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Many times during our short lives on this rock we call "Earth", we make new discoveries and advancements in our "technology". The dominating force on this planet, we know that we are the leaders in this galaxy. Everything not human is under our control. We are the master race, the only of which can reason, command actions—control destiny.
There are some on this planet that would say otherwise concerning our solitaire existence or superiority. They would venture to say that there is life outside our realm. Some even say that they are of superior intellect and have actually visited our Earth before. They claim that the government has proof of extraterrestrial life and shields it from the public. Myself, I don’t buy any of this hogwash.
My name is Michael Rocke, spelt with an "e", pronounced, very simply, "Rock". That’s what my friends call me, except my sweetheart, Brianna Wade. She can call me whatever she pleases. She prefers, simply enough, to call me by my first name, Michael.
Speaking of Brianna, that’s where I’m heading right now, in my brand new, blue, 2060 Viper. It’s a nice car, I’ve got my windows tinted, black interior, CD player, automatic temperature, low-level safety force shields—I even modified the hover system to allow me greater altitude. That way, I don’t have to worry about much traffic, nor the annoying sound of everyday commotion.
Brianna lives in a 50-story apartment complex. She rents Floor 24. Normally, you would have to park and take the hover shaft up 24 floors. With my modifications, however, I can climb all the way to her balcony in my car.
I think I’m going to park on her balcony and see if she’s ready to leave. Walking up to the glass door, I knock twice. I can barely make out a muffled, "Come on in." Suddenly, the glass pane shudders to life as it slides to the right, allowing me passage.
She is evidently still getting dressed. Why do women always take so long getting dressed?
I relax on her comfortable sofa and turn toward the television.
"TV, Power On," I say as the television’s voice recognition module kicks in.
"Michael, please designate preferred audio and visual station," the television responds.
"Let’s check out some news on the new military mechs," I state as the television scans for anything related.
"Two audio broadcasts, three visual broadcasts," the television reports.
"Let me see the visuals," I request.
"Stations are as follows: CNN, FOX, and CSPAN."
"CSPAN," I finally designate.
The broadcast is from the President and is as follows:
The broadcast ended there with the entire crowd standing on their feet cheering as the President grinned a smile of victory.
"WHAT?!" I exclaim, "What in the name of America, is he doing? Just three years ago, he commissioned that the mechs be built to keep the peace and protect in the event of war! Now, he is trying to destroy them? What has the president been inhaling? We live in an imperfect world of human beings. Humans make mistakes and do crazy things. We need to protect ourselves when they do."
I grab Brianna’s VidPhone and link up with my commanding officer in the AFMD (Armed Forces Mech Division).
"Captain Brad Milton, speaking. State the reason for your call, Mech Sergeant Rocke."
"Sir, did you receive the President’s speech?" I inquire.
"Sure did. The man has fallen of his rocker. To demand peace is one thing. To abolish the military is another." The Captain responds.
"Sir, I would like to request the non-destructive removal of our mechs," I state.
"Rocke, I am almost inclined to grant that request, however that may cause retaliation on our behalf."
"Sir, what if we save ONE of each mech?" I ask.
"Whose do you suggest, Mech Sergeant?" the Captain responds.
"Sir, I suggest my Crowd-Control Mech, Sarah’s Air-Strike Mech, and Brian’s SOLDIER."
"Where would they be stored?" he inquires again.
"Sir... I... I really don’t know." I admit.
"There is an underground mech lab that has been out of commission for almost a year. The paperwork for that lab can be destroyed. No one will know they are there. You will need to get over there tonight and move them," the Captain explains.
"Sir, do you need me to contact Sarah and Brian?" I ask.
"No need, I’ll take care of it. Oh, and Rocke, don’t mention this to any one. Captain Brad Milton, out."
I rise from my seated position and walk towards the glass door. Suddenly, I hear the hydraulics from Brianna’s bedroom door cause it to slide open. Brianna is dressed in a beautiful full-length glittering red dress. Her hair was curled and done up in a goddess-like fashion. She looks at me with her glorious blue eyes.
"Aren’t you forgetting someone?" Brianna asks, trying to look innocent.
"Listen, Brianna. Something very urgent has come up, and I’m going to have to do a rain check on this evening." I say, embracing for her response.
