The Cleansing
I know that I still owe everyone more of Luca's Story and Andromeda Rising, but I could not help myself. It is an idea that hit me while I was laying in a hospital bed over the weekend (don't worry, I am ok atm). I just felt so compelled to write it, so I did. I hope you like this short.
Markham had his rifle resting in a nicely carved groove in the low concrete barrier that enclosed the half of a rooftop remaining on the dilapidated building. They were in the outer territories, most of them devastated by the Cleansing. A cold November wind swept its icy fingers in under his thin jacket. His leather gloves kept his hands nice and toasty in spite of the wintery touch.
Even as he began scoping out his target, Markham found his mind drifting.
"You are aware you were harboring a fugitive, aren't you!?"
A bloodied and bruised Markham sat in an uncomfortable steel chair, hands bound behind him, head lowered. Blood was still trickling from his mouth. He counted fifteen teeth still remaining with his tongue, ignoring what Umbra was saying.
"You'll answer when the Captain is speaking, maggot!" A nameless soldier shouted, bringing the butt of his berretta down hard on Markham's right shoulder. Markham nearly fell from his chair, and was righted by the other nameless soldier that had been helping in beating the snot out of him.
"I admit to no crime," Markham said through slurred, gargled words, and spat a large hunk of mucous and blood to the floor to clear his mouth. "The true criminals are the New Light Party and their dogs."
Markham raised his head to stare straight at Umbra. The decorated Navy Captain was uglier than hamburger meat stuck to a wall, his face was so scarred up. Still, one could see the rigid and squared jaw line and remnants of a once proud, straight nose. Throw in the icy blue eyes that stared back at Markham so coldly now, and you could see why, once upon a time, Umbra was such a popular model and movie star. That was before. That was when there was peace.
"Process him. We'll see how cooperative he gets after the gauntlet."
Another cold chill slaps Markham in the face. Gray clouds seamlessly march across the sky. They had already left their gift of sleet the night before, but remained as an ominous reminder of yet another winter to suffer through that still lay ahead. The resources for the New Light Republic were dwindling fast as humans throughout the territories abandoned their farming posts. The party was losing its grip ever so slowly, now that it had no enemies to blame their troubles on.
Except for this one.
Markham was putting her into his sights. She was gorgeous. Standing at well over six feet tall, the slender female antelope was striding through a thicket of trees. Markham could see her disappearing and reappearing as she passed through the foliage.
"Distance, twelve hundred yards," said Horace. He was a skinny, wiry sort that was somehow gifted with a seemingly irresistible personality. And he needed it. With long, greasy black hair, glasses thicker than your index finger, and a face that was neither noticeable for its ugliness or its handsomeness, Horace did surprisingly well when it came to his sexual exploits. Markham hated him. But this was the assignment, this was who he had to work with. His original spotter, a sound and wise fellow named Ernst, was his best friend; that is, until they discovered what Markham was hiding. Markham didn't blame Ernst, the man was a hardened party loyalist. They all were at one time. They didn't become part of the elite sniper force for nothing.
Markham studied her for a little while more. God how she'd grown. Her slender, almost delicate curves belied her incredible strength and running speed. Her light brown coat went down her backside, with a strip of white along her front. As always, Tessie was naked. Markham never could get her to cover up.
"Fucking say it!" The nameless grunt screamed into Markham's ear.
"I am a soldier of the light!!!"
Finally, the grunt pulled back, having done enough damage to Markham. He held a bloody speculum in one hand. Markham, delirious with agony from the many tortures he'd been through the past few weeks, didn't even want to see what kind of damage had been caused this time.
"Good, maggot. Pretty soon we'll have you saying it like you believe it. Now clean yourself up. You earned yourself a few hours' rest."
Makham shook off the memory, refocusing on his target. He had Tessie in his crosshairs now, but his finger still rested casually along the lines of his gun rather than on the trigger. She was still strolling around in the thicket.
Good girl, Markham thought to himself. Always keep yourself in some sort of cover, always keep yourself moving.
I am a soldier of the light Markham then thought, as if by auto-response to the sentimental feelings he had for the female. Markham felt pain in those words, but he also felt this inexplicable upwelling of pride and love in those words. His resolve coming back to him, he shifted slightly, getting a better angle for his shot.
Tessie was still wandering around in the thicket of trees. She had been returning to this spot for several weeks now, daring to go no closer to the ruined town that once held thousands like her, once peaceably comingled with the humans.
"A, bee, cee, dee, ee, eff, gee..."
Markham bounced Tessie in his lap in rhythm to the simple tune that he played out on his piano with his other hand. Tessie was maybe two at this point, but she was already picking up so quick on tunes and letters. She was babbling all the time, and learning so much so fast. Markham was welling with pride at his little girl.
Markham gripped the rifle more tightly. I am a soldier of the light, he told himself. Again that upwelling of pride. But it was tainted somehow. With the pride, the dark sense of terrible shame appeared like an ugly scar. I am a soldier of the light, he repeated dutifully. This time, the shame was gone.
Tessie was likely looking to get into contact with someone. This was some sort of rendezvous point. Otherwise, an unclean creature like her would never come so close to where humans still lurked.
She's looking for me. Again, the shame was there. Markham gripped his gun tighter still, hoping that his target would simply stop already so he could get a clean shot.
"She's moved out to twelve-fifty. Wind still out of the north. Estimated ten mph."
"Daddy, I forgive you," Markham heard whispered in his ear, is baby girl's mouth right by his ear as they hugged tight. She was maybe twelve at this time. They had been arguing heatedly before. She had found out where he had been going on his missions, what he was doing. He had told her what The Cleansing was, and why she had to stay inside all the time. And why she had to hide whenever someone came to his house.
Tessie had run off after that argument. Markham was terrified for her, searching high and low in the woods that surrounded his house. He couldn't ask for help. How could he ask for others to help him harbor one of the fugitive species? After ten or more hours of searching, he had returned home, defeated, only to find Tessie curled up and scared on the couch in the rustic living room. She was scratched up and bloody. A bullet wound was in her left thigh.
Markham had bandaged Tessie up, taking out the bullet and cleaning up her scratches. He promised her he'd never go on another mission. He would go AWOL, and they would live deep in the forest where many humans were still too scared to tread. He and his adopted daughter would be safe.
Markham remembered. When he made that promise is when Tessie hugged him close and said those wonderful words. That was four years ago. And now here he lay, a single tear running down his right cheek. Tessie had come to a stop from her constant, circling meandering, sitting on a large rock.
No... he said in a whispering voice in his head, wanting so badly for her to get up and move. I am a soldier of the light he tried to say, but instead he found himself looking down at an eight-year-old version of Tessie saying, "Daddy, I love you."
"I love you too, baby girl," he whispered, very low.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"Hmph. Well your target is open. Fire, Markham."
Markham took aim. He had Tessie's forehead in his crosshairs.
"I am a soldier of the light," Markham chanted, this time out loud. He then turned his rifle suddenly towards Horace.
Tessie's ears perked at the sound of a rifle shot nearby. She didn't even wait to see if another shot would be fired. The fact she heard that round and didn't feel it meant she got off lucky, and wouldn't get another shot. She bolted, dashing with everything she had back into the thick woods, her back open for only a brief moment as she passed from the thicket into a much denser packing of trees, disappearing from sight. Markham simply watched her go, praying for her safety.
I am a father. I am a protector.