Arc 3 - Chapter 4: Military Tribunal

(Octavian 28, 59 / 10:11AM)

Everyone that was in the back of Luke huddled close. Trying to mimic themselves like a can of sardines, they did whatever they could to avoid Reed’s glare. Clapping his hands—once—the sound of his palms smacking each other reverberated across the gargantuan room.

“Judge Golden. Please proceed with the following.”

“With pleasure.”

Ignoring the sheet of white paper stalling on his pew, he moved his hands inward within it. Using his fingers to scour the bits of dust, he pulled out a yellow card that reeked of it. Flapping it a couple of times, some traces of lint burdened his robes, before he began reading.

“Throughout heaven and Terra, we allow many beliefs to be self-evident. Male and female, infant to senior; all are allowed to be free from the status of sinners.”

Reading the note with sluggish eyes, he trailed the many lines of text with skimmed pupils. Coughing out softly, he cleared his throat once more, before lowering his voice down an octave.

“But justice is given to serve, and justice is there for all. For there is no greater reward nor punishment than the piety of absolute judgment.

Golden let go of the yellow card, and allowed it to rest against the pew. Turning his attention to the right of him, he gave his all toward the dark-brown haired man, who wore a tuxedo and church shoes.

By just feeling his glare, Kennedy hurriedly pulled out a yellow card, the same as him. But instead of the card being engraved in dust, it was polished in clearness.

“A-And for sinners to be free … There is no greater way to rehabilitate than penance and tribulation. For redemption is the greatest gift from God’s hand, punishment is necessary for it to be fulfilled."

Kennedy couldn’t look at the group, as his eyes were burdened in the blackest of eyebags. Pushing the yellow card into his tuxedo’s pockets, he nervously looked up at Reed.

“With this verdict now in motion, truths will become lies, and lies will become truths. Until dawn and dusk, we’ll be in this courthouse until a conclusion has been issued.”

Unlike the other two, Reed didn’t bother to pick up his yellow card in his pew. Pushing his hands inside his slacks pockets, he still had his cold eyes feasted upon Luke’s group.

Luke noticed Luna’s unnerving frustration, as she heard some of her knuckles beginning to crackle. Placing his left hand onto her shoulder, he squeezed her muscles once.

“Look Luna … I could talk to him… there’s still hope.”

“But what the hell does he have against us? We’re supposed to be on the same side.”

“I know … but from the way I put it … it does seem too unreal. Even for me …”

Both of them whispered, and softly enough for no one to hear. Not even the agents picked upon their lips, as they daggered stares at the two of them.

Letting go of her shoulder, Luke took a single step forward and raised his left hand onto his chest. Feeling his body convulse in sweat, he looked to him like a lost maiden.

“We’re willing to explain everything fully. We had soldiers and agents helping with us. Fighting with us. All to push back the liches and even the Harvest of Death. “

“But yet, Ticia fell overnight, all from the sudden appearance of that same monster. You’re saying that a group of soldiers, weak ones to be exact, managed to kill that same beast? Seems too good to be true.”

Luke only looked away, as the sudden rebuttal was thrown against him. As he felt Hope hide behind him, she continued to shyly keep away from Judge Golden.

Even when his whole body ran hot, he didn’t back down. His own sweat caressing his chest and even his throat, Luke felt his lips quiver once he opened his mouth.

“With all due respect sir. All that I said was true. I was born with a great gift of luck, and I used it.”

“That’s your counter? Your reason for winning?”

“Well …”

“Now hold on a minute…”

Having his shoulder be brushed against, Luna took a few steps forward and glared at Reed. Just before taking another step, Luke extended his right hand out, and grabbed her wrist with pinned fingers.

Growling from her throat, clenching her teeth, her left hand was completely balled into a fist.

“We saved your city! And your way of life you asshat! Tell me! Where were you when you ditched all of your citizens!?”

“Luna!”

“Hmm … sounds to me like you’re not good at controlling your soldiers; Fenix.”

