KeotsuEclipse
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WARNING:MORE GRAPHIC THAN MY OTHER WRITINGS!!!!
?You! Put out all your money!? ?What? But, I-I already did! I paid you yesterday!? The soldier picked the man up by the collar. ?I don?t care, I wasn?t here, and I doubt you have any proof! Now, give us the money you owe us, or I?m sure your house can do just fine.? said the first soldier. ?This pretty little thing could probably fetch a good sum, or two, couldn?t you darlin?? said the second soldier to the man?s wife. She let out a small whimper. ?Trash.? he said, throwing her to the ground, and continued rummaging through the man?s house; if you could even call it that. ?Please sir, I?ll give you all my money from today, but it?s all I have!? he pleaded. The man took it without a second thought; no matter how little it was, money was money. He spit on the man?s photo of his family; one of the worst insults you could be given.
Jack watched this whole event unfold. He was a peddler too. Or at least, that?s what he told people. The two soldiers gave Jack the evil eye as they passed, thinking he was less than them. ?Abuse us while you can.? Jack thought to himself. Seven years ago, SIN had done what everyone else in history had failed at: Conquer the world.
Jack was now 21, but was 14 when it happened. SIN had come out of nowhere. They used a new type of weapon that none had seen before, and had defeated all the Super-power nations in under a week. All the men who where able bodied either where drafted into the military, or the construction industry. Lucky ones became peddlers. Even luckier ones died.
Jack continued walking, anxious to return ?home?. In reality, he lived out side the city, in a crude log cabin he built. He walked the lonesome four miles, snow pelting him; he trying to hide their dinner under his jacket, trying to keep it from freezing.
He opened the door, and looked around their, ?Humble at best? dwelling, he always called it. The floor was sand he had managed to cover with a stolen tarp. The sides of the walls where in good shape, as was the roof; one thing he did know how to do was build. In one corner sat an rickety old wood burning stove, and in the other, a couch, and a small mat on the floor; they served as their beds; he slept on the floor.
Asleep on the couch, was his sister, Scarlet. She was wearing Jack?s old clothes, two sizes to big, and was sleeping. She had green eyes, and long mahogany hair, in contrast to Jacks brown eyes, and black hair, cut in a buzz cut fashion. Jack opened his jacket, and the slab of beef fell out. He pulled out a metal rack, and put it over the fire.
He coughed; blood. It got worse and worse everyday, but he wouldn?t let Scarlet see that he was weakening; she needed him. It all started seven years ago, when he was 14, and when Scarlet was seven?..
?Come on Jack! I wanna see the caves!? said a young Scarlet, healthy, and active. ?I?m coming, I?m coming. I?ve got to lace my boots.? he replied, he too was healthier, and his hair was about shoulder length. They lived just off the coast of Maine, and they and their parents had decided to have a house built here on the island. It didn?t take Jack long to find the caves, and learn them inside out. Regardless, he had recently discovered a cavern with crystals hanging from the ceiling, and he promised to show Scarlet.
They had just reached the cavern, and that?s when everything changed; Jack remembered it clearly. A large explosion, and then the roof of the cavern collapsed; a crystal came crashing down, and had stabbed Jack in the shoulder; he still remembered the searing pain, and the intense cold. Then, he was hit in the head, and knocked unconscious. He was lucky; Scarlett had been just outside the cavern, but the shockwave had knocked her unconscious.
Jack woke up before Scarlett, and immediately pulled the crystal shard out of his shoulder. After digging through the rubble for hours, he finally managed to see light from the other side. Scarlet was there; unconscious.
From that day on, Jack and Scarlet where the only survivors from their island, being the only ones to survive the missile strike.
Unknown to Scarlet, that was the day Jack started to die. Something had happened, and after the blow to his head, his body changed. His body now saw his heart and lungs as minor infections, and was slowly destroying them both. He coughed up much blood, but never let her see.
He was trying to take everything in one last time. He knew he might not survive the next few weeks. Not only was he getting worse with his heart and lungs, the extreme cold wasn?t helping. On top of that, he was part of CURE. It didn?t stand for anything, other than what they thought. CURE was the rebellion against SIN, and they saw SIN as a sickness of the worlds people, and they where going to get rid of it. Jack was in the US Force of CURE, and was their best soldier. He was part of the team that would attack the SIN base tomorrow, in attempt to kill Don Hugh, SIN?s leader.
