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[sonerohi]

I love this story so much.

[Vlynndar]

Oh my. I was looking at your signature, watching the number go up and decied to check it out. Read it all, awesome.

(I'm just a little suprised he could fire at Winkelman so easily.)

[Leafsnail]

I'll try to get a new one out soon.  And perhaps corruption is something of a berserk button for Fred .

[Leafsnail]

Yeah, Part 11.  Sorry for leaving you on a cliffhanger for ages.  To be continued, of course.

Spoiler: Part 11 - I Guess It Was Still Arson? (click to show/hide)

Monica continued to run.  I tried to keep up, but she was just too fast.  She didn't even seem to be tiring, and she didn't say a word when I called to her.  What was she doing?  What was so important we had to run to... downtown?  Why were we there?  Also strange was the way she still seemed to be carrying the notebook in one hand and the pen in the other.  It didn't seem to be slowing her down...

Monica finally skidded to a halt, and turned back to look at me.  Panting and groaning, I caught up with her, and looked at the building she'd stopped outside.  It was... The "Gentlemen's" Club.

The Gentlemen's Club was infamous for various reasons.  First, they had a bouncer on the door, who seemed to arbitrarily select people to come in based on clothes, gender and skin colour.  Today's bouncer seemed to be wide enough to fill the whole door, and he'd certainly have no trouble throwing out even the toughest guests.  I looked down at Monica.  Hmm... he'd never let her in.  Her face seemed to show her years, but her body was as petite and frail as that of a 14 year old... and a small one at that.  Then there were her clothes... wait, was she really going to try and enter?

"Let me in." She said this to the bouncer with such firmness that he seemed startled.  When he saw her, however, he grinned.
"So, what are you doing her, kid?" he brought out a cigarette, and took a couple of puffs on it before continuing, "This place ain't fer ya.  Beat it."
"I need to go in."  This voice sounded different.  Still a monotone, but slightly... menacing?  I continued to stand back from her, on the pavement, unsure of what to do.  "We should go, Monica..." I managed to mumble.
"Scram!" said the bouncer, beginning to get annoyed, "Get outta here, ya brat.  We don't need little girls runnin' around in this place.  It's fer our gentlemen clients and their 'entertainment', see?"
"I'll tell you once more." said Monica, in the same little voice.  Perhaps the bouncer missed it, but she seemed to be... angry?  No, not really the word for it.  Her voice was as level as ever.  It's just that... "Let me in."
"Get outta here!" The bouncer moved forwards and grabbed Monica by the shoulders.  "Get out before I throw you out."  It was bad... it looked like the bouncer would be able to snap her in half like a toothpick.  I wasn't sure whether I should try and help her or save my own skin... I couldn't leave her here... could I?  I doubt I'd be able to help much in a fight against that brute.  I looked down the road... there didn't seem to be any people around.  We could still escape...

Suddenly, the decision was taken out of my hands.  There was a cracking sound, not unlike the slamming of a car boot.  I wheeled around, and saw the bouncer collapsing to the floor, groaning.  He also... seemed to be bleeding?  What the heck had just happened?
"Monica?" I said, looking at the stationary figure who was still holding her notebook and pen, "What just happened?"  Without saying a word, she stepped (well, more like "hurdled" for her) over the bouncer and moved into the club.

The club was a typical seedy establishment.  It was difficult to see much through the fumes of alcohol and cigerette smoke, and, given the person I was with, this was probably for the best.  She made her way quickly to a table and sat down on it.  The table, however, already seemed to be occupied... by what appeared to be a redneck.  However, he seemed a bit... out of place.  Something to do with the fact he was in a supposedly upmarket establishment and smoking a cigar.  He smiled at Monica as we sat down.
"Whatcha doing here, little lady?" Even from across the table, I could smell the alcohol on his breath.  Considering the general reek of the place, this was quite a feat.  "Bit young to be entertainin' here, aintcha?  Oh well, I'm not complainin'."  He looked to me and frowned.  "Ain't seen you here before..."
"Tell me everything." said Monica.  Hmm, pretty upfront.  What did she want to know from this strange man anyway?  Granted, he looked a bit strange here, but what was her special interest?
"I don't know what yer talking about" replied the redneck, "And shouldn't you be gettin' ready for the show?  It starts in fifteen minutes!"
"Tell me.  You know about it."
"I still don't know what ya mean" he said, smiling, "But you can meet me after the show, ok?" He grinned a horrible grin, and I felt a strong urge to punch him.  He seemed to have made the mistake of taking Monica as a young and vulnerable girl...
"Tell me about the Ceeseayes."  This had the same final tone to it as her earlier "Let me in".  Suddenly, I realised what was about to happen.  I wanted to shout out, to tell the man what was happening, to-
"Howdya know about that?!" said the man, surprised and angry, "Go away!  Scram!"

