Chereads / The Starved Rock Series / Chapter 45 - Divisive, Tarnished American Soul

Chapter 45 - Divisive, Tarnished American Soul

As the train steamed for Greater Ottawa, the city's skies had become full of drones and falling paratroopers. Secretary Chastity ran outside to find the streets overrun with CIA Operatives, FBI Personnel, and the Madam President herself. 

"Mama, they're putting up one hell of a resistance. They've even got some kind of armored suits they're deploying against us...."

"I want you to round them up, then separate the men and women. Make the women see the power of the femininomenon, kill any man who moves." 

As Chastity ran towards the warehouses, she was grabbed and pulled out of sight. She was about to scream when she realized it was Archie and Dr. Sue. 

"What is happening?" 

"I'm trying to get to the lab." Started Dr. Sue "Archie, I hate to even suggest this..."

"You don't even have to ask. Just do what you need to do." The older gentleman stepped into the suit of OP-DSA armor Dr. Sue had been powering up. 

"Archie, the suit's not rated for fighting!" Chastity looked to the older gentleman, her eyes fearful she'd have to see the one she cared about hurt by yet another loss. 

"Oh, I'm not fighting, I just have some gardening and projects to do!" The older man smiled as the helmet closed. He turned and marched out of the warehouse. The sounds of screaming CIA Operatives filled the air outside. Archie bulldozed way towards downtown; however, he came into contact with the strongest mech-suit the US Government had ever sanctioned. The US Omni-Functional Deltoid Suit or USOFD was far stronger than the Non-combat version of the OP-DSA. 

The Madam President ripped apart Archie's armor and tossed the old man into the crowd. "All you men are the same. Pathetic and Weak." She walked up to them. 

"I am the President of the United States, the first woman to hold the office. I will not have a bunch of.. filthy men... ruin the society I plan to create." 

"We don't need you!" Yelled out the Overlord standing to her. "We have stronger and better women in power here, YOU AREN'T SPECIAL!" 

The Madam President nodded her head as a CIA Agent cracked the Overlord's skull off of a steel post. "All you men here, feel threatened by me in power.. Don't you? No more "boys will be boys", no more getting away with snide comments, keeping women down.... It ends here."

"Sugar," Started Barbara, "That's a load of crap and you know it. We all have been living in harmony here, no oppression as you claim, just the common goal of living and protecting our kin." 

The Madam President sneered, disgusted by the revolting notion. "Conservatively.... brainwashed.... backwood.... Moron." The Madam President looks at Barbara, eyes piercing the older woman's soul, "You have the audacity to stand before the girls here.... and tell them they aren't oppressed, that those men... don't wish to prey on them?"

Before anyone could speak, Secretary Chastity punched the Madam President away from Barbara. "YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT SHE WILL! BECAUSE IT'S TRUE!"

The Madam was ready to put a man in his place, only for her to see a woman standing before her. "There may be a "Man" in charge, but he made the system balanced! He offered all of us a shot... a ninth shot if you were me."

"Sweetheart..."

"Don't you "Sweetheart" me." Chastity fumed with rage, "You told us you'd solve our problems, told us you'd restore our "lost rights", claiming you were better than any man, but look around you! The men here aren't trying to "prey" on us, the fact is they are a minority population here! Women are the majority, and are treated the goddamn same here! The soldiers you attack, the people you're rounding up, most women, and none of us want anything you're selling. We're strong and independent, and require no labels from you."

The Madam President looked around and found what the young woman had said was true. She clenched her fist as she turned around to find the Delegates and their combined forces standing beside Chastity. 

"When did..." The Madam President backed up towards her army. The glint from the twin cannons of the Ottawan Offensive Bias caught her off guard.

*Earlier* 

As the paratrooping CIA and FBI agents landed in Ottawa, Chastity put out an emergency ping across her private line to the Ghost.

"Hey Ghost, it won't be long before..."

"Greater Ottawa.... is under siege... From the American Government." The Ghost looked at Liam L, Delegate from the Liberal Democratic Northeast. They ran into the meeting car and informed the others.

"So... The fuck the plan then?" Asked LyQuientiss. The Ghost paused a moment before pulling down the map of Greater Ottawa.

"Here's what we do. We get dropped off outside the border, march our combined forces into Greater Ottawa. We'll have the element of surprise... Tyrese, I'll have a special job for you....."

They discussed their plan in depth. When they had finished, "GOB, inform the engineer." Ordered Major Mcginnis. Everyone rushed to prepare for the plan. As the Major looked at the Ghost, he shook his. "This crazy fool better not get us killed."

"Have some Leonard." Said Jim of the Westside Floridian Delegation. "My nephew's many things, but being foolish isn't one of them."

*Present Moment*

"I take it you're the leader." Said the Madam President looking at the Ottawan Offensive Bias. The metal hand rested on Chastity's shoulder. "Well put girl." A voice as the helmet folded down.

Once it had, it revealed Tyrese of the Crimson Hood wearing it. "Nah bitch. I'm just borrowing this shit. The crazy muthafucker I borrowed it from, he's their leader... So consider yourself an op." The guns of the entire delegation clicked their safeties off, locked and locked, all pointing at remnants of the US Government. The Madam President yelled in frustration... 

"Then... Who in this absolute backwoods country bumpkin fuck of a city is the LEADER!?!?!"

"I am, you corrupt piece of shit!" As the Madam President turned around to see who had claimed the title, a massive chunk of her USOFD exploded into pieces. The agents around her were tossed aside, her face in horror as there before here was the Ghost of Ottawa. However, the Ghost wasn't in a suit of armor. On his shoulder was a strange looking device. However, she knew it was what had blown a chunk off of the mech-suit she was wearing. Under his feet, the concrete road had cracked from the recoil transfer to ground. 

"You have the audacity to stand upon the soil both men and women rebuild their lives from, found hope and civility on, the soil where I demanded the equal standing of men and women, give them equal pay, equal opportunities to rise above the ridiculous identity you forced upon them? No, I don't fucking think so."

"You're a man. You couldn't possibly..."

"Shut the fuck up. Upon this ground, gender had no bearing upon the outcome of your story. I will not stand another second of your divisive, repugnancy." Said the Ghost, eyes burning with passion.

He pointed at her, as if to command destiny itself, stomped a steel-toed boot forwards, eyes locked onto the very essence of her soul, "Upon this day, I reclaim our fallen and divided nation."