War in the City Chapter 9

IN THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE NEW ERA
"That's the last one," Demetrius said smiling, as he leaned against the super elevator.

"Thank Deka," Kialka said, looking just as relieved. "Those kids are going to have quite a story to tell to their grandchildren."

"All but two of them," Peter added, immediately darkening everyone's mood.

There was a brief moment of reverent silence before Davree asked, "how old were they?"

Peter thought for a moment. "I don't know. They didn't look very old."

"The boy was only five," Demetrius said. "The girl was seven. Neither of them deserved their fate."

"Of course not," Peter replied, astonished that Demetrius would even mention it, as if someone had actually thought the children deserved to be killed. "No one deserves that."

"Some do," Pompey interjected. "Like Droud. He deserved to be killed, and all those Harpies with him. They all deserved death and they got it. More Harpies will die today also. The death of those two children will be avenged."

"Amen," Davree responded enthusiastically.

Pompey turned and looked at Davree, quizzically. Carefully looking Davree over, Pompey announced, "I don't believe I know you." Pompey slowly moved his head to the right and looked at Kialka and Demetrius. "I don't believe I know any of you."

"I'd be happy to make introductions," Peter offered.

"Thank you, that would be nice, but I'm afraid we don't have a lot of time." Pompey thought for a second. "Why don't you come with us? We can talk on the way. There are many things I would like to tell you as well."

"Sounds good to me," Peter answered. "Where are we headed?"

"I'll explain on the way," Pompey responded. "You can just follow me there."

As everyone turned to leave, Demetrius grabbed Peter by the shoulder and whispered to him, "Peter, would it be alright if I left? I've got some friends I'm supposed to meet to make sure they're alright."

Peter nodded. "Be careful."

Demetrius thanked him and ran off in the opposite direction.
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Pompey set the super elevator to its next destination. One by one, the super elevator carried all of those present to the super elevator access site nearest to Pompey's destination. There they regrouped, and started walking. Everyone followed Pompey.

"Why don't you start with the introductions?" Pompey invited.

"Alright, well I guess I might as well start out with Demetrius." Pompey looked over those present, trying to see which one Demetrius was. "Oh no, he's not with us anymore," Peter explained. "He had some friends he had to meet. He was the tall one though, with the red shirt on."

Recognition filled Pompey. "Oh yeah, him. Do you know him well?"

Peter shook his head. "Not really. I've run into him a couple times before today, but that's it. He was a teacher at that school, one of three who didn't run away. I was helping him evacuate the children when the Harpies came."

"Sounds like another brave man," Pompey responded.

Peter then turned to his two friends. "This is Davree," he announced. "And this is Kialka. They are my two closest friends, and were just arriving to help me when the Harpies arrived."

Pompey turned to shake hands with both of them, not slowing down his pace one bit. "I'm pleased to meet you both. Any friend of Peter is a friend of mine."

Davree only nodded in reply. Kialka response was, "thank you sir. If you don't mind my asking, who are you?"

"Right to the point, huh? Well, my name is Pompey. I'm the commander of the Watcher Resistance Effort, a group formed with the soul intention of defeating Marram's army."

"I take it this group was recently formed," Davree said.

Pompey nodded. "This afternoon, in fact. As you can imagine, things were thrown together in a bit of a rush, and we are far from organized, but we seem do be doing a better job against the Harpies than our government is."

"That isn't hard," Kialka commented.

Pompey turned to her. "Sadly, I'm afraid you're right. Our government was just never prepared for this possibility. We've been caught completely off-guard. That's why we formed the Watcher Resistance Effort, or just the Resistance for short."

"And you're the leader of it?" Peter asked, just to make sure he was understanding things right.

"I am. We heard the school was in trouble, so I lead seven people down there as quickly as possible. Our headquarters are right down this way, in the abandoned theater. We have people tracking the movements of the Harpies, and whenever we see them beginning to congregate somewhere, we attack."

Peter looked back over all those present. "And these are your seven people with us?" he asked.

Pompey smiled broadly. "Every one. We didn't lose a single person to those Harpies. The Harpies couldn't aim a laser gun at all. It was a piece of cake." Peter surveyed the seven. "Here, let me introduce them to you," Pompey volunteered. "This is Rajar, this is Greaze, that's Justa, Ortel, Cairo, and Kenn." Each member made some sort of gesture when there name was called to identify themselves. Rajar raised her hand, Greaze nodded his head, Justa smiled when Pompey mentioned her, Ortel gave a salute at his name, Cairo raised his hand, and Kenn nodded his head.