Suddenly, their was a pleasant singing. He rushed over, and woke up Scarlet. Her eyes where dull at first, but once she heard the singing, her eyes lit up. ?The Star Singers?? she asked. ?Yes.? he replied, give her his jacket, as they climbed up to the roof.
He opened up the hatch, and they saw many green orbs out against the night sky; the Star Singers. Lots of people in the world could see them, but not near as many as who couldn?t. They sang beautifully, and Jack loved listening to them. He often stayed up here with Scarlet until she fell asleep, just watching them.
Jack was very protective of Scarlet. Of coarse she was his sister, but more than that, she was the last bit of happiness he had, and the only thing that kept him sane. When his old life disappeared with the missile strike, he nearly did to, and vowed not to let her die, lest everything be in vain. He thought, as long as someone with a good heart lives, maybe the world could change back to how it was, or to even better.
He heard snow crunching, and reached for his knife. He waited for the person to stop, and then jumped down, knife to their throat. ?Your getting good, Jack.? said the old man. ?Mr. Johnson!? Jack quickly withdrew his knife, and apologized. Mr. Jonson?s handed strayed to his neck, and the warm trickle of blood going down it. ?Your skills are as sharp as ever, and your blade even sharper. Good.? ?Sir, please come in. I?ll grab a bandage for you.? said Jack, apologetically.
?Jack, I cannot. I?m here to tell you something.? ?Yes sir?? he asked. Mr. Johnson sighed, ?Jack, I know you?re a part of CURE. Now listen, I?m not mad. I?ve always been a man, with the view of what happens, happens. But?I was the original founder of SIN?? ?What?!? Jack exclaimed. ?Listen, please?.! I founded SIN, but it?s not what people think it is. SIN initially stood for Small Investments in Nations. We where a gorilla force, but we where thieves on a massive scale, a Robin Hood Project, if you will. We caused small squabbles between the super-powers, not enough to cause all out war, but enough where we could steal millions of dollars. We then gave the money we stole to the most struggling of countries. But, then Don Hugh joined. My organization had grown. We had power, and more members than I could keep track of. He slipped through the ranks without me knowing much about him. When I retired, he took over. And he knew something I didn?t. The Star Singers?.Their blood?.Makes the most powerful weapons the world has ever seen.? ?Why are you telling me this?? asked Jack. ?Undo my mistakes?please?it?s the one last wish of this old man?.?
?I will.?
?Thank you.? The two of them stood their, watching the Star Singers move. ?You know what they do, right?? asked Mr. Johnson. ?I think so. They sing, and make joy. Then, they use the joy to make energy. I?m not sure what else they do.? admitted Jack. ?They restore the Earth. They use their energy to repair the damage to the earth we?ve done. That?s why there are so many all of a sudden. The downside is, all the bad energy they eat is stored inside them, and is stored in their blood in turn. That?s how Don Hugh could use their blood to make weapons.? ??..I promise I?ll end all of this?.If not for anyone else, then for Scarlet.? ?No. Not for Scarlet. If for anyone, for yourself. When you fight for Scarlet, you reckless. If your main concern is yourself, you?ll stay alive. If you don?t fight for yourself, and don?t be careful, they?ll slaughter you.? Jack said nothing. ?Just be careful.? and with that, Mr. Johnson left.
It was the next day, and Jack was putting on his body armor. He looked at Scarlet, asleep on the couch. He started writing a note:
Dear Scarlet,
I?ve gone. We are trying for the gold today. Its very possible I won?t come back. I?m sorry I wasn?t able to stay with you any longer. Underneath the fire place, you?ll find $500. Please, use it sparingly. I?ve talked to Mr. Johnson, and he said that he would take care of you. Please, just be careful. I?ve given up everything to protect you, and now, I have to watch over myself, if I want to change this world. If I?m not with you in person, I?m with Mom and Dad, watching you with the Star Singers.
Love, you brother,
Jack.
