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A World Apart Ch. 1
Posted By: Dark Spartan<GKahn40@yahoo.com>
Date: 17 July 2003, 12:04 AM
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A World Apart Chapter One
Earth
October 7 2517
2237 hrs UNSC Military Time
New York City
Sual scoped the street. No police. He stepped out trying to look as calm as he could. Luckily for him it was pelting rain so that someone might mistake his shivers for being cold. He pretended to slip into the gutter. Freezing chills went up his spine as the water rushed over him. How else was he supposed to wash the sticky red blood off himself? The blood mixed with the water creating a red pool for a brief moment before being swept away.
" Hey, kid, you ok?" a deep voice shouted though the torrent behind. Saul froze deathly still. What if it was a cop? He was no match for a full-grown man, ten year olds sure, but not a man. He turned slowly and looked up. Oh man! Sure enough a burly blue and white uniformed peacekeeper towered over him.
Looking up at the man Saul could hardly believe how big he was. His white armor stretched over his chest and midsection. His boots were lost under the churning water and his deep blue spandex suit was nearly invisible in the gloom of the night. His jet black visor covered his eyes and the only thing showing from under is white helmet was his mouth. Saul took a quick glance at the weapon the man was holding. He groaned inwardly. The man was carrying the new issue SAG12 rifle in his hands, the biggest gun allowed to non-military. Saul guessed that he had to be at least six and a half feet tall. No doubt he was in great shape judging by the way his muscles were clearly distinguishable through his uniform.
The man's face moved slightly. His visor must have given him the picture and information on who Saul was. " Hey, kid, I'm gonna need y-HEY!" Saul was running, running as fast as his legs could carry him. No way he could outrun his pursuer, his only chance was to trick him and find a hiding place. He turned back into the alley from whence he had come. Feet splashing through the flood he could hear his pursuer quickly closing the distance between them. The man was speaking into his radio implanted into the helmet. Saul could hear it clearly; the man was calling for backup. And he'd better too, what with the record Saul had amassed in the past year.
Saul knew all the back streets of New York by heart now. He cut a corner quickly, back into the street. The crowds going to the night shifts clogged the streets. He hit the crowd just as the man caught up to him. He dodged left and right trying desperately to get lost in the crowd. The man kept falling farther and farther behind. At last he burst through the other side of the mob... right into the waiting arms of the backup police.
Saul dove down as if his life depended on it, which ironically was most likely the case. Spraying water in his wake Saul slid under the surprised man's legs. " Hey!" the man yelled. But Saul was much to busy avoiding his other accomplice. Back into the crowd. This way, that way, it was a race to Old Central City Park. Sual's hideout had yet to be found by anyone, save the bugs that also took refuge there.
Cops seemed to swarm the streets. It seemed that one was around very corner; or had they been there before and he just hadn't noticed them? It didn't matter now; the only thing that did was getting to his safe house. He dared a look back. The cops were catching up fast, the stragglers still going through the late night traffic. Looking ahead he was at the park gates. He slammed into them only to be violently hurled back by a giant electrical shock.
What? Had they been planning this? He groaned and darted to the right noticing through peripheral vision that the nearest enforcer was just under a football field's length away. He had to hurry. Yes! His vine was still hanging over the wall. He grabbed it hoping that it too wasn't rigged with electricity. Nothing. He quickly scaled the vine and climbed as far as he dared up the tree. The cops were at the wall, searching. They scattered looking for him, but they didn't touch the gate. They must know it's electrified, Saul thought to himself.
When he judged the coast clear he climbed down the tree and jumped softly to the ground. He quickly moved through the shadows, paying extra special attention to the gravel. He heard voices and dove into some bushes. As he peaked out he saw two policemen walking by. " Why are we looking for this kid anyway Pete? I mean, he's just a kid. What can he do?" one of the patrolman asked. " Are you tellin' me that you've never heard of this kid Saul? He's been on the run for over a year and the force hasn't been able to catch him since..." the voices faded as the guards moved away.
What in the world is going on? As stealthily as Saul could manage he climbed from the bush and made his way deeper into the park. Over the years the park had become neglected by the outside world and now was quite literally a small forest in its own respect. Saul was now out of range of the street lamps so he had to feel and remember the path to his home.
He looked around to try and discern if anyone could have possibly seen him. He saw nothing so he stopped. He was now in-between four large pine trees. Taking one last look around he reached down into the pine straw and pulled up a trap door and quickly plunged himself down the hole and slowly lowering the door once again.
