Post by Guardsman Patrick on Oct 12, 2006 23:02:57 GMT -5
Chapter 30: Hope for Andorg
Alex and Patrick walked through the city streets of Andorg. A crowd of people had come to see the heroes who would one day save them all. The loud cheers filled the air as they continued to walk. They reached the city square and looked saw a plaque that featured the emblem of the Gym Masters.
Alex looked at it without a word. All he could do was reach out and brush the golden letters that made up the logo. He almost fell to his knees in the middle of the crowd. He didn’t think T3GM would ever come that far so quickly, but it had. It had become known as the force that would save Andorg. Alex stepped behind the podium in the square and raised his hand to show that he wanted silence. It took a little while, but the crowd quieted down after a few moments.
"For many years, we have been ignored by the modern world, and it is obvious why. We are the single most dangerous city on this planet. Murder, rape, drug dealings, suicides; here they are as common as the passing birds, or the wind blowing through the trees. Because of these 'common' crimes, and because of a tragedy I wish to never see again, I founded this organization: The 3 Gym Masters." Alex looked over the crowd of people, all of them paying close attention.
"When I started this organization, I thought that we would be the sole protectors of Andorg City, doing the work of a high-end police department, or a defensive army..." He looked down, not knowing how to continue. Then the words came to him and he lifted his head. "I was wrong. I have now come to realize that we are much more than protectors, yet much less that heroes.
"In the first week, I have come to realize that my prediction was far from the truth, very far. I have not only experienced the good, but also the bad. In my years alone, have experienced love, loss, brotherhood, and betrayal. I have experienced hatred, hardship, challenge, and fury. I have experienced not only life, but death, in its fullest. I now realize that I was a fool to underestimate what future T3GM was going to have, and I will be sure I don’t make that same mistake twice." Alex felt the people’s eyes on him, burrowing into him as he spoke.
He looked over at Patrick, who simply nodded.
"I have come to learn that I am not alone in this world. I have learned that there are other people I can rely on, and I do not have to do it all. I couldn’t have done this without my two colleagues at my side. The brave Patrick Rorrer, who taught me that life is not about the past, but what you make of the future, and the lovely Rachel Hikari, who..." Alex was speechless for a brief moment, "...sadly, has resigned as a Gym Master." Alex felt himself go hollow as he thought about Rachel, and the fact that she had left.
"I realize that you each think you see heroes before you, but you would be wrong to think that. Some of you look before you and see saviors, but you would be wrong again. We are not even close to heroes. We are here to do what it is that we know is right, and what we know we have to do, because if we don’t do it, nobody will. We are doing something that we know will contribute back to everyone in Andorg, not just ourselves. We do all this because we know that there are families in need out here. We do this because we know that there is evil in this city. We do this because we can." Alex felt energy rushing through his veins and throughout his body.
"I can promise each and every one of you today, that I will not stop protecting this city until I see it become a beacon of light for the rest of the world. I can promise each and every one of you that there will be changes. For all the corrupt companies out there that dare challenge us, I want to let you know that we do not fear you. I want all the corporate giants out there that think they can get away with all the evil that they commit to know they are wrong. I want all the individuals out there that think that they can get away with crime in this city to know they are wrong. For every person out there that fights for what he or she believes in, for every person out there who refuses to turn to crime, though the choice is not easy, for every person out there that do things that they know will help everyone around them, even if it doesn’t help him personally, I want you each to know that there will be help along the way. For every person who ever wanted to do right, I want you to know that there are others out there." Alex looked back at Patrick again, and Patrick nodded back at him.
"For everyone out there who has lost everything, but still fights for good, I want you to know that there is nothing more important. Like I said, we are not heroes. We are nowhere close. We are... more...
"We are the Gym Masters."
Alex and Patrick walked through the city streets of Andorg. A crowd of people had come to see the heroes who would one day save them all. The loud cheers filled the air as they continued to walk. They reached the city square and looked saw a plaque that featured the emblem of the Gym Masters.
Alex looked at it without a word. All he could do was reach out and brush the golden letters that made up the logo. He almost fell to his knees in the middle of the crowd. He didn’t think T3GM would ever come that far so quickly, but it had. It had become known as the force that would save Andorg. Alex stepped behind the podium in the square and raised his hand to show that he wanted silence. It took a little while, but the crowd quieted down after a few moments.
"For many years, we have been ignored by the modern world, and it is obvious why. We are the single most dangerous city on this planet. Murder, rape, drug dealings, suicides; here they are as common as the passing birds, or the wind blowing through the trees. Because of these 'common' crimes, and because of a tragedy I wish to never see again, I founded this organization: The 3 Gym Masters." Alex looked over the crowd of people, all of them paying close attention.
"When I started this organization, I thought that we would be the sole protectors of Andorg City, doing the work of a high-end police department, or a defensive army..." He looked down, not knowing how to continue. Then the words came to him and he lifted his head. "I was wrong. I have now come to realize that we are much more than protectors, yet much less that heroes.
"In the first week, I have come to realize that my prediction was far from the truth, very far. I have not only experienced the good, but also the bad. In my years alone, have experienced love, loss, brotherhood, and betrayal. I have experienced hatred, hardship, challenge, and fury. I have experienced not only life, but death, in its fullest. I now realize that I was a fool to underestimate what future T3GM was going to have, and I will be sure I don’t make that same mistake twice." Alex felt the people’s eyes on him, burrowing into him as he spoke.
He looked over at Patrick, who simply nodded.
"I have come to learn that I am not alone in this world. I have learned that there are other people I can rely on, and I do not have to do it all. I couldn’t have done this without my two colleagues at my side. The brave Patrick Rorrer, who taught me that life is not about the past, but what you make of the future, and the lovely Rachel Hikari, who..." Alex was speechless for a brief moment, "...sadly, has resigned as a Gym Master." Alex felt himself go hollow as he thought about Rachel, and the fact that she had left.
"I realize that you each think you see heroes before you, but you would be wrong to think that. Some of you look before you and see saviors, but you would be wrong again. We are not even close to heroes. We are here to do what it is that we know is right, and what we know we have to do, because if we don’t do it, nobody will. We are doing something that we know will contribute back to everyone in Andorg, not just ourselves. We do all this because we know that there are families in need out here. We do this because we know that there is evil in this city. We do this because we can." Alex felt energy rushing through his veins and throughout his body.
"I can promise each and every one of you today, that I will not stop protecting this city until I see it become a beacon of light for the rest of the world. I can promise each and every one of you that there will be changes. For all the corrupt companies out there that dare challenge us, I want to let you know that we do not fear you. I want all the corporate giants out there that think they can get away with all the evil that they commit to know they are wrong. I want all the individuals out there that think that they can get away with crime in this city to know they are wrong. For every person out there that fights for what he or she believes in, for every person out there who refuses to turn to crime, though the choice is not easy, for every person out there that do things that they know will help everyone around them, even if it doesn’t help him personally, I want you each to know that there will be help along the way. For every person who ever wanted to do right, I want you to know that there are others out there." Alex looked back at Patrick again, and Patrick nodded back at him.
"For everyone out there who has lost everything, but still fights for good, I want you to know that there is nothing more important. Like I said, we are not heroes. We are nowhere close. We are... more...
"We are the Gym Masters."