Chapter Fifteen: Hard Target

Darkness...

Jack Kelso had shuttered his scope, lest he give away his position - so it showed him nothing. No matter. To avoid any telltale noises, he had chambered the round and released the safety on the rifle prior to starting his climb. He had to. Fiendish had shown superhuman sight and hearing from the physical checks prior to being brought in to the BOBO Project, the full extent of which they couldn't even measure. He couldn't afford to take chances here. The silencer affixed to the rifle would spoil most shots - rangewise, but since he was shooting downward it wasn't that big an issue. He'll put one right between that monster's eyes... and then shoot himself. He was glad Ellison stopped him before, because now he could make -certain- Fiendish was in hell waiting for him.

Then the scales would be balanced. As long as Fiendish lived, he was dangerous.

-----

"We'll just have to fix that...," muttered Mary Phillips with a pained look at the shattered wall.

"There are greater problems that require redress, madam," nudged Bobo. "But to assuage your concerns for the future, behold," he said, and with a flourish, he reached into his pocket and produced a roll of hundred dollar bills three inches thick and set it on the desk. "That amounts to twenty-five thousand dollars. Even the greediest of contractors couldn't pad the repair bill THAT far..."

"Where did that money come from?"

"Various... donors who, regrettably, will not be identified."

"Because they want to remain anonymous?"

"No. We know who they were. But sadly, there isn't enough left of them for anyone ELSE to divine it... Heh."

"You killed people for money?"

"No, clearly not," corrected Bobo. "WE killed SCUM for doing EVIL. We have no use for this... dirty paper... but we find it acceptable that these wages of sin can be used to do good."

"But... Why? Why do you do such terrible things?"

"Strange thoughts from another teacher," Bobo mused. "Is sharing knowledge now considered a terrible thing?"

"You're not a teacher!" argued Ms. Phillips. "What lessons do you share?"

"Evil must be punished. The world must learn... to STAND."

"Stand for what? For who?" demanded Ms. Phillips, bitter tears rolling down her face.

"For what is right," Bobo replied, picking up one of the children. "And for THEM. What is your name, beloved?"

"I'm Kira," she replied.

"I don't understand...," Mary cried. "You've won. The bad guys are caught. The children are safe... It's over."


"If y-you keep t-talking like that... you'll scare the children..."

"It is to laugh," mused Bobo. "The innocent have nothing to fear from us. Is that not so, Kira?"

"I'm not scared," Kira replied.

"And you others?" Bobo asked. "Have you reason to fear us?"

"No," the other children replied in unison. Mary was astounded.

"They're children," Mary stammered. "They don't see what you are!"

"We beg to differ. Children see through the illusions of self others create. There is no lying in them, save what they are taught. There is no hatred in them, save what they are taught. There is no fear in them, save what they are taught. What a grand world this would be if those lessons were NEVER imparted...? That is the greatest lesson of all, don't you agree?"

"I-I don't know...," Mary fumbled.

"We do," Bobo smiled. "Now to business..."

"Wait! You've gained from doing evil, haven't you?" Mary blurted.

Bobo raised an eyebrow. "Howso?" he grinned.

"Murder is evil!"

Bobo sighed. "Yes, we know. And?"

"Y-you've got that money from the... the p-people you murdered..."

"Correction. YOU'VE got that money from the scum we have put down. And?"

Mary dropped the money as if it had bitten her. "You're a murderer!"

"Nonsense. Murder is the taking of life without just cause. We do no such thing."

"You're saying you have CAUSE? There's no reason that justifies killing!"

"Not even war?"

"We're not AT war!"

"WE ARE!" Bobo shouted. "Every day more casualties! Every day more ground lost! NO MORE! We have taken it upon ourselves to show the world that there IS another option. We have taken up the mantle to show to the world that ONE person CAN make a difference, and in so doing, inspire others to do so as well. Thus, when enough people learn that they alone can affect change, they will gather together - much as those outside - and affect even GREATER change. The world CAN be better than it is, if only those that would HAVE it be so would WORK to MAKE it so. THAT is the lesson!

