The Rise of the Resistance

by Jackie D

  A very tall, very muscular woman stepped out in front of them. Her arms were crossed and she looked angry. But her stern expression was replaced with a welcoming smile and outreached arms when she saw who was in front of her.

  Arrow walked directly into the woman’s embrace. “Angela, it’s so good to see you.”

  Angela stepped back, her hands still on Arrow’s arms. “Arrow, it’s been too long, my friend.” She shook Valor’s hand and then saluted Macy. “Madam President, it’s an honor to have you here.” When her eyes fell on Kaelyn, they brightened. She walked directly to her and put out her hand. “Phoenix One, we’ve been waiting for you.”

  Kaelyn didn’t understand how they could have known they were coming, but she took her hand anyway. “I’m sorry. Plans have been changing regularly.”

  Angela put her hands on her hips and smiled. “No, Ms. Trapp. We’ve been waiting on you for nearly seventy years, not just today.”

  Arrow pointed to Johnson. “He’s our insurance policy.”

  Angela looked at him intensely, and hatred flared in her eyes. “I see.”

  “What have you heard?” Arrow asked.

  Angela pulled her stare away from Johnson and focused again on Arrow. “They sent out an emergency broadcast. They know about the Phoenix and they want her, bad. There’s a fifty-million-dollar reward, along with immunity to whoever delivers her alive.”

  Arrow ran her hand through her hair. “They’ll be checking all the villages. We won’t stay long. Can we get a secure connection with the other Resistance divisions from here?”

  Angela looked to the tallest of the three men behind her. “Take the soldier to get something to eat, then stay with him until we’re done.”

  The tall man nodded and took Johnson by the arm, leading him in a different direction.

  Angela showed them into an ancient, large RV. There were more monitors on the walls and radio equipment than what Kaelyn remembered RVs having, but it was a brief trip down memory lane. They took their seats on the couch and waited as Angela went to work typing into a keyboard that was also from Kaelyn’s own time, not like the floating consoles and translucent screens that she’d seen back at the Guardian base.

  Kaelyn bumped Arrow, who was sitting next to her. “You guys should do her a solid and upgrade her machinery.”

  Angela answered instead of Arrow. “We communicate on a different frequency with these machines than what’s monitored by the Hand of God. We’re not considered a lost city, and they’ve pretty much forgotten we’re here. We try not to go outside very often, and we keep our tech to a minimum.”

  Kaelyn realized her joke had fallen flat on her audience and decided not to interject any other little tidbits. “All the Resistance bases have these?”

  Angela turned around in her seat after pressing a final button. “In some form or another.” She angled the webcam so the screen included Kaelyn and Macy.

  After a few moments, twelve different pictures popped up on the screen. It took Kaelyn a moment to realize that every one of them was a picture of a woman. It was a moment of pride in a whirlwind of danger and unease.

  All of them greeted President Steele and were then silent for a long moment. Finally, the woman with the letters MTA 3 listed under her frame spoke again. “Phoenix One, it’s our honor.”

  Kaelyn nodded while the rest echoed the first woman’s sentiments. “The honor is mine.”

  Arrow leaned forward to speak to the camera. “I know this is all happening slightly differently than we’d previously discussed. We need to know that your forces are ready to move forward. I’m afraid we’re running out of time.”

  Each of the women began to report with what sounded like rather impressive numbers. Arrow wrote down the details. Kaelyn watched intently as the totals were being figured. In all, the Resistance had a complete fighting force of just over eleven thousand able bodies.

  Arrow glanced over at Macy who nodded to her; they obviously had shorthand between them that no one else was privy to. “Have Phoenixes Two, Three, and Four started making their way to Eden?”

  “Yes, everything is in motion. We have no contact with them unless they arrive at a secured location, as you have. So we can’t confirm their status at this point. But has the final destination changed? You’re off track for Eden.”

