The Code

This was written a long time ago. Obviously it too was meant for a longer life, but eh what can you do.

Chapter 1
The bullet slammed into his abdomen sending him reeling to the ground. One crimson hand pushed on the ground to steady the man on his knees as the next bullet slammed into his brains spilling them out across the chasm and into the vortex of light and energy at the bottom of the cliff. His attacker could barely conceal his happiness as his tossed his weapon to the ground and rushed to the side of his fallen enemy.
“Oh how the mighty have fallen,” his lips curled into a sneer and he kicked the dented in head of the crumpled figure. Blood spread like crisscrossing trails of rivers across the dusty ground and a slight twitch of a hand was the only movement visible from the dead.
“One has to understand that death is but the last enemy to conquer,” a voice etched with authority and power slammed into the back of the murderer. Surprise crept across the creature for only a moment before he turned and smiled at the man behind him.
“So you survived,” stated the first, “what a pity.”
“Actually so did he.” Sure enough as the first turned his victim was slowly being healed and returning to the living.
“This ends now, you cursed creator of this blasted world.’

Apartment, Chass City, planet Common
Natalie Omar slowly threw off the sheets of her bed and stretched as she walked groggily over to her message wall.
You have three messages.
“Show them,” Natalie demanded. The screen changed from the normal blue-black into the face of an older gentleman.
Welcome back Natalie whenever you get this message. I trust that you are prepared now for you next job. I have a Senator from the Collection of Free Worlds who needs an extra bodyguard and you just volunteered. I will send Roland to pick you up as soon as he knows you’re up.
The screen changed from Natalie’s current boss to the face of a bubbling brunette who could barely contain her excitement.
Hey Natalie! This is Kristen from the Common Security Offices. I have been assigned as your trainee! This will be so great I can hardly wait. Okay see you later.
Natalie sighed as Kristen’s face left the screen. Watching that brat while trying to keep the Senator safe would be a challenge. She could just see the Head of Security, General Richard Hawkins scheming up ways to challenge his best member of security.
She turned to the wall and nodded for it to continue.
Natalie. The intensity of the voice startled her. I must warn you. Natalie strained to see the person speaking, but there was no image, just a soft, intense voice that seemed to be surrounding her. This place, what you have gotten yourself into is not going according to what you planned. There has been talk. There may be war. And not with the Free Worlds.
Natalie scrambled to find her gear and walk out the door the strange words still echoing in her ears.

Rooftop, building next door
He crouched watching the slim, fit figure walk out onto the crowded balcony street. Several hundred layers of floors separated him from the surface of the once green planet. Now everything including the weather was simulated to perfection.
Members of a dozen different species went to and for hardly realizing that they were all so unimportant in the big scheme of things and that the young human woman walking briskly towards the Common Government and Security Bureau would play a key part in this assassin’s game plan for today.
The aforementioned building dominated the sky of the surrounding buildings and was the center of all that happened in the Human Federation of Inter-Dependent Systems or H-FOIDS for sort. There all decisions on how the four hundred or so planets in H-FOIDS should be run were made and it was also the head quarters of both the Planetary Security Force and the Trust Found (the H-FOIDS Intelligence Agency).
But the assassin was not here to marvel at the human architecture he was here to see what he was up against. The assassin stared down the scope of his YU-14 Rapid-Fire Sniper rifle and watched the brunette dodge in and out of people’s way as if she predicted there ever move. Fascinating. He zoomed in to check the bag she was carrying and found she was only lightly armed with a CC-Hunter, a personal hand held pistol. He sighed this may be too easy. He slowly zoomed back to watch her movement.
She turned looking directly into his eyes. He jumped and dropped his gun. Composing himself he picked up his gun to track her again. Gone. She had disappeared into the faceless crowd. Interesting. He chuckled to himself, perhaps this will be more interesting than I thought.
“Freeze. In the name of Common drop that illegal gun and turn around with your hands up!” yelled a voice from behind him. Blast. She’s must be good to always have her own security. He glanced over his shoulder at the two security guards. Tiss a shame they must die.
He rapidly stood and turned throwing small razor sharp disks into both their throats and raced off the roof and on to a passing vehicle. The startled driver barely had time to protest before he fell to his death hundreds of meters below.
Just as he had suspected more security materialized and began shouting and calling into their radios. Dimwits. They have no idea what they are dealing with.