Luke tightened his grip on her wrist, while darkening his face. Tugging her repeatedly, everyone behind him quietly watched with sweat filled faces.

Luna however made a ‘tch’ sound, and brushed aside Luke’s request to stand down. With every agent on the line of drawing their weapons, their shoes strained the marble, and their eyes peeled intently on her.

“I wouldn’t let your anger take control. Agents are trained to deal with criminals, even criminals with blessings.”

“You didn’t answer my question!”

“About where I was? That information was classified … but I must say …”

Leaning his body forward, he tilted his head towards the right, and pinned his eyes on Luke. With every senator and judge sealing their lips, not even the faintest of breath trickled their eardrums.

Completely silent, dead of thought; everyone held their breath once Reed broke through with words.

—“I think you already know the answer to that question.”—

Luke felt his eyes shimmer, until he wrinkled his cheeks along with his face.

Along with all of his friends, they all pushed on their bestest of poker faces, all except for one man. Having a face as pale as a lich, his breathing began to slightly fasten, but not so noticeably.

“Stan? You good?”

“Keep your breathing down, they might question you.”

“The phone call…”

Miles and Gary whispered near Stan, as the freckled elf looked down onto the white marble floor.

Remembering the phone call a month prior, Boris had a caller detailing him about Reed’s classified meeting. Being the same day Lagefor was attacked, it left a lot of questions to surmise upon his little escape. And during the night, when they were all resting between the first wave, and the second, Briggs accused Boris of accessing classified intel. Fortunately for them, they blackmailed the agent … but if this popped up…

Stan felt his knees on the verge of buckling. As if hot glue had pressed itself onto his shoes, he couldn’t look up. Because a couple of agents peered their eyes at the trio, mostly Stan.

“Calm yourself damnit, some agents are looking at you.”

“Do you two have anything to say?”

Everyone turned to look at Stan, which finally cusped his breath to hold. Looking in back of his group, Luke felt his cheeks turn white, leaving him to pucker his lips. Gathering their undivided attention, the only thing Stan could do was stare at the floor.

“I’m speaking to you; elf who wears overalls. Do you know the answer to the swordswoman’s question?”

Unable to feel anything within his fingers, he softly twitched and shivered the longer Reed stared. Having his mouth welded shut, his whole face was blinded in petrified sweat.

Reed folded his arms below his chest, and continued to coldly stare at the elf. Tapping his church shoe on the wooden floor, he only straightened his back and imposed dominance.

“Speak now, before—”

“I was the one who heard of your meeting in El Niabea.”

Everyone looked at Luke.

Every agent, every senator, every judge; everyone who was spectating widened their eyes. Hearing the words he spoke about, they all felt a tinge of sweat drizzle from their temples. With most of Luke’s friends in disbelief, it looked as if they were all beginning to succumb to shock.

While Stan ceased his panting state.

“I heard the intel from an outside source. It wasn’t Stan, not any of my friends, but me. I should take the blame.”

A bunch of figures began to hover in back of him. From Miles, Luna, Hope; most of his friends felt their eyes darken. Wanting to question, wanting to yell, they were unable to consider they were in front of an audience.

An audience that determined their fate. But with fate being against them…

Luke couldn’t glance in back of him, as their eyes only pierced into his souls. Trying to maintain his straightened body, his quivering eyes, he stared straight into Reed’s—

—“Who said anything about a meeting? I never specified what was classified … didn’t I?”—

Luke blinked once, and found Reed’s smile to be that of a demon. Having his hands below his back, his left hand grappling his right wrist, darkness swelled his eyes.

“You chose a meeting? Along with a place? Then my bluff that I bestowed for all of you … managed to lure you in like bass.”

Every one of the Dark Angels shivered, except for Luna and Benn. Some of them frustrated, some of them angry, most of them couldn’t release their fatal emotions from the deepest of hearts. Because of this, it only led Reed to pat himself in the back.

“And as such, it is clear that you have heard of such classified material; but that’s not the kicker.”

