"Lieutenant Austin Rodney Goodmen...read the files, on him." A man said in the room shielded behind a two-way mirror, he was staring through the mirror right as Goodmen who sat infront hands bound behind the chair.
"Austin Rodney Goodmen, born July 8th, 790 AS on planet Cambridge. His mother died on a transport that was attacked by Kusari forces in Tau-31. His sister is a Mandalore Mecenary. His father, was confirmed dead by MI6 agents."
This time it was a woman that spoke, she took a breath and continued. "He entered the Armed Forces as an Ensign. Fourteen days before the award ceremony and his promotion he saved the Prime Minister from an attack. We have little reason to believe that, that attack was staged. On the day of the award ceremony he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and was awarded the Carina's Cross for saving the Prime Ministers life."
She paused once more, then continued. "Goodmen has been captured twice by Kusari forces, once as an Ensign, and again after his promotion a week later. The first time his wingman, Sipher Rockwell, broke him out. The second time was the Prime Minister. Sipher Rockwell has been long since missing." She finished and closed the file.
"Hmm...does he have any realitives still alive?" The man said.
"Yessir, Thomas Schubert, whose currently in the Rheinland Military."
"Relation?"
"Cousin."
"Is this cousin of his available?"
"Not that we know of Sir, Rheinland has entered the war with Liberty. He might be on the front."
"Very well. More reason to believe that Mr. Schubert might be a wilde infectee."
"Wish for us to find out more about Thomas Schubert?"
"Aye. Everything, I want to know what he eats for breakfast."
"Yessir." The woman started out of the room.
"Also." The man said looking over at her, she stopped and turned back looking at him. "Yes?" She said. The man smiled, "You're looking great today."
"Um..Thank you." She said blushing slightly, turning quickly and leaving the room.
The man laughed and looked back through the two-way mirror and crossed his arms. "It's only a matter of time."
A woman entered the prison's reception room with a slim briefcase, her cold glares averting the eyes of disgruntled officers. She walked up to the front desk and cleared her throat loudly, startling the resident secretary.
"My name is Ms. Ferr, and I understand a certain 'Lt. Goodman' is imprisoned here. I also understand he needs a lawyer, and I have been approved to talk to him for that purpose. Here's my card, and my approval papers."
The secretary crept back in her seat a little, looked down at the papers briefly, then turned up and tried to smile.
"It looks in order to me..."
"I'd like to see him now."
"Head that way, down the hall. I'll tell them you're coming."
The woman nodded her head lightly, took her papers back and walked briskly in the direction the secretary had indicated. As soon as she was out of earshot, the secretary turned to the officers in the room and asked if anyone else thought she was creepy. After a few nods and murmurs, business as usual resumed.
------------
"Lt. Goodman, you have a visitor."
"Another one?"
"A lawyer. In you go."
Ms. Ferr waited for the door to shut behind her, then walked over to the Lieutenant and stared at his eyes. Several seconds later, he noticed that something wasn't quite right. When the trails of luminescent energy grew bright enough for him to notice, he jumped back with a start and a smile broke across the 'lawyer's face. When she spoke, it was as though several were speaking with the same mouth, and bluish energy seemed to seep from her words.
"Hello again, Lieutenant. Surprised to see us?"
"What do you want?"
"We've come to offer a deal. After doing some thinking about your actions, we've decided you may be of some use to us after all... and you certainly may be of use to your country. We'd like to offer you another chance to help us."
"I failed once, what makes this any different?"
"This time, you won't be alone. The artifacts you gave us turned out to be useful after all... we have a better idea of what tests they run inside the Cambridge Research Station, and a decent idea of where and how they are containing the important one. I don't know if you've heard this, but some of your people think you're a hero. We've made sure not to attack since our last encounter, and, well, there are some obstacles your presence might get us through. Not to mention your knowledge of the inner workings of the Bretonian Armed Forces, which would be of use to us. We have a plan, and things are far more likely to go smoothly with you at our side. Do not forget that if things are successful, we have no further business with Bretonia, and will turn our attention elsewhere... to Kusari, amongst others. If our operations go... poorly... it will be necessary to try again, and again, each time more of your compatriots throwing themselves against us in a vain attempt to stave off the inevitable. You must have seen the reports. The war is going poorly, and you are besieged on all fronts save that of Liberty. With us re-allocating our forces, the tides of war swing in Bretonia's favor. To put it simply, you have the potential to turn around the war. All you need to do is help us recover the artifact. What do you think?"