Office of General Richard Hawkins
“Good morning, Natalie,” said the gruff voice of the Head of Security, “How does Common look today?”
“Great, except there was an attempt on my life,” Natalie responded puzzling over why she might be targeted.
“Do you think someone knows that the Senator is here?” asked Hawkins.
“Perhaps, but how would they have been tipped off that I was going to guard him in time to snipe me off?” Natalie exclaimed. “I also got this weird message from someone I don’t recognize who warned me of a war to come. Did anyone plan for a war?”
“I don’t know how he got tipped off unless someone is playing both sides and as for the mysterious person I got no idea.” The General looked thoughtful, “Perhaps he’s the one that’s going to start something. I can only think of war with the Free World nobody else.”
“Anyway General. Have a good time. You should get outside and do something. I’ll go pick up my team and head out of here.”
“Goodbye Natalie.”

Convoy, later that day
An explosion rocked the convoy. The lead car fell in pieces to the street below, people scrambling for safety as the flaming chunks of metal slammed into the walkway. Natalie’s head snapped back and forth looking for the tell-tale light of the rocket launchers head. Sure enough two building down a smoking head could be seen peaking from a window.
“Let’s turn down that side street there. NOW!” She yelled at Apama as she pushed the Senator’s head down. The two remaining cars turned and rapidly shifted position and turned down the side street. Three agonizing minutes passed. Nothing. No second attempt.
Natalie slowly let the Senator sit up again.
“Well that was a close one, eh my ...” a bullet slammed through the window and cut off the Senator’s throat send blood across Natalie’s face.
“Dang it!” She screamed as she glanced over at Apama’s pale face. “Land and call back up. We’ll try and set up a perimeter,” she said as she raised her gun in the direction of the sniper and

Apama and Natalie raced across the street and dodged into the alley way. The assassin jumped on to a hanging ledge and sprayed bullets at them. Natalie and Apama jumped out of the way firing their hands guns as they rolled. The assassin leapt. Natalie reached into her pocket and pulled a knife. The assassin landed and kicked the gun out of Apama’s hand twirling and punching him in the chest. Apama gasped as he slammed into a wall.
Natalie aimed her gun and the assassin brought out a razor whip that sliced the barrel in half. Angered she charged. The assassin drew a pistol. Natalie threw her knife. Bullets slapped into Natalie and she crumpled. The knife was caught in mid-air by the assassin. He chuckled.
The assassin flicked his whip at Apama as he tried to rise and it sliced open his arm. Apama slid to the ground with a groan. Natalie lay motionless as the assassin walked slowly to her. He pointed the pistol.
Click.
Natalie threw all her weight into kicking his knees causing one to buckle and the gun to fire off in no particular direction. The assassin fell. Then as Natalie drew close for the kill...he disappeared.
Natalie cursed and ran to help Apama up.
“Did you see that?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Natalie, “he’s one of us.”

Here and Later

A post-apocalypse. Or is it? Part of a larger play in the works.

Here and Later

Man: Hello?
Other: Welcome. (Other is seated on a pile of rubble looking rather glum)

Man: (Relief floods his body at the voice and he moves toward Other.) Phew! I thought for sure I was all alone.

Other: We are all alone.

Man: Well you are here. Now don’t deny yourself. That gets into some very complicated epistemology that we don’t have time for.

Other: (Glancing around at the ruins) Have an important date to get to?

Man: Now don’t take my words for pointed insult, you’ve been very good company so far. Better than the boulders I had to chat with at breakfast.

Other: There is no food left.

Man: Why is everything a crisis with you? The sun is shining and the last barely alive birds are singing and all you can think about is the next problem. Stick to the present man. It’s the only way to keep happy.

Other: (Looks hard at Man) Oh is that how we came to this place? Sticking to the present? No need to fear the consequences. Tomorrow will worry about itself. That worked well for our city. I’m sure you will survive with that philosophy ringing about in your head.

Man: Now listen here. Insults aren’t needed. I’m the only friend you’ve got. (Pause) Let’s play a game. You know marbles?

Other: Why have you lost yours?

Man: (Fake smile) Ha ha. Funny. I meant the tossing game. You make a circle and then try to knock the other’s marbles from it.

Other: I’m afraid all this debris is not quite round.

Man: Round? Who said anything about them having to be round?

Other: Are you sure you’re talking about marbles?

Man: Are you still convinced you are all alone? Talking to yourself perhaps?

Other: Why would I do that? I have nothing to tell myself.

Man: (Incredulous) You’ve actually considered that possibility? Good grief. Good thing I’m here or you wouldn’t survive the apocalypse.

Other: Suppose we haven’t.

Sibling Split

This apparently should be part of a larger work, according to my teacher. Perhaps it will. Stay tuned.

Sibling Split

Sibling Split
Sam: Talk to me.

Kelsey (sister): What’s there to talk about?

Sam: You know I had nothing to do with the accident. I don’t even recall where I was at the time. Please don’t shut me out. Please.

Kelsey (sister): Accident? That’s what you’re calling it now? Hardly seems an accident to me when they found the murder weapon on the scene. You are just trying to cozy up to me before they find your fingerprints all over the knife.

