Post by Rodraeg on Apr 28, 2015 14:42:16 GMT -5
Hello, my fellow knights. Here you go, the complete story Evolution. I also put in the first "part", that was posted in an earlier thread.
Important to know is: Play the story "Made not born" before reading Evolution. At a certain point it will not make sense otherwise.
Hopefully there is no lack of details at some points and the motivation of the characters appear all reasonable.
Again, sorry for the spelling and grammar mistakes.
Have fun!
Evolution
It can not be washed away. The rain is pouring on and on, but it does not matter, it can not be washed away. The desolation, the dirt, the filth, this whole crap in this place, it can not be cleaned, not by normal means. If it would rain on, it could become a real flood, but it would only wash away the innocent, the weak. The so called strong would endure, think they are chosen or tell themselves what hard kind of motherfuckers they are and use it even more as a reason to feast upon the weak and exploit them.
I shift position, lay my head back and look into the sky. Some dark cloud is hanging above us and the rain is falling down, in heavy, thick and long drops. In earlier times, it is said, the rain was very pure kind of water, one of the best in quality. I close my eyes and let the rain flow over my face, it feels like oil, and tastes like shit. This is mother nature unloading our pollution and mistreatment right above us, just like we deserve it.
Not a single soul is out. Everyone got himself to safety. I can not blame them. The sensor in my armor shows the light radiation in the air. This was not there, before the rain came falling down. The armor gets the order, the horde of nanites comes to life, the thicker parts on my neck become smaller, the additional stored material shapes a helmet around my head. For a moment, the eyes in the helmet shine bright red, like some demonic monster, right out of a horrorvid. A brief, funny moment. The automated process injects some chems into my bloodstream, to get rid of the radioactivity.
Here I am, sitting on a dirty bench, drenched in slimy, oily water, watching the dirt piles becoming bigger and bigger, tougher, because the rain makes it as hard as concrete. Welcome to Camden Street, a place where no building has intact windows, if it is not even an entire ruin. I have a few safehouses myself, in this neighbourhood. Every single one of them, has a luxury pad installed, so that I am always fully rested, before I set off to work. Just one of these luxury pads is worth a whole building of the rest I assume. Most of these people are struggling to survive. The get by, day by fucking day.
As I think about it, a chilling feeling runs down my spine. My armor suggests a stimulus, to make me feel better. It is declined. When this whole buisness started, I was hooked up on chems in the process. It was the usual procedure, everybody did it. When they told me the training is over and sent me out into the real world, this went on, right before every job, I stimmed up, to get the extra edge, to go the extra mile, to keep the upper hand in every situation.
Rushed by some tough fights, which I survived, more dead than alive, tihs feeling was all I wished for. Again and again, more and more dangerous, but my one and only real friend tagged along, he was glad, to be of service, to help out, to be trained by me, how the big boys played. Bloody hell I trained him... I got him killed! Together we wanted to do some job, I can not even remember for which faction in this forsaken shithole. We stimmed up, we did what we were told and got ambushed. I ran away, wanted to lose our pursuers and he rushed right into them. He did not stand a chance and they took him down very fast. They were so fast, they even almost got me, after they killed him.
The next couple of days are lost to me. I took every chem and stim that could be found, just to erase this memory. He wanted to leran from me and I got him killed, he was my responsibility and I let him down, because I did not know our limits. He was just some crappy brawler an me, I was just some stupid shot, that did not know shit, but thought otherwise. So I got my one and only friend, my ally killed. Rest in peace – Clive Zep.
And rest assured, till then, a lot of Knight Horizon blood was spilled in your name. These fuckers did not even know, why they were occasionally terrorized.
In the end, I realized, the stims got Clive killed. Had I been clear minded, Clives death would have not happened. So I stopped to use stims completely. It can not be said for sure, but I think it saved a lot of lives, my own included.
After having learned the lesson the hard way, I stuck around my neigbourhood, in my league. This was my field of operation, the slums, with the addicts, the brutes, the whores, the whole crap of the city, or just people that try to get by, with the few they have.
Clive came from around this place. He once asked me where I came from. He got no answer. Not because I am a big, walking mystery, I just do not know the answer myself. But I have come a long way, since then. I trained, became better, in everything, worked myself up, climbed some ladders. Then the neighbourhoods changed, the jobs got tougher, the pay better.
But this is, where it just began, the training became even more intense, the jobs even more riskier, the pay became top notch. Now I am an elite knight, everybody wants to be my friend and not one of them wants to be my ally.
I worked my way into every back room, in every corporation. I got some real high risk jobs, they call them operations. There shit can really hit the fan and it often did. But it was woth it, every single time. Not because of the pay, I was not paid, they never paid me. I got something better out of it and they were very angry, very, very angry about it. But here I am, with the best assault rifle Mars could design, my second weapon is a fine machine pistol from the house of Yakashima and my armor – it links itself with the quantum computer in my head. I can control the damn armor with a mere thought. AzTek invented something real nice. I could clean the programm almost alone, but a friend of mine, Kidd, took another sweep, he is even better in hacking than myself.
I also made another new friends and allies. I trained them myself and they became my comrades – family. A friend that has your back is worth more than every credit, in the world. I know this, they know this, we trust each other. I am the boss, I give the orders, I am the knight, but they are my family – my responsibility.
All of them aspired to become knights and I told them, what it means to become a knight, what I learned, during my life as a knight. The corporations erased me, my whole self. Whoever I was, this person was killed during the process. I do not even remember my old name. For a time, I was nothing more than a grim, sinister ghost. ;-)
Now I am a person again. But what have I been before? I can not imagine I was a family man, but did I have a wife, a girlfriend. Did we have dreams about our future together? My friend decided not to pursue becoming a cyber knight any longer, after they were told about the memory wipe. Instead we came up with a plan, it is a foolish thing – impossible to make real.
„AAAAAAAAAH!!! Mommy, help me! Mama!“ Screams rip me back into the real world. My head rushes alarmed from one side, to the other. Where did the screams come from?
„Come on child, scream again!“ I whisper to myself.
„MPH!“ some loud mumbling, as if someone interrupted screams, reach out to me. The armor enhances my hearing, gives me a direction and I run off. A brief moment later I can see them, a brute, with a heavy pistol. He looks tough, not because he is, because he wants to scare off people. In this heavy rain, it is not even necessary, nobody is out here.
Nobody than these butchers and their innocent victim.
Nobody but a helpless mother, looking for her child.
Nobody but a knight in shining armor.
When the brute realises I am rushing him, he lifts his arm and tries to take aim. But I am an elite knight, faster than anybody, I am to close already. My left hand snaps to his arm, the shock gloves do their work, he screams from pain. The palm of my right hand hits his nose and crushes his fucking skull against the wall. I grab his gun and shoot him in the chest, two times. His scream and the noise from the pistol interrupt the butcher, he turns to me, I can see his ugly face. He was about to harvest the child. I shove the dead body of the thug in his direction, just to increase his insecurity further. The dead body falls, blood streams from it. I let myself fall to the ground. The butcher rises his hand, his lips are moving, he wants to say something. Lying in the dirt, the angle ensures the child is no longer threatened to be hit, by a stray shot. A heavy caliber bullet lets the butchers head explode. Smoke rises from the weapon, I start to breath again. The mother comes running, screaming for her child.
These are the free streets, some kind of freedom it is... This is called anarchy. All kinds of warlords reign this place. But they can not even protect their people, their children, their future from mere organ harvesters.
I do not know how many children I have rescued from this exact same situation, too many and too many were lost to them. I look at mother and child, lying in each others arms, hugging tight. This is what it has to be! Not some fucking organ harvesters and warlord thugs running around, terrorizing people!
I have had enough!
I am well aware that I am not qualified, that I am too much of a villian to really be a knight in shining armor. But it does not change the fact that I aspire to be it.
I am the Cyber Knight, Sir Rodraeg Talvassa Delbane. I was not born to be this, they made me. And now, I am going to evolve into something else!
„Kidd, Vector, commence operation!“
The corpses had not much usuable stuff worth salvaging. I took the ammunition clip, from the bouncer for myself and gave all their credits to the mother. This is the least, they deserved, they tried to kill the child.
Shortly after that we leave for the nearest building. A man opens the door, waving to us, he immediately leads the mother and child away, into a bathroom. The child is in dire need to be washed, it is still covered in the harvester his blood. The man approaches me. „I saw the whole thing from my window. Thank you very much, that you helped them.“ He looks away. „I, myself was helpless. Thank you very much.“ He looks for something to give me, to show his gratitude. I interrupt him, I am an elite knight, I am no longer in need of money and I know everybody that is worth to be known, so I do no need any contact chips. But he has something I require to know. „Do you know these people?“
„Mother and child? No, I do not know them.“
„So why did you provide hospitality. In this area everybody struggles. So why help them?“
„These are the free streets, a very desperate place. But we, the normal people, we look out for each other, if we are able to. The Fennians may be famous for looking out for each other, but they are far from being the only ones doing this. And if we do not at least try to watch out for our own, who else will do it?“
I pad him on the shoulder and walk off, outside, into the rain. Anger may have initiated this operation but this right now strenghtend my resolve.
On the way, I pass a lot of damaged buildings, broken windows everywhere, the dirt is piling up. And the rain is making everything solid. The surface of my coat is completely covered in the oily slime. The prototype armor I am wearing could easily withstand the polluted rain, but I do not like to wear my weapons in the open, to pose a potential thread to any bypassers. Even if they know what or who I am, it makes a difference.
