The General Assasination

They say that light is not fastest thing in the universe. That actually, the darkness has got higher speed, because there are locations where darkness have been there all the time and light is merely in progress of arriving there. Darkness was also an attribute of night. And night was one of the favourite things of Jack Cossack. In his trusty costume he was more known as The Corruptor. The darkness gave him some edge compared to day time. Neither black or forest camo color pattern would blend with the scrounging desert colors. And that's where Secret Base 452 was located. "I need to work on the magnetophotonic paints... Desert camo would be perfect. Oh, this reminds me of the desert mission of The Polish Ripper 3. Oh, this Atari 2600 demake of TPR was great." - various thought were darting through Cossack's brain.

Then, a roaring sound was heard by Jack. Turning around clearly determined the sound source to be the McCoe's escort. Hard to believe that such an advanced army would still use old Humvees. The basic design is older than Jack Cossack himself. "These scumbags are cutting costs every corner and they still have the gut to squish the money of us." - the views about government didn't change since yesterday. The Corruptor was as critical about it as always. The sound of low-revved, big V8 diesels was louder and louder. They were getting closer and closer.

"I need to get him out of the car." - Mr. Cossack thought as the escort was approaching. "It'll be the best to just wait. He must get into the base, so much things can end his sorry life there.." For now, the only thing Jack was worrying about was not being spotted - The spotlights couldn't cast their beam on him, the escort couldn't notice the black armor, with 3 light blue stripes on each of the boot, with 3 stripes of similar color on belt, extruding from visor and forming sort of ring around Corruptor's head. And definitely looking as an armor which experienced some combat. The scratches and dents were located everywhere.

"Everything will be ok. Nobody will expose you." - these words were mantra of Jack, repeated in his mind constantly, as the General's Humvee drove towards the Secret Base 452 Gate nr. 1, located on north of the object.

The moment the humvee trundled to the north gate, Jack had began concentrating on getting its engine to malfunction somehow... Well, actually, he concentrated on glitching the car, so he did not naturally know, but immobilising the vehicle in some way was the desired outcome. Engine breaking up was one of the options, but we could also consider other option. The brakes could jam. Something would happen with Torsen differentials, rendering the HMMWV powerless. But the focus was broken. It was broken by an explosion. The escort stopped. Humvee McCay was in went off for inexplainable way. Well, it was unexplainable to anyone who was not Jack Cossack. It didn't shatter into small pieces, it kept it's basic shape. Several soldiers started to run towards the wreck to see if someone can be rescued.

"Wow. I guess I didn't have to make sure everything works. That hitman did the great job... - A thought passed through Corruptor's mind, but then, he saw two shapes coming out of the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle. The first one was a person in full camouflage suit. It was a bit torn by the explosion, so Mr. Cossack could see some kind of protective suit or something. "That seems to be a women... How did she survive that thing?... It's almost like god mode". The second person surviving drove Jack into a mix of sheer surprised, confusion and well... And anger. "You got to be kiddin' me" - actually, this sentence did go off the Jack's mouth quietly "HOW DID THIS PRICK SURVIVE THIS?!" - If you could read his mind, you would hear exactly this question. - "Time to finish him off." General was burned a bit, well, a lot actually, and Jack would leave him to succumb to his injuries, but… He wasn’t really sure if miracles of modern medicine wouldn’t rescue him. "I don’t want to end your agony, sucker. But I need to make sure you left this world".

The Corruptor was standing in place. He needed to concentrate really much. The good old humvee had it’s advantages. The throttle was not some kind of sophisticated throttle-by-wire system. Electronical devices were what Jack practised on, and, while it still was possible to control pure mechanical machines, it was harder. Throttles of one of the escort HMMWVs were slowly, but steadily opened, the vehicle was rolling towards fallen Jerry McCoy.
3…
2…
1…
Crack was heard under military offroad vehicle. The general was finalny dead. "Full success…" – Jack Cossack sighed In relief. But, it wasn’t the end of this... ummmm… problem. "Hey! It’s The Corruptor!". The beam of spotlight have just been casted at Jack. Now, the whole military base was chasing him. Suddenly, the spotlight turned off. It was Cossack’s glitch. Glitch could get him out of the problem very often, providing distraction and giving him time to run. Jack was not a sprinter, but he started moving away from the base. Not straight away, though. Soldiers are intelligent, they could predict such an obvious move.

Jack was running. Though not very fit, he actually managed to run for a long time. Someone was darting after him. He turned around and he saw that woman. That women who was the only survivor right now. If he was her, he would run after himself too. Of course, Jack knew that he did not made the vehicle explode, but she didn’t know that. And she is probably pissed off at The Corruptor, because she almost died in explosion “caused by him”. But something wasn’t right. He looked around again and he saw her wounds were too little for such an accident. ”What’s going on there?” – he asked himself in confusion, and them it struck him ”I’m not alone. Actually, I’d have to be a selfish arrogant to think that in 7 billion of people, I’m the only gifted person. This would be a blasphemy against mathematics.”.

