Having just docked aboard Ames research station Hank and Charles disembarked from their shuttle and began almost running through the corridors. " Care to explain why we are running?" Charles panted while trying to keep up with Hank. "On the third floor in storage bay two every Wednesday father Manson holds mass and confession. I don't plan on missing it like I did last week thanks to you." Hank barked back as he lunged for the elevator door just stopping it from closing with his hand. "Come on buddy its has been a rough two weeks for me. Can you really blame me for wanting to drink all day everyday?" Charles asked as he helped pull Hank off the floor and pressed the button for the elevator. Hank looked Charles and then just shook his head muttering under his breath " Your life wouldn't be so bad if you just did something bout it." Thankfully the upbeat elevator music drowned out his muttering.
Charles slowly stepped behind Hank and slipped his hand into his jacket pocket grabbing his pistol he just kept thinking to himself he must be crazy for even considering robbing his best friend but at the same time he was now lower than rock bottom as now he couldn't even afford booze. Just as Charles released the safety and started to draw his gun the elevator stopped and the doors opened there would have been at least six people waiting to get on. Charles quickly decided if he was going to do this it couldn't be now the witness would rat him out and he would be locked away. " Bud let's go this is our stop. We just need to go two doors down" Hank said in a cheerful tone having no idea how close he was to be murdered. Moving down the corridor Charles flicked the safety back on and made sure his gun was hidden good in his jacket. " I can't believe we made it here for confession in time father Manson knows just what to do, He could probably offer you some tips so you get your life back together." Hank chuckled as they entered the makeshift chapel.
The sight as they walked in was not what they expected usually the room was full of around thirty people all waiting to speak with father Manson or getting a free feed from the soup vendor, Today however there was only two people besides the father and the soup vendor and they were both getting soup. "Ah there he is I was wondering if you were going to be here for my last day. And this must be that friend your always on about." Father Manson claimed almost shouting across the room. " So that's the old guy you think offers all the good advise? looks like he will be like the rest of the preachers and just babble at me bout how I needa give to others in order to help myself." Charles scoffed as he looked at father Manson. " I'm telling you he can help so just have an open mind would ya." Hank said as he walked over to the father. " Don't worry boy you will be next" Father Manson shouted at Charles while putting his arm over Hank's shoulder and leading him into an old shipping container. "I'll be next stupid old fool" Charles mumbled to himself as he kicked over a box of supplies to sit on. " Well now how can I help you my son?" Manson asked while shutting the container door.
"I'm starting to feel really guilty lying to Charles, He's life has come down all around him I'm sitting here telling him its okay and that I'm a business executive so its not that hard." Hank stopped talking for a moment placing his head in his hands and taking a deep breath. " Now listen to me for a second son you are a good person at heart, Supporting your friends can be difficult at times especially when you have recently suffered as well. Just keep in mind the universe isn't black and white like those in house space choose to believe." Father Mason said while starting to smile "Besides boy without you doing those repairs to the ships belonging to the Legion, Liberty would continue to suffer from the corruption that has placed both you and Charles out of work." Hank stared up at father Manson he knew that what he said was true, If Hank stopped working as a freelance mechanic fixing the ships of the Hellfire Legion he would be just as bad as those who do nothing about the corruption of Liberty. " Well then father I have one more thing to ask you are you able to help Charles see the point of going on? Because he is just destroying himself and I don't know what to do, On one hand I want to tell him I'm helping the Legion and ask him to help but on the other hand I don't want to lose my best friend because he thinks I'm a terrorist so I've been lying and saying I still look for Deep Space Engineering." Hank asked as he walked over to the door of the container and turned back to father Manson. Manson just nodded and gestured to send Charles in.
