The Refugees

The Refugees(Ben Hilliker) “And that children is why we must live here in Camp Individuality.” Principle Holly finished the annual speech memorializing the Break Down and the Takeover, and telling the tale of how Camp Individuality came to be. This happens every day on October 24th. That is when all of this started...
No one knows exactly what happened, but on October 24th 1963 communications between Russian and the United States broke down. U.S. Forces invaded Cuba. Although they met heavy resistance, and at the same time Russians were flooding through Berlin, Germany. As the Americans had promised they launched nuclear missiles at Russia, and Russia retaliated. The nukes hit all over the world igniting nuclear warfare.
Then the smoke cleared across the world. Although there was a lot less damage than anyone had expected. The world was not over, but all major cities were destroyed. Governments had collapsed and rioting and looting spread like wildfire. The radiation from the nukes had rendered some parts of the world uninhabitable, and claimed many lives. Though in many places life continued. The mountainous regions of the world being uninhabited had mostly been untouched by nukes, and were too high up for the radiation. Deserts and plains became popular places for new cities to spring up. Some sailed to islands in whatever they could find.
Now things are sounding as good as things can get seeing the level of death and destruction out there. Well life is not fair, so of course something worse had to happen. Out in Siberia (where most Russians had to flee) a Communist regime had formed. They called themselves the Fist of Equality. Well the Fist of Equality had formed the first true nation from the ashes of the world. Although a slightly smaller one had formed in America. They called themselves the Freedom Eagles. The Freedom Eagles were nothing more than a group of American patriots in the West that formed together. They had a weaker leadership than the totalitarian Fist of Equality.
The Fist of Equality however had become the powerhouse of the New World, and worked its way across the world. Soon they came to America. At this time the Freedom Eagles had grown in strength. They put up a stiff resistance. The war lasted 7 months with many casualties. After that no one could gather enough strength to fight them. The Freedom Eagles had the best chance, and they lasted only 7 months. Nothing else stopped the Fist of Equality and Communism took over the world. Everything Old America stood for was destroyed.
At first as the Fist of Equality helped build cities and provide protection. They united the world, and everyone thought maybe this new Communism was not so bad. Then Commandant Zorchav, the leader of the Fist of Equality, issued decree after decree. Everyone was rounded up and brainwashed. Names were replaced with numbers, and not just for people. Cities were numbered, provinces were numbered, restaurants and stores. Everyone was forced to wear the same thing. Girls wore the same gray dress, and men wore the same suit when out in public. When in private people had gray plaid pajamas pants and gray shirts to wear. Everyone had to report in, and get reassigned to a job. Everything became regulated by the Fist of Equality. Now everyone was equal, equally miserable. However, everyone took it, except for a few.
Ten men and women escaped in between the fingers of the Fist of Equality, and fled to a hidden location in the Rocky Mountains. There they found their individuality away from numbers. The freedom restored their individuality, and they named their new home Camp Individuality. Although their names never came back, so now they all have first names only. All of this happened in three years after the break down of negotiations during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Currently it is thirty years later, October 24th 1993, the 30th anniversary of the Great Calamity, and these are the refugees.



Principle Holly concluded her speech, and the students were sent back to class. The adult workers went back to their various jobs, and the group of guardsmen went back to their constant patrol. Camp Individuality is actually rather extensive. At first it was a small cluster of tents nestled at the bottom of a large mountain with lots of tree cover. Then they started building more permanent structures, and building farms. All built into trees, or heavily camouflaged. Now thirty years later Camp Individuality spans around three mountains and has a capital building, market, fort, houses, warehouses, repair shops, underground bomb shelter. All of it is undetectable from all surveillance but a patrol walking into the camp. The community is extensive, and close nit. Around three-hundred refugees, and everyone knows everyone, and everyone works together for survival. There are many units. There are the hunters, gatherers, and farmers. There are the Freedom Eagles (the guardsmen names after the first resistance), the refugees that run the various market stands, and other things, Principle Holly and her four teachers, the Individuals (who run special missions to rescue more people from the Fist of Equality), the first response teams (firefighters, doctors, and EMTs basically), and then finally the New Founding Fathers. The New Founding Fathers is made up of the first twenty people in Camp Individuality. Even though some are female that is the name they chose. The NFF is in charge of orchestrating everything.
Now everyone is heading back to all of these jobs. Including Ed. Ed is a small boy, about seven years old. This means he has heard the annual telling of the Great Calamity. Although this was the first time it had ever had an impact on him. For the next seven years until he graduates from school, and picks his job, this moment will always stick to him. He will never forget Mount Liberty rising from behind Principle Holly's head, or the smell of the Ponderosa's, or that chipmunk's little claws pattering over the pine needles. Though above it all he will never forget the rousing speech about the Fist of Equality's evil ideals, and the ever present need to defend ourselves against them. This sparked an interest in Ed. One that would go with him for seven years.

