Chapter 3: Smashing Heads

Jack awoke in cold sweat with his mind reeling from the dream he just had. It was still dark out side and he couldn't tell the time because he had turned off the alarm clock. Jack rose from his bed and headed to the bathroom to get a shower. He undressed and got into the shower. He turned it on hot and let the water lull his distressed mind. Jack was never one for long showers so he quickly washed and dressed in another pair of cloths.

Jack knew that he could not live as a civilian any longer. The pay the mine provided was too small to afford his rent and food for two people. He was deep in debt.

He knew that credit card companies and banks could not bother him while he was in the military. He decided that he would join the military.

Jack walked over to his bed and took of the top mattress to reveal the box spring mattress. He pulled his pocket knife out of his pocket and cut the cloth layer off of the box spring mattress. In doing so he uncovered a secret compartment that held three matte black attaché cases. The first two were about 3 ½ feet long and 10 inches wide and the second one was 1 ½ feet square. They all had bioscan locks. Jack took them both out and underneath were 10 old, metal army ammunition boxes. He pulled them out 2 by 2 until there were no more in the compartment. Then he slid the top mattress back on the bed.

He grabbed the smallest attaché case and sat on the bed. He put his thumb to the biolock, the display turned green, and two clicks emanated from the case. Jack slowly lifted the lid and revealed a massive silver hand gun and 3 loaded clips. The gun was an IMI Desert Eagle .50AE. One of less than a hundred left in the universe. Its power is legendary among the military and civilians alike. With armor piercing rounds it could pierce 4 inches of Titanium A battle plate and its bullets could travel 10 miles if they did not hit anything. From the back of the handle to muzzle it was as long as Jacks forearm and the .50 cal rounds that it fired were as long as his thumb but slightly wider. It weighed 4 ½ pounds unloaded and 5 ½ loaded. If you did not grip this gun with two hands when you fired even a grown man with healthy bones would suffer a stress fracture or have the guns recoil crack you in the head. Jack slotted a clip into the action and aimed at an imaginary Covenant in front of him. Then his imagining stopped and he took the clip out of the action and put both the gun and the clip back in the case.

Jack heard a sound in his living room and he got up to investigate it. When he entered the living room he saw that Juan had woken up but still remained on the couch, his eyes fixed on the news channel that was being projected.

"20 Covenant destroyers have been spotted in the 5000 Light years from the Jerico System." The female anchor put her cupped hand to her ear to presumably make out the directions that the stage crew were sending to her "This is Captain De Blanc the General of the forces of Jerico VII"

The news anchor disappeared replaced by a gruff middle aged man in a military dress uniform. He was standing out side of the Alamo the greatest military base on Jerico VII. "People of Jerico VII as you know Covenant forces have converged on our planet. In light of this terrible reality I have ordered the draft of all able bodied civilians into the Civilian Militia, a new division in the military. You will join with people in your area to fight for our planet. This is your countries hour of need, Fight for her, for your family and for your self's"

The General phased out and was replaced with the news anchor. "All able bodied citizens are to go to the nearest military base to receive their military training at six o'clock in the morning this Thursday and now we return to our regularly scheduled programs."

"It looks like we have to join the military now" said Juan

"If we are going to join the military I don't want you using the crappy weapons they will issue you. Come on I've got some better ones for you."

"How do you have guns, I thought they were illegal" said Juan

"They are, but I will never give up my weapons for any politician" said Jack

Jack walked into his room and Juan followed. Juan gazed at the pile of boxes on the floor and whistled.

"Wow the cops would have a field day with you" said Juan

"This was well hidden a minute ago" said Jack

"Where" said Juan

"In my bed" said Jack as he lifted the top mattress up to reveal a secret compartment in the second mattress.

"So which gun am I going to use" said Juan

Jack walked over to the pile of boxes and grabbed one of the larger attaché cases. Then he put it on his bed and put his thumb to the biolock. It turned green and 4 clicks sounded from the case. Jack opened the case to reveal a Rifle. The rifle was strange looking. It was about three feet long with a 14 inch barrel that had a flash suppressor on the end. The trigger and handle were further up the rifle than usual and it did not have a trigger guard but a full hand guard that was futuristic looking. On the top of this firearm a scope was mounted that had two knobs, for focus and magnification.

"I'm don't know much about firearms, could you fill me in here" said Juan

"The Rifle is a Steyr Aug A1. It is more of a long range assault rifle" said Jack as he handed the A1 to Juan

Juan took it in his arms and put his eye to the scope and put his finger on the trigger.

"Juan don't put your finger on the trigger if you aren't going to fire" said Jack

"Okay" said Juan

"Here's the clip it goes in the stock right there" said Jack as he handed him the clip and pointed to the place where the clip went

Juan jacked the clip into the gun.