  “Our route had to change. We’re using the underground tunnels. The Hand of God is looking for us, but as far as we know, they aren’t looking for any other Phoenix, nor do we think they’re even aware of their existence. If they stick to the plan, they should be fine. Our final landing spot is still Mt. Weather, just inside Eden, in approximately one week.”

  “How should the fighting forces proceed?” one of the women asked.

  Macy put her hand on Arrow’s shoulder. “Start loading equipment into transports. You’ll need to be ready to move. When the Hand of God shows up, fight back. Once you’ve overthrown their soldiers, start moving forward. We’ll have four key fronts, just as we had discussed. You should have the coordinates, but they’ll line the outer limits of Eden. The coordinates reflect what were once known as Erie, Pennsylvania; Buffalo, New York; Morgantown, West Virginia; and Fredericksburg, Virginia. If we can enter at these points, we’ll be able to surround them. It’s also where they make all their water and food transfers. If we can isolate these areas, the fact that we’re outnumbered won’t matter. We can starve them out.”

  “We’ll post at all their main exit routes. President Steele and Captain Valor Markinson will be at Fredericksburg once they’ve replaced the general that needed to remain at his headquarters to deal with the government showing up. Phoenix Two will be at the Buffalo location, Phoenix Three at Morgantown, and Phoenix Four at Erie. Phoenix One will go directly to MacLeod.” Arrow counted them off on her fingers as she spoke.

  “And if you don’t make it to Mt. Weather by the time all the forces are in place?” another of the women asked.

  Arrow shot Kaelyn a half-smile. “Then all command will revert to President Steele.”

  Angela turned back around in the chair. “We’ll have the Phoenix record a message to show to your people. I’ll send it over as soon as it’s ready.” She ended the communication.

  Kaelyn was still trying to let her mind catch up to what was clear—they were on the brink of war, and it was up to her to get people ready for it. She needed to get out of this enclosed space. She needed to walk around; she needed to process.

  She stood and pushed open the door. She was sure she mumbled some excuse, but she wasn’t sure what she said. She wandered out into the warehouse, taking several deep breaths and trying not to bend over with her hands on her knees. People needed her to be strong, unflappable, and right now, she felt anything but.

  She remembered the general direction she’d come from and tried to retrace her steps. People were still staring at her, whispering to each other. She found what looked to be the main section of the building and started down that direction. Three small children ran past her, kicking a soccer ball. They didn’t seem to notice who or what she was, and that made her want to follow them, to hide with them for just a little bit.

  She was going to follow them when she felt a hand on her arm. She looked down and noticed the familiar fingers. Only a brief moment of wonder passed as she realized how intimate it was to recognize a person’s fingers. Arrow pulled her close and then tugged her around a corner.

  “Are you okay?” Arrow’s eyes were inspecting every part of her face, like she was looking for a secret tucked away in plain sight on her facial features.

  Kaelyn put her hands against Arrow’s chest, allowing her presence to settle her. “Yes. I just needed to take everything in. You’ve been planning this since you were old enough to understand war strategy, but I haven’t had the opportunity. It was overwhelming.”

  Arrow looked concerned. “I know it’s a lot. But we can’t put this off.”

  “I know,” Kaelyn said. She moved closer to Arrow, trying to steal her st
rength. “It’s just hard to make peace with the thought of putting so many people in harm’s way.”

  “People are in harm’s way now, whether you do anything or not. The moment the Phoenix Project went live, everyone’s life changed.” Arrow leaned into Kaelyn more.

  She put her arms around Arrow’s waist, needing to be held. “I know. I just don’t want to mess any of this up. I want to do right by all of this, by all of you.”

  Arrow hugged her back. “You won’t mess anything up.”

  “How do you know that?”

