The room was dark as the giant screen on the wall showed a map of Lastation with circles drawn all focused on the central park. Below them were pictures of faces.
"So," Jackie said speaking up as she stood before the screen, "Recently reports of rampant murders has come from our neighbor's central park. Dekota if you would fill them in."
Dekota stepped up from the darkness.
"Currently nothing is known about the serial killer other than they attack only once leaving a large gash. This has started the nickname of 'One-Cut Killer' however it has been noted they only attack in the park."
She pointed to the many circles showing them spread all over the park.
"Despite this," Dekota said, "We have reason to believe they will move from this location and could possibility look towards our border."
"So," Jackie interjected, "I want all our borders to become locked down. Warning shots on unknown peoples crossing will be skipped. Especially at night."
She changes the screen to be a map of the shared border along with static positions marked, showing the line of defenses all along the border.
"Bennu." Jackie snapped
"Yes ma'am." She replied
"I want convoys to run the border during the day to scan for any intrusions."
"What kind of convoy ma'am?" Bennu asked
"Closed. Make sure the gaps between them keeps other convoys just out of sight and are ready to rush to aid at anytime."
"How many?"
"How ever many your believe will allow for best coverage with least cost."
"Understood ma'am."
"Good. Now then, training is coming up. Becky, how is your side looking?"
"No squadron has issues." she replied, "We'll train alongside the Army."
"Max?"
"Engineers will do the same ma'am." He said.
"I'm joining." Sasha clamored, "Be good to get back to my engineer work instead of stuck in that hanger."
"Will they even survive without you there?" Max asked
Sasha just shrugged.
"If you want." Jackie said a bit surprised, "I have nothing else to ask so as far as I'm concerned this meeting is over. Get out."
They all left the meeting and Jackie headed for the front of the office.
On her way down the halls she bumped into a woman carrying a bag.
She was a light-skinned girl with long black hair with almost purplish eyes. She wore a black shirt with lovely wording on the chest along with black shorts and van shoes. Most notably she had a black cloth mask obscuring her lower face.
Despite only seeing half her face those eyes showed more than enough with a smug look as she noticed Jackie.
"Jeán." Jackie said backing up some
Jeán just looked saddened as she did.
"What do you want?" Jackie asked
Jeán shrugged.
"When do you ever?"
Another shrug.
"Well I've got to get going. You do whatever it is you do anymore."
Jackie walked off.
[Some time later]
The cat walked up some steps to a platform that overlooking a clearing in the field showing a line of soldiers preparing their weapons to shoot at the many fake targets filling the field.
She placed plugs into her ears as the men lined up to fire. They started taking shots at the many targets as the cat watched.
However one target seemed to refuse to fall down when hit. As well as spray something behind it.
Jackie leaned forward to focus on them as the shooting stopped.
That's no target.
Quickly it started a dash towards the firing line.
Without hesitation the line of soldiers started opening fire on the thing moving towards them, yet every round seemed to do little as it kept running.
It did not take it much time to cross the field and leap up onto the firing platform and launch itself into the sky as it's form became apparent.
It was human.
It plummeted back down to the ground and landed before Jackie.
It looked almost exactly like her besides the mask it wore. A black spiked metal face mask with screen for a visor displaying two white circles as if they were eyes.
Despite all the bullets that found their mark it showed no holes or even blood anywhere.
All it did was stare at Jackie.
It almost seemed like an age had passed before it went to jab at her.
Jackie ducked using her gained reflexes and drew her handgun from her thigh and unloaded eighteen rounds right into it's center.
Yet, despite the massive whole shot into it's abdomen it leaped up and prepared to strike it's boot down.
Jackie rolled out the way and it dug it's heel into the metal flooring.
Without a second to free itself a sword swung from above Jackie and slid clean through leaving a blood trail to splatter onto the floor and all over the cutlass.
Bennu flicked her sword to the side and slid it back into it's sheath.
"Allah yahkam ealayk." She said looking back at the now bleeding entity.
Suddenly it's head whipped to stare at her, sending chills down her spine.
It seemed to break itself into small cubes before reforming inches from her face.
Despite the mask it's grin and stare could be felt piercing the mask, staring her dead in the eyes.
It broke itself back down and appeared right before Jackie giving her the same treatment.
Before ether could act it broke down and the cubes flew off in all directions.
The two just stayed there looking at each other in confusion while the adrenaline slowed.
Quickly men came up to the platform and gathered them to escape.
'Just what was that thing?' Jackie thought to herself as she was being ushered away.
[Chapter: END]
YOU ARE READING
The Fifth Pillar
General FictionIn the world of Gamindustri a shake up has occurred and lead to a fifth nation forming. The nation of Kamno has risen quickly in the forest formerly owned by Lastation. Lead by their human leader. How will this new power come to be?