I reach my goal without further incidents, the Abandoned Foundry. It does not look like much, but it is a big building, no grafittis are painted on the walls, the windows are intact, although there are massive steel bars protecting them. The building appears to be made of cheap corrugated sheets, as if it yould not withstand anything. But on second look, it is made of massive steel plates, able to withstand quite some damage. I unfold the helmet, the nanomaterial changes its shape and make the layer around my neck thicker again.
I raise my fist and pound the massive steel door. A watch hole is opened up and some curious eyes look me up and down. These eyes recognize me. They know my reputation. And without further delay or any word this reputation opens me the door and lets me in. They know me as a friend of the free streets.
„What's up knight. You look like you have been out in the rain for too long. Want something to wash that shit off your shit?“ The man, that let me in asks me. He looks like a cliche. I do not have the nerve for this nonsense. „Is the boss in? I need to talk to him. It's about business.“, I blaff at him.
„Sure man, you don't need to get cocky.“
The entrance is a small room, there is only one door, that leads further inside the building. Whatever gets through here, is surly expected by some heavy weapons, on the other side. There are three men on watch and it looks like they did not expect any visitors, not in this weather. They can not be blamed. I took their offer and started to cleam my coat, while my request passes through the lines of hierarchy.
The watchmen do their best to ignore me, while I want to be left alone. The rain and the delay got me in a gloomy mood. I almost fell asleep thinking about possible scenarios how the plan may work out. When finally a clanking sound opens the inner door. My reputation helped a lot, my request is granted. While acting as if nothing were abnormal, the quantum computer in my head activates the communication function in my armor. I am on my way inside.
„Begin phase 2.“
Vector made haste through the rain. The heavy rain drops caused some cluthing sounds on his red coat. He was waiting nearby, for the signal. I despise this rain and the clouds look like the world is going to end soon. Some bad omen. I'm not quite sure if our small group is not going to get into something that might be a little too much to handle. On the other hand, the boss never failed me. He made me a profi runner, outfitted me, payed for my gear. And what there is to gain... I'll give it a shot. No, I have to give it my all!
He approached the door, made of hard and cold steel. In a hurry to get out of the rain, Vector pounded three times against it. Again the slit is opened. „Good evening to you, my brave watchmen. The name is Vector, I am a face runner and my boss came by earlier. He told me to wait for him, but as you can see, in this rain, there is not much pleasure in waiting here. If you would be so kind to let me in.“
The door is opened.
„Yeah, your boss passed through, said he wanted to speak to our boss. He was somewhat grumpy. Just hope he won't piss off anyone, or this will turn to the worse. Damn weather, getting everbody in a bad mood.“
„Thank you for letting me in guys. The rian and the cold breeze made me freeze my ass off. There you go, hope you enjoy it.“ Vector said, while putting down a bottle with some quality drink. The three watchmen stare at the bottle in surprise. „Go ahead, us grunts, doing the ground work, we have to stick together. Our bosses are the ones with the big plans and everything, but we have the have our share too. And without a little comfort, now and then, we would loose our edge, right?“
All three of them nod in unision and show a knowing smile.
„Vector it is? Head on through, get into the quarters. AT least the heating works farther there, let your bones defrost a little.“
„Yeah, you are a friend of the Free Streets, head on in.“, another one added.
„Thank you my brave watchmen, I am most gracious to you.“
With a clunking sound the door leading inside the building opens up.
So far so good. This worked even better than expected. Our guy, convinced beforehand and bribed acted as expected and the other two suspected nothing. Or I am walking right into a trap.
There is no trap. The quarters are just some normal, big rooms. In some are bunked beds, to get some shut eye, the most have tables and chairs, arranged in a loose formation, there is even a dining hall. Approximately twenty people are around, talking to each other, waiting for their shift to begin, waiting for the rain to stop, hoping that no mob from another faction invades their territory tonight. The Free Streets are struggling and whoever becomes a servant of a local warlord does so out of desperation. It is not payed well and the risk is high. Although the talks are quite loud and there is also laughing, there is also some strange feeling of desperation, some fear.
„I can't believe it! You! YOU?! Out of everybody got yourself a girlfriend?“
„She must have been born blind.“
„I can't think of any woman so desperate that she would get involved with you.“
A couple of guys were joking, while Vector passed their table. He stopped an listened in on them. The one they were joking about puts a contact chip on the table and activates it. A picture of a beautiful, young woman starts floating in the air. It circles around, so everybody can get a look at her.
„We know each other since we were children. And we stayed friends...“ There is nothing more to be said. This is an old story, told a dozen times, nothing surprising, nothing special, something as usual as it can be. Something like it hast to be.
„Gorgeous.“ Vector says. The couple of guys backes away, surprised by his presence, finally aware of his attendance of the scene.
„Who the hell are you?!“ One of them shouts.
„Calm down. Sorry to have startled you. The name is Vector and I am was just envying you for your pretty girlfriend. She is gorgeous a very beautiful woman.“
The young man, around twenty maybe looks to the side a little embarassed.
„Tell me, what are your plans, for the future? I mean, look at you, how old are you, twenty? Usually nobody this old thinks about having a family. Especially not while working for a warlord in the Free Streets. How long does one live, while doing this work? Your equipment is the worst and your education on how to use this kind of non existent euipment, did you even get some training on how to use these weapons?“ Vector asked provokingly.
Some of the men started yelling, pumping themselves up, for the coming fight. They were insulted, in a very offensinve way. And the culprit was right in front of their eyes parading amidst of them.
„Shut up you fucker! You know nothing of what we are capable!“
„We yould show you, how bad we fight, while we rip you apart!“
„SHUT IT!“ Someone yelled. The men, ready to attack Vector backed away, halted in their intent to kill. Dux, a gunslinger in their ranks had stopped them. He is well respected, not only for his abilities, but also for his serving time. He is one of the oldest, in the lines of the Free Streets, one of the lucky ones that survived.
„Look at him you fools. Do you think he would march right in the lion's den and talk to us like that if there was no greater purpose behind this? And even if there is not, see his armor under the red coat? Rest assured we could take him down, but even for us, it would feel like he had won. But I mentioned some purpose and you better start making sense.“ Dux said, loading his pistols.
„You are the Free Streets. You are the self-service store of the whole NBZ. This young man seems to be to young to even consider having a family, but he does. How long will their happiness last? Most of you die and they die very fast, while your sector is raided by another faction. Some of you even die while a nano polluted clouds passes through. Bombs are laid and rip your people apart, children are butchered by organ harvesters and so on and so on.
But still you preserve.
How about a chance, a chance to prevail?
My boss, a cyber knight, is willing to fund this organization we are about to built. He knows everybody in the NBZ that is worth knowing, he worked with every smuggler and knows how to get them to do as he says. He is willing to use his fortune and his connections to get you, to get US, weapons and armor. You already have the courage to use them. He will provide the knowledge and military training to enable you to use them in a proper way.
You are wondering what you will gain from this? It sounds like you will just be mere pawns in an army. You are right, more or less, you will form an army, a militia. What you will really gain is a foundation for the thin hope you are all grasping on to. You will not only stand a chance against the Los V or the Fennians, you will be able to drive them out and keep it that way. You are going to be able to fight for your own future, secure it and defend it.
And this will be just the beginning! In this sector are many half collapsed buildings, we will erect a school and the children will not only learn the basic stuff as to read and write but also how to fight, how to defend themselves. They will be educated to become technicians, engineers, everything we need to maintain ourselves.
We will contain the pollution, as far as we are capable. The reason for it to be ongoing is simple, the corporations have the means to do something against it, but they do not have the will to do so. There is no profit to be gained, they protect their own people and that's it.
But we can form an organization unified by the cause to make things better for our people. A force worth to be recognized and soon to be feared if you cross our path.
The question is, do you want to keep going like you do and be satisfied with what you have or do you take the chance and try to make the things better?“
„Dux, what do you think?“, someone asked.
„Are you nuts? His boss, the cyber knight saved my live, when I was bound to bleed to death. He even payed for the gear I am wearing now, he trained me for a brief while. He is the sole reason I am still alive. We take this once in a lifetime opportunity!“
„Another time, almost the same situation. I wandered off into the wrong sector and was almost killed, if his boss had not come by and saved me. After that he trained me for a while and also got me some gear. If he is willing to give us a chance, we would damn ourselves if we were not to take it.“, Miss Toma added, another enforcer, whose opinion is well respected, in the lines of the Free Streets.
„Will you follow?“
„Yeah.“
„Will you fight?“
„Yeah!“
„Will WE triumph?“
„YEAH!“
United cheering branded through the hall, as the men and women make their decision heard.
„I am not convinced yet. Besides, we turn traitor to our boss, if we follow you. And there is another question, that needs to be answered: Vector, what is it your boss gains?“ Someone said.
„Hand me your weapons.“, the guard demands. He is some cyber sword brute. In these narrow hallway he would make a fine opponent. But I did not came here to fight.
„Listen, you can be a knight all you want and all be respected by the Free Streets as much as you like. It surprises me, the boss is willing to see you. He never wants to meet anyone. But absolutely no one is to enter with weapons.“ He added. He must have misinterpreted my mustering him. I hand him my assault rifle, my heavy pistol and the Ares Gamma MK5. „What kind of strange stuff are you carrying around?“, he asks.