Seven Years Later

Ed sits in the same place he did seven years prior during the telling of the Great Calamity. The other nine kids in his class are ready to graduate. Ed's best friend Brutus sit next to him. Brutus is trying to tell Ed a story about the hunting spot his father wants to take him to when Brutus picks hunter. The only thing on Ed's mind is wanting to join the Individuals. He wants to make it his purpose to bring people away from the horror of the Fist of Equality. The only thing breaking his concentration was Sally in her purple dress, but even that did not distract him for long. Ed knew he was a prime candidate for an Individual. He was top of his class. The only problem was that he was small, and a fire when he was an infant had caused him to develop a terrible cough. Individuals had to to lots of hiking with heavy packs, and move swiftly. However, when Ed got to his mission zone he would perform admirably. He was great at math, and problem solving. Also, he was not too bad with a rifle. He was sure he would do well at the job based off that. Brutus on the other hand is huge, and powerful. Though he remains incredibly stealthy.
“Logan. Logan come up to the stand, and select your job,” Father Ed announced. Father Ed is the leader of Camp Individuality. He has always been the leader, and is getting rather old. He is around sixty, yet is still strong and fit. Young Ed has always been proud to share the name of their lead Founding Father.
Logan stands up. He is tall, and lanky. Ed does not know him very well, but thinks we will pick a teaching career. Logan walks up to the podium. Facing the career he recites his speech, “I have always been fond of my teachers, and respected them. Without them we would not know how to do the various tasks that belong to all our jobs. They have instilled in us right and wrong. They have taught us of the evils of the Fist of Equality. I love them all, and because of this...” Logan stops and walks over to the wall behind him. On this wall is a symbol for each of the jobs available. A single pin is mounted to each one. To pick your job you select the pin, and wear it every day for the rest of your life. There is only one for most jobs, but some have multiples. Like the Freedom Eagles. Thought the Individuals is a single job. Logan grabs the medallion fashioned as a book with two crossed torches behind them, “ I select the job of Teaching!” Logan announced triumphantly. Everyone claps for him. He walks back down, and is allowed to sit with his parents.
Father Ed calls up Franklin next. Franklin picks cook. Next is Susan who selects gatherer. Henry picks farmer. Then next comes Blake. Blake is a big, bully of a kid. He has spent most of his life making a career out of making Ed's life Hell. No one is sure what he will pick. He swaggers up to the podium like he owns the place. His speech goes like this, “Umm... I am not sure what I will pick. Hmm,” Then his eyes lock on Ed's, and a grin lights his face, “I pick the Individuals!”He walks over, and grabs the medallion of the singular man standing strong and proud on a mountain top. The entire crowd gasps. Anyone who has a singular conversation with Ed knows how badly he has dreamed of this.
“Ed,” calls Father Ed with a look of disappointment in his eyes. Ed gets up to walk up to the podium. Blake bumps shoulders with him “accidentally” on his way back to his seat.
“Oops!” Blake spits out with his sly grin plastered to his face. Ed's shock is too intense for any anger to come about...yet. Standing behind the podium Ed stands. He does not speak for a while. His brain works hard trying to figure out a career to pick. He looks back at the wall. The silence from the crowd is deafening. Father Ed coughs a little, and gestures with his hand for young Ed to speed things up. Feeling low on time Ed shoots out, “I pick the Freedom Eagles,” and quick as an eagle itself he grabs up one of the five pins. He puts it on, and looks down. Emblazoned on his chest is the emblem of a man striding up a mountain with a few men behind him.
Head hanging low Ed walks back to his sleep, and slumps down into it. The rest of the ceremony slips by. Ed barely catches Brutus picking Hunter, and his excitement as he rushed back to his seat. He hardly notices when Sally places a reassuring hand on his shoulder as she walks past him. Next thing he knows everyone else is standing. Ed leaps up after them, and files out with his class. The next thing they do is work their way back down the hill. At the base the whole camp is waiting to have a party.
Ed attempts to submerge himself in the entertainment. There is food to eat, and drink to drink. The hours pass by and the sun slips behind the mountains. Then the moon rises, but is obscured by the clouds. The pitch black night mirrors Ed's mood. Inside he talks with Brutus. “I am real sorry about today friend,” Brutus put a hand on Ed's shoulder. Brutus has been with Ed ever since the orphanage and they are the closest of friends.
“I'll be fine Brutus. Once we start working tomorrow I will absorb myself in my job, and the rest will be history. It will be all good then my friend,” Ed tells him. Although the look on his face says that this is not the truth.
“I got it!” Brutus exclaims. Brutus could not stand to see his friend in such pain, “You may not get your dream job, but I know a way to ease the pain.” Brutus grabs Ed's arm and they go to find Blake. They find him talking to Susan. Then the two slip out of the building. Brutus tells Ed to follow him and keep silent.
