Cloud Cent Chronicles: Part 2 Chapter 7
By Xandar
- 151 reads
Homecoming
“Help! Someone help!” The smell of smoke filled the air as pleas for help filled the air. Shadow and Yun rushed out of the back room. “Please, you two have to help! They’re here! Please, help!”
“What’s going on? What’s with that smell?” Shadow’s heart felt like it was beating out of his chest. He didn’t know what was going on, but he knew that whatever it is couldn’t be good.
“The Sergeants, they’re here!” Alarms started blaring across The Village. “That means that they’re past the gate. No...we-we’re doomed.” The woman ran into the back.
“We have to help!” Yun began running for the door, but Shadow grabbed her by the wrist, stopping her. “Shadow, what are you doing?”
“The usb. We need to get it back to the rebellion, or else this was all pointless.”
“But-”
“Why do you think they’re here? It’s because of us.”
“Exactly! So we need to help!”
“You smell that, don’t you!? The Village is on fire. It’s too late. I...I don’t want to just leave, but if we don’t all of this is for nothing.”
“Maybe, but I can’t just let the Sergeants do this.” Damnit, we don’t have time for this. I want to stay and help as much as she does, but we need to complete the mission, or else all of this was pointless!
“Okay, then you take the usb and leave.”
“What?”
“I’ll do what I can to help here while you bring the usb back to the rebellion. Complete the mission.”
“...No, you have to go.”
“I’ll help here, you-”
“No. For our plan to work, we need you too. We need to show that you’re innocent and reveal Cent’s unredacted articles. I’ll stay and help. You go back.” Yun took off the external modifier and handed it and the usb to Shadow. “You need to go. There’s a mod with a map of the subway in here. It’ll guide you back. Complete the mission. I’ll see you back at base.” Yun ran out the door and went left. Shadow steadied his shaky breath, strapped on the external modifier and went right.
Shadow was surrounded by the bodies of The Village’s inhabitants. All around him, the wooden buildings burned. “Help! Hel-” A laser went off and the cry was cut short. How did it all go so wrong so fast? Get the articles, return to base. Simple. None of this was supposed to happen. Why? Why? A Sergeant rounded the corner and pointed his laser at Shadow.
“Found one of the targets,” the Sergeant shouted, “neutralizing now!” Before he could fire, something bounced off of the Sergeants helmet, dazing him. Shadow took the opportunity to rush him, knocking him on his back. Shadow looked up and saw Clyde, pointing his pistol.
“You gotta get out of here kid!” His words were still noticeably slurred. “I think they’re after yo-” Behind Clyde, a shot went off. Clyde collapsed, leaving another Sergeant where he was standing.
“Clyde…” The Sergeant shot at Shadow. Shadow rolled to the left, got up, and ran. He ran through the smoldering town. The beautiful green was now replaced with charred black. The quaint brown homes were now in an orange blaze. We did this, This is Yun and mine’s fault. This is my fault. Maybe if I didn’t freak out and run when Yun was trying to distract the guards at the gate, they wouldn’t have suspected we were here. I have to make this right. I need to get back to the base. Shadow got up and sprinted towards the gate. Come on, just 200 feet. 150. 100. 50. Crap! A Sergeant blocked the gate, the only way out of The Village.
“Oh Shadow, you’re not going anywhere. You murdered two men. You broke out of prison. I can’t let you get away.”
“I didn’t do anything!” I mean, I did break out of prison, but that was justified. Probably best not to bring that up. “Look around you! You say that I’m a criminal, while you’re burning down an entire town!”
“The people of this town were harboring two fugitives. They’ve brought this on themselves.”
“You really believe that? Because they were helping me, they deserve to burn? Come on!”
“You-”
“I killed two people? Fine, sure, okay. How many are you killing?”
“They’re...they’re criminals.”
“The only criminal I see here is you.” I really hope what Yun said about the Sergeants back at the rebellion’s base is true.
“I...I”
“Help me stop this. You can stop this senseless death! Please, let me go.”
“I can’t. A Sergeant can’t just abandon their duty.”
He’s almost there. Just a little more.
“And why not? You know what you’re doing is wrong, so stop doing it!”
“They’ll kill me.”
“I won’t let them. Come with me. Help me.”
“...I can’t go with you. Just...go. Take this.” The Sergeant handed Shadow a chip. They stared at each other for a moment. Shadow nodded his head and ran.
Okay, now I just need to get to the subway. It doesn’t matter if I run into any more Sergeants. As long as I get into the subway, there’s no way they’ll be able to track me. Shadow tapped the external modifier and a map of the subway appeared before him. Okay, here we go.
