Brockton Bay, Merchant Territory 31 December, 23:55 PM
Jeremy knew who he is, or at least he thought he knew before NOD. He wasn't the smartest guy around, his school life proved to him, but he wasn't stupid either. He was ambitious for sure, but his laziness always stood between him and achieving something good in life. Maybe that's why he joined Merchants. The only option is to have a decent income, without fancy education and paper to prove it.
Not that he liked them very much, but his skin colour ensured that the only group he could join were Merchants. Skidmark was also a pretty fair boss, you sell a lot, and you get a good cut from your sales. Sure, if you fucked up, he would probably tear you apart or under drugs which are most of the time.
Jeremy knew who he was until a 14-year girl overdosed in one of his party houses. He didn't know her or was close to her, but when you see a young girl dead in her own vomit and with red eyes after she mixed synthetic drugs with heroin, something breaks inside.
It wasn't the first time someone overdosed, but when adults do that, it is another when children die because of you. He told himself it wasn't his fault, that someone else could sell her drugs if he didn't, but it was him, and it bothered him. He tried to move forward, but he couldn't, and his conciseness continued to leave him sleepless and wary.
He could not sell anymore, without seeing that girl in every customer and as expected his sales decreased. He knew what would happen next. Skidmark would kill him if his quotes continued to decline, which at some point he thought would be okay. Death would stop those stupid dreams, and his conciseness would shut up.
Everything changed when his pal Alex offered to go together on one meeting. Alex was a former soldier and his best buddy since school. At first, he didn't want to, but he had nothing to do and meet Alex later at the abandoned mall. They used to play there while his and Alex's dad worked at docs, and there, he found his salvation.
His first impression was that he was at a religious meeting. Maybe Alex joined some cult, and Jeremy wanted to leave as soon as possible, but he stayed for Alex, and it was the best decision in his life. There he saw him, the prophet.
Kane was a teenager barely in his adulthood, but he had an aura around him that forced people to look, listen and believe. First time since that girl's death, Jeremy feels that his life has a purpose. That he still got a chance to be better and find redemption. Since that first meeting, he never missed any sermons Kane gives. Twice a week, he joined Alex, and every time, his purpose in life became clear.
Alex offered him to work for NOD, and he joined without question. The prophet asked for his help, even indirectly, and he would do everything in his power to not disappoint.
This is why Jeremy closed the doors when the last member of the Black Hand got inside the hall where Skidmark and most of the Merchants celebrate the new year. When people started screaming and tried to open the doors, he stood silent and ensured the doors stayed closed. Even when they begged, threatened, and barter, he stood silent and let the Black Hand kill everyone inside. Kane deemed them unworthy of living in his new world, and Jeremy would do what the prophet demanded if the doubts and voices inside his head stayed silent, it is a reasonable price.
Jenkins Pov
To say he wasn't nervous would be a lie. Still, he was the marine, and the marines get shit done. Even if he needs to speak with a parahuman who can turn the entire junkyard into a weapon.
"This is red 1. We are on positions ser. Waiting for your command. Over"
"This is red-0. I am on my way. Over"
After taking a deep breath, Jenkins slowly cross the junkyard gates. Black hand ensured that no members of Merchants were around to interrupt negotiations. At least the smell wasn't that horrible. Honestly, he expected something worse, but he could see mostly old cars and abandoned electronics around him. Suddenly Jenkins heard a creaking sound as if someone was scratching the metal with a nail.
Then he saw him. Mush was an ugly person. Even junk that surrounds him like armour couldn't hide it. Pink skin, big eyes and a thin body makes him look like a rat without hair except for thin hair on his head. Mush looked like he was horribly sick but lives despite it.
"I told Skimdark to live me the fuck alone tonight," said Mush with a barely restricted anger.
"Hi, my name is Jenkins, and I am here to offer you an opportunity of the lifetime," Jenkins said, ignoring Mush rude behaviour. He even tried to smile, which probably looks ridiculous in such a situation.
