Cynism

Moonlight streamed in from the many holes in the old church roof.
Powdery flakes of snow gently flitted through the night sky before
settling on the war torn ground. There was a light wind blowing from
the north as Lieutenant Jericho Kessler adjusted her position.
She had been lying in the bell tower of the church for thirteen hours
now, watching and waiting like the hunter she was. Her legs had grown
stiff but she allowed herself only a small bit of movement to return
circulation.
Through the night scope that sat atop her rifle she could see the
landscape of the town of Dressen as if the sun was still high in the
sky. Dressed in a black combat outfit specially designed for the elite
snipers of the Space Corps, she felt no cold even though snow covered
her in a thin layer. The outfit was designed from Shee membrane and
would have kept Jericho warm no matter what the temperature.
Suddenly she spotted them, her targets. A large armoured vehicle was
driving onto the town square just below the church, its engine piercing
the quiet of the night. Its six wheels were easily gliding over the
rough terrain. Skidding to a halt two men appeared from within the
metal monster and nervously scanned the area.
The taller of the two men took a small radio from his pocket and spoke
into it. He was dressed in a white military uniform that Jericho knew
marked him out as one of the Freedom Fighters of Dressen.
Slowly Jericho lined up the man's chest in her crosshairs. Her rifle
made a small clicking noise indicating it was trained on the heart of
the man. Jericho squeezed the trigger.
The soldier dropped the radio he was still speaking into and blood
slowly dripped from the corner of his mouth. Crashing forward, his
companion shouted something indecipherable before jumping into the
safety of the armoured car.
Jericho watched as it shot off from the city square throwing up snow
and mud on the dead body as it went. It disappeared from view after a
few seconds and Jericho sighed, annoyed at the fact a second rate
soldier could have carried out the assassination.
"Angel One to Nest, come in please Nest" she spoke into her headset
faintly amused at the military jargon she was forced to talk.
"This is Nest, field report Angel One" came back the reply.
"Target is down; repeat target is down, awaiting orders." There was
silence for a moment and Jericho used the time to light a cigarette.
She inhaled the raw smoke before scanning the streets below with the
night scope. Nothing.
"Angel One you are clear for withdrawal. Proceed to exit four" the
unseen voice said.
Jericho didn't bother to reply. She lay in her position smoking and
enjoying the view. Dressen had been the capital city of the planet
Glassen. Only three months ago it had been the most beautiful city
Jericho had ever seen. Massive cathedrals stood proudly beside small
but elegant houses. Glass Multiscrapers pierced the atmosphere like
icicles. All of it was now reduced to rubble. The Space Corp had
flattened everything with a combination of artillery and tank assaults.
Still Jericho could see the beauty of the city in its foundations. An
air of sadness and mystery hung over the city like a vaporise cloud,
and as Jericho looked out onto it she wondered if the destruction that
had been wrought was necessary.
Lying there, Jericho wondered how the war could have been dragging on
for so long. The city of Dressen was large with a population of about
seven million, but as brave as its defenders were they were no match
for the might of the Space Corps. Jericho had difficulty imagining why
High Command didn't just give the rebels what they wanted, all they had
asked for the day they took the city was a lower tax rate and more
rights for the poor.
Space Corp had reacted with it's usual over the top military might.
Over one million dead Freedom Fighters and civilians, Jericho wasn't
bothered about the loss of life, it was the loss of beauty that galled
her.
She never did understand military politics and was always happier away
from the officials of the Corps. Her world was a solitary existence,
lying in wait for days or even weeks for the moment when her target
appeared. It was a life many balked at but for Jericho it was her life,
and she was good at it. Some said the best.
Finally Jericho rose and slung the large weapon onto her back. She
climbed down the wooden steps that led straight onto the street due to
the church having the front of it blown of a few days ago in one of the
many battles that had taken place.
She removed her pistol, from the leg holster she kept it secured and
listened to the night sky for any sounds. The streets were deserted
everywhere she looked and there was no noise apart from the crackle of
a nearby fire. She made her way cautiously through the city.

She was about a mile away from her rendezvous point when she saw
something that would not only change her life, but the life of every
soul in the galaxy. Crouching down in a narrow doorway she could see a
dying man propped up against a nearby building. He was bleeding from
the stomach and his eyes were glazed, death would take him soon she
knew.
Slowly he stared over at Jericho and smiled. He waved her over with
his left hand, his right hand trying to hold in his guts.
Usually Jericho would have shot the man and continued on her way. She
had been playing the game long enough to know even dead people were
dangerous. A feeling welled up inside her this time though. She knew
instantly the man had something important to tell her.
In years gone by she would look back to that night and try and figure
out how she knew to trust the dying man. The answer always eluded
her.
Staying low she ran over to the man and knelt beside him. Inspecting
his wounds she could see his whole left side had been smashed into pulp
by an artillery shell. She was surprised he wasn't dead.
"I have been waiting for you" the dying man said quietly. He didn't
sound in pain even though he would shake occasionally as his wound let
out more blood.
"Who are you" asked Jericho suddenly feeling safe. The temperature had
risen the moment she had approached the man and looking out over the
landscape Jericho realised it didn't look right, almost hazy. She had
the feeling she was trapped in a giant bubble, safe from the outside
world.
"I am the one" answered the man opening his hand. In his palm was a
small piece of paper neatly folded. "You must take this. It is the
saviour of humanity; you are the saviour of humanity." The man stared
deep into Jericho's purple eyes and she felt as though he was reading
her soul.
Jericho took the paper from the man's hand and put it in her pocket.
"What is it" she asked leaning in closer to the man. "Directions" he
said before coughing up blood. He continued not even noticing. "It will
take you to a place where you can start again, where we can all start
again."
"I don't understand" Jericho said frustrated. She hated it when people
spoke in riddles.
"Of course you don't, but soon you will. Soon all will understand." The
man closed his eyes and his breathing became slower. Death was almost
touching him now.
"Wait" shouted Jericho. "Who are you" she asked pleadingly. The man
smiled, spoke and then died.
Jericho staggered back and fell. She quickly picked herself up and
started to run as fast as she could, the man's last word racing around
her brain, pushing all other thoughts out of the way, terrifying
her.
"God."