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I watched intently as the thick trap door swung open slowly. It finally came to rest at a 90 degree angle, LED lights illuminating the ladder well down into whatever chambers lay beneath. I wondered how Gemm had electric lighting, but I also wondered what was in this cellar. Gemm lowered himself down awkwardly and began climbing down the ladder, motioning for me to follow. After he let himself down enough I followed him, stepping down the rungs that seemed to stretch on forever. I was a little startled when the door began swinging shut, making a small feline noise in surprise. "Don't worry, I can open it from in here." I looked down, swallowing at the number of rungs. I continued down, for what was probably just a minute or two, and finally I stepped onto a dirt floor. I turned around, and saw rows and rows of cans on shelves. I was taken aback by how many cans there were, and now that I saw the labels, I knew they were food cans. There was also barrels of water, on the floor beneath the shelves. The walls were dirt, with timbers supporting them, and LED sticks strung along the beams. Gemm watched my reaction. "No, it's not all for me... there is much to see, but that will wait until later. In the mean time, come, I must show you something." Gemm turned and walked into a small alcove off to our left. I noticed there was a light breeze on my face, but I trusted that he would explain that eventually.

After a small bit of walking we came to a door. He put his paw on a spot that seemed no different from the rest of the wood, but with a pneumatic hiss it swung open. He stepped through, and I followed. He clapped his paws, and LEDs again blinked to life all around us. I gasped as I saw what he had. It was enough banned books to get him in front of a firing squad seven times over. There were shelves of books, rows upon rows of them. The air felt odd, like it was controlled for something. He sighed and a small ghost of a smile appeared on his face. "I've always liked this room, the library if you will. Something about all of those unique stories... I suppose I should explain why the air is so odd. Books like a certain climate, some of these are centuries old and I want to preserve them." He looked around, actually looking faintly happy for once. "I'll give you access to these later, so you can see the culture and the history that's been buried for years now. However, I have more vaults. He strolled over to a nearby wall. I followed him, and watched as he again pressed his palm against a seemingly random spot on the door. It was much the same as the first door, and through it lied even more illegal art. This time, however, it was drawn art. The air again felt strange, presumably something to do with preserving the various paintings lining the walls.

Gemm looked at me, the echoes of amusement on his face. "I guess you could say that I have a bit of a museum down here, I'll explain it later. There is also a film and music library through those doors over there, but I prefer not to go in there. Films and hard drives are sensitive things. Now, I imagine you want to have a nice sit after all that has happened." I followed him out of the vaults, the lights blinking off behind us, and into the main corridor again. We went through a door in the other side of the hallway, into what seemed like some sort of sitting room. He gestured towards the small circle of armchairs and sofas. "Please, have a seat. Anything to drink, eat?" I was still a little stunned by what Gemm possessed, and what had just happened to my family. "Water, please." He nodded and went through another door as I sat down, sighing. I looked down at the floor and pondered what had happened, and wondered where my family was. Gemm placed a little glass of water on the coffee table. I sipped from the glass awkwardly. Gemm sat across, looking at the wall, waiting for me to say something.

It took several minutes before I finally spoke, but Gemm didn't seem to mind. "Why... why do you have all that stuff? You'll get arrested, probably sent to a nuclear cleanup site." Gemm shook his head. "There is much for you to learn, isn't there? I suppose I need to tell you some things, some of them connected to what happened today." He sat back and sighed, looking up at the dirt ceiling. "Do you know of what it was like before this... Coalition, came into power?" I sipped my water again. "It was bad, wasn't it? I've heard that there was a war going on, that there were crimes against humanity happening daily..." I faded out as I saw an odd look of amusement and frustration display on his spotted face. He sighed. "You have much, much more to learn." He paused again, letting his head hang for a bit, then he started talking. He told me of a time when freedom of speech and press existed, when the world was starting to actually align into what he had hoped to see. Several stereotypes had faded into oblivion, and poverty rates were dropping at a massive rate. Pollution was down, and falling every day. He then went on to his personal life. "Ever since I was a kit, I knew that the world was messed up. Sure, some things were right, but many things were wrong. When I got old enough, I went to rallies, I petitioned, I wrote letters... my parents often ridiculed me. It worked, though. The world began changing. It was glorious... the world had gone in a better direction, towards Utopia..." He paused, his happy face falling. "Then it all went bad. One moment of blissful ignorance, and a bad seed was planted. The first time I knew it was bad was when they charged a crowd of protesters, stun batons raised. I managed to escape, but my mate... he was lost in the crowd... he is in a nearby prison, I know that much." My eyes were wide.

