by Jackie D
Arrow double-checked the sensors and turned their sensitivity levels up. If anything got in their path, the autopilot features would notify her. The transport started moving, and Arrow pushed down the large lump that had grown in her throat. She couldn’t believe how relaxed Valor and her mother were in this moment. They both had their heads against the windows of the transport, taking this opportunity to get some rest.
Kaelyn handed her a book from the back seat. “I think you’ll enjoy looking through this. Plus, it will help pass the time.”
Arrow took the book, amazed by the worn binding and the glossy cover. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever held an actual book other than the one of the Louvre she’d found in Kaelyn’s things. The heft of it weighed her hand down, and the smell wasn’t like anything she’d ever experienced. It smelled musty, like some of the old buildings she’d entered from the time before. But it wasn’t musty in an offensive way. It was pleasant, like people had poured their best emotions onto the pages like a perfume.
She read the cover. A People’s Art History of the United States by Nicolas Lampert. She flipped through the pages, amazed with each turn of the page. It was the same history she’d learned, but it was told from a different viewpoint. The political and social struggles, and the fight for injustice, were told by artists and activists. The pictures, paintings, and photographs clung to her. They seemed to sit down on her skin and seep into her soul. The consistent theme throughout the book was that the Resistance wasn’t new. It had just taken on several names and meanings throughout the tumultuous life-span of the country’s history. With each new enemy or opposition, rose the people who were determined to change what was happening, to make their voices heard. They were the last barriers that stood between good and evil. These people on the pages, they were her kindred spirits. They were all linked, for different reasons, for different promises, but they were the same.
“See something you recognize?” Kaelyn asked from the back seat. In the quiet of the car, her voice was like velvet wrapping itself around Arrow.
“Thank you for this. I had no idea. We’ve always been here, emerging when needed. Speaking out for the people who had no voice and protecting those that were the most vulnerable.” Arrow knew she sounded idealistic, if not poetic, but she didn’t care. It was how she felt.
“Keep it,” Kaelyn said.
“But it’s yours.” Even as she said the words, Arrow knew this book would be her most cherished possession.
“I’ve gotten everything I need from it. It’s yours now.”
“Thank you, Kaelyn.” She hoped Kaelyn could hear the sincerity in her voice.
Kaelyn leaned back against the seat and drifted off into sleep again. Arrow was left to her own devices for the next several hours. She stared out her window as the steel bulkheads whizzed by, creating the illusion the tunnel was moving instead of the transport. She thought about the upcoming days, the problems they might face, and what was at stake. She’d trained for this mission her entire life, and now that it was happening, she was overwhelmed by the need to get it right. Everything hinged on her ability to do her job.
She glanced in the rearview at Kaelyn sleeping. Her feelings for her were growing by the day. It wasn’t what she’d expected or even what she wanted, but that didn’t matter. She also understood that those feelings were going to be sacrificed for the well-being of her people, and it didn’t matter what she wanted or how she felt. She drifted to sleep like the others had, and her dreams were sliced through with chaos and smoke.
The transport slowed, and the screen indicated that they were arriving at their destination. The rusted doors to the lift had been left unattended for a lifetime, and the transport idled in front of it as everyone woke.
“So, what’s the plan? We can’t see this village like we could the other from down here,” Valor said as he motioned to the lift.
“We’re going up, but we’re leaving the transport down here. We don’t know what’s up there waiting for us, and I don’t want to draw attention to ourselves. For all we know, the government has the village surrounded and we’ll need the element of surprise on our side.”
“Let’s grab the bags.” Valor opened the door and got out of the transport and Arrow followed.
She hoped that whatever was waiting for them topside had nothing to do with the Hand of God.
Chapter Twenty-four
“We should go up the ladder. That way we can see what’s out there instead of just being vulnerable once the door to the lift opens. Plus, it won’t make nearly as much noise as that old lift.” Kaelyn pointed to the rusted old ladder that led up to a metal disc that looked like an old manhole cover.
Arrow nodded, holstered her sidearm, and started up. Macy and Kaelyn were in the middle, with Valor behind. At the top, Arrow forced the metal disc away from the opening and slowly looked above it before she climbed out. Once Arrow was out, she turned and helped the others out. The sudden onset of sunlight was a surprising contrast to the tunnel they’d just left. They seemed to have surfaced next to an old parking structure. She looked at what used to be streetlights, now hunched over like old men who had far exceeded their prime. There was a replica of an early space shuttle a few yards away, the top broken off and swinging next to the structure. The sides had started to rust, leaving holes you could fit an adult through. The sidewalks had buckled ages ago, their ragged edges now being cradled by determined weeds, desperate to retake the area. Kaelyn looked at the large building to their left. Cosmosphere, the large sign on the front read. Kaelyn shook her head. The people of her time hadn’t been very creative. Building a secret underground tunnel system that led to a space museum was pretty cliché.