She doesn’t say anything. Maybe that’s the worse part about it all. Her complexion of love and jubilance quickly fades into one of pain and sadness. I can hardly bear the hurt in myself as I watch this change. I kiss her on the lips and say that I’ll try to make it back by tonight, but her expression doesn’t change in the slightest.
I turn towards the glass door again.
"I’ve got some business to take care of. I’ll try to be back before the night is over," I say as inch towards the balcony.
"I...I thought you loved me..." Brianna mentions as a tear streams down her face.
"I do, honey. I’ve just got some business to take care of," I respond.
"Can’t you take me with you? Then, we can do something afterwards," she suggests.
"I wish I could...I wish I could..." I say with regret in my heart.
The drive seems to take longer than it usually does. I guess I could put on some music, but right now, I feel like a heel and don’t want to be uplifted. I can’t believe I’m doing this—leaving my girlfriend to do something that may cause more trouble than it’s worth. Real smart... Michael... real smart...
As I approach the military base, I can see a man standing outside smoking a cigar, and two mechs doing some rounds. Sarah is evidently giving the ASM (Air-Strike Mech) some final runs before putting it away for who knows how long. The ASM’s body is similar to that of the stealth fighters, but with more gadgets, such as machine guns and missiles on each wing. Also, the ASM can completely stop in air, complete halt of horizontal and vertical movement.
Brian is also blowing away targets in his SOLDIER, one last time. SOLDIER is a heavy-hitting mech with a misshapen egg body. A rack of twenty-four heat-seeking missiles rest upon the top of the body. There are two horizontal and vertical optical sensors located on the body. The first is below the missile rack and the second is on the belly, incased in a protective metal shield, as a backup in the event that something destroys the primary optical sensors. Jointed arms on the right and left are attached with gattling guns. And the jointed legs allow more adequate movement.
As I park the Viper, the Captain, with his Stogie, asks if I want to take the CCM (Crowd-Control Mech) for a run before putting him away.
"No thanks, Captain, I’m just not in the mood right now," I respond.
"Well, then move the mech into the mech lab and get ready for your briefing," the Captain ordered as he signaled the others to bring their mechs to the lab.
My CCM (Crowd-Control Mech) has a shield-shaped body with a shield shape on the chest that serves dual purposes. It is both the optical sensor and creates a blinding flash. A loud speaker rests upon the top of the body, for communicating with crowds. The jointed left and right arms end with wide-angle stun beams for controlling crowds. Again, jointed legs allow adequate movement.
As I park the CCM in the mech lab, I await the others. The first to return is Brian as he parks SOLDIER near my mech and gets out.
"Hey, Rocke, why so down?" Brian asks, noticing my disposition.
I shrug, "I don’t really want to talk about it."
"You and Brianna not doin’ too good?" Brian inquires.
"I guess you could say that," I began, "It’s like I’m never there for her. We were going to go eat at some fancy restaurant and now I’ve got this junk to take care of."
Pointing at the tuxedo, he comments, "I was wondering what you were all dressed up for."
Suddenly, the ASM soars in to the room and comes to a complete stop in front of Brian’s mech and mine. Quickly, Sarah turns to the left, finding her place beside SOLDIER. Then, she rotates the ASM to face the opposite direction (without moving her position). Finally, she parks the mech and hops out.
"Hey, slick, what’re you all dressed up for?" Sarah asks.
Brian looks at Sarah, "Relationships."
"Oh," Sarah, understanding the situation decides not to pry any further.
Captain Brad Milton enters the abandoned mech lab and approaches the trio.
"Not a bad team, Soldiers," he comments, "Everyone here understands the intensity of this situation. The President has demanded the automatic shutdown and destruction of every military establishment. This lab will be the only military establishment left come tomorrow morning. We will be the only military soldiers left after the President dissolves the armed forces. The Armed Forces Mech Division will remain. Until dire need once again arrives, these mechs will remain dormant. Until the need arises, you are no longer military soldiers. However, when the time arrives, I will call upon each of you to pilot your mechs and win the war. I shall also keep heavy weaponry stored here in the event of war. Because of these provisions, I have furnished each of us with individual keys. To unlock the heavy titanium doors, all keys must be inserted. Without the other keys, one is useless. Guard it with your life. That key may be all that can save the world in the future."
