SPD 13- “The Truth About SPD”

I was only 18 when I moved to London…just a kid. I had grown up in Ocean City, Maryland, which was a small town in that we only had about 10,000 in population, but it was a resort area so there were always as many tourists as there were locals. My father was part of the Ocean City Police Dept. and so we weren’t one of the richest families in town…and considering that 90% of the Ocean City population were millionaires, the fact I was middle class became part of my identity.

Who am I? Gibson Jax, Commander of SPD London…but I’m way ahead of myself. We’ll get to that.

By the time I graduated high school I was ready to get as far away from Ocean City as I could. The furthest I could think of at the time was London, England. I had always been intrigued by British culture and the idea of living there appealed to me. I arrived in London with barely enough money to get by while I figured out what to do. Nothing really appealed to me. I knew college wasn’t something I was ready for but I didn’t know what I did want to do. I was running low on money and was almost ready to give up and go back to Ocean City when I heard about SPD opening a London base. I didn’t know if SPD was something I wanted to do but it was food and shelter so I decided to enlist. I was accepted and this started my tenure at SPD London.

At first I didn’t really take SPD seriously but the more I trained the more I started to love what SPD did and what they stood for. I started to take my duties more seriously and soon I was one of the most promising cadets at SPD London. Within two years I was on the D-squad and working my way up quickly. It was on D-squad when I met Lynda Smith. There was something that drew me to Lynda almost immediately. It wasn’t long before we started dating and eventually married. Shortly after we were married two amazing things happened…I was promoted to A-squad and made captain, Lynda also found out she was pregnant with our first child.

By this point I felt like the luckiest man alive. I had a great job that I loved going to everyday and I had an amazing wife that I was madly in love with. Lynda had become an SPD consultant by this time. She didn’t want to leave SPD, but she also didn’t want to be on the battlefield, especially after she found out she was pregnant.

9 months later my son was born. We named him Jeremy and there was no greater joy I’ve ever experienced than holding my son for the first time. The next four years were some of the happiest of my life. As much as I loved SPD I loved my family even more. Jeremy was growing into a little boy and I was so proud of his growth. Lynda was the best wife a man would ever ask for. Life was amazing…until it all started to unravel.

I’ll never forget that day. I walked into the house after work and Lynda was pacing in the living room.

“Lynda, what’s wrong baby?” I asked as I grabbed her arm to still her.

“Gibson, I found out something I shouldn’t have.” She replied.

“What is it?”

“SPD isn’t what we thought it was.”

“What do you mean?”

“SPD doesn’t police the galaxy, it imposes martial law.”

“What?”

“Haven’t you ever stopped to think, in a way SPD is a vigilante organization? We don’t answer to the government or the United Nations, or any higher power other that SPD Command.”

“There’s an agreement.”

“But there isn’t. No one ever said there was…it’s simply implied and not questioned…at least not by anyone alive to discuss it.”

“What?”

“SPD has their own code and own rules. Anyone that questions them seemingly ‘disappears’. I was doing some research and I noticed that a lot of the AWOL and missing people from SPD are people that are known to have questioned SPD policy. I did a little digging and…I hacked a restricted database. These people didn’t go AWOL Gibson. SPD shut them up.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, “SPD murdered its own cadets?”

“Yes. Anyone that questions or opposes SPD vanishes or is in a mysterious accident. Now that I know this I’m afraid I’m next.” Lynda said.

“I won’t let that happen.”

“No. Gibson, you can’t oppose SPD or we’ll both be targeted. There is a trail to me. SPD will figure out I hacked the system…but they won’t target you if you stay loyal. If we’re both targets then there will be no one left for Jeremy.”

“You can’t expect me to do nothing if you’re in danger.”

“You do anything and Jeremy will be an orphan. Stay loyal. SPD is more deadly and dangerous than I ever could have imagined.”

Over the next three days I tried to discreetly find out anything I could regarding SPD and the true nature of their plans. I knew I didn’t have much time but I had to find some way to stop SPD from hurting Lynda…only I was too late. That afternoon I received a call from the London Police. Lynda had driven her car off the edge of a cliff and was killed. The police said it looked like she was speeding and lost control. I knew it was much more likely she’d been run off the road, but I had no proof…and Lynda had been right, if I made myself a target there would be nobody left for Jeremy.

