San Cantos Hospital
Los Angela's
June 25th 2046
2:00 pm
Los Angela's
June 25th 2046
2:00 pm
“Doctor Henderson says that I am doing really good, he says that there is a surgery I can have that cost less that can improve my condition by at least five percent. Maybe if I am able to get a little better you can leave the Military completely.”
Jack sat beside his sister Katies bed in the San Cantos Hospital, it was a beautiful day that day and the sun was shining through the large window behind him. He silently held his sisters hand, he could feel the weakness in her hand as she tried to hold onto his. The brown haired, blue eyed woman was smiling and talking as if she was getting so much better, but Jack knew that she was not getting better but she was just getting worse now. He could see her once pure facial features succumbing to the aggressive cancer that was eating away at her body, she barely could keep weight on herself now and she was declining rapidly. The doctors were only giving her a year at the very latest, but now with the rapid progression of the cancer, they were giving her maybe months if that. He had not told her nor did the doctors at his request, there was only one treatment that could help her, and if he could afford it then it would save her life and erase this cancer from her body.
“Thats great sis, I spoke to Doctor Henderson when I arrived he told me of the procedure himself, but I am thinking that perhaps we should get the procedure that will cure you. How does that sound to you?”
Jack tried to feign a smile to give his sister courage, to give her hope, but seeing her now in such bad condition he could barely manage to even look like he was happy none the less fake it.
“But you said we couldn't afford that operation Jack???”
Jacks sister looked at him confused, he sighed knowing that what he was going to tell her was going to hurt her in a lot of ways. He had been dreading telling her of his trip to Mars, that planet held memories that were still so incredibly painful to both of them.
“I was contacted by the UAC, in fact they are the reason I am here right now with you. They have offered me complete coverage for your surgery now and in the future, if I would be willing to do a job for them... on Mars..”
Katie's eye's became widened at the mention of Mars, the monitors suddenly spiked in heart rate as her face became embroiled in pain.
“No Jack... I don't want you to go to Mars, not that place, not that planet. I don't want you to go there ever, not for me or anyone else.. you can't please...”
Katie shed tears down her cheeks as she gripped his hand as tightly as she could her heart rate was spiking back and forth now as a beeping went off.
“Katie, Katie, calm down okay, you have to calm down. Its going to be okay, I promise you Katie everything is going to be okay. I will be fine and once I am done, we are going to get you the procedure you need and were both going to walk out of the hospital together. You remember right? How were gonna go straight to the ice cream shop we went to as kids and bankrupt the place right?”
“No! I don't want you to go please! Don't go there Jack, I don't wanna lose you, I don't wanna lose you, I can't lose you, I can't, I can't...”
Jacks sister heart monitor went berserk as her breathing became ragged and a loud alarm sounded in her room, her eye's rolled back in her head as she went into convulsions, white substance shot from her mouth as Jack stood up immediately grabbing her to hold her down.
“Doctor, Nurse, anyone I need help in here!!!!”
Jack was quickly pushed aside as medical personnel entered the room and quickly attended too Katie who was still convulsing on the bed. Jack was pushed out of the room as Katie was attended to by multiple nurses and Doctors, as he watched the world slowed down for him as Katies heart monitor flat-lined. Jack slid slowly down the wall as he put his hands over his head and ears, he closed his eye's tight not knowing what to do. When Jack opened his eye's a hand was on his shoulder, looking up the Doctor was standing above him.
“Mr. Preacher could we talk in my office?”
Jack sat in the doctors office as his face was in his hand, the news he had just heard drained whatever energy or hope was left in him.
“I am sorry Mr.Preacher but the cancer has progressed faster then any of us could have predicted it would, we had to induce a medical coma just to avoid her from having lasting brain damage. Her vitals are stable now, but with the current rate of decline I have to inform you that she has maybe a week, two at the very latest now. If she doesn't have the procedure soon, then we have to start discussing the options of life support and what you would like us to do.”
Jack gripped his head hard with one hand and gripped the wooden arm rest of the check, he grinded his hand as the wood warped and twisted under his hard grip.
“How can she be fine one minute and then dieing the next!? She was fine, she was talking and smiling! How can it change just like that!?”
“Mr. Preacher... you have to understand that the type of cancer she has is very aggressive, its very unpredictable, some people it can take years and others it can take days an in extreme cases it can take hours. Our best guess is that it finally made it to her brain and spinal cord, which would explain her seizures and convulsion. The reality is that we need to preform the surgery within the week or there will be nothing we can do to reverse this.”
Small tears formed in the corners of Jack's eye's as he gritted his teeth and tried to process that his sister was dieing and quickly. He had no other alternative now, he was going to Mars no matter what it would cost, no matter what it entailed, he needed the UAC to cover the procedure or she was going to die.
“Keep her stable Doctor, I will have the money for the procedure, there is no mights or maybe's I will get the money. Do you understand? I will not watch my sister die! I don't care if it cost's me my own life...”
