I am overcome with sorrow at the state of my soul tonight, but tomorrow will gladly fight again. This night I embrace my guilt and know that I, and those around me, are safe because of it. I cleanse this world of those who would end it for others. I am the keeper of humanity, but must embody that which is inhuman. I destroy, in hope of sustaining life. This is my curse and my blessing, but in moments of darkness I am always granted a moment of light. In that light, I pray that you will sleep well, children, and one day forgive this monster of his duty. Until the morning.”
The explosion left Ripp’s head pounding and ears ringing. The pillar he had braced against when the explosive went off had thankfully held together. The feeling of blood filling his sleeve meant he had taken shrapnel, but that was the least of his worries. Four heavily armed soldiers had mysteriously shown up in the Fringe and followed him into a partially collapsed building. Nucrean soldiers didn’t go to the Fringe. He didn’t know what to make of the situation until they started shooting at him, and then it was simple. They wanted to die.
“C’mon,” Ripp said to himself as he tried to shake the concussion off. He gathered what senses he could and peeked around the corner of the pillar. He was able to see two of the Nucrean soldiers trying to flank him. He pulled back just as cement exploded above him.
That was too close.
His mask had saved him countless times against gnashing teeth and infected claws, but it wouldn’t have stopped those bullets. He knew he had to move. He reached behind the pillar and shot twice at the flanking team, then tumbled the opposite direction. Luckily, the soldiers fired on the movement of the gun and not the direction he was going.
Two soldiers pushed to the middle of the room as the other two that were trying to flank Ripp. He found cover behind a broken hallway. Ripp fired a couple shots at the middle team as he moved to a fallen wall, and shot one of the soldiers in the neck.
Ripp heard swearing and requests for medical attention, but he knew it was too late for that soldier. More cement exploded around him.
“Five,” Ripp counted to himself.
Ripp fired two shots at the entryway just as the soldiers started to move on him. One round went left, and the other just missed a soldier’s face, peppering his mask with rock.
“Three.”
The soldier shook his head in disbelief, realizing how close he had come to taking one in the head.
“Dammit. What the hell is this guy doing out here?”
“What are we doing out here, LT? Coms are down. Bet’s dead. Can’t get to the rookie. Look at him, he’s just staring at the bloody hole in Bet’s throat.”
The rookie had dropped his gun on the floor and was staring at his partner’s lifeless body.
“Orders are to detain and question anyone we find in this section.”
The lieutenant knew this was just a programmed response, and if he was honest with himself, he felt the same.
“Forget orders,” the soldier said calmly, then looked up at the ceiling.
“This is crazy. He’s crazy,” he said pointing a thumb in Ripp’s direction. “I’m not gonna die because of some prick.”
The lieutenant looked at him, and then put a hand on his shoulder. “Yeah, bad deal for Bet, but get it together. You me, and the rookie are getting out of here. I think he’s empty anyway.”
“Hell if I’m gonna stick my head out again to make sure.”
“I’ll pinch while you get the Rookie then…on three? He didn’t respond. The lieutenant shook him gently, and moved to look into his eyes. The soldier nodded that he understood. The lieutenant checked his rifle, braced against the doorframe and counted down.
The lieutenant pushed out to his right, firing on Ripp’s position. The other guard moved to his left and made it to the rookie without having to fire.
Cement and metal shards peppered the air above Ripp.
Without looking, Ripp knew that they were moving on his position. The guard pulled the rookie’s body forward and checked for injuries.
“You hit?”
The rookie slowly shook his head no.
“Stay put. We’ll end this.”
The rookie didn’t say anything as he sat back against the wall and closed his eyes.
The soldier set his sights on the fallen concrete wall where Ripp was hiding and signaled for the lieutenant to maneuver. The lieutenant signaled back to stay put and to hold on the position, then stealthily moved closer to the fallen wall, moving behind the pillar Ripp had used for cover.
“Throw your weapon out and put your arms up!”
“Can’t do that,” Ripp warned.
“Have it your way.”
The lieutenant signaled for the soldier to fire on Ripp’s position. Fragments went flying as the bullets ate into the barrier that Ripp was hiding behind. The shooting stopped as the guard reloaded. Ripp knew the lieutenant would be ready to fire when he moved.
“Last chance! Throw your gun out and put your hands up.”
Ripp was happy he said “gun”.
“Okay! Okay! I’m coming out. Don’t shoot.”
Ripp slowly raised an arm holding one of his guns, slide locked open.
“I’m gonna toss it to you,” Ripp said louder than needed. After pushing a button on the grip, he tossed the gun. It landed close to where the rookie and the other soldier were.
The lieutenant signaled for them to stay put.
“All right! Now let me see your other hand.”
There was a pause and in one motion, Ripp pulled his other hand up and fired the last two shots.
They hit nowhere near the soldiers, but the lieutenant retreated to his pillar anyway.
“I’m out!” Ripp mocked.
“Son of a bitch.”
The lieutenant swung around and fired on Ripp’s position. He used the whole magazine and quickly reloaded, wanting to let Ripp know that he was losing any patience he might have had. Ripp knew that it wasn’t likely that they were going to let him live. He killed one of them, and all of this was a tactic to secure him without any other losses. He realized these were well-trained soldiers, smarter than most, and he wanted to know why they were out in the Fringe.
“I’m throwing my other gun out.”
Ripp laid his Pigeon on his lap with the monitor face up as he shoved a metal rod in the ground next to his leg and wrapped a wire around it. He pushed the same well-hidden button on the pistol and a new grid, displaying the inside of the room, came to life on his Pigeon. He raised both of his hands slowly, with the pistol’s slide locked open. He knew they were ready to fire on him if he tried anything.
Ripp tossed the pistol into the middle of the room, and looked down at his Pigeon as digital imprints of the soldiers came to life.
The lieutenant focused his aim on Ripp’s arm, and was ready to take it clean off if Ripp tried anything again.
“No more games. This is your last chance. Come out slowly with your hands up or I will kill you.”
“Okay, okay! I’m coming out.”
Ripp sat motionless with his arms up. The soldiers quickly realized that he wasn’t coming out.
“Now!”
Ripp watched the display as the lieutenant angrily signaled for the other soldier to move closer.
“I’m injured. You might have to help me,” Ripp said, still holding his arms motionless in the air.
Voice verification success displayed across the top of the monitor.