Story [Issue 34] The Story Behind the Colors: Prodigi

[Kevred 1,586]

 

 

 

His hand fought against his will as he squeezed the metal. All his training was needed to keep his face calm and expressionless when blood splattered out of Amelie’s skull. But the disgusted, loathing look James Reed saw in Anne’s eyes was the worst of them all. Could she not understand it was necessary? Could she not comprehend that he did it for her safety? The man sometimes dreamed she did, but those dreams were long faded, pushed back to the far corners of his mind. So he kept his fake composure, and played the role of a Tal officer to perfection. His Eurasians bosses' orders were formal: his cover must be preserved at all costs. All costs including the life or lives of anyone. 

 

He was however unable to keep his hands from trembling when Anne walked out of the room, without looking back. Fortunately the clouds were on his side, and the shadows prevented the surrounding Tals from seeing the otherwise reflection in his eyes.

 

-

 

A week ago, he had watched her dig a grave for her sister in the woods behind her house. He had watched her sob and cry.

 

Unwillingly, he had then peeled his eyes off of the spectacle and ordered to burn down the house. The words sounded dry as he rolled them over his tongue.

 

Anne Beaumont, agent of the Eurasian Undercover Service. A colleague, in some sort. Only she was tasked with office work, whilst he had to infiltrate the Tal.  

 

And according to the newspapers, she had recently been executed by her own country.

 

-

 

“I'm telling you, I couldn't prevent the execution. The Tals would have become suspicious.” Jonathan Lox folded his fingers on the table, which shook as said James then proceeded to slam his fists on. James Reed's dark mood stood out against the white walls of General Lox's office.

 

“Would have? You sacrificed her life to prevent something that might have happened?”

 

The impassible General barely blinked when a lampshade went flying towards the wall ruining the perfect whiteness. The vintage glass broke into shards, tens of thousands of irreparable fragments.

 

“Yes, I, or we, did. The life of one is worth the safety of many. You, of all men, should understand that.”

 

“You could've faked her death! Pretended she was executed in custody or something! I don’t know!" James was now tearing his hair apart, almost undistinguishable from a madman. "There are so many possibilities, but the authorities decided to choose the worst one?”

 

“Maybe there might have been a better option. But the past is in the past, and we cannot change it. Focus your spirit on a cause you can change.”

 

Papers and documents went flying to join the lampshade, at the foot of the wall. As quick as it appeared, the anger subsided to give place to deep abandonment. Force gave up on him as he collapsed into his chair, deep pockets under his once sprightly eyes.

 

“How did the Tal find out the location of her house?” His words were murmured, barely audible in the croaking of the frogs in the backyard pond. Lox was relieved to change the topic of the conversation, but he wisely didn't let it show.

 

Without waiting for an answer, James continued, “The Tal commander Eerfee told me someone from the inside sent him the location.”

 

“Yes, and we have a pretty good idea of who it was. In the last two months, three mails from the Eurasian Undercover Service were sent to outside recipients: a governmental letter, obviously legitimate, classified data on the situation of the Paris siege, which has been verified and also classed 100% legit. That leaves only the last mail, sent by a scientist from the French research labs. It contained blueprints on a certain revolutionary tank armor design. The file can no longer be found in the National database.”

 

James narrowed his eyes. “Who’s the sender?”

 

“Chemist Alexandra Belanger. Information on her is in the Demographic Database. We have dispatched troops to-“

 

James briskly stood up, the inner fire lit up by knowledge of vengeance. He threw his chair against the door, knocking it down by the same occasion. He then pulled out a gun and pointed it at the General.

 

“TO HELL WITH YOUR TROOPS! Bullets are too quick, she does not deserve such way of passing. I will make sure she regrets her acts during the last moments of her pitiful life. Don’t move!” He added when Lox began rising from his chair.

 

“James, do not leave Hamburg. The Tals have all eyes out for you, know that they know you’re a spy. James? James! Reed, stop!”

 

His words were lost in the silence of the marble corridors, a gust of wind indicating the once presence of James Reed.

