45-6 Mark 15

A small figure burst through the trees into a clearing. She had no idea where to run. She just knew she had to run. Anywhere she could go to would be fine. Anywhere but there. She thought she was free. She thought she had made it.

Behind her and closing fast were three overunits. Overunit Wilson calling to others. "I want her alive." "Place your blasters on stun!" "Yes”, came their reply.

They were after one of their own. A young Dread youth member. She had run away from the youth camps. Something punishable by death. No one left Lord Dread. And if someone was lucky enough to get away, life in the world of the organics was certain death as well. Or, was that another of their lies as well.

Organics were animals. Barbarians, fighting over food and scraps of clothing. They lived in holes and caves. They ate bugs as well as rats. They were inhuman and they opposed the will of the machine. This was what they had taught her. But slowly the web of lies they had spun was now coming undone. They had lied to her about the organics [humans]. Nothing made sense anymore. Not after that night. Just a month ago this very night.......................................
 

One month earlier: 45-5 Mark 15

"You oppose the will of the machine?" "For this you will be punished!", Shouted Overunit Wilson. "Youth Leader Chase, what should we do to them?", she shouted once more.

"Cleanse them", called out a young girl.

Beside Overunit Wilson stood a young Youth Leader, Jennifer Chase. Though no one ever called her that. Just by her title, Youth leader Chase. Well, a few other names like lazy, drifter, daydreamer, and stupid. But that did not matter right now. Tonight mattered to her. Tonight she would cleanse the people of Sand Town. Tonight she would bring glory to Lord Dread and the machine. She stood there pointing and was so very proud. She was proud to serve the machine and Lord Dread. She had worked her way up through the ranks to Youth Leader. Tonight was her chance to show them.

"Cleanse them", she shouted once more. There was nothing behind those eyes. No life, no love, no compassion, nothing. She hated organics. And why not, they destroyed the world.

But at the moment she was thinking that, she saw something that changed her forever. She watched in horror as the organics were not being cleansed, they were being slaughtered. She watched as the Overunits, and the Biomechs killed the people. People were running everywere. They huddled in places tougher. Men were trying to help the women and children. Mothers were holding their offspring close and trying to protect them. Then there were the children, [offspring as the overunits called them], they were killing them too. They never said anything about this. Why were they killing the little ones?

What was happening here? What was going on? Then in a flash it hit her. Everything they had ever said, everything they had ever taught her was a lie. It came to her just like that. Her whole life was a lie. She had questioned it for some time, but had always pushed it deep down inside her. Now as she stood watching everything unfold, she knew what she was doing was wrong. She was just like them. She was a human. She wanted to help, but she could not do it. She wanted to cry out, but it was forbidden. She wanted to run, but there was nowhere to go. She watched in horror as the town burned. Most of the people lie dead in the streets. Others were digitized by Blaster. The few lucky ones escaped into the darkness.

They headed back to their ship, and as best as she could, she hid her emotions. She pushed them down deep, as she had done so many times before. Feelings were not allowed in her world. She knew nothing of them. A few times she started to cry, but she would push it aside as best she could. As they came aboard the ship. Overunit Wilson was there to greet her.

"You did well, Youth leader Chase".

"I know", she replied in the most make believe voice she could, "I know".

She sat down as the ship blasted back towards her home. All of the night’s events were racing though her head. She closed her eyes trying to get rid of the images. Her thoughts were interrupted by one of Overunits Wilson's lectures.

"Let this be a lesson to all Organics", "oppose the will of the machine and die". "They are weak". "They do not serve the will of the machine, so they must pay the price".

Jennifer Chase looked away. She wanted to cry, but knew it was forbidden. Showing emotions for Organics was punishable by a beating. And the Overunits were very good at that. Especially, Overunit Wilson. She had a very powerful hit behind her. She had to get away, but how? No one escapes, ever, but she knew she could do this no longer. One way or another she would get away. That day would come soon enough for her ... one month later.
 

Back to present day.

She was still running. Ahead of her was some type of old building. I’ll hide in there she thought. She ran into the building. What type of place was this? Were am I at. All of sudden she heard them coming. She turned to run but it was too late. A shot rang out hitting her in the chest, knocking her to the ground. She hit the ground out of breath. They had her; it was over; she was going to die. She knew what would happen to her now. She would be taken back to the slave camps. There she would die. She had seen what happens to those who try too leave once before. The Overunits spared no pain. And when it was all done it still meant death.

But it did not matter anymore If she died, that was ok. She did not want to live anymore. She knew she would never make it in the outside world and she would rather die than go back to her old home.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp pain to her head. And a loud voice from Overunit Wilson.

