Persecution Read online

  “It has been claimed at times that our modern age of technology facilitates dictatorship.”- Henry Wallace

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  Copyright © 2018 by Joshua Aaron Landeros

  All Rights Reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  VOICE OF A CRIMSON ANGEL PART I:

  PERSECUTION

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1: Blight of the Hollow Wars

  Chapter 2: Sign of the Times

  Chapter 3: Ultimatum

  Chapter 4: Collision

  Chapter 5: Candidate

  Chapter 6: Galveston

  Chapter 7: Hope

  Chapter 8: The Fire

  Chapter 9: Contamination

  Chapter 10: Prices

  Chapter 11: Ellipsism

  Chapter 12: Visiting Hours

  Chapter 13: Operation Trasimene

  Chapter 14: The Forgotten

  About the Author

  Preview

  The Reverence Series

  The Cast

  Julissa Marconi: A second lieutenant of the former US Army.

  Zaneta Marconi: Oldest child of the Marconis.

  Captain Joseph Halsey: leader of the resistance group known as the Crimson Angels.

  Dr. Robert Neeson: Head of the R &D Studies in the UNR and the father of the Super Soldier Forces.

  Gael Olmos: A Crimson Angel from Tijuana, Mexico.

  Vivian Thurman: A Crimson Angel from New York City, UNR.

  Ruby Locklear: A Crimson Angel from Maine, UNR.

  Elijah Brooks: Best friend of Zaneta Marconi.

  Clint Duvall: Former staff sergeant of the US Army.

  Jesse Novak: A Crimson Angel from Texas, UNR.

  Chancellor Carl Venloran: Unrivaled commander of the United Nation Republic.

  Aliss Howard/S.S.C. Unit 3-05: Head Commander of the elite cyborg fighting force known as the New Rough Riders, as well as the Super Soldier Psychoanalyst (SSPA).

  Pamela King/S.S.C. Unit 6-76: Second-in-Command of the New Rough Riders.

  Valerie Iglesias/S.S.C. Unit 23: A member of the New Rough Riders and one of the First Fifty.

  The Reverence Series

  On April 17, 2065, Super Soldier Cyborg Unit 21, William Marconi, revolted against Chancellor Venloran. It was a historic moment that brought tragedy as well as hope. The United Nation Republic, and the world, would never be the same after the bloody revolution. However, only a few know Will’s actions were the culmination of a much deeper wound. The public did not find about this until 2065, but the war in truth had started twenty years before. This is the story of how one group came together to make a difference. It begins here with:

  VOICE OF A CRIMSON ANGEL

  PART I:

  PERSECUTION

  Chapter 1 – Blight of the Hollow Wars

  September 30, 2030 – Dallas, Texas

  The two women lay leisurely on the flatbed of the truck. All around them in the parking lot couples and families were rushing to Gate One. In the sweltering heat it would’ve been much appreciated to get a move on, but they were attempting to be patient. Well, at least one of them was.

  “Almost twelve now, Val,” Julissa complained as she sat on the tailgate of her Ford, can of beer in hand.

  Valerie lay on her back beside her friend, looking up at a book. It was a brand-new edition of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein.

  “Chill out, girl. Bryan just told me they’re close. Have another beer or something,” Valerie replied.

  “If I wanted to get hammered I could’ve just stayed home.”

  “Bitch, bitch, bitch,” Val laughed. “You do it so much you might want to add it to your resume.”

  Julissa looked at Valerie, still concentrated on getting to the next page. With full-on cowgirl boots and Daisy Dukes, she looked ready to have a blast yet was perfectly content now. Her shirt exposed her midriff; Julissa took advantage of the view.

  Under the warm sun, Valerie felt a splash of cold beer on her stomach. She yelped before sitting up.

  “Julie, what the hell?!” she protested as she hit her friend’s arm with her book.

  “Now I can get another beer?” said Julissa with a smirk.

  Just as Valerie was getting ready to rip into her some more, her face changed.