All within the sound of our voice... All must know once and FOREVER that a life spent in fear is not WORTH protecting. A life cringing in the dark is not worth living! To risk such an existence in the pursuit of a life free of fear is wagering little for much. THAT is the lesson!

All people, old and young, rich and poor, ALL have the ability to affect a change on their situation, if they so choose. CHOOSE IT! Do not let people tell you that it is better to accept your fate as OTHERS dictate it. STAND! You are NOT alone. You CAN make it happen. BELIEVE, and then take up ARMS and wage WAR on those that do evil!"

"The guy's got charisma, I'll give him that," Haas breathed, uncharacteristically impressed. "Think of all the people that he's talking to..."

-----

"I'd rather not consider that any sort of option," winced Blair.

"Those two are going to get their heads handed to them," Ellison said pointedly. "Incacha told me in a vision that Fiendish would destroy the world, and that the only help against him I would have is people that are LIKE him. Unless he killed them before they COULD help me..."

"Granted, Yuri and Brackett are cold-blooded killers; but I can't see them being anything like Fiendish - let ALONE tossing in with YOU..."

"US," corrected Ellison. "It's got to be us all... You've been around him enough to be..."

"Tainted?" hissed Blair.

"Familiar with him," continued Ellison grimly. "That might not be enough to make you likened to him, but we've gotta take what we can get... I'm not exactly at one hundred per cent, and as my GUIDE you have to watch MY back. Unless you'd like to opt out now, Little Brother?"

Blair winced as if he was slapped, and then nodded. "I'm... in," he murmured.

"Just so you know," Brackett growled. "We're not splitting the bounty with you two..."

Blair, Jim and Yuri stared levelly at Brackett. "This isn't about money, comrade," Yuri seethed. "But survival. If the whispered stories about such a thing as that creature were even HALF truth, it will kill us as easily as one could cut down a blade of grass." He turned to Ellison. "You have my word, Ellison, that if any of us live to collect that stake, you will receive an equal share - or a proper burial."

"Well he doesn't have MINE," spat Brackett.

"SILENCE!" raged Yuri. "These men have decided to stand at our side, and such risk requires a fair trade... It is a matter of HONOR."

"Honor, schmoner," Brackett huffed.

"I don't want that money," growled Ellison. "And your word means nothing to me."

The Russian darkened in anger and Blair stepped between them. "Hey! Okay, cool it! Reality check! Obviously, the four of us aren't exactly on each other's Christmas list, but we've got to put all that aside. That monster is coming out here to perform a public execution, and generally destroy life as we know it. I don't know about any of you, but I... I kinda like things the way they are. So, despite the fact that we have a slimmer chance of victory than the fuckin' LIGHT BRIGADE, our only shot is to use his own mantra against him... To set aside our differences and stand unified in the face of a common foe. Him. I don't know whether he's right, or we're right, or anything, but I can't sit on the sidelines as he takes our choice from us... As far as I'm concerned, that's the greater evil."

-----

"Wait a second, haven't we already covered those steps?" asked Rafe. "Are there TWO remote triggers now?"

"According to the book, that's the way it's to be done," replied Taggart wearily. "Redundant switches and safeties seem par for the course so far..."

"No, I have to side with Bravo on this one, Command," broke in Megan. "These steps seem like we've done them before."

"Hold tight, all," Simon stepped in. "Taggart, have we done this step already or not?"

"Hard to say, considering all we've gone through so far, Simon," sighed Taggart. "But we're down to ten minutes until the surprise, and I really ain't interested in figuring out the profile of the guy that set this thing... Maybe later."

"Still standing by, Command," grunted Dr. Wolfe. "If we did it before, then we can skip it now, right?"

"Stand by, X-Ray," growled Simon irritably. "The book says we do it again, and I don't know why..."

