Ch. 28: Evacuation: Hong Kong Part 1

A.N.:

Hi everyone,

I am trying to do short chapters again to make the story easier to read. Plus…my semester is getting towards the end so I am going to have less and less time to devote to this…sadly.

Quick note: I am aware that Hong Kong is technically not part of China. Trust me alright? I will explain in the next chapter.

Thanks to everyone still sticking to the story. I know I have gone way beyond the premise of the game series so I don't blame those who have walked away from my story. So, seriously, to those still reading this, I thank you.

The beginning of this chapter is a series of flashbacks.

If I get enough time, I might post another chapter this weekend.

Read and review if you want. Input and helpful feedback is always welcomed.

'Okay…so what do we know?' I thought to myself as I looked over my notes as I sat behind my desk. Looking through my handwritten notes, I thought, 'Armacham Technology Corporation specializes in communications, aerospace…among other things. Primary contractor since the 1970's has been the United States Armed Forces…not surprising since they are based in the United States. ATC is doing something with psychics…likely communication based. Could also be espionage…since psychics can read minds and thus would be perfect as spies. Not near as likely though because only strong psychics can and even then, most people are not capable of harnessing it sufficiently to be able to do it at will. Plus, some people cannot be read…period. No…it's all about the costs and getting rich as fast as possible.'

I paused and looked up when I thought I heard a soft movement nearby. I turned around and searched my dismal bedroom for a possible threat. I failed to detect anything with my senses and I could not detect any signatures with my psychic abilities. Shrugging, I turned back to my notes. I continued, 'They are experimenting on the kids at my school. Why? What is the connection between…Alma in Project Origin…and…I believe I wrote it down…yes…Project Paragon?'

I paused. I definitely heard something that time. Standing, I turned around to face my room. Timidly, I called out, "W-Who's th-there?" I did not receive a response. I knew something was there. Frightened, I reached for the small knife that I was using as a paperweight. However, as soon as my pale right hand grasped the cheap, black, plastic grip of the folding pocketknife, another hand, this one frigid and frost grey, gently held mine to the surface of the desk.

Despite my racing thoughts, I smiled when I felt her breath wafting against the side of my face as she asked, "You on edge Michael. Why? Bad people hurt you?"

I smiled despite the fresh pain in the right side of my face as I shook my head. I released my grip on the knife. She gently began to take full possession of my right hand. I uncoiled my tense body and let my arm become limp. She guided me to face her and then slowly began to pull me in closer. Due to my retarded physical growth caused by poor nutrition, I was much shorter than most of the children my age.

As such, she was bigger than I was in both height and overall body build. To say that that her body, whose contours could only be justly described as those belonging to a blossoming embodiment of feminine power and sexuality, was more built than my own was like comparing the thickness of a piece of notebook paper to the thickness of a piece of construction paper. True, construction paper is thicker than notebook paper but they are both extremely thin.

As we held each other like two dancing partners, her beautiful eyes filled with crushing sorrow and now with traces of deep concern studied me. After a moment, she slowly lifted her right hand up to the right side of my face. As she gently traced the outline of the new cut wound that ran from the top of my cheek down to my upper lip, she asked, "What happened?"

She lowered her hand back down to hold me as I replied, "These kids at school…they followed me into the locker room in the gym. They ganged up on me and one of them had a knife. I tried to get away but they held me while the one with the knife slashed me. I got angry and used my emotions to make them sick. I took the knife but they said that they were going to get their friends and beat the shit out of me." I smiled slightly before I continued, "I did what you said to do with the hallucinations. They started screaming about monsters and voices. One of them had a nervous breakdown. He had to be taken to a mental hospital. I almost got suspended but I didn't."

She smiled proudly before she said, "I knew you could do it. You need be careful though. Trouble bad." I felt my cheeks getting hot and knew that I was blushing. Alma giggled slightly in response. She removed her hands as she said, "Found book for you."

Curious, I asked, "What?"

She smiled as she presented a thick, leather bound book entitled, "Ancient Greece: History and Mythology". She extended it out towards me and I took it from her slowly.

