Justice Lives

Freemen

Nukes

Chapter 1 - Freemen

The Freemen Lieutenant waited for an answer. Any answer other than ‘I don’t know.’ That was not an acceptable reply to her. She truly hated it. So when the farmer she was questioning whispered those very words she hit him again. And again for making her do it by giving the hated answer and again just because she felt like it. "Unacceptable." She snarled her face a twisted parody of the lovely young woman she could have been. "You know when the Church patrols go by. The times, the number of soldiers and vehicles. Tell me and we will go away and leave you in peace."

"But I really don’t know." The man groaned. "We hide when the warning is given and the patrols come."

"Pathetic! You are all pathetic!" She marched up and down the line of civilians huddled before her. Most, just simple farmers trying to grow enough food to feed their families. She knew they weren’t Church sympathizers but that didn’t matter one bit. They were privy to the movements of local Church patrols and they were bloody well going to tell her all about them or she would see to it that none of them ever had to worry about finding enough to eat again. "I’m going to ask one more time..."

"Why? Weren’t you paying attention the last three times you asked?"

The Lieutenant’s snapped up, whipping around to find the person responsible for that remark. A darkly dressed female figure leaned casually against a stone wall. Short chin length black hair was held in place by animal print scarf. The Lieutenant looked the woman over and was disconcerted to find a smile upon her lips and a pair of mirrored sunglasses perched on the end of her nose. "Who the hell are you?"

"A Citizen of Sabbatt." A gloved hand rose to wave at the other Freemen who were now looking in her direction. "Just stopped by for a drink of water and a small nap before I made my way into town. The afternoon heat drains me so I was having a small snooze when I heard this terrible yelling. You interrupted my nap."

"I am so sorry." Sneered the Lieutenant taking a step closer to the woman. "Stay out of this matter ‘Citizen’ or I will be forced to bring you in under the suspicion of being a Church spy." She nodded as if the emphasize the point, figuring that was enough of a threat to silence the woman.

"Oh don’t mind me Deary. I’m just trying to figure out why you are beating a man to death in order to get information that he doesn’t even have." Her berry colored lips pursed. "Seems to me to be an awful waste of time and energy on your part. Yeah, there are Church patrols that come by these parts periodically but these folks post lookouts every day and when a Church patrol is spotted they all drop what they are doing and go into hiding." A stray breeze caused her black hair to waft gently about her features. "All any of them could possibly tell you is that patrols pass near here about twice a week but there is no set pattern as in time or the size of the patrol."

The Lieutenant blinked as the woman provided all the information she was trying to extract from the farmer. She lashed out and kicked the farmer in the ribcage. "Why didn’t you tell me that? It would have saved us both a lot of time and aggravation!" A malicious smile spread across her face. "Yactiss! Ludemann! Take this -Church sympathizer- over to that wall and shoot him as an example to the others!" She shoved the farmer at the two men who had stepped forward at the call of their names. Both men wore a look of undisguised disgust on their faces.

"Lieutenant, if that man is a Church sympathizer then I am Sabbatt’s avatar." The woman in black chuckled softly. "All you are going to do by killing that man is turn the rest of these people into Church sympathizers, but then that would give you an excuse to wipe out the place when you go after the patrols. Ahh, I see your plan now. Very sneaky, but flawed. After all there is a witness to this atrocity. A witness who cares nothing for the Church of the Nuclear Messiah, nothing for the Freemen, nothing for any of the factions that are tearing our lovely planet apart." Straight white teeth peeked out as her lips parted in a full smile. "Namely me. Rest assured I will get word to your Freeman commanders about this needless slaughter of an innocent and I will name names."

The Lieutenant turned to regard the farmer now leaned up against a makeshift building’s wall. "You won’t be telling anyone anything about this, ever!" She whirled towards the black garbed woman. Her pistol leveling at her with practiced ease only to find her target gone. "Where are you?" She snarled taking a two handed grip on her pistol.

"You really don’t expect me to stand still and let you shoot me do you?" Her amusement clear in her words. "It’s a real shame Lieutenant Shivann. You’ve let your hatred of the Church turn you into that which you most despise. You are just like the worst the Church as to offer. Killing innocents because it suits your goals. Korogg had entered your soul and corrupted it beyond all redemption."

