Previously:
Jada Greene is the daughter of the Governor and also a member of the guard force employed to keep the Reds subdued and out of the city. When her father declares war on the Reds he sends out teams to strike the suspected Red camps. Jada, however is involved in a shooting incident that resulted in her waking up in hospital days later. She is horrified to discover she’s been taken to a makeshift Red hospital, deep within enemy territory. Her “captors” claim that they had to take her there to save her life but she’s convinced it was intentional kidnap, and that they’re trying to recruit her to their cause which seems to be to over-throw the government. After making it obvious that her loyalties lie with her father and her city her “captors” Olivia (who says she’s not red but counts reds among her family) and Rurik agree to let her go. Just as she’s ready to leave, Olivia plays to Jada’s curious side, indicating that she knows more about Jada than she’s let on.
Also, just as a reminder, GI = Genome Interrogator (the proximity detection device used to determine if someone has the red gene or not).
~~~
“That’s the guy?”
“Yes, Governor. We caught him on the perimeter fence cctv the night of the red alert. Ray, er- Sgt Stannis confirmed it’s the same red who attacked him and kidnapped your daughter”.
“Are these being distributed city-wide?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good; I want every man and his slave to know the face of the man that sealed the Red’s fate forever. He’s gonna pay for embarrassing me like this.”
* * *
Somehow I knew that I wasn’t gonna walk out that door just yet: it just seemed too easy. The door was open, there were no shackles tying me down. Yet I hesitated; distracted by their words. If they’re to be believed I’m the Red’s only hope of survival. Why? Their fate is in my Dad’s hands and they think I can influence his decisions. I can certainly get close enough to him but would I want to interfere? Why would I side with a bunch of criminals and savages over my own Dad? No, this is all a bit far-fetched but they continue on in vain, trying to convince me otherwise.
“Jada. You wanted to know how we know so much about you...”
I sigh wearily but remain paused at the door, on the precipice of freedom, “cyber stalking?”
Olivia continues, ignoring my sarcasm. She probably has a lot of practice at that with Rurik, “Jada, we share the same blood”.
“Yeah, yeah. Look, I get it”, I’ve never been totally sold on the whole ‘reds are soulless demons theory’ like a lot of the religious types are, ”...they’re still human but even you have to admit Reds have more in common with Neanderthals than normal humans!”
Following my glare to Rurik she laughs softly, “No, that’s just men in general". Then she’s serious again, “...but that’s not what I meant. Jada-“
“Wait!” Rurik interrupts, “I wanna hear this; what is it you think you know about Reds that makes us so damn unbearable?”
Is he for real?! “Where do I start? ...You’re crazy, unpredictable, violent animals! You terrorised the city for years, looting homes and killing anyone who got in your way! If it wasn’t for the circle guards... Some even believe red hair is the stain of sin; proof that you sold your soul to the devil and that’s why you turn to vampires when-...” He’s laughing at me. Not a chuckle but a big, loud belly laugh.
My voice rises with my temper, “It’s historical. Have you ever heard of a ginger saint?! No! Do you know who was ginger though? Judas Iscariot; the biggest traitor of them all!” this isn’t coming out right, I sound ridiculous as I try to recall lessons I learned about Reds in school but he knows how to press my buttons and I’m too angry to think rationally. Frustration spurns me on, firing out one justification after another for out-casting Reds.
He wrestles to control his laughter long enough to interrupt, “You actually believe that? Bible stories and folklore? You got proof of any of this or do you all just go along with whatever Daddy’s little demonocracy tells you to believe? Can you even think of one civilian that was killed or harmed by ...what did you call us? ‘Crazy, violent animals?”
“Yes you asshole! Reds killed my mother when I was a baby.” His smirk fades to a frown.
Olivia gasps, “Oh Jada. That’s just not true! That’s what we’ve been trying to tell you...we,” she moves between us resting a hand on Rurik’s shoulder and offering the other to me, “we share the same blood: we’re family, Jada. I’m... your mother.”
...?!