"Flip the safety if you are going to have live ammo in the gun" said Jack

"Where is the safety" asked Juan.

"Right here" explained Jack as he pointed out the safety.

Juan looked the Aug A1 over and then said "Thanks Jack"

"No problem, and in a few minutes we are going to see if they work" said Jack

"They?" said Juan

Jack walked over to the pile of weaponry and picked up the other large attaché case and opened it. The lid flipped up and revealed a steel and polished oak shotgun and a shiny black combat knife. The gun was a 12-guage 870 Remington Magnum Express. He looked down the iron sights and nodded to himself in approval. The Knife was in a boot sheath. He strapped the knife to his leg and put the shotgun on his back with the shoulder strap

Then he took the small attaché case by the handle and opened it, inserted a clip into the action. Then he set the gun down and removed the foam liner of the attaché case that revealed a leather holster for the Dessert Eagle. The holster had slots for 3 clips. Jack put the holster around his waist and holstered the Eagle and slotted 3 clips into the holster as well.

"Holy Crap, don't you have enough" said Juan

"Probably not, let's go" said Jack

Jack walked out of the house with Juan on his tail. As Jack passed the front door he did not bother to lock it. After about 30 more seconds of walking they arrived at his Puma.

"Drop your guns in the car" said Jack

After they dropped the guns in the bed of the tuck they went back up to the apartment to get more armament from Jack's bed room. Jack and Juan both came back to the garage with 2 ammo boxes a piece. Jack came through the door first and saw the 5 people looting his truck.

"Crap, go back hurry" said Jack

"What is it" said Juan after they had gone back up the stairs

"Some people are looting my truck" said Jack

"Crap is right" said Juan "They've got your guns"

"Give me that ammo case" said Jack

Jack took the case and opened it to reveal a few boxes of 12 gauge shells and a black machete. Jack took the machete.

"Do we really have to kill them?" said Juan

"Only if things get ugly out there" said Jack "come on let's go"

Jack gave Juan the machete and took the knife out of his boot for himself.

Jack whispered "follow me"

Jack crouched down and snuck around the parked cars until he was facing the door, the tail gate of the Puma, and the backs of the armed looters. Jack pointed at the bed of the truck and started towards it. Then he slowly crawled into the bed careful not to make any noise and then helped Juan into the bed. Jack motioned to the 50 Pound sand bags and signaled for Juan to pick one up. Jack put one of the tire chains around his neck and rose up from the car with the sandbag and a soda can in hand. Jack threw the can to the stairway that they exited from. The looters dropped they joints and went to investigate. Jack raised the bag over his head and threw it like a soccer player would when the ball goes out of bounds. The bag impacted the head of the thug that had the Aug A1. The thug fell to the ground. Then Juan threw his bag at the thug with the shotgun and he fell just like the first thug. Then Jack jumped out of the truck and approached the thug with the Eagle.

A looter was just turning around when Jack got to him. Jack had the tire chain wrapped around his fist when he delivered the punch to his gut. The thug's right hand contracted causing his index finger to pull the trigger of the Eagle. The trigger let loose the bolt that hit the .50 Cal bullet in the chamber of the Eagle. The bullet then traveled through the air and hit the ceiling of the parking complex. The bullet impact caused concrete shrapnel to fly through the air as the bullet created a dinner plate sized crater in the ceiling. The looter then felt the recoil of the Eagle force his elbow to bend and hit himself right between the eyes. Subsequently the pain of these two blows put the thug in a state of unconsciousness.

Meanwhile Juan had also jumped out of the truck after his throw and picked up the shotgun. Juan then approached a thug armed with a pipe and delivered a blow to the small of his back with the butt of the gun. The thug fell to the ground and he kicked him in the head. He was out like a light bulb. Then he saw a thug getting the drop on Jack as he picked up the Eagle. The thug pulled a length of chain around his throat.

"Drop you weapons or I'll kill him" said the thug to everyone in the garage as he searched hurriedly for the second assailant.

Then Juan rolled from underneath the puma swept the looter's feet from under him. Then as Jack rolled away from his attacker Juan delivered a blow to the looter's chest with the metal pipe as he struggled to come to his feet. After the blow the thug did not try to get up. Juan then held out a hand to Jack. Jack took his hand and Juan hauled him to his feet.

"Thanks" said Jack

"It was the least I could do" said Juan

The looter Juan had just laid out was laying face up and had blood in random spots all over his front. Juan spotted this and wondered why he was so bloody. He had not been hit with a shotgun. Then Juan saw Jack collapse on the ground face down and Juan knew why the looter was so bloody.