She wasn’t much faster than Jack Cossack, but still it was matter of time before she caught him. They were not slowed down by sand’s intricate properties, like granularity, or friction, as they were running along the road. Car stolen by Cossack to drive here more quickly was visible. It’s amazing how such modern vehicles are filled with electronics. Steer-by-wire, Throttle-by-wire, Brake-by-wire, electronic locks, the omnipresent mega-advanced modules just made it easier for Jack to steal the vehicles.

”Car is closer, car is closer and closer…” – Jack has forgotten himself and spoke that aloud. That voice. Maybe it wasn’t spoken loudly, and it was partly muffled, Lieutenant Karma had a weird feeling that she have heard that voice before. Were, one could ask? Well, she did not know yet, but she definitely heard that guy speaking before. Car was just 500 meters away, when The Corruptor was tackled by the girl in full camo suit. Jack tried to push her, but despite he was stronger he knew nothing about art of combat, relying only on his machines. And on surroundings. And on his mind. But his mind could tell nothing. She, of course, had a rifle, but he wasn’t able to do anything with it, even using his powers. It was just aimed nowhere important. He could just hope that she will follow the procedures, and won’t kill him… ”That rifle can just kill me now…Let’s hope she won’t make me devoid of life now” – he thought in fear, when he realized something ”She won’t do this. She could shoot me down any time…” There were no wounds right now. ”Wow, she’s definitely some sort of super…”. Now, he had more time to look at her. Her long, white hair were in some sort of practical, simple, ponytail. She was actually pretty beautiful. Well, not as pretty as Natalie, his deceased wife, as he remembered her, but still pretty attractive. Several thoughts were tormenting Jack. Were the girl’s supervisors aware of her power? If so, why didn’t he face more heroes on his corrupting mission? What will that hitman if he doesn’t receive the rest of the payment? Will they find out who hired them, and if so, will they expose that legendary game maker, Jack Cossack, hired him? That would be pretty bad.

Wow. So that woman was the assassin Mr Cossack had hired. Jack had to admit it made more and more sense. “All right.” he said. “I’ve got money in that car. Oh…If you understood what these officials have done to me and my family…” – Lt. Karma then was fully sure when she had heard the voice. Everybody who watches TV sometimes, or has at least some interest in video games, got to know this voice. It was that game-making celebrity, Jack Cossack, the one who had his famly killed in a mysterious attack. While the face was covered by microcamera array, one could imagine his face, with trademark robotic eye, and scar, both being the remains of the cold January day.

“The Cossack family assassination case was closed due to lack of evidence.“ – That was not what Jack wanted to hear from the guy in TV news. After the money he donated to the police force, all they want to say is “There’s almost no evidence”? “These investigators are just a bunch of incompetent clods.” – These thoughts were just embedded into Jack’s memory – “Just like Lt. Columbo, except Columbo was just obfuscating stupidity, and in fact, he was pretty capable detective” – That was the day he decided to solve the case himself… That was a month full of doing not necessary legal activities, like hacking into government network, or breaking into its buildings… Truth was devastating. The country was not quite devoted to keeping the free speech freedom. “Fine, you wanna be like that, die then!” – that’s what Jack promised himself.”

The Corruptor has heard the humvee’s engine sound as well. Suddenly, the beam illuminated them. It was “Cossack’s” car, which was moving towards them. Well, not exactly that way, but you get the sense. “OK, let’s get in.” It was the while, before Ford Falcon Mark VII stopped near Jack and Skyler. It’s door have opened automatically, and one could see its rather little comfortable, but well made interior. However, it was a little boring, as black colour just surrounded the driver and the passengers. No little detail was in other color. Just vast blackness, amplified by darkness. On the rear seat, there was a suitcase. Heavy-duty suitcase, to be exact, and full of money. Jack Cossack entered the car, and taken the driver’s position. One simple touch of steering wheel was enough to know a lot about the car. The owner have probably complained about vehicle being loud. Nothing surprising – the damaged mufflers would definitely make the car much louder.

The interior light was lit, the suspension was just set to sport mode, and vehicle’s motor released nice, non-muffled roar. Jack spoke through the voice of GPS receiver – “Where would you like to be given a lift to, if I may ask?” The Karma’s plan indeed was something Jack was admiring. Tricking army into being kidnapped, or even killed, was very clever, just as clever as being supposedly in inspiration room. He looked at the car’s clock. There was one hour and forty-seven minutes left before the recordings would revert back to real ones.