Khino - Yaldabaoth

Get the album on bandcamp: https://khino.bandcamp.com/album/cyberpunk-black Full story: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EaObmnNR2JLc5DhwGsriNRT69NKJRiBP?usp=sharing Because of YT's character limit this chapter had to be shortened. April 2085 Fighter jets soar over the main square, every five minutes like clockwork. Desperate intimidation. Flames illuminate cold marble columns, a monument to a war long forgotten. The large circular complex is flooded with faces of contempt, signs and shouts, singing and chanting. Surrounding the crowd are statues of urban camouflage, black helmets and masks, rifles and grenades. Jean's green eyes glow as she scans the scene around her. “B, There's at least seventy officers here, who knows how many down the street. Even some CIA dogs with a briefcase. K's right, this is big... Hm, weird.” “What is it?” “No news vans.” On a balcony on the east side of the square, old glass doors swing open and three figures stride out. Two SWAT borgs, fully geared and ready to demolish a building, guarding a small man with glasses and an armband. K stops walking through the sea of people and stares at the figure. “Randall's here.” “Wha- Randall!? As in the vice-president!? Why the- K, are you sure?” “Oh yeah I'm sure.” His fingers twitch. He reaches under his shirt, pulling out a pistol. “Mayor Randall, here reporting on the tragic death of a nurse and her son. Gone too soon, another reason why our officers simply must have impunity to effectively fight crime.” His vision narrows as he starts lifting the gun toward the balcony. “K, listen to me, this is not the time. We don't even have an exit route!” K's fingers tighten around the grip, trying to eliminate the sway of his shaking hand. Planes fly over once again. “Well I'm sorry girls, word on the street is... it ends now.” Before he can pull the trigger, an explosion. The earth shakes, his ears sting. To his left, marble columns get hidden behind smoke. Ears ringing. He stands there in shock. After a few seconds the ringing subsides, giving way to screams. He looks back at the balcony, where the vice-president disappears behind a door and both cyborgs immediately aim their weapons down at him. The screams grow louder, but they have no hope of being louder than gunfire. K sprints through the square. Gunshots sound from every direction. Signs fall on the ground; people fall on signs. Within seconds the air itself is tinted by red mist. “B!? I need some help!” “Working on it! Jean, where are you?” “Middle of the square! Between the car and statue, got cover, I'm leading people here.” “K, exit routes?” “Looking south, seems-” As he watches the road extend before him and the crowds of people flooding it, he sees two tanks ride in from either side, trapping everyone inside the square. “Fuck, never mind.” “I see the tanks too, Jesus Christ!” “He wants nothing to do with this.” K weaves in and out of buildings, taking out soldiers on the way. Three locked doors later, he finds one that opens into an alley on the next block. “I think I found it, Jean still okay?” “Yeah!” Jean's voice is muffled under screams and gunfire, she's holding a little boy's head under her hands “Just be quick!” K runs out into the street, people run out behind him. He looks around and signals to a black car, which drifts to a stop. Vic and his brother hop out, holding weapons. Liam hands K a rifle and he immediately runs back to the alley. A flood of people is now sprinting out into the street. “Jean, you copy? We got a route, just hang tight, we're coming!” “Copy that boss! Position's good, think we can hold out until you-” They all hear the echo of jet engines once more. As K looks up, fighters scrape the sky again, only this time is different. The earth shakes; foundations tremble. The team sees the crest of a massive explosion towering over the buildings. Their ears ring, dust and blood fill the air. Then silence, deafening silence. The last few people to exit the alley are broken, bloodied, missing limbs. The rest of the team helps them walk as the other two cars arrive. They all understand; there's nothing left. K drops to his knees. He looks up at the sky, dust floating around with pure innocence, carrying with it the unbearable smell of iron. He hears a faint sound slowly rise from the other side of the wall of buildings. A tremor? Marching?... ...Applause. Cheers. Whistles. Laughter. He closes his eyes as tight as he can, covering his ears. His breathing gets fast. Tears washing the dust that had settled on the asphalt. When Vic places a hand on his shoulder, he snaps, letting out a harrowing scream and punching a crater in the street. The radio in his ear lights up again. “K...? I just see dust... what happened?” He looks up at the sky again, his tears catching the sun's light like a prism. He breathes deeply, shakes his head then says with a trebling voice: “We've just won the war...” Written and Produced by Khino.