Anthony DeCosmo - Disintegration

"This must be tough for you, seeing me changed so much."

"Guess I just have to get used to it," Dante tried to sound lighthearted, but came up short.

Ajax the Doberman scrambled to the door and stared at Trevor who, after a moment, told Dante, "They’ve found something outside. Come on."

– The dream shocked Nina awake. She sat in bed surrounded by darkness, sweat soaking through her oversized nightshirt. Her chest heaved in and out.

She remembered what had happened to Scott after the helicopter crash. She had witnessed it all. Scott had been murdered in cold blood.

Her mind raced as she recounted the images in her head. Not a dream, but a memory. A memory and a…a…a feeling.

Someone had murdered her…her… fiance.

The man she loved.

Scott.

Confusion…muddled thoughts…but one thing cut through it all: Rage. Absolute, unequivocal, unstoppable.

A whisper inside warned, Wait! Stop!

That whisper disappeared; a drop smothered by a flood of hatred and anger.

She must have blood.

And there…the answer…resting in the corner: her Heckler amp; Koch sniper rifle.

Nina lit the candle next to her bed, pulled on a t-shirt, jeans, and a camouflage jacket, then grabbed the rifle. She threw open the apartment door and walked onto the small landing outside. Attached steps descended from there to the driveway. Flurries drifted in a solitary flood light that painted a glowing circle over the coating of thin white snow on the driveway.

Voices. Nina froze like a predator catching scent of prey.

She heard his voice. Then movement-shadows-by the estate’s fence, fifty yards away.

Nina glanced over her shoulder at the gently angled roof. She slung her weapon and climbed to better killing ground.

– Tyr, Ajax, and three Doberman sentries gathered with Trevor and Dante amidst the trees along the perimeter fence. Drifting flakes floated aimlessly around them.

The sentries had killed something, as evident by the gore on their snouts.

Glowing flashlights announced the approach of Reverend Johnny and Jon Brewer.

Trevor asked, "What do you make of this, Reverend?"

Beams found the remains of a green creature with three legs and a mushroom shaped body. It had stood three feet tall before the dogs tore it into two pieces.

Johnny-shivering in his leather jacket-said, "Dear Lord, what abomination has visited us this evening?"

Trevor told them, "According to the sentries, the top part was glowing when they found the thing. Still, no harm done. The Grenadiers got a hold of it before it could get around the fence. It didn’t put up a fight."

Brewer threw in his thoughts: "Wow, ugly little thing, ain’t it?"

Johnny stared at the carcass and said, "I’ll indulge my curiosity and do an autopsy on our interloper."

The men stood about unaware that night-vision-aided crosshairs targeted the group, falling first on Dante Jones.

Nina blinked and moved the target away from that man. He was not the murderer. She knew who the murder was. She had seen him do it. She had a clear memory now.

The crosshairs fell on Trevor Stone.

Nina’s finger felt the cold of the trigger. Her heart beat in anticipation of killing the bastard — Stop! No! — who had murdered the man she planned to marry.

Her rage was absolute…it could not be satiated without blood, it- She eased her trigger finger and rested the sniper rifle.

"No," she spoke to herself. "No, this is too good for you."

An idea came to mind. An idea so perfect for vengeance that she wondered why she had not thought of it before.

I hate you Trevor Stone. I’m going to make sure you pay for killing my lover.

Trevor walked into the church basement.

Two teenage sisters worked behind the counter serving breakfast. Dustin McBride had painted a colorful caricature of Sal Corso in a chef’s hat stirring a pot on one of the kitchen walls. His artistic talents came from years of spray-painting tags for the "D.C. Boys."

Trevor crossed the hall to the counter, scanning every seat as he moved.

Dante Jones and Evan Godfrey conversed at a table. Two middle-aged men also dined in the hall but he did not know their names. While that made him feel guilty, he also thought it a good sign that the community grew at such a pace he could not keep track of names.

However, his eyes did not find what he truly sought: Nina. He felt a pang of disappointment.

As he moved toward the counter, Trevor overhead Evan Godfrey preaching to Dante.

"I’m saying this is a great chance to do things right this time. We can make changes so we don’t repeat the mistakes the Founding Fathers made."

"You mean, like having slavery when all men were supposed to be equal?"

"Yeah, sure, of course. But I’m talking about a functioning society where there’s true social and economic equality. No one is left out."

Trevor could not decide if Dante bought Godfrey’s gobbledygook or if he merely played a game, something he was apt to do.

"That sounds beautiful, man. So, like, universal health care and a chicken in every pot."

Godfrey said, "I’m talking about a government that ensures the people live as one with the environment, that balances the needs of the individual with the bigger needs of the entire nation, that reflects the moral standards of the community."

As Trevor waited at the counter for eggs and bacon he pulled his mental file on Evan Godfrey, remembering that Godfrey-a man a few years shy of his thirtieth birthday-was nearly shot by Nina during his 'rescue.' After, Evan retreated to an apartment above the garage. Recently, he started venturing forth and contributing.

More specifically, Evan worked with Kristy Kaufman and Lori following up with new residents, procuring items such as medicines, dietary supplements, and such. From what Trevor heard, if a person needed something Evan Godfrey found a way to get it.

Trevor realized that the estate-the community-required people like Evan. Nonetheless, as he listened, Trevor felt Godfrey needed a dose of reality.

"As we get bigger we have to establish electoral zones to create a representative government. Of course, there will have to be steps taken to ensure that we do not become divided by regional issues. You can’t have regional interests outweighing the overall good."

Trevor sat at the table where Evan and Dante planned the future of humanity.

"Good morning, gentlemen. Mind if I join you?"

Evan welcomed, "No, no, of course not."

Dante asked, "You figure out what that thing was we found last night?"

"Not yet," Trevor said. "Johnny is doing an examination."

Trevor turned his attention to Evan and, taking pains not to sound confrontational, said, "I couldn’t help but overhear your speech. Sounded like a politician."

Evan proudly answered, "I've worked on a few campaigns and was in the middle of earning a Masters degree in Political Science when everything changed."

"Yeah," Dante said. "He’s got some good ideas. You should listen to him."

Trevor spotted a glint in his friend’s eye. Dante loved to run experiments on human nature by letting the cars crash together and see what happened.

"Well, let’s hear your ideas, Evan."

Godfrey smiled, his eyes widened, and the ideas flowed forth.

"We have a chance to rebuild government and avoid past mistakes. Here’s a chance for us to create the perfect governing body and social structure."

"I see."

"The key is making sure that the common good is the focus. We need a strong central government that assures equal access to things like health care, education, and business opportunities. If we create a governing body of elected representatives now, we can lay a foundation to build a political structure that really serves the needs of the whole of society."