"You're up buddy, remember open minded." Hank said as he pushed Charles into the container. " Greetings my son tell me what troubles you." Father Manson asked while pulling out a chair for Charles to sit on." Look father I'm gonna be straight here Hank wanted me to come here I don't think you can help me unless you give me some credits so I can get drunk or you secretly work at Deep Space Engineering and can get me my job back, But seeing as how Hank can't and he is such a big shot there you would have to be pretty high on the ladder." Father Manson just looked at him then laughed saying " Really all you need is credits and a job, How ridiculous are you aware of how many people struggle to get by everyday and whine less then you?" Charles couldn't even contain his frustration and leapt up and punched father Manson so hard he flew off of his chair. "Listen here old man don't tell me of the struggle of others I was ready to kill my best friend not even twenty minutes ago for the credits he had on him. So you know what gimme some credits or shut up because no one wants to help me so why should I even think of any but myself" Charles growled as he kept his fist clenched above gather Manson. "Ah you see boy your so angry that you can't see what is around you." Father Manson claimed as he pulled himself up and sat back on his chair. "If things were really that tough for you I'm sure your would have got some soup before you came in here, But instead of seeing that as an option you just wanted a fight." Manson continued to lecture Charles "So do you know why you were fired or did you just storm out not asking? Do you know why you were thinking of murdering your friend rather than asking him for a loan?" Charles looked down at the floor as he said "look I don't know why I was fired they just said cut backs and I figured Hank keeps bragging about being a big shot for DSE he is probably gonna stop talking to me soon so I might as well get some credits off him before he walks away from me and I have nothing and no one." Father Manson started to laugh again "Boy you are funny you need to keep in mind I speak to people all the time about their problems and you aren't that bad off you have a head on your shoulders that isn't just a resting place your helmet and you clearly know the difference between right and wrong or I wouldn't have been able to speak to Hank before you...." Father Manson suddenly stopped talking as the sound of shouting was clearly heard.
"WELL IS THIS ALL THAT IS IN THIS ROOM!" a large thuggish looking man shouted as he booted over the soup stand. Hank jumped to his feet grabbing a nearby pole as away to defend himself. "Well lookie herre seems dat guy fances himshelf a bit of a hero." Another thug said as he walked into the room this one looking quite malnourished. The larger of the two thugs grabbed the soup vendor and placed a gun to his head while shouting "WELL WE JUST WANT YOUR CREDITS HAND EM OVER AND WE MIGHT NOT SHOOT". Father Manson came out of the container with Charles right behind him "What is this? you realise this is a Zoner station and this room in particular is a chapel don't you?" Manson asked while moving his hands behind his back. The two thugs look at each other then the little one claimed "Wees ar rogues yous gives all da creds or wees gunna shoot yall." Hank couldn't just stand there feeling like he was the only one who could do something since he had a weapon, He charged straight at the little rogue who easily overpowered Hank throwing him back across the room. The sound of Charles readying his gun as he pointed it at the larger of the rogues was unmistakable "Let the guy go turn around and leave." Charles said while trying to stay his hand. "YOU GOTS THE SAME LOOK THOSE COPS DO WHEN THEY SCARED AND WON'T SHOOT." The big one shouted as he let the soup vendor go and faced his pistol at Charles. "No says you gets to live guy." The little rogue laughed as he pulled a pistol out and aimed at the fleeing soup vendor. Bang the clear noise of a gun shot echoed through the storage room. The little rogue flying out the door and into the wall, Smoke still coming out of the tip of the gun in Father Manson's hands. "I said this was a chapel and yet he showed no sign of repentance, A shame really but lives were spared by removing him." Father Manson said while lowering his gun. The big rogue turned red in the face and through his arms around as he took aim on father Manson but before he could pull his trigger another gunshot echoed in the room and the rogue collapsed. " How could you do that Charles? Hank whimpered as he pulled himself back onto his feet. Charles dropped his smoking gun and looked over to Hank "It felt like the right thing to do." he said still shaking from the high amount of adrenaline pumping through his body.
Father Manson picked up Charles's gun from the floor looked over at the two of them and said "Well that was something that hasn't happened in a while, But Charles I think I found a solution to your problem." The two men looked at father Manson hanging on his every word "How about you run the chapel for me while I am away?". Both men just stood there shocked at this ludicrous idea. "Um okay let us start with the biggest problem I can see with this I'm not religious in anyway and I just killed a man." Charles blurted out speaking before thinking. Father Manson burst into laughed once more "Son this chapel isn't so much a religious thing as it is just reminding people to do what is right, Your actions just now proved you can do what must be done for the greater good. The only other thing you really have to do is listen to people all they really want is someone to listen and not judge them, I believe you doing that would do you a world of good as well." Charles looked at father Manson who was still holding his gun and then started to walk off towards the corridor saying " I'm gonna think bout it as I throw up okay back in a minute." Hank shook his head in disbelief while saying " Are you sure you want him to be a priest father? I mean I know I asked you to help but this might be a bit much, Think about it just this morning the guy was drunk and now he has killed someone." Father Manson just laughed again and answered "I told only ten minutes ago that this universe isn't black and white Charles killing that rogue means a lot of people will live their lives without suffering because of that man, And this does seem like the job he needs one which will get him to calm down and put things in perspective. Also give him two weeks of doing this and you can tell him the truth in confession I am positive by then he will take it well."