„Prototype weapons. Some covert operation for a corpration against another but the freight ist lost on the way and the courier is never to be seen. They will remember it, but in due time they will forget. But the lucky bastard that stumbles over the lost package gets his hands on some weapons worth a fortune. See the Ares Gamma MK5, it is based on the MK4, but with some crucial enhancements from Yakashima, they build the best pistols in the NBZ, both designs put together can give you the edge. To bad it was lost, on the way.“
„You are a resourceful lot.“, he answered to my explanation.
„That's why I'm here. Can I go in now?“
„Hold on, I have to make sure, this boss is ready to see you.“
A brief moment later, he opened the door.
As I walk into the room, I circle around myself, to get everything that ist there to see. The room itself is quite dark. A few training devices are standing around. The warlord and three of his guards are occupying a couch in the corner farthest away from the door.
„What is it, knight? Not what you expected?“, the warlord asks, because of my irritated look around.
„I have to admit, no, it is not. In the eyes of the people you are a street gang. Judging by your usual enforcers, you are a street gang. One would expect the usual sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. On the other hand, I have been in the den of the Los V, although a street gang, they are... something else.“
The warlord watches me with steering eyes. He looks somewhat old, haggard, like he has seen to much an it has taken its toll on him, broken his spirit.
His voice is a loud whisper. „You are well known to be a formidable fighter, knight. Only this and the good reputation with the Free Streets, let you get here. What is it, you want.“
„I will be blunt and true: I want this sector.“
Two pistols are immediately pointed in my direction. „Call the men, call our allies. Even if you would be able as to finish the words, you just said, you will never get a job in the NBZ again. A cyber knight acting like this is not to be tolerated, by no one.“ One of the guards said and the third one hurries to a nearby terminal.
„Damn!“
„What is it?“
„I don't know. I can not get a message out, not even out of this room. We are cut off, it seems like the whole matrix has shut down in the sector.“
„Surely the work of a fine hacker. Your doing, I assume.“ The warlord said.
„Not really, but my order.“ I answered.
„Put down your weapons, if you do not want to die.“ He advised his three guards.
One of his men raises his weapon.“ What?! No. I will take you fucker...“ Three bullets take him down. From this act driven over the edge, the other two try to act, but are taken down immediately after the first, without even seeing who shot them.
All the while, the warlord was sitting on the couch, doing nothing. „Well shot, very well, in a dark room, with a fully automatic weapon, must be an expert marksman.“
„Equipped with a Mongoose, prototype machine pistol, in the hands of a skilled Agent EX it is almost as dangerous as an assault rifle.“ I gave back.
„What happens now? Are you going to kill me?“
„Not unless I have to. I am sorry your guards are dead, I did not wanted it to go like that, although, it was expected. I rather have you on my side, acting as if nothing was amiss. Let the world think everything is as it always was, until it is too late and they could no longer stop us.“
„I do not pity them one bit, they may have seemed to be my guards but I told them, to put the guns down. Besides they were holding me kind of hostage.
I was once like you, a well known fighter. I took everyone down, that stood in my way. It felt like nothing could stop me. So I started conquering my own turf but all I did was laying waste to this sector. I crossed the Kelly brothers and they fucked me up. The I-93 Barrens are in this condition because of our battle there. It made this sector into a damn no mans land. There reigns pure anarchy. The Fennians could have taken the sectors for themselves, but instead they placed me here, as a warning, for the whole NBZ, as an example what happens to those, that try to start some shit.
During the battle they wounded me and then they broke me as humiliation they left me here, with their guard dogs, that were killed by you. I lost my fighting spirit a long time ago. And under their eyes I rotted, wasted away, in continious decay. I could ask you to humor me, tell me about your plans, but they do not interest me. I have been dead for years, but these swine did not permit me to die like a warrior deserved, like I deserved to die, alongside my men, years ago.
Step forth, I want to see the man who freed me, from my guard dogs.“
My ally stepped into the light.
„HA!Hahahahahaha.“ the warlords loud voice can be heard, while he laughs his ass off. This is to good, to be true. I thank the both of you and wish you good luck with whatever you have planned, you habe my blessings.“ With these words, the takes the pistol of one or the guards an ends his own life.
„I can see clearly on your face what you think now. But do not worry. We won't take a fully open fight to any other faction – unless we know we will win.“
My ally nods and vanishes into a dark corner, becoming invisible, like a ghost.
Vector, what is it your boss gains?“ Someone said. The room falls silent. All eyes focus on Vector.
„A home.“ I answered instead of my loyal face runner, as I enter the room. All attendents turn to me. „ I am a cyber knight, everyones darling. Everybody wants to be my friend, everybody wants me to do their dirty work, but no one would ever be willing to invite me in.
No faction would allow me to settle in, as I am a cyber knight. But I am growing old, I want to settle down, have a family of my own, maybe even children. But my beloved ones would never be safe, for the sole reason that I am a cyber knight. Sure it has its advantages, but also its backdraws. You will gain exactly what Vector promised you and more. And I will gain the exactly same things.
They made me into a cyber knight and this will be their undoing, because I have become something more. Remember the stories of the old times? Knights in shining armor may have been heroes, but a knight in shining armor never had its metal truly tested. And they never take the princess home and live happiely ever after. But I will.
From this day on, I will be your king!“
It started with a funeral. We laid the former warlord to rest. It was a short act, with little ceremony. But this man had earned our respect. He once was a fierce fighter and his death lasted for years. But when he had the chance, he stepped aside and let someone else take his place. To give up his position, this was a noble deed, which must have taken courage. Although for him, it must have felt like mercy, to be finally free.
All the personnel servicing the former warlord witnessed this and attended the funeral. All doubts regarding their loyalty cleared. They were now my sworn men and women, to service our purpose, secure our sector, rebuild it and let it prosper.
Kidd had done a tremendous job, by blocking all communications, he managed to shut down the whole matrix in the sector. I thanked him thoroughly and let him stay for a few days in my Flat Fairmont safehouse for recovery. He did not stay there though. Right after the funeral he started the work on overhauling our new head quarters. The former warlord was right, Kidd found data how the guards were to report to the Kelly brothers, but these were loose ends. They did not sent any reports for almost a year.
I called in with my contacts and soon after that the first ships arrived bringing us the top notch weapons and armor that were promised. Nobody dared to double cross me.
Two old friends settled in with us. I even used the services of one, to pick up the other. That is how we got our own taxi driver, Benny. Together we oicked up my old friend Malloy. He took my safehouse in McCanna's Street Apt. Every day he is in the headquarters, yelling at our recruits and instructing them how to properly use their weapons, cover their team mates and make the best of the terrain. Malloy had retired some years ago, but he could be agitated to leave something behind. So he accepted to train my people, teach them the basics on not how to kill themselves or someone they do not want dead. What I got, when I took over was a uncontrolled mob, Malloy made an army out of them, a force.
And here we are now, several months later. Every soldier that is not on patrol or free is training under Malloys guidance. The kids are in school lerning the basics, how to defend themselves and what they need to know beyond. Squads or troops see them safely to school and back home, there is at least one guard per child. Since this was established not a single child was lost to raiding parties or organ harvesters.
We also installed a system of gapless surveillence. Not because I do not trust my people, but we have to see what happens when it happens. If we would block our sector borders it would cut us off from the rest of the NBZ and starve us out. To maintain public order we installed the system. It helped us to recognize quite a lot of attacks and raiding parties before they even started, all were repelled. Driven by this success quite a few people volunteered to become members of our forces. A few of them tried to run with the gear, all were hunted down and dealt with.
The Los V and the Fennians got a bloody nose, their attacks have become less and less in the past time. This gave us room to erect new buidlings, the plan is to create our own power supply and the next step is a production facility for weapons and armor. Not the petty stuff Free Streets used to make, but some high quality gear based on some plans that vanished out of the research and developement departments of the corporations some time ago.
Arms folded I am standing in the middle of the command center. The light is dimmed, dark red. There is a constant chatting of operators, noting incoming reports of squads patrolling our sector. In the past several attempts happened to hack our system, get in on our feeds, but the security based on Kidd his plans all worked. Everything looks like business as usual.
„Your majesty.“, an attendent says, as he hands me a cup. I take it and he bows the head and leaves, quietly. I still need to get used to this. Sure, I proclaimed myself king, but actually being called so, is something different.
Dux comes over to me. He and Miss Toma became my deputies in the command center, whenever I am not here, one of those two is in command. I could have also used Vector or Kidd, but but their roots are somewhere else, the people would not accept order from them, in the same way as they come from one of their own, or me.
„Your majesty. All squads report it's quiet. The construction work is falling behind, but it goes on. Everything is going well so far.“
I nod and take a sip from my cup. Damn I have become decadent, standing in my body armor, covered with my urban coat, watching the surveillance feed in the main holotank and sipping from a cup.
„Heavy shooting in the field! Clear all channels!“ One of the operators yells. The whole command center falls silent, as all concentrate on the attack.
„Several hits, to man down, both injured. The target was hit also, hits confirmed, still up and running, fast.“ The same operator hands out the new information as they come in. I still search through the surveillance data, for the culprit.
„What the fuck?! My station is overruled!“
The main holo, hanging in the middle of the air, right in front of me, changes its shape. The sight of the city vanishes, instead red letters hang in the air: CoKY in the field.
That's all I need to know, I put the cup down, grab the cable and plug myself into the system. The quantum computer in my head enables me to take over all functions. I become the command center. As I see all feeds at the same time the culprit is immediately found. The message is erased from all stations and the operators see their target.
The alarm yells. „All squads arm and gear up, give a ready report and prepare for imminent deployment!“ I order all troops to arms. Those who have free time are called back. The troops in training prepare to be sent to the field.
