AN. Merry Christmas everyone. As a small gift to you I release two chaps. Have a nice time ! Also I need more stones comments and etc to know that this fic is doing fine. See ya !
Jeremiah tried his best to give me the green light to proceed with my project but bureaucracy and resistance from his opponents caused us some hindrances. Well, shit happens and I have to work with the R-4 team for a little longer until things get sorted.
Crap, I have completely forgotten how horrible shifts can be. Thanks to our rag-tag status we have mainly dealt with drunk or overdosed clients. Only a few times we had to use our guns while most of the time we carried clients in and out of aerodyne hoping not to get covered in vomit or other body fluids as well as trying to restrain them from hurting themselves or doing stupid. I was close to strangling one of such idiots dressed in some weirdo BDSM suit who wanted to hump my leg. The only thing stopping me from strangling him was his status as a client with a gold package. I hate perverts, hate junkies, hate perverted junkies.
Anyway, that's how my days passed; today is just another dull day at work. Luckily it is Sunday so there are no rush hours like on Friday party nights. People need a day to recover from a hungover or think about a way to apologize for the shit they did on Friday night.
"R-4, client, silver. The health monitor shows small but continuous blood loss. Haywood." - dispatcher's voice woke me up from a slumber.
"Got it. Moving." - Rebert replied.
"I just love the part about small but continuous blood loss. Lile are we used as some sort of first aid kit for dumb to whom we must put a plaster on a small cut on a finger with a kiss as a painkiller?" - I asked with slight irritation.
"Honestly, no idea. We need to get there first. Ah shit." - Lile said
"What?" - I asked surprised at his reaction. Most of the time he was phlegmatic.
"It is some sort of religious organization according to their location." - I checked out the location and it said, the Church of Sacrificial Goblet.
"Yeah, great. So do you think they are doing some rituals which might be the cause?"
"Likely. I have heard stories about people from the neo-flagellant movement. You know, they believe that by harming themselves they can help the world to purify from sins. Who knows what they are exactly doing."
"Religious fanatism is a dangerous thing."
It didn't take us long to arrive. It was just as I expected. During the sermon, the preacher cut his arm and used it as an example of endurance, sacrifice, etc. So after doing some bandaging and receiving leaflets as well as blessing and thanks from the preacher and his folk, we returned to aerodyne.
"Hey, Markus. Don't you find it weird that preacher got the Silver package?" - Robert asked me after aerodyne took off.
"Hah, not really."
"Why? Don't you think that they must put their trust in their god and faith? Like, god will not let me be harmed and all that thing."
"Well, people that lead the cults or religious organizations usually value their lives. You know. I am a prophet, future savior, and so on. I can't take risks because the world then will be on a highway to hell or some other apocalypse. However, there is a possibility that the leader might have strong faith but his followers want to protect him. They buy guns, start forming militias and hire bodyguards. So buying the TT package is not surprising. I think the preacher needs to rework his business model. Ha, only silver, I expected more from a guy with direct phone line divine creatures. I have heard cult leaders with private jets, harems, and toilets made of pure gold. Amateur."- my last sentence made others laugh.
"R-4! Immediate response needed. Platinum package!" - dispatcher's half-panicked and hi-pitched voice made me flinch.
Shit. Platinum. That's some serious level we got.
"R-4, here. Send details and location." - Ron replied and we got all the intel in a few seconds.
What the fuck?! The client's location is the same as the church we have just left.
"Everyone, get ready. Due to the possibility of excessive collateral damage, we have to go non-lethal mode. However, due to the specific nature of the location, we are going to, we must be ready to use lethal force." - I started speaking while Robert tried to request support from HQ. It seems he is inexperienced with situations involving platinum clients. Trauma Team will send reinforcement anyway because it is Platinum, so why waste time on that? It is more important to run all checks and briefings.
"I am not joking. Instead of dealing with civilians, we might face fanatics and zealots. So in that case we can kill them all. The only exception is our client, but IF a client with a lower package causes danger to the Platinum package holder we are authorized to kill him. Clear?" - I explained the situation to others while replacing EMPs with flashbangs and frags. I haven't noticed any turrets, robots, or cyborgs amongst preacher's folk so that should be ok.
"Daru, man the machine gun turret and provide suppressing fire in case someone wants to play a hero. Keep them down till we get closer and wreck them with flashbangs. Only after we make it to the entrance and get a foothold can you leave a turret. If we get overwhelmed and have to fall back you have to shred them to pieces. Clear?" - I started giving out orders since Robert hesitated and showed a lack of initiative.
Three of us jumped off the aerodyne next to the church and started proceeding towards the main entrance as there was no backdoor or other easily accessible ways in. I ordered Robert to kick the door and sent lots of flashbangs flying in. Right after explosions and cries of deaf and blind people inside we stormed in.
Nobody expected the Spanish inquisition! Time to purge some heathens! Time to kill some heretics!