"You stupid girl!" "Just where will you go out here?" "Do you think these savages out here would help you?" "Now you will know pain; now you will know fear". "You are a traitor to the machine and for that you will pay".

Blackness fell over her as Overunit Wilson hit her in the back of her head. Her last thoughts were, "I am glad it is over". "Now I can finally be free".

Overunit Wilson looked up at the others.

"This one had so much hope." "Overunit Wilson to Lord Dread." "Youth leader Chase has been apprehended." "We are taking her back to be processed."

"Good", came a voice. The voice was a harsh one. "Cleanse her" "Show her what happens when one opposes the will of the machine."

"As you wish my Lord", Replied Overunit Wilson.

She looked down at her. "Take her away!" "Overunit Wilson to transport." "Are you ready for pick up?"

"Yes we are"

"Good then" ... "Let us go."

She turned to walk away as the other two Overunits drug her away. They took her to a small transport ship waiting out side; the type that they used to take organics to the slave camps. A place were they killed all that opposed the will of the machine, or until they broke you. Which ever came first. But no matter, once they got what they wanted from you, it always meant death. No one survived there and there was no escape.

They arrived a half-hour later.

"Take her away", Shouted Overunit Wilson.

They drug her down a long hall to a small cell. They left her inside. The cell was small, dark, and cold. There was no place to sleep, no blanket for warmth. Just the cold hard floor...............
 

45-6 mark 16

She woke the next day to cold water being poured all over her.

"Get up", shouted the voice of a male Overunit.

"I said to get up." "I will not tell you again."

She opened her eyes to see an Overunit standing over her. She had never seen him before. In his left hand was a whip. She knew that it was for her. Slowly she got up and lowered her head.

"Move", he shouted. He pointed out the door. They went down the hall into a large room. In the room were four other Overunits, including Overunit Wilson.

"Are you ready, Youth Leader Chase?" "Let us begin!"

She heard the door close and lock behind her. She placed her head down and closed her eyes as she felt the first of the many beatings she would get ....................
 

Four days later: Power Base
45-6 mark 20

Alarms were ringing all over the place. The lights were coming on and the sound of four men came running down the hall.

"Captain to Mentor!" "What is wrong?" Jonathan Power spoke.

"A small army of Biomechs and Overunits are attacking a small colony in section 7-10, what was once old Pittsburgh, Captain!" The voice came from the base computer.

The four men ran down the hall to the hanger and jumped aboard their ship. Each leaping into his station.

"Get us out of here, Hawk!" "They don't have much time!”

"You got it Captain!"

The ship blasted off heading to the nearest transit gate. The gate opened as the ship blasted through.

"I hope we get there in time", thought a young Jonathan Power. "I hope it is not too late."

"Captain", Tank’s voice interrupted, "I have the information from Mentor on the Colony." "It is called Riza 4." "It's just outside of what is left of Pittsburgh." "About 50 or so people there."

"Hawk!" "How much longer till we get there?"

"5 minutes, Captain."

"Scout, what type of Dread forces are we looking at?" Power looked a bit nervous as he spoke.

"Not many, Captain." "Nothing we can't handle." "No sight of Blasterr or Soaron." "There are just a few Dread Youth kiddies down there."

Power gave a slight sigh. As the ship touched down outside the colony, they quickly ran off the ship.

"Should we power up, Captain?”

"No Scout, lets see what we've got first." "We may need our power if Blastarr or Soaron show up."

They headed for the colony. Slowly, with their blasters ready, they moved closer. They could see people hiding in the shadows. Others were running past them heading for a cluster of trees in the distance. As they approached what was left of the colony, they saw an Overunit, several Biomechs and a small group of Dread Youth members.

"Let’s do it!" Power ordered the members of the team.

As they came out of the shadows, they began to fire at the colony's attackers. The battle to save the colony and the people had begun. But, it would be a battle very short in length.

Out of nowhere, an Overunit came. She was holding a woman. In the woman's arms was a small child.

"Stop, or they both die, and the little one goes first." "Do it now, Captain Power!" "You and your men place your weapons down, or you will watch them die.”

She had appeared out of nowhere and stepped right into the middle of the battle.

The Power team looked at each other. They all knew what the other was thinking. They had all sworn to protect life and even if that meant laying down their own to do it, they would each do so.

"Let them go!" "We will put our weapons down." "Guys, do as she said ... put them down." Power spoke in a calm strong voice while he gave his men a slight nod.

"Good then." The Overunit turned and looked at the woman and the child. "Run away fast", she said, as she let the woman and child go.

The Power team watched as the woman ran into the shadows. Before she disappeared she looked back at Power and whispered, "Thank you!" Then she was gone.

"That was easy, now Captain, was it not?" "You all fell right into our little trap."

She sounded so cold and her voice was full of anger and hate. She walked away, facing the others with a smile on her face.

