CHAPTER TWO: THE TURNING POINT.
0900, 7/21/1023 A.T.C. Sibiu, European Terrain.
Embers waned through the air as a cottage burned. A young soldier marched along with his Battalion. "Jones! Pick up your slack!" A sergeant commanded.
Richard Jones picked up his pace to keep up. He marched but kept aware of his surroundings. He could hear cried of woman in the distance. In fact that has all he has heard since their battalion entered the town. A woman held the corpse of her husband
"Please, clear the area. Kassinger wills it." A voice said from behind Richard. A soldier went to attend the woman holding her husband. Richard couldn't make out what was said but its clearly upset the woman. The woman lunged out to attack the soldier but all the soldier had to do is fire one shot, and that's what he did.
The woman fell to the ground, dead. Richard flinched. "Halt!" the commander said. The battalion came to a standstill. Footfall could be heard as it approached Richard.
"Do you not like what you see, Cadet? Does Kassinger's will give you ache?" The Commander asked.
Unsure of how to answer, Richard simply replied "No sir! I have no quarrels with Kassinger's Will!" Richard said.
"Good soldier! With this attitude to will rise the ranks in no time!" The Commander stated.
" Thank you sir!" Richard yelled.
"Carry on boys!" The commander ordered, and the battalion continued marching.
That was the first time Richard Jones saw what the Kassinger Empire stood for in its most unadulterated form.
2300 10/15/1023 A.T.C., Watford United Kingdom Terrain, The invasion of the U.K.
Heavy activity flooded the streets of Watford, as The Kassinger Empire had just won a massive victory. Civilians were being regulated to be dealt with accordingly.
"Men! Reports have come in that King Mittleken's other half is in this town! Search for them! Report back for further instructions once they are in your custody! A rough picture will be uploaded to your E-Taps. Now go!" The Commander of the K-Pok Division demanded.
The soldiers dispersed every which way instantly. Richard was confused on which way to go, so he just snuck in which a group to begin searching homes.
"Of all the great things Kassinger offers us? A Manhunt? I couldn't ask for more!" one of the soldiers boasted. "I couldn't of said it better myself. Man when we find Mittleken's little toy, man I can't wait!" the other soldier bragged.
"We're suppose to report back, with no harm to come to them." Richard clearly stated.
This had annoyed on of the soldiers. "Wait? Who are you again?" he said. "oh right! The punk who keeps getting corrected on every single thing he does!, who are you to give me order pleb?"
Richard gave a dirty look, but fell silent. "Yeah, exactly. Now lets check this one." The soldier as he opened the door.
The door creaked as it flung open.
Richard followed the two other soldiers into the house. The three began to check the room. "Clear!" They would say as they flew through the rooms. "The house is empty! Let's Move forward!" One of the soldiers commanded. The three exited the rooms and proceeded to head out the door.
*THUMP*
One of the soldiers stopped in his tracks as he heard the loud thump. He saw a rug on the floor and flew it to the side to see what was underneath. A trap door could be seen. He flung the door open to reveal a woman and her child.
"Oh what do we have here?" The Soldier said "Here let me cross referance…" He muttered as he pulled the picture from his E-Tap. "I'll be damned! It is her!" he celebrated as he pulled the woman and her child up to the main floor. The woman smacked him, he threw her to the floor in reaction. "Stupid bitch!" he spat our at he rubbed his face.
The other soldier laughed as his friend reveled. "We should call this in." Richard suggested.
"Oh, we will call it in, not before we have our fun." The reveled Soldier said as he began to unbuckle his belt.
Richard simply stood there unsure of what to do. "Command, I have the target in custody, target has a child with her. What are my orders?" Richard said into the E-Tap on his arm.
"Hey! Dickhead! What are you doing?" The soldier asked. Richard ignored him, and waited patiently for a answer. The Soldier turned and began to walk towards Richard. "Your commands are to eliminate the Target and the spawn." Command ordered. Richard raised his gun. The look on the soldiers face was priceless to Richard.
*BAM*
The soldier fell to the floor dead, blood poured out of the hole in his head.
"Dickhe-"The other soldier said, but was interrupted by Richard opening fire. The soldiers blood and brains had accidently painted the woman and child in blood.
"Both Targets eliminated. Reporting back to station now." Richard said and then began bashing the E-tap on a stone slab in the room. The device broke into pieces as it slipped off his arm.
"We don't have long, we must go." Richard said.
"Who are you?" The Woman asked.
"Didn't you hear? I'm Dickhead." Dickhead joked.
"Grace." She said innocently.
Richard would go on to get the two out of Watson safely. Where they escaped the island, where they would have a chance of freedom.
1300, 8/21/1025 A.T.C. Norwegian Terrain.
It has been two years since Richard aided Grace Mittleken's escape to Norwegian Terrain. Norwegian Terrain is also protected by The United Coalition. The United Coalition is a unified Nation that consists of American Terrains and some European. The United Coalition has protected Norwegian and Swedish Terrains for decades. It has been a safe haven for European refugees for decades.
