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For you who no longer possess it, freedom is everything, for us who do, it is merely an illusion. (Cioran)
Liam sat in his apartment, leaning back on the plush leather armrest of his sofa. The Exoche played his favorite music videos while he popped chocolate squares in his mouth, letting them melt and slide down his throat. He enjoyed Saturday mornings for this very reason.
A song by Callista and the Cosmonauts rang through the living room. Liam sang along until it was cut short by the National News anthem. “Breaking News from The National News. We now go live on the scene where your robotic constabulary have two Untruthers, Carl Winston and Eva Thompson, cornered.”
“Dad,” Liam shouted, “Dad, come here. They might finally catch The Executioner!”
A tall, dark-haired man emerged from another room and sat next to Liam. “Really? They finally found that son of a bitch?” He put a hand on Liam’s shoulder, squeezing it.
On the Exoche, a line of robotic constables pointed their guns at Carl and Eva. They held their distance, as Carl wielded a flamethrower in his hands. He shot a thick stream of fire at the machines as a warning to stay back. A drone-camera flew towards Carl, which became engulfed by flames.
In the apartment, fire rushed all around the Exoche’s projection, making for an exciting view, until the camera was destroyed. The image cut out momentarily, until a different camera picked up the feed and stayed behind the safety of the robotic constables.
Liam’s father exclaimed, “Look, there’s Evil Eva Thompson!”
On the Exoche, Carl turned his attention to an apartment building, pulling the trigger on his flamethrower again, raining hellfire on the citizens in an Albany neighborhood that neither Liam nor his father could identify. Eva, smiling at Carl’s handiwork, stepped aside while she pulled out an electronic device from her pocket. She began typing something on it. There was no way for Liam or his dad to tell what she was doing, but after she finished, she put a hand on Carl’s shoulder. They both turned their backs away from the camera. Carl placed his weapon on the ground. They both knelt down and covered their ears with their hands.
A boom rang through Liam’s apartment, causing him to jump. His heart raced as he watched pieces from the building fly around the Exoche. Debris sprayed in every direction. From the building, people who were on fire jumped out of the window, seeing no other escape. The camera picked up on Carl’s expression of joy and satisfaction at watching both buildings burn.
Liam’s dad spoke, “I can’t believe how much that guy enjoys killing innocent people.”
Liam shrugged, “I guess that’s why they call him The Executioner.”
Carl picked up the flamethrower again, this time squeezing the stream of fire at a business across the road.
The camera turned to a vehicle approaching from behind the line of robotic constables. Tim Hunter’s distinctive motorbike roared onto the scene, streaking across the road. On top sat The Hunter in a silver, fire-retardant suit. On the Exoche, Carl heard the roar of the bike and spun around, spraying a steady stream of fire at him. The Hunter continued, full throttle, heading straight for Carl. To Liam’s surprise, the bike wiped out, shooting forward, while The Hunter rolled on his side, over and over.
Liam gasped.
The Hunter’s roll slowed. Then somehow, as if he meant to fall off of his bike, he cartwheeled into a standing position. An impossible feat.
“Wow,” Liam whispered, while his father’s hand gripped at Liam’s shoulder a little tighter.
The Hunter sprinted for Carl through the flames, as if the flames were nothing more than fog. Finally, he reached his target and tackled Carl, sending the flamethrower reeling behind him. The fire went out, leaving only the pilot light to breathe little more than a common lighter. Carl, struggled, trying to free himself. The Hunter punched The Executioner repeatedly in the face until consciousness was nothing more than a wish. The Hunter turned Carl’s limp body to the side and slapped handcuffs on him.
“They got him!” Liam exclaimed.
“Finally.”
Before The Hunter could get up, Eva kicked him in the ribs several times. Her strength was as great as any man, sending The Hunter flying off of Carl’s body. The Hunter hunched over, trying to regain his breath. As Eva approached for another blast to his midsection, The Hunter rose with a mighty backhand, sending Eva to the ground. She attempted to scramble to her feet, but The Hunter was already over her, pushing her into the concrete while he handcuffed her as well.
The Hunter rose and looked straight into the camera. “That’s how we do it out here in the east!”
Liam and his dad cheered. The streets of Albany were finally safe once more.