He sealed it in the envelope, and started his lonely hike through the wilderness. The place was barren of any wildlife, or even vegetation. The nuclear fallout had killed everything, and was slowly killing everyone. He came to a clearing. It was the rendezvous point. He sat down, ready to go, just waiting on the chopper. He pulled his gun closer to his chest.
A few moments later, a few men appeared. ?You ready to go?? asked the first man. ?Yeah?? said Jack. ?Good, got all your gear?? ?Yes.? replied Jack again. ?Good?.When?s the chopper s?posed to be here?? ?Its not coming.? said Jack, ?because, your not my team!? He stood up, and started firing. He hit the first man in the shoulder, making him drop his gun. He charged towards the other man, and smashed the man in the forehead with the butt of his gun; he felt the skull crush under the blow. If that wasn?t proof enough that the man was dead, the part of his frontal lobe hanging out form the hole in his skull. Jack pulled out his knife and worked his way towards the other man, after shooting him in the legs with a bone shattering crunch as it shattered his knee cap, and picked the man up.
?Why are you here?? asked Jack, putting his knife to his throat. ?We where sent here?to wipe out the CURE.? ?Well, to bad for you.? Jack took the knife, and slit the man?s throat, his esophagus clearly visible throw the slit, and his jugular pulsing the blood out, killing him all the faster. A few moments later, a helicopter appeared.
?Sorry we?re late; had a bit of a run in at the pad.? ?No problem. Just get me in here, before someone notices these bodies.? commanded Jack. ?Will do, cap.? said the number one British agent in CURE, Sam. As the six members sat there in complete silence, a man walked in. ?Leader Palmer.? they all said in unison, acknowledging the founder of CURE. ?You are all the best in CURE, but even your survival cannot be guaranteed for this mission. We are going to drop you off on the top of the SIN Tower, and you will need to work your way into the middle, into Don Hugh?s Chamber?s. This IS a suicide mission. If you can?t beat him in a gunfight, each of your vest has a 20 pound C4 charge in it. Detonate it if needed. I just want to thank you all. Your the bravest in the world, and because of you, we will have a better future.?
They all sat in silence as they listened to his speech. ?Sir, approaching the drop zone.? ?How brave you all are?.May the stars be with you, and get this done with speed. I hope, I hope, to see at least a few of you again.?
As the metallic click of the helicopter door snapped, the six of them jumped out of the chopper, and made a dash for the door. ?Coming in an a helicopter, and being stealth? Yeah right. No element of surprise for them?, though Jack. The lead kicked open the door, and immediately they where hailed by gunfire. Jack pulled his gun up, and started firing. He could hear the smack of bullets against skulls, even from this distance. He heard a small pinging noise, and looked down; a grenade. He picked it up, and through it off the building; it exploded four stories down. ?A few less to deal with later.? he thought. One of the men rushed past him, and start firing. Jack smiled; so far, so good. Then, he couldn?t breathe.
On of the enemy soldiers had managed to sneak around, and had gotten Jack in a headlock. They couldn?t shoot, without hitting Jack. Jack took his knife with one hand, and stabbed the mans arm. As the man reared back, Jack proceeded to kick him where the sun don?t shine. As the crumbled over, Jack took his knife, and severed his spinal column from his head, with a bloody, and sickening cut.
?Are you oka-? ?Don?t worry about it, lets just keep going.? said Jack ?Okay.? They all continued down the latter. ?This is to easy.? said Jack, stopping. ?What do you me-AHHH!? Suddenly the stairs in front of Jack went up in flames, and a massive shockwave rung throughout the stair case; a bomb, that Jack had barely missed. He couldn?t see; he couldn?t hear. And then, he fell unconscious on the stairs.
He became aware of three people in the room. Two where holding him up. The other was in a throne; Don Hugh. ?Well, he awakes.? Jack said nothing. Don Hugh stood up, and said ?Take his weapons, I will deal with him in private.? The two men stripped Jack of his weapons, his vest, his knife, and his body armor. They missed the pistol he kept concealed on his thigh.
