Chapter 9: Acts of Violence
The next 48 hours were brutal ones as Draco, Thrax and The Strykers began the training of some 500 gang members. Everyone, including Xion although he was busy compiling a database of every single trainee, took roughly 50 gang members each to train in their fields. Each one of the ten teachers had their students for 4.8 (roughly 4 hours and 47 minutes give or take) hours and in that amount of time had to teach them everything they knew in their selected fields. After the 4.8 hours, the groups would move on to the next teacher until each group of 50 had learned from all ten teachers.
The rotation order moved to the right and is as follows: Draco, Thrax, Zen, Rip, Spike, Diego, Raven, Shade, Demo, and Xion. Draco taught the trainees everything there is to know about commanding and making the best decision for the situation. Thrax taught basic and to some, advanced martial arts training. Zen taught his trainees about stealth during missions and using your surroundings to your tactical advantage. He also scared the shit out of most of the trainees he taught when he moved on to silent killing techniques and body disposal which he demonstrated for one of his classes by using one of the less enthusiastic gang members as an example. Rip gave his students a lesson in field medicine, including some of the emergency stuff and the usage of Flash Fire. Spike taught how to maintain attack vehicles and operate them. Diego showed his trainees the basics of automatic and heavy weapons use. Raven taught his students how to snipe and use a basic sniper rifle. He also gave a few other weapons demonstrations. Shade told his trainees how to clean and maintain your weapon as well as the art of camouflage. Demo gave a wonderful explosives lesson and nearly blew up the underground complex and all of his trainees. Lastly, Xion gave a short lesson on mission planning and strategy. After his lesson he injected small microchip identification tags under the skin of every single trainee so that he could keep track of them and if they died, know who died, where and how.
The ten of them jammed as much information into the 500 minds as they possibly could in 48 hours. By the time the 48 hours were up, everyone was exhausted.
"Man I'm tired." Raven said with a yawn.
"Yeah same here, we've been up for the past 48 hours with not a single wink of sleep." Shade complained.
"I think I could fall asleep right here…" Raven said drowsily, starting to fall over.
"No one is going to bed just yet." Draco said, putting a hand in front of Raven in order to keep him from falling over.
"Why not commander?" Shade whined.
"Because I said so." Draco replied, beginning to look irritated from both lack of sleep and Shade's protest to her orders.
"Draco, baby, we're all tired. No scratch that, we're all exhausted. No one has slept for the past 48 hours and we've all been working hard. Why don't we all just go to sleep and we'll pick up in the morning okay?" Thrax suggested, putting a hand on Draco's shoulder.
" But I have some things I need to say first."
"Can't it wait until morning? Everyone else is sleeping, including the trainees and that little rat Antonio." Thrax said, pointing to the desk in the back of the room where a sleeping Antonio lay curled up, sucking his thumb.
"I guess it will have to." Draco said with a sigh, looking around the room at the faces of all of her Strykers. They all looked dead tired and ready to pass out. "But you guys have been up way past 48 hours with out sleep before."
"Commander, those times were on missions and missions are a lot different than teaching 500 people." Diego answered. "Now can we all just go to sleep?"
"Fine." Draco sighed again. "Good night you guys."
"Night." The Strykers all replied as they trudged off to their rooms.
"You ready Draco?"
"Yeah, sure Thrax. Let's go." Draco replied as they marched off to their room.
Upon arriving at their room, Thrax opened the door and the pair went inside. They closed the door behind them and didn't bother to shower or change into nightclothes. They simply walked into the bedroom, threw off their boots, put their coats on the chair and climbed into the bed. Thrax pulled the covers over them, moving close to Draco, kissing her softly on the forehead.
"Good night Draco." Thrax said, yawning."
"Night Thrax." Draco said with a smile, closing her eyes.
The pair then fell asleep together and wouldn't be waking up until tomorrow afternoon.
32 Hours Before, 8:00 AM
"Sirus! Get you're big head out of the way! You're blocking the TV!" Osmosis Jones whined, remote control in hand.
"Why don't you get off your ass and make me Jones." Sirus said, putting his feet up to further impair Ozzie's vision.
Sirus had sat down on the floor right in front of the TV. He was now leaning back a bit with his feet up on the entertainment center that held the TV.
"Fine I will!" Osmosis yelled, standing up and dropping the remote under the couch. "Now look what you've made me do!"