"Wait, HE?" Gemm gave a small huff of amusement. "Yup, it was a guy. I am bisexual, Jack, but unlike what you hear in the propaganda, I am not an amoral child molester. Me and that jaguar were..." he paused, swallowed, and continued, "It was a match made in heaven. I met him at a war protest rally, back when I was 24, and we got along immediately. We talked some more, went to rallies together, and then, after a few months, we finally admitted our feelings." I saw a tear roll from Gemm's eye, but he wiped it away almost as soon as it appeared. When he resumed speaking, he sounded a bit choked. "My 25th year was the happiest of my life. I watched the fireworks with him, that was when I had my first kiss. We fell madly in love, I spent all the time I could with him... then, when I was 26, the rally happened. As quickly as it had come, it had all gone. It was all torn away in one second..." Gemm looked away, and I heard a sniffle. He stood up, looking away, and said with a badly choked voice, "Excuse me." He briskly walked out of the room. I sat there, stunned. A lot of information had been given to me. I sat there, and I thought for a bit. Was he telling the truth? He walked back in, the fur on his face damp beneath his eyes. "You can enter the library now, the computer knows your pawprint. Ask it for the scanner, it'll highlight it. You can make yourself at home, I went and looked around with the cameras. You should stay here, for the time being." I nodded, and he sighed, deeply. "I am sorry this had to get you involved, Jack. This spring happened faster than I ever expected."

***

It was several hours later, and I had pretty much found my way around. Gemm had showed me to a room I could stay in. It had a mattress on the floor with some old blankets, but the room wasn't all that bad. The earth that made up the room was hard-packed, but pleasant touch. It even had a door that closed, and an electric lamp. I was in the reading room of the library, delving deep into the King James Bible. I had read the President MacKennaw Bible, but never this one... it was so different. I liked it, I liked it a lot better than the seemingly butchered one the Coalition handed out. Gemm had three of them, in various states. I had the best one in my paws.

I looked up as the door hissed, and Gemm stepped in... with two others following. My jaw fell open and my eyes went wide as I saw Rachael walk in. "Rachael?" Then, a black leopard followed her. He was a startling sight, to say the least. His fur was so dark, it seemed to absorb light and never let it escape. Unlike Gemm, his fur was short and sleek. His eyes were what really got me... they were bright blue, a sky blue, like ice chips. It was a startling contrast to the rest of him. I put the bible down and stood up. Rachael smirked. "Looked what the cat dragged in!" Gemm smirked, but the black leopard's face didn't change. I hugged Rachael, not romantically, mind you. Gemm waited until we were done. "Jack, Rachael, this is Ivan. He also goes by Ice, he doesn't mind either." I extended my paw, and Ivan shook it. "Hello, Jack, Rachael."

Ivan's gaze lingered on me for a little longer than I expected, and I swear there was an odd look in his eyes. Gemm took them into the next vault, and I went back to reading. They went back through the door into the main corridor, and I continued to read. After a few minutes, I decided to join them. I put the Bible back, then I walked into the sitting room. I sat next to Ivan on the couch, noticing his sudden nervousness. I didn't pay any mind to it, however. "Hello, Jack. I was just telling them of my personal life. I am done, y'all can chat now. Nothing here is off limits, except for the surface. The Enforcers are not happy with me, I am sure. Tomorrow, we'll have a far more vital talk." Gemm looked at a clock in the corner. "Dinner is on at 7:30, it'll be a tad basic, I am sorry. In the meantime, I must attend to some business." Gemm stood up and left.

***

We went and watched a couple of movies, and explored the cavern system. Gemm went about and added signs, making the place a little more friendly to people who weren't familiar with it. I ended up sitting in the library, reading a book, something about a young boy who found out he was a wizard. Harry Potter struck me as a slightly odd name but I was enjoying the story so far. Ivan was sitting beside me on the couch, reading another book, a large blue one about a female dragon and her "rider" in some odd war. Gemm was right when he had said that some of the stuff would be surprising.

Ivan sighed, then he started talking to me. "Hey, Jack." I looked up. "Yup?" He put the book down and turned, facing me. "So, how'd you get here?" I also closed my book.

"I am, was, Gemm's neighbor across the street. A small firefight happened, and the Enforcers busted in my door. Dunno how, but I managed to jump through the window,

and Gemm signaled me over. Now I am here. I dunno what happened to them, but I hope they are okay." Ivan nodded, a soft look on his face. "I have a problem like that,

I was out in that crowd of protesters in front of the ration office. I ran when the riot started, and hid in the woods. That cougar girl... Rachael, right? She helped me.

Gemm offered to take us in, and we accepted... now we are here." I nodded. He kept talking. "What do you think will happen now? Will we just live down here forever?"

I shook my head. "That's doubtful, I get the feeling that things are going crazy up on the surface. I think... I think that a civil war just started." The door hissed open, and

two animals walked in... Gemm and a female squirrel. "These are the other two?" Gemm nodded. "What are their names?" Gemm answered, robotically.

"The cheetah is Jack, the leopard is Ivan." Her eyes roamed over us. "Have you given them the offer?" He shook his head, noticeable frustration showing on his face.

Me and Ivan glanced at each other, uncertainly. "No, they just got here, I didn't..." The squirrel stopped him.

"Damnit, Gemm! This is an army, not an orphanage! I want to know whether they will be citizens or soldiers in this war." With that, she turned and left.