My mind works with unbelievable speed, the orders are handed out simultaniously to all squads. „Block the whole sector I want it under full containment ASAP. No one is to come in or get out, unless it is a registered citizen and wants to get in.“
I declare the sector red hot, whoever starts shit now will be branded.
„All squads near the target, only long range attacks, heavy suppression fire, no one is to get near the target, try not to take him down! Chase him into the dilapidated theatre and stay clear of the area!“
„Sir, reporting for duty!“ Miss Toma said, as she entered the command center. I rip the plug out of my data port. „Dux, coordinate our people, keep the situation under control! You can do it. Miss Toma with me.“ As I storm out of the head quarter I open a channel. „Dux, patch me through to all squads.“
„Established.“
„Listen people! We have a CoKY in our territory. A elite trained man, with top notch gear. Stay away from him!“
Shortly after that we arrive near the theatre. „Your majesty, two of our squads chased him into the theatre, just like you ordered.“ Miss Toma reported.
„Good. Tell them to hold their ground, no one is to enter. You hold here. I will take care of him myself.“
„But, your...“
„I ordered you to stay here! You are not ready for this fight, not yet. You will only get in my way and us all killed.“
The dilapidated theatre lives up to its name, this place is a dump and needs to be wrecked completely. I sneak through the ruin, past the rubble. I try not to be entirely silent, I want him to hear me.
„Whose there?!“ He yells at my steps, as he finally recognizes me approaching him. Nervously he searches for a target, my armor has a basic camouflage function, he does not recognize me, as I am standing only a few meters away.
„Calm down. You the Yakashima guy? The CoK? My name is Rodraeg, I am a cyber knight. I witnessed the situation you got yourself into. Maybe I can help, get you out of here, if the price is right. If you promise not to shoot me, I will reveal myself and we can negotiate.“
„Allright.“
I hide behind some rubble again, let him think I was hidden, as I approach him. He waves his gun at me. „Easy man, I am not here to do you any harm.“ He throws his head nervously from one side to the other, he is on the edge, to much stims and chems.
„What the fuck man, what is this place? This was supposed to be an easy job. I mean, we are in the Free Streets. These fuckers don't know fuck. They usually fight with wooden clubs and pistols that are more dangerous to themselves then the people they try to shoot. But these guys attacked me in force with heavy weapons they are not supposed to have.
My CEO sent me here to investigate our outpost, Yakashima sells firearms in the Bungalow, the profit has gone down to zero and one of the higher ups wants to know why. Because it is some intern matter they sent me and not some outside contractor, like you cyber knight. As I appoached the store a patrol stopped me and started to question me. I got annoyed, to be mocked by this lowlife scum and things went shit from this point on. At this rate, I can't conclude my job and will never be promoted. I've had enough of being a junior kight, this job was supposed to be my ticket to be a full fledged knight.“ He lamented about his situation. This was way easier than I had assumed. All I wanted was to know what he is here for.
Nervous his head still goes from one side to the other, until it looks onto me. „But when I bring them an elite cyber knight, they will have no other choice but to promote me. I will be senior knight, immediately.“
„Hold on man, the stims have taken their toll on you. You are getting...“ In the blink of an eye my armo reacted an closed the helmet around my head, as two bullets from his heavy pistol hit me in the chest. The intern hardened shell was not damaged, the surface took the whole energy. The nanomaterial hardened the moment the bullets hit me and divided the shock by sharing it with the bordering nanites until the whole energy was nullyfied. But the kinetic energy threw me off my feet. Lying in the dirt I congratulated myself, for stealing this fine prototype from AzTek.
„Fuck, what kind of armor are you wearing. Hey, asshole, you dead yet?“
Suddenly I rise my foot and send his pistol flying by kicking his hand. Still moving my circle continous until I have urned around 360 degree. On the way I grabbed my assault rifle from the back, which is now directed to his chest. A burst of bullets sends him flying. As I get up, I can see his injuries he is hurt, badly. But the damn wounds are closing on the spot. He must have a nano med kit. I unload my whole magazine into him. He is almost ripped to shreds, by this many bullets.
„Dux, do you read me?“
„Yes. We heard shooting. Are you allright?“
„Yeah, I'm allright. Tell the men not to shoot, I am coming out.“
„Miss Toma, with me, the rest of the squad, get rid of his remains, burn it, I do not care. But he is not to be found, ever.“
Standing in the command center, with my high ranking officers I explain the situation to them.
„He was a CoKY. A Corporate Knight Yakashima. We were lucky he was just a junior knight, there are also normal knights and senior knights, the elite, best of the best.
I once had a job, kidnap a higher up from a corporation and negotiate with him. So me and my team reached the target, we took out his guards, drag him to a safehouse. But the guy did not accept our terms. Instead he was smiling and insulting us, even threaten us. Soon after that this woman emerged out of nowhere, together with some drones, attack dogs and some corporation enforcers. My team handled her team and I took care of her. Damn, this was one of the toughest fights in my whole life. I took her down three times, as she intimidated at first and I fell for it. Some nano med kits brought her back to keep fighting. Lucky for me I came back to my senses and took her out with my Ares Gamma MK5. Nano med kits can only relieve you of physical pain.
After that the corporate man was all to eager to accept my employers terms. He even gave us more than we wanted, either because he was intimidated by us not even killing his team that came to rescue him or because he was grateful towards us for sparing their lives.
This was the first time, I met a corprate knight. They have the best training, the best gear, the best cyberware the corporation can provide, the corporation they belong to. I pity them, somehow they are slaves to their corporation. But in a fair fight none of them could win against a cyber knight, as a cyber knight has the best gear all corporations can provide. Normally they are only used for intern purposes, but as you saw yourselve, he was here.
I am afraid we do not have seen the last of them. But we will be ready.
Maintain the curent situation for one hour, than get back to normal. Pay all troops a bonus, they performed well.“ With this I started to walk out of the command center.
„Your majesty. What about the overruling command, the one that sent us the message because of the CoKY?“, Dux asked, as it is his duty.
„I will take care of it myself and you will be informed, when the time is right.“ I turn around and look them all in the eyes. „And don't worry. I started this for your and my own purpose. I won't risk it for nothing.“
My own personal quarters are dark, like the command center. I feel exhausted, heavy my body falls on the chair at my work table. The papers are piling up. You would not believe the shit that needs to be done to keep your own faction running.
„Damn, I would not have expected you to let him shoot me.“ I said.
„And I would not have expected you to let him shoot you.“ came the answer.
„Be that as it may, thank you for sending the warning about the CoK. This could have been our undoing, if they already would know we existed and what we try to do, while we are still at the beginning and weak.“
„You are welcome. But what is it, that YOU are trying to do?“, I was asked.
„What do you mean?“ I replied.
„Don't play dumb with me. I helped plan the first operation, I was there, when you encountered the warlord, I took out his guards, saved your life, as I have countless times befor. And you, you went right out and declared yourself king of this trash heap! What do you intend to do? Live everybody little boy's dream. They even call you your majesty! When do you plan to install a harem? When is the time, they start to kneel in front of you?“ The voice screams hysterically. I can hear weeping sounds.
„Go on, cry as much as you have to, it is no weakness. Let it all out.“ I let her weep for a moment.
„I proclaimed myself as king to make it clear who gives the orders. I never expected them to go this fas as to call me majesty. I have to admit, the impact was underrated. And you know me, there will be no harem.“
„Maybe, but what have we gotten ourselves into. You promised to train me, teach me everything I need to know. You promised me I could become a cyber knight. That's the reason I stayed with you. And you know what I abandoned to get it!“
„I know and I am very sorry for your loss. No one should have to suffer, what you suffered.“
„I could go, right now, leave you behind and become a cyber knight. I could offer them you as salvation.“
„You are the best I ever met and if anyone could ever take me down it would be you. But what would happen? There is no guarantee they would take you in. Yes, they would wipe your memory, you would forget about your loss. But you would also become someone else. Maybe you would also loose, what you have learned so far and have to start anew. And there is one thing, I can promise you: If you should survive as long as I have, it will be you, that is sitting in this chair, in ten years, from now on.“
Weeping sounds.
„And if I would win and kill you it would break me and all we created in the last months will have been for nothing, because it would crumble down.“
„So, what is it, that you want from me. Should I become your wife, bear your children, you so desperately wish for?“ she yells.
„Hpf. Don't make me laugh. You are my little sister, my daughter.“
„So what is it, that you want from me?“
„Nothing that you are willing to give. What I need is a successor. If the corporations get to know what we do here, it is possible they will send someone to end this, to end me. And if they succeed, someone has to step in and take over. Look at them all, none is qualified for this. For them I am so high up, they do not even see me as a human being. For them, everything I do is perfect. But you know me better. You know I make mistakes, you do not hesitate to change my plans to fit the situation. What I want ist you, as my heir.
This sector is secure now. Maybe we could find...“
„No, we can not. She is dead. I know it, I investigated it, long ago. At least she did not suffer.“
„I'm so very sorry to hear that. But you did not answer. Will you step out of the shadow, become more than a ghost, take your place by my side and in due time replace me?“
„You serious?“ She stepped out of the dark corner, tears running down her cheeks, but with a brave smile on her face. „Of course I will. Which girl does not want to be a princess? And I vow, to help you change this stinking, polluted shithole. So no child will have to abandon her mother and suffer the same fate as I have. We will make this into a better place, for all of us, that deserve it.“
I stand up, put my arms around her and hug her tightly.