"Hey, look at what I snatched from the collection crews!" Dickhead yelled
throughout the flat. A little girl ran out of a room. "What is it? What is it?" The girl said in excitement.
"Emkins, this would be a Holographic tennis rig. Want to see if it still works?" Dickhead asked.
"Ya! Lets try it!" Em said happily.
Dickhead set the Hologram game up for Emily, and she wasted no time.
"Can't believe she is already Four." Grace said, who had just Walked up to see what they were doing.
"Yeah, time sure does fly by." Dickhead said.
Grace stepped closer to Richard.
"Richard, I don't think I ever thanked you. What you did, we wouldn't still be here if you hadn't." Grace said.
"No thanks needed. I couldn't stand by and let them do that." Dickhead assured.
"Well still. These past 2 years have been tough, but it would've been so much worse without you." Grace said and took Richard's hand.
The moment was interrupted by Richard noticing Emily doing a summersault to hit the holographic ball back, in which she had been quickly improving at the more she played.
"Holy crap! Did you see that?" Dickhead said shocked.
"No! What did she do?" Grace asked.
"She just did what seemed to me like a backflip and bounced back the ball!" Dickhead said, impressed.
"Well, I always knew she would grow up to be special." Grace said.
"but how special?" Dickhead asked.
"We will just have to wait and find out." Grace assured.
"Richard Jones?" a voice said from behind the two.
"Yes, that's me." Dickhead said.
"I'm going to need you two to come with me." The man said.
Richard and Grace was led to a room where a mass meeting was taking place. Chatter filled the room.
"Gentlemen! Please!" The man said.
"Sorry, General Grant." They all said in unison.
"will someone please! Fill them in on the request we received recently." General Grant said.
Someone pressed a key on their keyboard and a video began to play.
"Leader of The U.C. We have been allies for quite some time now. We have recently discovered that The Norwegian outfit has been harboring two essential individuals to the wellbeing of The Mittleken Dynasty. Return these Individuals, and a all out war can be avoided. We have worked together flawlessly in the past and I would personally hate to see our relationship tarnished due to two individuals that you have no responsibility of supporting. Please, think on the repercussions if you are not to fill my request. You know my name. You know my power. You know my reach. Please. For the betterment of us all, heed my words." King Dante expressed on the video.
"We must turn her and the child over! We do not have the resources to fend off an attack from the Mittlekens! Not here anyways!" a man in the room panicked.
"Will do no such thing! We are fighting for freedom! Simply handing her over against her will doesn't seem like freedom does it?" General Grant eased.
"You're right. Sorry sir." The man said.
"So? What will it be?" General Grant asked.
The room fell silent as everyone stood at attention for Grace's answer.
She contemplated for a couple seconds. "We will go. I don't want to see anyone here hurt." She said. A sigh of relief could be heard in unison.
Night time came around, and Richard ranted the entire time Grace was packing her and Em's belongings.
"You can't seriously be considering going back! You left for a reason!" Richard pleaded.
"I am and I must. There is no more to discuss. Move" Grace stated as she pushed her way pass Richard.
"Grace, Please. Think about this. I know I barely know the man, but after everything-" Richard said.
"He's a good man, Richard. We had our differences sure, but he is a good man. He is what is best for this world. I will be safe there." Grace assured.
"But you wouldn't be able to live the life you say you want! Please!" Richard once again Pleaded.
"It's a sacrifice I am willing to pay. If it means avoiding a nonsensical war, then I will do what I must! Why do you care so much?" Grace said, waiting for an answer.
Richard was flooded with all kinds of feelings and froze. "Because I am falling in love with you." He calmly stated. "Not for the friendship that we have made, but because you are so willing to sacrifice your own happiness for others. The way you have protected and supported your own daughter. I have walked beside you every step of the way, and each and every day you prove to me just why you are worth loving." Richard let out.
Grace froze and blushed at this. "Richard. I-" She stammered. "I wish you had told me sooner, I would have reciprocated-"
"Well, I'm telling you now. I'm sorry that it took-. Wait. What is that?" Richard stopped himself as he noticed a glow out in the waters that could be seen out of their window.
They could see a faint but growing glow. A moment passed and the glow shot up in the air. Richard immediately knew what was about to happen. "Grace, Grab Emily, we have to go NOW!" Richard frantically commanded.
The three ran out of house and onto the path to town. "If we get split up, follow the plan we have mapped out!" Richard commanded "Okay" Grace panted. A still sleepy Emily could be heard whimpering as she didn't understand what was happening.
"Who is it? Mittlekens?" Emily said.
"No, this is Kassinger. This has his trademark written all over it." Richard said as he ran.
The town was being bombarded by shell fire. Smoke filled the air. Aircrafts flew above them and set the town even more on fire. Helicopters could be seen dropping to the ground to let Soldiers off.
Richard shoved Grace into the wall out of sight. He raised his weapon and opened fire on a couple of approaching Kassinger soldiers. "Come on" Richard ushered.
Explosions deafened the two as they narrowly avoided. They came up to a tunnel. "Okay, we get through this tunnel and the boat is on the other side, we have to hurry." Dickhead said.