Is personal loyalty to that of your family, friends, and House really necessary at times? Yes, it is. Even if it means getting thrown in jail for treason. Doing the good deed that needs to be done, even if it means siding with the enemy. I've subjected myself to this, and this is what it must be.
Sometimes I wonder if I really am sane.
But then I'm reminded that I am indeed, insane. --- Austin Goodmen, Private Memoirs
Prison Station Newgate, Manchester System....
0200 Hours
"The Liner is here get the Prisoners onboard."
"Aye sir."
The heavy doors opened and two guards walked in grabbing Austin by his arms and pulling him out of the cell. They carried him three levels up and to a secured Air lock.
The trip to the Stockade was a boring one. He was filed in-line behind, Mollys, Gaians, Corsairs, and even some Kusarians. All ones he probably helped put in. Then, he was unexpectedly pulled out of the line and escorted to the second deck floor of the Stockade where he was placed in another cell. The guards walked off.
"Prisoners onboard, We're ready to start out journey to New London. We shouldn't run into any problems." "Good good. Tell the Escorts to form on us once we're out from the mine field."
"Aye, Sir."
Austin's Cell....
0215 Hours Austin sat in the cell quietly, the guy in the cell next door was rambling on.
"I...seriously do not want to die. They're going to kill us! I swear dude they're going to kill us!" Austin glanced over at him and raised an eyebrow. "Man, I swear! This government is corrupt! They'll kill us, I'm innocent!"
"Will you, shut the hell up lad? They're not going to kill us. They're just moving us to a maximum security prison on New London."
"How do you know?! You're a bloody traitor! What gives you the right to say what they're going to do!?"
"Because I've worked for this Government as a Lieutenant...Now, shut up. I'm going to go to sleep."
"Like you have nothing else to do you bloody traitor!" The guy spat shortly after, the spit never reached Austin.
"I do hope you're not a Libertorian.." Austin said with a glare.
Stockade's Bridge....
0245 Hours
"Birmingham Station is this the Captain of the Prison Liner, Stockade, requesting clearence to proceed to New London Gate."
"Brimingham Flight Control here, You're free to proceed, the lanes are reported Green across the board."
"Aye, thank you. Ensign Oldman, Engines to full take us about to the Tradelane and then get us going."
"Aye sir!"
The Stockade entered the Tradelane and gathered speed, followed shortly behind by a lone Bretonian News Ship. Shortly after the Tradelane was disrupted, ahead of the Stockade.
"Oh bloody hell.."
"Sir! Scanners are picking up Rheinland signatures!"
"Rheinland? What do they...."
Eric Richards, the captain of the Stockade, was caught unbalanced as the first plasma hit the ships shielding. He quickly recovered.
"Escorts! Get those bloody fighters! All hands prepare for combat!"
The Wilde Gunboat engaged the Prison liner, after bringing down it's shielding they targeted the engines. The engines shortly went offline from the Damage. Along with the weapon arrays.
Austin's Cell....
0250 Hours
He opened his eyes quickly hearing an explosion. "What the bloody hell is going on?" He stayed laying down just as another explosion went off.
"Escorts! Get those bloody fighters! All hands prepare for combat!" Came over the ship-wide communications.
"...Great, So much for a trial." He sat up and leaned back against the wall waiting.
Airlock Three....
0255 Hours
The Air Lock door slid open quietly, and a group of armed Marines stepped onto the Prison Liner, Two police Guards rushed forwards but where mowed down by the Marines. "Right, split two groups. Group two, get the package, Group one with me we'll secure the rest of the ship. Go!"
The second group quickly moved out down the hall way past the two, now dead, guards. While the first group headed towards the bridge.
Stockade's Bridge....
0256 Hours
"What do you mean we're being boarded?!" He shouted at his security team officer. "Get all the bloody guards to the high-risk level!" The security team officer nodded and turned running out shouting.
Armory....
0257 Hours
"Lock and Load boys, and girls!" shouted the Security team officer as he ran into the armory. He stopped seeing five people wearing full Rheinland combat gear.
"Bad timing." One of them said, his eyes glowing as he raised a pistol up to the officer and pulled the trigger twice. The officer grunted, then doubled over.
"Let's go. Ich don't want to be staying here when they find out he's dead. He must of came from das bridge. We'll head that way." The Rheinlander said, stepping over the officer's body and heading out from the armory.