Reed then turned his attention onto Golden, who tried to peel his eyes on Hope. Looking like a bit of drool swept from his lip, sweat garnished the collar of his red cardinal robe.

“Golden…?”

No response drew from Golden, which pushed the President to pop out a vein. Pushing his right hand into his pocket, he quickly took out a simple metal ball. Circular, smooth, it looked like it could deflect sunlight even with the clouds from above.

With a simple arch, he threw the small ball straight at his head, which bounced off. Creating a small bump, he raised both of his hands to caress his bump, while he ceased his grinning and nodded repeatedly.

“Enough with your antics you old perv. Read the list of crimes that The Dark Angels are guilty of.”

—G-Guilty of?

Luke felt all of his toes go numb, as if his footing began to falter under his weight.

Instead of looking into his pew, Golden pulled out a simple note from his robe. Feeling his old fingers trample and caress the fabric, he soon got out a cheeky note tarnished in yellow. Opening it up, he brought the note close to his face, and skimmed through the lines of cursive.

“The Dark Angels have broken many unjust laws that disrupted our principles of said jocular life. First and foremost, the use of unlawful destruction during the Attack on Lagefor.”

Luke blinked.

Everyone else felt their eyes twinkle up and down, and looked at one another with dazed faces. Furrowed brows, opened mouths, two hands tightened onto his back. Feeling Hope press her fingers deep, he didn’t look back, as he continued to stare up.

“A bar on the South Side was heavily damaged, followed by an industrial factory and military complex that had similar scars. Matter of fact, a huge crater was seen from one of the Dark Angel’s gadgets; just from the complex alone.”

Both Hope and Benn recalled the broken-dar bar, the one they fought Gemma in. Remembering the stench of death, blood, and most certainly mist, tiny PTSD is what they recovered. Her face growing pale, every ounce of memorized blood shook Hope’s eyes.

Fred, Gary, and Diego remembered the defense. Despite being reserves, they fought, but only with brains. Along with their memories replaying the Sergeant, Fred clenched both of his hands.

Golden lowered the note two to three inches away from it’s original position.

“There are two more cases. The second last was the mayor’s house, where a few glass boxes were broken out of. One of the soldiers used weapons to defeat one of their enemies, but failed to pay damages. Last but foremost, the Zirardge Tower was heavily damaged. Because of the extent of their battles, most of the building tilted and swayed from its instability.”

Luna recalled her fight with Kenichi.

That ginger hair, those dual wielding chainsaws, even the way he wore his all black attire sent her body to freeze. Putting on a mean front like usual, she softly shook her head, and folded her arms.

“And the hearing of classified information is a great act of betrayal. Traitors who push out unneeded intel, unneeded knowledge, are dealt with by the worst of cards.”

Stan raised one of his hands up to his mouth, and blocked it with trembling fingers. Trying to keep his breath from overexceeding, most of it wheezed in and out, in and out. Before he replayed those two scenes again and again.

Right before the attack, Stan remembered the words that drew from Boris like a script. Memorizing every word, every sentence, he didn’t know the voice or words from the other. And during their rest between waves, Briggs was on them about this classified intel. And like an infinite loop, he kept repeating the same memories.

“Another sin we could clarify is the usage of chemical warfare. Such elements and ghastly evil are proudly used by the cruelest of scientists.”

“Chemical w-warfare? But I—”

“You created a perfect sample of mustard gas, did you not? Along with so many other elements, your arsenal is perfect for the endangerment of so many lives. Did you ever think of the consequences of what may occur? To civilians or anybody outside the battlefield?” Said Reed.

Luke’s eye twitched twice, before wrinkling his nose and even his cheeks.

During The Array, an infamous case of his weapon backfiring was with the aftermath of Gemma. Inhaling some of the fumes from the gas, she was practically unable to walk. With Fred being the one to carry her piggyback, one thing led to another …

And it led her to her first death.

Disgruntled grunts were set ablaze. With many of the spectators judging Luke’s fighting abilities, he felt his whole chest grow hot with sweat.

