"Gentlemen, if I have brought us together here it is to inform you of a trouble which is eroding our community and our race from the inside. You have certainly noticed the differences between us and some of our peers in the outposts. Unfortunately, even if we all aspire to the greatness of the white race, some by their inhuman actions dirty us more than anything else.
I have decided to put my life on the line in an act of faith to rid our race of its unworthy children. These people are blinded by the illusion of a superiority that they have never achieved compared to others and behave like the masters that they're not.
SHOULD RAPE, MISTREAT AND UNJUSTLY KILLING BE IN THE CHARACTER OF THE ADVANCED, CHRISTIAN WHITE MAN?" Vince asked his armed men gathered before him while he was on a platform.
"WE ARE THE LIGHT ABOVE OTHERS, WE PROTECT AND GUIDE."They all said, placing their right hands on their chests.
"Please, tell me I'm dreaming ! It's a sect of white supremacists mixed with Jehovah's Witnesses and hippies !! NIGGA, WHAT DID I SMOKE AGAIN ?" Calvin wondered from the side rubbing his eyes, this was all giving him headaches and he missed Christina.
For a country with a history like United States, anyone with a brain would know that there would be enormous racial tensions unavoidable in post-apocalyptic times.
There were already racial tensions in normal times but things would very clearly be exacerbated if society collapsed and Calvin was a spectator of this madness.
Vince: If we want to lead, we ourselves must be better because our glorious past was made in the massacre, deception, theft and injustice perpetrated by our ancestors who trampled under their feet our potential to truly be the guides the human species towards its salvation. In the end, look at the state the world is in and our unworthy brothers behave like animals and want, like our most unworthy ancestors, to trample with their feet the path that is truly ours. We are not animals and the weeds in the field must be removed.
"Hell yeah"
"The weed must be pulled out"
"What should we do ? Tell us Vince"
"What we must do is a sacrifice, a purge in our ranks. You my brothers who have remained close to me here understand my words and share my vision on the place of our race in the future history of our species. We'll confront our brothers to stop their horrors on innocent people.
I'll not send anyone into battle out of obligation, I want this decision to be an act of faith because I myself will be on the front line risking my life for what I believe is right but I need you, brothers . Who wants to help me guide our race before it guides the others?" Vince asked his men and one by one, his men took a knee to the ground.
They really believed in his vision of white superiority as well as his philosophy, Calvin watching them just wanted to go for a walk in a cemetery when Vincent introduced him to his men as an essential ally for the success of the purge.
"Please forgive me leader but why would we need this black man for a purge that only concerns our race ?" One of them asked and Vince looked at Calvin a certain way. It was his turn to speak...
Calvin: Why? Because this nigga in front of you almost effortlessly took down one of your outposts single-handedly. If it wasn't for a cute kid looking for her big sister probably at one of these camps then I wouldn't be here listening to all this nonsense. I could take care of this myself, but your boss also wants to clean up his ranks. The reason I'm needed is because with all due respect, I'm better at fighting than all of you combined...certainly.
*TPOOUHT*
One of them spat loudly on the ground to insult Calvin who looked at him attentively before coming down to stand in front of him and everyone else moved forward to put pressure on Calvin.
Cal: If Captain America here has any doubt about my abilities then I invite him to challenge me. (to others) I INVITE YOU ALL TO CHALLENGE ME IN THE COMBAT DISCIPLINE OF YOUR CHOICE.
Several minutes later, the man from earlier and Calvin were in a small fighting arena surrounded by gates, they called this place the cage and it was where fights were held for entertainment or training.
"Go ahead, show him who we are Dean."
"Come on DEAN"
"Show this black man why we are the ones who lead"
"Dean Thomas, 11 years in the Navy Seals and practicing several combat sports. He's one of the best fighters of my race, are you sure you don't wanna wear something more suited to close combat?" Vince asked Calvin who just took off his jacket while Dean in front was warming up shirtless in black sports shorts.
Cal: It'll be fine, this show won't last more than one breath.
"You seem confident, I would have liked to wish you good luck but you know which side I choose. (to both) The goal is neither to hurt nor to kill so respect the man in front of you, we are not enemies... " Vince said as Calvin rolled his eyes slightly, that story was just cringe.
He really wondered what the hell he was doing there when they left Lincoln for a specific mission but he was going to get involved in an intra-racial war.