Austin's Cell....
0300 Hours
He winced as an explosion ripped one of the nearby doors off. Five heavily armed men entered the cells, firing at two of the guards that where down their. One of the men ran towards Austins cell, pulling up a pistol and shooting the lock, Austin scrambled to his feet just as the door opened. "Guten Tag, Mr. Goodmen, you'll be coming with us." the man's eyes glew.
"Hey! Hey wait wait! What about me?!" The man in the next cell shouted. The Rheinlander walked over to that mans cell and put the pistol between the slot, then pulled the trigger. "What about you?" He said with a grin as the man slumpped over.
Stockades Bridge...
0305 Hours
"Bloody hell, the Security teams are getting killed. Ensign Oldman, You're in charge of the bridge! Hold it at all costs. I'm going to settle something I should have settled years ago." Eric Richards said, grabbing his pistol and marching proudly off the bridge, he was followed by everyone except Oldman.
Ensign Oldman gulped lightly and broke out into a sprint then ducked into the Captains room. Locking himself inside.
Midway, Corridor 5..One Story below the bridge...
0313 Hours
"Right, lads ready your weapons." Eric Richards said bringing his pistol up, and placing it resting it across his arm.
They waited.....
0320 Hours
Austin rounded the corner and blinked. "Oh bloody hell, you got to be kidding me!" He raised his hands above his head. Eric Richards looked at him "How the bloody hell did you get out?"
Another man walked around behind Goodmen carrying an Assualt rifle. "We helped him..." the man grinned and pushed Austin aside then raised the Assualt rifle and fired a burst into the blockade. Three of them dropped down, Eric Richards opened fire with his pistol, hitting the Rheinlander in the leg. "Really now?" He aimed the rifle directly at Richards and fired once. Richards eyes grew wide as he hit the ground.
His vision was going blurry as he watched boots run by, one of them stopped and knelt down. "I'm sorry..." Eric looked up to see who it was. It was Goodmen, his vision started to fade in, then out. Before he saw Goodmen get up and run off with the Rheinlanders. "Goodmen....you.....basta...." Eric's vision went completely dark and he could hear the faint sound of boots hitting the tile. He tried pushing himself up, but collasped, both on the floor and into completely darkness.
Stockade Bridge...
0340 Hours
"Captain of the Stockade, this is Jeffery Dixon of the Bretonian News Service! Come in! Do you read me?"
There was a long silence...as Captains door unlocked, It was deafly quiet, and a loud click could be heard, then the squeel of the door as it was pushed open.
"Captain of the Stockade, I repeat, this is Jeffery Dixon of the Bretonian News Server! Come in! Do you read me?"
Ensign Oldman stepped shakingly over to the Communications and picked it up. "This is Ensign Oldman. I read you."
"Ensign! Put the Captain on!" "I-I'm sorry, the Captain's...dead. I-I believe I'm the only one a-alive.." "Bloody hell..." "Hold...Hold on."
He flipped a switch and a startled voice came over the Comms.
"Who the bloody hell is this? Captain!?" "Negative, this is Ensign Oldman..whose speaking? Are you alright?" "This is the engineering Chief, Ensign. Is the Captain alive?" "Negative, Sir...Can you get the engines back online? The threat seems to have disappeared." "Aye, I'll try Ensign. Until then I'm guess you're in charge around here. Is any of the bridge crew left alive?" "I-I don't know...Get those engines back online so we can make an emergency landing on Birmingham." "Aye, they should be coming online...now."
The ship rocked, and lurked forwards as power in the engines came back on. Ensign Oldman took to the helm and turned the ship about....
Life after death? Hardly.
Second chances? No.
Betrayal? I would have never thought of it as that. I guess I was wrong. Congratulations Austin Goodmen, you dumbass. You're probably the most wanted man in Bretonia. Hahah...I thought I would never see the day where I would be helping...freaks.
Can only hope on one thing. Someone getting me out of this hell-hole.
As my mind is locked around the one thing that keeps me going.
A tall man walked into the Recruitment room on the Suffolk. He was six feet and two inches tall. He marched over to the desk and stood straight. "Name?" The lady politely asked. "Ensign Dominic Watson." He said roughly.
"Oh! You're the replacement for Lieutenant Austin Goodmen aren't you?" She said opening up a file that was handed to her a few days ago.