Captain Jonathan Power and his men stood side by side in a straight line. They spoke no words and their weapons were in front of them. In a circle around them were Lord Dread's army and biomechs. Walking back and forth in front of them were the two Overunits they had encountered. The first was the female. Her hair was dark and long. She had it pulled back. Her eyes were filled with hate and had an evil about them, like nothing the team had ever encountered. The other was a male who was well built, tall and held a whip in his left hand. His voice was loud and his words were hateful and full of anger. He was shouting lessons to the small group of Dread Youth teens standing in a line at attention.

"Death to all those who oppose the will of the machine." "Glory to Lord Dread." "Organics are weak minded fools." "See, even the mighty Captain Power has a weakness." "He chooses the life of an organic woman and her offspring over his own life or the life of his men." "Learn you enemy’s weakness and use it against them." Turning back to look at Power and his men, "So Captain, you do value the life of an organic more than you do your own life or the lives of your men." "How weak of you!"

Power looks at the Overunit.

"See it as you want, but, I see life as a gift." "Life is worth preserving, not destroying, so, yes, I will give my life to save another, and so will my men." "We choose to preserve life, not destroy it."

The first Overunit turns back towards them. She walks over, stopping in front of Power.

"Tell me Captain, have you ever seen anyone tortured?" "Do you know what we do to traitors who oppose the will of the machine?"

"No, I have never seen how you torture people, but I do know what you do to them." "If you are trying to scare me you're not doing a good job of it."

Looking at him she smiled and then waved her hand, signaling two young Dread Youth males. “We shall see Captain, we shall see." "You see Youth Leader Chase was caught leaving Valencia." "Now Captain, you can see what we do to our own traitors." "Imagine what we are going to do to you!"

In between the two approaching Dread Youths was a young girl. She was no more than 19 or 20. She had shoulder length brown hair. She looked as if they had beaten her for days. She could barely walk. She hung her head low trying not to look at the Overunits. She knew her faith. She knew what they were going to do to her. Today she was going to die. But that was ok. After the last few days she no longer wanted to live. The images in her head were playing over and over. All the people she helped kill. All the people in Sand Town. All the children, those little children. She shook her head trying to get rid of the images.

"Tie her here." The second Overunit pointed at two poles that stood in front of Power and his men.

They secured her to the pole, stepped away and stood back at attention. The two Overunits took their places. The first in front of her and the second behind her, his whip in his hand. The second Overunit smiled and looked at Power while speaking to him.

"Look at her Captain." "How much more do you think she can take?" "How many more times can I whip her till she drops?"

The expression on Captain Power's face never changed. As he spoke his voice was the same as always, calm and smooth. "I will not let you use what I say to hurt this girl." "I know your tricks." "I may be compassionate, but I am not stupid." "Why not tell me what you want and just let her go?"

The first Overunit steps up to him and looks back at the girl. "Oh no, Captain." "You are going to see what we do to our own, so you will know what we plan to do to you and your men." "No, we are not going to let her go." "We want you to watch!"

Turning around, she looked at Jennifer Chase. She spoke to her in a loud and hateful voice, "YOUTH LEADER CHASE!" "YOU WERE CAUGHT OPPOSING THE WILL OF THE MACHINE!" "DO YOU SIDE WITH THE MACHINE OR THE ORGANICS?" The young girl spoke not a word.

The first Overunit raised her hand giving the signal to the second to start the beatings. He began to whip her. With every lash she gave a small moan. She never lifted her head, never begged for mercy or pleaded with them to stop. He had whiped her several times before the first Overunit raised her hand signaling him to stop. The first Overunit spoke again even louder than the first time, "Machine or Organics?" "Which do you choose?"

She lifted her head and in a small weak voice came the words,"Human, I am a human."

The first Overunit grabbed her by her hair, jerking her head up. "You stupid little girl." "Now, you are going to die for saying that!" "Finish her!"

She raised her hand giving the signal once more and the beating resumed. Her once soft moans gave away to cries of pain, and with each lash she was growing weaker and weaker.

Power turned toward his first officer and whispered to him, "Get ready."

"STOP!" He yelled.

The first Overunit raised her hand. Suddenly everything stopped. They all stood in silence. Even Power’s team had no idea what he was going to do. The first Overunit looked at him.

"Stop?" "Why should we do that Captain?" "Tell me why I should stop."

He stepped up slowly walking toward her. He turned his head lookin towards Jennifer. Then he looked over toward Hawk and gave a slight nod. He then looked right at the First Overunit and spoke at her. "This is about me, not her." "Let her go and I will take her place." "You have done enough to her." "Just let her go!" The smile on her face, as the Overunit looked at him, was full of evil. She looked at him as if she was questioning him.