"Well father you know best I am going to get some rest tell Charles to give me a call in the morning. Oh and you never did say where you were going?" Hank said while moving to the door. Charles almost bumping into Hank in the entry obviously hearing that last part turned saying "Yeah I will take the job if you tell me why you are leaving it." Father Manson smiled saying "Okay I suppose that is fair I'm heading out with some other Zoners to Freeport eleven to help out over there as I hear they don't have a preacher so don't worry I will be coming back but Charles if you do a good job I'm sure we can just work side by side when I return. I that a good enough answer?" With that Hank nodded and walked off down towards the elevator. " Now son you might need this back " father Manson said while handing the gun back over to Charles " You get people from all walks of life coming in here and you need to remember to not be judgemental, But keep in mind while the universe is quite a moral grey area you should still do what you think is right. Keep in mind to what might sound strange to you at first might be because your sense of reality is wrong. Gah listen to me now I'm sounding like a proper Zoner. " After another hour or so of father Manson going over things with Charlies and introducing him to the Zoners in charge of the station he said his goodbyes and readied his things for the trip to Freeport eleven.
Charles greeted Hank with a handshake as Hank walked into the confessional "So its been four weeks now bud and its the first time you have wanted to confess something, Must be something big I bet" Charles said trying to hide the excitement of hearing Hanks confession. " Look calm down it isn't that big of a deal but its something I have needed to tell you for a while now." Hank said quietly "Okay here it is. I was fired from DSE about three weeks before you were and things were looking good for you in the company so I told you I was promoted. About a week of being jobless was killing me though and no one in Liberty seemed like they were hiring in fact at the bar plenty of people said cut backs were the new trend. So feeling down I came here and spoke with father Manson who said I should work for myself you know freelance mechanic. Which still wasn't that crash hot but a guy I met here said he knew some people that could do with a mechanic so said yeah I will do it. Then I found out I was working for the Hellfire Legion which paid the bills and everyone was happy and nice to me so I stayed on board but then you lost your job. I couldn't tell you I was working for the Legion so I just made excuse after excuse as to why I couldn't hire you and look I'm sorry." Hank mumbled the last bit out as he started to tear up. Charles just stared and Hank for around five minutes then said "Well that makes sense actually. To be honest it is a good thing you didn't tell me earlier as I probably would've sold you out to a bounty hunter or the Liberty Navy for a drink or two. But being fair your not even the most wanted person here I've even had all kinds of people in here I'm pretty sure even Xenos." Hank was shocked he was prepared for Charles to go out of his mind but he handled it like they were discussing their favourite racers from the AFC. "Anyway I guess since that is off your chest I will be seeing you in here again next week." Charles said having a little chuckle.
Suddenly someone started banging on the confessional door "Preacherman help we need help out here" a voice shouted from inside the chapel. Charles and Hank emerged from the confessional to find a man in the middle of the room waving around a rifle while everyone else was up against the wall with their hands on their heads. "Damn it I said I wanted the Xenos and all the other scumbugs to hand themselves over." The crazed man shouted while scratching his face with the rifle barrel. Charles took a step forward towards the man "So calm down there buddy I just want to remind you this is a Zoner station and this room is a chapel, Plus there are no Xenos here." Charles calmly explained while slowly approaching the man. "DON'T TALK SO LOUD!" The man screeched while firing his rifle blindly in the air. Hank pulled a pistol out from behind his back aiming at the clearly crazed man "Put the gun down or I will fire." Hank commanded. The crazed man looked at Hank then aimed his gun and the people against the wall while shouting "Then all the Xenos will die and whoever else is there!" Two gunshots were heard and then the crazed man hit the floor both Charles and Hank had guns in their hands smoking. " Oh yeah I asked my employers for a little target practice." Hank said proudly as he put his gun away. Charles moved over to the body saying " Well I guess we might call it a day people I trust you are all going to want to hug your loved ones, But of course I will be here if anyone needs to talk." Charles searched the body for a bit and found something the put fire in his eyes.