„Welcome in the court, princess Eliza Krofter. The future belongs to you.“
Important to know is: Play the story "Made not born" before reading Evolution. At a certain point it will not make sense otherwise.
Hopefully there is no lack of details at some points and the motivation of the characters appear all reasonable.
Again, sorry for the spelling and grammar mistakes.
Have fun!
Evolution
It can not be washed away. The rain is pouring on and on, but it does not matter, it can not be washed away. The desolation, the dirt, the filth, this whole crap in this place, it can not be cleaned, not by normal means. If it would rain on, it could become a real flood, but it would only wash away the innocent, the weak. The so called strong would endure, think they are chosen or tell themselves what hard kind of motherfuckers they are and use it even more as a reason to feast upon the weak and exploit them.
I shift position, lay my head back and look into the sky. Some dark cloud is hanging above us and the rain is falling down, in heavy, thick and long drops. In earlier times, it is said, the rain was very pure kind of water, one of the best in quality. I close my eyes and let the rain flow over my face, it feels like oil, and tastes like shit. This is mother nature unloading our pollution and mistreatment right above us, just like we deserve it.
Not a single soul is out. Everyone got himself to safety. I can not blame them. The sensor in my armor shows the light radiation in the air. This was not there, before the rain came falling down. The armor gets the order, the horde of nanites comes to life, the thicker parts on my neck become smaller, the additional stored material shapes a helmet around my head. For a moment, the eyes in the helmet shine bright red, like some demonic monster, right out of a horrorvid. A brief, funny moment. The automated process injects some chems into my bloodstream, to get rid of the radioactivity.
Here I am, sitting on a dirty bench, drenched in slimy, oily water, watching the dirt piles becoming bigger and bigger, tougher, because the rain makes it as hard as concrete. Welcome to Camden Street, a place where no building has intact windows, if it is not even an entire ruin. I have a few safehouses myself, in this neighbourhood. Every single one of them, has a luxury pad installed, so that I am always fully rested, before I set off to work. Just one of these luxury pads is worth a whole building of the rest I assume. Most of these people are struggling to survive. The get by, day by fucking day.
As I think about it, a chilling feeling runs down my spine. My armor suggests a stimulus, to make me feel better. It is declined. When this whole buisness started, I was hooked up on chems in the process. It was the usual procedure, everybody did it. When they told me the training is over and sent me out into the real world, this went on, right before every job, I stimmed up, to get the extra edge, to go the extra mile, to keep the upper hand in every situation.
Rushed by some tough fights, which I survived, more dead than alive, tihs feeling was all I wished for. Again and again, more and more dangerous, but my one and only real friend tagged along, he was glad, to be of service, to help out, to be trained by me, how the big boys played. Bloody hell I trained him... I got him killed! Together we wanted to do some job, I can not even remember for which faction in this forsaken shithole. We stimmed up, we did what we were told and got ambushed. I ran away, wanted to lose our pursuers and he rushed right into them. He did not stand a chance and they took him down very fast. They were so fast, they even almost got me, after they killed him.
The next couple of days are lost to me. I took every chem and stim that could be found, just to erase this memory. He wanted to leran from me and I got him killed, he was my responsibility and I let him down, because I did not know our limits. He was just some crappy brawler an me, I was just some stupid shot, that did not know shit, but thought otherwise. So I got my one and only friend, my ally killed. Rest in peace – Clive Zep.
And rest assured, till then, a lot of Knight Horizon blood was spilled in your name. These fuckers did not even know, why they were occasionally terrorized.
In the end, I realized, the stims got Clive killed. Had I been clear minded, Clives death would have not happened. So I stopped to use stims completely. It can not be said for sure, but I think it saved a lot of lives, my own included.
After having learned the lesson the hard way, I stuck around my neigbourhood, in my league. This was my field of operation, the slums, with the addicts, the brutes, the whores, the whole crap of the city, or just people that try to get by, with the few they have.
Clive came from around this place. He once asked me where I came from. He got no answer. Not because I am a big, walking mystery, I just do not know the answer myself. But I have come a long way, since then. I trained, became better, in everything, worked myself up, climbed some ladders. Then the neighbourhoods changed, the jobs got tougher, the pay better.
But this is, where it just began, the training became even more intense, the jobs even more riskier, the pay became top notch. Now I am an elite knight, everybody wants to be my friend and not one of them wants to be my ally.
I worked my way into every back room, in every corporation. I got some real high risk jobs, they call them operations. There shit can really hit the fan and it often did. But it was woth it, every single time. Not because of the pay, I was not paid, they never paid me. I got something better out of it and they were very angry, very, very angry about it. But here I am, with the best assault rifle Mars could design, my second weapon is a fine machine pistol from the house of Yakashima and my armor – it links itself with the quantum computer in my head. I can control the damn armor with a mere thought. AzTek invented something real nice. I could clean the programm almost alone, but a friend of mine, Kidd, took another sweep, he is even better in hacking than myself.
I also made another new friends and allies. I trained them myself and they became my comrades – family. A friend that has your back is worth more than every credit, in the world. I know this, they know this, we trust each other. I am the boss, I give the orders, I am the knight, but they are my family – my responsibility.
All of them aspired to become knights and I told them, what it means to become a knight, what I learned, during my life as a knight. The corporations erased me, my whole self. Whoever I was, this person was killed during the process. I do not even remember my old name. For a time, I was nothing more than a grim, sinister ghost. ;-)
Now I am a person again. But what have I been before? I can not imagine I was a family man, but did I have a wife, a girlfriend. Did we have dreams about our future together? My friend decided not to pursue becoming a cyber knight any longer, after they were told about the memory wipe. Instead we came up with a plan, it is a foolish thing – impossible to make real.
„AAAAAAAAAH!!! Mommy, help me! Mama!“ Screams rip me back into the real world. My head rushes alarmed from one side, to the other. Where did the screams come from?
„Come on child, scream again!“ I whisper to myself.
„MPH!“ some loud mumbling, as if someone interrupted screams, reach out to me. The armor enhances my hearing, gives me a direction and I run off. A brief moment later I can see them, a brute, with a heavy pistol. He looks tough, not because he is, because he wants to scare off people. In this heavy rain, it is not even necessary, nobody is out here.
Nobody than these butchers and their innocent victim.
Nobody but a helpless mother, looking for her child.
Nobody but a knight in shining armor.
When the brute realises I am rushing him, he lifts his arm and tries to take aim. But I am an elite knight, faster than anybody, I am to close already. My left hand snaps to his arm, the shock gloves do their work, he screams from pain. The palm of my right hand hits his nose and crushes his fucking skull against the wall. I grab his gun and shoot him in the chest, two times. His scream and the noise from the pistol interrupt the butcher, he turns to me, I can see his ugly face. He was about to harvest the child. I shove the dead body of the thug in his direction, just to increase his insecurity further. The dead body falls, blood streams from it. I let myself fall to the ground. The butcher rises his hand, his lips are moving, he wants to say something. Lying in the dirt, the angle ensures the child is no longer threatened to be hit, by a stray shot. A heavy caliber bullet lets the butchers head explode. Smoke rises from the weapon, I start to breath again. The mother comes running, screaming for her child.
These are the free streets, some kind of freedom it is... This is called anarchy. All kinds of warlords reign this place. But they can not even protect their people, their children, their future from mere organ harvesters.
I do not know how many children I have rescued from this exact same situation, too many and too many were lost to them. I look at mother and child, lying in each others arms, hugging tight. This is what it has to be! Not some fucking organ harvesters and warlord thugs running around, terrorizing people!
I have had enough!
I am well aware that I am not qualified, that I am too much of a villian to really be a knight in shining armor. But it does not change the fact that I aspire to be it.
I am the Cyber Knight, Sir Rodraeg Talvassa Delbane. I was not born to be this, they made me. And now, I am going to evolve into something else!
„Kidd, Vector, commence operation!“
The corpses had not much usuable stuff worth salvaging. I took the ammunition clip, from the bouncer for myself and gave all their credits to the mother. This is the least, they deserved, they tried to kill the child.
Shortly after that we leave for the nearest building. A man opens the door, waving to us, he immediately leads the mother and child away, into a bathroom. The child is in dire need to be washed, it is still covered in the harvester his blood. The man approaches me. „I saw the whole thing from my window. Thank you very much, that you helped them.“ He looks away. „I, myself was helpless. Thank you very much.“ He looks for something to give me, to show his gratitude. I interrupt him, I am an elite knight, I am no longer in need of money and I know everybody that is worth to be known, so I do no need any contact chips. But he has something I require to know. „Do you know these people?“
„Mother and child? No, I do not know them.“
„So why did you provide hospitality. In this area everybody struggles. So why help them?“
„These are the free streets, a very desperate place. But we, the normal people, we look out for each other, if we are able to. The Fennians may be famous for looking out for each other, but they are far from being the only ones doing this. And if we do not at least try to watch out for our own, who else will do it?“
I pad him on the shoulder and walk off, outside, into the rain. Anger may have initiated this operation but this right now strenghtend my resolve.
On the way, I pass a lot of damaged buildings, broken windows everywhere, the dirt is piling up. And the rain is making everything solid. The surface of my coat is completely covered in the oily slime. The prototype armor I am wearing could easily withstand the polluted rain, but I do not like to wear my weapons in the open, to pose a potential thread to any bypassers. Even if they know what or who I am, it makes a difference.