"You are dead!" Lieutenant Shivann jogged towards the last place she had seen the woman. "Fan out men, find her!" If she had bothered to turn around she would have noticed that none of her men moved to carry out her orders. Her second in command held up his hand silently telling the men to stay in place.

"You are a very naughty girl Shivann. I had hoped you would see the light, see the evil of your deeds but I now know that isn’t possible. You are blind to all but your hatred." She stepped out from between a pair of crude huts a few feet to the side of the Lieutenant. A small, hand held crossbow already leveled at the Freemen soldier. The bolt leapt out towards it mark. The Lieutenant turned letting out a startled gasp as the bolt slide home in her temple. She crumpled to the ground without another sound.

"Justice has been served." Her mirrored gaze swung towards the remaining Freemen. "What’s it gonna be gents? Do we shoot it out now or do you bundle up your dead comrade and head back to base?" She casually hung the crossbow on a loop on her belt. "Do you compound her evils or perhaps move on and show these people that you are Freemen that live up to your own propaganda? That farmer needs a trip to the hospital." She motioned with a nod to a young boy of about eight being held back by a woman. "And his son there needs to be shown that not all of you are as bad as the Lieutenant. Otherwise, in about eight more years, you’ll be seeing him on the battlefield. Only he will be fighting for the Church with all his heart and soul."

The Freemen Sargeant nodded once and turned on his heel. "Yachtiss, get that man in the truck so we can get him to the hospital." He turned to the boy. "Do you want to come along to see that your father is well taken care of?" At the boy’s nod he motioned him forward. "Yachtiss, see that the boy rides with his father." His eyes locked on the woman who had been holding the boy. "We will take good care of them and bring them back as soon as his father has been seen at the hospital. If he has to stay overnight I will send someone back to tell you. I, and the other men, are sorry for Lieutenant Shivann’s actions."

"Remember Freemen, that old phrase; I was only following orders, only goes so far before it becomes a lame excuse for doing nothing in the face of things you know in your heart are wrong." She lowered the glasses a fraction so that milky white orbs that were her eyes could be seen by all. "Justice may be blind, but you are not supposed to be." Then in the space of a blink she was gone. Her parting words drifting back to the soldiers. "Justice lives and will be watching you."

Chapter 2 - Nukes

The three followed the female form down the dark back street. The gentle sway of hips held their inebriated minds at full attention. They had been following the figure for blocks as it moved into the less open and populated parts of the city. Sure to keep well back as to not to spook their intended prey they spoke in hushed whispers, arguing over who would get to do what first to their target. Two-day passes, a trip to Club Abyss, a few drinks and now a little fun. It was just the relaxation they were looking for and felt they deserved. The three wore big leering smiles as they watched the figure turn down an alley.

"This is it fellas." Hissed the one wearing the captain’s bars. "We are far enough from the main drag to be able to do what we want without being disturbed."

Another laughed. "Like we just won’t ‘take care’ of anyone stupid enough to interrupt our fun." He lurched forward, walking faster as to not lose sight of the prey completely.

"Arnie, I don’t think this is such a great idea." Whispered a slender young man of barely twenty.

"Shut up Kid and learn." Arnie snickered. "Learn about one of the fringe benefits of being in the military branch of the Church. We can do what ever we want. I mean, what’s she gonna do? Report us?" He snickered again. "We own this town Kid, and everyone in it. It’s time you learned that."

The Kid shook his head not really believing what his captain was telling him but he was too afraid of the man to say anything more. He shot a glance to his other companion but he was intent on keeping track of the woman and didn’t notice the look. The Kid didn’t want to say that he had a real bad feeling about this. It felt to him like some sort of trap but he knew the other men would laugh at him if he mentioned it. After all he was just a raw Kid fresh out of boot camp.

The three rounded the corner shoulder to shoulder to find their quarry was no longer in sight. "Where the hell did she go?" Growled Arnie, looking up and down the alley.

"I’m right here Sugah." Said a purring voice from deep in the shadows. "Can I help you gentlemen?"

Arnie puffed out his chest. "Stop hiding and get out here. We wanna to talk to ya…about…about..the Church." He grinned. "Yeah, we wanna talk to ya about the Church."

A throaty chuckle sounded. "You gents don’t look like Church recruiters to me. Besides, I have no interest in joining up. Thank you for your interest though.

