Basically he was being sent in as bait. Despite all the connotations
that came with being bait, Rest didn't care all too much. In fact, he
was more bugged by the fact that he had been called out here at all. His
place wasn't on the battlefield. He was the guy people came too when
their weapons got jammed after use on the battlefield. And even worse,
he was being sent in at the front line. Wandering the crowd, it was hard
to not smell the sweat and spit that lingered in the air. Rest
couldn't believe how much people sweated when it was 45 degrees
outside. Spittle? Well, people did that on a regular basis no matter
what season of the year it was. Especially when Gordon came out to speak.
Gordon
looked surprisingly under dressed for the occasion and it showed on his
face. His cheeks and nose held an unhealthy red glow, his waxed and
shined crane head practically steaming with anxiety in the cold. The man
was known for his fleshy jowls not unlike that of a bull dog's and broad chin that seemed lantern like. Under most conditions, having someone's face aligned with that of a mutated mutt would trigger a bar room brawl, but to Gordon
and his pride, he would rather suffer a cold than hide his iconic face
underneath a scarf. Heck, if they could just somehow stagger Gordon's
speech two or three hours, the man might die from exposure. Too bad his
breath was generating enough heat to warm a stadium, and he was well
into his speech already.
Sharp moved in close behind him, making
sure to keep his voice low. "Dude, there are like, fifty million people
here. How the hell are we gonna pick out the guards in the crowd like
this?"
"We're not supposed to. The only ones we gotta worry
about are those guys." Rest gave a brisk nod towards the stage. The six
elites were surveying the crowd like hawks. The fact that the rifles
they carried were set on their backs rather than lofted tauntingly in
their arms meant they weren't going to shoot to kill, but the fact that
they were there at all was not reassuring. No doubt the ones in the
crowd, though not armed as heavily, would have all the intention to
shoot down any offender, possibly even on the spot. "All we have to do
is get their attention, and the rest will follow--Hey, are you even
listening?"
"You know, I voted for that guy."
"Of course you voted for him, his name was the only one on the ballot!"
Sharp turned his gaze completely towards Rest, giving him a quizzical look. "Does that mean you voted for him too?"
"What does it matter?" He cast him a side glance, quickly returning his eyes back to the stage where Gordon had gone into his second monologue. "He's gonna be dead soon anyway--Stop looking at me, they're gonna get suspicious."
"So what, you didn't vote?"
Rest let out a sigh. "No, Sharp. I didn't vote."
Sharp virtually went full attention on Rest now. "Where is your sense of patriotism, man? I'll tell you something, it's people like you that got people like Gordon up on the podium on the first place."
"His
name was the only one in the ballot! Me voting for the fat bastard's
gonna put him on the damn podium regardless!" Rest felt the wandering
eyes of the guards on stage drift over to
them, making Rest quickly pull his cap deeper over his eyes. "This is
really besides the point right? Look, we just stick to the plan and get
outta here as quick as we can."
"I'm just sayin'--"
"I'll listen to all of
your political ravings after this job's done, deal?" Rest slipped out a
pocket watch from his jacket, flipping it open with a nigh inaudible
click. "Okay, five 'til. Remember, the faster you run the longer you
live."
"Got it. Stick to the plan."
Both men gave each
other a quick nod before splitting up, moving closer towards the stage
until their figures were completely blended in with the raving crowds.