Chapter 24: The Destructive Ideology

John

I heard Benton try and call things out to me from the bottom of the stairs, I didn’t listen however, he had been warned of the possible consequences and he drove me into it by attacking first, he would not die, I made sure to make it the cleanest shot possible, He would have plenty of time to get help and he had plenty of people around to do it. I then continued to load my rifle as I was doing previously, I had the perfect overall vantage point, there were only two places to hide and only a few pieces of cover, I would be able to take them all out by the time it all took them to get into the few pieces of cover in the building. I then got a call on my radio, of course it was Benton trying to talk me out of it, either that or he was telling me I was dead to him. It didn’t matter, I was doing my best work in order to make the planet the best it can, it will be the most peaceful and well setup system ever seen. What was happening with Benton hurt, but I would risk it all for the lives of everyone else. There will be no wars to split people apart, that’s what I’m trying to do. “John, I know you can hear me, but I know you have nothing left to say, but I do. You have fucking lost It, you are literally just being destructive in order to suppress your anguish, but just know that none of it will bring them back. I miss them too, more than anyone, but I am solving the problem, not restarting it, the human race will always fight, there will always be differences. The world has been cursed, we may never see peace. It’s a myth, something to fight for when you have a disagreement, it’s an excuse, a lie!” his radio fell silent, maybe he didn’t want to hear a response, it didn’t matter anyway, I didn’t have one. He wanted to have no faith, I do however. When all the ruthless leaders get destroyed, we get people who are compassionate and smart to run our system, make It so no-one can rule their whole lives the world will be a safer more civilised place. It was all so simple, of course there would be the short term consequences but after everything gets worked out the long term payment awaken, if I make it out and get to see it, I’ll probably just live a normal life, I won’t bother helping with the government, at this point I’ve had enough, I just want to win.

I held in my radio and gave one final response “This is for the record. History is written by the Victor, History is filled with liars, since millennia we have been casualties of war, always fighting over their differences, we were told as children that the enemy is bad, but were baseless in their assumptions of what they actually did, our government has been lying to us ever since the big war, no-one ever showed the atrocities of what we did, we just call them heroes for fighting for us without showing us what they fight for. It’s just because the other people live a different way to them, and I’m here to stop it. The world will see peace one day.” The radio stayed silent, there was nothing to be said. Our differences in ideologies were now too prevalent in order to just respectively move on we were now on the opposite sides of the fence.

I had lined everything up, it was now time for the execution, I held sight on my first contact, the plan was simple, I just had to take out some of them in a specific order and I would be set for victory, nobody inside had realised they were in danger, the doors were sealed and no-one could warn them. I lined up my scope and opened fire, all 6 of them dropped in quick succession. Just like that the world had changed… Benton tried to call me on the Radio once the gunfire began but I wouldn’t respond, it was over, I was half way too victory all I had to do now was take out the commander and I would have victory, everyone on the nearby street heard the gunfire and panicked, darting for cover, this would be my best opportunity to slip out during the panic, I left no evidence behind, it would take a seriously good detective in order to find out that I did it, unless Benton or Jade turned me in. I darted down the stairs and into the street, I had all my gear on me so if I was seen I would be the first suspect, suspiciously enough Benton wasn’t at the bottom of the stairs where I pushed him, he must have went to go get help. I opened the door and exited the clocktower, and made haste getting down a nearby alley and out of the area. I was then met by a line up of swat forces, all heavily armed and pissed. I analysed the situation, if I ran, they would without hesitation open fire, if I tried to clear a fence they would do the same. I decided it best to surrender, I put my hands in the air and let them cuff me to be hauled off to god knows where.