Jack stood up and walked out of the office before anything else could be said, soon her found himself back in his sisters room, she has tubes of all sorts running through her now, her chest was incubated and breathing on a machine. Jack approached her slowly and slowly put his hand on her head and gently stroked her hair, he couldn't bare to see her this way but he had to be strong for her now there was no more time for tears. Leaning in close Jack whispered to his sister before giving her a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“I won't let you go Katie, I am going to get you that procedure no matter what it cost me. I love you more then you know.”
Delta Airstrip
UAC Corporation
California, Reno
June 25th 2046
7:30 pm
UAC Corporation
California, Reno
June 25th 2046
7:30 pm
Jack was silent standing in the weapons depot in the Delta Airstrip on the cool summer night, opening the black case before him there was a slight glow from the weapons within. Taking out one of the pistols it glowed green lowly against the black metal, clicking a small button on the top of the gun it opened with a subtle small hiss as he looked it over, there was a green compressed power cell in the center. Closing the gun a display screen on the side of weapon clicked on and a number appeared on the side indicating how many shots were left on the cell. Jack set the weapon down and picked up the identical weapon in the case and did the same check before taking out the shoulder holsters and putting them on over the black thin military armor he wore over his chest, clasping the holsters in the center of his chest he placed the guns in them and secured them with an electronic beep.
“Are they to your satisfaction Mr. Preacher? Those two weapons are the newest edition of the Bio Force Gun series, the BFG XLS150s, they come with on screen display for ammo count, compressed cells for more ammunition each load and they are semi to automatic capability. They also come equipped with our newest built in targeting HUD as requested. You must have some serious connections to get these, the XLS150s are not even in circulation yet to the main UAC Security Force.”
Jack ignored the man talking to him, removing the cigarette from his mouth he flicked it onto the concrete of the depot as he reached into the black case and removed the double edged blade and slipped it into the sheath on his leg securing it in.
“Right... we also have filled your request for the newest edition of the plasma shotgun Zenith XLT 100, it is in the next case, it comes with easy hand grip near the back stock, same compressed cell as the XLS150s and of course the ammo counting mechanism which is located on the side. We also pre installed the targeting scope you wanted onto the back rails as well.”
Jack moved sideways not saying anything again placing the cigarette back in his mouth and opening the long black case which housed the shotgun he had requested. Taking it out he tested the scope, it was quick to target body heat within the depot, taking the scope from his eye he pulled back a lever on the side revealing the cell compartment giving it a once over before placing it back in the box and clasping it shut.
“Are you going to war or something Sir? You have a lot of fire power there for just a routine inspection on Mars.”
Jack looked up at the younger UAC Marine, taking the smoke out of his mouth he flicked it to the floor and crushed it under the black military style boot and looked him in the eye.
“Not that it concerns you soldier but I will be instructing Mars Sec on the eventual use of these new weapons, as you stated before they are not available to the public Marine Force on Mars and they won't be until a training operation in their use is conducted. My business on Mars is of top secret importance so your silence would be much appreciated. Do I make myself clear? Otherwise if any of this is leaked to the wrong sources you will be court marshaled and spend a considerable amount of time in federal prison with a hefty fine.”
The young soldier gulped as he merely nodded his head at Jack whom merely nodded and grabbed the long black case heading out of the depot. Walking on the airstrip the sun had all but set on the day, the departure for Mars was at 8:00 pm sharp, so hopefully whomever he was escorting would be here on time. Walking up to the large transport a younger man in a suit was waiting for Jack, it was the same man who had contacted him in the first place. Jack grimaced as if in pain when he approached the man, he didn't even want to talk to him, but alas where was the choice.
“Mr. Preacher I am glad you made it, I am sorry to hear about your sister's condition, it is unfortunate that the young should have to suffer so.”
Jack glared coldly at the man, setting the case down he went forward and grabbed him by his tie and pulled him in, the man didn't seem to phases by the show of force as Jack spoke to him angrily.
“How the hell do you know about my sister or her condition? What gives you the right?!”
“Calm down Mr. Preacher I did not come here to merely tell you that I know of your sisters condition, in fact I came here to personally tell you that her medical bills have been payed, she will be prepped for the procedure she needs, however this only happens upon completion of our agreed upon deal of course. I figured time could not be wasted, all you have to do is finish the job and you and her walk out of the hospital together.”
Jack released the mans tie and pushed him away, the man merely adjusted his tie with a small little mysterious smirk. Jack stepped up to him and got in his face and spoke harshly to him:
“When this over you stay the hell away from my sister you bastard. UAC has caused enough pain in her life, your using my sisters illness to strong arm me into this job and I guarantee that I am ready to break yours.”
“I understand your frustrations Mr. Preacher, perhaps you can find some closure while you are up there, after all the graves are still there, you should visit...”
“Shut your damn mouth, don't you speak another word, don't you dare talk about my...”
Jack was up in the mans face when a set of headlights illuminated both of the men, a UAC vehicle was approaching them both.
“Ah that must be Mrs. Smith, right on time.”
The man backed away from Jack and turned to meet the vehicle however Jack grabbed the mans arm and turned him back around and put his face close to his.
“Stay away from my sister, or I promise you a pain that no medicine can cure. When this is done you will do well to disappear and never shadow our doorstep again.”
Jack let go of the mans arm, readjusting his suit the man went to meet the vehicle as Jack picked up the black case and climbed into the transport.
