Chapter 29 Confrontation
The sounds of Hammers and Saws echo all around us. I look a the new workforce that appeared out of thin air. Go with the flow go with the flow I finally say to myself and sigh.
Now to the next step, it is early evening now approaching 4 pm, we spent most of the day gathering money. I could have left Julie behind to deal with this while we were out, but after the earful she gave me last night I knew she would not agree and did not bother to try.
“Julie kitten...” I look at her, as she is looking at the work force in amazement, then she turns to me as she hears me call her name,” could you assign everyone their jobs please?” I ask of her.
She smiles and nods “ Ok sweetheart, do you have the list?” she asks, referring the list the other day we had everyone write down their names and occupations.
“Umm, no, I think Rick still has that, I think he is still in the Library.” I say to her.
“Ok I will go see if he has that and get right on it.” she says then runs off to find the Sheriff.
I look around and then look at Cindy,”So what else can you do as Treasurer?” I ask suddenly.
“Not much else, seems I collect the taxes, pay the bills which you can override it seems, and keep track of the money.” She replies after calling out her screen and going over it quickly.” oh and I convert currency...” she adds. Then pauses, “hmm seems I have some kind of policy maker, I can set policies pertaining to taxes of various kinds, they need your approval to be enacted tho. I can send the policies to you automatically then you just have to accept or deny for them to be enacted.”
"Hm ok, then set a policy of a flat tax of 15%, that should do it for now, we will look at everything else later.” I say giving it a quick thought. She nods, fiddles with some things in the air, then a message appears before me
BARONY NOTICE!A policy of a Flat Tax of 15% has been proposed by the Barony Teasurer.
Do you wish to implement this policy? Yes or No?
I select yes.
BARONY NOTICE!A Flat Tax of 15% has been imposed on the Barony.
Your popularity has dropped in the Barony by 10%.
Looks good I think, the 10% popularity drop is not going to hurt me right now.
Satisfied for now, we head back to the Cafeteria. Everyone seems to be gathering as Julie called for all the people to assemble, she is sitting at a table with Rick there seems he was in the Cafeteria. They are talking to one another going over a list, nodding and pointing at the list.
I go to another area and sit down Cindy is with me, we leave Julie to her duties and not interfering. We watch observing the process. The Elite Guard are gathered as well and one by one people start to approach Julie, she says a few words to them, then they head over to the Elite Guards when a blue light envelops them one by one. Screams of agony can be heard but quickly passes only to be replaced by another. The Guards were there to reassure and assist in the initiation process.
It had to be done I think to myself grimly.
After 2 hours pass, everyone, except the children were initiated, well except a few individuals who refused , Mark among them. Julie and Mark had a heated exchange of words, upon which he stormed off angrily. The people who refused, argued first and foremost, that they could not stand pain and secondly they saw no reason to comply. The School was public property and as such they had a right to assemble and not be involved in this stupidity, the government would save them and they were going to hold out till then.
Thankfully it was only a minority, 18 people in all.
After it was all done, Julie got up from her seat accompanied by Rick and headed over to us.
"Ooooh that Mark, what did I ever see in him in the first place, he is such an asshole!” she fumes, then sits on my lap and hugs me.
She then says holding onto me, “ we wound up with 51 workers, 22 kids and 18 hold outs. The children, as we agreed, are exempt until their 16th birthday.”
We had, a few days ago agreed, that 16 years of age should be the earliest age we should allow any child to participate in the initiation, however we wold allow them to help if they volunteered, but not force them. We want to them enjoy what little of their childhood they had left, even if only playing in the Cafeteria was available to them at this time.
“We have established a day care with 5 people, one of the persons, Mrs. Roberts runs a day care so left that in her hands, that relieved many parents who can now safely leave their children in her care.” Julie says cheerfully.
“Then Mr Adams, he runs a local business. A mom and pop store, for hardware and home accessories, so I made him the head of maintenance supplies and repairs. He will take stock of what we have and give a report of what is needed. He has a work force for repairs too, some carpenters, drywall and other home repair guys I also added the handy men and we even had an electrician.”
“Then we have a Mrs Daniels, she is actually from England, married her husband who was in the Army at the time, they moved here when he got out, he died a few years back of cancer, but she was a real maid back then. So I made her the head maid." she says proudly and kisses my cheek, I return her kiss by kissing her on the lips “Good job” I say, proud of her.
“Yeah well we also added a few to our army” says Rick. “seems we have a few former soldiers, but do not know much else and are happy to be a part of the force we are going to build.” He pauses then asks the question of the day “so what are we going to do about that Mark fellow and the other 17?”
“Well we will leave them be for now, hopefully over time they will come around” I say to all of them.
“That Mark fellow is a trouble maker, he will cause problems for you in the future you know” Rick says grimly.
"Yeah I know, maybe I should just kill him now?” I joke, but all their faces went pale “ I kid I kid, I am not going to kill him, we will deal with him if and when he causes trouble.
“THAT is not funny Scott!” Cindy is very stern with me.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
"I know sorry, was trying to lighten the mood on the subject, they will come around eventually might take some time, but it will happen.” I say now serious.