As if I was spellbound, I studied the front cover for what seemed like ages. When I finally looked up, she had moved closer to me. As she stood before me, she used her mind to turn the pages to a certain page. She commented, "I think you find this fascinating." The page had a black and white picture of some Greek warriors in battle formation. Below them, the title of the section was written in bold font. It read, "Sparta: The Military Powerhouse of Ancient Greece."

My senses returned as I heard the sound of the same little girl giggling. I knew immediately that something was wrong. The last thing that I remembered was deciding to get a little nap inside the APC before we arrived at Valkyrie Tower to arrest Aristide, the President of Armacham Technology Corporation. The memory of my mentor's death and the screams of the people that I had merciless cut down in my anger-fueled rampage had robbed me of sleep the past few weeks.

Somehow, I had managed to slip into the arms of sleep's embrace but instead of relief, I instead had heard what sounded like a little girl singing a melody and through the haze, I thought I had seen the outline of a tree and a meadow. Then, everything went black until just now as I once again had heard the little girl giggle.

I realized that I was lying prostrate against what appeared to be a burnt patch of asphalt. The world around me had a foreboding ambiance and as I my gloved hands found purchase on the cracked asphalt surface, I could have sworn that I detected the same giggling that I had just heard seconds prior. As I lifted myself up, I was suddenly met with the sight of a pale, raven-haired young girl around eight years old.

She was wearing a blood stained, simple, long sleeve red dress that was cut to reach her knees. I nearly cried out as I saw her feet. They were caked with blood, but I had no clue as to whose blood it was. In her grasp, she held a rather depressing and creepy looking doll. She looked down at me and seemed to be studying me as if I was a curiosity that needed to be analyzed.

Nostalgia hit me as if I knew her somehow but my head started to throb as I tried to delve into my memories to undercover the source of the feeling. I recoiled away from the dark yet beautiful little girl. My left hand landed on the side of the burning wreck of a car. By that time, the strange child had disappeared.

I stood completely and took in my surroundings. I thought to myself, 'Okay…this is new.' I found myself surrounded by the remains of a ruined modern city. The sky was red as if it were burning. Only the sound of a breeze blowing through the air could be heard. Burning pieces of ash that resembled smoldering embers lazily rained down from the hellish sky. 'Well…if you thought that you were crazy before…'

Deciding to play along, I cautiously started to make my way forward. I moved away from the car and towards the lit patch of ground that was being illuminated by what appeared to be a taxicab. As I neared it, I saw the mysterious child materialize. She looked at me once again before slowly turning and walking away. I realized that she wanted me to follow her. Maybe she knew a way out of this nightmarish landscape. As I approached her, she suddenly disappeared again as voices filled my mind. Soon afterwards, red pulses of light accompanied by waves of pain in my head temporarily plagued my vision.

However, just as soon as they appeared, the red pulses and, thankfully, the pain vanished. As if I was under her spell, I continued to chase after the gothic themed young succubus. Before I realized what I was thinking, I found myself wanting to have her as my new master. Disturbed by how easily her presence had undermined my resistance, I tried to harden my resolve but found that any attempt to resist her was futile. Without even knowing her name, I desired to give her myself to do with whatever she wanted.

As I neared a tree illuminated by an orange glow beneath it, I saw her materialize once again. She walked towards it but as I tried to approach her, she disappeared again as red pluses flashed in my vision. I arrived at the tree and found that a swing hung down from one of its thick branches. Below the swing, I saw an orange hole in the ground. As I stood before it, I briefly hesitated before I steeled myself and jumped into it.

'Damn it Keegan! Snap out of it!' I thought as I fought my way to the control panel for the amplifier. Over the distant chorus of the bitch's ecstasy, Keegan kept demanding to know why she wanted me instead of him. The sight of his charred face, or rather faces as he suddenly was able to multiply himself, nearly made me dry heave as I continued to weather his attacks.

This whole situation made me sick. Aristide had played me, for all I knew my entire squad had once again been wiped out, Keegan had been turned against me and now, I was being forced to fight him while that nightmare called Alma Wade had trapped me in some hallucination so she could force herself upon my defenseless body.

I berated myself for having actually felt sorry for the twisted girl. She had shown me parts of her life, or had at least attempted to. While I had not gone so far as to go against my orders, I had hesitated slightly when Stokes had decided that we would follow Halford's advice on how to destroy Alma. Personally, I believed that this was a fool's mission and that nothing in the arsenal of humanity could destroy the vengeful spirit. She could bend and warp reality as she saw fit.