The duo follow the couple through the woods. They creep silent as the shadows after the couple. Ed's stomach cringes at it dawns on him what they are going to do. Fighting is discouraged strongly, and Ed knows he is in for a big punishment. Then the rage at his dream job being stolen from him pushes the rest out the window. They finally come to a halt as Blake and Susan lock together. Blake urges Ed forward, and Ed nods in understanding.
“Break it up Blake!” Ed announces. Blake shoves Susan away from him, and looks around shocked. Then Ed's small form emerges from the darkness, and the fear fades off of Blake's face.
“What pipsqueak. What do you think you're going to do?” Blake begins to advance. Blake waves his hand to signal to Susan to sit tight, he'll be back soon. She looks smug that she will watch her man do something big and bad. Then the clouds break a little, and the moon shines across Ed's face. Blake falters a bit seeing the pure rage radiating off of his opponent. Then the moon is gone, and darkness falls over them both. Blake was not expecting it, while Ed was waiting for the moment. The second their vision is obscured Ed crosses the distance and slams his fist into Blake's face. The bully recoils, and throws his hands up. A few more hard hits, and Blake recovers. He throws a punch with his big, bulky fist and catches Ed on the chin. Ed stumbles back, and another fist cascades into his stomach. Ed gets a glancing blow on the side of Blake's head. Though Blake begins to beat down his smaller opponent. Ed kicks a little, and covers his head. He wonders where is friend is, and then the hits stop. With a roar Brutus threw himself into Blake. The biggest of the boys begins to pound on Blake's face. Then he picks him up, and holds him for Ed. For his small size the boy gives Blake a solid beating. Susan begins screaming, and that's when a large man pulls the boys off each other.
Ed rolls across the ground, but recovers. The clouds seem to be completely gone, and a towering man stands in the middle of them. “Do not get back up!” The man commands with a voice they have heard since birth. Father Ed then picks up Blake and says, “Next time you will think before you steal someone's dream, won't you?” Blake does not speak just nods. Father Ed sets him down and sends him scurrying away with his boot. “Go back to the party Susan, and stay away from boys like that,” Father Ed speaks silently now. Then he turns his gaze on the two instigators. “Ed!” The camp head says. Ed hops to his feet and stammers, “I-i am sor-” Though he is cut off by Father Ed.
“Do not apologize for something you are not sorry for. You have taught that bully a stern lesson. Though I beg you to remember this; revenge is never the solution to the problem, but sometimes it can alleviate the pain of the problem. Though learn from this and never do it again. What would your parents have thought? Now go on, get out of here,” Father Ed lectures them. Without a word they run swiftly through the woods.

The next day Ed rose before the sun. He had breakfast with his foster family. His foster mom Ruby had made up a plate of pancakes and sausage. Her job was a seamstress. David, Ed's foster father, ate while looking over the supply lists for the camp's warehouse. David was the manager of the warehouses. Ed's little sister Hannah, who was a blood child of Ruby and David, was reading an old child's book an Individual had brought back. “Good morning Ed,” Ruby smiled handing him a plate of pancakes and sausage.
“Are you excited for your first day as a Freedom Eagle?” David asked looking over his documents.
“Yeah it should be exciting,” Ed said. He picked at his food awkwardly. In all reality he did not want to be a Freedom Eagle. They have far fallen from the days of war against the Fist of Equality. The most exciting thing they do is shoot a bear if it wanders too close to the encampment. Other than that they sit up in watch posts in the trees forever on guard for sign of the Fist (how wrong Ed is).
“It's so exciting Eddy!” Hannah exclaimed, “Now I get to tell all my friends my big brother is a Freedom Eagle.” Ed just smiled back at her. Maybe there was some prestige in being one of the guardians of freedom.
Small talk followed though they kept going back to Ed becoming a Freedom Eagle. Soon David and Ed both finished their meals. The warehouse was on the way to the barracks where the Freedom Eagles lived. Though Ed may not be related to David in blood there had never been any treatment suggesting otherwise. Therefore as the two closed on the warehouse David pulled Ed aside for one of those father/son talks we all know so well.
“Now son, and you truly are my son. I know your blood parents perished in that horrible blaze so many years ago, but there has never been a doubt in my mind that you were anything other than my son. I am so proud of you. I know that you wanted to become an Individual, and that obnoxious child Blake stole that chance from you. Anyhow I am so proud that despite that you became a Freedom Eagle, and I know that your blood parents are looking down on you now and full of pride.” David finished his speech and embraced his son as a man.