?Now, I?m going to remove your combat mask?I?d like to know who I get the pleasure of killing. Ah?now?tell me your name.? ??.Its Jack.? ?Jack?What? Don Hugh asked. ?Jack Paulson.? ?P-Paulson?? asked Don Hugh, suddenly shocked. ?It?it is you.? ?What are you talking about?? asked Jack.
?Jack?I?m your brother.?
?What? How?? asked Jack, surprised. ?I moved out, years before you where born. Mom and Dad weren?t exactly proud of me, so I?m not surprised that they didn?t mention me. I did hear that they had a daughter. Is that true?? ?Yes?Scarlet?She?s the whole reason I?m here.? ?So?how are Mom and Dad???
?Dead.? ?What? How?? asked Don Hugh. ?Your missile hit the island, and killed everyone. The only reason Scarlet and I survived, was because we where in the caves.? ?I?m sorry?.You where sent here to kill me, and I almost killed you?And you had a reason? Please let me make it up to you?You two can live here with me. You?ll get the best medical care available, the best living conditions?.? pleaded Don Hugh. ?Its to late for that?I?m dying?I doubt I can make it through the week?But if you want to make it up to me?help Scarlet. He deserves more?I gave up everything?I could have lived in peace on the island alone, but I didn?t. I shunned the love of my life, so I can take care of her?She is one of the few good people in the world.? He?s right, you know.? said a familiar voice.
Jack exclaimed, ?Mr. Johnson!? ?Al?? said a surprised Don Hugh. ?All this trouble, is your fault, Don.? ?I realize that?The Star Singers showed me?.I was shot about two years ago?and a Star Singer entered me?At first, we conflicted, two beings in one body, but then, we became one, and my eyes opened. I thought that by destroying everyone who had made the world how it was, I could give it a new start, that I could begin anew, with me at the helm?but, I only made it worse.? ?Jack has the mind, but not the mindset to put everything back to normal?but, he won?t survive?not long?? ?Don?if your really my brother?than you know what to do?Make things right?..please. And I?m sorry. But?I need to watch over Scarlet, and I can?t in this body anymore.?
Jack pulled out his gun. He aimed it at Don. ?Good bye.? This was the last thing Jack said, before he died. He but the gun to his temple, and fired, a loud echo, and a splatter of blood filled the chamber. ?NO!? yelled Don.
?You know what you have to do, and if you really want to make it up to him, help Scarlet, and fix what you?ve messed up.? Don sat their in silence; he caused the death of one of the best people in the world. Suddenly, a somber music filled the hall. Hundreds of the green Star Singers flooded the hall, and stormed towards Jacks body. Don pulled out his own pistol, and started firing at them. ?Stay away!? ?No, stop!? yelled Al, ?let them do it.?
Jack?s body started to disintegrate. The green light of the Star Singers seemed dwarfed by an even greater one. The Star Singers dispersed, and Jack?s body was gone. In its place, was a Star Singer, except, this one was blue. ?You know what you have to do?Do it.? ?Yes?? Don walked over to the Intercom. ?Tell ALL SIN soldiers to meet in the Hall of Divide??
?You may wonder why I?ve called you all here. I promised a utopia when SIN took control, but its been the opposite. You are divided into two groups: one with good records, one with bad records. I will change the direction of SIN, and I WILL make the world better, just like I promised?starting from within SIN.? He pressed a button, and suddenly, the side of the chamber filled with the ?corrupt? SIN soldiers, burst into flames, incinerating everything?and everyone. The only thing left, was a thin layer of ash across the floor.
?You?ve made the right move?? Don turned around, and saw only a faint blue trail.
TWENTY YEARS LATER
?How are things, sis?? asked Don. ?Good, everyone is happy. You?ve managed to reestablish the world like it was before the siege, and with SIN/CURE at the head, and more effective than the UN, everything is good.? ?You?ve done well?? said Jack, still a Star Singer. ?Yes, and I?m sorry. All of this was my fault.? apologized Don. ?It was no problem. You made everything better.? ?Yes?lets hope it stays that way.?
Scarlet?s watch beep. ?C?mon! The Star Singers should be out!? They all rushed outside, to see the green lights floating in the sky; a beautiful serenade in their presence. They sang and sang and sang, until all where mystified by their song. They then started flying towards the starts, returning once again, when the Earth fell ill.