I reach my goal without further incidents, the Abandoned Foundry. It does not look like much, but it is a big building, no grafittis are painted on the walls, the windows are intact, although there are massive steel bars protecting them. The building appears to be made of cheap corrugated sheets, as if it yould not withstand anything. But on second look, it is made of massive steel plates, able to withstand quite some damage. I unfold the helmet, the nanomaterial changes its shape and make the layer around my neck thicker again.
I raise my fist and pound the massive steel door. A watch hole is opened up and some curious eyes look me up and down. These eyes recognize me. They know my reputation. And without further delay or any word this reputation opens me the door and lets me in. They know me as a friend of the free streets.
„What's up knight. You look like you have been out in the rain for too long. Want something to wash that shit off your shit?“ The man, that let me in asks me. He looks like a cliche. I do not have the nerve for this nonsense. „Is the boss in? I need to talk to him. It's about business.“, I blaff at him.
„Sure man, you don't need to get cocky.“
The entrance is a small room, there is only one door, that leads further inside the building. Whatever gets through here, is surly expected by some heavy weapons, on the other side. There are three men on watch and it looks like they did not expect any visitors, not in this weather. They can not be blamed. I took their offer and started to cleam my coat, while my request passes through the lines of hierarchy.
The watchmen do their best to ignore me, while I want to be left alone. The rain and the delay got me in a gloomy mood. I almost fell asleep thinking about possible scenarios how the plan may work out. When finally a clanking sound opens the inner door. My reputation helped a lot, my request is granted. While acting as if nothing were abnormal, the quantum computer in my head activates the communication function in my armor. I am on my way inside.
„Begin phase 2.“
Vector made haste through the rain. The heavy rain drops caused some cluthing sounds on his red coat. He was waiting nearby, for the signal. I despise this rain and the clouds look like the world is going to end soon. Some bad omen. I'm not quite sure if our small group is not going to get into something that might be a little too much to handle. On the other hand, the boss never failed me. He made me a profi runner, outfitted me, payed for my gear. And what there is to gain... I'll give it a shot. No, I have to give it my all!
He approached the door, made of hard and cold steel. In a hurry to get out of the rain, Vector pounded three times against it. Again the slit is opened. „Good evening to you, my brave watchmen. The name is Vector, I am a face runner and my boss came by earlier. He told me to wait for him, but as you can see, in this rain, there is not much pleasure in waiting here. If you would be so kind to let me in.“
The door is opened.
„Yeah, your boss passed through, said he wanted to speak to our boss. He was somewhat grumpy. Just hope he won't piss off anyone, or this will turn to the worse. Damn weather, getting everbody in a bad mood.“
„Thank you for letting me in guys. The rian and the cold breeze made me freeze my ass off. There you go, hope you enjoy it.“ Vector said, while putting down a bottle with some quality drink. The three watchmen stare at the bottle in surprise. „Go ahead, us grunts, doing the ground work, we have to stick together. Our bosses are the ones with the big plans and everything, but we have the have our share too. And without a little comfort, now and then, we would loose our edge, right?“
All three of them nod in unision and show a knowing smile.
„Vector it is? Head on through, get into the quarters. AT least the heating works farther there, let your bones defrost a little.“
„Yeah, you are a friend of the Free Streets, head on in.“, another one added.
„Thank you my brave watchmen, I am most gracious to you.“
With a clunking sound the door leading inside the building opens up.
So far so good. This worked even better than expected. Our guy, convinced beforehand and bribed acted as expected and the other two suspected nothing. Or I am walking right into a trap.
There is no trap. The quarters are just some normal, big rooms. In some are bunked beds, to get some shut eye, the most have tables and chairs, arranged in a loose formation, there is even a dining hall. Approximately twenty people are around, talking to each other, waiting for their shift to begin, waiting for the rain to stop, hoping that no mob from another faction invades their territory tonight. The Free Streets are struggling and whoever becomes a servant of a local warlord does so out of desperation. It is not payed well and the risk is high. Although the talks are quite loud and there is also laughing, there is also some strange feeling of desperation, some fear.
„I can't believe it! You! YOU?! Out of everybody got yourself a girlfriend?“
„She must have been born blind.“
„I can't think of any woman so desperate that she would get involved with you.“
A couple of guys were joking, while Vector passed their table. He stopped an listened in on them. The one they were joking about puts a contact chip on the table and activates it. A picture of a beautiful, young woman starts floating in the air. It circles around, so everybody can get a look at her.
„We know each other since we were children. And we stayed friends...“ There is nothing more to be said. This is an old story, told a dozen times, nothing surprising, nothing special, something as usual as it can be. Something like it hast to be.
„Gorgeous.“ Vector says. The couple of guys backes away, surprised by his presence, finally aware of his attendance of the scene.
„Who the hell are you?!“ One of them shouts.
„Calm down. Sorry to have startled you. The name is Vector and I am was just envying you for your pretty girlfriend. She is gorgeous a very beautiful woman.“
The young man, around twenty maybe looks to the side a little embarassed.
„Tell me, what are your plans, for the future? I mean, look at you, how old are you, twenty? Usually nobody this old thinks about having a family. Especially not while working for a warlord in the Free Streets. How long does one live, while doing this work? Your equipment is the worst and your education on how to use this kind of non existent euipment, did you even get some training on how to use these weapons?“ Vector asked provokingly.
Some of the men started yelling, pumping themselves up, for the coming fight. They were insulted, in a very offensinve way. And the culprit was right in front of their eyes parading amidst of them.
„Shut up you fucker! You know nothing of what we are capable!“
„We yould show you, how bad we fight, while we rip you apart!“
„SHUT IT!“ Someone yelled. The men, ready to attack Vector backed away, halted in their intent to kill. Dux, a gunslinger in their ranks had stopped them. He is well respected, not only for his abilities, but also for his serving time. He is one of the oldest, in the lines of the Free Streets, one of the lucky ones that survived.
„Look at him you fools. Do you think he would march right in the lion's den and talk to us like that if there was no greater purpose behind this? And even if there is not, see his armor under the red coat? Rest assured we could take him down, but even for us, it would feel like he had won. But I mentioned some purpose and you better start making sense.“ Dux said, loading his pistols.
„You are the Free Streets. You are the self-service store of the whole NBZ. This young man seems to be to young to even consider having a family, but he does. How long will their happiness last? Most of you die and they die very fast, while your sector is raided by another faction. Some of you even die while a nano polluted clouds passes through. Bombs are laid and rip your people apart, children are butchered by organ harvesters and so on and so on.
But still you preserve.
How about a chance, a chance to prevail?
My boss, a cyber knight, is willing to fund this organization we are about to built. He knows everybody in the NBZ that is worth knowing, he worked with every smuggler and knows how to get them to do as he says. He is willing to use his fortune and his connections to get you, to get US, weapons and armor. You already have the courage to use them. He will provide the knowledge and military training to enable you to use them in a proper way.
You are wondering what you will gain from this? It sounds like you will just be mere pawns in an army. You are right, more or less, you will form an army, a militia. What you will really gain is a foundation for the thin hope you are all grasping on to. You will not only stand a chance against the Los V or the Fennians, you will be able to drive them out and keep it that way. You are going to be able to fight for your own future, secure it and defend it.
And this will be just the beginning! In this sector are many half collapsed buildings, we will erect a school and the children will not only learn the basic stuff as to read and write but also how to fight, how to defend themselves. They will be educated to become technicians, engineers, everything we need to maintain ourselves.
We will contain the pollution, as far as we are capable. The reason for it to be ongoing is simple, the corporations have the means to do something against it, but they do not have the will to do so. There is no profit to be gained, they protect their own people and that's it.
But we can form an organization unified by the cause to make things better for our people. A force worth to be recognized and soon to be feared if you cross our path.
The question is, do you want to keep going like you do and be satisfied with what you have or do you take the chance and try to make the things better?“
„Dux, what do you think?“, someone asked.
„Are you nuts? His boss, the cyber knight saved my live, when I was bound to bleed to death. He even payed for the gear I am wearing now, he trained me for a brief while. He is the sole reason I am still alive. We take this once in a lifetime opportunity!“
„Another time, almost the same situation. I wandered off into the wrong sector and was almost killed, if his boss had not come by and saved me. After that he trained me for a while and also got me some gear. If he is willing to give us a chance, we would damn ourselves if we were not to take it.“, Miss Toma added, another enforcer, whose opinion is well respected, in the lines of the Free Streets.
„Will you follow?“
„Yeah.“
„Will you fight?“
„Yeah!“
„Will WE triumph?“
„YEAH!“
United cheering branded through the hall, as the men and women make their decision heard.
„I am not convinced yet. Besides, we turn traitor to our boss, if we follow you. And there is another question, that needs to be answered: Vector, what is it your boss gains?“ Someone said.
„Hand me your weapons.“, the guard demands. He is some cyber sword brute. In these narrow hallway he would make a fine opponent. But I did not came here to fight.
„Listen, you can be a knight all you want and all be respected by the Free Streets as much as you like. It surprises me, the boss is willing to see you. He never wants to meet anyone. But absolutely no one is to enter with weapons.“ He added. He must have misinterpreted my mustering him. I hand him my assault rifle, my heavy pistol and the Ares Gamma MK5. „What kind of strange stuff are you carrying around?“, he asks.
„Prototype weapons. Some covert operation for a corpration against another but the freight ist lost on the way and the courier is never to be seen. They will remember it, but in due time they will forget. But the lucky bastard that stumbles over the lost package gets his hands on some weapons worth a fortune. See the Ares Gamma MK5, it is based on the MK4, but with some crucial enhancements from Yakashima, they build the best pistols in the NBZ, both designs put together can give you the edge. To bad it was lost, on the way.“
„You are a resourceful lot.“, he answered to my explanation.
