Chapter 1 - The Birth of The Hub Part 2

Chapter Summary: Now captured by General Bethlehem, Angus is forced to join his army and train with them. Then, after some time, he makes his plan to escape.

The Birth of The Hub - Part 2!

4th of Marth 2093 - Mining Valley, Oregon:

“Err, my head.” Angus said as he came to. As he opened his eyes, he found himself imprisoned in a wired netting cage pen.

“So, you’re awake than.” said the black man that Angus saw at the settlement that he was kidnapped from.

“Yeah, so how long was I out for?” asked the wanderer.

“A few days,” the black man informed Angus, “we just got here last night.”

“I see.” said Angus as he began to inspect the netting to see if he could somehow get free, he found that the netting was in fact barbed-wired pen. It wasn’t much, something that could be broken out of if someone had a sharp knife. Something that Angus normally has hidden in his boots, seeing how you never knew when you would need one.

But as he checked his boot, he found that it was removed. As Angus thought about it, he shouldn’t have been too surprised. To make sure that the conscripts didn’t harm them, they would make sure that they had no weapons on the conscripts.

As Angus looked around from the pen, he saw that they were at some sort of mining valley, with a river running through it. He could see that people were cutting some rare tree trunks into lumber, thanks to the Great War, finding trees that weren’t totally damaged was rare and hard to find. He could also see people washing clothes and the like. He also saw that the damn militia trying to tame Bill, who was being wild as ever. What they didn’t know was that only he was able to tame the mule.

As he listened, Angus heard different things, one thing he heard was that one of the militias brought a female slave for two packs of cigarettes that they took from Angus

“Anyway, I’m Killian Darkwater.” the black man introduced himself. Seeing that if they were going to be stuck together for a long while, it was for the best that they get along with each other.

“Angus MacGill.” Angus said simply as he looked around the valley, not really caring if Darkwater knew his name or not. At that moment he was looking to see if there was any way to escape this place. The main problem that he had was he didn’t know if this militia camp had some sort of Sentinel L’Cie or not someone to keep an eye on the place and don’t try to escape by any means. He would be foolish to think that they didn’t have at least one, but seeing how rare they are, it’s possible that they don’t have one. But until he knew for sure, he would have to think carefully and not use his powers too often.

As Angus looked around, another group of men arrived, one of them didn’t seem right in the head a bit simple as he went around saying hi and was enjoying his time there.

Then on horseback, Captain Idaho called out, “Ten-hut! I want a line right here.” as he said this, he used the stick that he had to point out where he wanted the line outside the pen. Just then, General Bethlehem enters the camp on horseback with the rest of his men.

“Welcome, gentlemen, to your new life.” Bethlehem greeted them all, “You have been born again as soldiers in the army of the United Army of Nathan Holn.”

“God rest his soul!” Bethlehem’s men called out. Angus had no idea who Nathan Holn was, but from what he could tell he was the bastard that started this group and led them to this point. Not only that, but these people held him in high regard.

“The strong have been sapped ... by the whimpering propaganda of the weak.” the general told them, “Men ... strong men, have been denied their destiny. You men have been saved from that fate. Redemption ... is within your grasp.”

The general then rode towards the new recruit, taking a glance over the men. He stopped at the first man who was tall and thin.

“You.” Bethlehem pointed at the man, “What did you do before you were given this opportunity?”

“I had a shovel. I digged holes.” explained the man

Bethlehem regards him benevolently. “You digged holes?” he asked, before going on not waiting for an answer, “Well, now you’re going to fill them.”

Then the general walked down the line before stopping at Angus who was trying to catch the man’s eyes, and asked, “And you?”

“Me?” asked Angus.

“Is there any question in anyone’s mind that I was talking to you?” Bethlehem asked the wanderer, “Yes, you.”

“I’m just a performer.” explained Angus, “I normally play Shakespeare. Stuff like that.”

This caught Bethlehem’s attention, so asked, “Shakespeare?”

”He was a writer. He -” Angus began to explain who Shakespeare was, mistaking Bethlehem’s question.

“Yes, I know, I know who Shakespeare was...” Bethlehem informed the man before boldly saying a line from Shakespeare, “Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war.” Here his men began to clap. Then holding his hand out to Angus, to inform him that he wanted to hear a line of Shakespeare from him, to make sure that Angus really did know Shakespeare.

“Me?” asked Angus. “I, um, you want me to say a line?”

Bethlehem just nods, making Angus think about what to say next. His mind went blank for being put on the spot like that and said the first thing that came to mind. “To be or not to be: That is the question.”