“But it isn’t just Luke. Another invention to take heed is the water bomb, which was used as a weapon for the Harvester. If the water-bomb is indeed highly pressurized, and if the calculations were wrong, who knows how many lives it could’ve claimed.”

Fred felt like his soul was tearing apart, as if every eye flushed out the very fire within his heart. Hearing Golden’s claims, it wasn’t just Luke they were firing at.

Most of his inventions were made by him, with the help of Luke and many others. Being the mastermind behind the bomb, the missiles, the dust sweepers, and even the EMPs; it was all him. And now they’re using it against him.

“And inside the military complex, unauthorized military silos were built within the garden grounds. With the missiles directed toward the beast, what may happen if the projections were wrong? How many more lives could’ve been lost to this gamble?”

Both Gary and Luna began to seethe, as frustration trembled every bone in their bodies. Luna had her knuckles hardened, while Gary felt his face burn with red. Luckily for the two, their anger was kept in control, but it was clear that what they were hearing…

‘This is bullcrap! We saved the city!?’ thought Gary.

‘Those pricks … are they really questioning our methods? We saved their asses and this is how they treat us?!’ thought Luna.

Miles, Jack, Hope, Fred, and Diego all quivered from uneasiness. If fate was all against them, then it meant that their achievements as soldiers were at risk. All because they did their duties, their calling, they were left in the hands of their injustice.

An injustice that pushed Benn to sulk. Having been through this procedure before, it was all too nostalgic for the shark-human.

“And for their two last crimes. Some of the South Side was heavily damaged, all because of your ex-commander and her tactics. Reports say that she even cleaved off some of the foundations of buildings.”

When they were on the roof of the Zirardge Tower, they looked down for a split second. Seeing a strip of buildings and shops to be mincemeat, only one woman could be dubbed the culprit. And now that she was gone, resting underneath a mound of sunflowers and dirt, they couldn’t blame her…

But of course; humans have to blame their problems on something.

“Lastly, they took down the Harvester without any knowledge that it could explode. With a crater being formed from the aftermath, we conclude this crime to be nothing more than domestic terrorism.”

Luke’s eyes began to water.

Terrorism. Knowing how big of a crime it is, all of his face hardened at the word. Everything that he worked for, lived for; it would all lead him to face that charge. The Attack on Ticia, his hellish one month walk, his four years of training, The Array, and now The Attack on Lagefor…

—Was it all for nothing?

To be someone’s bestest soldier, to see the world he yearned for … would taking it all away be someone’s sick game?

The thought of it made him look down, as he growled with a dry throat. Feeling like his stomach was brewing a soup, and his soul being a ticking time bomb, he felt his heart beginning to overflow with—

[Now make an oath.]

Luke allowed his body to relax, and his eyes to slowly lift up.

Having his face return to tears, rather than frustration, he didn’t glance back. Unwilling to face his friends, who were in the same position as him, he stared at Golden.

“From the information that we have, it’s safe to say that Luke Fenix, along with his crew, are on thin ice. Unless we have testimonies to testify for the betterment of him and his group, please step forward.”

Silence rose, noise fell.

Everyone blowing the quietest of breaths, not a single muscle twitched underneath their clothing. From tuxedos, robes, leather jackets, no one was willing to stand for the damned. Wanting to tuck their heads in, every single Dark Angels felt like becoming a turtle…

Someone knocked on wood.

Everyone turned their heads to a blonde-haired agent, their eyes seeping into Briggs. Having a hardened face, he had no facial hair from his neck up to his temples. Only darkened eyes.

“Agent Briggs. ‘The Wintry Agent.’ Have anything to defend or attack?”

Briggs raised his right hand up to his head, and grappled the top of his fedora with pinching fingers. While his other hand laid on the wooden pew, he took off his hat, and pinned his eyes on the Dark Angels. Mostly Luke.

“Me and my agents were there during the attack. Luke and his buddies were there as well.”

“Then are Luke’s claims true? Did they disregard civilian safety? Did they gamble your lives with theirs?”