Dickhead guided Grace and Emily down the tunnel. The two panted as their endurance was wavering. Revving of a vehicle could be heard, and then rays of light lit up the tunnel. "Aw fuck! Go go go!" Dickhead said as he raised his weapon. He opened fire.
The truck did not stop. At a loss, Richard knew what he must do. He turned around to set eyes on Grace and Emily one last time. "Well that sucks. See you on the other side." He called out hoping she could hear him.
He then pressed a button on the weapon, and it morphed. He then aim the weapon at the ceiling and then fired, revving growing louder as the vehicles approached. Rocks and rubble fell from above Richard. Richard could see Graces shocked and confused face as their eyes connected on last time.
Dust filled the tunnel after the cave in. Richard took this to his advantage. He shot one of the grenades out of the dust and nailed one of the vehicles. The vehicle flipped and the other vehicle came to a stop.
Soldiers stepped out of the vehicle. "Remember, Kassinger wants Jones alive." One of the soldiers reminded. The men began their formation to flank Richard.
Richard, not giving them time to think, opens fire from the smoke. He then emerges from the smoke as he closes in on his targets. Richard managed qto snag two head shots before the soldiers reacted.
Dickhead took cover as the soldiers returned fire. "Alive, huh? Seems like you're at a disadvantage!" Dickhead tuanted. He then stepped out to fire again but was met with being struck by a electric bullet.
Richard spazzed out ass the electricity flowed through his body. Soldiers approached him, "Not so much." One of the soldiers said before kicking Dickhead out cold.
2100 6/10/1028, Hemlock Correctional Complex.
Sweat dripped from Richards natty and tangled hair. Even at 9 at night, it was blazing hot. It has been days since Richard ate anything. He has gone as long 3 weeks without food. Richard was skin and bones. The only source of water he had was the pipe that stuck out of the ceiling.
Suddenly a loud commotion entered the cell room, yells of celebration. "The king of dead! Kassinger's will provides!" two soldier celebrated as they walked pass Richard's cell. The two soldier's noticed Richard watching them as they passed by. They instead stepped back in front of Richard's cell.
"Did you hear that, Dickhead? King Mittleken is dead. Assassinated two years ago! We're only telling you now, so we could see the look on your face." The soldier taunted. Richard was unbothered.
"And the wife too! The timing is impeccable!" The soldier informed. He stepped closer. "I heard the little bitch fought, made it hard. If you get what I mean."
At this Dickhead let his anger out. He lunged at the bars, the soldiers stepped back. "I'll kill you! If it's the last thing I do! You're dead!" Richard yelled and banged on the bars. "Yeah yeah, not much you can do from in ther-" one of the soldiers said but was interrupted by a arrow sliding into his skull.
"what the f-" the other soldier asked but was met with an explosion before he could get the rest of the sentence out. Siren's began to blare as the facility was alerted to the attack.
"Guess not" Dickhead said as he sat back down on his rotting cot. Next thing Richard knew a large metal hook flew through the bars of the window and attach. Pings could be heard as the wire became more taut. The concrete cracked and the window was completely ripped out of the wall.
Dickhead was blinded by the sudden burst of light. He guarded his eyes from the sun with his hand as he tried to look upon what lie outside. Once his vision adjusted enough, he could see a helicopter, with a man standing almost hanging off.
Richard made his way out of the building and onto the courtyard outside. A riot had broke out on the other side of the prison. The helicopter landed as Richard approached. The man stepped off and walked towards Richard.
"Hello!" the man yelled and waved.
Richard was still adjusting to the light and light headed, he could barely walk. "Who are you?" Richard managed to get out.
"Hansel Postier." Hansel answered.
Richard, realizing who he is talking to, asks "Why me? What use could I be?"
"A few protein bars will spiff you right up, don't worry! We have a mutual contact. Couldn't stop blabbering about you! Come on! Let's go before they figure out where we are!" Hansel explained. Richard stood shocked, but quickly limped to board the helicopter.
ALMOST TWELVE HOUR LATER.
It has been half a day since Richard boarded the Chopper. They have hopped across africa and europe throughout their travels.
"We're almost at Ikedes. Brace yourself as we land, don't want you to break from the landing!" Hansel yellex through the noise.
The helicopter began the descend. He saw a beautiful city. He also saw a group of people approaching. He could see two children, a boy and a girl. "Hey Taz! It's Pop Pop!" he could hear the girl say as they neared.
The helicopter landed and Richard stepped out. Richard approached, unsure of what he was seeing. The girl ran closer and the two got better sight of each other. "No way." The girl said as she stopped In her tracks.
"Dickhead?" Emily asked.
Richard now fully realizing who was standing before him. "Oh Emkins." Richard said as ran over to her and embraced her. It was at this moment he finally let out every emotion he has been bottling up since the last day he seen Grace Mittleken. He cried as he hugged Emily, vowing to never leave her again.
Just a psa, i won't be releasing anymore of this story until i finish the rest of the installment. I want to release the rest all at once. Thank you for your patience, stay tuned!