<\/p>\n
Officer 0001: Ion<\/span><\/p>\n Officer 0067: Jeremiah<\/span><\/p>\n Officer 0512: Christian<\/span><\/p>\n Officer 6615: New Officers are only referred to by their assigned number.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prologue<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Year 2124.<\/span><\/p>\n There are no more jails or institutions. No psychiatric hospitals for the criminally insane. Just death. If a crime is committed, no matter the severity of offense, Officers are sent to execute the lawbreakers on site. There are no more bodies either. Once shot, these criminals are rendered to dust.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n No one sees an Officer\u2019s face while on duty or hears their real voice. The suits are all black, sleek, weapon proof, and cover them from head to toe. When they are done for the day (or days), they are released one by one back into society. No one knows whether they live in a city, suburb, or countryside. Once their current assignment is complete, they are just another face in the crowd. This is done not only to protect them from the public, but to ensure there is no conflict of interest or hesitation if an officer commits a crime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Team One consists of Ion, Christian, Jeremiah, and 6615 (who is in training). All these are fake names of course. Names from older days before AI took away the use for education and employment. People ended up having too much time on their hands, which went south quite quickly. Without any REAL intelligence or routine, everyone turned against each other. The society that formed afterwards is much less forgiving given the crimes witnessed during those dark days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The four have been sent to an address in Rumson, NJ. What used to be an affluent neighborhood now only holds ruins. The Captain has briefed them on the situation earlier in the week. <\/span>Nostalgia<\/span><\/i>, a drug more addictive than heroin, is being cut and packaged for distribution at a residence in the area. No matter how many raids, executions, and shutdowns the teams throughout the country have carried through, <\/span>Nostalgia<\/span><\/i> still cannot be eradicated.<\/span><\/p>\n Chapter 1<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got seven more upstairs. 6615, up here now.\u201d\u00a0 Christian’s distorted voice came through the team\u2019s helmets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There were people running all over the old house. Like bugs scattering when a rock is lifted. Scrambling for something to save them. That fight or flight response is pointless, but natural. They knew they couldn’t fight (although sometimes they tried), so usually they ran,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n desperate to escape.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFive down in the kitchen,\u201d Ion said calmly. She always walked through missions. She had no need to rush. \u201cJeremiah, three are headed towards you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAlready took care of it, I\u2019m coming back your way.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jeremiah met up with Ion in the hallway that was still filled with some long deceased family\u2019s photos.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s another child up here\u2026\u201d 6615 said, quivering.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBring it to the bathroom down here with the others and stay with them,\u201d Ion instructed.<\/span><\/p>\n Christian jumped down the stairs and joined the other two senior officers in the hallway and cut communication from their newest member.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHow many?\u201d Jeremiah asked.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEight were downstairs, seven upstairs,\u201d Ion took a deep breath, \u201cand with that kid, six children.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGod damn.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou takin\u2019 care of the little ones or should I?\u201d Christian asked matter of factly.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go,\u201d Ion said, already walking away. \u201cYou two go to the basement. Make sure no one\u2019s down there. I\u2019ll send 6615 down and follow when I\u2019m done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n 6615 was standing outside the bathroom where the children were gathered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be okay,\u201d he said, kneeling down to be eye level with the frightened children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ion quickly came up behind him and lifted him to his feet.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t talk to them. Go downstairs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n 6615 backed away slowly.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He hurried away.<\/span><\/p>\n Minutes later, Ion walked down the creaking stairs opening up to an unfinished basement with cement floors and wooden beams where walls should\u2019ve been. Boxes and junk filled the space, and she leaned against what used to be a washing machine. The mouthpiece of her helmet slid up ever so slightly. She brought a cigarette to her lips, which were not even visible to the others, lit it, and drew in the smoke.<\/span><\/p>\n 6615 was behind her with his back on a beam. A small basement window above him. She could see he was shaking though it wasn\u2019t noticeable to anyone else. She felt sorry for him. He just turned 18, but signed his life away two years prior. Anyone could start training at any age given their parents consent. The pay families received for someone signing up to join the force had been reduced significantly since the start. It was hardly anything now. It became more of an honor to join rather than a way of making money. New officers weren\u2019t paid well either. Ion, Christian, and Jeremiah were. Probably too well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWOOOO!! LET\u2019S GO!\u201d said Christian as he paced around the room pumping his fists. He loved his job. Jeremiah had given him his name because of how many people he slaughtered throughout the years. Christian then gave Jeremiah his name because he said he was a killjoy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ion glanced over at Jeremiah.\u00a0 She knew what was coming.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI will never understand you,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cStill??