Source...
Part 9 (Uninvited Guests at the Rebellion): Recap
A thunderous crash. Panic erupted as people bolted from the warehouse, dragging screaming children, running for their lives to safety from out of range of military tanks adorned with the ICO emblem. Any direction would suffice to avoid capture by ICO's military unit.
Behind a tall, rotten tree two yards away, Amos, Annetta, Julius, and Benetiz peered at the chaos.
What they didn't see was the group of family members standing on the other side of the building with their hands held high signaling to the men in the military tank that they posed no danger of attempting to escape. The same family members who earlier had beseeched Benetiz for help during the resistance meeting.
"The black tank moved in closer, not caring for the well-being of the women and children as the operator lowered the front nozzle of the tank and aimed it directly at their faces. So close in fact that they could gaze into the chamber at their demise should they turn and run.
"Instantly, the tank's hatch swung open.
"It didn't take long for James Hanford and his neighbor who'd pleaded with Benetiz earlier in the warehouse to realize what they'd already feared. The fragment of life didn't amount to everyday ordinary events.
"The moment he smelled sulfur impacted into the barrel of the tank, they realized their lives would be cut short. Hanford imagined their innards spread haphazardly across the road. That was ICO's visual intimidation as with his neighbors running one step ahead of the flames across the pastures to avoid being burnt to death.
But his imagination had gotten ahead of him.
"Ignorant migrants," one of the men in a full-bodied blue uniform shouted, "don't you fools realize you're still being tracked."*
Hanson glanced down at his Silver Coin. Oh my God, he thought. We should have thrown them away immediately once we decided to defect. But the life-giving free supplements for the children were all that was left of their daily nourishment.
Several families raised their hands to their faces to avoid the blinding flashing lights. Although scared of the future for their children, they refused to relent. They'd suffered through the worse these past ten years.
Recalcitrant poses angered the soldiers.
The next moment, the force of steel-toe boots landed numerous, agonizing blows to the middle section of the men's bodies while their spouses and children watched helplessly.
"Is that all you got? Kick him harder! I say and end their miserable lives now. If it were up to me," one of the guards hissed before another raised his hand in an authoritative manner.
"But it isn't. I'll not lose my Silver Coin over your incessant intolerance. My feelings are the same as yours; however, I've more restraints. Our orders are to take prisoners," the guard standing closest to the families yelled to his comrades.
The late afternoon sun rushed forth and crowded the landscape. Long shadows fell around the captives' feet. If reflections could speak, they'd tell of the horror projected by faces of the men, women, and children.
Unable to hear or see what was happening to the people in his care, Benetiz motioned to Amos, Annetta, and Julius. They moved stealthily from behind the bushes, careful to avoid detection as they made their way to the other side of the building.
From across the way, they watched as several other military vehicles joined the initial assault and halted within a few feet of the people.
Amos stepped back from his group. Staring at the back of Benetiz' head, for a long moment he studied the man. Benetiz's head nodded back and forth slightly as if in approval of the soldiers' actions. Which soldiers' actions he approved of were unclear.
What better way to ferret out one's enemies than to ensnare and apprehend them together in a place of protest. A calculated move on ICO Headquarters' part whose outcome could be certain. That is, with the proper traitor in its midst. But what if I'm wrong, he questioned, his pulse beating faster. Men have done far less when faced with perceived injury to their family or certain death.
The threat of deactivating one's Silver Coin was sufficient to instill fear in even the fearless.
A loud, thunderous roar interrupted Amos' thoughts as several drops of rain fell lightly upon their faces, then quickened into a full thunderstorm. Hail pelted their faces until they couldn't continue standing in the open spot, but headed back behind the trees under cover.
But the hail wasn't alone. For in the distance, a horde of tanks approached, together with vehicles blasting sirens in their direction. Soon, the military styled tanks resembled an invasion. And all for no more than a hundred citizens.
Instead of examining the turmoil, giving it utmost urgency, Amos kept a close eye on Benetiz. All protestors in the region were accounted for, except one. And now, their technology experts were prisoners. Their plan was now doomed. And locating ICO's mysterious clinic in the north where seniors were held captive faded.
However, prayer would save neither the others nor themselves, as they only had to pivot to the left beyond the woods to discover their troubles ran deeper than the military soldiers or equipment deployed to subdue their uprising.
Now Part 10 (The Unexpected Confrontation):
Cunnelda Treydor. The ICO's mouthpiece.
Annetta's chilling stare fell short of any effect as she scrutinized her sister from head to toe. Several years had passed since they last graced each other with their presence. The older sister no longer held any power over her.
Cunnelda smiled warmly, but the words that spewed from her mouth were chilling, laced with a venomous sting.
"I see you've moved up in the world of ICO, sis," Annetta stated wryly, shaking her head as if a revelation dawned slowly studying the emblem of The Interdisciplinary Consortium Orbit.
"And I see you and Amos are still the same losers in our family," Cunnelda shot back.
Amos' squinted as a familiar shape took form. His eyes widened in shock as the tall, lanky female with harsh features approached. Never in a hundred years would he have guessed that he'd come face to face with his older sister. Not under these circumstances.