"Yes ma'am, I am."
"It seems you also have a criminal record." She said pulling out one of the papers.
"Yes ma'am, that is correct."
"Hmm, and you're replacing a Lieutenant that received the Carina's Cross? Very impressive."
"I'm serving my time ma'am."
"Very well, Mister Watson. We, shall get you fit with a uniform and Lieutenant Goodmen's Templar is yours to fly."
Dominic nodded. "Yes ma'am." He turned smoothly and left the room heading towards the hangers.
She leaned back and sighed opening his folder fully and setting it on the table. "Criminal record..that man is polite as can be." She shook her head. "How can someone like him end up in a place like this? Replacing a completely insane man. Let's hope he doesn't lose his head..."
Terry rolled around in his chair and opened his eyes widely seeing the report. "This..this...my god, Thank you Eris!" He stood up almost celebrating. "I need to get in contact with the others." He typed something in on his computer. A file printed out from the printer. "This, this is good."
He couldn't help but laugh as he grabbed the paper. "Oh ho ho, am I good at this job!" He sat the paper down gentle and ran over to his closet opening it up and grabbing two suitcases. "Good bye Mactan! Good old Bretonian soil here I come." He stopped and looked back at one of his computers. "First, I should get in contact with them...." He grinned lightly and wandered over to his computer and sat down. "Right...Let's get to work."
"He's moving."
"What do you mean? He can't be he's out cold. Like he's been for a few weeks now."
"No no, he's moving, look!"
"Seems like he's coming around. Shall we go in to make sure?"
"Yes let's greet the Lieutenant, he'll be happy to see he's safe."
Austin laid in the the bed, twitching. His eyes moving rapidly behind the eye lids. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and flinched at the light coming in, he blinked quickly shut them, then opened them slowly and blinked. Looking around the extremely well lit room his gaze finally rested on two figures walking towards him, both wearing medical outfits.
"Welcome back Lieutenant."
"Indeed, welcome back lad."
"Where...where am I?" He said lightly, sitting up and gasping.
"Don't try to move quickly, you've been in that bed for three weeks so far. You'll be in pain."
"Yeah, thanks...now where am I?" Austin mumbled and noticed the restraints, "Are these really necessary?"
"Aye, they are."
"You're on the Grimsby, in Newcastle."
"Wait...the..." He was cut off,
"Yes, the battleship that doesn't exist."
"I was going to say the shadow ship, but that works too. Now can we get these taken off?" He groaned and went to lift his hand.
"First, time for you to answer some questions." The lead doctor said with a smile.
"Fine...fine." Austin replied waiting.
"Alright, first question, Do you remember anything?"
"I..don't remember how I got here if that's what you mean."
"Good, next, have you heard about the Stockade?"
"Stockade? No..."
"Are you aware of anything strange?"
"Strange as in?"
"Different technology."
"No."
"What's your middle name?"
"Rodney."
"Do you have a Sister?"
"Yes."
"Her name?"
"Lena Goodmen."
"Full name?"
"Lena Lynn Goodmen"
"What is your rank?"
"Lieutenant."
"Who are we at war with?"
"Empire of Kusari."
The Doctor held up the Carina's Cross.
"How did you earn this, and what is it?"
"I earned that for saving the Prime Minister's life. His ship was attacked during the return trip to Bretonia, I was just an Ensign then, and I believe that's my Carina's Cross."
"How many ships do you own?"
"Three, Templar, Hussar, and a Paladin."
The Doctor smiled and looked over at his nurse, who looked up from the nearby machine, "So far everything he's telling has been correct."
"Alright then, Lieutenant Goodmen, What's motto of the Armed Forces?"
"Carina, Regina, Imperatix."
"Good, good. Miss Hartmen, feel free to remove the restraints, let's get him up to speed."
She nodded and walked over, then began to loosen the restraints, Austin slipped his hands through and rubbed them, He sat up slowly and winced in pain before turning and climbing out of the bed.
"At least he can stand." She laughed lightly.
"True, most people that's been in coma usually don't wake up, and if they do, don't remember how to stand."
"How long was I out for?" He said trying to keep his balance on what felt like new legs.
"Three weeks." The doctor replied.
"Three weeks...Long time..." He took two steps forwards and stopped catching his balance. "My legs feel like they're new..."
"Side-effect for being in a bed for so long."
