[**Part 8 Recap:**](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@justclickindiva/18-december-2024-mariannewest-s-7449fd76c876a)
>>
>*Benetiz surveyed the area as dissenters hunched together whispering while nodding. He smiled upon hearing angry tones and seeing frowns upon their faces. My words have finally sunken in, he hoped.*
>>
>*Immediately, his gaze landed on Amos, Annetta,and Julius.*
>>
>*Amos stared back before lowering his head. He hated to admit he was wrong about Benetiz and acknowledged to himself that he actually liked the man. What he did in helping to transport him to ICO North to undercover his whereabouts for Annetta was admirable.*
>>
>*But to place his full trust in him to lead a rebellion against ICO. A chill swept through his body as he remembered Benetiz tightening the straps of the gurney around his waist, then looking away, tight lipped as his supervisor joked about my meaningless job at ICO South and the probable reason my Silver Coin was deactivated.*
>>
>*On that point, Amos required more information about Benetiz. Was he purely a spy? or was he acting as a double agent working for both the ICO and receiving a handsome reward?*
>>
>*Benetiz' Silver Coin was still activated. Suspicion swirled through Amos' thoughts. He readily acknowledged though that that this group of protestors wouldn't be here if they didn't believe in the cause and in the man.*
>>
>*Amos' thoughts turned to Benetiz's reiteration of the history of the ICO and dire situation the emergence of the authority plunged society into. He scoured the room. Desolate people in a helpless situation.*
>>
>*Agreeing with Benetiz, the circumstances appeared hopeless. How can I contribute with my limited knowledge and almost non-existence resources? I'm just a lowly janitor with no worldly education on how to counter and eventually combat tyranny and corruption.*
>>
>*Again, he recalled the current plight of the citizens. Three-fourths in Noedstronia were purged as the result of burning fields where they ran for their lives. Next, the systemic removal of the poor; the downcast; the disabled; and the non-ambitious citizens on the continent lived in exile, not allowed to travel to other continental regions. Labeled as the society's scourge just because they wouldn't exchange their souls for the Silver Coin. In essence, **survival of the richest**.*
>>
>*Annetta interrupted his thoughts as she slid her arm into his and smiled up at him.*
>>
>*He gazed down on her face. The only person who loved him besides his parents. If she can fight, then I'll do whatever it takes to contribute. He smiled back, but spoke no answer until a few moments later.*
>>
>*"We must locate the facility that manufacturers the Silver Coin. Dismantle the computer system. That will be our target. Of course, I'm no expert," Amos admitted.*
>>
>*"That's a tricky one. Currently, only four ICO facilities exist as far as we're aware. The activities that take place at two of them, we're unaware. But does the computer system also store information on the locations of the ICO facilities that house prisoners? We must **discuss this more**,"* Julius interrupted.*
>>
>*Julius beckoned to Benetiz, who stood surrounded by a group of indigent families, their children weeping hysterically.*
>>
>*"I hate to tell you even worse news and its **implication**," Benetiz proclaimed as he extricated himself and joined Amos, Annetta, and Julius.*
>>
>*All three stared blankly at each other as though no additional news could shock them.*
>>
>*"Propoganda has ramped up. Daily transmission broadcasts focused on compliance with ICO rules and regulations have flooded people's homes. Then, ICO West dropped leaflets into the cities on the west coast. Distraught families abandoned their homes to avoid imprisonment after their Silver Coins were partially deactivated and awaiting their official written compliance with the rules," Benetiz stated with a solemn expression.*
>>
>*Amos didn't want to hear any more. Convinced the small group of insurgents could infiltrate the ICO facility where the Silver Coin was manufactured, he took to the microphone again.*
>>
>*"Are any experts in computer technology among us?" Delighted that several in the crowd raised their hands, he beckoned them to approach the podium.*
>>
>*Amos, Annetta, Julius, and Benetiz thanked the men for their willingness to volunteer without even knowing the assignment. Just as he was about to explain the plan to infiltrate the ICO facilities, the warehouse door shattered. Military styled vehicles burst through.*
>>
>*Despite emergency procedures put in place a few years ago should their location be discovered, citizens panicked. Several dozen men headed to the backroom to retrieve weapons. Parents gathered their children and joined others, then ran for their lives, fleeing in all directions from the building.*
**Now Part 9 (Uninvited Guests At the Rebellion):**
Panic ensued as people bolted from the warehouse after a thunderous crash, dragging screaming children, not knowing where they would go. They didn't care which direction, only that they not be apprehended by ICO's military unit.
About two yards away, Amos, Annetta, Julius, and Benetiz peered at the chaos from behind a tall, rotten tree. They stared in horror at the sight of people running for their lives to safety from out of range of military tanks adorned with the ICO emblem.
What they didn't see was the group of family members standing on the other side of the building with their hands held high signaling to the men in the military tank that they posed no danger of attempting to escape. The same family members who earlier had beseeched Benetiz for help during the resistance meeting.
The black tank moved in closer, not caring for the well-being of the women and children as the operator lowered the front nozzle of the tank and aimed it directly at their faces. So close in fact that they could gaze into the chamber at their demise should they turn and run.
Instantly, the tank's hatch swung open.
It didn't take long for James Hanford and his neighbor who'd pleaded with Benetiz earlier in the warehouse to realize what they'd already feared. The fragment of life didn't amount to everyday ordinary events.
The moment he smelled sulfur impacted into the barrel of the tank, they realized their lives would be cut short. Hanford imagined their innards spread haphazardly across the road. That was ICO's visual intimidation as with his neighbors running one step ahead of the flames across the pastures to avoid being burnt to death.
