Dawning Metropolis Part 1

This used to be a small town which people never knew existed or if they did they would ignore it. I lived here when it was like that but since I've been gone, it's changed. That small town I remember has been transformed into a giant metropolis, this change happened after 'The Weather Turn' by a group of people who saw the opportunity and seized it. From what I know, that group of people started out as good and honest people but somewhere along the line some have started to turn and even though this place is masked as a paradise there is a darker side hidden underneath it all. Some of the group are people I once knew, some I even called friends but to rid my home of the darkness destroying it I must confront them and if they are involved in the darkness of this place their lives will be forfeited.

The view of this place as a metropolis is daunting at first glance, I'm used to it being small buildings and hardly any people but as I sit on the train coming in closer to the city the image is awe-inspiring. Beautiful skyscrapers growing into the skyline, natural forestry instead of being destroyed are converted into wildlife preserves and public parks, the sunshine lighting up the city being reflected off the skyscrapers instead of being constantly covered by rain clouds and the beach has turned from a rocky hell to a sandy haven. Even the train I'm riding on is a big step up as it catches the attention with it's futuristic style, the speed it can travel and the fact that it has stops around the entire town, well it's not a town any more it's something much more.

Since getting on this train people seem to be giving me dirty looks I don't know if it's because of the marking on my face or the five foot case taking up an entire seat. Whatever their issue is it doesn't bother me except for the two guys a few seats away who have been following me since before I got on this train. I'll have to deal with them soon so I don't lead them to my first destination but I can't do anything on the train that could cause a public scene and get me noticed, I can't have that. My stop is coming up soon I'll wait until then to make my move. The train starts to slow down when your in the more populated areas so you get to see what the place is like, there's businesses, hotels, apartments, street vendors and a lot of people. Going through each district there are a lot of differences between them from the architecture of the buildings to the type of shops, each held something unique to it. The district I'm going to they have to close the shutters on the train and keep them closed for approximately 10 miles by my guess. When they reopen the shutters all the glamour of the districts are back so even though they give the excuse it is a private sector I know there's something else there. I'll have to check it out after as my stop is coming up and I have to deal with my followers.

The train slows down to a stop when the conductor announces the arrival so I step out into the aisle and slowly reach the overhead compartment for my bag while two pairs of beady eyes watch my every move. I throw the bag over my shoulder and pick up the case then head out with two tails. The train station in this district is a raised platform so you have to climb down two flights of steps before hitting the ground, so lets see how good these guys are. I ran for the steps but instead of running down them I step on the railing and leap off gripping a lamppost and sliding down to the street. I see them above looking over the railing at me and they know they've been spotted, that's when they start sprinting down the steps instead of watching them I head for an alleyway up ahead. As soon as I curve into the shadows of it I look back to them and they have just touched the street so they'll be meeting me and I can ask some questions so I lay down the bag and case ready for them. When the first guy comes into the alleyway I kick his shins so he drops to his knees then raise my knee with pure force straight into his chin causing him to collapse onto the floor, not surprising seeing as his chin just shattered, that's when the other caught up. This one seemed more alert as he didn't rush forward instead he slowed down so I couldn't catch him off guard, that's quite annoying. I guess I'll just question him before beating him then, “Why are you following me?” The man said nothing but stare at his partner in front of him. “I want to know why you two are following me?”

“Orders, nothing personal.” So he does talk, good.

“Who gave you those orders?”

“That is confidential.” He speaks like he is untouchable, that the fact he's following me is something I can't control, he's about to learn a lesson on that. I lunge at him without a warning, going over the guy on the floor, punching him in the face making him take a step back but that's all. Then it's his turn he swings wildly at me giving me enough space to dodge and get in close where my elbow finds his gut releasing all the air in him making it easy to just throw him down. Now maybe he will answer my question. “Who hired you?” He looks up at me fear instilled in him but still he doesn't talk so I lean down closer to him and grab his shirt so we end up face to face and I ask again, “Who hired you?”

“I don't know!” He speaks but way to quiet to hear I think that may be my fault, so I shake him to try getting something I can hear “What was that?” He speaks properly this time.

“I don't know! I'm telling you the truth, we were hired anonymously to follow you that's it. I promise you.” Unfortunately I believe him especially seeing how there is tears strolling down his face and his lip is quivering. So I just let him go, pick my stuff up and leave the alley, it's time to visit someone in this district.