With that they parted for quite some time. David walked to the gate around the warehouse wiping back some tears, and Ed went further on down a path that wound down into a valley. The whole walk tears ran freely down his face. Then as he passed the fire station, and over another hill he caught sight of the barracks. That instant he dried his tears up, straightened his back, and strode up to the gate. Jefferey, the other kid that had selected Freedom Eagles, was standing there as well. The two men greeted each other. They did not have a lot to say. The weather was great as it typically is that early in the morning. Therefore that was commented on, and then the awkward silence pursued. During this time Ed looked around to observed the barracks. The complex was in the shape of a square with tall walls. They were strategically placed so that the trees helped form them. This added cover and support. The wall had places to be fired from, and a couple machine guns stuck out here and there. The gate is chain link which strikes Ed as odd. On the inside Ed can see several buildings.
“Cadets Ed and Jefferey!” A loud voice commanded. The two's heads snap in the direction of the sound. A large man wearing dark green fatigues, flanked by two other Freedom Eagles is walking towards them. The large man's guards open up the gate. The man walks up and sticks his hand out, “I am Colonel Marshal. These two men you see here are Captains Charles and Robert.”
Jefferey takes his hand and says, “I am Jefferey. It is nice to meet you sir.”
“Did you just call me sir cadet? I swear to the Heavenly father I heard you call me sir! Charles, did you hear the cadet call me sir?”
“Well Colonel it sure sounded like it, but no one could have been so stupid as to call the Colonel sir. Right Robert?” asks Charles.
“Yes Captain. I know for sure no one is as stupid as that, 'cept for maybe Brian in 2nd Shift,” Robert responds. They all laugh at this.
The Colonel moves his hand towards Ed. Ed grasps it firmly and says, “I am Ed. It's a pleasure to meet you Colonel.” The Colonel smiled.
“I am so glad I got a cadet that can catch a hint. Follow me cadets,” The Colonel spoke, and then turned back around. The two cadets looked at each other, shrugged, and followed the Colonel. As they walked through the gate the Captains shut it behind them. Ed saw that there was a set of blast doors they could close over the chain link gate if they were attacked.
The Colonel brought the two cadets to an area in the center of the barracks. In the center was a set of flag poles. The first had the American flag then to its right was the flag of Camp Individuality. The flag is red, and on it is a group of people. They are colored black, but in their midst is a single person colored white. To the left of the American flag is the flag of the Freedom Eagles. A blue flag with a red stripe running horizontally through the middle, and a white stripe run vertically through the middle. A white star sits centered in each of the four corners of the flag. In the middle of the flag is a Bald Eagle in flight.
Clustered around the flag are four large groups of men. They are all wearing Class 2 fatigues, as Ed would soon come to learn. Ed and Jefferey were split and sent to different groups. They were told that each of these groups were called Shifts. Ed was sent to 1st Shift, and Jefferey got 3rd Shift. Ed's Shift Captain's name was Richard. SCpt. Richard then assigned Ed to 5th platoon out of the six platoons. His platoon Sergeants name is Charlie. A man named Cpl. Ben. Ben became Ed's mentor, and the two became fast friends.
Ben helped Ed get his Class 2, a helmet, a M14 rifle, a .45 service pistol, a bowie knife, and assigned him his bunk. All the platoons slept in one room full of bunks. They each got a trunk to store their personal gear in. That night to welcome the new cadets there was a group meal around the flagpole. There Ben filled Ed in on everything he needed to know. In the morning the rest of the Shift would go out at 6:00 a.m. on patrol. 5th platoon would stay behind to train the new cadet. They would start with P.T. or physical training. Then they would teach Ed how to shoot. Then they would do P.T. After that Sgt. Charlie would instruct Ed on patrol tactics.
Soon Ed was fully trained. Once that was accomplished he would get up a 5:30a.m. to report for patrol. Ed would then hike with his platoon all over the surrounding mountains until noon. That's when the next shift would go out. Then they would go back to the barracks to rest and P.T. All though it was never horrible, and they usually just played disorganized games of baseball.
Ed did this everyday for the next thirty-three years of his life. On holidays he would go and visit his parents. The long hikes and physical life changed Ed. Once the small boy with a respiratory issues grew into a rough man. Highly disciplined and used to the hard life of a Freedom Eagle. Many things happened while on patrol. One might think that there was not a lot that could happen, but the trail is fraught with danger. One occasion Ed and Ben were on point...
The sun was high up, and beating down upon the squad of Freedom Eagles. As usual nothing was amiss in the lands surrounding Camp Individuality. Although they had gotten a report that some large Grizzlies had been seen getting too close to the camp for comfort. Grizzlies were an interesting side effect of the radiation. The radiation had mutated the genes of the bears that are native to the Rockies. This increased their aggression and size tenfold. They were quite a surprise to the Founding Fathers. They are the main reason for the creation of the Freedom Eagles.
