New Zion
Chapter 28: A Stroll

Ryan strolled through the streets, this time without his tower shield. He instead had four of his men with him, each carrying their own tower shields. Ryan began humming, his tune echoing through the streets once again. The sounds of fighting had died down, and only a few screams and the clashing of metal on metal rang out.

“Don Avalon, we’ve finished off the last of the opponents,” Ryan looked up to see Archimedes.

“Is that so?” Ryan asked. Archimedes nodded.

“We should prepare for the next assault. It would seem that these are merely the first two waves meant to keep us on our toes,” he said. Ryan stroked his beard.

“Where’s Levi?” he asked.

“He is currently on his way to the place where the mountains part. He gathered a group of men and took them with him. It would appear that he wishes to hold the enemy back there,” Archimedes said.

“Good. Send some construction crews and set up a barrier there. I don’t care what it’s made of at first. We can make a proper one after we’ve set up the first one. We need to hold them back for as long as we can,” Ryan said. Archimedes nodded and flew away. Once of the guards turned to Ryan.

“Sir, I know that the majority of gang members are wiped out, but I feel that you walking around out here in the open is a bad idea,” he said. Ryan smiled.

“Don’t worry. I heard a story from my grandfather about a military leader back on Earth. When his nation’s capital city was being bombed by the enemy, he would take strolls outside. It was the middle of the night, pitch black, and bombs were falling all over. And there he would be, this older man, walking the streets. Can you imagine what that did for the people who saw, and the people who heard about it?” Ryan asked. The guard thought a moment.

“You are not wrong. He sounds like a courageous man,” he said. Ryan smiled.

“Or a stupid one. It’s fascinating just how easy it is to step over the line from courage to stupidity,” Ryan said. “But what he did was admirable. He deserved his position; it’s time to show that I deserve mine,” The guard nodded. Ryan resumed humming, and began to sing the lullaby again. “Out by the meadow, where the deer may graze. In the darkness of the forested maze; the wolf peers out, and howls to the moon. But worry not, my child, for morning will be here soon,” He repeated the line, and went back to humming. People soon began leaving there homes and cleaning the streets of bodies and debris.

“Sir, shouldn’t they wait?” the guard asked. Ryan shook his head.

“They may do this whenever they want. In fact, I hope that they take the weapons for themselves. It would make it easier for us if they could defend themselves in their homes,” he said. They arrived at the hospital. Ryan looked up at the building, letting out a long breath.

“Welcome, Don Avalon,” another guard was standing at the door. Ryan smiled.

“Thank you. The Family and Gangs are in different wings, I hope?” Ryan asked. The guard nodded.

“Yes. However, it is taking quite a number of guards to watch them all,” he said. Ryan nodded.

“That’s fine. I was expecting this. I plan to visit everyone,” he said. The guard blinked, then nodded.

“Of course, Don. The Family is in the John Avalon Memorial Wing, and the gang members are in the Elizabeth Kyle Memorial Wing,” the guard said. Ryan nodded.

“Just as mom would have wanted,” he said. “Well, no time to waste,”

Ryan left the John Avalon Memorial Wing and was about to begin crossing over to the Elizabeth Kyle Memorial Wing when he stopped and looked back above the doors. A picture of his father stared down at him; face hard, but eyes alight with a slight sparkle of mischief. He looked across the hall to the Elizabeth Kyle Memorial Wing and saw his mother’s caring eyes looking down on him.

“I hope I’m doing right by you both,” he said as he started crossing the hall. He opened the doors to the chaos. Some gang members tried to get out of their beds, but were being held down. Doctors, nurses and guards ran everywhere. Ryan looked to his right and grabbed a phone off of the wall, punching the number in that dialled up the intercom. He cleared his throat.

“Testing, testing, one two three,” he said. He heard his voice through the speakers. “I hope everyone here can hear me. I am Don Ryan Avalon, to those who may not know me. This is mostly directed at the gang members here in my mother’s ward, but to those in my father’s ward, you should be listening if you’re conscious. Every gang member here, you will notice that we are giving you medical attention. Please do not fight or hurt the doctors, nurses or guards. We have no intentions of harming you further; if we wanted you dead, you wouldn’t be here. So settle down!” Ryan said. The chaos died down, slightly.

“Much better. Now, to whom it may concern, I offer you a position in my family. You will become one of us, and leave your gang lives behind. Now if you’re hesitant, I do understand. I completely get it; they are practically your family. But let me ask you something: do they care about your family? Will they support them in your stead should something happen to them? Do they even care to try and recover you? Let me tell you something: they didn’t even come in this direction to take you back,” Ryan said. Ryan could no longer hear anything except doctors and nurses treating their patients, and the sounds of pain.

“That doesn’t sound like family to me,” he said. “This offer will stand until you are able to leave the hospital. As soon as you are capable of leaving, you will be given this offer again. If you accept, you will be held in a holding facility, if you refuse, you’ll be held in a worse holding facility until this all blows over, at which point both groups will be freed. Those who wish to join will remain here for training; the rest will be deported post-haste. Anyone that would wish to join now, tell the nearest family member or medical personnel, and they will write it down and keep track. Thank you for your time, and I hope that we all may step towards a brighter future together,” Ryan said. He put the phone back and left the ward. Harry stood there, waiting.

“How many do you think will join?” he asked. Ryan shrugged as he walked towards the front desk.

“I don’t know. But of those who do, half will probably be sincere, and the other half will only become sincere after we win,” he said. “Excuse me, miss. But would you please compile a list of all the patients in the Elizabeth Kyle Memorial Ward that wish to join the Family. It would be greatly appreciated,”

“Of course,” she said.

“Thank you,” he said, turning and heading towards the front doors. “We need more,” Ryan said. Harry raised an eyebrow.

“More of what?” he asked.

“Men, weapons, armour, projectiles; everything,” he said. Harry nodded.

“Probably. But shouldn’t we focus on the task in front of us?” he asked. Ryan smiled.

“What’s the point in dealing with the present if you don’t have a plan for the future?” he asked. “We’ve already won here. We just need Cole to finish up with Namhaid, and then we’ll be able to take on the next challenge,” he said.

“The government?” Harry asked. Ryan’s smile broadened.

“The government,” he confirmed.

©2017