While I knew I had to be outwardly loyal to SPD, I also knew that I couldn’t stand back and let other families suffer in the way I was suffering. I had to bring down SPD, but I had to be smart about it. If I didn’t plan each step very carefully then I would be the next target.

About a year after Lynda’s death my commander retired from SPD. I ended up getting promoted, which gave me a whole new set of clearance to gain information to use against them. This also allowed me the chance to protect anyone that did begin to question SPD’s motives…or so I thought. Emma Lindsey was one of my best cadets, but she was also smart. She began to question certain SPD procedures in a way I knew would make her a target. I tried to get her to keep her suspicions quiet, but she didn’t listen. She had a young daughter named Morgan. I told her to back off, for Morgan’s sake. She continued to make her verbal theories and demand answers. One day Emma went AWOL. I knew what that meant. A couple of months later Morgan turned up on my doorstep with a note.

Gibson,

SPD is trying to eliminate me. I know too much. I managed to escape their last attack but I need to constantly be on the run to survive. That is no life for a little girl. I trust you completely and know you will take care of Morgan and keep her safe. If it ever safe I’ll come back for her…but SPD is relentless and I don’t know when…or if…that will be. Let Morgan know I did this because I love her.

~Emma

Emma’s smarts were enough to help her survive…for now…but she was right. Life on the run was no life for a 6 year old girl. I took Morgan in without hesitation…Jeremy accepted her as a little sister right away as well. As far as I was concerned I now had a daughter, and Morgan seemed to take to us quickly as well. It was just…right. Morgan filled a void in our family and made it more complete. Morgan’s situation also added fire to my desire to bring down SPD…at least on Earth.

As Jeremy grew up I didn’t hide from him what SPD was capable of, but I also taught him to be outwardly loyal and he grew to be as good of a cadet as I was, if not better. Morgan was also aware of what SPD did to her mother but I also taught her to be quiet about it and project loyalty.

The years went by and the number of SPD casualties grew. I was well aware I needed an army to take down SPD and that started with A-squad. I started building my A-squad to be loyal to myself and my anti-SPD cause. When all was said and done I put together an amazing team consisting of Jeremy, Morgan, Jamie Dunham, Chase, Brady, JJ Williams, and sisters Merci and Kelli Wilson. Each had their own unique reason to want SPD to fall…but in the end they all had that one thing in common…they wanted SPD to fall.

That’s my story in a nutshell and that brings us to now…the day we heard about the new SPD US A-squad.

I was in the command centre sitting in my chair when Jeremy and Jamie ran in.

“Commander, we just received an official report from SPD US.” Jamie said.

“What is it?” I asked reaching for the report.

“Mirloc has escaped and to detain him SPD US has promoted a new group of A-squad Rangers. They have activated SPD Purple.” Jeremy explained as I looked over the report.

“Hmm, Commander Tate activated SPD Purple…this must be serious.” I said.

“Commander Tate is acting on emotion. The database says that Commander Tate was the one to capture Mirloc in 2020. Mirloc was also the one that killed Cadet Landon Tate, Commander Tate’s father.”

“Regardless there is still a new team of A-squad in the US. We need to know all we can about them as they are SPD’s first line of defense. I want full intelligence on each of them…especially SPD Purple.” I said.

“Yes sir.” Jeremy and Jamie said as they saluted and left.