 

-

 

The green metal plating of the Wasp stood out against the civilian cars on the highway. People swerved right and left to avoid its tracks, and the too slow were relentlessly crushed under its weight. A trail of blazing carcasses littered the highway, and it didn't take long before someone alerted the Security.

 

“Wasp Railgun model 12887, immediately power off the turret and stop the engine!”

 

The said Railgun started turning, which the officer believed to be a sign of submission. He sighed in relief, but the sigh stuck in his throat when a purple halo appeared around the tip of the Fear Machine. The beam missed his car by a good meter; unfortunately the vehicle behind him wasn't as lucky. The auto flipped into the air, furthermore creating an explosion which melted the concrete of the road. Two of the other Security vehicles drove straight into the boiling substance and the rubber of their tires immediately disintegrated into a puddle of black. The only remaining car kept its speed, the officer being a rather courageous man.

 

“Wasp Railgun model 12887, immediately stop vehicle! Your actions give us authorization to fire!”

 

James finally stopped the engine, and popped out of the small hatch on the top of his stolen Wasp. His lips twisted into a taunting smile.

 

The officer, unshaken by the devilish expression, scanned his target with his portable camera.

 

“Criminal identified! James Reed, you are accused of public aggression, thieving of national property, military resistance and murder of a representative of the Crown. You are sentenced to the execution squad! Step away from the Wasp, and hands in the air!” The officer cautiously moved behind his car whilst constantly pointing his pistol through the window.

 

“Ha! You want me to follow justice? Do me justice first. As for you, I’ll give you a chance. This world is controlled by Nature and Luck. As such, Nature shall decide your fate.” His smile stretched even further. 

 

He opened his mouth, a supernatural feeling ordering the officer to move his legs and get him out of there, however his muscles worked against his will. One huff of air moved up James' throat, shaped into words before exiting his mouth in the form of a single, deadly term:

 

"Run."

 

James primed the grenade and threw it onto the car. He closed the hatch as more flaming debris joined the existing ones, but this time they were stained in red. Blood-red.

 

-

 

“ALEXANDRA BELANGER!”

 

His shout reverberated around the small neighbourhood of Toulouse. It was an inhuman cry, and soon frantic steps emanated from the stairs. The woman to whom they belonged to then appeared out of the living room door, which was plunged in darkness. 

She was followed by who seemed to be her husband. He placed himself between Belanger and James, spreading out his arms to offer a physical shield. It turned out to be useless, for one bullet sufficed to fell the human barrier. Unrelentingly, Reed then directed the tip of his gun towards the woman. Two kids stood behind her, their eyes covered by their mother’s trembling hands.

 

“What do you want?” She said, her voice quivering from fear.

 

“Nothing but what everyone wants. Justice.” Without warning, he flicked his gun and sent a bullet into the leg of the eldest child, who wailed in pain.

 

“Please, stop!”

 

“It’s not fair, isn’t it? He’s innocent, so it’s not fair that he received the pain, right? Well was it fair when you aided the Tal Ourouk kill the Beaumonts? Was it fair when Anne was executed as traitor when everyone knew perfectly that she wasn’t one? Was it fair when her entire family was massacred just for one person?”

 

“I-I didn’t…I don’t know what you’re-“

 

“ANSWER ME!” He brought his fist down onto her jaw, and she stumbled back into the wall. Her lips took a hint of blood.

 

“You sent a message one month ago. What did it contain, and who was it sent to?” Cold anger replaced his blind fury. Although to Alexandra, neither was better.

 

“It con-contained the blueprints of a tank protection paint…I sent it to a friend. Please.”

 

“THE TRUTH! Or your child dies!” To emphasize his point, James shot the other leg of the poor child, and his cries doubled in intensity. No mother could stand seeing her children in such pain, and Alexandra Belanger was no exception.

 

“I secretly at-attached a file containing the loca…location of the Beaumont’s home, and I-I sent it to...to the Tal.”

