Hunger

Chapter 6:1: Deliberation - A Contingency Plan Part I

"Sir Halford, welcome to Flintmore City. Don’t worry about the border. My men are currently deployed there to maintain security. No one and nothing can cross from Rushford to here", Colonel Stevenson informed him, as they got out from the chopper.

"Furthermore, the drawbridge linking Rushford and Flintmore is currently closed due to the wild waves of the dam. Precautionary measures there are heightened into full alert, so it’s impossible to be used."

"Colonel, it’s truly an honor to have you as one of the Halford Inc.’s most daring trustees setting on all over the abundant cities of our country. It’s very overwhelming to have you on our side", Richard said, as he shook his hand with him.

"It’s my honorable pleasure Sir. Come with me to the lab."

They’d just arrived at the foot of Flintmore City, an alternate suburb of Rushford City. Specifically, there were already in a large refuge, where all of the remaining infantry soldiers who came from Rushford were luckily saved and nursed.

Apparently, the people of Flintmore still didn’t know about what had become of the old city. It was because that Colonel didn’t want to shatter the city's silence. Believe it or not, Colonel and Mayor Elton Browning were working for Richard. Those guys were highly-paid, as long as they kept themselves quiet about the Halford Inc.’s skeletons in its closet.

"Randall, welcome to Halford Inc., for the second time", Richard introduced him to the complex.

"What is this?! Another piece of trash?!" he asked in anger.

"Don’t start with me again. I’d been through with your foolish ranting lately."

"I don’t want to do this again! All of the people back there had enough!"

"You know me Randall. I’m not going to give up until my work is done."

"What do you want from these helpless people?!"

"Just wait and see. Don’t haste yourself. Soon, you’ll find it out."

 They passed by the refuge, where a hundred of soldiers were taken care of.

"Colonel! Colonel! We got a situation at the eastern tent! Our comrade is getting crazy!" a soldier surprisingly shouted.

“Bang, bang, bang, bang!”

They swiftly ran to the tent and they heard series of gunshots. Until, they saw an infected soldier craving on his comrade!

"Shoot him now!" Colonel ordered.

"But Sir . . .”

"You heard me! Shoot him!"

"Bang!"

Randall shot him in the head.

Suddenly, all of the soldiers pointed their guns at him.

"It’s okay! Hold your fire! He saved us!"

Eventually, all of them disarmed their weapons.

"Thank you Randall", Colonel said, with a relief.

"See? I told you before! You must stop this crap right now!" Randall shouted at Richard.

"Don’t raise your tone at me!"

"I can do whatever I want! I’m not even your son!"

Suddenly, Richard brought out his gun and he attempted to shoot him.

"You don’t understand me. Business is always a business. The more I do the samples, the more the money flows. Money makes me powerful enough to build this institution and multiply around the country. Soon, I’ll be the one who’ll rule and no one can stop me from living my own dream."

"I’m sorry to hear that because it shatters this time and right this second", Randall replied back at him, with his gun pointing at him.

Again, the soldiers began to arm themselves at him.

"Just make your smart move Randall and these soldiers will pump your guts full of lead. It will be the end of you, if you slip yourself. I’m already sick of talking to you, and now, you’ve just lost your chance. Don’t make them outnumber you."

Randall kept silent in a moment. After several minutes, Richard continued to talk:

"Soldier, relieve him out of his gun then send him behind bars. I don’t want him to stab me at my back anymore."

A soldier took his gun and restrained him with a pair of handcuffs.

"You don’t understand! There are innocent people! They do no harm on you!" he yelled.

"Remember what I said Randall. This is not too personal to me."

"Take back what you said! They’re still people! They need our help!"

"Trust also runs out. Besides, the President will be the one who will trust Colonel for that matter."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"I’m sorry. Play time’s over. Take him away."

"Someday, you’ll pay for what you’ve done!"

"Oh! I’m so scared!"

Two soldiers took him inside the lab and into an isolated place. They both locked him in a cell.

"Hey! Hey!" Randall whispered loudly at the soldier who was leaving him.

"I’m deeply sorry Sir, but this is an order. I have to obey, or else, he’ll kill me", he said.

"No, I’m not insisting you to let me out. Listen to me; you’ve just heard our conversation. Will you tell me about the President's plan?"

He looked at him, like he was already confused.

"What’s your name, soldier?"

"My name’s Leo, Leo Garner."

"Alright Leo. Tell me about the President's plan."

Instead of returning back to his post, he stayed with him and told a wonderful story.