"You would give your life for this girl?" "She is your sworn enemy!" "She was a member of the Dread Youth." "This girl helped me in Sand Town, and knowing that, you would give your life for her?"

"Yes I would." "She is just a child, and from the looks of what you have done to her, I think she has had enough." "You want me!" "Why don't you see how long I can last?" He gave a slight nod letting The others know his plan, what ever it was, was about to happen. He stepped up towards Jennifer and placed his hand on her face. She pulled away with a scared look in her eyes.

"Untie her and put him in her place!" Snapped the First Overunit.

The same two males stepped up and begin to untie her. Power stood in front of her and as they finished, he grasped her in his arms. Gently he lowered her to the ground. He placed his hand on her head. "Stay very still ... everything will be ok." He ran the back of his hand down her face, but she just turned her head away. He knew this was the first time anyone had ever touched her without inflicting pain on her.

"Please do not let me die." "Please help me!" She looked up at him and into his eyes.

"Enough talk!" "Take her place now Captain." The first Overunit shouted at him. She turned around to face the Dread Youth members. It was what Power had hoped she would do. As the two young males stepped up to retrieve him. He shouted the words, "POWER ON!" With his power suit activated, he grabbed the two youth males and hurled them into the first Overunit knocking all three to the ground. At the same time he took a shot at the second Overunit, who ducked behind a fallen down wall. That distraction was the only time the Power team needed. Within seconds the others had activated their Power suits. They wounded over half of Dread's army and had taken out all of the Biomechs. It happened so quickly none of Dread forces had any time to react. Those that were left and the Dread Youth Members went running for their ship.

The second Overunit, not realizing that his counterparts had left him and not seeing Power and his Team, came from behind the wall. He carefully moved towards Jennifer who was still lying on the ground almost unconscious. He stopped when he was over her. He raised his blaster to her head and smiled at her as he spoke, "Goodby, Youth Leader Chase!" "I am going to enjoy this so much!"

"Drop your weapon and run!" "I will not tell you again!"

The voice he heard froze him in his tracts. He looked up to see Power and his men all around him. Power had his blaster aimed right at him. The Overunit looked back down at her and raised his blaster back to her head and said, "I would rather die!"

Jennifer closed her eyes as a shot rang out. She heard the sound of a body hit the ground. She opened her eyes to see the Second Overunit on the ground next to her. He had been shot but was still alive. She closed her eyes as she heard footsteps coming toward her. Slowly the footsteps approached her and stopped right over her. She heard a soft voice say, "Power down."

Jonathan Power looked down at her and shut his eyes. He shook his head. He could not even imagine what they had put her through or all that they had done to her. From the marks on her and the amount of pain she was in, he knew they had been beating her for days. He placed his hand on her head and in the most gentle voice he could he spoke to her, "It’s ok ... open your eyes." "I am not going to hurt you."

After a few minutes she opened her eyes. Above her was Captain Power and around him were two of his men. The first was an older man. He looked kind and gentle. The other was also older. He was very large. She had never seen anyone quite like him before. He scared her as she looked at him. Then a third man appeared. He knelt down next to her and the Captain. In his hands he had a bag and a blanket. He too looked older than the captain but, if he was, it was only by a year or two. He placed the blanket over her and began to take first aid supplies out of the bag. He ran some type of scanner over her and made a funny face.

She moaned in pain and closed her eyes. “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ...”

"Scout?", the captain questioned.

"We need to get her out of here, Captain. She is in real bad shape."

She started to shut her eyes and moaned again. “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ......”

Captain Power placed his hand on her head, trying to comfort her. "Just stay still." "Do you have a name?" "Will you tell me your name?"

"Jennifer ... Jennifer Chase." She moaned again in pain, "Ohhhhhhh ..."

She closed her eyes and blacked out. The group began carrying her to their ship.

"Captain, what are we going to do with her?" "Where are we going to take her?" "None of the resistance groups will take her."

"We are going to take her with us, Hawk." "Please trust me on this." "I know it sounds crazy but I think she needs our help and I don't think she is a spy."

"You sure about this, Jon?" Hawk looked at the young girl. She looked so young and innocent and he knew that Jonathan was right. She needed their help. There was nowhere to take her except to their base.

As they stepped aboard their ship. They gently placed her down on a medical bunk. Power said to Scout, "If she comes around, blindfold her." "But only if she comes around."

"You got it, Captain."

The Captain looked down at her and bit his bottom lip. Never had he seen anything like this done to anyone, least of all a young girl. Scout placed his hand on his Captain's shoulder. "She will be ok, we just need to get home."

The Captain nodded and took his place. Moments later they blasted off, heading for home, with their strange new visitor.

END OF PART ONE