Chapter 26: Peacekeepers, part one
AN: Decided to split this chapter into three parts so it'll sound better.
King (Guest): The best way to understand the feeling I would say that image you grew up with no family and the only friend you had dies. It takes time but of course you soon make new friends and those new friends want to cut off your new found fathers head. What do you do?
[Bravo]
Shadows…..Vespin's personal puppets from ever branch of service. Dickheads who were promised wealth and riches for their loyalty, if he said kill your mother than you killed your mother. I was one of those dickheads.
They dragged my almost dead ass off the ground and turned my useless self into something that even scared me sometimes. That's why I did this though, the thrill. There was no better feeling then knowing you could easily kill anyone you meet. While they are talking about how shitty their day was or how fucking cute their kids were you were picking out all of their weaknesses. The way they looked away for a split second when they told some unbelievable story, the way they lifted their hands in the air when their team scored leaving their liver and stomach open. We didn't deal allow weakness.
This was how a killer thought, this was how I thought. Vespin had trained us to be this way so we didn't sympathize with people. We would follow our orders because that was all that was all that mattered. We were dogs loyal to our master.
But even the most domesticated dog can turn on you and we were by no means lovable pooches, more like wolves. Vespin was smart; he didn't just reward us greatly for our service to keep us in line. He kept us on a leash, a very short leash. No one knew where it came from or who made it, not that we asked, but it was Vespin's secret weapon. A drug.
Now this was no normal drug for no ordinary drug could even the odds between a simple soldier and a hunter. We called it P.E.D for performance enhancing drug, how it works is actually pretty simple. An adrenalin rush is our body preparing itself for confrontation; P.E.D stimulates our hypothalamus which is the part of our brain that triggers an adrenalin rush. Once stimulated it sends out a chemical signal to your adrenal glands, activating the sympathetic system, which sends the body into an excited state. These glands release epinephrine and norepinephrine, hormones that create the state of readiness. Combined, they make us more agile, allow us to take in more information and help us use more energy. But adrenaline's effect on muscles accounts for amazing strength. These hormones raise heart rate, increase respiration, slow down digestion, and perhaps most importantly allow muscles to contract. Individuals experiencing this will always have dilated pupils and extreme hunger after it wears off.
Sounds great! A super drug! Except that it's HIGHLY addictive, this is what makes it such an effective leash. It creates an army matched by none but controlled by one. The other reason that it's not something you'll find over the counter is its strain on the heart. That part about it raising heart rate is a double edged sword; yes you are gifted with extreme abilities but you are putting body through hell at the same time. Which is where dosing comes in, users are easily identified by one common piece of equipment. A normal looking watch, not for telling time but designed to buzz at set intervals. The buzz is like dinnertime to Vespin's druggy army. Now the doses don't come free, you have to earn them unless you are in the field.
So that's why that little injector was my life. Why I could continue operate where others couldn't. Why I was so dependent on it. So it's understandable that say my entire supply goes missing I would get a little angry.
Two days I've been babysitting and nursing the woman of Delta back to health on Vespin's orders, I expect he will make her one of us. During that time I've had no contact with the commander or received any supplies. Before he left to face the council he left me with enough to last until he got back. Enough isn't enough though if it's gone! I had changed back into my Headhunter uniform in our personal section of the fort, we shadows couldn't just change from uniform to uniform out in the open. My watch had told me it was way WAY past time for my dose and it's not here!
I went through my locker, not there! I checked my rack, nope! I checked the other's racks, nadda! And to make matters worse that little shit Auburn comes in here and says we got drill. Why they would ever think that my skills needed to be honed I have no idea. I couldn't disobey the lieutenant though; I only had the authority to take command on missions.
So here I was with the fuck ups know as Alpha. They really appreciated my presence too 'I mean just look at those wonderful hand gestures Leon and Auburn are making behind my back' I observed thorough the mirror in the corner of the room.
The range was just that, a range. There was no shoot house or obstacle course. Just a fake hilly scenario and some human sized targets. The room was pretty open actually, there was nothing between us and the targets and the only other rooms were the double doors behind us to leave, and to the right were to the sparing pads and the ones on the left that lead to the quarter master.
"How about we mix things up a bit today?" Announced Robert "We will keep score, might make you macho men try a little harder if your competitive side is stirred.
"What's the point of keeping score if there's no incentive? How about bottom bitch is winners slave for a week, does ANYTHING they say?" Offered Auburn
That was a horrible idea, no one was going to agree to that "Say aye if you're up for it" Robert said to his men.
"Aye" Auburn replied without hesitation
Next was Peach "Aye" This was stupid
Then Leon "Aye" you're kidding right?
And finally Thomas "I'm going to enjoy playing with you Abey, aye" Completely unprofessional.