The Captain then hands each of us an unmarked keycard, "I would suggest securing this somewhere safe. Soldiers, till that time comes, you are now civilians. Please depart and remember, tell no one of this day. Dismissed."
Looking down at my watch, I spy the time. It seems like this whole thing took longer than expected. I can’t believe it is already midnight. I wonder if Brianna is still up. I wonder if she’ll forgive me.
"Guys, I’m going to head out," I say as I gesture with my left hand in a waving fashion.
"Rocke, why don’t we have lunch later today? See if Brianna will come," Sarah suggests.
"Hey, I’m kind of interested in that new fancy-shmancy place off of Airway 52," Brian adds.
"Sounds like a plan. I’ll see what I can do," I comment as the Viper’s doors slide open.
"See ya there, Rocke," Sarah says as she puts her hand in Brian’s.
Inside my car, the doors seal and the hover system initiates. My headlights shine upon my two friends, exposing a "good night" kiss. They make a cute couple. They never seem to quarrel and always seem to love each other in any situation. I just hope Brianna and me will be as tight as they are. With me always away, it puts me in an uncomfortable position. Sometimes, I wish Brianna were AFMD. Maybe we’d actually see each other that way.
It looks like Brianna is either asleep or not home. The lights in her apartment are off. I think I’ll park in my regular spot. Looking though the glass door as I exit my vehicle, I see only the deadness of night. I go to knock on the door when something stops me dead in my tracks.
Something is terribly wrong. Suddenly, Brianna’s bedroom door slides open revealing the silhouette of something quite inhuman. The creature is humanoid in form. It has two arms affixed with two fingers and a thumb on each. It has two legs ending in toeless feet. The most identifiable aspect of this abomination is the giant head. It’s head is half of each entire squatty height.
Spotting me by the door, it slowly walks into the shadows and mysteriously vanishes.
Reacting, I smash my fists onto the glass pane. The only thing resulting is the pain pulsating through my hands. The door is left completely sealed. At this precise moment in time, I actually wish the security glass technology had never been created.
Quickly, I run towards the Viper as its doors slide open. Entering my hover car, I don’t even bother sealing the doors. As the hover system kicks in, I turn the car to face the glass door. Effortlessly, I push the accelerator to the floor. Reacting accurately with the pressure applied, the car almost instantaneously accelerates to two hundred, causing my new Viper to come crashing into the glass pane.
Most of the impact is absorbed through the safety force shield. The remaining force causes my car to collide physically with the glass. I watch as my hood begins to curl before my very eyes. I watch as the glass shatters into thousands of pieces. I watch, bracing the steering wheel, as the entire front of my car is crushed, slowly reaching where I was seated. Finally, the car pushes completely through the glass door, allowing me passage.
Jumping through the opened doorway, I run to where the creature had disappeared moments before. There is nothing left from it – no evidence of what it was or where it went.
"What was that?" I question myself aloud.
Suddenly, it hits me – Brianna! Is she still here? Is she all right? Is she dead?
"Brianna!" I scream in an attempt to locate her.
Running into her bedroom, I call her name again – "Brianna!"
Then, I find her. At least I fear it is she. There is the form of a female body upon the bed. She is in a baby blue nightgown. There are tissues on her bed. She must have been crying. Now, she isn’t making a sound. That’s what really scares me.
I approach the bed and prepare for the worst. At least I think I’m ready for the worst. Looking closer upon the woman, I realize my fears are accurate – It is Brianna! She is neither dead nor alive. She rests upon her back with her head tilted to the right. Her chin is wet with her own saliva. Her eyes have rolled back in her head. She is twitching in violent convulsions.
"Brianna!" I scream as shock courses through my body. The tears have begun to soak my shirt collar as I cradle her in my arms. Poor beautiful Brianna...Oh, Brianna...
I look at the VidPhone lying beside the bed and designate my call to the Emergency Service, explaining what has happened.
Within minutes, the Emergency Doctors arrive to the apartment. Before the doctors can even try to save her, she quickly gives up the ghost, as the convulsions finally cease.