Arrow looked worried as she checked her watch. She squinted. Kaelyn couldn’t tell if it was from the sunlight or anxiety.
“What’s wrong?” Kaelyn asked.
Arrow jogged over to the side of the building and pulled out the same long tube Macy had used in Colorado. “It shouldn’t be this quiet. It’s not curfew time yet. There should be people in the streets.”
Kaelyn looked over Arrow’s shoulder as the picture came into focus. There were dozens of bodies scattered in the streets, and no one was moving. Blood pooled around them, becoming part of the black asphalt, making it difficult to distinguish where the liquid stopped and the ground began. Arrow pulled a small orb from her pocket and typed in a code on the video device. Then she tossed it up in the air and it disappeared around the corner.
The picture came through on the transmitter. Bodies, bloody and mangled, littered the streets. The orb took a right turn, and more bodies came into sight. But these were different; they were wearing Army of Eden uniforms. Arrow pushed another button, and the orb landed back in her palm a minute later.
“What do we think?” Valor asked.
“I think the first wave of the Resistance is in full effect.” She grabbed both her side arms and leaned up against the wall. “Stay close.”
Macy and Valor drew their weapons and got behind Kaelyn as she followed Arrow through the streets. Kaelyn tried not to stare at the carnage, but it was hard as they passed by not to wonder about the people they had left behind. They were casualties, not just in this war but of their circumstances as well. They lived inside a civilization that had been poisoned with lies, half-truths, and ignorance. The smell almost made her knees buckle, and it was so strong she thought it might singe the hairs inside her nose. She fought the urge to run her hands over her arms, not wanting the smell to cling to her, a reminder for later of what she’d seen.
There were three people kneeling over a pair of bodies at the end of street, and when they saw them approach, they jumped up, guns aimed at the four of them.
“Stand down. We’re Guardians,” Arrow yelled at them.
The three people didn’t put their guns down. “Identify yourselves.”
Arrow pulled her bracelet off her wrist and tossed it the group as they continued moving toward them. “I’m Major Steele. Th
is is Captain Markinson, President Steele, and Phoenix One.”
The woman in the front of the group plugged the bracelet into a transmitter, and after a moment unplugged it. She nodded to the other two who were with her and tossed the bracelet back to Arrow.
“Sorry, Major, we can’t be too careful right now.” She motioned for everyone to enter the building to their right.
“I understand,” Arrow said. She holstered her weapon and moved toward the doorway.
Inside, there were at least twelve people sitting around a table. They were all talking over each other. Some were standing, others were shouting, but all of that came to an abrupt halt once they entered the room. Several of them must have recognized Macy because they stood and looked in her direction.
Kaelyn didn’t realize it was her they were standing for until the first woman approached her.
“Phoenix One, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Olivia, and we’re here to assist you on your way.” She nodded to Macy. “President Steele, it’s an honor to have you here as well.”
Kaelyn shook Olivia’s hand. “Thank you for helping us. What happened?”
Olivia’s face flushed red. “The soldiers from Eden arrived, demanding we help them trap all of you. As directed, our Resistance forces fought back. Unfortunately, there were casualties, but we managed to overtake them. Our troops left about an hour ago, after we checked in with Guardian headquarters. As ordered, they’re on their way to Morgantown. The Guardians sent out drones to help with air coverage and protection. They’re also dispatching several platoons of Guardians to the front lines.”
“You have a secure line to Guardian headquarters?” Macy asked.
“Yes, Madam President. Would you like us to set up a line for you?”
“Yes, immediately,” Macy said.
Olivia motioned to one of the people sitting at the table who pulled up a screen. A few keystrokes later, and they were connected to Guardian headquarters.
CAM acted as the automatic answering system. “Good evening, H-one. How may I be of assistance?”
Macy didn’t give anyone else the opportunity to answer. “CAM, this is President Steele. I need to speak with General Steele.”
“Right away, ma’am.”
The screen was black for almost three minutes, and Kaelyn could feel Arrow growing more agitated next to her. Her body was stiff, and she shoved her hands into her pockets. Kaelyn knew it was out of worry and not impatience that was causing her shift. She wanted to touch her, to let her know that she was here, but she wasn’t sure it would be welcomed among all these people.
Finally, the general appeared on the screen. He looked exhausted and concerned. There were black smudges on his cheeks, and it looked like he had a large cut on his chin. The look on Macy’s face said she wanted to crawl through the screen and look him over herself.
Despite her body language and facial expression, Macy’s tone remained professional. “What is the current situation back at headquarters?”