Anyhow the squad was made up of all veterans that had, had their fair share of Grizzlies. They were confident that, assuming there even were any Grizzlies, they could take them out easily. Their confidence would be their downfall. No one had their rifles up, and they were talking loudly. “So Ed?” Ben smiled teasingly at Ed, “How are things with you and that gir-AAAHHHH!” Ben disappeared in a great flurry of brown fur, razor claws, and gnashing teeth. A paw knocks Ed to the ground. One of the soldiers behind Ed draws his rifle, and starts shooting. That is when another grizzly come roaring out of the treeline and literally tears the man in half.
Ed struggles to get his rifle as shots ring out everywhere. A third roar shatters the resolve of the squad. Ed grabs his bowie knife being unable to find his rifle. The third grizzly is charging straight at him. Four tons of pure muscle and hate barreling down on him. Pushing down his fear Ed runs at the grizzly. He jumps at the last possible minute and comes down on the beast. Ed stabs wildly at the monsters neck. The grizzly starts thrashing about howling and screaming, but Ed keeps stabbing. The fur is matted with blood, and the grizzly begins to lose strength. With one last horrendous shake Ed is flung free of his target. He hits a tree, and slides down. The monster looks at him, and falls dead.
Hurt, and shaken Ed draws his pistol while standing. He hears a roar, and a few more gunshots. Then a blood curdling scream followed by silence. He runs back up the trail to see his squad massacred with one dead grizzly, not counting the one he killed further down the hill. Ed sees a splintered branch with a sharp point he grabs it up. Pistol in one hand and his spear/branch in the other.
“ARGH!” He screams at the grizzly. This beast appears to be the same one that attacked Ben. The two face off. The grizzly roars and charges. Ed fires all seven shots at the beast. Two miss, and the rest tear gaping holes in the beast shoulders and face. Still coming Ed drops to a knee with the branch held up. Then the massive grizzly throws himself upon the branch, and the great weight collapses on Ed. Ed falls hitting his head on the ground. Smothered by the weight he loses consciousness.
It is night when Ed awakens. He can barely breath, and the smell of the great bear is killer. He pushes, and shoves, but cannot get free. He lays there for hours sure that death is coming, and none too fast. Then he hears voices. He hollers, and the voices get closer. The bear is rolled off of him, and he is startled to see it is night. Hands pull him up, and to safety...
It is not needed to say he was the only survivor. Poor Ben was found in more than one location. Though the rest of the squad fared worse. Ed was given the Medal of Honor. All though he was never quite the same after that. He became more introverted after that. Although time served to mend that, along with some of the drinks served at the barracks bar. Ed moved on though, and soon became the leader of 5th platoon after Sgt. Charlie fell off of a mountain.
Ed started seeing Sally, of whom he first started talking with shortly before the fight with the grizzlies. Twenty years after his first day meeting the Colonel they got married. It was a short, but happy, ceremony. Like all things it took place in the same place as the Choosing ceremony. The sun shown down cheerfully upon the happy couple. There was not a cloud to be seen. Father Fred lead the service. Ed's friends and family all said they had never seen Ed happier than on that day. Unfortunately when survival hangs on the edge of a knife, and if you stray but a little you will fail. Therefore there was no honeymoon for the bride and groom. Instead Ed went right back out to patrol the next day.
That very day a pack of grizzlies had gotten past the patrols and into the livestock. A large battle followed, and Ed lost three more friends. He had one day of bliss which was stolen from him the very next day. His wonderful wife never once complained about her husbands poor mood. She dealt with his anger and depression with love.
Then on Ed's thirty-three year of service as a Freedom Eagle, and five as a father, he got a summonings. He was to report with no gear to the Big House. Unsure of what it meant he took leave from his CO. He walked up to the main part of camp to a large house. It was a triangle, nestled in between three monstrous Ponderosa's. Three stories high, and elegantly built. Ed walked inside. In the front lobby stood two Individuals. They both are clad in all black. On their heads are black berets, and their flash is the lone man on the mountain top. One has his M16 slung over his shoulder. The other one just has a sidearm. The man with the M16 says nothing, but his companion greets Ed, “Hello. My name Jordan. I am the leader of the individuals. I would like you to come and work with us.”
Ed staggers back shocked. He goes and sits down on the bench. “This is quite the opportunity. I have always dreamed of being an Individual, but...” Ed cannot finish his sentence.
“I know it's a big decision son,” Another voice speaks. Ed looks up to see Father Ed.
“I have a life as a Freedom Eagle. I get to see my family so little as is, but Individuals are never home,” Ed replies. Inside his head is a whirlwind of pros and cons, “I at least need to talk it over with my wife.”
“I'm sorry sir, but that's not an option. We need you for a special mission, and we need to leave tonight.” Says Jordan. Ed looks down.
“Well let me just go think. I'll be gone ten minutes tops. Okay?” Ed pleads to them.