?You! Put out all your money!? ?What? But, I-I already did! I paid you yesterday!? The soldier picked the man up by the collar. ?I don?t care, I wasn?t here, and I doubt you have any proof! Now, give us the money you owe us, or I?m sure your house can do just fine.? said the first soldier. ?This pretty little thing could probably fetch a good sum, or two, couldn?t you darlin?? said the second soldier to the man?s wife. She let out a small whimper. ?Trash.? he said, throwing her to the ground, and continued rummaging through the man?s house; if you could even call it that. ?Please sir, I?ll give you all my money from today, but it?s all I have!? he pleaded. The man took it without a second thought; no matter how little it was, money was money. He spit on the man?s photo of his family; one of the worst insults you could be given.
Jack watched this whole event unfold. He was a peddler too. Or at least, that?s what he told people. The two soldiers gave Jack the evil eye as they passed, thinking he was less than them. ?Abuse us while you can.? Jack thought to himself. Seven years ago, SIN had done what everyone else in history had failed at: Conquer the world.
Jack was now 21, but was 14 when it happened. SIN had come out of nowhere. They used a new type of weapon that none had seen before, and had defeated all the Super-power nations in under a week. All the men who where able bodied either where drafted into the military, or the construction industry. Lucky ones became peddlers. Even luckier ones died.
Jack continued walking, anxious to return ?home?. In reality, he lived out side the city, in a crude log cabin he built. He walked the lonesome four miles, snow pelting him; he trying to hide their dinner under his jacket, trying to keep it from freezing.
He opened the door, and looked around their, ?Humble at best? dwelling, he always called it. The floor was sand he had managed to cover with a stolen tarp. The sides of the walls where in good shape, as was the roof; one thing he did know how to do was build. In one corner sat an rickety old wood burning stove, and in the other, a couch, and a small mat on the floor; they served as their beds; he slept on the floor.
Asleep on the couch, was his sister, Scarlet. She was wearing Jack?s old clothes, two sizes to big, and was sleeping. She had green eyes, and long mahogany hair, in contrast to Jacks brown eyes, and black hair, cut in a buzz cut fashion. Jack opened his jacket, and the slab of beef fell out. He pulled out a metal rack, and put it over the fire.
He coughed; blood. It got worse and worse everyday, but he wouldn?t let Scarlet see that he was weakening; she needed him. It all started seven years ago, when he was 14, and when Scarlet was seven?..
?Come on Jack! I wanna see the caves!? said a young Scarlet, healthy, and active. ?I?m coming, I?m coming. I?ve got to lace my boots.? he replied, he too was healthier, and his hair was about shoulder length. They lived just off the coast of Maine, and they and their parents had decided to have a house built here on the island. It didn?t take Jack long to find the caves, and learn them inside out. Regardless, he had recently discovered a cavern with crystals hanging from the ceiling, and he promised to show Scarlet.
They had just reached the cavern, and that?s when everything changed; Jack remembered it clearly. A large explosion, and then the roof of the cavern collapsed; a crystal came crashing down, and had stabbed Jack in the shoulder; he still remembered the searing pain, and the intense cold. Then, he was hit in the head, and knocked unconscious. He was lucky; Scarlett had been just outside the cavern, but the shockwave had knocked her unconscious.
Jack woke up before Scarlett, and immediately pulled the crystal shard out of his shoulder. After digging through the rubble for hours, he finally managed to see light from the other side. Scarlet was there; unconscious.
From that day on, Jack and Scarlet where the only survivors from their island, being the only ones to survive the missile strike.
Unknown to Scarlet, that was the day Jack started to die. Something had happened, and after the blow to his head, his body changed. His body now saw his heart and lungs as minor infections, and was slowly destroying them both. He coughed up much blood, but never let her see.
He was trying to take everything in one last time. He knew he might not survive the next few weeks. Not only was he getting worse with his heart and lungs, the extreme cold wasn?t helping. On top of that, he was part of CURE. It didn?t stand for anything, other than what they thought. CURE was the rebellion against SIN, and they saw SIN as a sickness of the worlds people, and they where going to get rid of it. Jack was in the US Force of CURE, and was their best soldier. He was part of the team that would attack the SIN base tomorrow, in attempt to kill Don Hugh, SIN?s leader.