Nothing that I could do with my powers, or whatever the Hell it was that I was supposed to use against her, was going to hurt her, let alone destroy her. Still, I had resigned myself to my fate as Stokes strapped me into the amplifier. Orders were orders; my mission was my mission; my personal feelings were not part of that mission. My life had been a never-ending chain of needless hardship and suffering. I had never complained; just keep marching like a good little tin solider. At least, my death would finally put a broken soldier out of his misery. Then, that lunatic Aristide showed up and everything went to proverbial shit.

Finally, I started to pull the last lever on the console towards me. Keegan threw himself against me and we entered one last battle of wills. As we fought over control of the sidearm, he continued to address me with his demented voice. After a brief struggle, I gained the upper hand and began to force the barrel of the pistol to his head.

As I did, my vision suddenly an image of the bitch's bare, admittedly beautiful, blue tinted, because of the amplifier, body as she straddled my waist and cried out in pleasure. She forced my vision back to the hallucination. He suddenly pleaded, "Becket…" Once again, I saw the bitch briefly before shifting back to Keegan. He continued, "Help…me." Keegan and I had not had enough time to become close or even friends by any sense, but he was a fellow Delta Operative. I would not stand by and let him suffer.

I pulled the trigger and his head exploded. Moments later, his body faded into a cloud of ash. I wanted to cry out in disgust and horror, but I forced myself onwards. With her cries of ecstasy filling my mind without reprieve, I pulled the lever towards me. I saw her nude, healthy adult form levitating in the circle of roots in the center of the hallucination as she suddenly started to cry out in agony.

I smirked in satisfaction as I heard her pain filled cries. My vision returned to the interior of the amplifier and I hoped that it was permanent this time. Above me, the bitch screamed as she disintegrated into particulate matter. 'That's right bitch. Burn!' I thought with cruel delight. Blue light filled the space once again and I heard the amplifier make noises as if it was unlocking.

Confused, I thought, 'Hmm…that's odd. Who would be unlocking the amplifier? Aristide? If she is, she had better pray that I am still strapped down. Probably not though because I would imagine that she shit herself and ran off once Alma showed up. Manny defying orders again? Probably…at least this means that he is still alive.'

However, suddenly the amplifier seemed to malfunction and I became aware of an intense amount of heat coming from my surrounds as I also heard the sound of fires burning furiously. When the amplifier opened, I wanted to scream when I saw the burning landscape around me. I also noticed that I was somehow free from the restraints yet I could not move. I suddenly felt extremely cold when I noticed her casually standing before me.

Immediately, I noticed that her abdomen was swollen as if she was…no, no please God no! My pleas fell on deaf ears and the now pregnant Alma Wade approached me. She reached down and I tried to flinch as I anticipated being assaulted by mind numbing agony from her touch. Instead, her touch felt pleasant, frigid but still pleasant, and I stifled my cries as I waited to see what she would do next.

She guided my gloved left hand up and gently pressed it to her swollen abdomen. I wanted to grab my knife, plunge it into her birth canal, slice her open, and destroy the disgusting abomination that was growing inside of her. However, I stopped cold when I heard the child voice ask, "Mommy?" I lifted my head up to look at her. The demon smirked at me in victory before my vision turned to black as my mind was forced into unconsciousness.

"Get away…" I muttered.

"Michael, come back to me."

I flinched slightly at the sound of her voice. As I fought blindly in the dark abyss, I replied, "No…stay away."

My vision started to clear and I heard her haunting voice say, "Michael, wake up…" I continued to resist her as I saw the outline of her child form's face in front of me.

I saw a much larger figure enter my field of view and address me, "Sir, we are approaching the LZ Nine of Diamonds." Instantly, my vision cleared and my memories returned.

I replied, "Copy that Alpha 1." He extended his left hand towards me and I took it. The armored veteran helped me to my feet. My mind raced briefly before I reoriented myself.

