Fanon:Recruitment

Recruitment is the eighth episode of the Revolution series by WikiBuilder1147. It depicts the adventures of a group of youngsters as they fight against the oppressive regime under which they live their lives in constant scrutiny and fear.

Previously on Revolution…
Now that the spell on Miami has been broken, Ben, Alex and Harry, rejoined by their friend, reenter civilian territory. Now, they are the most wanted fugitives in the world, and they have decided that it is time to begin the revolution...

Chapter 1
"MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!" Harry screamed. A small group of young soldiers burst into the television broadcasting studio. Ben and Alex, carrying their old assault rifles, barged in with them. Soldier after soldier fell as the makeshift army pushed and shoved their way through the halls of the building.

Explosions wracked the corridors as grenades detonated left, right and centre. Shouts, grunts and screams of pain were heard as men and women on both sides were killed in the brutal melee. Finally, someone shouted loudly.

"GET DOWN!" Harry shouted. A gargantuan laser beam shot through the rabble, incinerating several Government soldiers instantly. The survivors, realising that their resistance was futile, surrendered equally as speedily.

As Harry's men took care of the Government troops, Ben, Miami, Alex and Harry made their way into the recording room. Ben and Alex held their assault rifles at the staff working in the room. While some surrendered, the youngest crew members rushed to join the rebellion.

"Prep the area for an announcement broadcast," Harry said calmly. When no one responded, he shouted, "NOW!"

Some of the crew hauled a podium onto the scene. Others gathered materials to decorate the stage. Two crew members went backstage and carried out with them a Government flag. Harry raised his rifle and shot the flag. Several holes were punched through it.

"No Government flags," Harry growled. The poor carriers scurried backstage again. Harry walked forward and took his place behind the podium. He beckoned the camera crew to get ready.

"Lights," said a cameraman. Ben gave a thumbs-up. Harry gave one back.

"Camera," the cameraman continued. Harry did a short deep-breathing routine.

"Action."

Chapter 2
In an apartment in Riverview, a family was silently having their dinner, eyes glued to the television screen. The programme was another Government-glorifying propaganda stunt. Suddenly, static interrupted the show. The adults were confused, and tried using the remote to change the channel to another programme. The same static was present on every channel. Then, an image appeared. A young man dressed in full military uniform standing behind a podium.

"Youths of SimNation! Young friends and fellow countrymen!" said Harry. "I am Harry Miller, commander of the Liberation Army. For many decades the tyrannical dictators that lead the so-called Government of our world have stripped us of our rights. Our independence. They have brainwashed our people into becoming their soulless and unquestioning slaves. Destined to provide lifelong servitude to these ruthless, merciless and egotistical kleptocrats!

"When the Government first came to power, they murdered those who had assisted them. Then they massacred the educated. Then they destroyed our freedom. They destroyed our souls. The Government butchered anyone who had the courage to speak out against them. They slew the brave and the intelligent. Imprisoned and executed all who stood in their way to total domination. You, as the rising generation, cannot allow this to continue! You MUST not allow this to continue, for if you do, millions, if not billions, more innocent citizens of the Earth shall lose their lives for the sake of keeping in power those who certainly do not deserve to be!

"We must, and we shall, regain and thereafter defend our liberty! We shall fight in the hills, the plains, and the valleys. We shall fight on the seas, in the forests and in the deserts. We shall fight for the freedom of every city, every family, every man, woman and child; we shall not rest till the ungodly institutions of the Government fall, burning, crashing to the ground! Join us, youngsters of the world! Boys and girls, now it is the time to rise! The revolution has begun!"

By the time the stunned adults looked back at their table, their two children had disappeared.

Chapter 3
"FIRE!"

Instantly, hundreds of bullets rocketed out of the barrels of assault rifles. Each shot towards their destination. But none hit their targets precisely.

Fortunately for the new recruits, nothing shot back, for their quarry were nothing more than wooden targets.

Harry Miller then stepped before the sprogs and addressed them.

"Right, kids," Harry said politely, but firmly, "You all obviously need to learn a lot about how to fire a weapon. First of all, you must learn how to actually hit the target."

He waited for someone to giggle. No one did. He was impressed.

The drills continued through the afternoon as the trainees practised again and again. Slowly, their aim improved, and by the end of the day, each shot lodged itself into the bullseye.

"Very well done, boys and girls," Harry clapped. "Well done. I'm very impressed." He watched as the children left the field and retreated to their living quarters. Harry surveyed their new camp.

Over the previous weeks, children had come into the camp by the truckload. They ran away from their homes, from their families, to join the growing group of disgruntled youths that was to fight against the Government. Each youngster forming the ranks of the new army had willingly chosen to board trucks parked all over the streets of the cities of the continent, whereupon each truck would take them to the same cave in which Ben, Alex, Miami and Harry had hid when they first escaped from the prison camp.

In the time that followed, the newcomers helped to build a small camp using rocks and trees from the surrounding area. It wasn't much, but it'd have to do for now. At the moment, the trainees would have to rely on hunting for food, as rations were running low.

"General!" cried Ben as he ran towards Harry.

"Call me Harry, Ben," said Harry. "I'm off-duty now."

"You should come and see this," Ben replied. There was panic in his voice.

Harry smiled. Ben was always panicky nowadays. "What now?"

Ben ran off. "Come on!" Harry jogged after him.

When the two approached the entrance to the camp, there were several trucks waiting.

All had Government emblems emblazoned onto their doors.

Harry stepped in front of the trucks. "What do you want?"

A man disembarked from the truck at the front. He approached Harry.

"There is no need to fear. We come with food, water, equipment and experience," the man said. There was absolutely no sign the man was lying. And he sounded very serious.

Harry broke into a grin.