 

“You sent it within a governmental blueprint, so that the filter wouldn't suspect anything. Ingenious. You’re nothing but a traitor, Belanger. But Nature will decide whether you live or die. I'm giving you three seconds to run.”

 

“Please…Tony can’t stand up! Please!” she pleaded.

 

“Three.”

 

Alexandra desperately attempted to haul the child up, but she collapsed under their combined weight.

 

“Two.”

 

The mother ordered the youngest child to run away, but he refused, clutching his mother’s waist as his tears dripped down her soaked dress.

 

“One.”

 

His finger squeezed the trigger three times, three hits of the gavel of the judge.

 

-

 

“I received your letter. You wanted to see me? You have the courage to see me after everything you've done?” Lox stepped out of the car, and immediately received a blast of wind. Squinting to see through the mist that enveloped the Alps, he distinguished a man kneeling at the edge of the canyon.

 

“It’s nothing compared to what you've done.” The voice seemed to come from all four directions, echoing around the vast mountains.

 

“James, did one woman really do this to you? Is one woman worth the death of many?”

 

“It is the law of the Talion. Eye for an eye. Those who caused her death shall receive equal treatment. It is not my problem if I must punish many instead of one. I am the hand of justice.”

 

“Alexandra, Tony and George Belanger were found dead in their household today.”

 

“Justice killed them, just as justice killed Anne.”

 

“You’re a murderer doubled with a madman. Stop this, James.”

 

“If that is what you think, so be it. It won’t matter much once your corpse is rotting in the sun.”

 

“So you brought me here to kill me.”

 

“Partly. One thought dawned on me as I sat here, watching the water course through the rocks. I've been foolish to not realize it before. And that though is, how did Belanger come to know the location of Anne’s home? She was only a scientist, and did not work for the Secret Services. You, on the other hand…” He left his sentence hanging in the air, more menacing than any bullet.

 

“I guess there’s no point in lying now. Belanger was the owner of the information on the protective armor. She threatened to give it to the Tal unless we traded it for the location of Anne’s home. The Tal Ourouk wanted someone with deep knowledge of the Eurasian Military, and we wanted the paint, so we accepted. Understand, such technology falling into the hands of people like the Tal…”

 

“From what I understand, you gave up a human life for a few copper wires and electricity signals. Tell me, is that fair? Is that what you call justice?”

 

“The world is not fair, James. Nothing is. We do not try to make it fairer. Instead, we try to limit the number of people affected by the injustice. Choose, James. Choose the right path. You have a choice.”

 

“Lies.”

 

James slowly stood up, his back still turned to the General. His head was tilted upwards, as he stared deeply into the limitless sky.

“Anne didn't have a choice. Did she choose to be sacrificed? Did she choose to be betrayed?”

 

“The leader of operation Storm didn't have a choice either. But I blamed the right people. The Tal Ourouk.”

 

“Like you said: focus your spirit on things you can change. I can’t kill all the Tal, but I can shoot you and throw your body to the bottom of this canyon. Also, just so your death is not a peaceful one…” James turned around. In his hands was a small microchip.

 

“You couldn't have-You…that’s the protection paint data!”

 

“Indeed. I found it in Alexandra’s pocket. Once I'm done with you, I’ll put this in your pocket and push you over the edge. It’ll be the last of you and this damned paint.”

 

“James, Anne died for that data! Think, it’s as if you were killing her a second time!”

 

“Anne was dead to me the moment the guillotine fell.”

 

The shot echoed in the distance.

 

-

 

“Unit Alpha B! Drop Hornet Thunder to attached coordinates.”

 

The General hid behind one of the sparse trees, clutching his left leg. After what seemed like seconds, the sound of the helicopter arrived to his years. The Hornet made a loud clang as it dropped onto the semi-rocky mountain slope. He knew that he had only a few seconds before James would find out where he was hiding, so he ran as fast as his wounded legs could carry him to the tank. A bullet whizzed past his face as he climbed into the metal beast. Driving backwards, he narrowly dodged the James' Railgun’s beam. He then took a shot of his own, which harmlessly hit the ground a few meters away from the Wasp speeding towards him.