After travelling through the district I get to one part where there are no skyscrapers for a mile, most of it is one compound with a three story building in the middle, I guess that's my destination. The gates are at least fifteen feet high and the walls around twelve feet so I guess I try knocking first, there is three guards at the front gate all armed and not your rent-a-cop, these guys look like trained security with some violent history but they're the ones I have to ask to get past. The biggest one stands in the booth while the other two stand by the gate so I walk over to him and into the booth, he has his back to me and as soon as I open my mouth he turns around, with speed someone his size shouldn't have, pulls his gun and points it straight at my face. “Hands in the air and speak your business!” He shouts loud enough for the other guards to hear but they don't move they just look this way. I reply “Hey, I want to get in there so can you let me in?” he doesn't seem pleased by my question so he keeps his pistol raised, a bit of a nuisance but I'll leave it be. “There are no appointments for today so you ain't coming in without an appointment now leave.” he waves his gun as if to shoo me away. “Come on, can't you just let me in. I'm sure I'll be welcome.” I kind of begged him but that did not work instead he got more worked up, his face started burning bright red, a vein on the side of his neck started protruding and now he was more violent, “LEAVE NOW!!” he bellows at me and pushes his pistol into my face. Now he's gone to far, I reach up quickly and snap his wrist back, turn the gun around and switch it from his grip to mine and now the gun is pointing at him. “Don't point a gun at me again!” My voice is calm a bit too calm for someone who just disarmed a guard and that's why I scare him more than if I roared at him, emptying the chamber and setting the gun on his desk I turn and leave. The other two guards haven't moved but they keep eyeing me like I'm dangerous.

Now that I can't get through the gates I have to go over the wall so I pace further up where there are no cameras and it is far enough from any gate to be hidden. I throw my bag over the wall then strap the case to my back and take a run at the wall. I easily climb up and over it then fall into the garden, grabbing my bag off the ground and start pacing through the garden of the compound before I get spotted by anyone. There's cameras pointing at almost every angle blocking my route to easily accessible areas so I have to go the long way around, skipping from one bush to another until I hit the stairs to the main building, I don't know if it's a home or just a business place but this is where I need to be. I climb the stairs crouched down slightly to get better cover, the cameras point at the front entrance and the side entrance but there's a gap with a window so that will be my entrance, the only issue is the guard patrolling. I stay on the steps for a few minutes watching the guards steps and how long he takes before he moves from one camera to the other. That is twenty. So I have a twenty second window to take him down and get into the building, it may be a bit of a stretch with no weapons on hand and just trying to knock him out but it can be done. I move out from my spot just as he leaves the side camera, running at him I collide with a thud knocking us both to the ground he's still awake so I cover his mouth form a fist with a slightly raised middle finger to be able to hit him in his temples weak point knocking him unconscious. Then move to the window try to open it but it's locked so I have to smash it to get in, it may make a noise but I have to take that risk. Instead of injuring my hand I use the case and smash through the window, as soon as I'm in I quickly move through the entryway and open a door to a giant hallway with two sets of stairs either side leading to the next floor.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.

A loud siren starts blasting and then this empty hallway starts filling up quickly, armed guards everywhere, I quickly dived behind a table and tipped it over for cover. It seems to be made out of some metal/glass mix but it looks sturdy so I hope it's bulletproof because that's when people start firing at me. Gunshots are going everywhere in my direction but not coming through the table yet so that's a good sign. I lay the case on the floor and open it, there are my twin katana with the custom made belt next to my dual pistols and bag of tricks. For this situation I wont need my bag of tricks my pistol and katana should be enough but I better use non-lethal bullets, now it's my turn. I draw one katana and start twisting it around blocking any bullets I can't dodge and with the other hand I start shooting people, some get hit in the chest, some in the arm, some in the leg and some in the head. The amount of people still standing starts dwindling and some start shouting something about getting a shooter and running away, it doesn't bother me at the moment so it's fine for now. As soon as my magazine runs out I switch out the pistol and replace it, the same goes to the katana to save it from too much pressure, then carry on reducing their numbers, some people get back up but the number still goes down. I count eight people not been hit by me and three people who have got back up, one of them has been shot five times, now that is strength but he still has to go down, so I keep shooting them until a burning pain starts in my arm. I know this pain well, I have been shot but it can't be by these guys because I have blocked everything they shoot at me so that means there is another shooter, it seems they were talking about some guy who has good skill. I have to turn quickly as another bullet comes at me but this time I noticed it but only just, if I was a few milliseconds slower my other arm would be shot.

