Chapter XV
2249
Jeremy
Explosive Finale
Jeremy awoke from his troubled sleep to a thump, a "Look…out….", and a horridly bloodcurdling sound that could only be described as heaving. They were coming from the corridor. Jeremy went to the door and opened it. The thing he saw terrified him. The colonel lie dead on the floor. Marines in green surrounded Garth.
"This shrimp-"
"I'm not a shrimp!"
"-murdered our colonel!" they chanted. "Get him!"
In a moment a dozen soldiers were on Garth; tackling him, beating him and even shooting him.
"Stop!" Jeremy cried. "Stop, stop, stop!" But the enraged soldiers didn't cease their assault on Garth. They were as blinded by fury and vengence as a bull.
"Stop!" Jeremy pleaded again. "You'll kill him!"
Finally when Garth stopped moving, the merciless beaters stopped slowly. They thought they had murdered Garth in cold blood. So did Jeremy.
He rushed up to Garth's unmoving body and screamed: "No Garth, you can't die on me! Please!" He picked himself up and charged at the attackers.
Tears pouring from his eyes, he yelled: "You monsters!" he cried, pounding his fists into the chest of one of the soldiers. "You've just taken the life of an innocent person! How will you barbarians live with yourselves!"
He kneeled over Garth's body again: "No Garth, you can't go!" he sniffed and sobbed. "You're the only one I have!"
The sight of Jeremy bent over Garth, lamenting him, the somber soldiers even shedding a few tears was truly pitiful. The scene was a melancholy one, regret showing in the eyes of some, sadness in others, and tears blurring a few. They thought Garth was dead.