Vince signaled the start of the fight and Dean looked at Calvin smiling confidently before taking his guard, Calvin watched him and could notice that he had excellent stance, he was definitely someone used to fighting.
Dean applied what Vince his guide told him to the letter, he respected the man in front of him and did not underestimate Calvin, he moved forward cautiously trying to assess the distance with a few feints.
Calvin also took his guard out of respect and in an instant, he first feinted Dean with a left jab before quickly hitting him with a right hook right on Dean's chin who immediately collapsed like a puppet whose control wires had been cut.
The crowd :…
Vince:…
Everyone remained silent at what had just happened, Calvin had moved with devilish speed to hit his opponent with surgical precision where he needed to.
Obviously, he only used the bare minimum of his strength firstly to not kill Dean but above all for another much more personal reason, it gave him no pleasure and on the contrary, he was even a little ashamed...
These gifts he had when he woke up, he didn't even know why he had them. He didn't train for them unlike other humans who worked hard on their talents to become as proficient as they could.
At first, these kinds of abilities give an impression of superiority especially in these terrible times but seeing other normal humans accomplish things, survive on their own and protect their groups with their means commanded respect for someone who had a minimum of dignity.
He did not use his "powers" to impress or unnecessarily intimidate other survivors but to protect people.
His powers for him are an opportunity to be more than a former drug dealer but a protector or...a punisher.
He helped Dean get up and asked if there were any other candidates, he even offered to take on several of them.
No one accepted, it wasn't out of fear but out of racial dignity because facing a single black man with several people for a chance to win was an admission of weakness, they saw what he was capable of and respected his strength.
"You win dude, no one is going to insist…" Dean told him and held out his hand to Calvin who looked at him before shaking his hand to the applause of the others and the mental shock of Calvin who was still wondering what dimension did these kinds of white supremacists come from.
Vince entered the arena clapping before putting his hand on Dean's shoulder...
Dean: Leader, I have brought shame to the race...
Vince: Don't say such things, you didn't lose but he just won a fight. You got up anyway and you know what you have to do now...
Dean: Become better...
"Like all of us brother, like all of us…" Vince said appreciatively and Dean walked back to the others who clapped for him and congratulated him.
He then looked at Calvin and congratulated him, he was seriously impressed with Calvin's speed in close combat but was sure he could beat him in one area.
Vince: Are you willing to compete with me in firearms skills? We are going to face armed people and it would be good to know the level of the other, you beat one of my men so understand that I want a revenge.
Cal: Naturally, I accept and may the best one win.
Vince: I really like you more and more, Mr. Lincoln. Come on, let's-(interrupted)
"Leader, we have apprehended an armed intruder..." one of Vince's men said as they took with them the intruder in question who was none other than Paul, one of Calvin's lieutenants that he had left to manage Lincoln.
Calvin: Can I know what the hell you're doing here?! (to Vince) You have nothing to fear from him, he's a race soldier like you.
"I followed you to help, boss..." Paul said as Vince signaled his men to leave him.
Calvin: Nigga please, look like I need your help?
Vince: Looks like you have some things to... talk about...
"I have nothing to say to him, he deserted his responsibilities to the community to be here. (to Paul) You really are father of the year for abandoning your kid there." Calvin said to Paul as he came closer.
Paul: I took Riley with me...
Calvin:…Nigga what ???!
"I told him everything, he knows who I was and what I did. Boss, neither your hatred nor your distrust will match the look I received from my own son.
It was his idea for me to follow you, I know you don't want me here but I'm not going back to Lincoln without you. Paul told him, shaking his head.
"You don't need to prove anything to me, I already told you you were a good lieutenant . Your responsibility is over there, not here trying to prove to me I don't know what. Nigga you think we're in a movie ?" Calvin asked him exhaustedly.
Paul: I'm not just doing it for you boss but for my son and me. You saved our lives and I know I have no right to tell you this but I am truly sorry for what happened to your-(interrupted).
"For your own safety, I advise you to keep quiet if you were going to mention my parents and do whatever you want, I don't care anymore. The only thing I asked you was to manage the community with others, it's not about my prejudices but about the lives of all Lincoln survivors..." Calvin said displeasedly before leaving from there.
Vince told Paul that if he wanted, he and his son could have their place in the community but he received a fierce look from Paul who told him that he was only there to help his leader and that he no longer had anything to do with people like them.