Everyone made for the exit pretty quickly after that except for Hank and a middle aged man with thick glasses. "Might I please have a word?" The man with glasses enquired while walking towards the confessional. " Yes of course, Hank can you wait for me?" Charles said as he headed towards the confessional. Hank nodded and sat down while Charles and the man with glasses entered the confessional. "So how can I help?" Charles asked while moving to his chair." It's not a matter of you helping me friend it is me helping you. The way you dealt with that man was well done. I must ask though the item you found on the body that made your blood boil that was something that linked that man to the Liberty Security Force wasn't it." The man with glasses spoke will cleaning his glasses as if he just asked for a glass of water rather than asking if the crazed man was a member of the LSF. Charles placed his hand in his pocket and pulled out the crazed man's LSF ID card and handed it to the man with glasses while asking." So you seem to know more about this then I do, This is something I don't do but might I ask your name?" The man with glasses looked at the ID and looked up at Charles smiling then answered " My name is Marcus and I'm so glad he had this on him. I thought he was following me so I spiked his drink, Of course I didn't think he had a rifle or would go so crazy but at least we got him." Charles shook his head "So Marcus you why would this man have been following you?" Charles asked. "That man was following me because he was protecting the corrupt corporate fat cats. Here this will answer all your questions. Now I have to leave goodbye and I will see you again Preacherman." Marcus answered as he handed Charles a datapad and left the chapel. As Charles exited the confessional Hank ran over and asked "Hey bud what was the go with him? What is the he gave you?" Charles just looked Hank in the eye and then showed him the title of the only file on the datapad
The Truth About The Corruption Of Liberty.
As Hank approached the chapel he couldn't help but notice the crowd of people outside the door easily fifty people were waiting for Charles to open the doors. Marcus opened the big double doors open saying "Welcome all the preacherman will begin his service shortly." The people flooded into the chapel some of them looking a fair bit rougher than the usually crowd but the more Hank thought bout it the more it seemed Charles had just attracted more people that had issues. Marcus moved through the crowd effortlessly and grabbed Hank by the arm leading him to the confessional. "Okay so what was that about?" Hank asked while pulling his arm away from Marcus. "Charles wished to see you before the mass." Marcus answered while opening the door to the confessional. As Hank entered the confessional he saw Charles in there dressed in his good suit reading off of a datapad. "Hank so good to see you, Sorry I'm just trying to memorise my speech before mass." Charles said while putting away his datapad before continuing to speak "Look I've been doing this job for just shy of six months now and with that I think it is fair to say I can form an opinion based on everything I've heard." Hank nodded in agreement as Charles continued to talk "So many people seem to have been forced into a corner due to the companies in Liberty trying to increase their profit margins, Now I understand this to be a good business practice but I feel there is something more sinister driving this. While the high class of Liberty and the Liberty government for that matter is disgustingly corrupt, I whole heartedly believe it is because of the influence the other houses have in the government of Liberty. I mean even look here at Ames I've spoken to a few people here who don't regularly come to my sermons are Zoners who have left house space due to the huge amount of corruption. However you don't see these Zoners having issues with people being laid off so the people at the top get richer and Liberty itself is a beautiful place which didn't have these problems until we opened the borders to the other houses." Charles finally finished his rant and Hank just stared at him for a minute before responding " Buddy I think you should put the texts from the Xenos down and relax once in a while. Like I get Liberty is corrupt I really do but to think members of the other houses are responsible for that is just crazy. I mean no one in the other houses hold any influence in Liberty and even the immigrants surely aren't taking that many jobs, It's just a corrupt government nothing more you need to not be so xenophobic." With that Hank walked out of the confessional and took a seat in the chapel waiting to hear Charles sermon.