Father Ed nods at Jordan. “You have fifteen, we're not that rushed,” Jordan says. Ed thanks them and walks out the front door. As fast as he can he runs to the top of the mountain. Although the trail is steep, and long, He knows he can't make it to the top in fifteen minutes. He gets a third of the way, and stops. He flops down along the trail.
There he reflects upon his life. He thinks about this possible change to his life. His thoughts wander to the births of his two children Jake (the troublesome one) and Henry (the good natured, placid one), his marriage to his beautiful wife, their first date, the death of Ben, his first day as a Freedom Eagle, then the Choosing Ceremony, and last that day when he was seven. The day that Blake changed his future came back to him though. Although, he thinks to himself, If Blake had not done that then my life would be different. I would never have married Sally, or fathered Jake and Henry. On the other hand then Ben would never have died. I miss Ben, he was a great man. Though I know the biggest change of all. Blake would still be alive, along with all those he got killed. He was bad at being an Individual, and got himself, two other Individuals, and forty escapees slaughtered by The Fist. They never would have happened if he hadn't taken my place. If I had spoke up, and changed things. Is this my chance at redemption? I think so.
With that Ed stood, and jogged back down the mountain. He walked back into the Big House. Stood before the Individuals and Father Ed and announced, “I accept!”

Ed looks back longingly at his mountain home. Then he turns back, and marches off with his companions. A line of Individuals are marching east from Camp Individuality to Dallas, Texas. Although Ed has never heard of Dallas, Texas. These days it is just city number A9. The group of 24 Individuals had a very important task. Commandant Zorchav was going to appear in A9. Now unbeknownst to the citizens of Camp Individuality they are not the only ones left. Although they are the first, there are twelve other camps. Now that Zorchav had shown himself they were declaring war, and launching attacks all over the place. With luck the first shot would be the one that brings down Commandant Zorchav. Now however, the men are marching through the deserts.
Three days later the group is camped out. They have had to go a long way out of their way to avoid a radiation zone. The camp itself is located inside an old abandoned shed. There is no fire, no light at all. In a landscape like this one the littlest light can be seen miles away, and get them all killed. Ed sits alone with his back against the wall. He has a M16 laid across his lap, but he has a hunting rifle with him too. This is the big reason he was brought along. The Individuals are mainly a special forces unit that do a lot of sneaking. Not a whole lot of shooting, and certainly not at a long distance. Meanwhile as a Freedom Eagle Ed had been using rifles to hunt grizzlies. This skill mixed with his outstanding leadership qualities and personality made him the prime candidate. The prime candidate to fire the bullet right at the Commandant. This stress was definitely starting to wear down on him. All this marching gave him a lot of time to think to himself, and he was certainly worried about his mission.
It was only a few more day, but they finally arrived to the outskirts of Dallas. Now of course a city like Dallas would have been a prime target for the missiles, so the actual Dallas is a wasteland. Utterly destroyed the group would have to skirt around the radiation zone to A9. When they finally got to A9 Ed learned something. The city was quite large, and took Ed’s breath away when he saw it. Honestly he had expected to see something similar to Camp Individuality. Small wooden huts scattered around with some bigger main buildings. Instead he saw a huge concrete buildings that seemed to scrape the sky.
The group went prone on a ridgeline overlooking the city. Ed observed the crowds walking through the streets. They all wore gray, and moved with rigid, uniform movements. No one talked, smiled, or even look side to side. They all did their job to an almost robotic perfection. It disgusted him, and all of sudden he knew better then ever just what he would be fighting for.
“Alright men this is what’s going to happen. Ed, Jon, and I are going to wait for night. Then we are going to head down there. There should be a vacant apartment overlooking the courtyard for the Commandant’s speech tomorrow. There we will set up, and Ed will get ready for his big debut. Then as soon as you guys hear gun fire you better get on those mortars and give em’ Hell in the west quadrant,” Jordan says. He pulls out a map to recap a little more specifically.
An hour later Ed was on the move with Jordan and Jon. The streets are void of life. No one is allowed out after dark, and with their brainwashing to enforce that there was no need for security. No lights to illuminate the streets, and give off their position. Still moving with the utmost stealth they progress through the town. When they get to their building things started to get complicated. Jon was the technical guy here. He walks up to the door, and using some equipment Ed didn’t even knew existed he disables the alarm. They go in, and Jon shuts the door behind them. Then he turns the alarm back on. They move up a set of stairs to the room they need. They come to the door, and Jon checks it for an alarm. There is not one, and they walk right on in. There they begin the long wait till tomorrow
A voice wakes Ed from his sleep. “Get up Ed. It’s show time,” Jon says to him.
“Alright, I’m ready,” He replies. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he gets his rifle out. He cleans it, and set a bullet in it. He looks out the window. There was a wide open courtyard. Incredible dull. Everything was gray. There was a stage set up at that far end. It too was all gray except for the podium was flanked by two red banners. A white fist was emblazoned on them. A few soldiers walk around. There is no one to guard, but their indoctrination keeps them moving, and scanning like the perfect soldiers. Ed gets the distance, and makes all necessary adjustments.