"Maybe he's testing us?" Henri offered. "I mean, maybe he's trying to see if we're paying attention, or something?"

"That is the STUPIDEST thing I ever heard," spat Rafe. "Then if we followed the steps twice, we'd essentially be Reassembling the trigger, wouldn't we? It doesn't make sense."

"OR it could be a stall," Taggart put in. "After all, he did make this to pretty much keep us out of his hair, right?"

"Make a decision, Command," Megan groused. "Two million innocent lives are riding on this..."

-----

"No pressure, right?" snorted Haas. "But the main event's out there..."

"Be QUIET," railed Bobo. "You are here simply to document our work, and all we REALLY need is that camera, so let's not get any airs about one's import to the greater good, shall we?"

Haas backed away, flabbergasted. Jeff kept rolling.

"You can't talk to them like that!" Mary snapped.

Bobo turned to her, eyebrow raised. "Wasn't teacher paying attention? We just DID."

The kids giggled.

"But be that as it may," continued Bobo. "One possessed of even the BAREST intellect cannot help but see that the only sane answer to an insane system is to tear it down and start afresh. After all, it's what this country was founded on..."

"You mean to say...," worried Mary aloud.

"Ya wanna rev-o-lu-shu-hun-yeah-heh-ayeah!" Bobo sang in a rumbling bass-tenor. "Can't you feel the forces at work here? Even now, hundreds of inspired people all across this country are dropping the anchor and taking back the HELM on their little ships of destiny. And when they do they shall, in turn, inspire others to do likewise, which will lead to an eventual avalanche of change that no force can oppose. This pleases me. Doubtless children have taken a stand against abusive parents. Women have taken a stand against abusive significant others. Men have taken a stand against repellant encroachment in their neighborhoods. All it required was someone to prove it CAN be done, and we HAVE proved it..."

"People will DIE, and YOU'RE responsible for that!" shouted Ms. Phillips, horrified. "And you're HAPPY!?"

"As close to it as we've ever been," nodded Bobo. "Certainly, it goes without saying that some people will have tumult when they take a stand, but such is to be expected... This is WAR, and the good guys only come out without losses in the movies. But life is risk, is it not?"

"You really are a madman, aren't you?"

"Sure. But at least we're in good company... Thomas Payne, Patrick Henry, Abraham Lincoln, John Brown, Molly McGuire, Mahatma Gandhi, Lucretia Howe, Dr. Martin Luther King, and countless other fellow mental cases... We share a common bond."

"Just one second! Those were great figures, mister. Not sick, twisted, crazies like you!"

"We beg to differ. Each in turn saw that the way things were was inherently wrong and challenged them. Further, they did so to show others that they could help change what was wrong. That is PRECISELY what we're doing now."

-----

"What do we do now?" asked the Italian nervously.

"We watch the monster murder our murderers, and then we leave," said the Japanese solemnly.

"I meant AFTER that..."

The Japanese pondered that for a moment before replying, "I have no idea. We certainly can't go back to business as usual, or our lives will be forfeit..."

"My life's been in danger since I was ten," the Italian replied offhandedly. "What difference would it make?"

"How many men do you command?"

"What?"

"How many men do you command?" the Japanese repeated. "Well, we're a pretty big outfit... Lots of players, multiple levels of involvement, you know how it is..."

"I personally command six hundred men in two countries. If I had to guess, my organization - which is but a middling size compared to others in the Yakuza - is three thousand strong."

"Uh huh. Well, since you told me all that, I suppose I got about five and a half hundred that report direct to me, and maybe all told - counting the peanuts - I've got maybe thirty-five hundred... Strictly ballpark, mind you. Why is that important?"

"How many people are HERE?"

"Geeze, I dunno... Maybe fifty thousand... Give or take the odd couple hundred."

"That's just HERE. If that camera has been cataloging - and BROADCASTING - the same rallying that we've answered to, then the odds are that we face an organization of some five, perhaps six MILLION, all dedicated to the monster and fighting at his command."

