Chapter 11: Fifth of November

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"Man, I can't believe they're actually doing this," Brownson chuckled.

"It was a nice plan, but nothing we can't counter," Falligant replied. "You two stay in the bunker. I'll take care of it. Oh, and save some pizza for me," Falligant called as she walked over to a safe, took out various weapons and equipment, and headed out.

"Fally!" Krueckl called. "You might want this," she advised as she tossed Falligant a small remote.

"Ah, I might indeed. Thank you." With a curt nod, Falligant was off.

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Laura's group had finally arrived at the north wall to the command bunker. She looked over her teammates. Everyone was in position.

The attack started with a shot from Justin's AWP that took out a sentry on the bunker's east wall. The attack drew sentries from the other defensive positions, and as they congregated to investigate the matter, Laura saw her chance. "Go go go!" She shouted.

Kar, Dhvani, and Laura rushed in through the north wall in an attempt to break into the main bunker. The plan was not perfect, but it was the best they could come up with. Justin would be in the trees providing sniper support. Dhvani would carry the M4 carbine for close-range fighting. Laura would take the chainsaw as both a close-quarters weapon and a door-opener. Once they managed to force entry, it was hoped that Kar could use his suicide bomb to hold the administrators hostage.

Even though Battle Royale was a secret project, and there had been no time for an Iron Triangle between Congress, interest groups, and the bureaucracy to form, the program had the backing of the Department of Defense. No expense was spared in providing security personnel to the program administrators. These skilled and talented men and women came from all sorts of martial backgrounds, from SEALS to Texas Rangers to ex-Afghan warlords. However, Dhvani and Laura had surprise on their side. They had made it to the front door and were about to chainsaw away when the door suddenly opened.

A flock of doves flew out, startling the revolutionaries enough for Falligant to hit them with a tear gas grenade. The non-lethal assault knocked Laura and Dhvani back, causing a long enough break in the action for the guns-for-hire to regroup and form up around Falligant.

"Cease fire!" Falligant ordered from under her gas mask. "Hajji Halef Omar, stop shooting. I want to taunt them for a little while." She then turned to Laura's group, whose eyes were still red and watery, and grinned.

"Well, it was fun while it lasted. Laura, Dhvani, the plan wasn't perfect, but at least you didn't do something totally dumb like, say, trying to blow this place up by setting your blood on fire. Blood is not an explosive, as I'm sure you remember from my class." She then turned her attention to Kar.

"Kar, Kar, Kar. I would have thought that you had learned your lesson from the East of Eden debacle. You can't fight the system, Kar. And when you try to fight the system-" Falligant suddenly noticed Kar's hand snaking up to the controls of his suicide bomb vest. She immediately brought up her remote control and pressed a few buttons.

The Battle Royale collars were marvelous devices, tiny compact amalgamations of microphone, pulse monitor, GPS receiver, and of course, bomb. It was safe to say that everyone on the island expected the collar's detonation to be a gigantic decapitating boom. However, because the bomb had to compete for space with so many other gadgets, its effect on Kar was a bit anti-climactic. There was a small poof, followed by a spray of red tissue that revealed a bleeding gap where Kar's Adam's apple used to be.

"As I was saying, when you try to fight the system, well, the system fights back, and the system hits with a lot more power than you can imagine." Falligant finished her spiel only to find herself staring down the barrel of Dhvani's carbine.

"What, you still haven't learned your lesson? You cannot destroy the program simply by me. The Battle Royale is not merely a tangible thing. Battle Royale is an idea, and ideas are bulletproof. Besides, I can turn this entire grid into a danger zone at the press of a button, and even if you kill me, you still have Brownson and Krueckl to consider." She then raised her voice, clearly intending for Justin Wei to hear her next words. "As for your sniper in the trees, well, he should be careful. He only has two bullets left in that AWP. Now he could provide you with cover fire, after which his ammo would run out, Brownson would turn this place into a danger zone, and he would have no way of retrieving your weapons."

Falligant smiled. "Or, if he's a smart kid who plays by the rules, he could head to the grid directly west of this one, and if he waits for a few minutes he might find that there might possibly be some additional ammunition available."

Now, Justin was a smart kid, and he needed no prodding from Falligant to understand that he was in a rather disadvantageous situation that could be quickly remedied. He quietly moseyed on over to the designated spot and waited.

"As Quan would say, 'I win.'" Falligant pressed another button on her remote. There was a gurgling scream from Laura, followed by a sound of thunder as Dhvani managed to get off a shot before her throat exploded. Falligant, too, fell backwards with a grunt. A second later, she brushed herself off and got back up.

"You're not the only one with a bulletproof vest," she laughed as she turned to address her troops. "Oye, Chico. Go see to Justin's ammunition. Give him another clip; that should be enough."

Then, to everyone's surprise, she began to recite an old English nursery rhyme.

"Remember, remember the fifth of November,

The gunpowder, treason, and plot.

I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent

To blow up the King and Parliament.

Three score barrels of powder below,

Poor old England to overthrow;

By God's providence he was catch'd

With a dark lantern and burning match.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

Hip hip hoorah!"

After some more laughter, Falligant turned and strode back to the command bunker.

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"Attention all students, grid F7 is now a danger zone. Oh, and please don't get any bright ideas about attacking the command bunker. Several of your friends have already tried that. Needless to say, it didn't work."

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24 students remain.