Monica moved quickly.  Very quickly.  She dropped her notebook, and, in the same movement, drew a gun out of her sleeve.  It seemed to just slide out... had she been concealing it all this time?  She aimed upwards towards the man's head.  For a split second he stared down the barrel in horror, before Monica pulled the trigger.  I heard the same cracking sound of a powerful handgun with a silencer attached, and the man crumpled in his seat.  Monica moved her hand up and slid the gun back into her sleeve as quickly as she had drawn it.

I had been expecting the entire place to be staring at us, but the noise wasn't actually that loud for the establishment - it could've been someone falling off their chair, or a clumsy member of the bar staff.  However, there was no denying the man who was now slumped on the table, dead in front of us.  Monica reached over, grabbed something from his pocket and dragged me out of the club.  Jesus... she was strong.  Already there was a crowd gathered around the prone form of the bouncer, and it seemed the emergency services had been called.  Noone looked at Monica as she left, however, and before long we were running back to the shelter.
"Monica..." I didn't know what to say.  It seemed like she had just killed 2 people in cold blood.  Why?  What was she trying to do?  And how did she use the gun so expertly?
"I took his wallet." Monica's reply did not answer any of the questions I had for her.  "It will make it look like the work of petty thieves."
I stared at her as she, still moving along at a remarkable pace, got out the man's wallet.  It seemed to be well stocked with cash, but she wasn't interested in it.  She fished into a pocket of the wallet, and produced a card.  I stared at the card in disbelief.

The Conservative Crime Squad

Fight For Your Freedom!  Fight For America!

We will defend your rights!

[PenguinOverlord]

Beyond Quality. I love it.

[Vlynndar]

One word. Monica.

[Armok]

I repeat; Beyond Quality.

[Leafsnail]

Part 12.  Enjoy, everyone.

Spoiler: Part 12 - Does Marion Dream Of Liberal Sheep? (click to show/hide)

Monica turned once more and began to move away from me.  The card had stunned me into silence, but there were so many things I wanted to ask her.  Was she responsible for the two guards back in the CEO Residence?  How many people had she done away with?  Didn't she ever feel anything whilst killing?  I ran up and jumped in front of her.  She quickly came to a stop, and looked at me quizzically.

As the conflicting questions and thoughts swirled around in my head, I found myself once again in dumb silence.  Just as she was about to walk around me, however, I spoke.
"Why?"
Monica looked at the ground, pretending not to hear, and continued to walk back to the shelter.  My emotions began to build up.
"Why did you do it?" I said, louder this time.  Once again, she did not look round.  "What else have you done?" By now I was shouting.  Monica, without even pausing, continued to walk.  "Damnit!  Who the hell are you?!"  My voice cracked as I began to yell in frustration.  Monica finally turned around.

Her face was totally expressionless.  Indeed, it was like that all of the time, but the shock of seeing her totally calm even under these circumstances was great, especially on one such as her - standing there, she looked 14, perhaps even younger.  She fixed me with a glare, a cold, empty look, and said just two words.
"A liberal."

She had nothing else to say.  No matter how much I asked her, no matter how angry I got, she would still say nothing.  For this reason, we finally arrived back at the Homeless Shelter with both of us in silence.  Marion was sitting down at the computer chair, looking glum.
"Evening, Fred" she said halfheartedly, "I tried interrogating the conservative, but she just wouldn't budge.  Sorry."
Damn.  I had forgot that we now had another hostage with us.  Somehow I thought that a world-renown CEO would be rather harder to shift than a lazy security guard.  I decided to go into the room and check up on her anyway.

Diane was in a terrible state.  She seemed to have been beaten almost beyond recognition, and her clothes were a complete mess.  On hearing me open the door, she spat and adopted an expression of defiance.
"Fuck off." Her resolve still seemed to be as strong, if not more strong, as when she arrived.  Her eyes seemed to challenge me, and the sneer on her mouth was a show of fearlessness.
"What has she... been doing to you?" I was genuinely concerned for her, to be honest.  On closer inspection, her ripped clothes would seem to indicate that she had been stripped at some point, and she seemed to be having some difficulties breathing.  Marion... what have you done?  Can't I leave you alone for a few hours?
"'Indoctrination'" said Diane, before spitting on the floor once again, "Bitch.  I wasn't swayed by her lies, and she got mad."  That would explain the seemingly random injuries on her... but left the problem of what to do in the long run.  After all, Diane converting to liberalism was about as likely as the Pope converting to Hinduism.  But Marion certainly wasn't going to give up either... and she was certainly prepared to kill for the cause.  I looked at the door to make sure Marion wasn't listening in, and leant in closer to Diane.
"Diane, I'm sorry for everything." Looking into her eyes, I could see that beneath the tough veneer she was deeply traumatized.  "I'll do something, don't worry.  I'll get you out of here."  She sat in silence for a few moments, before suddenly spitting in my face.  I recoiled.
"Bastard!" she shouted, "You know what she does!  You know what she stands for!  Why the hell don't you turn her in now!?"  She looked down, and began to sob softly.  "Brian..." she mumbled quietly.  "Oh, God, Brian..."