"Uh huh... So?"

"You want that aimed at YOU? I certainly don't. It's easy enough to simply use what we've been using as covers in legitimate fashion, and less... risky."

"I dunno. There's a lot of money that will just find someone else to buy their thrills from if it's not us..."

"There will BE no one else, my friend. I don't know about you, but the idea of someone taking up where I left off is... distasteful. I hadn't intended it for little Kira, of course, but now... NO ONE will. Not in MY town. Not with MY people."

"I heard that," nodded the Italian. "Y'know, we've been in the Life for seven generations. It's what I knew. Shit, it was ALL I knew. I'm not gonna say I was doing anything noble, because I wasn't. But scumbag or not, I was doing all I did for my family. Especially little Janey... Now, all things considered... Even if I still HAD an option to keep going... I... I'd rather be something she... She can be proud of..."

"Then it's agreed. Our organizations will no longer do harm to anyone for profit. Neither shall we allow any OTHER organizations to take our place in these endeavors. Already the call for drugs and weapons in the inner city is halted, we shall see to it that it is not in our respective areas as well."

The Italian started laughing.

"What is so funny?"

"I was just thinking how many cops we just put out of a job..."

The Japanese laughed as well, then shook the Italian's hand.

-----

"I'm not exactly basking in my job security as it is," Rafe noted wryly. "But we're frittering away what time we have deciding whether this switch needs to be done again or not. Bravo votes we skip it."

"So does Gamma," chimed in Megan.

"I vote we go by the book," murmured Detective Brown. "Er, I mean, Delta votes we do..."

"So do I, Simon," Taggart nodded.

"X-Ray doesn't care either way, as long as we do SOMETHING," spat Dr. Wolfe. "Hopefully before the stuff goes on it's own in... five minutes."

"Deadlock," sighed Rafe.

"This is not a democracy!" Simon snarled.

"Well, either way it's up to you, Command," shrugged Megan. "Make the call!"

"I...," stuttered Simon, sweat pouring from him. "I say..."

"Four and forty," said the doctor.

"Skip it!" Simon shouted. "What's the next instruction? HURRY!"

-----

Bobo looked at his watch and smiled. "Let's go outside, children. Time is short."

Mary Phillips looked blankly on as the children followed the 'angel' out, with the news crew in tow. A hand gently tapped her shoulder, and she jumped in surprise.

"You dropped this," said Gizmo as he gently placed something in her hands.

Mary looked down, and saw she once again had that knot of cash the 'angel' gave her. "I don't want it."

"That doesn't matter," said Gizmo. "The school needs it. You need it. If it wasn't right for you to have it, the angel wouldn't have given it to you."

"Why don't you keep it?" asked Mary, holding it out to him.

"It would be wrong. If the angel thought I should have it, I'd have it. Keeping schools open is very important, and so that's why he gave it to you."

"What does the angel give YOU?"

"Purpose," Gizmo replied instantly.

-----

"That's enough," said Kelso as he unshuttered his scope to take aim. "Come on out, you piece of garbage. Come to Daddy." Kelso adjusted his sights, and noticed that there was a throng of children milling about Fiendish, and he had one on each shoulder to boot! "FUCK!" Kelso hissed. "No shot! No shot!"

-----

"We have work to do, little ones. Go to your teacher now," Bobo shooed gently.

"Are you gonna be okay?" asked Carol, tugging at the monster's shirt.

Bobo patted her on the head as he replied, with a look to the four men standing on the other end of the playground, "Heh. We'll be fine."

-----

"Okay, the next bit says we should open the front panel under the copier's keypad, and...," Taggart trailed off.

"And what?" everyone asked as they pulled the front panel cover off.

"Smile...," Taggart said, dropping the book. A high pitched whirring came from the copiers.

"OH SHIT!" Simon screamed. "SHI-"

There was a brief flash, and then nothing.

(Believe it or not, this ain't QUITE the end... Heh.)

Chapter 16