RogueStar (brucepat@iafrica.com)
A note before we begin:
This story is set in an alternate reality I like to call the EoH (Era
of Humanity).
Readers of some of my other stories might recognise it as one I introduced
in Smoke and
Mirrors. There I dealt with Gambit's team in more detail than I will
here. I've had comments about writing more on the concept than I did in
that story and have actually listened to them, unlike some
writers (Big Clue: Starts and ends with L) at Marvel. Oh, excuse my
German accent, I can't do it.
"Scientia est potentia." Milan ran a hand over the monitor, feeling
the electric
thrumming beneath the glass.
"Which means exactly what, Milan?"The young rebel leader snapped, "Other
dan de fact dat ya buyin' f'r time."
"Knowledge is power."
"Oui. So how about gettin' us some o' dat knowledge?"
"Infiltrating McTaggert's systems is hardly child's play."
"Good t'ing ya be de best den."
"I think I almost have it . . . ." He stepped back, "Voila!"
"Loading . . . ." The synthesised voice purred, the monitor suddenly
flashing
into technicolor life.
"It all began with Project: Wideawake. With the creation of the Sentinels
by
Bolivar Trask in 1993 PH, humans became more powerful than mutants
and set about to take their
rightful place in the world. A few scattered mutant groups attempted
to put up resistance but were
crushed. Ever since, the Sentinels have maintained a human utopia.
Naturally these are not the
same primitive Sentinels of yesteryear - they have evolved, become
sentient beings with several ranks. Alpha . . . ."
The vidscreen showed a sleek, silver automaton, equipped with lasers and gas.
"Beta. . ."
A squat robot appeared, its battalion of weapons gleaming in the negon light.
"Gamma."
The picture of a short droid materialised, sporting holographic projectors
and
cattle prods.
"Yet not everyone was content with the status quo. Several rebellions
were
started by certain men: Erik Lehnsherr, Nathaniel Essex and Remy leBeau.
All but the last have
undergone reprogramming and are now deployed in our MPF as spies or
researchers."
The young leader smiled, "Makes me proud t'be me."
"That is the basic background to why we are where we are." Milan explained,
"Further information is accessed through direct interface with the system."
leBeau nodded, "Computer? Show me de trash dat be in power right now."
"Sir . . . I believe this phrasing might be better. Computer? Access
information
in the rulers and their constituencies."
" Loading . . . . After D-Day, at the inception of the Era of Humanity,
the US
was split into 4 zones - each under a human ruler and named for that
ruler. The Northern Band
down to what was Oregon on the west coast and New York on the east
coast is under McTaggert's
control. The Traskian Lands in the South are ruled by Bolivar Trask.
The Western Block is
governed by Henry Gyrich, while the Eastern Block is under Graydon
Creed's control."
The voice was silent.
"D***. Expected more information on dem."
"I believe we have only begun to penetrate their systems. We are in
the
outer-layer of a ring of computers and the deeper we dig, the more
information we will find."
"Den ya better get t'work on dat."
"Sir . . . I have been working for 48-hours straight. Might I not rest
for a little
while?"
"Now, Milan."
"Yes *sir*."
"Star light, star bright, first star I see taenight, I wish I may, I
wish I might,
have this wish I wish taenight." She murmured the old words more out
of habit
than anything else.
There was no moon nor stars in the sky since the atmospheric barrier
had
been erected as defense against the depleted ozone layer.
"Emissary?" The knock on the door was timid but the voice spoke of
confidence and refinement.
"Ororo. Come in." McTaggert sat at her desk, "What is the problem now?"
"Nothing." The woman smiled, pushing a strand of white hair out of her face,
"I merely came to say goodnight."
"And tae serve as a gentle reminder that I should be going home by now."
She
said wryly.
"It is late and you have worked hard all day."
"The mutant uprisings are becoming troublesome, Ororo." She pulled out
a
sheaf of papers, "I dinnae understand why they cannae be happy with
the
status quo."
"Should I dispatch a squad of MPF troopers to the ghettoes in order
to
unearth the instigators of the rebellion?"
"Nae. I dinnae think that would be wise." She smiled, "I am reluctant
tae make
a move of overt aggression and give them reason tae rebel. Better we
crush their spirit slowly
than their bodies quickly."
"As you wish. . . ." She bows her head quickly. "After all, what can
a petty
handful of rebels do?"
"No firearm rule." He said, pointing to the sign at the wall. "Hand
it over,
sweetheart."
She smiled, revealing startlingly white teeth. "And if I don't want to?"
"Then you deal with my security." He nodded in the direction of two
large
men, standing in the corner.
"Good thing I want to." She dropped it on the counter, "For your men,
that is."
He picked it up and put it in the rack behind him. "What can I get
you,
sweetheart?"
"You can stop calling me sweetheart, the name's Pryde." She said, "And
I'm
looking for information."
"Maybe a bit of persuasion is in order." He grinned at her, "Knowledge
is
power. Power always has a price."
"Here." She slipped a crystal across the counter, "This should cover it."
"Triadium chip. Very nice." Carosella slipped it into his pocket,
"What do you want to know?"
"I'm looking for the local resistance. I have some knowledge which could
be
to their advantage."
"Fine. But I didn't send you." He said, giving her a card. "Give this
to the man
sitting at the corner table. He'll take you there."
"Thanks." She said, "Can I have my weapon back?"
"Not until you're ready to leave."
Pryde walked slowly over to the man. The little she could see of him
was
covered in scarf and dark glasses and she placed the card on the table.
Ace of Spades. He nodded
in acknowledgment and stood, motioning for her to follow him. The night
air was cool against her
face as she stepped outside into the alleyway.
"So?" He leant back against the wall, sinking into invisibility, "This
had better
be good. I risked my cover for you."
"Are you the local resistance?"
"Nein. Just der contact."
"I need to speak to your leader. My message is of vital importance and
must
be delivered in person."
"Gut." He looked into her eyes, "One thing first, if you are McTaggert's
spy,
you would be wise to leave now. Mein leader isn't fond of gene-traitors."
"I'm not." She smiled, "I'm here to cripple the Emissary."
He nodded perfunctorily, "Take my hand."
"What?!"
"It is necessary for der transport to be successful."
She took his hand in hers, gasping as she felt herself slipping into
the ice-cold
shadows. . . .
To be continued . . .
The US was split into 4 zones - each under a human ruler and named for
that
ruler. The Northern Band of States down to Oregon on the west coast
and New York on the east
coast is under McTaggert's control (who in this reality is pro-mutant
supression). The
Southern band of States runs all along the southern coast (excluding
California) up to Arizona on the
west and North Carolina on the east coast and is under Trask's control
and are known as the
Traskian Lands . The western block of states comprises Kansas, Nevada,
Utah, California,
Colorado and Nebraska and is under Gyrich's control. The eastern block
is made up of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia,
Philadelphia and Ohio and is under Graydon
Creed's control. Generally if you get a map of the states and
draw a line between the two
boundaries of either the northern or the southern blocks, any state
above the northern and below the
southern is included in that block, divide the remaining states down
the middle and you get the
eastern and western blocks!