out! Dude, it was awesome!" he badgered. "I hope they air it tonight. I bet that will make the girls back home beg for this," he added gesturing to his crotch and thrusting it towards his friend.
"Shut up..." the deep voice of Captain Haynes snapped back. "That bitch is in here I know it"
"So what?" the whiny voice rebutted.
"I just want to talk to her, Weeds," was his sarcastic reply.
"Oh? Ooooh," he laughed.
Their voices went quiet now but their steps carried on. They moved around the kitchen in a zig zag pattern trying to find their target. The vibrant green eyes below watched and prayed that these men would just leave. She couldn't see their faces behind the thick armoured helmets they wore. Tears streaked down her face but still, she kept herself from letting out even a whimper.
"I'll check upstairs" the light voice informed. Her eyes went wide as panic replaced the fear. She coughed. Suddenly the helmet's black glass eyes fell to the floor. He knew.
"Got her!" he suddenly called out as the massive metal fist came crashing through the floor. There was a violent ear-piercing scream as she felt the hand lock on her arm and pull her from the lower level crawl space.
"Let me go!" she begged and pleaded with tears in her eyes. "Murderers! Fuck you! FUCK YOU!" she hollered until she felt her throat getting soar. The two men in power armour laughed at the pathetic display.
"Shut the fuck up!" Haynes snapped as he forced her down on the kitchen table.
Plates, cutlery and glasses crashed to the floor and shattered.
It had been set for two - the woman and her husband. The meal had cooked on the stove when there came a knock at the door. Two men asked to see her husband. When he came forth they grabbed him and dragged him into the streets calling him a collaborator. She screamed and pleaded with the men that they were making a mistake. She thrashed and kicked at them knowing too well that their armour shielded them from her lashing.
Her husband begged her to go back inside and hide. They both fell silent for a moment before he uttered a single world. A name. Not her name but a name that made her nod and run back into the house.
Then, they shot him as he knelt with his back turned in a cold-blooded execution. His wife turned back only for a second to see his body crumple and paint the street red with blood. She ran back into the house. To her surprise it was silent. She moved through the kitchen trying to make her way to the stairs but there was no time as the front door was kicked open. Desperately, she looked for a place to hide. She threw open the closet and pulled herself into the crawl space.
The smaller of the two men, the one with the whiny voice suddenly appeared in the kitchen and held down her arms.
"Come on man! We don't want to be late! Hurry up!" he barked to the other. The larger of the two men smiled behind his helmet. He hit the release of the power armour and it fell away off his body. He looked at the terrified woman as if she were nothing. Just another Canadian cunt.
"Fucking collaborating whore!" he snapped as he violently smacked her across the face. She whimpered and gazed up at him with hostile loathing.
At least 6'3 and built by one who took many performance enhancing pharmaceuticals, Haynes was the brick shit house of his regiment. His skin was fair but carried some colour by the sun despite being in the power armour during most of the daylight hours. His face was cold, stoic and his smile was more teasing than friendly. His dark smooth eyebrows caved inwards in his anger and excitement. His neatly maintained crew cut gave him a more authoritative stature then his partner. The icy gray eyes stared down at her terrified face.
He struck her once more with the back of his hand. She screamed and sobbed begging them to stop. There was no chance of that. They cut her clothes away with a knife and laughed as she tried to get away. When Haynes finally finished he held her for Weeds to take his turn.
Weeds was thinner and less defined. His light brown hair was messy and portrayed him as the carefree rebel in the section. He hadn't shaved that morning. He smelt of cigarettes and cheap whiskey. She also noted the marijuana smell that lingered in his air as he lay on top of her. Haynes went one more time before he drew the laser pistol from its holster. Vacant, listless eyes looked to the pistol. She sobbed softly waiting for the inevitable. There was only one shot and her muffled cries were silenced forever.
"This is nice! Bet Karen will love this," Haynes spoke as he pulled the simple white gold necklace off the woman's throat. The sparkling white diamond in the center gleamed up at him in the light of the January sun.