I get back behind the table for cover to regain some composure. I've only bought myself a few minutes so I've got to make it count. Now who ever this guy is they have to be good as I couldn't notice his presence and seeing how he's not visible means he is using a high powered gun and shooting through the wall. I take a quick look over the table at the wall and notice two exit holes from different sides then have to quickly duck before another bullet just skims my head. Whoever this person is he's good, then a loud bang goes off in front of the table, then a bullet comes through it, the noise of the bang was bigger than the actual impact but he used an explosive round to open a hole in this table to shoot through. That first bullet he shot through is an arms length away so I reach for it and quickly return to my position. If this guy is a known marksman he may have marked his rounds if so I could find out who it is, so looking closely on this I find it, the marking just had to be his. What the hell is he doing here, it's a blade with the letters AR on it. I never thought he would be here. I shout out to him “Hey Aiden, you having fun!” There's silence no gunfire or people talking until,

“I must admit this is quite enjoyable, when they called for me I never thought I would have to stop you. What you doing here Mal?” Yes my name is Mal. Well it's short for Malcolm, Malcolm Green.

“I'm just as surprised your here and I only came to visit an old friend but I had to break in because the gatekeeper wouldn't let me in. Hey, how about we end this Aiden?”

“I'm up for that Mal, so just like last time one bullet and you have to block it. Got it?”

“Yea I got it!” This is something we've been doing for a while so I put down my pistols grab both katana and step out. Everyone is frozen in place and there stands Aiden with a new rifle in his hands and he raises it up to take aim. BANG. He fires the one shot and I with both katana slice down and cut the bullet causing it to split and just skim my head. Aiden lowers his rifle and starts laughing, it seems as though he enjoyed it well the way I can feel myself grinning shows that I enjoyed it as well. The other guards seem to have lowered their guns so I head for the stairs when one of the guards shoots at me. I move my body out of the way but not quick enough as I get clipped in the arm again. This pisses me off. I end up shouting at him, “I've had enough!” Then I raise my katana and throw it straight towards him making sure to put enough force in it. It cuts straight into the stone wall just below his ear, it seems like cutting his earlobe should be enough to stop him from shooting at me again.

Instead of going up the rest of the stairs I go back down to the table grab my bag and close my case then head for the other stairway. When I get to my katana the guard is still frozen in place blood trickling from his ear onto my blade and then onto the floor. I pull it out of the wall grab a piece of his clothing and wipe the blade clean yet he still doesn't move, good, so I sheathe my katana and head up to the next floor. There stands Aiden with his rifle hanging at his side looking at me with a big smile on his face like he just saw his favourite comedy show. He walks closer to me and pats me on the arm where he shot me as his way of greeting me. The pleasantries have been enjoyable but now to the reason I'm here. “Where's the boss of the place? I know she's around here and I need to see her.” Aiden signalled to one of the guards and away he went.

“That guy will get her for you but what are you doing back here, you told me you couldn't come back so why now?” For all the comedy Aiden is, when he acts serious for that rare occasion it means he is concerned. “What I said means nothing now, there is a darkness in this place and I'm here to get rid of it. This was and always will be my home town so I have to protect it.” Aiden opens his mouth to say something else when she walks in. Emilia Mazzeo.

The last time I saw her was the day before I left this place, she used to be the happiest person you could meet always keeping people uplifted and having fun when they were near her. She always used to have that glint of pure joy in her eyes no matter what happened because she could see the good in things but what I see now is not joy that is pain and anger of the purest kind, something big happened while I've been gone. The moment she notices me I can't help but smile at her reaction; she turns around then turns back, starts rubbing her eyes and even slaps herself. When she stops reacting to me she starts walking closer then speaks. “No you can't be here, you just can't be here.” Tears start running down her face, “Your supposed to be dead. Everybody thinks you are dead, that's what we were all told!” her voice starts to get louder so I interrupt her.

