Sachi turned to us and smiled. “That went better than I thought.”
“He’s going to surrender,” Riviera said, lifting a brow, “isn’t that gonna fuck with your plan?”
“On the contrary,” Sachi said, “he might provide the distraction we need.”
“We should continue walking east,” Major Ellison said.
Sachi’s smile faded. “Are you serious? Do you really want to keep walking, or do you just want to disagree with me to be a pain in the ass?”
“The infiltration’s too risky,” Ellison said, “especially with all the injured we have. If Denver really hasn’t fallen, then we’ll at least be walkin’ through friendly territory.”
Sachi pursed her lips, but said nothing. She didn’t care if she got all of the refugees out anymore. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if sacrificing some of them was part of the plan.
“It’s a longer walk than the one we just finished,” Colonel Riviera said, “the weather alone will make it more dangerous than tryin’ to infiltrate the city.”
Ellison grit his teeth and turned to his superior officer. “Colonel Rosaline Riviera, Corporal Roman and I have deemed you unfit to lead this mission any further.” Sachi scoffed at this, but Ellison continued. “As a Major, I feel it’s my duty to monitor your mental state and assess your effectiveness. After you murdered agent Richard Sullivan, I feel you are unfit for the role of Colonel.”
Riviera stared at him for a moment, everyone else watching her to see what she would do. Finally, Colonel Riviera burst into laughter. Major Ellison gritted his teeth harder, trying to maintain his composure.
“You want command?” Colonel Riviera said, “You can have it. The LoC is done, you stupid fuck. Finished. It was never anything but a goddamn pipe dream to begin with. Once we’re through all this – if we even make it – I am finished with all of this. I’m finished with you. I’m finished with anarcho-capitalism. And I’m finished with the forty-eights.” She looked over her shoulder at the remnants of her family. “They are the only thing I want anymore. My family. Whether we’re under CSA rule or not, I’m gonna be with them. If I can be with them, I don’t care if they throw me in prison.” She chuckled derisively, shaking her head, “Congratulations on your fuckin’ promotion,” and then turned and walked back toward her family.
Major Ellison looked around at everyone staring at him, settling his gaze on what was left of the LoC Security force.
“I’m done, too,” agent Brie said, waving a hand in the air, “consider me out.” She turned and walked in the same direction as Rosy.
“Anyone else?” Major Ellison asked.
Ellen took a step forward. Ellison turned toward her. She held up her hand, clad in the exo suit glove, and raised her middle finger at him, spat on the ground at his feet, turned and walked away. Ellison looked to the other remaining members. None of them made a move to quit. Major Ellison signaled for them to follow him and they obeyed.
“Damn, dude,” Rocky said after they walked off, “that was intense.”
“Your poignancy is poetic,” Manny said.
“Oh, my God,” agent Brie said, “that made me so nervous I thought I was gonna puke.”
Brie was in our camp after quitting LoC Security. The camp had become split up into three factions, with Forrester and his people a hundred feet north of us and Ellison and his people – the LoC Security agents and a crowd of refugees – a hundred feet to the east. The clear night sky hung cold and dark over us, light from the city minimal, indicating some form of curfew.
Or just that enough people are dead or imprisoned that the city no longer casts much light.
“More nervous than when we were being shot at?” Rocky asked.
“That was a different kinda nervous,” Brie said, “you don’t really plan anything there, you just react.”
“You did good,” Rocky said, “fuck that Ellison guy. You can be one of us now.” He grinned and started chanting, “one of us. One of us. One of us!”
Brie smiled shyly, “thanks, I guess.”
“Don’t worry,” Sachi smirked, “we only remove your brains when you become a unit commander like Rocky.”
“You don’t need brains when you look like this,” Rocky said.
Manny looked to Brie, “see, he doesn’t even know that he just insulted himself.”
“Call me sir,” Rocky said.
“Sir, you’re too stupid to know you insulted yourself, sir,” Manny said.
“Lucky for Rocky,” Savita said, “removing his brain was only minor surgery.”
