Leader of the Losers

By Duane Gundrum

In the distant future, mankind has finally solved the problems of wealth, poverty and class....

Rem Schlock is a new Exterminator tasked with hunting, finding and eliminating elusive Losers, those of society branded as "failures". During his search, he discovers the rumor of a mysterious "leader" of the Losers. Facing a future darkened by random death, decayed cities and hidden loyalties, Rem hunts this phantom criminal, discovering an underworld he never imagined yet once revealed can never be covered up again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cross Productions
• Release date: Apr 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458065674

Duane Gundrum

Possibly the greatest translator to ever live, Duane Gundrum can speak 35 words of at least two different languages fluently. When sober, he can walk a straight line and not fall down once. Well, once, but he still thinks he was tripped. Always fascinated by the Greek Trojans, he wonders why they couldn't have gone with a different name instead of stealing USC's mascot for their own. He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but don't tell anyone. You know that whole restraining order thing....

Book preview

LOSER

Published by Duane Gundrum at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Duane Gundrum

(Cover Art Picture by Roland Darby through Free Digital Photos.net)

PROLOGUE

Sweat poured from his glands, his hands shaking within the safety of his laboratory coat. As he walked by his fellow workers, they stared at him, realizing something was wrong but not knowing what that something was. However, like all employees in the corporation, they knew better than to inquire into someone else's privacy. They had enough trouble keeping control of their own problems; they didn't need someone else's.

Dan Freeman took a deep breath and closed behind him the door to his supervisor's office. He was fired only a few moments ago, and he knew it was only a couple of minutes before other people would begin to find out, before telephone calls would be placed to other offices in the building, with at least one call being made to the local authorities.

No, he thought to himself. That wasn't how it worked. The authorities were usually contacted by the security people. The security people wouldn't know until the final security notice was completed. At least that's how it was supposed to work. Then again, for all he knew, a hard copy was already on its way out of the building, making its way to those who dealt with that type of information.

Walking down the hall in somewhat of a daze, he stopped in front of his office and considered packing his things. Opening the door and peering inside, he noticed the certificates on the wall, one of which stated he was The Employee of the Year, a real asset to the company. If he was such an asset, what was he doing staring at his office for a last time? That award wasn't even two months old, he thought to himself.

Dan, said one of the professors from across the hall. It was Jenks, the man who kept joking with him about how he was going to take his office when he finally screwed up. It looked like Jenks was going to get that office after all.

Dan turned to him. Yeah?

Jenks stared at him. Are you all right? You don't look well.

He took a deep breath and let it out. He couldn't let them sense his state of being. Everything had to seem as if it was normal. Yeah, fine. Why?

Jenks took a look down the corridor to insure no one else was close enough to hear them. I think someone's going to get the ax.

Dan breathed heavily before he caught himself and brought his breathing back to normal again. I hope not. I hate seeing someone fired.

Well, it's his funeral, said Jenks, the smile filling his whole face. Or her funeral, depending on who is getting axed.

I don't mean to be rude, said Dan, moving away from Jenks, but I'm in a hurry, and I have to get some lab reports before the director's afternoon meeting.

You'd better hurry, said Jenks, as he locked his office door. You don't want to be late for one of the old man's meetings. You know how quick he is to fire someone. With that, he walked on down the corridor.

Dan leaned against the wall and took one look at Jenks as the man moved on. Then he turned back and looked into his office. Without a second thought, he realized he was only wasting time. Packing was a useless gesture that only took time. He knew he wasn't going to need anything from his office.

Escape was his only chance.

He rushed for the main door, walking into people, causing them to shout curses at him each time he bumped one of them. Dan smiled to himself as he realized how many attitude reports the old man was going to get from these people when they wrote him up for bumping into them. These people were famous for that. They'd write someone up for breathing if they thought it would cause any problems.

One of the site's security officers smiled as Dan stepped in front of the booth and placed his access badge on the counter. The officer knew Dan from years of being in the complex and was probably one of his only friends in the place. Everyone else was too interested in trying to get ahead and axe anyone else who got in the way. As Dan passed his badge over the electronic eye, he realized this was the last time he would need the badge.

The officer stared at the terminal's computer display for a long time before he grabbed the badge himself and ran it back over the electronic eye. Still not believing his terminal readout, he ran the badge across the eye one more time. He received the same results.

Mr. Freeman, said the officer, the computer has you listed as terminated from your former position.

Dan took a deep breath. I was just fired.

The officer took a cautionary step back even though there was an accelerator proof window between them. Fired? I'm sorry. I always did like you.

Thank you, said Dan. How about opening the door and letting me leave?

The officer stared at him, a suspicious look in his eyes. You know I can't do that.

Dan glared at him, realizing that there was no way he could reach the officer or the door access button through the window. We've been friends for a long time. Can't you just open the door and let me leave?

The officer thought to himself for a moment. Why even leave? he said. You won't get far. Hell, you started in Internal Security. You of all people should know that.

You have to give me a chance, said Dan. I have to see my wife one last time. Just claim the computer was on the blink. It always goes out. You can even say I did something to disable it or screw up the readout.