"It's not my fault Jones. I didn't make you do anything. It was your decision to get up in the first place." Sirus replied, folding his arms.
"FOR THE LAST TIME WILL YOU TWO STOP ARGUING!" Dr. Sanders shouted, walking into the TV room from one of the hallways.
"Jones started it."
"I did not!" Said Ozzie who had half of his body underneath the couch.
"Honestly, you two bicker like a married couple…" Sanders said with a sigh, sitting down on the couch. "Don't forget why we're here in the first place."
"Yes, yes, I haven't forgotten. I'm just tired of waiting for them to come out of hiding, that's all." Sirus replied sounding a bit irritated.
"Well there's not much else we can do but wait so try and make the best of it."
Sirus growled in reply.
Currently, Sanders, his team, Stryker Team Beta, Sirus, Osmosis Jones, The Chief and Drix were all stationed in four separate penthouse sweets in a five star hotel courtesy of the United States Government. The hotel was in the middle of Los Angeles and had a great view of the Santa Monica Bay. Everyone was waiting for some activity from Stryker Team Alpha. So far, there was none.
"Ah ha! I got it!" Osmosis yelled triumphantly, coming out from underneath the couch with the television remote. "I win!"
"Shut up Jones." Sirus growled.
"Make me fat head."
"Did you just say I had a fat head?" Sirus asked, turning his head.
"No, of course not. You have a HUGE head."
"Alright, that's it." Sirus said getting up and walking towards Osmosis. "I'm ripping your limbs off and throwing you out the window!"
"You will do no such thing Sirus!" Sanders interrupted. "Didn't we just have a discussion similar to this less than ten seconds ago?"
"Maybe we did and maybe we didn't. I wasn't listening so you tell me."
"SIRUS STOP ACTING LIKE A CHILD!" Sanders yelled.
"Yeah Sirus, act your age." Osmosis agreed, sitting down next to Sanders on the couch and turning on the TV.
"Why don't you both go dive off a cliff."
"Shut up Sirus, we need to watch the news."
"Sanders, we've been watching the news and the only thing that keeps coming up is the lack of activity from any and all of the LA gangs. Aside from that little news bite, there is nothing." Sirus noted, moving away form the TV and sitting Indian style on the floor next to the recliner. "Give it a rest already."
"I can't Sirus, what if something relating to Alpha actually comes up this time? I can't just throw away the fact that millions of lives are at stake here. Can you?"
Sirus was silent.
"Look I understand that maybe millions of lives may not be a big deal to you, since after all you're a virus, however, they are to me."
"While that may be true Sanders, remember I'm on your side but only because you're against Alpha and want to take them down as much as I do."
Sanders nodded, his eyes transfixed on the television.
"While you two fools watch the news I'm going to go out on the balcony and get some fresh air."
"Uh huh, you go do that Sirus." Osmosis said, in a "whatever" tone of voice.
"Moron." Sirus said under his breath as he walked out onto the balcony. He gazed out upon the city. "What an interesting place, for you and me both sister. There are plenty of places for you and Alpha to hide in here but that makes the idea of the chase more fun, doesn't it? I will find you Draco and when I do, I'll kill you, that is if you're not dead already."
Sirus paused to gaze at his surroundings again.
"But I seriously doubt that."
Present Time, 4:00 PM
"Draco?" Thrax said out of impulse when he woke up found that she was not next to him. "Draco! Where are you!?"
"Thrax, calm down I'm right here." Draco replied peeking into the room. "You don't have to be so worried you know. I'm all better now."
"Yes, I know but when you do that you make me worry." Thrax said, sitting up and getting out of bed.
"Hurry up and get dressed, we have a big day ahead of us." Draco replied, quickly changing the subject.
"No way, you're not getting out of this one baby." Thrax said with sly grin, walking over to Draco and putting his hands on her waist.
"Thrax, seriously now, we have to get started as soon as we can today, I mean we've already slept in later than we needed to."
"Oh no, we're not going anywhere until you promise me you won't do that again."
"Thrax." Draco said sounding serious. "This is no time for games right now."
"And you honestly think I'm playing games Draco? I'm serious about this too. I'm not doing anything until you promise me." Thrax said, also sounding serious, but at the same time pulling her to him.
"Fine, I promise. There's no point in us arguing over this. Now would you please get dressed or changed out of those clothes, you've worn them since we got here."
"Alright baby." Thrax acknowledged, kissing her softly on the lips and then letting her go. "Give me five minutes."
