Redwall Forever Changed
Written by Lee Schroeder
Redwall is copyright Brian Jacques. Just so you know, this isn't canon to any story and stands by itself. Sorry for the long wait. A combination of a lack of inspiration, a vacation, and sheer laziness slowed this chapter down a lot. Hopefully, I'm on the right track. If I make any mistakes, then please let me know and I'll correct right away.
"What the heck are you doing?" a voice cried in the dark, echoing out in the abyss.
Moments later, the sequenced sound of lights turning on. It became clear when the lights glowed red, that the emergency generator had kicked in. A figure in the room gasped and coughed as he attempted to pull himself up. After leaning his weak body against a control panel that now lay covered with broken glass that had come from the windows above, he attempted to rest.
When he had caught his breath and gained the strength, he then surveyed the landscape. Outside the broken windows was a large device that stood in the middle of a large room surrounded by computer terminals and what appeared to be bodies that lay strewn around the device.
A loud bang was heard from behind him. Too weak to see what it was coming from, all he could do was wait for the banging to continue until the door gave way. Soldiers flooded in, cocking their guns and pointing their weapon flashlights straight at what was now a scientist, bruised and beaten. Looking back, all he could see were a series of bright lights.
When a figure approached him, grabbed his arms to his back, and handcuffed him, all he could do was wait. A voice which was muddled to him, saying, "You are under arrest for possible terrorist activities..." The rest, faded out into a blur as he cried out in tears. Not from the arrest, but from what had happened earlier. Although what he remembered was fragmented, he still could see what had happened nonetheless. Everything then turned to black. Before the world had finally faded from view, the last words he could hear were, "Get him up soldier!"
A man stood, looking out to an occupied airfield from inside the safety of a nearby office. Wearing the decorations of an Air Force General, he stared with pride at what he saw. Near one of the hangers, he could see an airman showing raw cadets the function of an airplane; while soldiers marched on the roads in a perfect grid with a tune he knew all too well.
With a click of a heel and a salute from behind, the general simply ordered, "At ease soldier."
The general turned around to face a First Lieutenant holding documents out to the general. Taking the documents, he took a look at the description, closed it, and tossed it on his desk. "What do those pencil pushers think they are? This should be the job of the Department of Defense! Not us!" the general said, almost ready to yell.
"Sir?" the Lieutenant said, confused at the statement.
"I'm sure you've read the documents yourself Lieutenant Matthew." the general stated.
"Yes sir, I have. However, I don't really think that it was terrorists that did it."
"Go on. Lieutenant" the general said, eager for an answer.
"Although the teleporter incident caused the blackout of Denver for two hours, the evidence seems to suggest that it was more of an accident rather than terrorist activities." Matt stated.
The general stared at him, signaling Matt to continue even further, "After looking at the information gathered from the scientists we interrogated, we seem to have a foggy picture of what happened. It seems that the teleporter was somehow turned on and then without warning went on overload. However, there was no current signs of sabotage at the moment."
"So how did it overload then?" the general asked, puzzled at the predicament at hand.
"The only information we could get from the interrogation, was that the teleporter was not quite ready to be tested yet." Matt replied.
"And the man in charge of the project?" the general asked.
"In a civilian hospital, awaiting recovery." Matt replied.
"What the heck is that man doing in a Civilian Hospital? Doesn't anyone know that if the press hounds get wind of this, that it could ruin our reputation?" the general yelled.
"May I remind you that the hospital here at the Academy is now a clinic due to monetary constraints, and sending him to a hospital in Ft. Carson was out of the question due to his the seriousness of his injuries?" Matt stated, attempting to keep a straight face in spite of the general's anger.
After a few moments of deep breaths and calming down, the general then grabbed the reports, and calmly headed to the door. "I wish to have a personal talk with the man that was in charge. See to it that everyone knows that I will be absent for the rest of the day." the general ordered.
"But sir, you don't get off of work for a few hours still!" Matt stated.
"You're out of line soldier. See to it immediately! This is more important." the general barked at the Lieutenant before slamming the door behind him.