It’s my own fault. I told them something about my personal life and they’re trying to use it to manipulate me. I let my guard down; forgot my training. Never give the enemy personal details because they will find a way to use them against you. Damn it! I swore I wouldn’t let her get to me; that I wouldn’t let her soothing voice and friendly eyes trick me into getting comfortable!
She eyes me tentatively before continuing softly, “...and Rurik ...he’s your twin brother.”
What? She honestly expects me to believe this crap?! Dad’s brunette, same as me and Rurik’s definitely a Red. If Dad really fathered him then he’d have to get his colouring from Olivia, surely. She’s lying about something: her hair colour or our blood ties, probably both. Jeez, why am I even entertaining the idea, it’s insane?! I realise then she’s still holding my hand so I yank it free.
“Jada?” Her voice is high and urgent. “Please-“
“No!” I growl. “That was a really low blow using my mother’s death against me like that but...to imply that I’m one of them!” I scowl at Rurik, two decades of ingrained hatred coming to the fore once more, “I’m not like him!” Tears threaten taking me by surprise.
Unbidden emotions are violently tossed aside when Rurik clamps my wrist in his bear like grip and yanks me out into the dingy corridor. Rage emanates from his body as he torpedoes me through gloomy walkways and up dank stairwells, climbing from the basement at speed. Olivia calls out something from behind us but all I can think is that he’s gone feral, showing his true colours; a true red! I struggle to free myself but he’s stronger than I am and resisting only serves to infuriate my healing wound.
We burst through a set of double doors and Rurik stops dead in front of me. I brace myself for his attack but he drops my wrist and slowly moves forward as if he’s lost his train of thought. Glancing around I realise this must be the ER of the “hospital”. They’re everywhere: Reds. Whimpering, sobbing, dazed, confused...dead. It’s like something you’d see in a field hospital on the edge of a warzone. I remind myself, 'we are in a warzone' ...but these casualties aren’t soldiers. They’re not part of any army; they’re defenceless, weak. An old man calls out his wife’s name in anguish but nobody answers. An infant with a tear soaked face stumbles past with blood spattered clothes; no parents in sight.
Someone with an old radio cries, “They got camp three...” he consults his radio once more and adds meekly, “...no known survivors”. Agonized wails of grief seep from every corner.
It’s not real, it can’t be real. Our enemies are rebel fighters, criminals, savages!!...Not frail pensioners and babies: harmless humans.
Rurik stops in front of a young woman who’s clutching a small, limp body to her chest.
“I’m so sorry, Rose...” his voice is soft; tender in a way I didn’t know Reds were capable of. He cups her cheek in his hand, brushing away a stray tear with his thumb.
She appears momentarily comforted as she leans into his touch then her gaze wanders over his shoulder and halts abruptly when our eyes lock. As recognition dawns her mouth quivers and twists, settling on a grimace. She lays the child on a gurney, ever so careful as if she might hurt the lifeless body, then refocuses on me with an icy glare. “Ru, what is she doing here?!”
“Rose-“he starts. She doesn’t wait for a reply.
“You have no right being here!” She seethes pushing past him, “This is yourfault: you and your kind,” she spits, “Do you know what you’ve done? How many babies you’ve killed? How many children you’ve orphaned, huh? ...You’re his daughter aren’t you? That evil bastard!”
“He doesn’t know... he can’t! He wouldn’t let this happen if he knew”. Even as I speak the words, my last conversation with my father haunts me,
“Jada, they’re nothing but vermin ...you know what happens to vermin”
“...Mass extermination?”
She laughs, a small hysterical giggle punctuated with a manic expression. I search Rurik’s face for some kind of reassurance that he won’t let this nut job tear me to shreds where I stand... a desperate hope given that moments ago I was certain he was going to kill me. Oh God! Is that why he dragged me here? To let them have their revenge on me?! He’s avoiding eye contact. He’s ...disgusted? No, more than that, he’s... ashamed. Of what? Of me?
Those in ear-shot who’re still able have already turned to gawp at the pariah. It’s Me. I’m the evil one; the monster. I’ve never killed anyone but I’m trained to hunt and kill these people. Perhaps more importantly, my whole life I’ve been trained to want to.