"Fine, you have five minutes." Draco said, leaving the room.
Thrax came out of the bedroom five minutes later fully dressed in a new set of clothes that Antonio was gracious enough to provide. When he exited the bedroom, he found Draco already waiting by the door that lead out into the hallway.
"Are you ready now?" Draco asked, opening the door and stepping out into the hallway.
"Yes, Draco, I'm ready." Thrax replied, stepping out of the room and closing the door behind him.
By the time he had, Draco was already halfway down the hallway and he had to break into a short sprint to catch up with her.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Thrax asked, jogging next to her.
"In case you haven't noticed my dear Thrax, it's already past 4:00 PM and I'd like to get started." Draco replied as she opened the door to the main room. "Diego, status report!"
"All of the troops are upstairs in the warehouse. They have been outfitted in their uniforms and have been issued weapons. They each are carrying two handguns and two sub-machine guns or Uzi's. " Diego replied, saluting Draco.
"Excellent, let's get going then. We have a lot of work to do."
"Commander." Xion said.
"Yes Zee? What is it?"
"I'm going to need a name for your new army so that I can start up a campaign to add more troops to it."
"Ah yes, that's right. Good thinking Xion. Let's see, a name… hmmm… ah, I know! We'll call it the Stryker Liberation Front, liberating the people from themselves. How's that?"
"Sounds good to me Commander, I'll get started on spreading our name right away."
"While you do that, we'll start making ourselves known in a more forceful way." Draco said with a sneer, heading upstairs to the warehouse.
When she walked into the warehouse she saw all of the troops, lined up and ready to be commanded. They were all outfitted in jet-black uniforms with the Stryker emblem printed on the back. Xion had the computers, automated sewing machines and presses going for the past 24 hours in order to get all of these uniforms completed.
"Diego, remind me to compliment Xion on the uniforms." Draco whispered to Diego as she walked up tot he podium.
"No problem Commander." Diego, replied, leaning against the wall with the other Strykers behind her.
"My don't you all look stunning today." Draco said, beaming as she looked over the start of her army. "I trust you all slept well?"
There were nods and a few "yesses" from her troops.
"Good, now down to business. Today we will be testing out your skills and getting you all some field training. We will be leaving this warehouse and going out into the city where we can do some real damage. Our goal is to destroy all who get in our way and after that gain our first piece of territory by taking over the city. I am expecting the United States military to intervene and when they do we will gain control off all their assets including helicopters and tanks."
At that moment, Xion came walking up the stairs with a laptop in hand.
"Ah, Xion, I'm glad you decided to come up here. Why don't you explain to the troops how we'll gain control of what the army brings with them."
"Sure Commander, I can do that." Xion replied, walking up to the podium as Draco stepped aside.
When he got there Xion set his laptop down on top of the podium and adjusted the mike so that he could speak.
"Alright everyone, once we've attracted U.S. military attention they will pour troops, tanks and choppers into the LA area in an attempt to suppress us. However, that isn't going to happen. You see the United States Government's military weaponry all use computers to function. After spending some time inside the Pentagon's computer I have been able to put together a database containing all of the override control codes for each and every vehicle, which have been loaded into this laptop. I'll be monitoring communications to find which platoon and division of troops they're sending and when I do, I'll send out all of the codes needed to take over the technology they're using. In other words, what ever they bring with them will be ours and those pieces of weaponry will be essential in order for us to maintain our hold on the city." Xion concluded, stepping down from the podium.
"Thank you Xion." Draco said, nodding a bit before stepping back up to the podium. "As Xion explained, we will be using the military's own weapons against them. LA will be our first target and then after we have gained more members, we will move on and take over the rest of California and eventually we will reach the east coast and take important cites such as New York City and of course, the capitol Washington DC. From that point we will be unstoppable and after we take hold of both American continents, well will take the rest of the world!"
The group of 500 soldiers cheered and raised their weapons above their heads, some firing off a few rounds in excitement.
"Members of the Stryker Liberation Front, MOVE OUT!" Draco commanded enthusiastically.
In reply to her command, her troops turned around and began to march out of the warehouse. Once they were all out, Draco, Thrax and Stryker followed in four Jeep Wranglers, which Antonio had provided for them.