Charles took what Hank had said to heart as he was approaching the podium, maybe Hank was right and it is just Liberty is corrupt having nothing to do with the other houses he kept think as he got to the podium and cleared his throat. "My friends I have some sad news unfortunately times are bleak and there doesn't seem to be even a glimmer of hope for any of us." Charles claimed and cleared his throat again while waiting for the murmurs of the crowd to die down before continuing "The Liberty that we know and love is sick and dying, I know that many of you have left house space but I also know you were born in Liberty and still feel for her deep down. Which is why as a change from my usually sermon I feel compelled to say all this which I feel strongly about you might even say I'm be guided by a greater power to say this." Again waiting for the crowd to settle back down Charles waited a moment before continuing "Now while I said that there isn't any hope that was simply how it is right now but if we all join together I feel we can free Liberty from the grip of the vile corrupt government that is slowly killing her...."
Charles was cut off before being able to finish his sentence by the shouting of a man who was clearly from Kusari space "This is not a sermon. This is nothing short of a recruitment attempt for a terrorist group! It shall not be allowed to continue either." The Kusari man said while throwing his chair at Charles. Marcus acting almost immediately grabbed the man and through him out of the chapel into the corridor. "Preacherman are you alright?" a few men shouted while rushing over to Charles as he slowly stood up, Charles showing that he was fine and gesturing that me was okay resumed his speech "As you can see almost everyone is against us saving Liberty, from the corrupt fatcat attack dogs the LPI throwing people into prison for no reason other than enslaved labour to members of the other houses who seem to want us to suffer for no reason other than their own amusement like that man just then. I say it is time we start to stand up for what we believe rather than just rolling over and accepting the cruel reality forced upon us by the Fatcat politicians looking to fatten their own bank accounts. Now as always I will be available for confession and of course we have soup for all who are hungry, you may go in peace." With that Charles gave a wave and walked down to the confessional.
Hank decided seeing as how Charles managed to have so many people waiting last time that he would show up earlier this Wednesday so he can have a bit more of a talk before mass however as the elevator doors opened it was clear that getting in early wasn't going to beat the crowd. Even more people than the previous week were waiting out front. Hank cut through the crowd like a knife however nothing was going to stop him having a talk with Charlie before the sermon, As Hank arrived at the doors they suddenly swung open and Marcus came through he looked over at Hank saying "Hey so Preacherman is inside you head on in I'm just checking the crowd for problem people." as he moved passed staring at each person who was waiting to come in. Hank kept walking into the chapel to see Charles sitting down next to the podium all black and blue "Buddy what happened to you?" Hank asked as he rushed over to Charles's side. "Well it went like this after my sermon last week I've had two violent visits from Kusari 'business men' I'm pretty sure they were Hogosha paid off by the Kusari government, And then just for kicks I had an LPI officer show up here yesterday saying that I'm six months late on my rent and since it is a Liberty gov owned property I have to pay 500,000 credits in interest in two weeks or spend six months in Sugarland to pay off my debt." Charles said while using a cane to help himself to his feet "But this was bound to happen as I've started speaking the truth and people are listening to me. So I think I might start my sermon I just may mention the fact that the Legion could do with more members." Charles added with a smile whilst signalling Marcus to let people in. Hank took a seat while trying to wrap his head around what he had just heard. So basically Charles says that Liberty is corrupt out loud and he gets beaten, harassed and told he is gonna be arrested. This makes no sense surely there is a missing link here Hank just kept thinking to himself.
Just as Charles was about to start the chapel doors open as one last person slips in it was father Manson. Charles couldn't even contain his joy waving his hand around screaming "Father it is great to see you back come join me." recoiling almost immediate after in pain clutching his left obviously one or more of Charles ribs had been broken when he was attacked. Father Manson slowly walked up to the podium placing his hand on Charles's arm and whispered in his ear "No my son you shall lead this folk today but I will watch." then he took a sit near the back of the chapel next to Hank. "Sorry for the delay everyone as you can see from my appearance I've had a rough week. However all this does is show all of you the sick state our dear Liberty is in. Even being shaken down by the Liberty Police won't stop me from spreading the truth. I....." Charles stopped suddenly as the sound of the chapel down being smashed in started to drown him out.