That her outfit was embossed with the ICO logo was disheartening. That she spoke with an authoritative tone as though representing the government that suppressed her people was confounding. That she took one glance at her only brother and dismissed him with disdain and disgust was typical.
Cunnelda turned to the security guards. One immediately rushed forward and took a stance behind her, his weapon pointed as he leaned over and lowered his voice as he imparted what must be urgent information.
Amos' eyes widened. Although partially covered, that face he'd never forget. It was Matchov, the orderly who worked to transport residents to the various ICO facilities.
Amos looked away, careful not to reveal he'd recognized him. But he'd never forget the experience. Seething, he remembered that Matchov was the man in charge who ordered Benetiz to remove his specialty goggles. His snide comment that he wouldn't need them where he was assigned now became clear as he kept his eyes on the road while driving to ICO North.
His ears sharpened as he overheard the exchange between Cunnelda and Matchov before Matchov stepped back.
"Take them first, they're the leaders. The sheep will follow. This one is Amos Goodall, Man Number, ICO-9708," Cunnelda revealed pointing directly at Amos. "Document him. He escaped from ICO North where he'll soon return to finish out his incarceration. Sedition is now added to his crimes."
Annetta's head jerked back as she stood close to Amos, blocking the guard's path in his attempt to handcuff her brother.
How did Cunnelda know the details of her brother's imprisonment? she wondered. Hands now shaking, Annetta tucked them inside her pockets. Then, in a defiant voice, the words spewed from her mouth loudly so all in the small holding area near the edge of the woods could hear.
But Cunnelda interrupted her.
"All of you gathered here, especially my dear brother and sister, will never realize your full potential. You're all losers and will never have your name engraved on the Wall of Success."
Angered at her sister's belittlement of an entire populace who refused to be dominated by ICO, Annetta's hand flung up.
"How dare you think I'm stupid enough to be enthused about working my way up the ladder to the Wall of Success. You don't even realize that it was you that placed me in a position to assist in dismantling the ICO structure."
Annetta didn't want to mention Roy Watson, Amos' friend, so continued.
"This past five years, all citizens were being monitored and our conversation recorded. But I managed to secure a position at ICO North under the guise of switching my career choice to research. With my nursing degree and one in medicine, I was immediately accepted."
"I later discovered it wasn't my credentials, but you, my dear sister, who made it all possible. How cunning you are Cunnelda. So much that you're actually stupid allowing ICO to use you are their mouthpiece."
Cunnelda stood as though shocked at her sister's words and demeanor. No one had ever spoken to her in that manner or questioned her authority.
But Annetta wasn't finished.
"This is the first time all three of us are together in the same space. Freedom's fresh air now rumbles of rancid human flesh burned by your illustrious overseers. May as well put all our cards on the table. I have nothing else to lose. I can't hide my contempt for you and those idiots running the continent."
"That's how I gained the schematics to the complex. As far as we can tell, the ICO isn't an institution created for the "good of the people to promote their welfare." It's like a virus spewing out a infectious disease. Their cover is "humanity's savior through research". What a joke!"
"As far as we can discern, no one yet has been saved by that cult. A hostile takeover of our society by mind control. So gradual in fact that we were blindsided. That's when I realized Amos was right the entire time. And I almost disowned him because of you."
Impressed by his little sister, but a bit afraid of the consequences for them both, Amos chimed in delivering a belligerent tone.
"What Annetta, Julius, and I have come to realize about you, Cunnelda, is that your belief in betraying one's family was a small price to pay when one considers the imaginary gains to be acquired in ICO society. We hope your name engraved on the Wall of Success serves you well the remainder of your life. Hopefully, that won't be too far off in the future."
Cunnelda dismissed Annetta's tirade, but took note of the implication of Amos' words. She snorted and almost released a laugh as he was in no position to threaten anyone but replied immediately so as to regain some semblance of power in the presence of the military unit.
"Threats to authority will ensure you never spend a free moment again outside ICO facility compounds, Cunnelda hissed before continuing, "And I've made sure you two will never see our parents again in this lifetime."
Despite being handcuffed, Amos and Annetta lunged toward Cunnelda.
The officer behind her stepped in front and butted Amos's head with his weapon. Immediately, Amos fell to the ground, knocked unconscious.
"Kick him," Matchov shouted. When the result wasn't to his satisfaction, he shouted, "Harder."
The fragment of life Amos had clung to hoping he'd live to see his parents again faded as Annetta knelt to the ground and embraced her brother.
Without a word, Benetiz, along with the other rebellious captives, stared silently at the event unfolding. The military unit moved even closer, creating a small sphere of imprisonment.
Julius, restrained at gunpoint, could do nothing but look on helplessly.
[to be continued]
18 December 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2590: fragment of life
28 January 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2630: implication
26 January 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2628: kick him harder
29 January 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2631: discuss this more
4 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2637: mysterious clinic
5 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2638: Did you authorise this?
20 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2653: survival of the richest
If you'd like to return to the beginning of my series, here are the previous parts:
Part 9 (Uninvited Guests at the Rebellion):
SOURCES:
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/
1 What is Stable Diffusion? StarryAI.Com. Online at: https://starryai.com/stable-diffusion
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