Oh, It was easy to want to when my enemy was a faceless monster but now... am I just weak? A better guard wouldn’t think twice about killing them all! What would Dad think of me now, would he be ashamed or proud? I repeat the words like a mantra, “He wouldn’t let this happen...” Would he?
Rurik’s wrestles with his temper, “Who’re you trying to convince, Jada?”
“I...I’m sorry. I didn’t know-“
“Sorry?! You’re sorry? Why didn’t you say?”. Rose turns to the growing crowd of spectators , “She’s sorry, everyone! You can all go back home now... she’s sorry!”
“Rose!” Rurik warns.
“It’s too damn late to apologize. Sorry’s not gonna bring back my little sister! Or their loved-ones”, she waves toward the crowd. “Sorry’s not gonna put out the fires, rebuild our camps. Two decades of starvation, living like animals in a barren wasteland...but you’re ...sorry?” Rurik pulls her to his chest as fury gives way to raw grief.
Radio cackle breaks the silence, “Camp four’s gone; they’re heading this way”, the operator solemnly announces, “20 minutes out”. Panicked murmurs ripple through the crowd.
Rose glowers at me as the room erupts in movement, “Your baby-killer friends are coming to rescue you... Hope it’s worth it!” She shunts my wounded shoulder as she pushes past me to help the orphaned kids find cover.
Rurik’s eyes burn into me, “You can’t change the truth, Jada...but maybe the truth can change you”. He extends his hand to me.
He’s offering me my GI. “You really think we’re twins?”
He retorts, “You really think we’re evil savages?”
~~~
Judges Info
Current Plot Point: Evil Twin(The role of the evil one switches from Rurik at the start through Jada’s eyes to Jada at the end through the eyes of the Reds). Bonus Plot Point: Pride before a fall (Despite having her own misgivings about how far is too far when it comes to disciplining/controlling Reds, she remains fiercely loyal to her father and the guards. Even when Olivia and Rurik try to convince her that her whole life has been a lie she remains stubbornly resistant and outwardly offensive to Rurik. It’s only after Rurik forces her to confront the reality of what’s happening that she realises she might be one of ‘the bad guys’ after all and really starts to ask herself some tough questions about her father.) Previous Plot Points: Beware the Nice Guy, Kidnapped. Word Count: 1698 CC Used: Yes (allowed and not-allowed) Hero Type: Chosen One
Effects Used:
All pics - Custom light intensity and colours
Pic 1 – not photoshopped, the poster is cc I made which can be found here if proof’s needed.
CC USED:
Poses: Spladoum, Traelia, me, Kaleeko and CMO - pose player
Skin: Navetsea
Eyes: I seem to have accidentally replaced my default eyes with another when I DLd a sim I think and I can’t find the bloody thing to fix it back so dunno who they’re by.
Clothes: All non-EA are from All-About-Style.com except (Amber’s) boots by elexis and (spectator’s) boots by Traelia. Also fishnets by Newsea (free)
Hair: Olivia and Jada up do = mybluebook, 2xspectator’s hair by elexis (tron and long flowing) and Bluebook. Rose’s by Anubis/Peggy
Brows: Haven’t narrowed it down yet!
Make-up: Kittyklan eye bags, Arisuka contour make-up and bloody face, lips and tear stained eyes by papercat. Bloody hands by newone08, body blood by scaryberry, bloodblush by twighlights
Lot: Negone by Armonia (GoS) – Heavily Edited by me but same CASTing used
Other Objects:
Blood puddle by Syren (13thsim)
Old Radio by Leehee (BPS)
Hospital set by Hekate (MTS)
OMSP by Granthes (MTS)
Extractor fan window by Luna (SimsLulamai)
Born into the grave - rusty patterns by Aikea Guinea (GoS)
three metal textures by Gelydh (Club Crimsyn)
Industry & metalurgy patterns sets by Bec (tribeccasims3)
Wall Graffiti by Gelydh (Club Crimsyn)
Guys, rules are good! Rules help control the fun. ~ Monica E. Geller