The officer forced a smile and pressed the door activation switch. Good luck, Mr. Freeman. You have five minutes until I contact the authorities and claim a power surge resulted in an accidental oversight of your status. After that, you're on your own. There's no way to stop the electrical message that was sent by Human Resources the second you were fired. The authorities are probably on their way here now.

Dan nodded his head slowly. Thank you, he said. You've been a real friend. I won't forget you.

Just reach your family before it's too late, he said. He motioned towards the door. Now, go.

Dan rushed out the exit to the company's parking lot where his car was parked. He knew five minutes wasn't a lot of time, but it was all he had. He was going to have to make due with what little he had.

Strapping himself into the vehicle, he placed his hand on the computerized dashboard screen. A light ran under his hand, and then a small blue light lit on the dashboard that stated: CLEARANCE VERIFIED. He pressed the power button. The vehicle powered with life.

Using the vehicle's hydrojet engine system was unauthorized within city limits, but he knew there was no way he was going to be able to get by the parking lot's check point where another guard, someone who wouldn't know him very well, was waiting with another computer link to check his status. He wouldn't make it ten feet before the alarm sounded, defense systems were activated, and instant destruction came. Plus, he knew his tires wouldn't get him through traffic in time to reach his home. With the hydrojet system activated, it would only take him a couple of minutes to complete the trip. At the moment, a couple of minutes was precious time he couldn't afford.

Minutes later, he found his wife standing at the front door of their home, a spacious two story building that was designed for the scientific community by the government to award determination and hard work done for the government's cause. She stood in a bathrobe on the grass of their main lawn and waited for his craft to land before her. Once the jets died down, she rushed across the grass, her slippers picking up wet grass that stuck to the blue, fuzzy thongs, and then threw her arms around him. I saw it on the news, she said. How did it happen?

He took a deep breath. I screwed-up a government grant proposal because I missed the deadline.

How could you? she said, breaking away from him. What about your family? Were you thinking of us when you did it?

It was unavoidable, he said. No matter what I did, I couldn't meet the deadline. There was nothing I could do to stop it from happening. I requested an extension and was turned down.

That's not what was reported on the news.

He stared at her for a long time before he separated himself from her arms. Let's not argue now. It's pointless.

She started to cry, the tears flowing down her face. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and smeared the liquid tears across her cheek, smearing her make-up she had put on for their scheduled night out that was part of their schedule before he got himself fired.

Let's go inside, she said, trying to regain control of herself. We'll have to face this with a little bit of dignity. After all, it's all we have left.

Before they could move towards the house, a wave of flames came down from the sky, the couple's eyes darting up. Seconds later, two more vehicles operating on hydrojets descended from the sky and landed on the front lawn, the flames from its thrusters ripping the fresh grass into charred vegetation.

The two vehicles were a lot larger than Dan's vehicle and not of a civilian make. Unlike Dan's vehicle, there were markings on the sides of the two new vehicles, markings of the local police decal.

As the first vehicle hit ground, vibrating the metal surface throughout the entire neighborhood, side doors from the vehicle winged open slowly. From within the first vehicle came three men in black-leather uniforms who stepped out and moved toward the couple. The second vehicle landed and its occupants exited in a similar manner.

Dan's eyes darted back and forth. He couldn't recall an instance where he was placed into a situation like this one. Most of his life was spent on peaceful pursuits in the laboratory. There was nothing in his memory to draw on for this. However, the police officers didn't seem to take notice; they made his decisions for him.

Mr. Freeman, said the leader of the police officers, his weapon in his hands and pointed at Dan. Please step away from your wife.

Dan's eyes continued to look back and forth. He remembered hearing rumors of what these police officers could do and knew these men were capable of some pretty ruthless actions. Still, he never believed it might happen to him. It always happened to the other guy.

Each police officer charged his accelerator.

Mr. Freeman, said the leader, don't make me tell you again. Step away from your wife. Do it now!

Dan glanced at his wife, her tears streaming down her face again. It will be all right, he said to her. His reassurance did nothing to soothe her fears as he moved away from her in the direction that was pointed out by the police leader.

Kneel on the ground, said the police leader.

Dan stared at him. This is a mistake. Let me speak to someone.

To the ground! said the man. His own weapon charged, a whirring sound that let Dan know that death was not far away if he didn't follow the man's every command.

His knees hit the grass, his knees soaking in the freshly watered lawn.

The leader stepped forward with an accelerator aimed at Dan's head. By order of the Fifth Council, you have been placed on execution status. By Fifth Council rules, you are not authorized an appeal.

Dan looked up at him with pleading eyes. Please, don't. His eyes went back to his wife. She was finding it hard to watch what was going on before her, in front of their own home. Fear crossed her face as she realized it was quite possible that their son was watching this from his upstairs window. However, she refused to look up to see; she didn't want to face his wide eyes right now. She was having enough trouble facing the eyes of her husband in front of her.

The leader turned to one of his younger officers. Carry out the sentence.

The young police officer stepped forward with his accelerator aimed at Dan. He'd never killed anyone before, and he wasn't sure he was going to be able to go through with it. This was always the hardest test of his kind. Then, with a quick release of breath, he released the charge.

