Al awoke, tied up in the middle of a tent somewhere in the middle of the night. Before him, his back to Al, sat a soldier on a computer. Al groaned, and the soldier nearly jumped out of his seat, frightened by the fear that the monster had awoken and, broke free, and was coming to eat him. When he saw Al groggily lifting his head, his fear subsided a bit, and he rushed out of the tent, yelling, Captain! Captain!.
A few minutes later, the same young soldier lifted the tent flap, with an older soldier stepping in, taking off his black beret as he did so. The man walked across the tent to the green man in the chair and quickly slapped him across the face.
Hey, mutie, whatd ya do to piss off your own kind like that? he asked, a mocking grin on his face. The young soldier, probably a private, though Al didnt know military rank structure, grinned dumbly behind the captain. Private, keep your pistol ready, I want you to drop this thing if it tries anything. the captain said, turning to the private as he did so.
Roger, sir. the private said happily, upholstering his 9mm pistol and gripping it firmly in both hands, aiming it at Als chest.
Well, mutie? Ya gonna answer the question? he asked impatiently, still grinning in Als face.
They werent no good mutants. Tried to kill thems, whats I did. he said plainly.
The captain laughed, stepping backwards, true amusement on his face. Why, you aint nothing but a redneck underneath them scales, aintcha, boy? he asked with his own thick southern accent. Why, if more yall muties started killin each other, itd make our job a lot easier.
Al didnt respond. He just sat there, staring at the captain with unblinking, red eyes. After a moments more laughter, the captain began to take notice to Als demeanor. He composed himself.
Ahem. Alright, boy, we didnt see any ID on ya, so that right theres a fedral offense. One you can bet theyll be punishing you severely for. Now, if ya want them to maybe go a bit easier on ya, tell me your name.
Al continued to glare at the captain, but did not speak.
Anger flashed across the captains face at this act of defiance. He grabbed Al by the shoulders and shook hard, getting right in his face. I said, tell me your name, boy! he yelled angrily.
Al still did not respond. The captain succumbed to his anger, and punched Al in the mouth, catching him by surprise, and sending his neck snapping backwards. Al shook his head and spit blood out on the captains shoes.
Why you freak-son-of-a-*****! the captain bellowed, and punched Al again, this time in the nose. It didnt break, but it sure hurt like hell. I told you to tell me your name, now you tell me your name or this private here will testify that you attacked me and had to be put down. he screamed into the scaled-face before him, gesturing to the private behind him who shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably, unsure if he should be thrilled and excited or scared and serious.
Lee. Al said, simply, quietly.
Whatd you say, boy?
Lee.
Lee who?
Robert E. Lee.
Another punch to the face. Dont you get smart with me, boy! Aint a mutie around should ever even be allowed to utter the name of such a great American hero! he punched Al yet again, trying to drive home the point. Now, goddamnit, tell me your name!
Two quick shots rang out in the camp outside the tent. The captain immediately spun around, glaring now at the private. What the hell was that all about?! he demanded.
The private, in suddenly in shock by the gunfire and the captains oppressive stare, mumbled, Uh, uh, I dunno, sir!
Well, go find out! Hurry, I dont wanna be alone in this tent with this freak for too long. he ordered. The private nodded, said Yessir, holstered his pistol and ran out of the tent. The captain, meanwhile, upholstered his own sidearm and backed away to the tent entrance, aiming the weapon at Als chest.
I oughta kill you right now, you damn freak. the captain said quietly, calmly. His face still burned with anger, but he was noticeably in control of himself right now. No one would question it, no one would care. Just another dead mutie that we dont have to worry about no more.
Al just continued to stare at him, blood dripping from his mouth, running from his nose. But he did not let his pain show. He was stronger than these humans, and better than them. He wanted them to know he wasnt afraid of them. Hed die, but hed make sure they paid first.
A crow flew into the tent, flying straight into the back of the captains head. The captain spun around in surprise, swinging at the big black bird who was pecking and scratching at his face. In the struggle he dropped his pistol, but Al was too well constrained to make anything of it.
Al smiled, watching the show. He was fairly certain he wouldnt be getting free, probably would be killed right here in this very camp, but before he went, hed make the lives of these soldiers a living hell.
Finally, after only a few seconds which seemed to last forever, a loud crack emanated from the birds neck. It dropped lifeless to the ground. The captain, panting, his face flayed by the crows talons, bent down to pick up his pistol with his right hand, and covered his left eye with his left hand.
Damn bird took out my eye! he screamed, at no one in particular. What the hell?!
Just then the private ran back into the tent, panting. Sir, it was one of the MPs dogs, killed his- he stopped mid-sentence when he noticed the damage to his commanders face. Did that freak do that to you? he asked, true concern and fear in his voice.
The captain waved him away, then pointed at the ground. No you idiot, the monster is tied up, he didnt do anything. It was that damn crow. Argh! he cried out at the end, his damaged eye pulsing with pain. Private, go back to your squad. Im going to post guards at the entrance and the head to the medical tent. Well save this freak for the state to deal with. he said, marching out of the tent, followed by the private, who turned off the one and only light dangling above Als head before he, himself left.
