Chapter 7-1: Neglected Motion - The Doubtful Killer

Paul- United Human Faction- Night 67

            Paul walked the forest paths alone, not trusting the soldiers assigned to him by the General. These men were either incompetent or brutish, and Paul had no use for either trait. The leader of the platoon, a former Agent who called himself Cain, was the only man in the group who could be trusted, but given the man’s track record before the revolution, Paul still wouldn’t put his life in the hands of the former gangster.

            “What are we dealing with out here, sir?” Cain had asked as they left the main force.

            “Ghosts, according to Julian. I’d say it’s a group of deserters. Probably disillusioned fanatics, definitely dangerous. We’ll have to keep watch at all times,” Paul replied.

            "Any better theories? We have records of all desertions."

            "I know what's going on here, but I can't tell you. That's the one and only truth. Can you live with that?"

            "I sure as hell hope so. I wouldn't want to die out here because some rich little college boy didn't want anybody to know his dirty secrets. You know, Paul, I hear more around here than the generals, and I know that something's been going on between you and Masky. You'd better not be trying to get back on his good side."

            Paul stopped, shocked by the man's confidence. None in San Francisco would have spoken to him so -it took a moment to recognize the word- fairly. This "Cain" was more the leader of the revolution than Paul had ever been.

            "I don't think there's any reason for me to be kissing his ass. For all you know, I could have been the one wearing that costume back on the coast."

            Cain chuckled.

            “Right. I don’t like the thought of killing my own men, though. I know I caused problems for my commander before the war, but that doesn’t change my allegiance. I’m here to keep my boys alive, not to prop up some superhero reject, hear me?”

            Cain hefted his SAW and left before Paul could respond. The Agent was a man bred up on loyalty and respect, not idealism. In this fact, Julian saw a man who couldn’t be trusted to finish a job. Cain saw himself as a man who respected oaths.

            The crash of gunfire pulled Paul out of his trance and into the reality of the moment. The darkness was torn apart by the muzzle flashes of both the Faction’s weaponry and that of an unknown force in the woods. Paul fought back a smile as he donned his dark mask. In his black and grey outfit, Paul could disappear without a trace. Cain would live up to his name, and the morning would reveal the identities of his foes, regardless of prior obfuscation.

            Unfortunately, by the time the Faction reached Thomas, Paul would have already broken his neck. Not for the revolution, Paul cared little about the fate of the war, but for Karen. Blood for blood. It would all be fair. It would all be right.