They didn't speak much to one another as they got dress but Weeds sudden gasp just about made Haynes leap on the table. Haynes turned to see whatever had shocked his partner so. They both stood with gaping mouths at the set of big green eyes staring back at them.
The small frail little child didn't speak. Her straight smooth blonde hair clung to her soft pink cheeks. She couldn't have been older than four. She stared at the men in armour with no accusation or alarm. She was entirely vacant of expression. The two men looked at one another in slight disbelief. How long had she been standing there?
"We gotta go, Cap," Weeds finally spoke up as he moved past the child towards the door. Her eyes didn't follow him. They were locked on Haynes who seemed frozen in place by an unknown force. "Haynes! Let's go!" Weeds shouted which seemed to release Haynes from his invisible binds.
Without a word he stepped by the girl who followed his movements down the hallway with only her eyes and a turn of the body. He looked back at her as he shut the door.
For days it haunted Haynes. He couldn't sleep. He barely ate. He had been promoted from Captain to Major with honourable mentioning of his bravery during the war. He was indifferent to the promotion entirely. When his guys went out to the tent to loosen up with the leafy plants Weeds had secured from the local population, Haynes stayed in his room and stared into nothing.
Major Mack Haynes leader the Psychological Operations team of an American Special Forces unit. A former ranger now Green Beret was accredited with more honours then all the men in his section combined. For a man in his late twenties he was the envy of the regiment. Four Medal of Valors, two Silver Stars, one Purple Heart for taking a bullet to the back and his proudest achievement; the Distinguished Service Cross for pulling three men out of a burning Vertibird that had crashed when they had come under fire during a raid. He used the downed aircraft as cover while suppressing enemy fire on his own ad protecting his wounded men. Even after he was shot in the back he continued to hold ground until a medevac was able to land - of course only after the area was cleared all thanks to him.
Haynes wasn't exactly a family man. His career always came first even when the question circulated if he and his long term girlfriend, Karen and him were ever going to settle down. He always gave the boys the same answer. If the army wanted him to have a family, they would issue him one. It was a cliche one liner but the boys enjoyed hearing it nonetheless.
Karen was at home in San Diego. She came from a well off family. Her dad was an investor. Made all his money in stocks. It was a good reason to be with a woman like Karen. She would never take his money. She had her own. She was with him for the status. Nothing like dating the All American Hero of the war against the Commies. The two had met when her father had been invited to a formal function. He had made a large donation to the research and development sector of the company that now supplied these fine young soldiers with the best power armour the lowest bidder would put out.
Karen didn't do much other than spend Daddy's money. With the mother in rehab for drug addiction, Karen was enjoying the night life of the rich and famous while her boyfriend was away playing 'hero.'
With all the glory came the self entitlement. Each medal on his chest told of his bravery but masked the evil within. The burning of houses. The murdering of civilians. The raping of women. He had done some horrible things but there was one he couldn't shake. What had become of the child?
On one of his days off he returned to the house. The man's body was no longer in the streets. As he opened the door he was met with silence. There was no longer a meal on the stove in the kitchen. It looked peaceful and calm inside. There was no blood on the table or the body of the woman. Everything looked as though nothing had gone wrong here. He wondered if a neighbour come and cleared the place. He climbed up the stairs and checked some of the rooms.
Nothing.
Finally, he went to the master bedroom. Before he opened the door he could smell it.
Even through the filter of the mask the smell was strong and sickening. He opened the door and just about collapsed at what he saw. Two bodies with half their heads missing were lying in bed with their arms across one another. Wedged between them was a tiny child whose liquid green eyes stared at him. The sight was disturbing and he felt himself vomit in his mouth and force it back down. She was covered in the blood of her parents. How she had moved their bodies in the house was beyond him. Somehow that tiny body not only got them up the stairs but into their bed too.
He moved across the floor and lifted her out from between the lifeless bodies of her parents. She didn't protest. She wrapped her little arms around his neck as he carried her out of the house.