"And this man right here," Pompey said, motioning to one of his people to come forward, "this man is Aesych. Keep your eyes on him. He's a fighter. He's the one who fired the first shot at Droud; you know the one that missed and hit the school instead." Pompey leaned forward to Peter and, in a stage whisper, added, "we're working on his aim." A couple chuckles were heard, and Aesych turned slightly red. Aesych was a moderately short man, with light red hair and very well defined features. Peter extended his hand, and the two shook.

"Here comes Varro," Cairo observed.

Pompey looked over to where Cairo was looking. A man approached them, tall and slender, his blond hair was combed straight down with no part. Pompey called out to him. "Varro, over here." Varro was already heading towards Pompey, but he showed no annoyance at being directed. "Varro's one of the resistance also," Pompey explained. "He's a pretty clever guy, but not an outstanding fighter." The way Pompey said the words, it sounded like Varro's inability to fight well ruined his whole character. Pompey shrugged, and added in a disappointed tone, "Oh well, I guess it takes all types."

Varro ran up to meet Pompey and everyone else. Pompey introduced Varro to Peter, Davree and Kialka, then he turned to Peter. "Varro will lead you to our headquarters, then show you around. The rest of us will join you there later. We have some business to take care of first."

Peter nodded. "Alright, I'll see you there. And again, thank you."

"Don't mention it." Pompey turned to lead his men away, took a few steps, then suddenly turned back. "You are joining the Resistance, aren't you Peter?"

"I think so, yes," Peter responded.

Pompey smiled broadly. "Good. We need men like you. I'll see you there."
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Pompey slammed the door behind, leaving him and Aesych alone in the room. He threw his arms up in anger; his rage released in the volume of his words. "Alright, Why?"

"Why what?"

Pompey jerked around to face Aesych in a split second. If it was possible for him to get any angrier, he just did. "You know damn well what I'm talking about," he yelled out.

Aesych looked at the ground. Then up again, shaking his head in confusion. "I can't believe you're upset about that. I waited till the last possible second."

"I had the situation perfectly under control. What's more, I specifically told you, specifically told you," the second time Pompey said those words they received much more emphasis, "that Droud was mine to kill."

"And he was."

"I killed a wounded man who had so much blood pouring into his only eye that he could barely see. I killed a man who only seconds before was lying on the floor and crying like a child. I wanted to shoot Droud, leader of the Harpies. What's more, I know you didn't miss on purpose."

"If I had waited even one more second, Peter would have been killed."

"I was watching everything carefully. The second I thought Droud was going to press that trigger, I would have shot him first."

"Droud was ready to press the trigger."

"No he wasn't. I had everything perfectly under control." Pompey's voice clearly dictated he wanted a rapid conclusion to this discussion.

"Like hell you did!" Aesych raised his voice for the first time in the conversation.

In a second, Pompey was on him. His hand flung out and struck Aesych hard on his left cheek. Aesych's head jerked to the right. His left hand went up to touch the bruise and it remained there as he turned to face Pompey again. Pompey was right next to him, leaving only inches of space between their two bodies. Pompey spoke slowly, each word heavily emphasized and carefully spaced out from the others. "You...don't...fuck...with...me." Aesych silently stared into Pompey's powerful eyes. "Do you understand me?" Pompey asked.

"Yes," Aesych answered, his eyes burning with defiance.

"Good. Let's rejoin the others." Pompey opened the door and left, with Aesych following angrily behind.
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Varro paused, looking all around him for anything he might have missed. "There's really nothing more to show," he finally determined. "Undoubtably Pompey told you about our rushed start."

"Not in great detail," Peter replied, "but we got the general idea, yeah."

"Well, that's why we don't have a really elaborate set up," Varro replied. "Now, ordinarily of course, you wouldn't return all the way here from each encounter to get your new assignment, but rather check in with us through one of the monitors."

"Sounds like common sense," Kialka put in.

"Pompey wanted to make an exception in this case so you could see where we're located, and what we're doing, and all that stuff. Also, he said he had some business to take care of, though as to what that might be I really don't know."

"Here comes the commander now," someone near a window shouted. Pompey entered the room soon after, followed by the seven others. Giving a nod to all the others, Pompey walked up to Varro, Peter, Kialka and Davree. "I trust Varro treated you well," Pompey asked Peter.

Peter nodded. "Very well thank you. He was very kind."

Pompey slapped Varro on the back in a friendly manner. "He's a good man all right. There's no doubt about that. Well, are you three up for your first assignment?" All three replied affirmatively. "Excellent. Varro, what have you got for us?"

"Well," Varro answered, "We've got a lot of Harpies in Daved Park. Now, all The Watchers have long since fled that area, so I really don't know why they're there, other then just to rest."

"Well they won't be resting long," Pompey replied. "How many men do you think I need?"

Varro shrugged. "Well, there are about a hundred Harpies there. The question is how many men do you think you need?"

Pompey turned his back, and started walking toward's the door. "I'll take twenty," he shouted.