The small room was deathly silent. Saul flipped the light switch and suddenly it was bright as day. As he took a step forward Saul heard a small snap behind him. " Hello, Saul." Then the world went black.
* * *
October 7 2517
2237 hrs UNSC Military Time
Jarek looked in the mirror, looked at his massive physique. The physicians told him he stood at five feet six inches tall and weighed about one hundred eighty-three pounds, whatever that meant. All Jarek knew was that he was considerably smaller than all of the other commandos at Kuk'Tat Elite Training Facility, or as the others liked to call it, the K.E.T.F. He smiled at his thought. Though he was the smallest on the base no one could touch him. He looked at his five-foot tail grinning. Six razor sharp ridges stood up from his pebbled skin. His hands had opposable thumbs and three fingers each, while his feet splayed three powerful toes in front and one behind. His head was like that of a snake. Powerful jaws filled with more than enough serrated teeth. His eyes glowed a bright red with pure black centers. Down his back ran more razor protrusions. His muscled bulged as if the were trying to escape from his jet-black skin. Overall Jarek would describe himself to be like the lizards found in the swamp near the base...except he was a lot more deadly.
The intercom in Jarek's room crackled as the hollow voice of the commander came on the air. " Jarek, you are to report to the mess to receive your food ration immediately."
Jarek's stomach rumbled at the thought of food. " Hhhhhhhsssssshhhhhhhhh..." Jarek hissed to no one. He hated walking down the halls to wherever he was going on the base. He hated those eyes, everyone staring at him, an outcast. He preferred the darkness and solitude. The air vents provided just what he liked. He jumped at the wall, the claws on his feet and hands digging in. He grabbed the grate over the air duct and tore it off slipping through.
Echoes reverberated through the ventilation ducts as he made his way to the lunchroom. This was the fast way around base, no traffic, just cut down the main shaft and there you were, access to all rooms with an air vent. He arrived at the mess hall and scanned the area. All eyes in the room seemed to turn to his vent, they must have heard him or were expecting him. How was he supposed to keep quiet on those hollow metal sheets that comprised of the air vent structure? He silently lifted the lid and crawled out into the shadows of the corner. All the eyes of the room followed him as he went, his own red glowing orbs must have been giving him away. He could smell the nervousness of the soldiers looking at him.
He strode out of the shadows looking from eye to eye. He let out a small growl and they turned away back to their meals, pretending to ignore him. Jarek knew though that as he passed each table, each person, they looked upon him with eyes of hatred. He raised his tail higher over his head to give an impression of anger, as if he would slice open the person neares at any moment. All the eyes hurriedly turned away. Every person knew what his tail could do, and no one wanted to be the recipient of a fatal blow.
Jarek took his place in the corner of the room where his meal lay. He grimaced at the sight. His food was cut up into slabs with no bones. He hated it that way, he always liked to crunch on the bones. He got down on all fours and snatched up a chunk of meat. He scanned the room, the morsel lingering in his mouth, draping out the sides. Many were staring at him, but those that knew better averted their attention. Narrowing his eyes at them he swallowed it whole in one big gulp. Some of them shuddered and looked away, other kept goggling at him.
He hated how they always watched him, never ceasing. He bared his teeth at them, staring back, not into their eyes but at their armor. How weak the Elakians were. They had to have metal armor and energy shields to protect themselves in battle. He on the other hand had nothing, no armor, no clothes, nothing. He didn't even carry a weapon into battle. Why should he need one? He was to fast for the enemy to hit, and he had all he needed with his teeth, claws, and tail. They were simply playthings in his world. They sported their new model plasma weapons and boasted of their prowess in the training facility, yet when they came up against Jarek they were consumed by fear. They were no match for him.
Jarek lowered his head, keeping his eyes on them, and picked up another chunk of meat. Slowly, then faster his skin began to change. He steadily began to blend in with the wall's color behind him. Another one of his genetic talents, the ability to completely disappear in any environment by blending into the scenery. Now all the soldiers, turned away, paying careful attention to not look back. What was the use for looking at something that was virtually invisible, and on second thought, why anger a creature with the ability to rip you to shreds while you couldn't even see it.
Jarek decided to finish his meal in the solitude of his own chamber. He had been given his own quarters on the account that no one knew what he would do next. They were all afraid that he would kill everyone in the barracks in their sleep if he were allowed to stay there. So quietly Jarek climbed the nearby wall, all the way up to the ceiling and crossed the room, his blood red eyes staring down anyone that dared try and spot him. He reached the other side of the room and noiselessly entered the ventilation ducts.
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