Benton

I was in the hospital getting patched up when I got the call that John had been captured, my plan had worked and he was now in custody, he was about to get a rude awakening when the news dropped that all of the countries most renowned leaders just got assassinated. The whole faction was about to hit the fan and it wasn’t going to be pretty, the opposition who was now replacing had been outvoted heavily for the last 60 years due to their desire for peace among the two factions and now they were going to go through hell way before they were ready, I warned John, and now he was going to face the consequences.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I got medically cleared and headed to the police station where he was held and already there were groups forming demanding for the head of the infamous John Doddman, I pushed past the group and used my card to open the door, people began to charge me, trying to get through and charge the station, I pushed forward and made one warning that if anyone tried to get through the door they were getting shocked. One guy tried and I followed through, ejecting the shock baton, tapping the man with it, I almost used him as a shield as I entered through the door and pushed him off me. I then swiftly locked the door behind me, I was then greeted by the officer in charge “It’s a good thing you’re here, we have John In custody and he only wants to speak to one person and that’s you.” I didn’t particularly feel like talking to him, he had crossed too many lines in order for me to be not mad at him, I would forgive him in time but for now he was the last person I wanted to see.

I walked into the interrogation room and sat down, the files with all the information that was needed for me to interrogate were there “How’s your leg?” John asked it in a true concerned way, even though we were on the other sides of history we were still at heart close friends “Healing good enough, how’s your sanity hanging?” I sounded sarcastic but the truth was I didn’t understand what was going on with his condition, but he took it seriously and responded accordingly “Still a mess but being so focused so much has indeed helped, every time I have my mind to myself however, I begin to break down, focusing on the past.” What he just explained to me made sense, John ever since I knew him he hated to be doing nothing, he always needed something to do, he always struggled to stop, even if It was just for one moment, he never liked to relax. “so, I presume doing the time you spent in here alone was hell for you?” John nodded, he looked at me with question “You’re not angry at me for shooting you?” I thought for one moment, I wasn’t really, I was more upset that he wouldn’t trust the reasoning of his best friend, but to be fair, I didn’t listen to his either. “I mean, a little, but I’m more upset about the fact that you refused to see the fact that there are now going to be full scale riots due to what you have done, and now this place is going to fall apart faster than you have.” The last comment was one big Jab at the path he has taken, he understood this and looked town at the table in hurt, he then looked back up “everything I do, I do to secure a better future for everyone, think about it, I just made history. If you had of succeeded in your mission and stopped me, our government would want blood, they would go to war with the other superpower who has tried so hard to make peace, now we have people in power who no longer want a war, they want to make the world truly peaceful for the first time in its history.” I thought on It for a moment, this moral dilemma almost worked like a math equation, how many people now would have to go through hell in order for the world to be truly peaceful, could the world put aside its differences? I didn’t think so, living in the other faction’s land whilst hunting the commander showed me that the two sides lived very differently, and living as one united front would be almost impossible. The way they both lived and thought was too different “Your idea works in theory, but there will always be differences John, these people will always hate each other, there is no way out of this, what is done is done but just know you didn’t solve anything, this conflict will continue. I will solve this mess, but I can’t save you, your mistake is too great.” John was unphased, we were back in a stalemate, we were both set in our beliefs. “Benton, I know I won’t make it out of here ever at this point, I’ll either be executed by the masses or imprisoned for all time, but one day you will understand. The day will come where you will want to me more than a loyal soldier, you weren’t built for it, you are too smart for that. You are a revolutionary, I can tell due to the way you were so driven to take down the commander, but what you need to know is that these guys are just as viscous and ruthless as he is, the only reason you don’t want to take down the people I did is because they didn’t take the person you love most away.” John saw the drop in my face during the last sentence, I remained silent “That’s right I always knew you had feelings for her deep down, you kept it all locked up this entire time but you were more hell bent on destroying him than I was, that’s why you broke form and became a leader.” The way that John said it was a very ‘I told you so kind of way’ and it fucking enraged me, I leaped over the table and grabbed him by the collar “Don’t you fucking dare make that kind of accusation, I stepped up because you fucking couldn’t because you were wallowing in your fucking sadness and I was too busy trying to save the world!” the then threw him back against the chair and stormed out.