"I told you to fuck off" Mush took a step forward and was ready to strike Jenkins.
"Give me a few seconds, and I promise you, you will not regret it," Jenkins said with a pleading tone and hoped that the red team wouldn't kill Mush without his command.
"Talk fast before I lose my patience", offered Mush and lowered his hand.
"I am a member of Brotherhood of Nod, a young but very ambitious organization which would be happy to help you become something better than the minor member of the small band of drug dealers. We are ready to offer better equipment medical help and be a part of something good."
"I work for Merchants, and I don't think Skidmark would be very happy if I leave his group," Mush said, unsure what to do with such a proposal.
Jenkins just raised his hand and looked at his watch 00:05 said it, which means operation probably already started, and if everything goes according to plans, Skidmark is most certainly dead.
"Just five minutes ago, Archer's Bridge Merchants ceased to exist. Skidmark is dead, and Squealer is under our care. So, to be blunt, you are jobless at the moment, but this is also an opportunity for you to join NOD."
Mush just looked at Jenkins with a dumb expression. Like he didn't fully comprehend what Jenkins has said. Slowly he searched for something inside his junk and took out a phone. He tried to call after clicking a few buttons, but no one answered.
"So, what do you say?" asked Jenkins again and put a slight smile on his face.
"It is one of those offers which can't be refused, right?" whispered Mush, almost afraid to move.
"It is, but trust me. You won't regret it," said Jenkins and offered his hand for Mush to shake.
"Then I am in, I guess", answered Mush and offered his normal hand for a handshake.
Ten minutes later, Jenkins got outside after specifying a few details with Mush. So, far Mush asked for nothing special. Good food, a better place to live, not a junkyard preferably and work that does not require him to surround himself with trash.
"This is red-0. Mountain is secure and ready to work. Sending list with his requests. Over"
"Good job, red-0. I will inform Commander about your success. We send a ride to take you home. Stand by."
Jenkins got goosebumps when he heard that voice. He still couldn't get used to Athena's voice. Especially when it was something between a robot and a teenage girl.
Soon enough, he saw a black sedan which should be his ride for a night. Maybe he could even have some drinks with Carter if the man didn't get drunk already.
A few hours later
"Brothers and Sisters, I bring you the excellent news! Tonight we achieved our first victory against the vermins, which poisoned our city and society. Archer's Bridge Merchants no more, and it is all thanks to your hard work and Tiberium blessing. It is merely a beginning, brothers and sisters, for I, Kane, tell that our strive is far from over. There are still many who will try to stop us, cast us down and take our rightful place. Overjoice brothers and sisters, for tonight we feast, but tomorrow we prepare for a new battle. This decade will belong to NOD, for we are the righteous ones. We are united by One Vision, One Purpose, and we will be victorious.
First official record of Kane speech to his followers
1 January 2011
END OF ARC 1
Hi everyone. I am alive and well or as well as I can be. I hope you missed this story because here I have a new chapter! Sorry for the delay but writing this chapter was a pain in the ass. I rewrote it many times and when I finished it, I wasn't sure if it was good enough to post. So if it's changed in future, don't be surprised. At first, I wanted to show how Skidmark died but then I thought it is scarier if we see it from someone else eyes. Then I remember Red Wedding from GoT and this chapter become what it is right now. Also, I wanted the destruction of the Merchants to be something minor. They are not really that impressive and only survived in web novels because no one bothered to deal with them until S9.
Let's talk more about the story. Arc 1 is over and the next chapter will be a small interlude with PRT. I already have a few ideas about what to write about but I am not sure when I will be able to do it. Hopefully soon. Give me some comments and check the previous chapter, my beta improved a lot. I think you might get a better picture of what is going on if you haven't yet.
Blaze1992: Yes, so far I have a plan for another person from a different universe to add to his inner circle. I am also open to suggestions. If you want to see someone in this story you can mention them and why. I would consider if I should add them to the story.
One Vision One Purpose.