Briggs irises held in Luke’s soft mellow face, which only tightened his hold on his fedora. His whole body radiating a sense of cold, it was like he was sculpted in ice, which made his voice all the more venomous. Even when he had his agents nervous, Reed himself shrugged off a little smirk.

“He did take out the Harvester, while the rest of us mopped out liches and zompires. I could care less if he’s with us, or against us … but…”

With little ease, he scrunched up his whole fedora in one swoop. His eyes straining bits of red, it was like a scatter of veins scoured his irises. Holding back whatever he held, he darkened his face the longer he stared at Luke.

But why?

“I think he’s the one… I know of it.”

She remembered a little girl.

Barely being five or six, she danced and spinned around like a ballerina. Having a smile upon her face, it flooded his entire being with proud enjoyment. Laughing with her, playing with her, he promised himself that he would help her with whatever she needed.

Laughter, smiling, giggling, tantrums—

It all played with only audio.

Ceasing her voice, he closed his eyes. All of those ghostly whispers, those words he’ll never hear again, it only pushed his eyes… to fully darken.

—“He’s the leader of that cartel group I was looking for.”—

Luke took a step back.

From his chest to his stomach, and from his arms to his legs; everything felt lost within his nerves. Sweat drenching his body, all of his face and skin paled at the mere betrayal that flashed his ears.

Many agents hovered their hands near their pockets. With many judges and senators murmuring within themselves, Luke finally heard a bit of dialogue.

“The leader of the Los Cerdos de Ojos Negros?”

“Reports say that the leader has light-brown hair.”

“So he is the one that we were trying to track down!”

“Like they say, a quiet man holds the most secrets.”

Noise filled the courthouse. His own thinking being overrun with talk, Luke cradled his face.

Droplets of sweat dripping from his face, all of his eyes shook the more he breathed. Heavily, wheezily, his neck fought the very idea of glancing in back of him.

“Well there you have it. I guess you really are guilty of sin.”

Luke buckled his knees, as his chest began to feel sore from the excess wheezing. Even when his blood warmed, most of his fingers and toes felt the pins of nothingness.

He could feel their stares; all of their stares. But he chose to not look back.

—Why is this happening?

Reed took out a pocket watch from his pocket, and grappled the metal with his palm. Popping the lid open, he checked the time, and softly grinned. Closing the lid with just one finger, he pushed the watch into his pocket, and gathered everyone’s attention once again.

“Silence.”

And silence returned.

“As of this moment, I hereby declare all of you, and everyone who follows you; to be sinners.”

Luna and Hope placed their hands on Luke’s shoulders, but no response was drawn from him. Hope nudged her arm once, but Luna had a tight grip with her fingers. Even when she felt her nails dig deep into his collarbone, Luke wasn’t startled, not one bit.

“And as punishment, you all will be sent to The Dome. It is maximum security, heavily guarded, and is perfect for the worst of criminals. For your time there; fifty years or more will suffice.”

Luke slowly lifted his head, and stared at the red-haired President. Sniffling, his eyes reddened while he contained a sluggish liquid.

“Before you all carry off with your punishment, are there any last words you want to speak of?”

Luke gulped down whatever saliva that parched his throat. Once he did so, he felt the stinging pain that burned his shoulder. Finally turning his head around, he looked at the woman who caused him to feel—

She barely held tears.

Which sprouted a single teardrop from his right eye.

“I said … Do you have any last words?”

Luke turned his body, and stared up at Reed once more. Having that devilish grin, it only made Luke harden his knuckles and fingers. Gritting both ends of his molars, he grounded his teeth back and forth as veins splurged from his neck.

“Why are you doing this…”

He barely contained his frustration.

Seeing him make a deadpan face, Reed raised one of his hands up to his chin. Tapping it back and forth, he looked up at the ceiling, before ceasing his grin and pushing a frown. Because once he began analyzing him, he allowed his eyes to peer at his light-brown hair … and red eyes.

“You remind me of—”

—There was a boom.—

And then there was smoke.