  Arrow leaned her head down so it hovered right next to Kaelyn’s ear. “You were chosen because you have a deep understanding for this country and its history. You wrote dozens of papers on how the Founding Fathers came to the decisions they did, their reasons for fighting off tyranny, and their devotion to a free people. You articulated how those initial thoughts and actions morphed into a growing and developing country. You described the lessons that could be taken from their mistakes and the mistakes that were made along the way. Once all of this is over and we have placed you in power, these people will need someone to lead them. Someone who not only has a vast understanding of where we came from but where we need to go after. You studied history and strategy your entire adult life, you researched military operations, their effect on the world, and what could’ve and should’ve been done differently. You’re an expert in leadership in a globalized world. You understand and helped to develop the benchmarks for peaceful leadership around the globe. You quite literally wrote the book on why governments place profit over people and how to rectify that. During your time, you were chosen for this for all of those reasons. That hasn’t changed. These people already believe in you, in what you stand for, and the world you once represented. Now, they just need to hear that you believe in them too.”

  “You’ll be with me until the end?” This seemed just as important to her success as anything else.

  “Yes, of course. I’m not going anywhere.” Arrow squeezed her tighter.

  Kaelyn wondered if Arrow was comfortable making promises she had no way of knowing she could keep.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Valor brought Kaelyn her computer. She sat down on an old ammunition box and started scrolling through documents. Arrow was amazed at the speed she flipped through documents without the assistance of CAM. She’d taken several notes and then stared up at the ceiling several times as though thinking things through.

  Arrow noticed Angela pacing from about twenty feet away and put her hands up, motioning her to relax. Kaelyn was putting enough pressure on herself and didn’t need anyone adding to it.

  “How’s it going?” her mother asked, appearing by her side.

  “Okay, I think. She’s been writing for over an hour.” Arrow chewed on her thumb.

  Her mother pushed her hand away from her mouth, momentarily breaking the bad habit she had since childhood “You should eat something. Hovering isn’t going to make it go any faster.”

  “I’ll eat when she’s done.” Kaelyn hadn’t asked her to stay, but she wanted to be close by if she needed her.

  Kaelyn closed her computer and smiled. Arrow felt her heart rate pick up as Kaelyn approached her.

  “I’m ready,” Kaelyn said.

  “I’ll take you over.” Arrow motioned in the direction of the RV.

  Once inside, Angela arranged the equipment to record Kaelyn. After a few moments, she sat down. “Let me know when you’re ready to begin.”

  Arrow didn’t understand why she was so nervous. She was trying to keep herself from fidgeting as Kaelyn arranged her computer off to the left so she could scan the words she’d just written. She wanted this to go well for the Resistance, for the thousands of people who were counting on their success, but more than that, for Kaelyn. She wanted her to feel good about the outcome, about her decision to do this, about her destiny.

  Kaelyn nodded, and Angela pushed a button and then pointed at her. Kaelyn looked calm, resigned to the magnitude of the endeavor she was taking ownership for in this moment. “Hello, everyone. My name is Kaelyn Trapp, but some of you might know me as Phoenix One. You might have thought the story of the Phoenix was a fairytale, a legend of sorts. I can tell you it’s absolutely true. I was cryogenically frozen because we thought, even back then, that we might need someone in the future who knew how beautiful and how inclusive the country could be.

  “I come from a time that was tremendously different from the one we find ourselves in now. My time was riddled with injustices for many people, our planet was in a terrible state, and our country was in crisis. I was sad when I woke up to find those aspects hadn’t changed. But that’s not all I saw when I started to learn more about what our people had become. I discovered all of you. I found that the Resistance is stronger than ever. I found that you have persevered through conditions and tribulations that you should’ve never had to endure. I found kindness, compassion, and a desire to help your neighbors, even in the face of poverty, forced labor, and cruelty. I found you all to be a better version of us than during my time. The desire you feel to fight comes from the long-enduring spirit that once created America. It comes from your ancestors, who were willing to risk everything for the simple promise that life would be better for their children and grandchildren. It comes from your faith in not only your own spirit, but in that of your fellow compatriots.”

  Arrow saw Kaelyn’s hand tremble as she smoothly pressed a button on her computer to scroll down. She looked totally calm, but she clearly didn’t feel that way. Arrow wished she could go to her, give her support. But this was something she had to do on her own.