 

The Hornet’s wheels kicked up mountains of dirt as it tried unsuccessfully to move out of the way of the furious Wasp. The wheels unstuck only too late. The shock of the impact sent vibrations through both men’s mobile exoskeletons, whilst metal on metal produced sparks worthy of the 4th of July. 

 

The Railgun’s beam charged up again, but it was lost in the air. Rearing again, it went for another ramming. This time the General was prepared, and the Hornet backed-off in time. A well-timed shot combined with the speed of the Wasp sent the latter flipping and rolling to the edge of the vast canyon, before landing on its back, its turret crooked and rendered useless. Both men came out of their armoured vehicles, one calmly stepping out and the other desperately crawling out of fiery flames.

 

“Everything is lost for you, James. Give me the microchip.”

 

His only response was a demonic laugh. James smirked.

 

“I’d die before giving it to you. This leaves only one option. There is no choice.”

 

He did the military salute before flinging himself over the ledge of the canyon, and into the void.

 

-

 

The soldier victoriously raised the blood-stained microchip over his head. 

 

“Sir, the microchip, it’s intact! Not even a scratch! It’s a miracle, a…a…”

 

“A prodigy.”

 

---

 

Storm

 

Sakura

 

 

Edited July 29, 2017 by Hexed

[deadtoyou 2,502]

Wow. Just wow.

 

*thunderous applause*

[jazz20 1,181]

Another sobb story :'(((((( Come on Kev your killing us with emotion.......

 

very nicely written. I have no idea why someone would down-vote this. Probably because you made them cry xD

[Kevred 1,586]

As you can see, I effectively took the suggestion of blues10 to make a story on Prodigi. More suggestions are welcome. :)

Edited May 1, 2015 by Kevred

[genak138 950]

So graphic :mellow: There are 8-year-olds here...

[beaku 2,656]

How come the name changed from 'Prodigy' to 'Prodigi'?

[r_priyangshu0 270]

How about Inferno? I believe that would be awesome!

[liverpoolaum 811]

nice

[Helindu_2014 830]

Well written!

Hats off to you..........

 

Suggestion - Spark

[HappyNding4U 8]

SPOILER WARING:    Do not waste your time reading this article.  

[anshi_bringitup 16]

The story is just excellent...!!

[Mr.I3oSS 557]

I'm impressed with the Storyline..  :)

Goodjob Kev

[deadtoyou 2,502]

Someone really hates this, downvoting everything here. :lol:

 

By the way Kev, I suggest you do a Tiger or Jaguar story. Sadly, no Chicken paints....... :(

[Hell33lleH 10]

 Could TankiOnline change the design of prodigy? It is the ugliest of all by far. So even I buy it.

 

:(

[r_qw1212qw1 14]

Excellent job Kev. Just awesome.

[My_Tiger_Psy 4]

One of your darker stories bro!  Great work, and I am extremely impressed :)

[Omar_Enze 846]

+

[hydregion 2]

As you can see, I effectively took the suggestion of blues10 to make a story on Prodigi. More suggestions are welcome. :)

not to be rude or anything, but you miss spelt Prodigi at the end of the story. Great work though

[Kevred 1,586]

not to be rude or anything, but you miss spelt Prodigi at the end of the story. Great work though

*sigh* it was on purpose..."Prodigi" isn't a "official" word :P

 

How come the name changed from 'Prodigy' to 'Prodigi'?

._.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Kevred

[Legolover3 91]

Do Spark. Your writing is so...awesome. They should name a paint after you....after you write a story about its origins haha

[Daniel898 327]

After reading these, I hope Kev doesn't become a murderer xD jk. Good job Kev. :)

[fightermalikio20115 374]

too long,going to read it on friday 

 

 

someone keeps downvoting these comments

 

 

[applications_tanki 129]

i don't get it???? :huh:

[thunderousrailgunner 1,934]

Wow. Just wow.

 

*thunderous applause*

so kind of you  ;)

[UnKnOwN_O.o 3]

nice