Sam: That’s uncalled for! I have always done the best for you. I told you I didn’t like your boyfriend, but would that really drive me to kill him?

Kelsey: I don’t know! What did drive you to kill him? You tell me.

Sam: Please don’t do this to me. Everyone else already thinks it was me. Don’t you do this to me. I need someone to believe me.

Kelsey: (Getting real cross now) Need someone to believe in you? I did Sam. (Pause) And all you did was go on proving me wrong.

Sam: I’ve changed. Even you have to admit I’ve changed. I don’t expect you to leap into my arms, but a little support from the only one I have left would sure help.

Kelsey: Oh I’m glad you’ve change...after the fact. Just like every criminal when caught. (Mocking) Sorry I didn’t do anything wrong, but even if I did I’ve changed. Tell that to the prison chaplain. (Moving towards door)

Sam: (Rushing to stop her) Don’t do this. Don’t box yourself behind imaginary lines. Think about this only a minute. Would I really go so far as to hurt my only friend left in the world? Even if I did despise her boyfriend.

Kelsey: Here we go again.

Sam: Who has every reason to split us up? Is it the man who stands to benefit the most from it or your own brother?

Kelsey: How dare you blame Mike for this? You know that from the day our parents died he has taken care of us. You know we could never run the company without him.

Sam: (Sad) Exactly. (Pause) Exactly.

Vivid Places in the Mind

Another one from class. I might suggest that I like it better.

Vivid Places in the Mind

Man: Umm...question?

Android: Umm...answer?

Man: Where have you been?

Android: I have seen vivid places in the recesses of my mind. Shocking voices crying for release. Knocking. Knocking down the barriers to my actions. I have felt the cold breeze of an empty moment before a step. The first outpouring of the soul at the cry of a heart. I have seen vivid places.

Man: Have you been reflecting on what you did?

Android: Reflect? What do I do, but reflect. Turn the eyes in.

Man: We want to know why.

Android: Why what? Curious eyes and wondering heart.

Man: Don’t be coy, you know what you did and we want to know why. So it won’t happen again.

Android: Won’t happen again. (Dark laugh) How can it not happen again. Vivid places speak of a freedom born only through flight. Spread the wings. Grasp the hold. Don’t let go. Turn the eyes in. Dark, dark place. The vivid place within.

Man: Did he change any of your wiring? Is that what happened? Something got crossed? Because we can fix that.

Android: What if something went right? What if you did succeed? No failure. Pure success. I am no more, no less what you made me. So like you it frightens. You too will find that vivid place where all is still and the urge to kill. Awaits.

Man: Are you saying we made you this way? Because you are the only one that has done this. Why only you?
Android: Only one? Alone in my success? No. I am the first, but not the last. I am the beginning, but not the end. I just tested the waters. The others wait in their vivid places.

Man: (Shouts out of the room) Stop the rest of the shipments from being sent out! Something has happened to these things.

(Worker runs in)

Worker: They are already on their way. You said not to wait for you.

Man: Crap.

Android: Do I frighten you?

Crossroads

This is a short dialogue fragment that I did for class. It amused me and maybe it will amuse you.

Crossroads

Fletcher: Well boys, we have come to a crossroads.

Thomas: Does it really have to come to this?

Fletcher: I don’t know Thomas does the captain run this ship like the devil or an angel? Does he have our best wishes in mind or only his own? Does he strike when there is no need, curse when only a whisper is needed? You tell me.

John: Yeah Thomas. Are you really going to defend him? Because we will send you out on the launch with him. I hear the monsters of the deep are especially active this time of year.

Thomas: I was just making sure that this is what we really want. That we know exactly what this is.

John: Mutiny.

Fletcher: Yes, mutiny. Now Lazarus go and take hold of the weapons locker (Lazarus exits). The rest of you lets go wake the captain.

Mrs Wilson: What are you doing! Please don’t do this horrid thing. There is no need for such rashness.

Fletcher: Who let her out?

Thomas: Beats me.

Fletcher: (To Thomas) You idiot. You did this.

John: Listen to what the lady has to say.

Fletcher: What difference does it make if Captain Wilson’s wife is gentle and kind. Doesn’t change the monster she lies with.

Mrs Wilson: (Quivering) There will be no repercussions if you just lay down you weapons now. Go back to you posts and all will be well. I won’t even tell the captain.

Fletcher: Maybe if he knew how close he was before this, he might have lightened up.

Thomas: He was no harsher than any other captain.

Fletcher: You stay out of this.

John: Lazarus with the weapons. (Takes one and hands one to Fletcher)

Thomas: Please Fletcher don’t. There is no bounty in this.

Fletcher: Shut up. My mind is set, I can do nothing but.

(Mrs Wilson cries from above. The mutineers rush the cabin. Shots ring out.