Suddenly, their was a pleasant singing. He rushed over, and woke up Scarlet. Her eyes where dull at first, but once she heard the singing, her eyes lit up. ?The Star Singers?? she asked. ?Yes.? he replied, give her his jacket, as they climbed up to the roof.
He opened up the hatch, and they saw many green orbs out against the night sky; the Star Singers. Lots of people in the world could see them, but not near as many as who couldn?t. They sang beautifully, and Jack loved listening to them. He often stayed up here with Scarlet until she fell asleep, just watching them.
Jack was very protective of Scarlet. Of coarse she was his sister, but more than that, she was the last bit of happiness he had, and the only thing that kept him sane. When his old life disappeared with the missile strike, he nearly did to, and vowed not to let her die, lest everything be in vain. He thought, as long as someone with a good heart lives, maybe the world could change back to how it was, or to even better.
He heard snow crunching, and reached for his knife. He waited for the person to stop, and then jumped down, knife to their throat. ?Your getting good, Jack.? said the old man. ?Mr. Johnson!? Jack quickly withdrew his knife, and apologized. Mr. Jonson?s handed strayed to his neck, and the warm trickle of blood going down it. ?Your skills are as sharp as ever, and your blade even sharper. Good.? ?Sir, please come in. I?ll grab a bandage for you.? said Jack, apologetically.
?Jack, I cannot. I?m here to tell you something.? ?Yes sir?? he asked. Mr. Johnson sighed, ?Jack, I know you?re a part of CURE. Now listen, I?m not mad. I?ve always been a man, with the view of what happens, happens. But?I was the original founder of SIN?? ?What?!? Jack exclaimed. ?Listen, please?.! I founded SIN, but it?s not what people think it is. SIN initially stood for Small Investments in Nations. We where a gorilla force, but we where thieves on a massive scale, a Robin Hood Project, if you will. We caused small squabbles between the super-powers, not enough to cause all out war, but enough where we could steal millions of dollars. We then gave the money we stole to the most struggling of countries. But, then Don Hugh joined. My organization had grown. We had power, and more members than I could keep track of. He slipped through the ranks without me knowing much about him. When I retired, he took over. And he knew something I didn?t. The Star Singers?.Their blood?.Makes the most powerful weapons the world has ever seen.? ?Why are you telling me this?? asked Jack. ?Undo my mistakes?please?it?s the one last wish of this old man?.?
?I will.?
?Thank you.? The two of them stood their, watching the Star Singers move. ?You know what they do, right?? asked Mr. Johnson. ?I think so. They sing, and make joy. Then, they use the joy to make energy. I?m not sure what else they do.? admitted Jack. ?They restore the Earth. They use their energy to repair the damage to the earth we?ve done. That?s why there are so many all of a sudden. The downside is, all the bad energy they eat is stored inside them, and is stored in their blood in turn. That?s how Don Hugh could use their blood to make weapons.? ??..I promise I?ll end all of this?.If not for anyone else, then for Scarlet.? ?No. Not for Scarlet. If for anyone, for yourself. When you fight for Scarlet, you reckless. If your main concern is yourself, you?ll stay alive. If you don?t fight for yourself, and don?t be careful, they?ll slaughter you.? Jack said nothing. ?Just be careful.? and with that, Mr. Johnson left.
It was the next day, and Jack was putting on his body armor. He looked at Scarlet, asleep on the couch. He started writing a note:
Dear Scarlet,
I?ve gone. We are trying for the gold today. Its very possible I won?t come back. I?m sorry I wasn?t able to stay with you any longer. Underneath the fire place, you?ll find $500. Please, use it sparingly. I?ve talked to Mr. Johnson, and he said that he would take care of you. Please, just be careful. I?ve given up everything to protect you, and now, I have to watch over myself, if I want to change this world. If I?m not with you in person, I?m with Mom and Dad, watching you with the Star Singers.
Love, you brother,
Jack.