“Look how they all team up on me,” Rocky said, feigning offense, looking to Brie, “you’re on my side, aren’t you?”
“Not sure I’m on anyone's side,” she said.
“You’re walking a dangerous path, young lady,” Savita said, “you will open yourself up to much ridicule if you waver. Emma will tell you that.”
“Where is Emma, anyway?” Brie asked, “I thought she woulda been over here with you guys.”
“She went with Aveena to go see Doctor Taylor,” I said, “I think Yukiko’s legs were sore.”
“Okay, thanks,” Brie said, taking off in the direction of the refugees.
“You’re just gonna leave us like that?” Rocky said, “I see how it is.”
Brie paused a moment and said, “my understanding is that Emma can’t win, but she can still tie the bet,” and then continued walking.
This was met with hoots and hollers, Rocky feigning outrage.
“LoC Security’s loss is our gain, eh?” Rocky said after everyone quieted, “might want to put her in a different unit from Victor. I think the two of them got off on the wrong foot.”
“I think Victor knows how to act professional,” Manny said, “something that can’t be said for everyone.”
“I assume you’re talking about me,” Rocky said, “I should court martial you or something for all this insubordination.”
“If we make through all this without being captured or killed,” Savita said, “I’ll gladly court martial anyone you want. Hell, I’ll court martial Gabriel Mitchell for you.”
“Don’t be such a Debbie downer,” Rocky said, “I bet they’ll surrender faster than the French.”
“Do you even know what that’s a reference to?” I asked.
“Aw, come on bud,” Rocky said, “I thought at least you were in my corner.”
“That means he doesn’t know,” Manny said.
“It was one of the world wars,” Rocky said.
“Which one?” Manny asked.
“The…first one?”
Everyone started laughing.
“I mean two,” Rocky said, “come on, that shit was over a hundred years ago.”
Sachi exchanged a glance with me, a pained look on her face. I knew the feeling all too well. Being in a war, seeing and experiencing untold suffering, watching thousands, hundreds of thousands, and millions of people die horrible deaths. And then in only a few lifetimes, nobody can even be bothered to learn the most basic facts about what happened.
“Not only that,” Evita said, “but Sachi was a Nazi during that particular war.”
“Since when is this a goddamn history lesson?” Rocky asked as the laughter died down.
“It’s just common knowledge,” Savita said, “I dropped out after seventh grade and even I know that.”
“Don’t worry,” I said to Rocky, “in a few years’ time, nobody will bother themselves to remember what we’ve been through here.”
“Oh, shit!” Rocky said, eyes wide, “I forgot that you guys…I mean, you two probably…the wars…”
“Don’t worry about it,” Sachi said, glancing at Manny, who appeared confused.
“Am I interrupting?” someone asked.
The five of us turned around, seeing Doctor Taylor there holding Yukiko, Akira standing behind her with a blank look on her face.
“No,” Sachi said, “what’s up?”
“Have you seen Aveena aroun
d?” Doctor Taylor asked.
“I thought she was with you,” Sachi said, furrowing her brow.
“She came by and dropped Yuki off,” Doctor Taylor said, “I thought she must have come back here.”
“Haven’t seen her,” Sachi said.
“Okay,” Doctor Taylor said, “well, if you see her, tell her I’ll take care of Yuki and Akira tonight. The poor girl needs a break.”
“Sure,” Sachi said.
Doctor Taylor walked back to the refugees where her daughter and granddaughter were, Akira following obediently behind her.
“You don’t think that guy came back for her…” Rocky said.
“Emma was with her,” Savita said.
“Still,” Rocky said, looking to me, “come on, dude, wanna take a walk?”
I shrugged, “I guess.”
“Don’t get lost,” Manny said as I fell in step beside Rocky, walking away from the camp.
“You can get lost,” Rocky said, and then turning to walk with me and saying quietly, “we’ve been lost for days.”
“You think we’re not going to make it,” I said, looking to him and seeing his usually beaming demeanor had turned serious.