  “Babe!”

  Julissa turned her head to see two men walking toward them, one of the men was familiar and the other not so much. Valerie jumped off the truck and ran into Bryan’s arms, showering him with kisses. He gladly returned the favor. With them busy a few feet from the truck, the stranger approached Julissa with an inviting smile. Well, at least he’s tall.

  “Howdy. You always an hour late to double dates or am I just special?” she mocked.

  “Sorry about that, we had a late start,” the man fumbled.

  Unlike Bryan who wore a plain white T-shirt, he wore a button up. Julissa let her sandals touch the asphalt as she got off the tailgate. She dusted off her pants, surprised once she was done to see the man had put out a hand.

  “Pleased to meet you in person, finally,” he said warmly.

  Julissa paused and then smiled. She gave him a firm handshake in return.

  “A little formal, but I like that,” she said. “Glad to meet you too, Will.”

  “You two can get better acquainted once we get inside. Let’s go!” Bryan said.

  He and Valerie stood close to one another.

  “You’re just lucky I don’t go off on you. I’m sure as shit it’s your fault you guys are late,” Julissa said.

  “Who me? No, never!” Bryan said.

  “Babe, I’m shocked you showed up without a stain on your shirt,” Val added. “She’s got the point.”

  “Will, a little help?”

  Julissa, Bryan, and Valerie all looked at the man.

  “Sorry, man, I got nothing, but I still love ya.”

  The four began to walk toward their destination. As they got closer, the smell of barbeque and fried foods became sharper. The laughter of children was growing louder along with the aromas, but all Will was fixated on was the giant Ferris wheel that could be seen even from their distance.

  “So, how did you live all these years without comin’ on down to the Texas Fair?” Julissa asked.

  “My mom couldn’t afford the tickets. Highlights of my childhood were trips to the movies,” Will laughed.

  “The theaters in Laredo nice?”

  “Ignore the smell on some of the chairs and you’re golden.”

  “Oh, God,” Julissa snickered, “sounds like a hell of a time.”

  “Yeah, yeah it was. Every Friday, Bryan tagged along anytime he could. If the movie sucked, we’d have popcorn fights.”

  “You? Really? I mean him, of course, no doubt, but you?”

  “I’m ashamed to admit it, but I gave my mom plenty of grief from time to time.”

  “My daddy never gave us a chance. He just kind of expected discipline out of us. He was sure the army would grind out whatever he’d missed: ‘Boy or girl, Y'all are goin’ to serve this country and serve it well’!”

  “I bet he scares off every guy in town.”

  “He says he knows with just a handshake.”

  “Really? So, how’d I do?”

  Julissa gazed at Will, confidence beaming on his face. It moved her to smile at him.

  “Not bad actually.”

  After working their way past the crowd, Will spotted the s
tatue of Big Tex. The statue was taller than a two-story house and wore a Dickie shirt with a fourteen-foot collar. The jeans were a faded blue, very much like the kind Will’s date wore.

  For Julissa, it was akin to seeing a familiar landmark. For Will, it was a long-awaited meeting. Here it comes…

  “Hoooowdeeee folks!” the statue announced.

  “Right back at ya, big guy. Hey, we’ll catch up with you guys in a bit. Val wants to check out the expo,” Bryan said as the couple walked off.

  Will and Julissa saw them off with a wave. There seemed to be a million different paths to take and just as many things to see. The smell of all the foods alone was distracting for Will.

  “You go ahead and lead the way,” he insisted.

  “Okay, hmmm.” Julissa considered it carefully. “How about we start with the Ride Drive?”

  “Is it bad? I don’t know what that is.”

  “Normally, yes, but you’re cute so I’ll make an exception.”

  Julissa took him by the hand, leading him through the crowd as if they weren’t even there. Under the bright sun, the day was proving to be spectacular.

  ***

  Bryan and Valerie walked into the expo. It was stuffed to the max in the large room. Bryan was annoyed within the first few minutes. Valerie kept her eyes toward the curtain, waiting.

