18th and 19th Sept 2003
Phalanx
Set the day after "Freak Nation"
Ames' thoughts on the Jam Pony fiasco. And how he got out of his bind.
Chapter 3
A short time later a bus belonging to the SEATTLE METRO POLICE arrives
Ames seeing it pull up, looks at Otto "Get our people in position." He orders! Let's start this game!
NSA snipers stand ready at the windows of a nearby building, their rifles are aimed through small holes in the window panes. Police snipers take aim from the rooftop. The NSA snipers are wearing earpieces. They will obey only Ames.
"Wait for my command."Ames speaks into a microphone that is received by the NSA snipers' earpieces.
Slowly the group from Jam Pony walks outside, led by a lizard man using a human male as a shield . They walk around the front of the bus, headed for its door.
"Take the shot." Ames orders his snipers. This'll be fun! The humans triggering the death of the only one who can save them! Ames thought being careful to hide his glee.
The snipers opened fire, felling a blonde female who was acting as a human shield to 452. Damn! Missed! Ames thought in disgust Inferiors! If you want a job doing, do it yourself! He griped, as the freaks returned fire and that cop, Clemente, Ames had heard him tell 452 his name, tried to get the snipers to cease firing. They only did so on Ames' order. Well that stirred things up nicely! He thought after giving the order to cease firing and to discreetly leave the area .
The transgenics and humans hurry back inside the Jam Pony building, carrying the fallen female. As Ames and Otto approach Clemente again.
"You fed son of a bitch! You get off my scene right now, or I swear I will kick you to the curb myself." Clemente all but yelled, he was so mad.
"Seems your snipers got a little carried away." Ames drolly replied, enjoying the other mans anger.
"Those were your men back there, and we both know it."Clemente responded archly.
"Is that what we know? See, I don't know that at all, but what I do know is that this was just faxed in from the governor's office." Ames smirking, hands him a piece of paper.
"So you got friends in high places. I'm supposed to be impressed?" Clemente asked still incredibly peeved.
"I draw your attention to the part where I'm given overriding jurisdiction. You screwed up, Lieutenant." Ames was really enjoying this. The perfect appetiser to killing 452! He gloated.
"Yeah, when I voted for this nimrod." Clemente crumples the paper.
"Now my tactical team is going to go in and we're going to get this thing done, and you are going to stay out of my way. But thanks for coming out." Ames told him, then he and Otto walked away.
"Damn it."Clemente said to no one in particular and got into his car, but he refused to leave.
Ames had seen that the lieutenant had not left, but was content to let the matter go, since he was now unequivocally in charge.
Night, a van pulls up. The Phalanx get out, dressed in black combat gear, and approach Ames. Their movements are sleek, controlled, their progress stealthy. This is not contrived by them or thought about, they just naturally move without sound. Ames has learnt to make noise as part of his cover, though he has the same ability for stealth as the others.
"Clemente, this is White. I'm inserting my team now. Remember, zero interference." Ames spoke into his radio.
"It's your world."Clemente responded via his radio.
Not yet! But it soon will be! Ames contentedly thought. We just have to terminate the freaks and wait for The Coming!
"What is this? Who are these people?" Otto asked totally perplexed at the sudden unexpected appearance of five strangers in a supposedly secure area. Particularly since they were dressed in combat gear.
"They're on loan from another agency." Ames replied Don't ask me anymore questions, I don't need the hassle of breaking a new second!
"What agency? I don't understand what's going on here, sir." Otto replied in confusion.
"Let's keep it that way. You're not cleared for this op. Now move the men back and secure the perimeter." Ames ordered.
Otto hesitates.
"Walk away. Do it now."Ames ordered C'mon Otto! Obey! Don't grow a backbone now! Walk away!
Otto at last follows his usual pattern and obeys, walking away. Ames turns and speaks to Thula.
"Look at them." He says indicating the crowd. "When we carry her out in a body bag, they'll be clapping and cheering. They'll never know that she was their only hope."
McWeb Software - WYSIWYG HTML Web page editor, Javascript effects and DHTML scripts