Rocky pursed his lips, then said, “the city is occupied. If the Utah troops or weather don’t kill us, LoC Security or LP probly will.” He was quiet for a moment before saying, “we’ve already lost a lotta people.”
I nodded slowly, but said nothing.
“Look, man,” Rocky said, “I’m sorry about not knowin’ about World War Two and all that shit. I know that musta affected you and Sachi at some point…” he looked to me expectantly.
“I was in China during World War Two,” I said.
He kept looking at me, not knowing if he should ask further questions.
“He doesn’t know if China was even involved,” Evita cackled.
“Japan was…occupying parts of China,” I said, “when we’re able to connect to the internet again, look up the rape of Nanking.”
Rocky winced. “I can only imagine…and what you said about people not rememberin’ what happened to us here.” He inhaled and exhaled slowly, “I really am sorry about like, not learning about all the bad shit that’s happened to people in the past and everything.”
“Humanity’s ability to forget the past is as human as our ability to be cruel to one another.”
Rocky nodded, “all this shit we’ve been doing. Followin’ Sachi and everything. It was always dangerous, but I’ve never had so many people I know die right around me before. The thought that they’re just…gone. From the earth and all that. You know, from people’s memory.” He looked to me. “I dunno how you and Sachi can do it. I…saw her shoot Olivia back at the road crossing. When she was all fucked up by that railgun. I know it was probly the best thing ta do, but Christ dude. Olivia looked up to Sachi. They used to chat and hang out and shit. And now Sachi…she doesn’t seem affected by it at all.”
“Are you losing faith in her?” I asked.
“No,” he shook his head, “no. If anything, I have more respect for her. More fear, too. But, more respect.”
“You’ve seen her do things like that to people before,” I said, “I even watched you help her torture that girl back in Florida.”
Rocky stayed quiet for several paces, finally saying, “It’s different when it’s someone you know. Someone you…”
“Someone you liked,” I finished.
“Yeah,” he said, sighing. “Even if we make it through this, we really didn’t make it through this, ya know? Not all of us, anyway. All of us lost-”
He stopped walking, eyes darting to a ways outside the camp.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Behind those bushes,” Rocky whispered, “you go left, I’ll go right.”
Both of us put our visors down and started quietly fanning out. There was some kind of movement going on. Someone back there. Spying on our camp. I glanced over to Rocky, seeing him crouching low, stepping carefully in the packed down snow. He stopped, signaling for me to stop. I watched as he knelt down, examining the snow. He then stood up, holding something in his hand, and started walking toward me – no longer crouching, but staying quiet.
I opened my visor and squinted at him, confused.
He opened his visor, a goofy grin spread over his lips. “I think I know what’s goin’ on here,” he whispered, tossing the object into my hands, “come on.”
I followed behind him, still confused, looking down at the XDS-032 glove. We made our way around the bushes, keeping our distance, but soon I was able to see. Rocky looked back at me with a mischievous smirk. Behind the bushes, beneath her blanket, I could see Aveena and Emma together, Emma’s exoskeleton stripped off, both women wrapped in each other’s arms beneath Aveena’s blankets, lips locked together.
I looked back to Rocky, who signaled for me to start walking back, putting a finger to his smirking lips. Both of us walked away without being detected, Rocky grabbing the glove from my hands.
“This is great,” Rocky said when we were finally out of earshot, barely able to contain his glee.
“Why?” I asked.
He held the glove in front of my face, “because I’m gonna get to torment her now.”
Both of us started back toward the camp. It was comforting to see Rocky out of his dour mood, able to grab onto something to make him forget the friends he’d lost.
“The opiate of mortality,” Evita said, “being able to delude yourself until death, never to have that veil pulled from your eyes.”
“You’re not going to believe what we saw,” Rocky said, holding Emma’s exo glove out as we drew closer to camp.
