police
officer could justify striking an unresisting, cooperative subject that was
handcuffed and keep their job, especially with a crowd watching.
Iaido looked up at the agent and narrowed his eyes.
“Strike three, Junior.”
Moving faster than anyone could prevent, Iaido
leapt up and spun around in a full circle, lashing out with his right foot
striking the Federal Agent on the side of the head. Since Iaido had no
intention of killing or even injuring the young agent, he had opted to use a
spinning crescent kick instead of more damaging techniques. The kick was still
powerful enough to knock the agent to the ground and leave a large red welt on
the right side of his face.
Landing lightly, Iaido immediately dropped to the
ground as three SWAT officers rushed forward, placed their R-Guns on him and
yelled, “Don’t move!”
Even though the SWAT grunts had acted in a
predictable fashion, Iaido thought he could see a glint of amusement in their
eyes. One of the police officers handed the FSA agent a wet towel and helped
steady him as he stood back up.
A moment later when two Galactic Marshals stepped
into view, he did his best to regain some of his wounded pride as he said, “My
partner didn’t want to arrest Mr. Spartan this morning when we had the chance.
If we had, this old man would still be alive.”
The two Galactic Marshals moved forward. They were
both dressed in black body armor with several weapons visible along their
waist. The larger of the two spoke first; his voice was a deep baritone. “Mr.
Spartan, I’m Marshal Brutus and this is Marshal Cassius. You are a suspect in
several crimes committed against the Sylvan Empire which places you in our
jurisdiction.”
Iaido ignored their implied threat. Being under
the authority of the Galactic Marshals meant that the normal rights a person
could expect while incarcerated were null and void.
Marshal Cassius stepped up to the headless form of
the sensei and nudged it slightly with his foot. “You would think that there
would be more blood from a beheading.” He shrugged. “I guess it dries up as you
get older.”
As they began to escort him out, Iaido looked
around the dojo and took in the stunned faces of the students and spectators
until he spied Sam. At first glance, Iaido could see the effects of shock in
his young eyes but then he noticed something else. The tilt of his head and the
squint in his eyes had changed. The wide-eyed innocence of youth had fled to be
replaced by a look that could only be called hate, pure and simple.
One part of his mind registered the argument
between the dignitaries and the police. Even though they had witnessed Iaido
killing the Sensei, the dignitaries were outraged at his treatment. They
explained what happened. Even furnishing a digital recording of the kumite, surely
this was a clear case of self-defense. The Galactic Marshals ignored the
ongoing argument and escorted him through the gathering crowd to a waiting
skimmer. Placing him in the back seat, Agent Smith climbed in next to him while
the Marshals took the front and they were off, leaving behind the dojo, the
dignitaries and the police.
Less than two minutes into the trip, Iaido
realized that they weren’t heading toward the starport and the headquarters of
the Galactic Commission, but east…away from downtown and large crowds of New
Atlanta. He turned his head slightly seemingly to stare out the window as he
used his skills to pick the lock of his handcuffs while surreptitiously
studying the Galactic Marshals.
Brutus was a squat, muscle bound, body builder
type. While his partner Marshal Cassius was a wiry, fidgety type that
constantly played with a silver coin, making it dance around his hand. Two
things jumped out during his inspection, a small tattoo at the base of their skulls
and an interface port.
Iaido had a similar port in the back of his neck
which allowed him to hook into nearly any network in the known universe. It was
a common augment for
officer could justify striking an unresisting, cooperative subject that was
handcuffed and keep their job, especially with a crowd watching.
Iaido looked up at the agent and narrowed his eyes.
“Strike three, Junior.”
Moving faster than anyone could prevent, Iaido
leapt up and spun around in a full circle, lashing out with his right foot
striking the Federal Agent on the side of the head. Since Iaido had no
intention of killing or even injuring the young agent, he had opted to use a
spinning crescent kick instead of more damaging techniques. The kick was still
powerful enough to knock the agent to the ground and leave a large red welt on
the right side of his face.
Landing lightly, Iaido immediately dropped to the
ground as three SWAT officers rushed forward, placed their R-Guns on him and
yelled, “Don’t move!”
Even though the SWAT grunts had acted in a
predictable fashion, Iaido thought he could see a glint of amusement in their
eyes. One of the police officers handed the FSA agent a wet towel and helped
steady him as he stood back up.
A moment later when two Galactic Marshals stepped
into view, he did his best to regain some of his wounded pride as he said, “My
partner didn’t want to arrest Mr. Spartan this morning when we had the chance.
If we had, this old man would still be alive.”
The two Galactic Marshals moved forward. They were
both dressed in black body armor with several weapons visible along their
waist. The larger of the two spoke first; his voice was a deep baritone. “Mr.
Spartan, I’m Marshal Brutus and this is Marshal Cassius. You are a suspect in
several crimes committed against the Sylvan Empire which places you in our
jurisdiction.”
Iaido ignored their implied threat. Being under
the authority of the Galactic Marshals meant that the normal rights a person
could expect while incarcerated were null and void.
Marshal Cassius stepped up to the headless form of
the sensei and nudged it slightly with his foot. “You would think that there
would be more blood from a beheading.” He shrugged. “I guess it dries up as you
get older.”
As they began to escort him out, Iaido looked
around the dojo and took in the stunned faces of the students and spectators
until he spied Sam. At first glance, Iaido could see the effects of shock in
his young eyes but then he noticed something else. The tilt of his head and the
squint in his eyes had changed. The wide-eyed innocence of youth had fled to be
replaced by a look that could only be called hate, pure and simple.
One part of his mind registered the argument
between the dignitaries and the police. Even though they had witnessed Iaido
killing the Sensei, the dignitaries were outraged at his treatment. They
explained what happened. Even furnishing a digital recording of the kumite, surely
this was a clear case of self-defense. The Galactic Marshals ignored the
ongoing argument and escorted him through the gathering crowd to a waiting
skimmer. Placing him in the back seat, Agent Smith climbed in next to him while
the Marshals took the front and they were off, leaving behind the dojo, the
dignitaries and the police.
Less than two minutes into the trip, Iaido
realized that they weren’t heading toward the starport and the headquarters of
the Galactic Commission, but east…away from downtown and large crowds of New
Atlanta. He turned his head slightly seemingly to stare out the window as he
used his skills to pick the lock of his handcuffs while surreptitiously
studying the Galactic Marshals.
Brutus was a squat, muscle bound, body builder
type. While his partner Marshal Cassius was a wiry, fidgety type that
constantly played with a silver coin, making it dance around his hand. Two
things jumped out during his inspection, a small tattoo at the base of their skulls
and an interface port.
Iaido had a similar port in the back of his neck
which allowed him to hook into nearly any network in the known universe. It was
a common augment for
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