The 12 Week War
Chapter 1- The End of A Beginning
Secret Firefly Hideout in Boston- December 2016, 4:30 morning.
2 weeks after the power struggle…
He was very, very angry. Climbing out of the black SUV, he slammed the back door shut and rushed along to the entrance of the hideout without his guard. He paused as he noticed the blood stains and scorch marks along the door's lining. The glass itself was busted. He just stepped over and heard it crunch beneath his black combat boots. His guard, Jared, finally caught up.
"Sir, please, I understand you're angry but still, just wai-", his rifle-bearing guard began.
"Save it! When I find that bastard… the doctor will pay for this."
"Roland…" the older man stopped in his tracks. "You need to remember: you gave the greenlight on this journey of his."
"I had no idea what he was working on. He told me it was for research on the cordeyceps infection. But Marauders get involved?! How the fuck do the damned Marauders get involved in simple supply raids?
"I don't know, sir… Carl… the doctor dropped the ball", the young man conceded.
"Oh, you're fucking right he did!" Roland exclaimed loudly as possible. Other occupants of the base had noticed their leader's anger and did their best to steer clear and tend their wounded.
"Look, I don't know what to say. At least hear him out before you decide to do whatever you're planning", the guard said.
"I heard him out once and look where that got us!" he froze and kicked a dead body wearing dark armor, hard. "Do you see this shit? Imagine the heat that will come down on us from the military. And God knows what the fucking Hunters have planned for their 'retribution'".
Jared froze. "Sir, you didn't hear?" he said in a leveled tone.
"What?"
"A Firefly on the expedition found out what was really going on and found a way to settle a deal with the main Hunters he came across", he said simply.
"What? How would I know that? I've been killing infected way in California! How did he do that? Who was it? …was it the same one that saved…"
The guard looked down and said, "Yes, sir it is".
"When I find this man remind me to thank him".
"Of course, sir." The young Firefly continued down a pathway. "But you could always do it right about now. If you feel like waiting. He's here. In the base getting treatment for gunshot wounds".
"Damn it! How much longer does he have?"
"I don't know anything about that, sir. He might just pull through. If he can make it through the shit he's seen, he can make it through anything. You know, they call him "The Wraithslayer" for what he did at some winter resort. Took down that one faction of Hunters, the "Wraiths of Lakeside", all by himself I hear. I was a part of the clean-up crew for that. If it's true that he did all of that, then damn… he'll make it through this."
"That's… that's impressive. I suppose the Hunters don't necessarily appreciate that from him", Roland mused.
"No, he was a target for most of the expedition after that. And that was just after his Firefly faction community was raided way out westward. He knew that he could've been killed at any moment and still went to deal with the Hunters to end this fight."
"One more reason to be thankful for him. What's this hero's name?"
"I hate to say it but…" the young guard paused in of a door with a red caduceus on it.
"You don't know", Roland said.
"I don't know. But, here's what I do know. Dr. Westmore is probably behind this door, surveying the destruction he caused and wondering, 'Could I get away with this?'"
"Let me answer that for him". The Firefly leader pushed the door open and as his young guard would have it, there the lying bastard was, Carl Westmore, 'surveying' a man on his deathbed surrounded by other medics that were actually eager to save his life. The doctor looked on with a certain twisted look as though to say, 'This is what you deserve'. 'That bastard!' Roland thought.
"Westmore!"
He was visibly startled and jumped slightly. His light-brown hair partially covered his face and stubble made him look like a failed rock star or something like that. His height made it difficult to not spot him and that's probably what he wanted: attention. Roland was about to give him some.
"Y-yes, sir?" he said timidly.
Roland advanced on him slowly, murderous intent building with each step but was met with concerned gazes from the medics. 'Not the place for this shit', he thought, 'you'll get yours… later'. "What the hell am I looking at here?" The man looked slightly annoyed at the scene before him: a young Firefly recruit, unconscious, medics stood over him, concern written all over their manner.
The doctor was surprised at first, but quickly regained composure for his peers. "Sir, that's…" he paused to shuffle through the documents in his hand until he pulled out a circular pendant attached to a silver chain, etched with the symbol of a winged creature split into two. He grimaced in disgust at the name in front of him. "Elijah…Quinn. One of the few survivors from… the expedition incident."
"You mean your little adventure deep into Hunter territory that cost me some of my best men? The one that started all this insanity? The one that almost cost me..." he stopped. She wasn't his to lose, she reminded him that every time he made it clear that he started to worry about her. "That 'incident'?" the Firefly leader said in a hushed, almost enraged tone.
"The one that yielded results like no other, Roland!" it was his turn to sound angry. Until he realized who he was speaking to and lowered his tone. His boss just shook it off. "I mean to say, it's been two years since whatever this is began. The government's come no closer to ending this. I… haven't either. But, I was the one who discovered the possibility of ending this! And I will admit, I miscalculated. I trusted the wrong people with sensitive information, I know this now. But, the discovery we made? I'm sorry, sir, but this…" he gestured around him to the destruction and death. "This led us somewhere great. We now have extensive data on how far the corruption can take someone. How it could absolutely remove anything, whether human or dog, from it is original form and change it into something like a large lion or explosive-throwing maniac! All because of-"
"Of him, because of Quinn." Roland said well aware of the rage building in the doctor.
"What?! Him? That mindless grunt? The one that couldn't even keep his community of less than 26 alive through this war? He's a fucking support crafter! What could he-?" the doctor raged.
"You mean the war that was caused by you overstepping your boundaries? 'Let me accompany a group of raiders into their next trip somewhere far. Who knows what I might find?' I've heard around about him. You wouldn't have made it without him", Roland mocked Dr. Westmore.
"And look at what I did find! Something that could turn the tide against the military and give me free rein on my research!"
"You. Wanted. To Spread. The fucking-!", Roland was ready to snap.
A hacking cough and abrupt cry interrupted them.
"Oh shit, he's awake. I need you to hold him down before he tears his bandages and bleeds out!"
Westmore walked away grumbling "…save us all the trouble", "waste of supplies". Roland hardly noticed his disappearance except for the fact he was a lot less infuriated and more worried. "Will he make it through?" he thought aloud.
One of the medics spoke up, "If I administer some medication and can keep him calm enough… yes, possibly…"
"Do what you need to do. This man is a hero. A true hero. Keep him alive. Let me know when he's stable enough… for a conversation."
"Yes, sir. Could wait outside and give us some time to work?"
Roland nodded and stepped out. 'The Wraithslayer, huh? This… will be an interesting story to hear', he thought as he stroked his graying beard.
And yes, he was sure as hell was right.
A/N: And away we go to hear the tale of one Firefly's adventure through the series of battles fought during the power struggle for supplies, territory, lives, and a truth that might just break the rest of the world down. Permanently. The story of Elijah A. Quinn continues next time on "The 12 Week War". Who knows where we might go...
You have no idea how good I feel seeing my story on this great site for others to see. I am ecstatic to see if I have a future in this.