Crickets chirping in the background followed by the low rumble of thunder in the distance. The slow trickle of rain hitting grass and leaves filled the small cavern. Projected holograms of fire flies danced near the high ceiling. The old red brick and stone work illuminated by a few candles. The floor was covered in a moist compact dirt and the ambient temperature was much more tolerable than what was outside. This old reservoir didn’t hold water anymore but made for a nice peaceful place that was out of sight and out of mind.
According to the local towns folk this particular reservoir was old and had dried up many months prior. Now they used it as a place to hide from both the elements and bad people. There were several crates of simple supplies and belongings here, as well as cots and benches made from old crates. These people had been kind enough to show him down here after what he did. Apparently fixing a few solar panels and introducing yourself as Father Asimov made quite the impact.
Honestly Roman wasn’t expecting there to be believers in this desolate place. He really only introduced himself as such to ease the tension of meeting new people. The hostile world they now lived in did that to people, one could never be too careful when it came to new people. They fed him, gave him water, and a safe place to rest. For him he knew that they wanted someone to talk to them and the younger crowd about their old god. Roman had been up rather late writing down what to say in the morning.
Slowly the tall masked man walked from behind one of the many pillars. There was more than a few townsfolk gathered down here. Men and women young and old, some being bandaged or sharing rations of food with one another. Slowly they stopped their idle chatter of the day’s happenings and stared at the figure before them. Roman sure was glad he didn’t have much trouble speaking in front of crowds.
With a sigh he started, “some of you know me but for everyone else, my name is Roman Asimov. I come from far away. Near what was once Moscow in the Former Russian Federation.” He paused for a moment glancing around at them all. The slightly illuminated eyes of the mask seemed a bit unnerving for some as they looked away. “Now I understand that some of you here are believers. Where others, have wandered from the path. Blaming god for what has happened to our once pristine, vast, and beautiful world.”
Again he paused as he paced and walked down the middle of the rows of people. “But what you may have forgotten is god will always be with you, he gave us this world to call our own. However, our ancestors were greedy. They sought power and money to control each other. Robbed the environment of its life and polluted our world. In the end it was our choice as humans, as humanity, to poison our world” He paused for a moment in front of an elderly man and woman who were wrapping a bandage. Kneeling he reached out and properly wrapped the man’s arm. It looked as if it had been burnt by something recently.
Standing he smiled under his helmet at them and continued pacing. “Now we find ourselves trying to recreate our old world in the dust and ash of what’s left. But our time is finite, we all know this and it’s depressing. Our leaders left us to falter and suffocate. To be subjected to the tyranny of men trying to control what’s left of this world.” The rumble of distant thunder grew closer for a moment before fading again. The speaker in the back was playing the ambiance rather well. “But I promise you that this will not be our legacy.”
“These men act as if god does not watch them, does not judge them. But he is. And it is up to all of you to show these Novus Ordo. These men that have robbed you, beat you, taken your things, kidnapped and killed your loved ones. If they haven’t yet they will soon, your only important because of what you supply them. Once that is gone, this unsteady peace ends. They will not be our legacy. That even in our fleeting moments we chose to fight against these evil men.” He paused for a moment. He didn’t mean to ramble, but he has already seen what these men have done to people he liked. To people that were helpful.
“God will judge them. But that doesn’t mean we can’t help them meet god faster.” A few of those that where there nodded their heads and even seemed to be agreeing with what he was saying. “Once these men are gone you can all do what was meant of you. To not worry about what time you have left but spend that time being happy and making good memories with the surrounding people. Now is not the time to be isolated but to come together. To help one another and prosper.” He stopped again for a moment trying to think of something more to say.
“There is a quote that I will end this on. A quote from someone long gone but still meaningful.” Falling silent again as he tried to remember the quote. “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Do not go gentle into that good night.” With a slight bow he turned back to his things. Turning the music off to conserve power and placing it back into the sealed container he got it from. Checking to make sure all of his things were in their proper place as well as the multiple blades he always kept hidden on his person.
The voice of a woman stopped him before he could leave, concern rattled her voice.
“Please father won’t you stay for a few more days. We could really use your help here.”
“I’m sorry madam but I must keep traveling as it was my oath to keep the believers informed” a lie but normally one that worked. The women simply nodded and bowed her head slightly in acknowledgment. They really were kind people. As he said a few words and praised them as he walked out. He knew what he said wasn’t very religious, but he really didn’t think they cared. Like most people in this North American waste land they just needed something. Some confirmation that what they were doing wasn’t futile and meant something to someone.
The path leading outside was a series of concrete and makeshift stairs that ended in someone’s basement. A hidden door leading to the bunker was simply a place in the hard wood floor that could be moved and covered with a rug. The old home wasn’t much, a few furnishings and old photos of times gone past. When he opened the door, the light from outside was almost blinding. The slightly glowing eyes of the mask faded and tinted to adjust to the change in light. He carefully fixed his breathing apparatus that connected to his mask and draped to a dual canister system behind him.
The metallic taste of the air was filtered out through a water filter, the water was collected from each breath he took and in emergencies could very well be used to drink from. A few people seemed to be out and about as he headed for the market place but a sudden burst of gunfire was set to end the uneasy peace of the courtyard. Instincts kicked in, and he found himself up against a metal shack trying to look through a few old bullet holes in the rusted metal. Roman was able to catch a few glimpses of men standing around a person on the ground with a shaved head.
Then it happened, an explosion near what he was told the direction of the Novus Ordo encampment. Black smoke soon bellowed through the distant air as the men fell silent. A moment later most of them had gone, leaving one behind with a rusted rifle. He pondered what to do, what could he do? Roman didn’t have a gun, throwing knives sure but not at this range. He would have to get close to do anything. But something moved nearby the man somewhere in the stalls. A partner perhaps or a friend?
Roman had decided on his plan, approach the man to try to get him to concentrate on him so her friend could attack. “Worth a shot” he thought. Putting the long dark green hood over his mask and moving from the cover of the shack he began to walk towards the man with the gun. He wasn’t facing Roman but still seemed a bit jumpy. “Hello Friend” Roman spoke, his hands stretched out to show the man he was unarmed. The rest of his blades tucked away and hidden. “I can only imagine that this child of god will meet her end soon. Could you find it in your heart to allow me to at least absorb her of her sins before she meets the almighty?”
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