I could see that Doctor Taylor was there with Teagan and Carmen as well as Akira and Yukiko, Sachi and Doctor Taylor examining Akira. Teagan was holding Yukiko in one arm and clutching her niece’s hand in the other. Teagan looked uncomfortable, but Carmen seemed to enjoy the forty-eight’s off-color banter, a weak grin on her small face.
I always have to remind myself that she’s actually like seventeen years old, not eight.
“You’re not going to believe what we saw,” Manny said, looking just as delighted to tell his news to Rocky as Rocky was to tell his news to them.
Rocky threw Emma’s glove into Manny’s hand and said, “we found that transgenic chick. She was back in the bushes gettin’ it on with our girl Emma.”
Manny was quiet for a moment, looking over his shoulder at Sachi and Savita. And then all three of them started laughing.
Rocky shrugged, “I didn’t think it was that funny,” he said, looking to me, “at least not till we get to tell her we know.”
“It’s not that,” Savita said, “we found Victor making out with that agent Brie girl.”
“The LoC Security chick?” Rocky asked, eyes widening.
“Yeah,” Manny said, “the guy seemed all sour on her for standing up to him. He must’ve just needed a little tenderness.”
“Goddamn, man,” Rocky said, “everyone’s gettin’ some ‘cept me.”
“So, what’s going on here?” I asked, signaling to Akira.
Sachi forced a smile, “was just curious about what was going on with her. It’s kind of a strange situation, and I haven’t really had a chance to look into it.”
“Sachi is just as interested in getting’ her back alive as we are,” Doctor Taylor said, “I was hoping to ensure her safe passage by maybe getting’ a double aught nine for her to use.”
Sachi nodded slowly, “unfortunately, I think most of the people using them need them to remain mobile.”
“And I was saying,” Doctor Taylor started, looking to Sachi, “that since we’re already here, and looking to take the hyperloop back, that maybe someone could spare it. Even if it’s just the body portion.”
Sachi smirked, “the good doctor is persistent.” She looked back to Doctor Taylor, “I suppose if you want to ask around and see if anyone’s willing to give theirs up.”
Doctor
Taylor shrugged, “I’ll see what I can do.” She started walking toward Rocky and me, stopping in front of him and said, “if the offer’s still open, both of us can ‘get some’ tonight.”
Rocky’s eyes shot wide open.
“Mom?” Teagan asked, taking a step toward her. Carmen started giggling.
Doctor Taylor turned back to her daughter and said, “figure we oughta live a little, given our situation.”
“That sounds like somethin’ I woulda said,” Teagan said, allowing a faint smirk, “I think…I think even Deidre would approve, mom.”
Doctor Taylor gave her eldest daughter a slight nod before grabbing Rocky’s arm, marching him off away from the camp. Everyone stared after them, dumbfounded, Rocky glanced over his shoulder at us with an expression of both surprise and satisfaction. After they’d gotten far enough away, everyone turned to Teagan. She had an approving expression, staring after her mom for some time before turning away. Carmen, suppressing a giggle, followed after her aunt.
“You know what this means, don’t you?” Manny said, looking to Savita.
She gave me only a quick glance, turned to Manny and then looked to Sachi. “This is a hard decision.” After a few moments she turned back to Manny and said, “eh, I guess you’ll do.”
Manny beamed with satisfaction, trotting to catch up as Savita wandered off.
“Well, that just leaves us two,” Sachi said, smiling.
“The way it’ll always be,” I said, “everyone leaving, only us two remaining.”
She pursed her lips, considering this for a moment and then said, “I think a lot of them are pessimistic about getting out of this.” She paused a moment before adding, “or that even if we do, they’ll have lost everything. Their homes. Their lives. The LoC.”
“What happens to your movement then?”
“You mean to our movement?” she asked, “we’ll restart it. We’ll keep who we can and get new people. We have the luxury of time.”
“You already have people in the DRC,” I said, “I suppose diversifying was a good insurance measure. Do you think we really have the luxury of time, though?”
“You mean before Benecorp figures out how to turn themselves immortal and rule the world?” she asked, “I don’t think we’ll have to worry about that.”
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