  “The people living in Eden have been lied to about who we are and our intentions. We don’t want to destroy them; we want to be together again. We want to begin the process of putting our country back together the way it was always meant to be, with the will of the people at the helm. MacLeod keeps them sedated, uninformed, and angry. He whispers deceit into their ears to keep them bitter; he uses us as the enemy. He wants them to hate us, so they don’t see the magnitude of what is happening. He tells them we’re to blame so they don’t turn their attention toward him. My father used to say that it’s easy to be against something, but what are you for? Well, the Resistance stands for equality, unity, and freedom.”

  Arrow was aware of the gathering crowd behind her, and the feeling of expectation and energy filled the air. She could feel people responding to Kaelyn’s words.

  “We will fight for what is ours, and we will fight to free the people of Eden of the mind control they have been enduring for decades. We will fight because it’s right, it’s just, and because it’s our duty. Many of you have been waiting for this day all your life. Others are unsure of the change that is coming. But change is necessary. Taking back our country and restoring freedom is the only solution to this authoritarian government. People will try to stop us, but they won’t succeed. It is impossible to kill an idea that lives in the hearts of each and every one of us. It is impossible to extinguish a fire that burns so deep within you that it makes up part of your DNA. It is impossible to turn back. I’ll be there with you, to fight, to create, and to once again bring us all together.”

  Arrow shivered as the goose bumps that had begun at her legs raced up her body, up to her neck. Reading about Kaelyn, watching her lectures, was nothing like witnessing her in action, in real life. Kaelyn was everything Arrow hoped she would be and more. Arrow glanced over and saw Angela wiping a tear out of her eye, and the looks on everyone’s faces said what Arrow felt in her heart as well; they would follow Kaelyn anywhere.

  “Was that okay?” Kaelyn asked a moment later, holding her computer against her chest.

  Arrow couldn’t believe she was asking the question. Could she not see the effect she had on everyone in this room? Could she not see their eyes on her, waiting for their next direction? How could she not feel it?

  “You were perfect,” Arrow said. She wanted to say more to give credence to
her words, but that was all she could manage.

  “It will broadcast everywhere when you give the word,” Angela said.

  “Send it to the Resistance first, and then air it everywhere in three days. Most of the troops should be in position by then,” Arrow answered, but she couldn’t pull her eyes away from Kaelyn.

  Kaelyn’s cheeks flushed red under Arrow’s intense scrutiny. “Everywhere?”

  “Yes, even Eden will see it once we’re in place.” Arrow took her hand.

  “We won’t be to Mt. Weather in three days.” Kaelyn squeezed her hand.

  “No, but we’ll be close, and we need them to know we’re coming. If we have any chance of uniting the skeptics inside Eden and ourselves, we can’t ambush them.” Arrow practically choked on her words, wanting so badly to kiss her.

  A moment later, she heard the speech Kaelyn had just given pouring out of the speaker system inside the warehouse. Luckily, it was enough to get her to focus on why they were there in the first place.

  “Let’s go get some food and then a few hours of sleep before we head out.”

  “Okay,” Kaelyn said.

  * * *

  Kaelyn watched from the back seat of their new transport vehicle as Arrow and Valor loaded the last few bags. Arrow told her they’d switched in case the soldiers managed to hack the system back at the Guardian base and were able to track their location. They wouldn’t be able to trace them completely with the encryption software they’d administered, but switching was the safest bet going forward.

  Kaelyn hadn’t been able to sleep after they’d eaten. So many people wanted to talk to her, touch her, and be near her. She’d forgotten how exhausting it was being a talisman for people in need. But it was also invigorating to see their excitement, to feel their loyalty, and to sense the change they all knew was coming.

  When she had finally lain down, she stayed awake, hoping Arrow would come to her, but she never did. The longing she’d felt to have Arrow near her almost eclipsed all the other emotions she’d experienced right before. But she also knew that it was for the best. Arrow had to focus and so did she. Any mistake or minor slipup could cost thousands of people their lives.