Four men dressed in the uniform of the Kusari Navel Forces came barging into the chapel rifles in hand followed closely by the Kusari man from the previous week who was pointing at Charles shouting "That is him that is the terrorist leader!" Those words seemed to be all that was needed for the KNF to take aim at Charles. "What is the meaning of this?" Father Manson bellowed while getting to his feet. "Shut your mouth old man this 'preacher' is trying to convert you all into terrorists to do his bidding." one of the soldiers said while taking aim at father Manson. "Terrorist you must be joking this is a house of peace and acceptance." Father Manson scoffed. "Enough! I heard this man and his lies about Liberty last week and as such we will not standby letting him became a real threat." The Kusari man ranted as he pointed over at Charles. Father Manson without hesitation pulled out his pistol and shot the Kusari man. As the soldiers turned to fire on father Manson, Hank and two of the guests in the chapel opened fire killing all the soldiers. "Some didn't believe me but what we all just witnessed is the undeniable truth that other houses are the true puppet masters of the Liberty government thus making them the source of all the corruption and suffering placed on the working class. I will be the first to raise my hand and say that I will no longer stand idly by while these foreigners have any control or place in Liberty. Who will join me?" Charles's words echoed through the chapel as the members of the congregation looked over at one another. Marcus was the first to stand up raising his hand followed by Hank and father Manson, Moments later every man, women and child in the room was standing with their hand in the air. "Excellent it is good to see so many are willing to do what is right. I would like you all to have a good long think about this and if you truly feel you are ready to do what must be done I will see you next week. Peace be with you." Charles said as he walked over to the confessional where father Manson was waiting for him."Son you have done a brave thing today, But you must know once you start down this path there is no turning back. You must have complete faith in yourself and in your beliefs." Father Manson said while patting Charles on the back. Charles turned and replied "Don't worry father I put great thought into this it is without a doubt the right thing to do. It's quite clear all the suffering and hardship I've dealt with in my life is due to the foreign influences in Liberty and I'm sure there are many others who feel the same. So we must take action."
As the chapel cleared out Marcus and Hank walked over to join father Manson and Charles. " Since the three of you are here I must ask. Are you willing to die to free Liberty?" Charles asked while looking them each in the eye. The three men nodded but before Charles could say anything else father Manson spoke up "Well my sons since death isn't frightening anyone away I believe I will share with you some information I learned while in the Omicrons. I met up with more Zoners there as you know but they had their own little chapel already set up where they were quite devoted to the notion of a thing they called 'progression' basicly the concept is if you do good deeds upon death you are able to progress through to an afterlife. Now I know you are thinking this sounds a lot like one of those old religions. but they were very insistent that this was a reality. Back to my point though I feel that this movement of freeing Liberty from the evil foreign invaders and their insidious corruption would be deemed a good enough deed to allow you all and any who joined the movement to 'progress' to the afterlife." The three men looked at each other while they processed this information they were just told and just stood there until Charles finally spoke up" Father this is great news over my next couple of sermons I will continually bring up this 'progression' and the impact it will have in our movement." Hank nodded along in agreement while saying" Yeah this is what is needed. Until today I did think the corruption was solely based on the wrong people being in charge but this makes it clear that at least Kusari has some sort of hold over Liberty otherwise they simply would have told the LPI and Liberty Navy and been done with it." Marcus cheered " I knew you guys would see the light that its the foreigners that are the problem I just knew it. Now though I don't think any of you should stay here anymore it is a zoner station after all so I'm sure the Liberty forces or the Kusari forces might search this place for you. So I will take you back to the base I'm staying on it is called Nome it is close by and there we are surrounded by like minded individuals. You can keep the chapel going here it makes sense but I would really hate it if you guys got taken out in your sleep." As Marcus finished speaking everyone nodded in agreement and started heading for the door. "Okay you boys head off I've been to Nome before so I can get a shuttle there a bit latter. I have friends here I wish to so goodbye to and I will clean up this mess." Father Manson said waving his hand over the bodies of the soldiers. "Okay sounds like a plan I will take Preacherman and Hank with me now and I will send a shuttle over for you at eighteen hundred don't miss it father." Marcus said as he pushed the other two out of the room. "Very good then my son. Oh and get the light on your way out." Father Manson shouted as he walked over to the bodies.
As the room went black and and the sound of the elevator leaving the floor was heard father Manson looked over at the bodies on the floor a purplish glow was emanating from his eyes as he said