  “How long is this damn thing, babe?” he asked as a shoulder bumped into him for the third time.

  “An hour, but I promise after it’s over we can do whatever you want. Okay?”

  She turned her head to look back at him, and Bryan didn’t complain anymore. “All right, babe.”

  The curtain opened, revealing a large stage that appeared to be made of black marble. On it was nothing but a single man. He had parted hair and a wide grin. He wore jeans and a button-up shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The semi-formal look, oh boy, Bryan thought.

  “What’s up, guys? I’m Iso Tanburn, president of Lightwave, Incorporated. I’m glad everyone made it out to the iconic Texas Fair!” He put up a hand, and everybody cheered wildly. Bryan wasn’t sure he’d ever heard of the company, but he’d been to this fair every year of his life. He cheered along with them. When they quieted, Iso began to walk across the stage.

  “You know what makes this fair great? Besides the delicious food. Who can’t get enough of it, right?” The joke managed to get laughs from the crowd. “What makes this fair great is it’s a place for innovation. People celebrate the future of technology here year after year, and every year it gets better. In 2030, we had the Primetech Scepter phone and just last year we saw Tesla take space exploration to the next level. We live in a world of endless possibilities. Who better to tell you about this than my friend Anthony? Why don’t you come on out here, Anthony?”

  Valerie’s eyes widened as Anthony appeared on the stage. The audience went wild at the sight of him. Well, Holy Shit. Even Bryan was impressed. Joining Iso on the stage was a tall and lanky robot, a radiant silver in color. On his chest was the Texan flag, which people howled and whistled at. Each step he took was just like any other human’s, his thin neck supporting a head loosely appearing like a human’s. The eyes glowed a light blue, looking at all the people. To everyone’s awe, the robot even waved at everyone as he stepped up to the edge of the stage.

  Iso shook Anthony’s hand before dapping and then trying to high-five him. Anthony side-stepped him, and Iso almost fell on his face in an over-the-top fashion.

  “Anthony, every time,” the man laughed.

  The machine shrugged his shoulders, Valerie expecting him to laugh. Instead, Anthony did the best he could, his eyes flashing as the brightness changed.

  “You’re just too easy, sir,” Anthony replied.

  Everyone laughed, all except Bryan. Something so simple as the absence of laughter got to him. He tried not to dwell on it.

  “Well, I have a better idea anyway. Why don’t you let these folks ask you a few questions?” Iso suggested.

  Anthony nodded and faced the crowd. “An excellent idea. Any takers?”

  Almost every person’s hand went up. Iso didn’t pick any out either. He stepped back a bit to give Anthony the limelight. The robot looked over the crowd and then pointed at a boy close to him. At most, he was ten or eleven.

  “Why not you first young man? What’s your name?” Anthony asked him.

  “Mark Dwayne.”

  “Mark Dwayne,” the robot recited. He kneeled on one knee to be as close as he could. “Okay, what’s your question?”

  “What’s your power supply, robot?”

  “Good question, Mr. Dwayne. I am solar powered, usually requiring one hour of charging for twenty-four hours of service.”

  “Cool!” the boy exclaimed.

  Anthony got off his knee and sought the other end of his audience. He spotted an older man, his husband by his side. Their eyes were critical, and the robot walked on over.

  “Yes, sir, may I have your name?”

  “Greg,” said the man flatly.

  Anthony seemed blind to his tone and went on as perky as before.

  “What’s your question, sir?”

  “What exactly is it you do?”

  “Well, sir, I hate to be predictable, but anything you ask. I can do manual labor, cook breakfast and dinner; I can even host parties if you’d like. After the presentation, I’ll gladly hand out my card.”

  The joke was a success. Even Greg had a smirk on his face.

  “I’ll be sure to look you up, Anthony.”

  The robot now analyzed closer to the center, still concentrating on the first few rows of people. About two rows in was a woman who looked as excited as a child. Her male companion even took the effort to put her up on his shoulders. She was a perfect choice.