"Right...right.." He turned and began to walk slowly towards the door.
"Where are you going?" The doctor said in protest.
Austin stopped "I'm hungry...and by gods will I get food!" He said turning half way and looking at the Doctor. "Even if I fall out there I'm getting to the mess hall." Austin grumbled and pushed open the door.
When he was out of hearing range, the Nurse turned and looked at the doctor. "Well, he seems to be recovering quickly."
Austin rounded the corner slowly, starting to get use to walking once more, after three weeks of being out of it. He came to a complete stop and blinked staring into the mess hall. "It's...completely...empty." He glanced up at where the clock would have been but it wasn't there. "This is rather strange."
He heard the sound of heavy foot-steps behind him, multiple. "Lieutenant." A rough voice said, causing him to jump slightly.
He turned around and looked at the tall man. "Yessir?"
"This is going to hurt much more then it does me." The man pulled out a pistol, then raised it and struck Austin in the side of the head. Austin gasped noticing his vision going black, then he tumbled sideways and struck the ground hard.
"Get him in the transport, now, and make sure he has something around his eyes so he can't see, hopefully he'll be out by the time we drop him off on Leeds. With a extremely annoying headache." The man laughed lightly as the two other men lifted Austin off the floor, and began to carry him down to the hangers.
Planet Leeds, Two Hours after the events on Grimsby...
Austin groaned as he pushed himself off the ground, he opened his eyes and only saw black. "Great, my flying career is over with now because I'm blind." He mumbled as he went to place his hands over his eyes, his hands touched a cloth. I take that back, he thought as he pulled the cloth off his face. He blinked a few times to adjust his eyes to the new light that filled the area, a strong wind hit his side. "I must be on a planet." He stood up and looked around, "In the middle of no-where, aswell."
He grumbled and forced himself to stand up, ignoring the fact he had a headache. "First thing's first, figure out what planet I'm on." Just as he finished that sentence he scanned the horizon and saw plumes of smoke, and smog. "Either Pittsburgh, or Leeds...Going with Leeds then." He mumbled and started to limp towards the plumes, hoping it was a city.
Planet Leeds, Two hours and Thirty Minutes...
West Wasteland...
He sighed coming to a stop and dropping to his knees. "This...is extremely hopeless, It's about..." He looked over to his right as he heard a sonic boom, a ship or something breaking atmospheric entrance, but not from the Docking Ring. "What the?" He glanced up and saw what looked like an asteroid heading directly over him. He squinted to get a better look and shaded his eyes. After a few minutes he could see the outline of a ship breaking through the thick smog, plummeting straight down to the wasteland below.
"The hell is that? A Sabre? What's a Border world craft doing...." Just before he could finish his sentence the ship slammed into the ground a few hundred meters away from him. He quickly dropped down and covered his head as the, now destroyed, ship sent debris into the air.
He flinched as a chunk of rock landed near him, following that a small piece of the hull panel, still hot from re-entry, landed on his back, causing him to gasp. He used his strength he had left to push himself off the ground, and to get the hull panel off his back. "Hot...hot hot.." He mumbled. As he rubbed his back and looking at the panel, then over to the ship wreck.
He staggered over to the wreck, that skidded a few hundred more meters away. Upon reaching the wreckage, he noticed the nose of the Sabre was completely gone, along with the bottom of the vessel, scattered about on the wasteland. Looking around the wreckage, he moaned the moment he stumbled upon the pilots body, and the horrid smell of burnt flesh. "This, sadly does not make my day any better." He mumbled, he placed his foot on the carcass of the former pilot and pushed it over. He knelt down covering his nose with his hand and stared trying to figure out who it was. "Really horrible.." He said standing back up. "Almost sun set," He looked away from the wreckage and towards the city. "Need to get there."
He turned towards the city and began a light jog, knowing that he couldn't salvage anything from the wreckage.
Leeds Orbit, 2 hours 15 minutes...
"Systems are a go, taking the jumphole, let's see if I can't get this to Winston and Rockwell." He smiled lightly. Terry's ship entered the Leeds jumphole.
Terry looked up from his navigational computer the moment he exited the jumphole.
Warning, Entering Planetary Atmosphere...
"Bloody hell!" He looked down, then back up noticing the clouds. "This is not suppose to bloody happen!" Terry grabbed for the controls and tried to force his ship to turn around, the controls were locked.