He sealed it in the envelope, and started his lonely hike through the wilderness. The place was barren of any wildlife, or even vegetation. The nuclear fallout had killed everything, and was slowly killing everyone. He came to a clearing. It was the rendezvous point. He sat down, ready to go, just waiting on the chopper. He pulled his gun closer to his chest.
A few moments later, a few men appeared. ?You ready to go?? asked the first man. ?Yeah?? said Jack. ?Good, got all your gear?? ?Yes.? replied Jack again. ?Good?.When?s the chopper s?posed to be here?? ?Its not coming.? said Jack, ?because, your not my team!? He stood up, and started firing. He hit the first man in the shoulder, making him drop his gun. He charged towards the other man, and smashed the man in the forehead with the butt of his gun; he felt the skull crush under the blow. If that wasn?t proof enough that the man was dead, the part of his frontal lobe hanging out form the hole in his skull. Jack pulled out his knife and worked his way towards the other man, after shooting him in the legs with a bone shattering crunch as it shattered his knee cap, and picked the man up.
?Why are you here?? asked Jack, putting his knife to his throat. ?We where sent here?to wipe out the CURE.? ?Well, to bad for you.? Jack took the knife, and slit the man?s throat, his esophagus clearly visible throw the slit, and his jugular pulsing the blood out, killing him all the faster. A few moments later, a helicopter appeared.
?Sorry we?re late; had a bit of a run in at the pad.? ?No problem. Just get me in here, before someone notices these bodies.? commanded Jack. ?Will do, cap.? said the number one British agent in CURE, Sam. As the six members sat there in complete silence, a man walked in. ?Leader Palmer.? they all said in unison, acknowledging the founder of CURE. ?You are all the best in CURE, but even your survival cannot be guaranteed for this mission. We are going to drop you off on the top of the SIN Tower, and you will need to work your way into the middle, into Don Hugh?s Chamber?s. This IS a suicide mission. If you can?t beat him in a gunfight, each of your vest has a 20 pound C4 charge in it. Detonate it if needed. I just want to thank you all. Your the bravest in the world, and because of you, we will have a better future.?
They all sat in silence as they listened to his speech. ?Sir, approaching the drop zone.? ?How brave you all are?.May the stars be with you, and get this done with speed. I hope, I hope, to see at least a few of you again.?
As the metallic click of the helicopter door snapped, the six of them jumped out of the chopper, and made a dash for the door. ?Coming in an a helicopter, and being stealth? Yeah right. No element of surprise for them?, though Jack. The lead kicked open the door, and immediately they where hailed by gunfire. Jack pulled his gun up, and started firing. He could hear the smack of bullets against skulls, even from this distance. He heard a small pinging noise, and looked down; a grenade. He picked it up, and through it off the building; it exploded four stories down. ?A few less to deal with later.? he thought. One of the men rushed past him, and start firing. Jack smiled; so far, so good. Then, he couldn?t breathe.
On of the enemy soldiers had managed to sneak around, and had gotten Jack in a headlock. They couldn?t shoot, without hitting Jack. Jack took his knife with one hand, and stabbed the mans arm. As the man reared back, Jack proceeded to kick him where the sun don?t shine. As the crumbled over, Jack took his knife, and severed his spinal column from his head, with a bloody, and sickening cut.
?Are you oka-? ?Don?t worry about it, lets just keep going.? said Jack ?Okay.? They all continued down the latter. ?This is to easy.? said Jack, stopping. ?What do you me-AHHH!? Suddenly the stairs in front of Jack went up in flames, and a massive shockwave rung throughout the stair case; a bomb, that Jack had barely missed. He couldn?t see; he couldn?t hear. And then, he fell unconscious on the stairs.
He became aware of three people in the room. Two where holding him up. The other was in a throne; Don Hugh. ?Well, he awakes.? Jack said nothing. Don Hugh stood up, and said ?Take his weapons, I will deal with him in private.? The two men stripped Jack of his weapons, his vest, his knife, and his body armor. They missed the pistol he kept concealed on his thigh.
?Now, I?m going to remove your combat mask?I?d like to know who I get the pleasure of killing. Ah?now?tell me your name.? ??.Its Jack.? ?Jack?What? Don Hugh asked. ?Jack Paulson.? ?P-Paulson?? asked Don Hugh, suddenly shocked. ?It?it is you.? ?What are you talking about?? asked Jack.