"Don’t make me come looking for ya woman!" Arnie marched deeper into the alley, the second man on his heels. The Kid hung back, the bad feeling in the pit of his stomach getting worse. "Come out now and maybe we won’t hurt ya so much but if we have to search for ya, trust me ya ain’t gonna like it none."

"I doubt I’d like it either way. Why don’t you gents run along back to the bar before someone gets hurt." The voice was calm, tinted with amusement. The sound of it made the Kid back up a few paces. Something was definitely wrong. He’d been with the Church long enough to know that most folks complied readily with an order from the military even if they didn’t think it was in their best interests.

Arnie motioned to his compatriot to move to one side of the alley while he took the other. "You’d better come out of hiding before me or Mel finds you. Come on baby, we just wanna have some fun." He lowered his voice, trying to sound soothing to coax her out but inside he was raging over the plan having gone awry.

"I doubt you’d like my idea of fun or I yours." The bodiless voice chuckled. "One last time gentleman. Run along back to the Club and we all get to stay healthy."

"That does it!! Now I’m gonna hurt ya bitc…" Arnie never finished his sentence. Mid word he dropped to his knees clutching at the gaping hole that had erupted in his chest. Mel’s alcohol soaked brain registered his collapse and the years of military training took over. His scanned the darkness, his pistol in hand, backing out of the alley. "Kid, get on the box and call for back up! We got a nut case here!"

"I resent that remark." A lilting laugh drifted from the shadows. "I am truly offended."

Mel fired into the darkness spraying a random pattern of bullets. No sound of return fire met his ears and he shouted out. "I think I got her Kid." Those were the last words Mel spoke. He simply fell backwards out of the alley. A not-so-neat hole blasted into the middle of his forehead.

The Kid back peddled down the street trying to get away from the alley as fast as he could. No way he was going to get killed over Arnie and Mel’s twisted idea of a fun night out. He spun around and started running full out down the road. His only thought was to get back to where there were people and call for some help. There was no hope for Mel and Arnie, they were dead, no question about that.

He never saw what struck him in the rib cage but he felt two ribs snap upon the impact. He doubled over crying out in pain only to be wailed on the back of the neck. Falling to his knees he tried to lash out with a fist but met with open air.

"Naughty, naughty kiddo." She teased. "Gang rape your idea of a good time? It’s certainly not mine." He watched her booted feet circle him, staying just out of reach. "See what happens to bad men kiddo? They die a bad way. I hope you paid attention because this is one lesson you only get to walk away from once. Make the same mistake again and you’ll be just as dead as your pals."

Her soft laughter rang in his ears. "You’re insane." He declared in a pain filled hiss. "You just killed a Church captain and lieutenant. You won’t get away with it." His eyes lifted in order to get a good look at her. He took in her pale face, chin length inky black hair, her form swathed in black from head to toe. Her eyes were hidden behind mirrored sunglasses. A quick thought passed through his mind wondering how she saw in the dark with those things on. He pulled back as she squatted down to his eye level.

"I’m insane?" A smile formed on her full lips. "Oh no, I am far from insane and that is the truly frightening thing about it. You and your pals trailed what you thought was a helpless lone woman in order to have a little fun. Fun better known as gang rape and I’m insane for defending myself." Her head shook from side to side. "How many women have suffered at the hands of your companions? How many have been assaulted and left in some back alley to die? And how many more would have if I hadn’t stopped them tonight?" She tapped him lightly on the forehead with her fingertips. "Think about it kiddo."

The Kid went for his pistol and found himself staring down the barrel of hers. "I wouldn’t do that if I were you kiddo. I’ve got no problem with sending you to Lurudd along with your friends, though I doubt he’ll accept them." The smile slithered back over her lips. "Drop the gun kiddo and live another day." She watched the gun fall from his fingers. Her own lifted to her face to pull her glasses down a fraction, just enough to let him get a good look at her eyes. He gaped, a gasp of surprise passing from his lips as he took in the milky white, sightless orbs that were her eyes.

"Remember kiddo, Justice is blind. It can see the evil in the hearts and souls of mortals. There is no place far enough away to run from it. No place dark enough to hide from it. Justice will find you." A white orb winked. "Spread the word, Justice lives." With that she ducked away into the shadows. The kid looked down and for just an instant thought about picking up his pistol and firing at her, but it was gone with her. He collapsed on to the cool pavement her last words echoing in his mind.

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