Why did anyone need a reason to shoot rounds down range or beat the shit out of others? Here I can give you a good one; the enemy wants to kill you. My answer was obvious "No"
The younger men glared at me to which I glared back through the mask. 'Ha fuckers I've been practicing this shit for years 'one of the main reasons I wore this thing was to scare the fuck out of people.
"Overruled" growled Leon
So you wanna measure dicks Leon? Alright fine let's do this fucking contest, I needed a good bitch. Please higher powers let Leon be at the bottom. I mean Auburn would good too but Leon was the prize. The old men didn't interest me and that only left…..
"Aye" I'm defiantly doing this to make Auburn my bitch. Yes I had no hidden motives or anything like that. They were surprised by my sudden admission but let it drop quickly and started picking at one another. As I looked at my hands I realized this might be harder to win then I thought. I was sweating heavily and I could feel a headache coming on 'Hurry Vespin'.
[Vespin, Council building]
The room was loud with questions. I had to really listen to catch the ones I wanted to answer; the media would be my greatest weapon here. In front of my stand were 'honorable' members of the council. They didn't seem too happy about my suggestion.
The eldest, a wrinkly old man, was the first to speak "What you're asking from us is very….unorthodox Commander. It is beyond us to allow such a thing" Here it comes; I could see it in his eyes "Furthermore if we were to create and supply an 'Independent roaming unit' wouldn't we give command to someone of more prestigious standing?"
You just played right into my hand you old fool "Give the position to someone who stood on the sidelines and watched as hundreds died. Unless my memory fails me counselor I'm the only one who took any 'Independent' action for the sake of our people!" I wasn't angry but I would make it appear so. The council would look like the bad guys and be forced to give me what I wanted to save face.
"That was of no fault of ours or our military leaders, mind you that none of our communication was getting out to organize an offensive"
Again right into my hand "So that's your excuse? Men, women and children died because people were afraid that they would get into trouble for acting?!"
The reporters went mad. They were eating it up like candy. The council was starting to catch on but it was too late now. They were in the hole too deep, someone had to answer for the deaths caused by that Grimm and I for obvious reasons was not on the list.
This can't be all you've got oh council. I expected more of an iron front but this was just said to easy. If there was any doubt before that this wouldn't succeed then it was gone when one wild civilian pushed back the MPs and stood in front old bags of flesh. She was a very tanned woman, probably someone from the coast. This ought to be interesting.
"SHELDON, MATT, CASSANDRA!" She yelled while the guards restrained her "Those are the names of my family that died because of you! How can you still sit up there like pompous asses after what you let happen!" They dragged her out kicking and screaming.
The press was all over it, cameras flashing at every angle. Their articles would no doubt contain pictures of the crying girl side by side with pictures of the council at an angle that makes them look menacing. I can read it now 'Girl throws herself at the feet of tyrannical council and calls them out on their evil'
"Commander what you did was honorable and we the council will make sure you're rewarded for your valiant efforts but in no way can we give you a private army! It's ludicrous!"
"You misunderstand me; I don't want you to give me anything but supplies and permission. I will solely handle recruiting from my own pocket if it's for the preservation of our kingdom"
One scoffed "and what would you call this band of 'mercenaries'"
"I would call those brave souls…Peacekeepers"
I let everyone digest this piece of information. They perceived the name just like it's supposed cause righteous and thankless. The name was irony at work, the man who caused all the deaths to come out of this as the hero? Politics are a scary thing.
My main work was done; all that was left to do was wait.
"Peacekeepers…." Started a voice "It is a tragic day when the peace must be enforced with weapons" The speaker wasn't loud at all but it demanded attention. What is he doing here?!
[Alpha Team]
"Auburn…a quick trick that I picked up over the years is not to stop on any target; riflemen don't have the pleasure of focusing on one enemy like a sniper. Sweep the area with your weapon and fire as you pass. The double tap works great with this" Supplied Thomas
Their DM was the best shot on the team but he lacked speed and no matter how much it stung he would always accept any advice from the grizzled veteran "Thanks old man"
The scores were Thomas in the lead then Bravo, Auburn, Robert, Leon and Peach. Bravo was pissed by now, his mood worsening every time failed to get one hundred percent accuracy. But it was all good; they were getting ready to spar now. His favorite.
The sparing room wasn't high tech at all; it was small and scarce actually. The floor was made from a thick blue cushion with white painted square circles on the surface. There was a men and woman's changing room for privacy or late night rendezvous.
"We will do the tops first to be fair, so that's Bravo and Thomas" Came the directions from Robert "Everyone go get your shorts on…..and Bravo you're going to have to take off your mask"
He nodded and took of the creepy damn thing. Everyone except peach focused in on the shadow operative as he took it off with surprising care. What was underneath it surprised them all.
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" asked Auburn
"No I'm not kidding you Corporal" Bravo said behind his full face mask
Leon added his own shit to the pile "No can be that ugly…." He always made sure to make his extreme hatred for the unwanted plus one known.
'Your ass is grass' Thought Bravo…..