\u201d Christian laughed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2026how could you enjoy that?\u201d Jeremiah was getting angrier by the second. \u201cSix children involved Christian. Six.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd 15 criminals\u2026,\u201d he added, picking up dirt from the floor and dropping it again while continuing to look at his teammate. \u201cGone. Did you forget about that already?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis was a massacre,\u201d Jeremiah said, getting more heated by the second. \u201cOne we were not prepared for.\u201d He snapped his head over towards Ion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Christian continued laughing. One hand on stacked cardboard boxes to keep himself up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis is our job! You get paid to do this, but here we are AGAIN with you crying after a mission like a fuckin pussy. You like this after sex too?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jeremiah charged over and grabbed him by the throat lifting him off the ground. Christian kicked his chest, pushing him back, and releasing the hand from around his neck. Jeremiah went right back towards him aiming his fists at Christian\u2019s chest then head. But Christain was quick to react, blocking the throws, and landing an uppercut instead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ion watched them brawl while smoking her cigarette. She enjoyed watching them fight. It was a common occurrence. Jeremiah was stronger and serious, but Christian had more passion for his job and no connection to anything or anyone. It\u2019s why she picked them for her team. The two were now on the ground wrestling like children.<\/span><\/p>\n Ion walked over, dropped her cigarette beside them and stepped on it. \u201cGet up.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jeremiah obeyed immediately, stood, and outstretched his hand to Christian who swatted it away.<\/span><\/p>\n 6615 was still silent. Ion nodded her head at Jeremiah and then towards the new kid. Jeremiah understood and went over to him.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis wasn\u2019t ideal,\u201d Ion started. \u201cBut we accomplished what we came here for. Excellent adjustments and work from all of you. I suggest you each go home and unwind. So Christian, I dunno, go kill a prostitute or something, Jeremiah go read a book, and 6615, whatever you do, just don\u2019t be alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Christian started laughing again, this time doubling over.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Suddenly, there were voices from above and footsteps coming down the stairs. The Captain, dressed in a vintage blue Gucci suit, starch white form fitting button down shirt, brown belt, and matching shoes, stood before them teeth gleaming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n They each had their own opinion of The Captain, but the team quickly lined up, shoulder to shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat was unbelievable,\u201d he said, still smiling. \u201cI won\u2019t keep you here any longer than necessary. I\u2019m sure you\u2019d all like to celebrate. Return to the station for release. We will debrief first thing tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jeremiah, Christian, and 6615 bowed to him and walked single file back up the stairs and out of sight.<\/span><\/p>\n The Captain and Ion remained with one another in silence. She slowly walked up to him, heat radiating off of her.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat the fuck was that?\u201d Ion was aggressive and getting too close to her boss\u2019s face. \u201cYou told us there were five of them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe received incorrect information,\u201d he responded, ignoring her anger.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ion let out a slight laugh, throwing her head back. \u201cThat is such bullshit!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He stared at where her eyes would be if he could see them and got even closer to her.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t have gone in if you knew how many there were. I know you. You would\u2019ve waited and picked them off in smaller groups or at least when there were no children present. There\u2019s no time for your misguided morals today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI have a traumatized officer. And Jeremiah and Christian at each other’s throats again. \u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe kid needs to learn what the job is about. So we threw him in. Other assignments will seem easier now.\u201d The Captain was nonchalant and calm. \u201cAnd those two\u2026\u201d he waved his hand in the air, dismissing her concern. \u201cThose two are fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI work hard making sure my team stays a team. I can\u2019t keep control of them if I don\u2019t know what I\u2019m leading them into.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Their faces were almost touching and she knew his breath was on her helmet. Ion could get away with a lot. She was the first officer. In the beginning they took orphans, so she was sold when she was an infant. Ion endured the injections and training, both physical and mental, longer than anyone. They call it the \u201ctransformation\u201d now, but really it was just torture.\u00a0 This resulted with her being significantly stronger and faster than anyone else.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She was vital to the force and she knew it. Not just because she completed more missions than every other officer, but because people naturally followed her. She was both kind and supportive while being extremely disciplined and unrelenting. Hence the name, Ion.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGo home.\u201d The Captain put his hand on the top of her head and shook it. \u201cYou know I\u2019m not going to reprimand you, and we both know you will be back tomorrow. Or in an hour if something comes up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ion despised him for that truth, but ultimately he was right. This was her job. This was her life. She, along with the other officers, worked to restore the world. There was a greater purpose to all this, and she knew better than to let her emotions carry her away for too long.<\/span><\/p>\n Ion moved from under The Captain\u2019s hand. She bowed slowly to him and walked away, hitting his shoulder with hers.<\/span><\/p>\n