But his imagination had gotten ahead of him.
"Ignorant migrants," one of the men in a full-bodied blue uniform shouted, "don't you fools realize you're still being tracked."
Hanson glanced down at his Silver Coin. Oh my God, he thought. We should have thrown them away immediately once we decided to defect. But the life-giving free supplements for the children were all that was left of their daily nourishment.
Several families raised their hands to their faces to avoid the blinding flashing lights. Although scared of the future for their children, they refused to relent. They'd suffered through the worse these past ten years.
Recalcitrant poses angered the soldiers.
The next moment, the force of steel-toe boots landed numerous, agonizing blows to the middle section of the men's bodies while their spouses and children watched helplessly.
"Is that all you got? **Kick him harder**! I say and end their miserable lives now. If it were up to me," one of the guards hissed before another raised his hand in an authoritative manner.
"But it isn't. I'll not lose my Silver Coin over your incessant intolerance. My feelings are the same as yours; however, I've more restraints. Our orders are to take prisoners," the guard standing closest to the families yelled to his comrades.
The late afternoon sun rushed forth and crowded the landscape. Long shadows fell around the captives' feet. If reflections could speak, they'd tell of the horror projected by faces of the men, women, and children.
Unable to hear or see what was happening to the people in his care, Benetiz motioned to Amos, Annetta, and Julius. They moved stealthily from behind the bushes, careful to avoid detection as they made their way to the other side of the building.
From across the way, they watched as several other military vehicles joined the initial assault and halted within a few feet of the people.
Amos stepped back from his group. Staring at the back of Benetiz' head, for a long moment he studied the man. Benetiz's head nodded back and forth slightly as if in approval of the soldiers' actions. Which soldiers' actions he approved of were unclear.
What better way to ferret out one's enemies than to ensnare and apprehend them together in a place of protest. A calculated move on ICO Headquarters' part whose outcome could be certain. That is, with the proper traitor in its midst.
But what if I'm wrong, he questioned, his pulse beating faster. Men have done far less when faced with perceived injury to their family or certain death.
The threat of deactivating one's Silver Coin was sufficient to instill fear in even the fearless.
A loud, thunderous roar interrupted Amos' thoughts as several drops of rain fell lightly upon their faces, then quickened into a full thunderstorm. Hail pelted their faces until they couldn't continue standing in the open spot, but headed back behind the trees under cover.
But the hail wasn't alone. For in the distance, a horde of tanks approached, together with vehicles blasting sirens in their direction. Soon, the military styled tanks resembled an invasion.
And all for no more than a hundred citizens.
Instead of examining the turmoil, giving it utmost urgency, Amos kept a close eye on Benetiz. All protestors in the region were accounted for, except one. And now, their technology experts were prisoners.
Their plan was now doomed. And locating ICO's **mysterious clinic** in the north where seniors were held captive faded.
With heavy hearts, Amos and his group grabbed each other's hands and prayed, as also there was nothing the group could do to save them.
However, prayer would save neither the others nor themselves, as they only had to pivot to the left beyond the woods to discover their troubles ran deeper than the military soldiers or equipment deployed to subdue their uprising.
*[to be continued]*
[18 December 2024, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2590: fragment of life](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@daily.prompt/18-december-2024-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2590-fragment-of-life)
[28 January 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2630: implication](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@daily.prompt/28-january-2025-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2630-implication)
[26 January 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2628: kick him harder](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@daily.prompt/26-january-2025-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2628-kick-him-harder)
[29 January 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2631: discuss this more](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@daily.prompt/29-january-2025-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2631-discuss-this-more)
[4 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2637: mysterious clinic](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@daily.prompt/4-february-2025-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2637-mysterious-clinic)
[5 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2638: Did you authorise this?](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@daily.prompt/5-february-2025-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2638-did-you-authorise-this)
[20 february 2025, @mariannewest's Freewrite Writing Prompt Day 2653: survival of the richest](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@daily.prompt/20-february-2025-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2653-survival-of-the-richest)
If you'd like to return to the beginning of my series, here are the previous parts:
[**Part 1:**](https://peakd.com/hive-140084/@justclickindiva/18-december-2024-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2597-prompt-a-silver-coin-or-talent-tuesdays-in-freecomplimen)
[**Part 2:**](https://peakd.com/hive-140084/@justclickindiva/18-december-2024-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2597-prompt-a-silver-coin-continuation-or-talent-tuesdays-in-)
[**Part 3:**](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@justclickindiva/18-december-2024-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2597-part-3-or-prompt-a-silver-coin)
[**Part 4:**](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@justclickindiva/18-december-2024-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2597-part-4-or-prompt-a-silver-coin)
[**Part 5:**](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@justclickindiva/18-december-2024-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2597-part-5-or-prompt-a-silver-coin)
[**Part 6:**](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@justclickindiva/18-december-2024-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2597-part-6-or-prompt-a-silver-coin)
[**Part 7:**](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@justclickindiva/18-december-2024-mariannewest-s)
[**Part 8:**](https://peakd.com/hive-161155/@justclickindiva/18-december-2024-mariannewest-s-7449fd76c876a)
*Good luck everyone with whatever your endeavors.*
**SOURCES:**
a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines
f) Thumbnail Image created by me in Canva.
g) "Flames." What is Apophysis 2.09. https://flam3.com/
1 What is Stable Diffusion? StarryAI.Com. Online at: https://starryai.com/stable-diffusion
[//]: #sbi-skip
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