James Cameron and Charles Eglee own Dark Angel. My use is in no way meant to challenge their copyrights. This piece is not intended for any profit on the part of the writer, nor is it meant to detract from the commercial viability of the aforementioned (or any other) copyright. Any similarity to any events or persons, either real or fictional, is unintended (and would really be sorta whacked, given some of the events and persons depicted herein).
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XIV – War & Death"Senator, Max wanted me to call and tell you that she won't be there when your people arrest Zack," Alec remembered saying to McElroy. "Something important came up. She wanted me to let you know."
"Are you sure?" McElroy had asked, sounding surprisingly disappointed by the news.
"Absolutely. Besides, I doubt she could have gotten there soon enough, anyway. Aren't you guys right on the Canadian border?"
"No, Zack's place is only a bit outside Seattle. His people are holed up in one of the old Boeing buildings."
"Oh, sorry," Alec had apologized. "I guess I was mistaken." That was all Alec had needed, and now he sat completely still, gazing through the nightvision scope of his Abrams sniper rifle. You'd think the senator would have been a little more careful with that kind of information, whether he thought I was trustworthy or not.
He watched as almost forty Special Forces soldiers slowly advanced on one of the auxiliary buildings. They're patient, he noted, realizing that every single man and woman was crawling along just slowly enough to avoid setting off the motion detectors that he was certain were present. But will that be enough? he wondered. Alec knew that Zack had approximately two dozen soldiers in his headquarters, and that as they were Manticore-trained Special-Ops in their own rights, it was unlikely they would be taken completely by surprise.
Ten minutes passed, then twenty, and thirty. The soldiers' advance was so excruciatingly slow that Alec almost didn't notice when they stopped. What are they up to?
It didn't take long to get an answer. The far-off noise of silenced rotors alerted Alec to the fact that every soldier on the perimeter was little more than a strand in a net. This isn't a sneak-attack, he realized. They must know that even if they succeeded in taking down Zack and his crew, their losses would be enormous. They're gonna give him a chance to surrender.
As if in confirmation of his conclusion, a booming voice echoed out through the night, seeming to come from all directions. "This is the United States military," Alec heard. "The entire facility is surrounded. You are completely out-manned and outgunned." To accentuate the point, eight Apache helicopter gunships descended form the darkness above. Any two of them were more than enough to reduce Zack's stronghold to rubble. And with eight of them, they might just have enough firepower to have an acceptable bargaining position, Alec decided with amusement.
Alec switched his scope from starlight to infrared, watching Zack's people quickly assume defensive positions within the building. It didn't appear that he was considering surrender.
"You have five minutes to surrender yourselves," the voice on the loudspeaker announced. "Should you fail to surrender in that time, we will be forced to take the building by force." Good luck, Alec thought gleefully. In five minutes Zack will have that place sewn up so tight you'll have no choice but to use the Apaches.
Seconds ticked by, and neither side made any move. Alec could tell that Zack had completed deployed his forces into defensive positions, and the Black Omegas were perfectly content where they were, as well. All that's left is the dyin'.
"You have one minute remaining," the loudspeaker boomed. Might as well just go right now, Alec advised silently, deciding that an unexpected early strike might be the government's best chance at avoiding unnecessarily large losses. Probably the best thing for Zack to do, too.
Then, unexpectedly, Alec caught sight of movement within Zack's building. One figure was walking toward a large steel door that opened onto a vast parking lot. A second figure moved to interdict, and Alec could swear he was looking at the infrared signatures of two transgenics having an argument. Seconds started to fly by as the deadline approached, and with seven seconds remaining the first figure brushed past the second and slowly opened the door a few inches.
"What are the terms of surrender?" Alec's jaw dropped when he recognized Zack's voice. Surrender? Zack? What the hell…
"We are prepared to offer amnesty to all of your subordinates," the loudspeaker announced.
"No conditions?"
"They will be required to enlist in the armed forces," the government's representative explained.
"For how long?"
"The duration is yet be determined," the loudspeaker answered. Liars, Alec cursed silently. You know damn well you're gonna demand twenty years. The second figure moved up behind Zack, and once more it appeared as if a heated debate was going on.
"And what about Zack?" Alec heard Brin call out.
"The transgenic leader known as Zack will be arrested," a man answered. Now Alec could see whose voice was on the loudspeakers. A man stood up, removing himself from the Black Omega's perimeter and advancing slowly, speaking into a radio. Sure he'll be arrested, Alec thought with a smile. As if.
The intensity of the argument inside increased, and Zack appeared to make his final decision when he launched a punch directly into Brin's forehead. She fell back several steps, and while she was out of reach, Zack stepped halfway out the door. "Stand down," he ordered his soldiers. Then he turned to face the Black Omegas. "I accept your terms of surrender, providing for safety and amnesty for my people." He walked slowly, with his hands placed behind his head. Twenty paces from the door, he dropped to his knees, waiting for several soldiers to advance and secure him in restraints.
Actually, I guess I should have expected that, Alec decided. The guy was willing to attack Gillette to ensure his people's safety, and then he ate a bullet to save Maxie. He's hard-core, but he won't do anything that'll get his people killed needlessly. Surrender today, live to fight another day. Always the soldier. Despite years of suppressing any semblance of emotion and sentimentality, Alec found himself regretting that he'd never told Zack just how much he respected him. I honestly think he was the best of us…
Alec watched as the Black Omegas advanced on the X5, the once-proud leader first of an escaped squad of rogue transgenics, and later of his own private army waging a covert war against a clandestine foe. Two guards, Alec noted, getting a bead on each of them as they approached. He moved his weapon's crosshairs over the back of each man's skull as he waited for the moment to take action. When they reached Zack, the X5 allowed himself to be shackled, and the two guards pulled him to his feet. Oh well, Alec decided. I guess it's time for the shooting to start. He checked his aim one last time, and then gently pulled the trigger. The remaining half of Zack's head hadn't even hit the pavement before the besieged transgenics opened up on the government's forces.
The Black Omega's response was swift and decisive. All of the Apaches opened up with everything they had, and in seconds the walls of the building were collapsing inward. A few stragglers managed to escape the carnage, only to be incapacitated as soon as they moved into their enemies' sights. Within five minutes it was all over, and with the loss of only one man – an ordinary – the Black Omegas had captured five of Zack's people and killed the rest.
From his vantage point, Alec debated whether or not he should feel guilty about the outcome. I guess I'm the one who's responsible, he admitted silently, but then again, it had to be done. I'll never forgive myself for killing Zack and getting God only knows how many of his people killed, but I know that every single one of them would rather die than allow anyone – especially the government that's abused them for so long – ever stand in judgment over them. Once the shooting stopped, Alec knew he had only moments remaining to make a safe escape. It wouldn't be long before the Black Omegas determined that it wasn't one of their own people who had killed Zack. That would lead them to the obvious conclusion that there had been someone else there.
Bad enough I just got so many of my people killed tonight, Alec decided as he ran across the pine-covered forest floor as he raced toward an access point to an old aqueduct. I'll be damned if I ever get caught and have to explain myself.
To be continued………………………………