Jeremy

~~~~~

Jamie and I reported to Libby’s lab. Chase was already working with her in the lab, he was the brains of the team and would find out everything we needed to know in no time. Kelli and Merci were already in his lab.

“I hear we have a new A-Squad in the States.” Merci said.

I nodded, “We do. Chase, I need full intel on all of them.”

“One step ahead of you Captain. I know all you ever want to know about the whole squad.” Chase said.

“Good job! OK, SPD Purple. Details. Go.”

Chase nodded, “SPD Purple, otherwise known as Bridget Hayley Carson, she’s 16 and the daughter of former SPD cadets Savannah James and Bridge Carson.”

“Enlist date.”

“Actually she enlisted specifically to become SPD Purple. Until a couple of weeks ago she was a student at Reefside High School in Reefside, California.”

“Are you serious? They recruited a newbie to A-squad?” Kelli asked.

“It looks that way.” Chase replied.

“Great. If the rest of A-Squad US looks like this then they will be a breeze to take out.”

“Hush.” Merci said shushing her sister.

“The rest of A-squad is much better trained. SPD Red is Angela Alison Landors, daughter of former SPD Red, Jack Landors and his wife Alison Samuels-Landors. She’s been at SPD for three years and has consistently been one of the highest ranked cadets.”

“OK, so they have a good leader. That doesn’t mean the rest of the squad is any good.” Kelli said.

“Who is their Pink Ranger?” Merci asked.

“Samantha Michelle McKnight. She is the daughter of former civilian Purple Ranger Harlyn DeSantos-Bradley and Joshua McKnight and has been at SPD for 2 years.” Chase said.

“Purple Ranger? Is she related to SPD Purple?” Jamie asked.

Chase nodded, “It looks like they are cousins.”

“Why would Commander Tate make Bridget Purple when he had Samantha already?” I asked.

“I’m not sure. I can’t find anything that gives an explanation.”

“I don’t like it. That’s an odd move for a commander to make. What’s Commander Tate up to?”

“And why would SPD high command allow it?” Merci asked.

“Because Supreme Commander Cruger used to work with Commander Tate and would let him get away with whatever he wanted.” JJ said.

I nodded, “She’s right. But Tate had a reason and I would like to know what it is.”

“Maybe we’re underestimating Bridget.” Chase said.

“We need more information on this Bridget Carson. Chase, your job is to find out everything you can about her.” I said as the sirens sounded.

“A-Squad, report to the command centre immediately!” Dad said over the PA system.

We rushed to the command centre as requested.

“A-squad, there is an alien known as Virotess. She’s wanted in 2 star systems and she’s in Greenwich Market…”

Bridget

~~~~~~

(Present day)

“And that’s our story.” Commander Jax said.

I shook my head in disbelief, “Whoa.”

“If that’s true then SPD is corrupt.” Sammi said.

Jeremy nodded, “Think about what we do Sammi. We don’t ‘arrest’ criminals…we contain them and there they stay. There is no trial or jury. No checks and balances. SPD places judge, jury, and executioner. What kind of justice is that?”

“SPD is a totalitarian regime, corrupt at an organizational level. They dispose of all opposition and they WILL attempt to take over the United Nations. That was the purpose of starting SPD UK…and the purpose behind the proposed SPD Tokyo.” Commander Jax said.

“SPD Tokyo?” I asked.

“Yes, scheduled for a 2052 opening.”

“So SPD supreme command is trying to overthrow the government?” Sammi asked.

Jeremy nodded, “Yes, and we have more than enough evidence to prove it.”

“I knew something was off…I knew it. Things didn’t add up. What can we do to help you bring down SPD?” I asked.

“Bridget!” Sammi cried.

“What? You want to continue to work for a corrupt organization?”

“No, of course not.”

“So are you with us?” Jeremy asked.

Sammi nodded, “Yeah, I’m with you. How can we help?”

“Do you think you can get the rest of your team to join us as well?”

“Our cousins maybe. Not the others. Dallas will never turn on SPD and neither will Angie or Ava.” I said.

“Talk to Sage and Clarissa…but don’t tell them too much unless they’re receptive. We can’t afford to let SPD know about this.” Jeremy said.

“Don’t worry…SPD won’t hear it from us.”

Sammi nodded, “Of course not. There is still the issue of Mirloc. You can’t deny he’s bad news.”

“No, Mirloc has to be stopped once and for all. The SPD resistance won’t make a move until Mirloc is handled, but when that happens we have to be ready.” Jeremy said.

“We’ll make sure we’re ready.” I said.

“Are you two really ok with turning on Commander Tate? You know he is truly loyal to SPD.” Commander Jax said.

“Sir, as much as I love my Uncle Sky, I can’t sit back and let SPD overtake Earth and impose martial law. As far as I’m concerned you’re my Commander until SPD has fallen.” I said.

Sammi nodded, “Me too sir.”

Commander Jax nodded, “Good…there is much work to be done.