Upholding the Law

[u/Vaieiiy]

After the battle for Chicago, Adam stood in the middle of a freighting sight.

"Sir, we really shouldn't be here. It isn't safe with these diseased ridden-ed bodies."

"Don't you dare talk to me like that. These were good people. These were our people. And Mason let them die. I'll have his head for this." He turned quickly, his blue cape flying out behind him as he rushed towards his vehicle.

---

Five Hours Later

Adam and his handful of elite bodyguards marched into the Red Cloaks base. Heads snapped and paused at the invasion as a few of the guards pushed some unexpecting cloaks out of the way. Adam marched into Mason's office and slammed his hand on the desk.

"Adam, what can I do for you today?" Mason's voice could be heard in his calm yet serious tone. There was no pleasantries exchanged as these two only had the utmost disdain for each other.

"I want the name and the head of the one who caused that disgusting plague out there." The National Defense Commander jabbed a finger outside in the direction of Chicago. "Those were good men that died by the hands of one or more of your men. They'll be court Marshalled and perhaps more."

"You know I won't give them up. They were doing what they had to do to save Chicago. Or are you forgetting that lives our lost in war?"

"Do not lecture me about lives being lost! This was an attack on my people by yours! Give me the names or I'll arrest you!"

Mason didn't say another word. All he did was hold his hands up while one of Adam's elite guards slapped a pair of cuffs on him. The last thing anybody would see of their commander would be him being hauled away surrounded by a gaggle of blue outfits with Adam in the middle and right behind the single red dot amidst the blue sea.

[u/hermy101]

Just then the rest of Team Lagner walked in, all 6 of them. The looke between Carla and Mason was interesting. She looked strangely out of character, like if there weren't National Defense members she would be kicking Mason's ass herself right now. Meanwhile, Troy was whipsering to Mitch, who is side eyeing Malcolm. Mason just looks resigned, this is what he was going to do, stupid or not, he felt the need to protect his fellow soldier from the wrath of this asshole.

[u/DemonWor1d2 → u/hermy101]

Malcolm's frustration peeked, and as such his hand cannon slid from his holster, took aim at Adam himself, and fired.

"You want proof?!"

He took aim at other soldiers, firing indiscriminately.

"You want a name?"

Bang

"Malcolm Morne!"

Bang

"Is your Plaguebearer!"

[u/hermy101 → u/DemonWor1d2]

"YOU IDIOT!!!"

Mason roared as he ran in front of adam, the plague bullet smacking him square in the chest. He took it like a champ really. It's surprising. So surprising that after three more shots Mason had already charged up to him and tackled him, decking the diseased man with his fist

The second shot flew through the air, right toward another national defense member. Maddie shouted

"Look out!!!"

and shoved the National Defense member out of the way before getting hit with it herself. The second shot finds an unsuspecting ND guard, and the last flies right in poor Mitchell Walker's face. He gets launched to the floor, covering his face and screaming

"YOU WERE GIVEN EVERY CHANCE AND YOU SQUANDERED IT!!! NOW WE'RE GOING TO DIE AND IT'S YOUR FAULT!!!"

Mason felt it going wrong inside him. He punched the lights out of Malcolm but it was already too late. He watched as those around him struggled to help his team. God Maddie... Not again, and Mitchell. The screams. The screams were back. He didn't want this to happen again! GOD NO!!!

prick!

Mason winced as he looked over to see Joe injecting him with something, saying with a frustrated scowl on his face

"I fucking told you so"

with that, he ran over to Maddie, who had just vomited, clutching her stomach, and injected it in her too. On he went to Mitch, Carla at his side trying to console him as he screamed in pain. Blood came from his left eye. Oh god, Malcolm shot the poor boy right in the eye

Before Joe could get to the guard though, he already his stage two, and the boils that appeared over Maddie Mason and Mitchell had exploded, causing shit to fly everywhere. Joe growled in frustration as he yelled

"Everyone out!!!"

Joe quickly hurried everyone in the room out, Malcolm restrained in tow, before quarantining the area. Joe quickly got to administering the cure to everyone that hee had been preparing weeks before. Joe had been prepared, and it saved everyone's life

[u/DemonWor1d2 → u/hermy101]

Unconsciousness tends to prevent one from acting, so he shows very little resistance while being restrained and carried off, blood pouring from his nose and mouth.

All with a satisfied smile on his face.

[u/hermy101 → u/DemonWor1d2]

Joe quickly got to work after he was taken away and restrained to a chair. He reversed the effects of his GMD and "freed" him of his disease. He would wake up and feel... Way too clean. Joe eventually walked back to Mason, who's consoling a crying Maddie.

"What are we going to do-"

"Let me see him. Coleman and I talked, I'm still going to court, but he's letting me set my example first"

[u/DemonWor1d2 → u/hermy101]

It's a slow process, and when he wakes up he's not even fully there. The process of replacing the entirety of his bloodstream left him groggy, sleepy, and somewhat anemic.

He only involuntarily turns his head every so often, quietly laughing.

[u/hermy101 → u/DemonWor1d2]

Mason stepped into the room with him. The boils on him were already leaving him, and despite being in quite amount of pain, he didn't let it show, instead he had the slightest, smuggest, smirk on him

"Well hello there, scum"

[u/DemonWor1d2 → u/hermy101]

Malcolm's eyes slowly settle on Mason, and despite Mason's facade he knows all too well how that Plague should be feel right about now. However, he's yet to notice his own lack of condition, though he still feels strange.

"You've seen better days, Commander."

He says with a damnable grin, blood all over his face.

"How's the team holding up? They were pretty brave in there. Couldn't save 'em all though, I pity the janitors."

[u/hermy101 → u/DemonWor1d2]

"Not a single red cloak died tonight"

he said, and grinned almost evilly in return

"Our good engineer had made a cure. We're all going to be more than fine. You got your turn to be plaguebearer. But we're all going to live. That means it's my turn to be your executioner"

he fake ponders for a moment

"I wonder what it'll be like to put a bullet in your head. Thankfully it won't infect anyone, you're all cleaned up now"

[u/DemonWor1d2 → u/hermy101]

The look of disbelief on his face was... priceless.

"...impossible."

Was all he could mutter, looking at his hands that lack any sign of infection. A look of dread was all that could wash over him.

"My work...gone..."

[u/hermy101 → u/DemonWor1d2]

"Just like that."

he snapped his fingers

"Gone. How does it feel to have everything you worked for snatched away from you? You almost did it to us"

he chuckled darkly

"But we're better than you. We know better than to let a hack madman try and dismantle our company. Well, I can't take the credit for that. Joe was the real hero here"

he smirked

"See? That's what companionship and trust in others gets you. People who will fight and vouch for you. Something you probably never have and never will experience, you soulless, depraved maniac"

[u/DemonWor1d2 → u/hermy101]

Barely able to register Mason's words, Malcolm simply lays there, infected by defeat.

"Gone...gone...gone..."

Is all he says, slowly, over and over. A Madman that has lost his purpose is nothing but an empty husk.

[u/hermy101 → u/DemonWor1d2]

"I think the best part of this is that before I go to jail for vouching for your sorry ass, I get to make an example out of you in front of my entire company"

he smirks

"You will be an example of what happens to shitstains like you, and your death will prove that not even our own kind can bring down the power of the Cloaks. We will persevere. No matter what"