Alma looked up at me with her beautiful eyes filled with hurt as she said, "I'm sorry…"

I knelled down and pulled her into an embrace. As she rested her head against the left side of mine, I said, "That was then…this is now. I will never forgive you for what you did…but I don't hold it against you anymore. You were confused and scared. You were just doing what your instincts were telling you to do. I can no more blame you for doing those things than I can blame a dog for barking at a stranger."

I retracted from her before I briefly kissed her on her lips. Then, I retracted from her completely and stood. She smiled with a noticeable red tint in her cheeks that faded quickly as she tried to hide her shyness. I looked away and took in my surroundings.

I was inside the cargo bay of the armored Black Hawk codenamed Reaper 1 along with Alpha 1, Point Man, Sergeant Holiday, Foxtrot 813, and Sergeant Passalaqua. Two Replicas operated the two miniguns and another Replica was a copilot as Sergeant Morales piloted the Special Ops variant Black Hawk over the besieged metropolis.

The air was hot and humid due to the approaching firestorm of blood red clouds. My body and Dark Signal armor were slightly soaked with sweat. I looked out of the open cargo bay doors and at the city beneath us. We were in Hong Kong, China to assist in the evacuation of China. Hong Kong was the last remaining hope for the citizens of the collapsing country to escape the legions of Hell soldiers under the command of Akira.

China was the last remaining stronghold in Asia for nearly three days. Its shear industrial might temporarily allowed it to hold out against the legions of the damned but eventually, its already strained natural resources ran dry. The port city of Hong Kong was now all that was left of the once vast country. By the time that we had arrived, Hong Kong Island was the last remaining section of the city.

The People's Liberation Army had demolished all the access routes to the island to buy themselves time, but it was like trying to hold back an avalanche with a silk sheet. In a co-operation of F.E.A.R., NATO Forces, the People's Liberation Army, and Spartan Forces, the city was being evacuated via the fleet of ships in the deep harbor of the city.

Under my direction, NATO Forces partnered with F.E.A.R., the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions of Spartans, and liaisons from Sparta (i.e. Jin Sun-Kwon and Lieutenant Stokes) were tasked with maintaining control of the makeshift evacuation center in the southern section of the city and assisting the refugees. The 2nd and 3rd Air Wings of the Spartan Air Force along with various flights from NATO maintained a protective shield around the fleet. As an added measure of security, the mighty ex-IJN Yamato battleship Athena had taken up station in the harbor. With her powerful armament, she was vaporizing any threat that managed to penetrate the air cover.

Meanwhile, Dark Signal and the 1st Air Wing of the Spartan Air Force were being deployed into the other parts of the city to assist the struggling People's Liberation Army as they attempted to evacuate their citizens. Below us, the neon lit city was burning as Akira's Army laid waste to it as they marched through the city streets. So far, only the Eastern District, which was located along the northeastern shore of the island, was infested by Akira's forces, but how long that would continue was anyone's guess.

As we neared the LZ, which was located on the roof of one of the commercial buildings in the Central District, I commented, "Damn…talk about human sardines. Reminds me of England…fucking buildings stacked wall to wall. Pity…I hear that when these buildings were first built, the city was pretty clean…now, might as well be slums. Can't blame them though, that is a lot of people to take care of. There are worse places in America…"

I spoke into my com link, "Ghost Rider, do you have eyes on?"

The Spartan AC-130U designated Ghost Rider responded, "Affirmative, sir."

I asked, "What is the sitrep for the LZ?"

The gunship replied, "Area around LZ is secure. We have eyes on multiple civilian and friendly military contacts. However, we have eyes on multiple incoming hostile contacts approaching from the east. Area around primary target is already compromised. Recommend caution, sir."

I said, "Copy Ghost Rider. Remain on station until further orders."

Ghost Rider replied, "Roger that, sir."

Morales called out, "Beginning final approach." The Black Hawk moved towards the relatively short two-story building located about a click from the tenement building where our primary mission objective, the President of the People's Republic of China, was located. We would proceed the rest of the way on foot. As we moved to a hover above the building, one of the taller buildings towards the east collapsed and crumbled in upon itself as it succumbed to the force of gravity.