Bethlehem looks at his men as if to say, ‘Is this all this guy’s got?’ His men laughed at this. Bethlehem looked at Angus; he wants a contest. “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.”

The Holnists clap, they know their general can best this guy.

Seeing what the man wanted, Angus gained with confidence, and said, “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York.”

Bethlehem’s men began to laugh at this, thinking that this was a made-up line. But the general held up his hand to stop them, “No, no, no. No, that’s right.” he told his men, before turning to Angus he said, “You’re pretty good.” He then got off his horse and walked to Angus so that he could look him in the eye and said “You’re also a fighter. I see it in your eyes. You’re a dangerous man”

Angus didn’t reply. Hesitant, he doesn’t want to get into any more trouble than he’s already in. Wanting to keep a low profile.

But Bethlehem wasn’t going to have any of this though.

“Don’t you agree? Come on, a man’s got to speak his mind.” Bethlehem said, sounding sincere. Wanting to come off as a good guy.

“I don’t mean any disrespect, sir,” the wanderer said respectfully, “but you’d be better off just letting me go.” which made Bethlehem look at his men in confusion as his men laughed at this, wondering if Angus was a joker or something. Angus then leans in and whispered to the general, “A fighter is about the last thing I am.”

Angus then doubles over as Bethlehem hooks a fist into his gut. Bethlehem clubs him in the head, dropping him to his knees, then digs a boot into his side. Making Angus go down.

“Don’t you think I should be the judge of that, soldier?” asked Bethlehem, not sounding amused by this,

Angus gasps to catch his breath.

“Get up. I said, get up.” ordered the general.

But Angus didn’t want to put a fight up, wanting to look weaker than he really was, so that when he made his move, they wouldn’t expect this and so he could get a head start before anything could be done.

Bethlehem not liking that Angus wasn’t getting up, began to hit and kick the downed man. After a few hits, Bethlehem took hold of Angus’s hair, who was dazed, and pulled him up,

“You’re right. You’re not a fighter. But you will be.” Bethlehem told the man before he went on to say to the rest of the group,”

“I’m giving you a chance at a life that means something. A life worth living.”

That said, Bethlehem delivers one last blow to Angus’s face. Knocking the wanderer out.

o0OoO0o

Angus woke up, feeling sore and ache. He licked his dry, blood-caked lips. As he wondered how long he was out for this time. Whatever the time, he heard that those there were watching a movie. He saw a sudden movement that startles him a bit. It was Killian Darkwater, shoving him a battered cup of water.

“Thanks.” Angus thanked Killian, “So? Did I win?” Killian shook his head as a no. “Well, I try to tell him...”

“Say it again.” said Killian, as he gives Angus more water.

“Say what?” Angus asked in confusion.

“The words you said in town.” explained Killian, “About the wind blowing. And the rest ... say it again.”

“Blow, wind. Come wrack. At least we’ll die with the harness off our back.” Angus repeats the words that the man wanted to hear.

“What does it mean?” asked the black man.

“Honestly? I don’t know.” admitted Angus, “But, I believe it means to live free or die.”

Before anything else could be said, they heard Idaho calls out to every, “All right, girls. You’re going to watch a movie, or you can sleep. But, tomorrow, you’re going to run in full uniform, full packs. Twenty miles! Everybody makes it. Or nobody eats.”

With that, Idaho left to let them either to watch the movie or go to sleep. Seeing that it was going to be a long day tomorrow, Angus decided to go to sleep.

o0OoO0o

11th of Marth 2093 - Mining Valley, Oregon:

It has been a week since that day, and it had been a long one. First thing was that each morning they would wake up early by Idaho and after getting some water and a small amount of food, they would go for a twenty-mile run. Once they had the run, after a half an hour rest, they would do some push-ups, set-ups, and other exercises to make them become stronger. Then, they would learn how to use a weapon, sometimes it was with a sword, and sometimes it would be a crossbow or a spear. Someone asked about the guns, but they were told that seeing how limited ammo was, other than the general or the captains, only those authorised by the general were allowed to have one.

The worse day for Angus was the third day, as he learned that the bastards had killed Bill and gave the mule to everyone to eat. If it wasn’t for keeping a low profile, he might have beaten both the cook and Idaho. The cook for cooking his friend and giving it to them to eat, Idaho for what he said about Bill. That Bill was a godawful animal. A sterile offspring of a horse and a donkey. That there was no room in this new world for a bastard like that.

Then to make things hard, on the third day, Idaho told everyone that if you’re last in line, they wouldn’t eat. Saying that if they are last in line, they weren’t hungry enough. From that day on, there was a fight not to be last in line during mealtime. It was normally the simple man that came a week ago, hoping to get rid of someone like him, seeing how they don’t want men like him in their new world.