Then they wait. At about 1400 hours the citizens file in. Perfect, precise, like machines. Soon the courtyard is perfectly filled. The mechanical citizens stand in perfect lines. The do not move to mingle or socialize. They leave two lanes to approach the stage from both sides. A hour late the Individuals here a rumble. The ground shakes and tanks roll up the streets. Ed goes tense, but Jordan whispers, “It’s just a show of strength.” Then row after row of soldiers march up the street. They are dressed in all black, even black trenchcoats. They are trained to deal with the heat. They wear red berets. The flash is a white fist, and they have red armbands with white fists on their right arms. They all carry AK-47s. Their marching is perfect. Soon about ten tanks, and two-hundred soldiers surround the stage. Then an honor guard marches with Commandant Zorchav to the stage.
Ed takes a breath and positions his rifle on the windowsill. He aims down the sights. He breaths in, and places the reticule over Zorchav’s head. Then Zorchav begins to speak. Ed is slightly curious to see what he is going to say, so he waits.
“First off all, I would like to thank the elite forces of the Individuals for joining us today,” With that being said Zorchav points right at Ed. The tanks swivel to them. Jon and Jordan make a break the for door, and Ed fires. A roar erupts, and right before everything bursts into flame and smoke Ed sees a puff of red explode from Zorchav’s head.
Ed’s vision comes back. Everything is blurring, and all he can here is a ringing. He tries to move, but seems unable to. He realizes this is do to a chunks of cinderblocks on his chest. He moves them off of him, and gets up. He sways, and then it all clears up. That’s when he see soldiers rushing towards him. With luck he finds his M16. The next thing he notices his the racking pain in his body. He bleeds from multiples places, and thinks a few ribs might be broken. Grabbing up the M16 he starts to run. The soldiers see him, and begin to fire. Bullets zap and zing all around. He ducks, and weaves. Then he sees an alleyway. He ducks into it as a curtain of bullets closes on his previous position. There is a low wall at the end, but flinging the rifle over his shoulder he leaps towards the top. Despite the pain he makes it, and pulls himself over. He see ten soldiers turn down the alleyway just as he falls over the other side. He rolls, stumbles, and his back running. Then he gets an idea. Flipping the safety to off he kneels down and waits. A couple of soldiers start to roll over the top, but Ed stops them with lead. That’ll keep them from coming after me so fast. Then as he begins to run it dawns on him he took another mans life. Then a group of soldiers at the other end of the alleyway bring him back to reality.
He dives and fires at the same time. He misses completely, but at least so do his enemies. From the ground though he dispatches them more effectively. He gets up and sprints out of the alleyway. A hail of bullets send him running back into the alleyway. He looks behind him, and to his luck more soldiers are attempting to climb the wall. Bang!Bang!Bang! He send a burst their way. He misses, but they flop back over the wall. He’s definitely in a fix.
He sends a prayer to the Lord making amends for his sins, then a APC pulls up at the end of the alleyway. Here I come God. Then Dan, one of the Individuals, pokes his head out of the top and shouts, “Look what we found!” Get in, we gotta run ASAP.” Ed sprints to the APC praising God all the way there. He climbs in, and the APC takes off at full speed.
_________________________________________________________________________________

The APC ran out of gas fifty miles from Camp Individuality. Now the group is jogging back. They ditched everything except for their rifles, and one extra clip of ammo. An army is hot on their heels. The treeline is just a head of them, but so is the dust cloud. It took the Fist a whole day to reorganize and come after them. Now with their vehicles they’re about a mile behind them.
A bullet snaps by Dan’s ear. Maybe they are a lot closer than they thought. The jog becomes a sprint. Ed looks behind him, and sees about fifty tanks with their machine guns firing behind them. Too close behind them. Going all out they start sprinting. The bullets hit all around them sending up dust. Then they start hitting more than dust. Bullets riddle Dan tearing him in half. Everyone starts all out running. No one holds anything back. A few more guys go down in a hail of fire. Then they hear, “HIT THE DECK!!!” Obeying without fail they all throw themselves to the ground. They are about 100 yards from the tree line. Rockets shoot from the treeline at the tanks.
Not expecting such resistance the tanks stop, and turn back. More rockets turn a few of the tanks into metal tombs. Freedom Eagles stream from the treeline, and pull Ed and the others into the treeline. “Oh man that must’ve hurt!” One of the eagles exclaims. Ed look down to see blood pulling from his thigh. The shock of all his injuries overtakes him, and he collapses.