Holiday commented, "Akira sure isn't wasting her time in demolishing this place." We attached rappel ropes to the hull of the Black Hawk. Alpha 1 and I took point. We lowered ourselves to the ground. As soon as my boots hit the ground, I raised my rifle up at the ready. Alpha 1 moved to stand next to me as we waited for the rest of the team. Shortly afterwards, we were joined by the other operatives.

I said, "Check your gear. Everyone green?" After a moment, they all signaled that they were ready. As I motioned forward, I said, "Alright, let's move." With my rifle at the ready, I led the way to the fire escape. After descending the staircase, I entered the surface streets. Shear panic filled the smoky air as civilians fled for their lives towards the Southern District where the evacuation center was located.

As I left the alley, I was suddenly approached by a Chinese man in a disheveled business suit speaking into a microphone along with another man holding a large camera. In English he said, "The Spartans have just arrived on the scene. Excuse me…" He held the microphone out towards me and asked, "Can I get a statement? Is it true that Sparta has taken charge of the evacuation of Hong Kong? Is there any word on the status of the President?"

The man with the camera edged closer until the camera lens was nearly in my face. As I calmly pushed my way past them, I replied, "All civilians should proceed to the evacuation center."

After I had moved a short distance away, behind me, I head Alma say sweetly, "Hi."

I turned back to see Alma in her clean child form smiling at the men as the rest of my squad quickly made their way past the news team. The cameraman moved to get a closer shot of the raven haired goddess and the reporter asked her, "Are you the one called Alma…from Project Origin?" She giggled for a moment before nodding. The man asked, "Are the rumors that you are the one leading the Spartans true?"

She shrugged before replying with a cute, innocent, childish voice, "I dunno."

The man seemed to be getting a headache from the negativity of her presence because I saw him briefly raise his free hand up to clasp his forehead before he said, "Excuse me…okay…" He lowered his hand back down and continued, "Some officials have stated that you and the Spartans are just a bunch of terrorists operating under the guise of a militant society and are just as much of a threat to humanity as these creatures. What do you have to say to these statements?"

She stiffened and her childish demeanor vanished. The dark spirited goddess gave the man her emotionless expression as she tilted her head to the right for a moment. Then, she taunted, "Does your wife know about how you like to…touch…the young female interns and lick their…tiny…soft…feet?"

The man recoiled away from her as he said defensively, "I have…no…idea what you are…talking about."

She smiled victoriously before she stated, "We all have our dark secrets…just know that we are here to help. Now, our methods may be unorthodox and our soldiers may be a little scary looking but we mean no one any harm." Her expression and voice darkened slightly as she continued, "Be damn grateful that we have even bothered to help you. Stay out of our way. Got it?" The reporter nodded quickly. Her childish demeanor returned as she smiled sweetly and waved before she said, "Have a pleasant evening." The cameraman moved out of her way as she began to skip towards me as if she was visiting a theme park.

As she approached, I said, "Alma, stop scaring the locals."

She pouted for a moment before she said defensively, "But he started it." I sighed as I started moving forward. She walked beside me with Alpha 1 as we made our way down the panic filled street. Abandoned vehicles dotted the street, making it clear that any military convoys were going to have a hard time navigating the city.

I asked her, "Where is Amara?"

Alma replied, "Cheering up the refugees. Dr. Green and her followers are there too."

Somewhat concerned, I asked, "Dr. Green? Why?"

She shrugged before she said, "Not sure…something about assisting the Messiah and her new flock."

I groaned before I commented, "Great…just what we need…more nutjobs."

As we approached a blockade of several EQ2058s, which looked suspiciously like copies of American Humvees, I noticed a squad of Chinese soldiers taking cover behind them. When we neared them, one of the soldiers motioned towards me as he said, "Spartans, over here."

I smirked before I replied, "Sorry, I don't speak English."

He laughed before he said, "So, you have a sense of humor. Good. So, are you guys the ones called…Dark Signal?"

I replied, "Affirmative."

He said, "Nice to meet you then, Sergeant Becket. Your reputation precedes you. The one named Stokes called ahead and said that you might need a tour guide so…" He went to attention and said, "Captain Lee of the People's Liberation Army, at your service."

I nodded and then said, "We need to get to the President before they find him. You wouldn't happen to know a shortcut would you?"

He replied, "Follow me." He made his way towards a side alley and we followed behind him.