Santa Monica Boulevard 4:30 PM
No one knew what to say when they saw some 500 armed and uniformed men walking down Santa Monica Boulevard with four Jeep Wranglers behind them. Most people through it was some kind of weird parade since the people in the jeeps looked to be in costume. Most people came out of their homes or opened their windows to watch the "parade". Some people even started clapping and cheering.
It wasn't until after the first soldier opened fire on the crowd that had gathered that everyone realized this wasn't a parade. The cheers were replaced by screams of terror as the soldiers mowed down every living thing in their way. Members of the group walked into people's homes and exterminated those living there before re-joining those marching. After clearing out all signs of life on Santa Monica Boulevard up to the point where it intersects with 14th Street, the army split up into smaller divisions going into other streets and destroying all life in them.
As they went, the creatures in the jeeps were cracking up. Each of the four jeeps followed a different division to ensure that they wouldn't run into trouble. At the end of one of the streets, there were dozens of police cars that had been dispatched to try to deal with the problem.
"Thrax, check it out." Draco said, pointing to the police cars marked LAPD.
"You can't be serious, they actually think they can do something?!?"
Draco laughed in reply, stopping the jeep. Both her and Thrax got out while Xion stayed in the vehicle monitoring military activity and hoping for intervention.
"HOLD YOUR POSITIONS!" Draco ordered, stopping the division about one hundred feet in front of the row of squad cars. Her and Thrax stepped in front of the division, looking over the cops who had their weapons raised from behind the protection of their squad cars.
"STOP OR WE'LL SHOOT!" A police officer said through a megaphone.
Both Draco and Thrax stopped walking.
"GOOD, NOW PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEADS!"
Both Draco and Thrax put their hands behind their heads.
"GOOD NOW STEP FORWARD."
"Wait a moment." Thrax said, grinning. "I thought you just told us to stop?"
"I DID."
"Then why are you telling us to walk again? Couldn't you have just told us to put our hands behind our heads WHILE we were walking toward you?"
"UH…"
"Yes, why didn't you do that?" Draco chimed in, seeing what Thrax was doing.
"I UH…"
"Law enforcement is getting worse and worse these days huh Draco?"
"Yes, Thrax I agree, they just can't seem to make up their minds."
"ARRRRGGGGGG!!!! YOU TWO STOP THAT AND WALK FORWARD, NOW OR WE'LL SHOOT!"
"Oh now he's telling us is we DON'T walk he'll shoot."
"Boy is he intelligent…" Draco said with a shrug.
"STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!" The cop with the megaphone yelled, jumping up and down like a three-year-old child.
Draco and Thrax burst out into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.
Most of the cops lowered their weapons, looking confused. None of them were entirely sure what the hell was going on. They waited for about five minutes before Draco and Thrax stopped laughing and stood up straight. Then the cops raised and aimed their weapons again. Before they did however, both Draco and Thrax reached into their coats and pulled out their sunglasses.
Strangely enough, the pair started to do the tango in front of the police officers who once again lowered their weapons looking totally and utterly confused. After a few steps of the dance, Draco and Thrax came together, their arms pointing at the line of cops, index fingers out. Before the police had any time to react, a huge blast of fire came hurling towards them, the source being Draco and Thrax's fingertips.
The blast hit one of the squad cars, causing it to explode, killing all of the officers who were behind it. That blast triggered the rest of the squad cars to blow up until all that was left were several pieces of smoldering debris.
"That was a blast!" Draco said, falling back into Thrax's arms.
"Yes, indeed it was, literally and figuratively." Thrax replied, catching her. "Hey baby, did you notice that your flames are blue?"
"Really? No I didn't since my sunglasses are tinted red."
"Well take them off and see for yourself."
"Alright." Draco replied removing her sunglasses.
Thrax let go of her as she stood up. Draco then formed a fireball in her hand.
"Wow." Draco said in awe, looking at the brilliant blue fireball in her hand. "I wonder what caused it to do that?"
"I'm not sure, but you can ask Xion about that later I guess."
"Right, speaking of Xion." Draco said, walking over to the jeep. "How's it coming?"
"No military response yet Commander. It looks like we're going to mix things up a little more in order to get a response."
"I see, Xion are we getting any media coverage?"
"Yes, three of the local stations have reporters and camera crews covering the story."
"Where's the closest one?"
"On 19th Street, in front of the Hospital."
"Good, we'll head there. What better way to mix things up than with the media I ask you?" Draco said, starting the jeep.
Thrax climbed in and she started to drive towards 19th Street where they would get some serious media coverage and hopefully, mix things up enough to attract the military.