In the darkness, tied to a chair, Al realized just how much fun this really could be. Hed have some revenge against humans tonight, that was for sure. The swamp around the camp was crawling with all sorts of weapons. Al smiled, focusing.
A few minutes later, the same young soldier lifted the tent flap, with an older soldier stepping in, taking off his black beret as he did so. The man walked across the tent to the green man in the chair and quickly slapped him across the face.
Hey, mutie, whatd ya do to piss off your own kind like that? he asked, a mocking grin on his face. The young soldier, probably a private, though Al didnt know military rank structure, grinned dumbly behind the captain. Private, keep your pistol ready, I want you to drop this thing if it tries anything. the captain said, turning to the private as he did so.
Roger, sir. the private said happily, upholstering his 9mm pistol and gripping it firmly in both hands, aiming it at Als chest.
Well, mutie? Ya gonna answer the question? he asked impatiently, still grinning in Als face.
They werent no good mutants. Tried to kill thems, whats I did. he said plainly.
The captain laughed, stepping backwards, true amusement on his face. Why, you aint nothing but a redneck underneath them scales, aintcha, boy? he asked with his own thick southern accent. Why, if more yall muties started killin each other, itd make our job a lot easier.
Al didnt respond. He just sat there, staring at the captain with unblinking, red eyes. After a moments more laughter, the captain began to take notice to Als demeanor. He composed himself.
Ahem. Alright, boy, we didnt see any ID on ya, so that right theres a fedral offense. One you can bet theyll be punishing you severely for. Now, if ya want them to maybe go a bit easier on ya, tell me your name.
Al continued to glare at the captain, but did not speak.
Anger flashed across the captains face at this act of defiance. He grabbed Al by the shoulders and shook hard, getting right in his face. I said, tell me your name, boy! he yelled angrily.
Al still did not respond. The captain succumbed to his anger, and punched Al in the mouth, catching him by surprise, and sending his neck snapping backwards. Al shook his head and spit blood out on the captains shoes.
Why you freak-son-of-a-*****! the captain bellowed, and punched Al again, this time in the nose. It didnt break, but it sure hurt like hell. I told you to tell me your name, now you tell me your name or this private here will testify that you attacked me and had to be put down. he screamed into the scaled-face before him, gesturing to the private behind him who shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably, unsure if he should be thrilled and excited or scared and serious.
Lee. Al said, simply, quietly.
Whatd you say, boy?
Lee.
Lee who?
Robert E. Lee.
Another punch to the face. Dont you get smart with me, boy! Aint a mutie around should ever even be allowed to utter the name of such a great American hero! he punched Al yet again, trying to drive home the point. Now, goddamnit, tell me your name!
Two quick shots rang out in the camp outside the tent. The captain immediately spun around, glaring now at the private. What the hell was that all about?! he demanded.
The private, in suddenly in shock by the gunfire and the captains oppressive stare, mumbled, Uh, uh, I dunno, sir!
Well, go find out! Hurry, I dont wanna be alone in this tent with this freak for too long. he ordered. The private nodded, said Yessir, holstered his pistol and ran out of the tent. The captain, meanwhile, upholstered his own sidearm and backed away to the tent entrance, aiming the weapon at Als chest.
I oughta kill you right now, you damn freak. the captain said quietly, calmly. His face still burned with anger, but he was noticeably in control of himself right now. No one would question it, no one would care. Just another dead mutie that we dont have to worry about no more.
Al just continued to stare at him, blood dripping from his mouth, running from his nose. But he did not let his pain show. He was stronger than these humans, and better than them. He wanted them to know he wasnt afraid of them. Hed die, but hed make sure they paid first.
A crow flew into the tent, flying straight into the back of the captains head. The captain spun around in surprise, swinging at the big black bird who was pecking and scratching at his face. In the struggle he dropped his pistol, but Al was too well constrained to make anything of it.
Al smiled, watching the show. He was fairly certain he wouldnt be getting free, probably would be killed right here in this very camp, but before he went, hed make the lives of these soldiers a living hell.
Finally, after only a few seconds which seemed to last forever, a loud crack emanated from the birds neck. It dropped lifeless to the ground. The captain, panting, his face flayed by the crows talons, bent down to pick up his pistol with his right hand, and covered his left eye with his left hand.
Damn bird took out my eye! he screamed, at no one in particular. What the hell?!
Just then the private ran back into the tent, panting. Sir, it was one of the MPs dogs, killed his- he stopped mid-sentence when he noticed the damage to his commanders face. Did that freak do that to you? he asked, true concern and fear in his voice.
The captain waved him away, then pointed at the ground. No you idiot, the monster is tied up, he didnt do anything. It was that damn crow. Argh! he cried out at the end, his damaged eye pulsing with pain. Private, go back to your squad. Im going to post guards at the entrance and the head to the medical tent. Well save this freak for the state to deal with. he said, marching out of the tent, followed by the private, who turned off the one and only light dangling above Als head before he, himself left.
In the darkness, tied to a chair, Al realized just how much fun this really could be. Hed have some revenge against humans tonight, that was for sure. The swamp around the camp was crawling with all sorts of weapons. Al smiled, focusing.