“I had to make everyone think that, where I was going and what I was doing I had to rid myself of the life I had. That means no connections to anythi...”

“Rid yourself of the life you had! Are you crazy! We mourned you and now you tell me all that sadness was for nothing! You heartless bastard!” Then came something I never would have expected. Her fist came fast and hard punching me straight into my face, got to admit she has one hell of a punch, she caught me around my cheek bone and with that much force I may end up with a black eye. After punching she throws her arms around me and gives me a big hug, it seems as though she hasn't lost all the joy in her and that's good. When she lets me go she wipes her face of all the tears and steps back. Standing in front of me is not the girl I once knew, she shows off her features more than before bringing out the beauty she always kept hidden, she throws a mean punch and has a gun holstered to her waist, she is now one tough beautiful woman. I guess I really have been gone a long time. Once she gets her composure back she speaks calmly “Let's go somewhere more private and talk about the reason your here.” I just nod my head and follow along with Aiden who has been frozen solid while me and Emilia were talking.

We reach a room which looks like her office, there's two standalone chairs and a sofa facing a large mahogany desk with the boss' chair. Emilia heads for her chair while me and Aiden head for the standalone chairs. When we're all seated Emilia starts the business talk. “What brought you back here Mal? It has to be something important to come back after all these years. So what is it?” Aiden looks intrigued as well so I just tell them the truth. “There's a darkness in this city that will bring it to the ground and then keep crushing. I don't know who it is but I intend to find out.” They both look at me like I've said something crazy but they know it's the truth. Aiden speaks up first, “How do you know about this in the first place when you haven't even been here?”

“I got attacked by some hidden faction in South Africa and then in Brazil. When I got some information out of one of their guys I was told that the wheels were in motion to destroy what was built and then recreate a kingdom in which they rule.” My story seemed to have captivated their attention so I carried on. “I kept chasing after them from city to city and country to country but they were always one step ahead. They made one mistake though and that was when they went after Mr Frost, he was the guy who taught me how to fight at first. He was a tough guy who held them off until the end but even that was not enough as I was too late. He was killed by them and there near his beaten and broken body was a map. A map of this place and the word 'Dawning' at the top. That means this is their first target, they will destroy this place if I don't stop them and one of your group who started this metropolis is involved with them. Mazzeo this is now your city but it once was our town and that's why I can't let it fall.” Emilia seemed to be contemplating this when they went off again.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

I didn't set them off this time. Emilia grabs the communicator, “Why is the alarm going off, I have the intruder here with me so can someone turn that damn alarm off.” Silence remained then a worried voice spoke back “Boss we have trouble. There are intruders coming from every entrance of the compound! Prima this is an invasion.” That stopped our conversation and Emilia ran out of the room so me and Aiden kept on her tail, We ended up in the surveillance room, all the cameras showed trucks full of armed soldiers storming the compound all heading for the main base. I run to the entrance way where I broke in from. This is the place to hold them off so I call Emilia and Aiden and when they get to me I explain my plan. “Mazzeo you need to split your forces, send most to guard the rear entrances and then a few to the sides. Me and Aiden will hold the front entrance.”

“Your crazy you two can't hold it by yourself, I'll stay and help.” I don't know if she can even shoot that gun she has or if it is just for show, “Do you know how to shoot?” This made Aiden and Emilia chuckle, I guess I missed the joke. Aiden speaks up on her behalf, “She can shoot just as good as you as I've been training her for a while, she can also beat the crap out of any guard she employs.” I guess that answers why they were laughing. “All right your with us but I also want the big guy who I shot five times and kept getting up.” Straight onto the communicator she went relaying orders to her men until there we stood, four of us at the front against numerous soldiers, this is where you get the rush from. Aiden looks to me and says, “Hey Mal, you remember the last time we fought together in Australia.”

“Yea, that was quite extreme.”

“Well this seems to be even more than last time. It should be fun.” We both laugh and then I head down to the main floor and move the table towards me, Aiden above raises his rifle ready, Emilia takes cover with the brute I shot waiting for the enemy to break through.

BANG!

Dust flies everywhere debris from the door and wall come flying through the room, we all take cover then the fight starts. I unsheathe my katana and open up the bloodshed.

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