St. John's Hospital and Medical Center 5:15 PM
Dr. Sanders, his team, Sirus, Stryker Team Beta, Osmosis Jones, Drix and The Chief hightailed it to the Hospital when they saw the commotion being broadcasted by the local news stations. When they arrived they found nearly LA's whole police force in front of the hospital save for a few squads who were positioned at the end of some of the streets in order to set up a blockade. Most of the officers were set up in front of the hospital at the ends of Santa Monica Boulevard and Wilshire Boulevard. Those were the two streets on either side of the block where the hospital was located.
When the military hummers made the scene, the police were happy to know that there would be some military intervention. Dr. Sanders and the Chief of the LAPD met and talked for several minutes, each giving the other information on the current situation until both of them were up to speed.
"So, what did he have to say?" Sirus said, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Apparently a small army consisting of an estimated 500 or so men and several "creatures" have been on a warpath, killing every living thing they see." Sanders replied.
"Creatures huh? Sounds like Draco and her Strykers have created quite a mess."
"Indeed they have. There's no telling how many they've killed already." Sanders agreed.
"I can't wait." Sirus said with a grin, cracking his neck.
"It seems to me that your revenge upon your sister is more important to you than the lives at stake here." The Chief commented.
"Yeah Sirus you big fat viral jerk!" Osmosis yelled in Sirus's face.
"I'm a virus Jones! What do you think was more important to me?" Sirus snapped.
"I knew it! I knew we couldn't trust you! After you get you're revenge you'll kill us just because you can and then destroy all of these innocent lives!"
"On the contrary Jones, at this moment I care about the lives more so than you do. Understand that if everyone here dies, myself and the entire virus population is out of job. VIN regulates the population, not destroys it."
"Oh yeah! Then what about plagues huh? Those can destroy entire populations to humans!"
"The plagues that have been instituted over the years were not all done by us Jones. Most of them are from independent viruses that at the time we could not control."
"And what about today? Can you control them now?"
"Yes. We now have the capabilities to do so Mr. Jones so I wouldn't worry about plagues, unless," Sirus said, turning to Dr. Sanders. " You're government gets a bright idea to create some super germ that starts a plague. If that happens, we have no control over it. That would be the mistake of the human race itself, sending itself to eternal damnation."
"I hate to interrupt this little conversation but it appears that the LAPD have their weapons aimed at something coming down the street." Drix said, pointing.
Sirus, Sanders and Ozzie turned their attention to the entrance or exit (depending on your viewpoint) of Arizona Avenue, located right between Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevard. Coming down the street was a Jeep Wrangler followed by a large mass of black uniformed soldiers carrying Uzi's. The media cameras behind the police blockade were transfixed on the approaching hoard.
"There she is!" Sirus yelled, spying Draco driving the jeep.
"Isn't that your brother?" Thrax asked, spotting Sirus towering behind the row of armed officers.
"Yes." Draco replied flatly. "I must say that I was expecting him."
"It would have surprised me if he didn't decide to show up." Xion said from the back seat.
"And it appears that Jones is here as well…" Thrax said with a devious grin.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here." Draco said, stopping the Jeep about 30 feet from the police blockade, stepping out of the vehicle and walking around to the front of it, sitting on the hood. "Seems as if you and Beta found us Sirus."
"Yes, it seems that way." Sirus replied, stepping in front of a squad car.
Stryker Team Beta followed him, moving out in front of the police blockade.
"I never thought you would go so low as to team up with a human Sirus." Draco said, crossing her legs.
"And what do you call what your doing?"
"I have created an army Sirus, that is much, much different than what you have done."
"I'm not seeing the difference Draco." Sirus said, looking around. "Where is that troublesome Alpha Team of yours?"
"Right here." Diego's voice said.
Three more jeeps rolled in, driving slowly through the crowd of soldiers as they parted. They parked their vehicles right next to Draco's.
"So you finally decided to come out of your snake hole?"
"Of course Sirus." Draco replied, with a grin. "And now that snake is ready to strike."
"Bring it." Sirus beckoned.
"It's your death wish." Draco replied with a sneer, jumping down from the hood of the jeep.
Sirus just stood there, waiting.
"Ready! Aim!" Draco yelled, raising her arm into the air.
As she did her army and Stryker raised and aimed their weapons.
"AND FIRE!" She commanded, swiftly bring her arm down.