“I hope you are right Scott” The Sheriff says with a foreboding tone, "we can not afford dissent in this community right now.”
Julie speaks up not wanting to touch the subject of Mark I noticed as she changes the subject, “uhhm, well there is one more piece of news...”
I look a her observing she is uncomfortable with the subject of Mark, does she still have feelings for him? Not after kneeing him in the family jewels like that and them arguing right?
"Julie do you still love Mark?" I ask I always approach a problem right away in cases like this. And I need to know up front before I get further invested with this woman, I can not allow myself to be hurt by her now.
Cindy and Sheriff both stiffen at my question.
Julie gets up from my lap and looks at me in disbelief.
“I ask because you said nothing at all when we talked about Mark and you seem very uncomfortable with the subject, so I ask do you still love him?” I ask a serious expression on my face.
"My god Scott, how can you ask such a thing now? Do I love that asshole? No, he betrayed me years ago,I got over him quickly back then and moved on. I love you Scott, no one else, you have got to believe that, my god Scott, you have no idea how much I care and love you.....” she begins to cry as my doubt of her hurt her deeply it seems.
Feeling guilty I jump up and take her in my arms, “I am sorry kitten, I had to ask seeing how you were avoiding the subject. Then what do you suggest we do about Mark?” I ask of her, since she knows Mark the best she might know of a way to deal with him.
“He is going to cause you a lot of grief Scott”, she begins” He is one that can not let things go, you are going to have to confront him directly. Just now he whispered to me that he will make me his. I told him to go to hell. But he will not stop pestering me, I wanted to tell you before, but I thought I could deal with it. All day yesterday he followed me around trying to persuade and beg me to come back to him. I told him repeatedly to leave me alone” she begins to cries. “then when I saw Cindy, I ran to her, and he then left me alone....I did not want to get you upset after yesterdays events, so I did not tell you right away”.
Angry now, I start walking towards the Cafeteria exit, Julie grabs onto me, but does not try to stop me, Cindy and the Sheriff on our heels. We head towards Marks room, I am really angry right now. I do not knock on his door and open it, inside I see him with 4 other men assembled. They are talking in low voices,” ...then when we take over..”, he stops and sees me, his face goes pale.
“Take what over” I ask in a menacing voice, Julie on my right arm, Cindy and sheriff entered with us.
"Nothing! This is my private room, you have no right to be in here. Now get out!” Mark demands.
"No right? I guess you were not paying attention Mark. Let me make a few things clear to you maggot. I am in charge here, I OWN this place now. This is MY woman, So help me god if you go near her again, I will kill you on the spot.” I say in a cold voice, menacing, growling, killing intent can be felt coming from me.
Mark visibly goes even paler than before and flinches, then regains himself.”Ha! Kill me huh? The Sheriff will not allow that to happen! He has a duty to uphold the law. If you so much as lay hand on me I will sue your ass! As to Julie, we will see, she will see things my way eventually!” he says gaining confidence with each word and sneers at me.
I look at the sheriff, he just shakes his head. Julie is seething angry right now. Cindy is speechless at Marks outburst.
“CAPTAIN OFTHE GUARD!” I yell loudly. Ok that is it. I have had it with this guy, lets see how much power I hold.
I hear a running in the hallway and the Captain appears before me, several of the guards with him. “YES MY LORD!”
I point to Marks group,”I hereby banish these men from my territory. Remove them by any means necessary!”
“Ba.... Banish? You can't do that! This is public property! I have rights!”Mark shouts in protest.
“Your Will be done My Lord! GUARD! Remove those men by force!” Captain Winford instructs.
The 3 guard that came with Captain Winford, draw their swords and approach Mark and his group. Mark reaches behind him and pulls a gun and fires quickly. The bullets bounce off their armor not even scratching it The other men also pull Guns and begin to fire in a panic. Bullets begin to fly, I feel one whiz by my ear, I jump into action and attack the man on the far right.
I hit him in the stomach, my fist passes thru him, coming out his back. He has a look of surprise on his face, then I let him slide to the ground, he is dead. The Guards quickly dispatch the other 3 men stabbing them with their swords killing them. Mark is cornered and fires the last of his rounds at Captain Winford, then his gun is empty. He throws his gun at the Captain who in turn then swipes his sword at Mark, beheading him. Marks body slides to the ground.
I look around at the carnage, I hear people gathering behind us.
“JULIE!” Cindy screams
I turn around and see Julie on the floor a puddle of blood forming around her, I see the Sheriff had been hit too, in the shoulder, in pain.
I run to Julie and turn her on her back, she has 2 wounds in her, one in the chest and one in the stomach. I feel for her pulse, I feel nothing, I quickly get an Advanced Healing Potion from my inventory, but I can not get her to drink it, she is not breathing, someone forcibly pushes me to the side. Tears are forming in my eyes and begin to slide down my face.
Stunned, I look on as the Doc who pushed me aside, is performing CPR on Julie frantically, but with a calm expression on his face.
BARONY NOTICE!Julie Matteson has left your Barony, your Chief of Staff is now Vacant.
All Benefits and Bonuses have been removed.
Your Barony has lost 1000 fame.
NOTICE!You have lost 1000 fame
“Ju... Julie?” I cry silently.