I left the room.  I'd have to do something.  I couldn't just sit here and let Marion continue to destroy Diane, could I?  But then again, what could I do?  Help her escape?  I imagined the look that would spread across Marion's face if she discovered about such a plan.  I quickly abandoned the idea.  Could I talk Marion out of the conversion attempt?  I doubted it seriously.  To say that getting her to change her mind was an uphill struggle was a serious understatement.  Something more along the lines of "up-vertical-wall-of-ice-with-no-handholds-or-equipment struggle" was probably more accurate.  Another option entered my head.  It was an unwelcome, lingering option.  One that I had been considering since the beginning, but one I had always suppressed.
Leave the LCS.

"BASTARDS!!!" A shriek went up from the room next door, one that could probably be heard several miles away.  It was clearly Marion.  I tried to give Diane a reassuring look, but she seemed to already be lost to the world.  I ran through the door and back into the main room.  There I saw Monica, Tyrone and Marion, who was looking down at a small piece of card held in her hands.  She was incandescant with fury.
"They stole our idea!" she shouted, glaring at me as I entered.  For the second time that evening, I felt an intense glare rip into me, but this time it was different.  Marion's huge eyes were still breathtaking, and I felt myself begin to crumble as I looked into them.  I felt my resolve crumble and the idea I had had just moments earlier leaving.  As my heart began to jump, I realized that leaving the LCS would certainly be no easy task.
"Well, Marion" said Tyrone, who seemed to be better with dealing at Marion when she was angry, "According to this card, the CCS was actually around before us."
"Disgusting!" said Marion, spitting, "To steal our idea before we've even thought of it!  To subvert and pervert our values and ideals!  To fight against the prospect of a utopian society!" Marion's polemic was building up speed. "That's why we gotta cause some chaos!"

Chaos.  Chaos.  Chaos.  Apparently, Marion regarded our previous activities as orderly and sane.  What would she define as "chaos"?  I was already beginning to worry.  She had four members, 3 firearms... she could create all sorts of havoc.  She regained her composure slightly, and looked in my direction.
"Fred?  Ever been on TV?"
"No, never.  What does this have to do with..." Marion ignored me, looked down, and, grinning enigmatically, said:
"Well, there's always a first time."
"Wait, Marion... what do you mean?  Are we planning to make some kind of video?"  I looked over to Tyrone, who shook his head in a sorrowful fashion.  I looked to Monica, but she was, once again, unreadable.  She obviously hadn't told Marion how she had obtained the card.  At that moment, I wanted to walk up to her and shake her, just to see if she could react to something.
Anything.

"Sortof." Marion smirked and turned the CCS card over in her hands.  "You could say it's a very important video.  Monica, have they finished making the suits yet?"  Monica nodded, and Marion turned back to me.  "Yes, the plan will be going ahead."
"What on earth are you trying to do, Marion?"  A horrible thought struck me.  She had told me what she thought about cable TV, way back when we had our "date".  But surely she wouldn't... didn't she know about the security in that place?  Wouldn't doing such a thing make it even easier for the police to track us down?  "It's not to do with the cabal TV broadcasting center downtown... is it?"
"Right in one!" said Marion happily, forgetting my previous incorrect guess.  "We're going to use it as a platform to share our views with everyone!  Soon they will all know about the LCS!  Soon they will be joining the revolution!"  Marion looked down at the card, and grinned a grin that bared her perfectly white and perfectly sharp teeth.  "Yes, this should go very well..." She brought the card up to her mouth, and suddenly leant forwards and bit one half of it off.  She took a moment to register my stunned expression, before looking down at what was left at the card.  "After all, who needs bullets to convert people when they'll do it themselves?"

End.  Slightly shorter part this time (some loose ends needed to be cleared up before the next big thing).  Part 13 should be out soon.

[Armok]

B.Q.

[Apostolic Nihilist]

Awesome. At first, I was getting some 'What if Haruhi was leader of the LCS?!' vibes from Marion (no doubt due to having recently read the light novels).
The next part seems like it'll be interesting.

[Leafsnail]

Awesome. At first, I was getting some 'What if Haruhi was leader of the LCS?!' vibes from Marion (no doubt due to having recently read the light novels).
The next part seems like it'll be interesting.

Some inspiration was taken from it, yes.  I dunno, you'd have to be pretty special to day get up one day and decide "Yes, I'm starting a revolution!  Come with me, guys!"

[Jetman123]

Tyrone is a mutant?

I thought he was a sweatshop worker. He just kinda appeared out of nowhere - where did he come from? I'm confused. He wasn't even really introduced.

Other than that, though, this is awesome.

Edit: Oh, I didn't see Part 4. Silly me.

[Armok]

What happened to this story? Did it just die?

[Leafsnail]

Well, no, it didn't die.  I've just been heavily procrastinating.

I've already written about half of part 13... hmm, I'll try and get it out over the weekend.

[Vlynndar]

I'm looking forward to it.