Cyberknight: One Path

⁕ The Lynching Game (part 2)

Yelled the prisoner as he was pushed forward by two armed guards.

[prisoner 2] - "You bastard! I served with the 2nd Division and was a war hero! This is a fucking betrayal! You'll all pay for this shit, you fuckers! "

The voice of the second prisoner faded behind the officer as he moved past the row of convicts. With his grip tight on his briefcase, the officer entered an inspection point where his identity was verified before a full-body scan was conducted on him. Finally, a guard led him to an interrogation room where a female agent awaited him.

[agent] - "Please sit down, mister Kirkland. "

Said the agent in a cold voice.

The officer quickly saluted the agent before taking a seat at the interrogation table. Despite his attempt at a friendly smile, the agent only responded to him with a cruel silent stare.

[agent] - "Between the hours of 9 AM and 9:12 AM, you were not registered on any footage or activity registry. Could you elaborate on your activities during that time period? "

[Kirkland] - "I was at "24Hr Coffee Shop" having a quick bite and a cup of tea. "

[agent] - "I was able to confirm your claim using your credit card information and the security footage at the store you mentioned. You are cleared of any suspicion, you may proceed. "

[Kirkland] - "My credit card? You... You can check my personal information? "

Said Kirkland with a baffled expression.

[agent] - "Get out! I have to verify the next person after you. Don't make me put you on a suspicious individual list for questioning Dome's methods. "

Said the agent without an ounce of compassion.

Reluctantly, Kirkland exited the room and proceeded toward his destination. Finally, after another checkpoint, he was finally able to reach the office of the chief of Dome.

[Chief Dunhill] - "Well, Kirkland, it's good to see a familiar face once again. "

[Kirkland] - "Chief Dunhill, it's my pleasure too. "

Said Kirkland as he took a seat at his superior's desk.

[Dunhill] - "Tell me, sunny, what good news is there? "

Said Dunhill as he offered Kirkland a cigar.

[Kirkland] - "Those aren't good news, chief. The situation is extremely grim. "

Said Kirkland in an anxious voice while refusing the cigars.

While the chief lit himself a cigar, Kirkland pulled his digital pad out of his armoured suitcase. Upon seeing the pictures on display on the screen, the chief suddenly went pale before slowly taking his cigar out of his mouth. On the screen, the mangled bodies of Allied Blue Guards were shown in sequences.

[Kirkland] - "We had located the cyberknights responsible for the attacks but none of our teams had managed to return. Team Omega-9, one of our best, was found dissected or crushed to a paste. "

[Dunhill] - "Dear God! "

Kirkland quickly swiped his finger to close his screen before looking at Dunhill with a frightened look in his eyes.

[Kirkland] - "These were just the ones sent after Bandit-1 and Bandit-2. "

Said Kirkland as he prepared to put his pad away.

[Dunhill] - "Right, I remember we also sent our elite team Alpha-1 to deal with Bandit-3. What about them? "

Said Dunhill as he reached out to hold the pad.