_________________________________________________________________________________

It is two and a half weeks after the assassination of Commandant Zorchav. Ed is nice and patched up, and so are his comrades. Now an entire armored division of the Fist of Equality is sitting outside the borders of the Rockies. Two infantry battalions are entrenched outside the borders of Camp Individuality. The Freedom Eagles, and the Individuals have been fighting a fierce battle. Ed has been made General, and is commanding the Freedom Eagles and the Individuals.
Now he sits inside is command post with his advisors. One of the other camps is sending reinforcements that include armor, but no one is hopeful. They are fighting the perfect soldiers. Three other camps have been decimated. The scary things is it seems to be coming from within the camps, or at least that’s what all reports have said. No one has time to investigate these claims though. Especially when they are being assaulted every morning and evening. No time for offense, just defense.
The sun is setting, and they are preparing for the next attack. Ed goes down to the front lines. He walks through the trenches checking on the men. There are only a hundred of them against thousands of the enemy. Although nothing happens that night. Instead a helicopter flies overhead. A loudspeaker is attached, and all they hear is, “Et tu Brute.”
Everyone looks around at each other with weird looks. Ed has no clue what this could mean, t doesn’t even sound like English. He shrugs it off as some weird mind game. A hour later a runner comes up yelling, “They’ve flanked us. Hundreds of them are shooting up the camp. Help! Help!” Then he collapses. One of Eagles calls out that he’s dead. The line erupts, and they start to run back to the camp.
“No! Hold the line!” Ed tries to yell out, but at that moment mortars land all around them. Yells, screams, shouts, shrieks, groaning, and crying along with explosions, and gunfire fill the air. Ed tries to organize people. A lot more survived than he thought. He gets them back into the trenches. The charging enemy soldiers are caught off guard by how fast they rallied. The enemies line is broken, and the run back. Although Ed gathers a group of men to get back to the camp another assault is being launched. He takes ten men from the front line, and fifty from the reserves group.
Together they all run back to the camp. It doesn’t take longer to see the flames, and a little longer to hear the gunshots. Ed leads the group into pure Hell. Their homes are burning. He sees people lying dead on the ground. He thoughts immediately go to his family. Got let them be safe. Then he sees the enemy. Screaming he opens fire. The enemy was absorbed in their massacre, so many of them fall. They start to pull back. Ed feels hopeful, but then he sees his soldiers running back from the battlefront.
They’re are yelling about how there were too many. Ed tries to organize them into buildings. He has no clue whatsoever about what is happening. He decides to make a last stand here in the town square. The men run into buildings. It is not long before the enemy comes running up the roads. Luckily the way to the square is built into trees, and we catch them off guard. Everything is chaos. Bullets tear up everything. Everyone is shooting and hollering, and too many are being shot. The doctors are trying to patch people up, but they are getting shot too. However, Ed notices that the enemy is taking a beating too. They’re falling bleeding and screaming.
Then amongst it all Ed hears a sound from their flank. He grabs the man next to him, and they go to check it out. There he sees an old friend running with the enemy and some citizens laying dead. He thinks Brutus has been captured, so he calls out to him, “Brutus hit the dirt!” Ed and his companion start shooting at the soldiers. Most of them die, but Brutus stops and looks at them. He seems confused that his name is being shouted. He has a pistol and shoots back, three times. Two of them hit Ed’s companion in the chest. The third hits Ed in the arm. He shrugs it off, but he cannot use his rifle. He draws his pistol, and shoots the remaining soldiers. “Brutus we’re not the enemy! It’s okay though! Come back! Where are you going?” Ed yells. Why in the world is Brutus running from me. Ed thinks. He forgets the battle, and runs after his friend. Brutus leads him a fair distance into the woods. The shooting is faint from here. Then Brutus, stops, turns, and shoots.
Ed stops with a grimace. The bullet hit him right in the stomach. He falls to his knees still confused. “Brutus?” He asks. Brutus walks up to him laughing.
“You know. No one ever asked a lot of question about where I came from. You were orphaned by the fire. Now I was just found on the doorstep of the orphanage. It’s so funny how excepting you people are,” Brutus spits. He walks over, and slaps Ed to the dirt. There he takes the pistol from his hand and continues, “I mean, I’m a freaking Russian sleeper agent! You would think in times like this someone would have been wary of me. Although it was fairly new that you could indoctrinate a child to be a sleeper. They impressed this exact mission in my brain. When I heard the phrase ‘et tu Brute’ we would activate. They also made sure we are all named Brutus, although they never taught us why. Everyone thought I was one of them, when it turns out I have been a “bad guy”. Oh well.” Brutus shrugs, and places the pistol to his old friend’s forehead. Bang!
With that the strongest of the camps fell, and with it the entire revolution. No one survived this purge. The Fist of Equality made sure, plus it was a fake Commandant Zorchav Ed shot. The Fist created a new world order. There was no crime, but no freedom. There was no disorder, but no fun. A world with a perfectly equal system. In millennia to come it would be known as a dead world though. Because although everyone had life, no one lived.