Falber City: Cry of Innocence

Prologue

Dusk.   The air was brisk and the city was barren.   Ironically the town was named after the tribe of natives that used to live on this land.  It was called the City of Fallen Timber or Falber City for short.   Strange things happened in this city.  The locals blamed the dead beneath their town. Others think the government lacked the care to enforce safety on radioactive dumping.  Nothing is certain other than Falber City’s blood drenched past.

In the past gang violence led to heightened security which forced the gang members to go….crazy.  The gang leaders thought it would be a good idea to weaponize the aged radioactive plasma, to even go so far as to mark their territories with the stuff.   Needless to say that they weren’t careful with the toxic sludge.  They spewed the muck everywhere, killing hundreds but mutating many more.   Their first target was the Central Police Department, then the Southern Police Department and so on, until an epidemic could be seen as far as Tombstone Park.

As the radiation spread across the city the National Government immediately detected the problem. They quarantined the entire city, locking in 2.6 million people and sending in their so-called “specialists” to deal with the “issue”.   Yeah, issue… this isn’t an issue.  This is an all out war with mutated freaks and monsters.   The only thing keeping this city from destroying itself is us.  The Fort Wesley Police Department.   I am Jeremy, code name NULL, and this is my story.

FALBER CITY:  CRY OF INNOCENCE

Issue 1:  Old Beginnings

Apartment #216:  Null’s home

“Ugh…what?”, groaned Null as he crawled out of bed to the loud ringing of his alarm.   Null let out a deep sigh as the thought of going to work made his trigger finger ache.   As Null makes his way to his window he is greeted by the sight of the blood washed street below and the ever present dome-like force field encasing the city above.  The sun makes it shine and extremely noticeable. 

“Well, at least they died quietly…hopefully quickly too”, Null said as he yawned on his way to the closet.

Street: Uptown

Ripped up jeans, white t-shirt and a black leather overcoat partially covering Null’s bullet proof vest. Everything an agent needs to survive the streets.  Null walks with his hand on his revolver at all times. His eyes shift to each individual that comes close.  A truck with a mounted 50 caliber gun speeds down the road. Bullets tearing up store fronts just across the street from Null’s position.  He draws his gun and fires four slugs. Two hit the gunner, crippling him.  While the other two pierce the drivers skull and right lung.   The drivers dead leg slams on the gas, causing the truck to accelerate to 100 mph.  As the truck crashes into a far off building Null holsters his gun and continues to walk; his gaze fixed on the victims caught in the crossfire of the blood-crazed drive-by. 

Downtown: Fort Wesley Police Department

Null walks to the back of a broken down abandoned apartment building.  He enters the 14-digit code and walks inside.   He’s greeted by a large man.  The man is rounded and burly but holds an impressive physique. 

“Hey Null, where’ve you been? You missed all of the boring stuff”, the big husky man bellowed with a gleeful demeanor.  

“Sorry, Break.  I was…uh…oh, hell. I killed three thugs that destroyed the stores on Hemming Street with a mounted MG-42”, replied Null with a smile on his face that quickly turned to sadness.   “But not before they tore apart a least a dozen people outside, probably more inside the stores”. 

Break tried to comfort Null, “Don’t worry man. One day we’ll retake the city… one piece at a time”

Null turned to face Break as tears welled up in his eyes, “Yeah, well…. How many people have to die until we can retake the city.  Those goddamn freaks keep killing women and children…. And for what?!  Just for fun? Or is it some chemical fuck-up in their head?!”

Other officers stared as Null grabbed his assignment folder and walked out. 

“What’s wrong with him?”, asked Shed. 

Break simply replied with a grim look, “Last month Null had the Redwald Grade School assignment.  You know, the one where we found our first mutant cannibals”.

“Oh well…. Sucks to be him”, said Shed. 

Break grabbed Shed by the collar of his bullet proof vest, “It’s because of that case that I lost a good friend…..and a good partner”. 

Downtown: Broken Suburbs, 4:00 pm

                Redwald, thought Null.  Dear God, if there was any form of hell on earth it would be there.   I can still remember it like it was yesterday. Memories…flashbacks…whatever you want to call it bombarded Nulls mind. 

In the pitch black darkness of the night Null places the breaching charge on the brick wall outside of the school.   The explosion rocks the school inside, collapsing the entire wall inward.   The explosive light blinds the thugs inside as the bricks break across their skulls.   

As Null breached the school wall he climbed over a mound of brick and was greeted by a horrendous sight that was seared into his mind…his memories, forever.  He saw small bodies, peeled apart and impaled on crudely made tools; spiked cages holding skewered dead children.  In the center of the room was a large vat of boiling liquid. The screams of children filled his tortured mind as their flesh was boiled, melting off of their little bodies before his very eyes.

Immediately, as the screams caught Null’s ear, he shook off the memory and reached into his file.  He sat on a nearby bench as he read, “Objective: Break up the peace talks between the Black Out’s emissary and the Blood Drunkard’s emissary.

Hmm… according to this information the Black Out’s emissary has ghost abilities, while the Blood Drunkard’s emissary has a low grade super strength and medium grade durability.  Null sighed heavily, “Well, I guess I’m going to get my ass kicked”. 

Downtown:  Apartment Complex #12, 11:00 pm

There was blood on the moon tonight, a full and eerie glow, as the two emissaries entered the complex.   Unluckily for them Null was close behind them, tracking them.             Gang, monsters and scum, I don’t give a shit what anyone calls them, thought Null as he entered the complex.  He drew his revolver and loaded  some armor piercing rounds.  He followed the emissaries up to room K-64.   Null could hear the lock being thrown on the door tight.  Null raised his revolver, took a deep breath and kicked in the door.

As the door frame gave way the lock snapped without any trouble.   Null entered quickly and opened fire on the distant shadowy figure therein.

TO BE CONTINUED…