„That's why I'm here. Can I go in now?“
„Hold on, I have to make sure, this boss is ready to see you.“
A brief moment later, he opened the door.
As I walk into the room, I circle around myself, to get everything that ist there to see. The room itself is quite dark. A few training devices are standing around. The warlord and three of his guards are occupying a couch in the corner farthest away from the door.
„What is it, knight? Not what you expected?“, the warlord asks, because of my irritated look around.
„I have to admit, no, it is not. In the eyes of the people you are a street gang. Judging by your usual enforcers, you are a street gang. One would expect the usual sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. On the other hand, I have been in the den of the Los V, although a street gang, they are... something else.“
The warlord watches me with steering eyes. He looks somewhat old, haggard, like he has seen to much an it has taken its toll on him, broken his spirit.
His voice is a loud whisper. „You are well known to be a formidable fighter, knight. Only this and the good reputation with the Free Streets, let you get here. What is it, you want.“
„I will be blunt and true: I want this sector.“
Two pistols are immediately pointed in my direction. „Call the men, call our allies. Even if you would be able as to finish the words, you just said, you will never get a job in the NBZ again. A cyber knight acting like this is not to be tolerated, by no one.“ One of the guards said and the third one hurries to a nearby terminal.
„Damn!“
„What is it?“
„I don't know. I can not get a message out, not even out of this room. We are cut off, it seems like the whole matrix has shut down in the sector.“
„Surely the work of a fine hacker. Your doing, I assume.“ The warlord said.
„Not really, but my order.“ I answered.
„Put down your weapons, if you do not want to die.“ He advised his three guards.
One of his men raises his weapon.“ What?! No. I will take you fucker...“ Three bullets take him down. From this act driven over the edge, the other two try to act, but are taken down immediately after the first, without even seeing who shot them.
All the while, the warlord was sitting on the couch, doing nothing. „Well shot, very well, in a dark room, with a fully automatic weapon, must be an expert marksman.“
„Equipped with a Mongoose, prototype machine pistol, in the hands of a skilled Agent EX it is almost as dangerous as an assault rifle.“ I gave back.
„What happens now? Are you going to kill me?“
„Not unless I have to. I am sorry your guards are dead, I did not wanted it to go like that, although, it was expected. I rather have you on my side, acting as if nothing was amiss. Let the world think everything is as it always was, until it is too late and they could no longer stop us.“
„I do not pity them one bit, they may have seemed to be my guards but I told them, to put the guns down. Besides they were holding me kind of hostage.
I was once like you, a well known fighter. I took everyone down, that stood in my way. It felt like nothing could stop me. So I started conquering my own turf but all I did was laying waste to this sector. I crossed the Kelly brothers and they fucked me up. The I-93 Barrens are in this condition because of our battle there. It made this sector into a damn no mans land. There reigns pure anarchy. The Fennians could have taken the sectors for themselves, but instead they placed me here, as a warning, for the whole NBZ, as an example what happens to those, that try to start some shit.
During the battle they wounded me and then they broke me as humiliation they left me here, with their guard dogs, that were killed by you. I lost my fighting spirit a long time ago. And under their eyes I rotted, wasted away, in continious decay. I could ask you to humor me, tell me about your plans, but they do not interest me. I have been dead for years, but these swine did not permit me to die like a warrior deserved, like I deserved to die, alongside my men, years ago.
Step forth, I want to see the man who freed me, from my guard dogs.“
My ally stepped into the light.
„HA!Hahahahahaha.“ the warlords loud voice can be heard, while he laughs his ass off. This is to good, to be true. I thank the both of you and wish you good luck with whatever you have planned, you habe my blessings.“ With these words, the takes the pistol of one or the guards an ends his own life.
„I can see clearly on your face what you think now. But do not worry. We won't take a fully open fight to any other faction – unless we know we will win.“
My ally nods and vanishes into a dark corner, becoming invisible, like a ghost.
Vector, what is it your boss gains?“ Someone said. The room falls silent. All eyes focus on Vector.
„A home.“ I answered instead of my loyal face runner, as I enter the room. All attendents turn to me. „ I am a cyber knight, everyones darling. Everybody wants to be my friend, everybody wants me to do their dirty work, but no one would ever be willing to invite me in.
No faction would allow me to settle in, as I am a cyber knight. But I am growing old, I want to settle down, have a family of my own, maybe even children. But my beloved ones would never be safe, for the sole reason that I am a cyber knight. Sure it has its advantages, but also its backdraws. You will gain exactly what Vector promised you and more. And I will gain the exactly same things.
They made me into a cyber knight and this will be their undoing, because I have become something more. Remember the stories of the old times? Knights in shining armor may have been heroes, but a knight in shining armor never had its metal truly tested. And they never take the princess home and live happiely ever after. But I will.
From this day on, I will be your king!“
It started with a funeral. We laid the former warlord to rest. It was a short act, with little ceremony. But this man had earned our respect. He once was a fierce fighter and his death lasted for years. But when he had the chance, he stepped aside and let someone else take his place. To give up his position, this was a noble deed, which must have taken courage. Although for him, it must have felt like mercy, to be finally free.
All the personnel servicing the former warlord witnessed this and attended the funeral. All doubts regarding their loyalty cleared. They were now my sworn men and women, to service our purpose, secure our sector, rebuild it and let it prosper.
Kidd had done a tremendous job, by blocking all communications, he managed to shut down the whole matrix in the sector. I thanked him thoroughly and let him stay for a few days in my Flat Fairmont safehouse for recovery. He did not stay there though. Right after the funeral he started the work on overhauling our new head quarters. The former warlord was right, Kidd found data how the guards were to report to the Kelly brothers, but these were loose ends. They did not sent any reports for almost a year.
I called in with my contacts and soon after that the first ships arrived bringing us the top notch weapons and armor that were promised. Nobody dared to double cross me.
Two old friends settled in with us. I even used the services of one, to pick up the other. That is how we got our own taxi driver, Benny. Together we oicked up my old friend Malloy. He took my safehouse in McCanna's Street Apt. Every day he is in the headquarters, yelling at our recruits and instructing them how to properly use their weapons, cover their team mates and make the best of the terrain. Malloy had retired some years ago, but he could be agitated to leave something behind. So he accepted to train my people, teach them the basics on not how to kill themselves or someone they do not want dead. What I got, when I took over was a uncontrolled mob, Malloy made an army out of them, a force.
And here we are now, several months later. Every soldier that is not on patrol or free is training under Malloys guidance. The kids are in school lerning the basics, how to defend themselves and what they need to know beyond. Squads or troops see them safely to school and back home, there is at least one guard per child. Since this was established not a single child was lost to raiding parties or organ harvesters.
We also installed a system of gapless surveillence. Not because I do not trust my people, but we have to see what happens when it happens. If we would block our sector borders it would cut us off from the rest of the NBZ and starve us out. To maintain public order we installed the system. It helped us to recognize quite a lot of attacks and raiding parties before they even started, all were repelled. Driven by this success quite a few people volunteered to become members of our forces. A few of them tried to run with the gear, all were hunted down and dealt with.
The Los V and the Fennians got a bloody nose, their attacks have become less and less in the past time. This gave us room to erect new buidlings, the plan is to create our own power supply and the next step is a production facility for weapons and armor. Not the petty stuff Free Streets used to make, but some high quality gear based on some plans that vanished out of the research and developement departments of the corporations some time ago.
Arms folded I am standing in the middle of the command center. The light is dimmed, dark red. There is a constant chatting of operators, noting incoming reports of squads patrolling our sector. In the past several attempts happened to hack our system, get in on our feeds, but the security based on Kidd his plans all worked. Everything looks like business as usual.
„Your majesty.“, an attendent says, as he hands me a cup. I take it and he bows the head and leaves, quietly. I still need to get used to this. Sure, I proclaimed myself king, but actually being called so, is something different.
Dux comes over to me. He and Miss Toma became my deputies in the command center, whenever I am not here, one of those two is in command. I could have also used Vector or Kidd, but but their roots are somewhere else, the people would not accept order from them, in the same way as they come from one of their own, or me.
„Your majesty. All squads report it's quiet. The construction work is falling behind, but it goes on. Everything is going well so far.“
I nod and take a sip from my cup. Damn I have become decadent, standing in my body armor, covered with my urban coat, watching the surveillance feed in the main holotank and sipping from a cup.
„Heavy shooting in the field! Clear all channels!“ One of the operators yells. The whole command center falls silent, as all concentrate on the attack.
„Several hits, to man down, both injured. The target was hit also, hits confirmed, still up and running, fast.“ The same operator hands out the new information as they come in. I still search through the surveillance data, for the culprit.
„What the fuck?! My station is overruled!“
The main holo, hanging in the middle of the air, right in front of me, changes its shape. The sight of the city vanishes, instead red letters hang in the air: CoKY in the field.
That's all I need to know, I put the cup down, grab the cable and plug myself into the system. The quantum computer in my head enables me to take over all functions. I become the command center. As I see all feeds at the same time the culprit is immediately found. The message is erased from all stations and the operators see their target.
The alarm yells. „All squads arm and gear up, give a ready report and prepare for imminent deployment!“ I order all troops to arms. Those who have free time are called back. The troops in training prepare to be sent to the field.
