"Wake up, you have promises to keep,
And miles to go before you sleep."
**Pain**
"It is not yet your time........."
"Your still that snot nosed 15 year old, aren't you?"
"Your climbing, but your not done yet..........."
**Who is that talking to me?**
"Open those eyes O'Brian, and face your judgment............."
**Judgment?**
"Open those eyes and gaze upon an "Old Acquaintance"
I cracked open my eyes, but the light was blinding....
It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust.....
It looked like the inside of a police station.....
There was a Flight helmet wearing LPI Sergeant standing near me.........
Oh god, I am dead and was sent to hell..........
"Well, don't you greet "Old Friends" when you see them?
He removed his helmet........
This time though, there was an actual human face.....
"What, would you rather I put back on the scary face?"
"No, that's fine as it is" I replied....
"Well, looks like you screwed up pretty bad, cause your here,
and I get to pass judgment on ya..."
"Well lets see, since the last time we met, you almost got yourself killed and
possessed by a Nomad, which didn't happen due to your crushed skull."
"Tried to swap spit with a nomad telepath..."
"Oh, this one is my favorite, almost got yourself killed trying to surf to impress
a red head on Planet Curacao... you moron"
"And now, instead of waiting for backup or withdrawing to fight another day, you get
yourself aced buy an Outcast in a big gunboat, who, by the way, was trying to make up
for a lack in other departments, if you catch my drift."
"So what do you have to say for yourself?"
I was shocked, and at a loss for words. Was I being judged to see where I went in the afterlife?
"I, uh... Tried my best...."
I looked down at myself, I was still in my bloody and torn flight suit, a pitiful mess to behold.
"You tried your best huh?"
"WELL YOU NEED TO DO BETTER!"
The burning skull was back and he was pointing a bony finger in my face.....
"You don't get it, do you? Just like when you were 15. There are innocents out there that need protecting, and are dying
needlessly. The people of Liberty are living in fear because no one is standing up to protect them."
"You need to do better, you need to get those who are charged with protecting and serving up
off of their butts. You need to hunt down those who would hurt and maim for their own pleasure and see them brought to Justice!"
"We have tried!" I surprised myself with the angry outburst..."We, the men and women of the LPI go out every night,
giving all we got to do our jobs and make sure people are safe. we get heckled by stupid traders who 5 minutes later
are crying that they are getting pirated. Our recruit Officers get hunted in Patriots for the criminal's amusement, we are getting ambushed and killed nightly.
"No matter O'Brian, you and those of the LPI have been picked to stop this onslaught. This was determined long ago.You need to do better"
With that he pointed his bony finger at me again....
"My judgment is.... you are not done."
"Go back from whence you came..... and let others know, that I will be watching.... and judging...."
**Silence**
Thump thump.
Formerly known as LPI Police Chief Hull O'Brien.
Creator of Sgt. V. Price, 207th Precinct out of Chula Vista Station