Gemm sighed, crossing his arms and looking down at his feet. He looked at us, a concerned look on his face.

"You two, go to the sitting room, we need to talk. I'll be there as soon as I get Rachael." He turned and left, not waiting for a response. Ivan tried to say something,

but I don't think he could find the words. I stood up, "Well, I don't think we have a choice." Ivan nodded an followed me as I left the room. We sat side by side on a sofa,

waiting for Gemm to come back. A minute or so later, he returned with Rachael and the squirrel in tow.

He told Rachael to sit down, then he crossed his arms again and sighed. "I know these last few hours have been intense for y'all, but Miss Caroline

here needs me to ask you guys something." He paused, for just as second. "I am not just the trashman. I am part of a rebel group, the voice you heard on the radio.

Now, we didn't expect it to spark a civil war like this... I need to know, if y'all want to join the fight. I don't know if we will need to kill anyone, I hope not, but with the way

things have gone... it's likely. If you do want to join the fight, you'll be given some training anda gun, but we can't guarantee your safety. If you don't want to, and want to sit this one out, I won't blame any of you. It's not cowardice. If you do refuse, we'll try to shelter you as best as possible. I... don't want to pressure any of you, but I need your response tonight."

I stood up. "When can I start, sir?" Ivan and Rachael gawked at me, then Ivan stood up as well. Rachael also stood up, and Gemm smiled. He twisted in his chair to face

Miss Caroline. "Looks like you've got three more freedom fighters, Carol."

***

That is how, a few hours later, I ended up on the surface in the middle of the woods with an old rifle in my paws. It was an AR-15, according to Gemm, an

"old and well-proven rifle". To me, it was heavy and somewhat intimidating. I had seen the rounds it fired. It honestly scared me a little bit, even with it's old design.

I had picked it, it looked serious to me, and seriously powerful. I also liked the way it felt in my paws... it just felt right. It still scared me half to death, though.

Gemm had a different gun, one he seemed rather attached to, but he was also rather good with the "AR-15".

I had just about jumped through the overhead camo net and forest canopy when he fired the thing, and now I was holding it.

"Calm, steady breaths. I know she's a scary looking thing, but I promise, she's a softie when you pull the trigger."

I could barely hear him through the huge ear muffs I was wearing, but he seemed to have a way with it.

I hugged the plastic buttstock to my shoulder, and fired. A huge explosion resonated from the barrel, but the gun didn't kick me that hard.

It was a jolt, but not the shoulder-destroying thing I had expected it to be.

The target, a paper one, had a hole in the chest. Gemm nodded, visibly impressed. "Alright, not bad. Next!"

Ice stepped up with his gun, an MP-5. It was a small, lightweight, thing, so I didn't expect much accuracy.

Imagine my surprise when Ice nailed the target square in the head at 45 yards. Gemm's jaw dropped slightly.

"Uh... good job... Rachael?" Ivan stepped back, his face a picture of accomplishment.

"Darn, nice shot!" I held up my paw, and he looked at me for a moment, then he realized what I meant and high-fived me.

I watched as Rachael stepped up with her rifle, called a Mini-14. It fired the same bullet as my gun, but hers actually had a scope on it.

Gemm suggested she be a sniper, and she agreed with the idea. The rifle she used was a bit unorthodox for it, but he said it could be done.

She lay down on the ground, setting the rifle on a bipod, and aimed at a target 120 yards away. She held her breath, and fired. A loud clang, and a hit center-mass.

Gemm shook his head. "For people who have never fired guns, y'all are doing amazingly well. Now it's time for the hard training."

***

Gemm wasn't kidding when he said that. I was never in bad shape, but the training sure made me feel like it.

After several days, Gemm said we were finally ready for our first mission.

I was sitting in my room, meditating if you will, thinking of the last few days.

I had jumped barriers, climbed walls, belly-crawled through mud.

On top of the training, me and Ivan had been talking a lot.

Me and Ivan had supported each other the whole way.

We were friends by now, he was a cool guy, really.

He was a little quiet, a little mysterious at times, but I liked that.

It was almost fun, really. I sighed, and rolled over into bed. I clapped my paws, and the lights went out. I soon was asleep, fitfully.

***

I was trekking through the forest, my AR-15 slung over my shoulder. I followed Ivan, his MP-5 holstered by his waist.

In the lead was an older freedom fighter, a wolf named Mike. He carried something like my AR-15, an M-4.

His could fire fully auto, mine could only do semi-auto. The trek was long, but my training had conditioned me to endure it.

Before long, we could see the prison camp through the trees. Mike motioned with his paw, and Rachael mounted the nearest tree and began to climb.

"In position," she said quietly, over the radio. "Guard at 12 o clock... looking this way."

We continued creeping forward, then a shot rang out, and another, then a siren sounded out, and all hell broke loose as a machine gun rang out.

Bullets whizzed past us, and I quickly dove into cover behind a log. Ivan hid behind a thick tree, and Mike huddled behind a rock.

I had my first firefight on my hands, and I was pinned.