My mind works with unbelievable speed, the orders are handed out simultaniously to all squads. „Block the whole sector I want it under full containment ASAP. No one is to come in or get out, unless it is a registered citizen and wants to get in.“
I declare the sector red hot, whoever starts shit now will be branded.
„All squads near the target, only long range attacks, heavy suppression fire, no one is to get near the target, try not to take him down! Chase him into the dilapidated theatre and stay clear of the area!“
„Sir, reporting for duty!“ Miss Toma said, as she entered the command center. I rip the plug out of my data port. „Dux, coordinate our people, keep the situation under control! You can do it. Miss Toma with me.“ As I storm out of the head quarter I open a channel. „Dux, patch me through to all squads.“
„Established.“
„Listen people! We have a CoKY in our territory. A elite trained man, with top notch gear. Stay away from him!“
Shortly after that we arrive near the theatre. „Your majesty, two of our squads chased him into the theatre, just like you ordered.“ Miss Toma reported.
„Good. Tell them to hold their ground, no one is to enter. You hold here. I will take care of him myself.“
„But, your...“
„I ordered you to stay here! You are not ready for this fight, not yet. You will only get in my way and us all killed.“
The dilapidated theatre lives up to its name, this place is a dump and needs to be wrecked completely. I sneak through the ruin, past the rubble. I try not to be entirely silent, I want him to hear me.
„Whose there?!“ He yells at my steps, as he finally recognizes me approaching him. Nervously he searches for a target, my armor has a basic camouflage function, he does not recognize me, as I am standing only a few meters away.
„Calm down. You the Yakashima guy? The CoK? My name is Rodraeg, I am a cyber knight. I witnessed the situation you got yourself into. Maybe I can help, get you out of here, if the price is right. If you promise not to shoot me, I will reveal myself and we can negotiate.“
„Allright.“
I hide behind some rubble again, let him think I was hidden, as I approach him. He waves his gun at me. „Easy man, I am not here to do you any harm.“ He throws his head nervously from one side to the other, he is on the edge, to much stims and chems.
„What the fuck man, what is this place? This was supposed to be an easy job. I mean, we are in the Free Streets. These fuckers don't know fuck. They usually fight with wooden clubs and pistols that are more dangerous to themselves then the people they try to shoot. But these guys attacked me in force with heavy weapons they are not supposed to have.
My CEO sent me here to investigate our outpost, Yakashima sells firearms in the Bungalow, the profit has gone down to zero and one of the higher ups wants to know why. Because it is some intern matter they sent me and not some outside contractor, like you cyber knight. As I appoached the store a patrol stopped me and started to question me. I got annoyed, to be mocked by this lowlife scum and things went shit from this point on. At this rate, I can't conclude my job and will never be promoted. I've had enough of being a junior kight, this job was supposed to be my ticket to be a full fledged knight.“ He lamented about his situation. This was way easier than I had assumed. All I wanted was to know what he is here for.
Nervous his head still goes from one side to the other, until it looks onto me. „But when I bring them an elite cyber knight, they will have no other choice but to promote me. I will be senior knight, immediately.“
„Hold on man, the stims have taken their toll on you. You are getting...“ In the blink of an eye my armo reacted an closed the helmet around my head, as two bullets from his heavy pistol hit me in the chest. The intern hardened shell was not damaged, the surface took the whole energy. The nanomaterial hardened the moment the bullets hit me and divided the shock by sharing it with the bordering nanites until the whole energy was nullyfied. But the kinetic energy threw me off my feet. Lying in the dirt I congratulated myself, for stealing this fine prototype from AzTek.
„Fuck, what kind of armor are you wearing. Hey, asshole, you dead yet?“
Suddenly I rise my foot and send his pistol flying by kicking his hand. Still moving my circle continous until I have urned around 360 degree. On the way I grabbed my assault rifle from the back, which is now directed to his chest. A burst of bullets sends him flying. As I get up, I can see his injuries he is hurt, badly. But the damn wounds are closing on the spot. He must have a nano med kit. I unload my whole magazine into him. He is almost ripped to shreds, by this many bullets.
„Dux, do you read me?“
„Yes. We heard shooting. Are you allright?“
„Yeah, I'm allright. Tell the men not to shoot, I am coming out.“
„Miss Toma, with me, the rest of the squad, get rid of his remains, burn it, I do not care. But he is not to be found, ever.“
Standing in the command center, with my high ranking officers I explain the situation to them.
„He was a CoKY. A Corporate Knight Yakashima. We were lucky he was just a junior knight, there are also normal knights and senior knights, the elite, best of the best.
I once had a job, kidnap a higher up from a corporation and negotiate with him. So me and my team reached the target, we took out his guards, drag him to a safehouse. But the guy did not accept our terms. Instead he was smiling and insulting us, even threaten us. Soon after that this woman emerged out of nowhere, together with some drones, attack dogs and some corporation enforcers. My team handled her team and I took care of her. Damn, this was one of the toughest fights in my whole life. I took her down three times, as she intimidated at first and I fell for it. Some nano med kits brought her back to keep fighting. Lucky for me I came back to my senses and took her out with my Ares Gamma MK5. Nano med kits can only relieve you of physical pain.
After that the corporate man was all to eager to accept my employers terms. He even gave us more than we wanted, either because he was intimidated by us not even killing his team that came to rescue him or because he was grateful towards us for sparing their lives.
This was the first time, I met a corprate knight. They have the best training, the best gear, the best cyberware the corporation can provide, the corporation they belong to. I pity them, somehow they are slaves to their corporation. But in a fair fight none of them could win against a cyber knight, as a cyber knight has the best gear all corporations can provide. Normally they are only used for intern purposes, but as you saw yourselve, he was here.
I am afraid we do not have seen the last of them. But we will be ready.
Maintain the curent situation for one hour, than get back to normal. Pay all troops a bonus, they performed well.“ With this I started to walk out of the command center.
„Your majesty. What about the overruling command, the one that sent us the message because of the CoKY?“, Dux asked, as it is his duty.
„I will take care of it myself and you will be informed, when the time is right.“ I turn around and look them all in the eyes. „And don't worry. I started this for your and my own purpose. I won't risk it for nothing.“
My own personal quarters are dark, like the command center. I feel exhausted, heavy my body falls on the chair at my work table. The papers are piling up. You would not believe the shit that needs to be done to keep your own faction running.
„Damn, I would not have expected you to let him shoot me.“ I said.
„And I would not have expected you to let him shoot you.“ came the answer.
„Be that as it may, thank you for sending the warning about the CoK. This could have been our undoing, if they already would know we existed and what we try to do, while we are still at the beginning and weak.“
„You are welcome. But what is it, that YOU are trying to do?“, I was asked.
„What do you mean?“ I replied.
„Don't play dumb with me. I helped plan the first operation, I was there, when you encountered the warlord, I took out his guards, saved your life, as I have countless times befor. And you, you went right out and declared yourself king of this trash heap! What do you intend to do? Live everybody little boy's dream. They even call you your majesty! When do you plan to install a harem? When is the time, they start to kneel in front of you?“ The voice screams hysterically. I can hear weeping sounds.
„Go on, cry as much as you have to, it is no weakness. Let it all out.“ I let her weep for a moment.
„I proclaimed myself as king to make it clear who gives the orders. I never expected them to go this fas as to call me majesty. I have to admit, the impact was underrated. And you know me, there will be no harem.“
„Maybe, but what have we gotten ourselves into. You promised to train me, teach me everything I need to know. You promised me I could become a cyber knight. That's the reason I stayed with you. And you know what I abandoned to get it!“
„I know and I am very sorry for your loss. No one should have to suffer, what you suffered.“
„I could go, right now, leave you behind and become a cyber knight. I could offer them you as salvation.“
„You are the best I ever met and if anyone could ever take me down it would be you. But what would happen? There is no guarantee they would take you in. Yes, they would wipe your memory, you would forget about your loss. But you would also become someone else. Maybe you would also loose, what you have learned so far and have to start anew. And there is one thing, I can promise you: If you should survive as long as I have, it will be you, that is sitting in this chair, in ten years, from now on.“
Weeping sounds.
„And if I would win and kill you it would break me and all we created in the last months will have been for nothing, because it would crumble down.“
„So, what is it, that you want from me. Should I become your wife, bear your children, you so desperately wish for?“ she yells.
„Hpf. Don't make me laugh. You are my little sister, my daughter.“
„So what is it, that you want from me?“
„Nothing that you are willing to give. What I need is a successor. If the corporations get to know what we do here, it is possible they will send someone to end this, to end me. And if they succeed, someone has to step in and take over. Look at them all, none is qualified for this. For them I am so high up, they do not even see me as a human being. For them, everything I do is perfect. But you know me better. You know I make mistakes, you do not hesitate to change my plans to fit the situation. What I want ist you, as my heir.
This sector is secure now. Maybe we could find...“
„No, we can not. She is dead. I know it, I investigated it, long ago. At least she did not suffer.“
„I'm so very sorry to hear that. But you did not answer. Will you step out of the shadow, become more than a ghost, take your place by my side and in due time replace me?“
„You serious?“ She stepped out of the dark corner, tears running down her cheeks, but with a brave smile on her face. „Of course I will. Which girl does not want to be a princess? And I vow, to help you change this stinking, polluted shithole. So no child will have to abandon her mother and suffer the same fate as I have. We will make this into a better place, for all of us, that deserve it.“
I stand up, put my arms around her and hug her tightly.
„Welcome in the court, princess Eliza Krofter. The future belongs to you.“