"Come on come on!" He shouted, he glanced down at the controls and pulled the joystick harder, not trying to give up. He glanced back up at the H.U.D, and made note that it was fading out, aswell as all the other systems. His ship continued to build speed at is entered the outer atmosphere.
Staring out at the nose he saw it starting to glow orange, heating up, he also noticed the cockpit glass was cracking due to extreme pressure of the atmosphere. "Come on!" He shouted once more, "I will not give up! Come on!" He slammed his fist into the side of the cockpit, as if hoping it would help. "Come on you bloody thing!" He started to hear wisps of air, then suddenly, as his ship continued to build up speed, his ears popped at the loud boom as his ship hit maximum speed plummeting, and the cockpit glass broke, sending shards small shards of class into him. He let out a mute scream as the speed of the air rushing around him drowned out his voice.
He could feel the intense heat build up around him, he screamed again, it was utterly useless. At this point he couldn't do anything but scream and burn. Part of his clothing caught on fire from the heat, then everything went black as his ship plummeted into the wasteland below, sending up debris in the air, as the ship broke apart it slide to a full stop two hundred meters away from the impact zone. Debris continued to fall for a few minutes as if it was an isolated rain storm, scattering across the area of the wreckage.
I've seen strange things in my life, I've seen men kill themselves, men throw their lives away for their house, but until recently, I've never seen a planetary entrance done without a Docking ring, planet side. That was one hell of show and I don't want to bloody relive it either. The pilot was dead when I found him.
I've never seen a human burnt to a crisp either, until that day.
--- Austin Goodmen, Private Memoirs
-------------------------------------------
Industrial Zone Alpha-3, Western Leeds...
Running as quickly as he could just before night fall he made it to the outskirts of the city, it was an industrial city, like all of the ones on Leeds.
He slowed down to a walk then completely stopped, panting heavily. A door next to him opened up and a shot ringed out, thankfully missing him. He was to tired to move but looked over at the door and saw a gun pointing directly at him. "Bloody.....hell....man....what are you doing?" He said trying to catch his breath still.
"Who the hell are you, and why the hell are you running about this late?!" The man holding the gun said. Keeping it aimed at Austin.
Austin stood straight and turned raising his hands. "I'm Lieutenant Austin Goodmen of the Bretonian Armed Forces, I was left out in that wasteland before god knows how long, now someones pointing a gun at me."
The man lowered the gun, "Did you just say Austin Goodmen? Lieutenant Austin Goodmen?"
"Aye, I did."
"Bloody hell, come in lad! Come in! I've heard a lot about you, young man!"
"Uhm...you shoot at me, then...never mind."
Austin slowly approached the old man then entered his house. "So, how far from the Armed Forces base is your house?"
"Five hours, son. Longer by foot."
"Can you spare anything I can use, a..transport or something?"
"I can but you must know, this side of Leeds has dangers lurking at night."
"Such as?"
The old man leaned towards Austin and whispered "Shadow People..."
"That's absolutely insane, chap." Austin said holding back a laugh.
"Oh? Don't believe me! A Fortnight ago I was opening the door to let old smokey in, he's a lovely dog, anyway's, when I opened the door I heard a mechanical scream, sounded like a females. I froze in fear, then the air got cold, as if it was winter! Then, I felt something rushing towards me, I forced myself to break my trance I was in and I slammed the door shut. Never again did I go outside at night without this gun."
Austin smiled, until the oldman gave him a stern look. "Shadow People eh?" Austin said lightly, wandering over to the couch and sitting down. "You, were attacked by beings, that don't exist?"
"They exist, Mister Goodmen. You just head right out those doors, young man, and wander down the streets by yourself at night. You won't come back, atleast, not alive."
"And what happened to your pet?"
"He's dead...the Shadow People killed him."
"Right, I would love to stay and talk to you about these things, but I'm rather busy at the time, need to get home, you see, rather important man."
"Then take this!" The old man handed him the gun.
"I can't take your weapon. It's yours."
"Without it how are you going to protect yourself, Mister Goodmen, from the Shadow People?"
"I'll find a way, I always do." Austin smiled and turned towards the door, then opened it, heading outside into the pitch black darkness.
The door shut behind him quickly, causing him to turn. "Odd...the old man must have shut it, well then, five hours walk, let's get started."
He started off in the direction he was previously heading, hoping to run into someone he could ask to give him a lift to the Military base, which was unlikely at this time of night.