Of course he’d know the knock. Dumb question, she thought to herself, supressing a shake of her head. By the time he walked in, she’d pulled off the overjacket, unbuckling the underarmour and barely pulling on a baggy, worn brown jumper overtop before Heath came bounding in.
The laugh took a weight off her shoulders she didn’t even know she carried, and a smile, a genuine, beaming bright grin returned in full to her. “I know, right?!” Escaped her loudly before she breathed, raising a hand, eye closing. Steady.
“Can’t believe they never noticed us getting access. And their alarm systems are really sloppy for broadcast stations, makes me wonder why no one else tried before…"Her tone was held back, more restrained, but still very jubilant. A quick shake of her head. “But hey, it worked great for us! I can’t believe you just managed to slip out like that-”
A burst of static interrupted her words, tearing through her audio circuitry. A wince, and a hand shot up to the cybernetics.
The Mantra had been stopped once today. It would not be stopped again. But, for now, it was dimmed down, kept as a quiet background thrumb as a new voice echoed out through the streets.
Or, perhaps new was the wrong word.
"Citizens of this fair City.” The voice spoke with weight, gravitas, and the undeniable bite of restrained violence. The intonation was of a leader, a monarch. “Today, we have all suffered an attack. One of both physical harm and on the very principles we stand upon.”
On the screens, their face bluured into vision. An older woman, blonde hair slowly turning silver, sharp green eyes boring into any onlooker’s. As though she could see them directly through those screens.
Of course, she could. She and all the others who monitored those feeds.
She took a moment to adjust a clean-pressed uniform, the dark green and gold hallmarks of Loyalist wear clear to see, W’s emblazoned on the breast and sleeves. Then, she continued, canter unbroken. “As you well know, there was a hijack of the public networks earlier this day, followed by a terrorist attack on a civilian business near the centre of the City.”
Another pause, those eyes scanning across the screen. As though she saw each and every soul’s reaction.
“An act of cowardice quickly contained and controlled thanks to our ranks. I would like to extend thanks to those who leapt into the field of combat to maintain the peace. A sentiment, I am certain, you all share.” A nod. As though she made the decision for them. Across the City, thousands nodded shortly after.
“Nethertheless, I am sure you have questions. Rest assured, we will soon have the answers. I can reveal at this time that this…KILROY…is a coward, hiding under the cover of the dark.”
The footage shifted to that captured of the fleeing Terri, the light barely catching the edge of her form. Whether or not they had modified it was debatable for some, but not for others; the small woman now cut an intimidating figure, crimson splashed against her as though she’d slaughtered her way out.
“We have obtained key information that will lead to their arrest in short, due order. In the meantime, we ask that you comply with Officers on the streets, and assist them wherever you can.”
The footage died, returning to her scrying eyes. The look of an expectant mother, a brief curl of a smile that to many would look like empathy, but in reality was much more sinister.
“Know that they are nothing more than a common criminal, one who would cause distrust amongst our own, one who would wish to spread the seed of doubt into our minds with feverish hyperbole and outdated ideology.” A scathing tone came over her words, eyes briefly closing. “But, for now, rest assured. We keep you safe. Even now, from outliers such as this fugitive, we are your hope that we can grow from this disaster and improve, strengthen our ties.”
A smile returned again, softer this time, but somehow all too…toothy.
“In the meanwhile, Sniper patrols will be increasing. As a means to ensure your safety, a temporary curfew will be instated starting from 22:00 and ending at 06:00. Any found on the streets between these hours will be asked to halt, and will be detained. Any who run will be shot.” The chin raised, hands forming a neat lattice, as though there was nothing horrific of those words. And the smile persisted.
“For now, I encourage you all to return to your homes, and only open to our force’s request. The last thing we wish is for further casualties this day.” One more nod, and she straightened back out.
“Your Huntress, fair City, is on the case. And, as you know, I have yet to return to you without the quarry. Remember. We keep you safe, we are your hope…and we very, very much have control.”
One more smile, and the feed faded back to the everpresent mantra, again thudding through the metal and concrete of the architecture of the City.
With the cameras off, Eliza let the smile fade into a sinister scowl as she rose, marching out of the broadcast room. “Get me the footage, and track their movement. I want this KILROY dead, confirmed, body in custody.”
“Yes ma'am.”
Heath could hear the voice echo throughout the tunnels. With each passing word, his face darkened.
He hadn’t heard it in what felt like years, but he recognized it all too easily. Eliza. The Huntress as she liked to fancy herself. A mad woman at the head of a mad regime. And worst of all, Terri’s mother.
Heath didn’t need to look up to know it would be affecting her. His fists clenched and he could feel his heartrate skyrocket. Rage coursed through him now more than ever.
“Well. Guess I was too subtle this time,” he said after the echoing stopped, his hands still clenched into fists. “We’ll have to make them know KILROY was here.”
yousharknotpass
gummygunk