  “Yes, you there, ma’am. What’s your name?”

  “My name’s Valerie. You can call me Val,” she said cheerfully.

  “Okay, what may I answer for you?”

  “I wanted to ask you something a little different if that’s all right with you.”

  “Not a problem, Val,” he said, extending a hand.

  “Awesome, I was wondering if you had a favorite book?”

  Anthony paused, tilting his head slightly. Val and Bryan watched his eyes flash again. Iso lost his smile now.

  “I don’t believe I have one, but I am open to recommendations, ma’am.”

  “Maybe you should start with the basics, Twain or Hemingway. Can never go wrong there.”

  “I see. Thank you very much, Val.”

  “Anytime, Anthony.”

  By now, Iso once more stood next to Anthony, placing a hand on his shoulder. The robot automatically responded by taking a step back, allowing the man to take the lead.

  “Isn’t Anthony great? And he’s just the start. The R &D of Lightwave will be releasing a second prototype by spring of next year. To keep on the schedule we also are constantly accepting applications for all kinds of positions. We even offer internships, which is what Anthony will tell you all about next.”

  ***

  February 20, 2045 - Rock City Salvage Station-Radiology Room

  Zaneta shivered under yet another blast of cold air. The ventilation unit above her was relentless. Why are we here? We should be back in the room where Daddy is. She was upset without a doubt, but the child was more confused. The child had a complexion more like her father’s and brother’s, a light mocha, but her dark, flowing, hair was of her mother’s. Because her mother’s crying, Zaneta did not say a word.

  Although quieter now, Julissa was still in her world that no one else dared to disturb. Even with her daughter seated right next to her, the woman wasn’t ready to console her oldest child. She still held Damien in her arms. The baby boy was sound asleep in her arms, oblivious to his mother’s tears.

  Seated at the desk in front of the broken family was Dr. Thorton and standing beside him, General Kane. They’d left the Cyborg Treatment Center half an hour ago after seeing Willi
am Marconi. The commander had dreaded this moment for a while, and finally seeing it in the flesh was just as painful as he’d envisioned. Thorton awkwardly fiddled with the pen on his desk. He paid no mind to yet another sniffle from the woman.

  “How long has he been like this? Will told me he’d signed up for a procedure, but this…I…” Julissa stammered.

  Her sudden urge to talk threw Thorton off, but Kane was there to pick up the slack.

  “After the battery of tests, he finally underwent the procedure February sixth. He was one of fifty test subjects, and only a handful have suffered the side effects he has,” the commander explained.

  “And when will he wake up, Commander?”

  Zaneta stopped looking at her mother and stared at Kane as well.

  “We can’t be entirely sure, ma’am.”

  “Oh, my God,” Julissa muttered. In the dark blue dress of sheer elegance, her shoulders slumped, she put a hand on her face. “Oh, my God.”

  “But we will be monitoring his progress. We will notify of any changes in condition no matter the hour,” Thorton added.

  He saw the promise did not affect the woman.

  “For your husband’s service and volunteering for the program, you’ll still be compensated hundreds of thousands no matter his condition. And that is monthly compensation. You’ll never have to work another day in your life,” the doctor continued.

  There was still no reaction, at least not first. Slowly, Julissa looked up at the enormous telescreen behind Thorton and Kane. On it was the skeletal layout of what her husband had become. The bones were no longer white, but silver. Oh, God. Will, why? Why did you sign up for this?

  Kane realized where she was staring and acted on it. “Ma’am, would you like me to turn it off?”

  Julissa shook her head. “No, General; it’s fine.”

  The tall woman now stood from her seat. Zaneta was slow to follow suit but did so. She too was gazing at the new framework of what used to be her father.

  “We’ll be leaving now,” Julissa said as she struggled not to choke up. “Baby, get your coat.”

  “But, Mommy, I think we should stay with Daddy. Just for a little longer.”

  “Zaneta, it’s time to go. We have a long flight home.”