During the week, two of the twenty men that started the hash training lost their lives. Angus admitted that with the kind of training they were doing, it wasn’t more.

Either way, today instead of doing more exercises like before, they were standing at attention near a dead oak tree, with Idaho and two other soldiers guarding them. Near them were three rows of containers which were meant to be chairs.

They didn’t have to wait for long to find out what was going on when Bethlehem and his most loyal follower, a man that Angus found out was called Getty approached them and stood in front of them.

Angus saw that. Getty was carrying a sheathed sword. As Bethlehem took a survey of the troops, he said,

“The laws of eight, gentlemen.” began the general, “That is the legacy handed down to us by Nathan Holn.”

At the mention of this name, the recruits shout as one. “God rest his soul!”

“May he burn in hell.” Angus whispered to himself, hating the man for creating this army. Angus swallows hard when he saw Getty looking at him, he feared that Getty might have seen him. But sighed in relief when Getty turned away and said nothing. Angus thought he was worrying over nothing.

“I’m telling you these to you today, seeing how I believe you are ready to join fully.” explained Bethlehem, “These are the laws that we live by. The eight is our symbol. Each man will bear it with pride.”

Here, Bethlehem nods to Idaho who pushes up his own sleeve to reveal the branded 8 on the top of his right shoulder.

“Only then will you be part of the clan. Now, sit down, gentlemen.” Bethlehem ordered the men.

Here the men move to sit in one of the three rows. That was when Angus noticed that whilst there were eighteen men, there were only seventeen seats. Angus and Darkwater were able to get their sits, along with fifteen other recruits. There was one recruit that was too slow and missed a set. He was standing around wondering what he should do.

It didn’t take him long to realize that he was in trouble though. Angus realized that this was a set-up, to show him and the others about the rules.

“Law One. You will obey orders without question.” he told everyone, before turning to the recruit who was standing up, “I told you to sit.”

“But sir, there weren’t enough chairs.” the recruit tried to explain, scared.

”I didn’t specify chairs.” Bethlehem told the recruit, “You could’ve sat down on the ground.

The recruit moves to do so but stopped when Idaho and another soldier step up beside him.

“You disobeyed a direct order. You broke Law One.” Bethlehem told him, “Law Two. Punishment shall be swift.”

Idaho and the soldier hustle the recruit to a metal tower which had a bridge that connected to a building nearby, where a man above lowered a rope. Here, the soldier turned the recruit upside down and Idaho quickly slips a loop over the recruit’s ankles and hangs him upside down into the air.

As this was happening, Bethlehem continued to explain the rules, “Law Three: Mercy is for the weak. Four: Terror will defeat reason. Five: Your allegiance is to the clan. Six: Justice can be dictated. Law Seven. Any clansman may challenge for leadership of the clan. Does any man here wish to challenge me?”

There are no takers. Not after seeing that Bethlehem was a skilled Fire L’Cie User a few days ago and knew how to use his powers.

“On your feet!” ordered Idaho and fearing what would happen to them if they didn’t, the conscripts stand like jack-knives snapping open.

Without a word, without a look - Bethlehem reaches out and draws a sword from a sheath that Getty holds. Bethlehem steps to the hanging recruit - who slowly twists around.

”Law Eight: There is only one penalty: Death.” Bethlehem said as he raises the sword.

“Please, I’m begging you.” the hanging recruit begged Bethlehem, “Please help me.” But the general showed no mercy as the sword finds its mark, on the recruit’s neck. Bethlehem looks at him but addresses all.

“You will get out of this army what you put into it. Work and you’ll be fed. Fight and you’ll be respected. Die and you’ll be remembered. It’s up to you.” And with that, Bethlehem turns and walks away. Getty following behind.

Angus watches as they go. Idaho steps up to him.

“Are you thinking of challenging for leadership of the clan?” Idaho asked.

“No, sir. I’m a follower, not a leader.” Angus told the captain. Although it was a half lie. It’s true that he wasn’t a leader, but at the time, he was no follower either. He was only following these bastards until he could find a way to escape. He hadn’t so far as he hadn’t found a chance to do so yet, as he and the other recruits were being closely watched.

“Do you see Colonel Getty? Always following the General?” asked Idaho, “He’s the only man who ever challenged. The fight lasted six seconds, but the general didn’t kill him. He cut off his tongue and he cut off his balls and old Getty’s been following him like a dog ever since.”

Angus looks back to see Bethlehem and Getty disappear into the gloom. Idaho grins liking how this was affecting a new man.

Angus began to move on when Idaho stops Killian as he passes.