The beam from the weapon hit Dan in the head, and for a second, nothing happened. During the next second, Dan's body started vibrating, skin contracting and expanding all over his body. A second later, his whole head began to suck inwards, the rest of his body acting as if a vacuum cleaner was located within his body somewhere. As the color left his skin, the reaction took an opposite effect and his whole body exploded out in flames. He was quite dead.

His wife screamed in horror at the scene in front of her eyes. She'd heard the horror stories of police accelerator weapons, but she never dreamed they were as bad as what she just witnessed. There was very little left of her husband that was even enough to recognize as human. She tried to calm herself down as she stared at the carnage that was her husband on the grass before her.

The leader of the police officers approached Dan's wife and attempted to smile, the attempt failing miserably. I'm sorry it had to be this way, Mrs. Freeman, but unfortunately, it's the law.

Anger crossed her face as she fought an urge to strike out at the police officer. Quickly, the urge subsided; a good thing, too, considering the fact that striking out at a police officer was punishable by death.

The law allows you two weeks to stabilize yourself again. If you haven't met the standards of the law within this time, your children will be taken from you and you will face the same fate as your husband. His eyes looked deep into hers. The state has no room for freeloaders.

Her eyes opened wide. What am I supposed to do? You just killed my husband.

We executed him, he said. He forced a smile. Besides, it's not my place to give advice. I just act on government orders. Do you understand everything I've told you?

She nodded her head slowly. There really wasn't much she could say. The leader of the police officers turned to his men. Load up. There's a report due when we get back to headquarters.

They turned to their vehicles. The young police officer responsible for executing Dan stood still until he caught the attention of his commander.

What's wrong? said the leader.

Nothing, sir, said the man. I just want to speak to Mrs. Freeman for a moment, alone.

The leader smiled and waved him off. Joining the rest of the police officers, he waited for the young officer to have his say with the woman.

The young police officer stepped up to the woman and attempted a smile. I'm sorry for what happened here today, he said. I just wish there could have been another way, but the Councils are very strict about these matters.

She nodded hesitantly and fought off an urge to bash in the young man's head. At the moment, she wasn't finding it too easy to communicate with the man who murdered her husband, even if the murder was in compliance with the law.

This may sound awkward, he said, but I feel responsible. It would make me feel much better if I could get together with you for a cup of coffee later on tonight.

Her mouth opened wide. What?

He repeated his statement.

You just killed my husband. Are you insane?

He took a deep breath and let it out. Do I need to remind you that you are down to two weeks? I feel like I have to do something. Do you have anywhere else to turn before then?

She thought about it for a moment. At any other time, she would have ripped the man's throat out; but at the moment, she really didn't see any other alternative. He was right. She had only two weeks to set herself up again, and she didn't have anywhere else to turn. Dan was her entire life before he was killed, or executed. With only two weeks, this man was her only chance.

All right, she said while attempting a smile. Coffee.

"The young officer smiled and turned back to the police vehicles. He, too, knew there was nothing else she could do but accept his offer. He figured she probably had nowhere else in which to turn, even if she hated him more than anything else in her life.

He was her worst nightmare, and he was her only hope.

CHAPTER I

Rem Schlock was tired. He spent his last three days in the field in charge of an Executioner squad, something that took more energy than most people would understand, most people not being of that world. Regardless, he was in no mood for anything that deviated from his usual routine, a routine that consisted of a hot shower and twelve hours of sleep. However, he was being deviated, from a message that came to him on his last patrol day, ordering him to report to the headquarters building for further orders.

Further orders, he thought to himself. I'm dead tired. What else do they want me to do?

He placed his identification card into the security slot and waited for the usual hum that came seconds after the main doors opened; he'd done this thousands of times and knew the procedure. However, a couple of seconds without a hum shifted his nervous system into overdrive.

A red light came across the security screen. It was flashing on and off. Being someone trained in such procedures, he recognized the current mode as the complex's alarm. Someone was being alerted to his presence.

What's going on? said Rem into the console's microphone.

He received no answer.

The entire console screen went red. As he stared at it, he waited for any new information that would explain the situation to him. No new information was displayed.

System check, he said into the console's microphone.

A monotone voice came over the loudspeaker. System is operational. Await further instructions, Mr. Schlock.

He sighed and waited.

He knew better than to run. If one was to run during a security check, it was an automatic gesture of guilt. Stun blasts would incapacitate him before he could take his third step. No, it was much wiser to wait for official instructions from the party at the other end of the transmitter.

Even though he knew better than to run, his hand went down to his holster, unsnapping the safety strap from his accelerator. He knew the rules, but he wasn't stupid.

Mr. Schlock, said a human voice through the computer's loudspeaker.

Yes, he said. Is something wrong?

Please report to the Second Class Supervisor.

He stared at the console for a couple of seconds without saying a word.

Do you understand your instructions? said the human voice.

Yes, he said. I will report to the Second Class Supervisor. He knew the reason for the question. Whenever an order was given, it was followed by the question and the individual's response was recorded for official records in case there was any question later.