?Jack?I?m your brother.?
?What? How?? asked Jack, surprised. ?I moved out, years before you where born. Mom and Dad weren?t exactly proud of me, so I?m not surprised that they didn?t mention me. I did hear that they had a daughter. Is that true?? ?Yes?Scarlet?She?s the whole reason I?m here.? ?So?how are Mom and Dad???
?Dead.? ?What? How?? asked Don Hugh. ?Your missile hit the island, and killed everyone. The only reason Scarlet and I survived, was because we where in the caves.? ?I?m sorry?.You where sent here to kill me, and I almost killed you?And you had a reason? Please let me make it up to you?You two can live here with me. You?ll get the best medical care available, the best living conditions?.? pleaded Don Hugh. ?Its to late for that?I?m dying?I doubt I can make it through the week?But if you want to make it up to me?help Scarlet. He deserves more?I gave up everything?I could have lived in peace on the island alone, but I didn?t. I shunned the love of my life, so I can take care of her?She is one of the few good people in the world.? He?s right, you know.? said a familiar voice.
Jack exclaimed, ?Mr. Johnson!? ?Al?? said a surprised Don Hugh. ?All this trouble, is your fault, Don.? ?I realize that?The Star Singers showed me?.I was shot about two years ago?and a Star Singer entered me?At first, we conflicted, two beings in one body, but then, we became one, and my eyes opened. I thought that by destroying everyone who had made the world how it was, I could give it a new start, that I could begin anew, with me at the helm?but, I only made it worse.? ?Jack has the mind, but not the mindset to put everything back to normal?but, he won?t survive?not long?? ?Don?if your really my brother?than you know what to do?Make things right?..please. And I?m sorry. But?I need to watch over Scarlet, and I can?t in this body anymore.?
Jack pulled out his gun. He aimed it at Don. ?Good bye.? This was the last thing Jack said, before he died. He but the gun to his temple, and fired, a loud echo, and a splatter of blood filled the chamber. ?NO!? yelled Don.
?You know what you have to do, and if you really want to make it up to him, help Scarlet, and fix what you?ve messed up.? Don sat their in silence; he caused the death of one of the best people in the world. Suddenly, a somber music filled the hall. Hundreds of the green Star Singers flooded the hall, and stormed towards Jacks body. Don pulled out his own pistol, and started firing at them. ?Stay away!? ?No, stop!? yelled Al, ?let them do it.?
Jack?s body started to disintegrate. The green light of the Star Singers seemed dwarfed by an even greater one. The Star Singers dispersed, and Jack?s body was gone. In its place, was a Star Singer, except, this one was blue. ?You know what you have to do?Do it.? ?Yes?? Don walked over to the Intercom. ?Tell ALL SIN soldiers to meet in the Hall of Divide??
?You may wonder why I?ve called you all here. I promised a utopia when SIN took control, but its been the opposite. You are divided into two groups: one with good records, one with bad records. I will change the direction of SIN, and I WILL make the world better, just like I promised?starting from within SIN.? He pressed a button, and suddenly, the side of the chamber filled with the ?corrupt? SIN soldiers, burst into flames, incinerating everything?and everyone. The only thing left, was a thin layer of ash across the floor.
?You?ve made the right move?? Don turned around, and saw only a faint blue trail.
TWENTY YEARS LATER
?How are things, sis?? asked Don. ?Good, everyone is happy. You?ve managed to reestablish the world like it was before the siege, and with SIN/CURE at the head, and more effective than the UN, everything is good.? ?You?ve done well?? said Jack, still a Star Singer. ?Yes, and I?m sorry. All of this was my fault.? apologized Don. ?It was no problem. You made everything better.? ?Yes?lets hope it stays that way.?
Scarlet?s watch beep. ?C?mon! The Star Singers should be out!? They all rushed outside, to see the green lights floating in the sky; a beautiful serenade in their presence. They sang and sang and sang, until all where mystified by their song. They then started flying towards the starts, returning once again, when the Earth fell ill.