…
Shadow walked across the outer area by himself, the screams from The Village fading into the background. I hope Yun’s alright. No, I’m sure she is. She was able to bust me out of a secret government prison. She’s fine. I’m sure of it. Shadow gripped the usb in his hand and continued on. Pretty soon, the wall separating the outer area and middle area came into view. Shadow squinted at the gate. Two guards once again stood, watching the gate. What do I do here? I could just try to sprint past them and try to make it to the subway, but I seriously doubt I could outrun them both. Plus, they might just decide to shoot me. I could shoot them, but I’d really rather avoid that. As soon as I shoot one of them, a whole swarm of Sergeants will be after me. Yun tried to distract them last time, maybe I can do that, but with what? Shadow ran through a list of the items he had with him. External modifier with no useful mods. The usb with Cent’s articles. That’s it huh-wait- what about this? Shadow pulled the chip the Sergeant gave him out of his pocket. It looks like an eye mod. It isn’t an optic mod though, it just plugs into the socket. I could probably use it with the external modifier.
Shadow plugged the chip into the device on his arm. The external modifier flashed red three times, then settled on a green glow. The mod’s active. But what’s it doing? Shadow looked around himself to see if there was a difference. He still felt the same. He tried to touch his arm. Before his hand reached his arm, he hit something. What? It feels like I’m touching something, but I’m still an inch away from my arm. He tried his other arm. His leg. His torso. His head. All the same. Wait...this is an amouraran chip! Amouraran chips essentially let people have an outfit with them wherever they go. For Sergeants, this is their uniform. The clothing is most durable closest to the chip. Since the Sergeant uniform includes a helmet, they normally get it installed somewhere in their head, like the eye. Once the outfit becomes damaged, the chip itself gets damaged. Then, a mod doc would have to repair it. This type of mod is much more popular in the middle area than the upper area. It lets people have a default outfit, which isn’t as necessary for the affluent.
Okay, let’s hope this works. Shadow approached the gate, uniform activated.
“Hey, where are you coming from?” The Sergeants at the gate stopped Shadow.
Okay, this is fine. There’s a huge operation going on at The Village. Just gotta answer honestly.
“I’m coming from The Village.”
“The Village,” asked one of them, “What were you doing at The Village?”
Crap. They must have been keeping the operation under wraps. These two don’t know about it! Okay, think.... Got it!
“You two don’t even know what you allowed to happen.”
“What are you talking about?” The other one asked.
“They got through on your watch! And now you have the nerve to ask me what I’m talking about!”
“Who got through?” They both asked in unison.
“The fugitives! Shadow and Yun! They walked straight through your gate!”
“They did?”
“Yes! Now go assist at The Village.” They both stared at Shadow. “Now!”
“Y-Yes sir!” They exclaimed and ran past Shadow.
Alright. Close call. Just a straight shot to the subway now. Shadow walked through the middle area, heading straight for the subway entrance. The area was empty. Completely empty. It was never the liveliest place, but there were always people up and about. But now, the streets were vacant. The neon lights that illuminated the area were all lit, guess they fixed the grid, but there was something off about them.
Shadow continued on towards the tunnel. What’s going on? Where is everyone? Shadow looked up at the lights. They started shifting. Greens turned to white. Blues to black. They started forming an image, one Shadow immediately recognized. A man appeared. He had slicked back, black hair. He wore a grey suit, grey slacks, and black loafers.
“Oh, what now?”
“Greetings people of the city. I wish this address were under better circumstances. I hope you are all safe in your homes, as has been instructed. Normally, when I appear to you, it is to inform you on the state of our glorious city…”
I don’t know what this is, but I have to hurry. The rebellion needs to know about this! I don’t think these transmissions get to the outer area! Yun probably kept them informed on this kind of thing...I have to take over for now. Shadow ripped the amouraran chip out of the external modifier and replaced it with the map Yun gave him. A hard light image projected out of the device. Shadow looked at it, took one last look at the leader’s face, then sprinted into the tunnel. The leader’s voice faded as Shadow ran.
“The status of the criminal an….”
…
With the map Yun gave him, Shadow was able to easily navigate the tunnel, only tripping on himself a few times. Man, Yun was able to do this without needing a map. She must have been devoted to this. She had to have practiced going through the tunnel over and over. ...Please be okay.
Shadow could see the end of the tunnel. He increased his speed, sprinting towards the light. Almost there. I’m coming Sun. Just hold on. I’ve got what we ne- oh. No.
Shadow was at the top of the staircase leading out of the tunnel when he could see the army of Sergeants where the base once was. There was no one there. No one besides the Sergeants. Vehicles surrounding the area peeled away. The trucks are leaving...but the Sergeants are staying. Wait, only a few trucks left. Some are still here. They looked like the kind that carried people. It clicked. Oh...oh no. What...what do I do now?
Before Shadow could decide on a course of action, he heard the leader’s voice boom through several Sergeant transmitters.
“Rest assured Shadow, you will be found. Your little ‘rebellion’ is over.” Shadow peaked his head out a bit further so he could see the video feed. The colors shifted once more. Blacks turned to greys. Whites turned to green.
“No. No no no no no no no…” The lights displayed the interior of Sergeant trucks. There were five in total. Four contained the rebellion members that were snatched away from the base. One held a girl with green hair, a black blazer, and a white shirt. They had Yun.
“Turn yourself in. Make this easier on everyone. Maybe then, your rebellion members can be rehabilitated, and become functioning members of our society. The choice is yours, Shadow.” The lights transitioned back into their typical glow, and the Sergeants got on with their business.
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