The general gave a half-smile, looking as if he appreciated his wife’s adherence to protocol while still being able to see the worry etched on her face. “All Guardian forces are heading to the front lines as we speak. We have received several calls for backup. The villages are being attacked everywhere. We’re doing what we can. We have sustained minimal casualties here at headquarters, but there have been a few. We believe there are more coming as MacLeod attempts to isolate our forces.”
Macy looked at Arrow, almost as if she needed an anchor. “How many casualties?”
The general looked off to the side, searching for information. “According to CAM’s calculations per the life force bracelets, two hundred people in all have been killed.”
Arrow leaned toward the display, her knuckles white on the edge of the table. “In all of the Resistance or just at headquarters?”
“In all, Major.” The general took a deep breath. “But our numbers are holding strong, and we aren’t worried about our forces’ capability once at the front line. Most of those casualties can be chalked up to ambushes from soldiers.”
The general made a valid point, but it didn’t seem to sit well with Arrow. She focused on a spot on the floor instead of her father.
“We have several civilian casualties here. Are there any there?” Valor asked.
“Yes, but we don’t have the final numbers, as reports are still coming in.” He looked down for a moment. “But I can tell you this, Captain. Your wife is alive and well.” He looked to a part of the room that none of them could see. “I have to go, but I’ll make an emergency transmission if anything vital changes. Be careful out there.” The screen went black.
Kaelyn had a brief glimpse of what her life could potentially be like if she were to ever be with Arrow. Cordial calls in front of dozens of people didn’t allow for any form of caring or intimacy. There would be months apart while they both did their best to play the protectors of the world. Moments where all they were allowed to see was that the other was still alive and well without being given the opportunity to show their vulnerable state. The thought terrified her. She’d watched her parents live like that for years. She knew they loved each other and that their work was important, but they always belonged more to the world than each other. It wasn’t the kind of life she wanted for herself or for Arrow.
Arrow grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. Her heart pounded at the touch, sending a jolt through her from where their fingers intertwined all through her body. She didn’t know what these conflicting messages meant, and now wasn’t the time to wade through them. There was still so much at stake, so many people depending on them.
Arrow turned toward Olivia. “I know you have your hands full right now, but we need to eat, sleep for a few hours, and then be on our way.”
“I understand. Please, follow me to the dining hall. We don’t have much, but you’re welcome to whatever we have.” She started toward the front entrance. “After you leave, those of us that remain will take refuge in our underground bunkers. It won’t be long now until MacLeod turns off the weather bubbles.”
“Do you have enough to survive?” Macy asked as she matched Olivia’s steps.
“We’ll be okay for about a month, maybe a month and a half.”
No one said what they were thinking, that there were no guarantees this would be over by then. Kaelyn didn’t want to think about what would happen to all these people if they couldn’t get them help in time. She’d never be able to clean their blood from her hands.
Chapter Twenty-five
Adon stared out his window. He had the weather adjusted to a perfect seventy-eight degrees. Typically, they followed the seasons, and today would’ve been unseasonably warm for the month of November, but he didn’t care. He wanted to keep his people happy and quiet. He needed to remind them why they needed someone to oversee these situations and why he was the perfect person for the job. The happier people were, the more loyal they were. Fear worked well too, though.
He’d also promised that he’d deliver a lower class, giving his people more free time, and more opportunity for bliss and leisure. The Resistance wasn’t being cooperative. They thought they were entitled to his country. Those treasonous bastards thought they could undo everything his family had worked so hard to construct, the life they had made. Well, it wasn’t going to happen. He’d see every single one of their leaders hanged in the square, and the remaining scum would work in servitude.
These grand ideas of freedom were ridiculous. People needed to be told what to like, who to worship, and who was in charge. They’d tried it the other way for several hundred years and where did that get them? The white race was almost obsolete, people were worshiping false idols, and women thought they were the superior sex. It was no wonder so many clamored to his father. He represented the values the country was based on and that others were trying to steal. He wasn’t afraid to tell people the enemy was right there in front of them. He didn’t care what the critics said about the need f
or protection for the racial classes. He understood that great men were going to be hated at times for the good of the people. He gave this country back to the true believers, the real countrymen.
“We’ve lost communication with all the soldiers we deployed to Kansas,” a hesitant voice from behind him stammered.
Adon turned and gripped the top of his chair instead of grabbing the general by the neck. “What does ‘lost communication’ mean? Are they dead or alive?”
The general turned his hat over several time in his hands. “They’re dead, sir.”
Adon clenched his teeth, trying to remember what Nora had told him about his blood pressure. “How is that possible?”
“We reviewed the feeds, and it seems that the villagers fought back. We’re deploying more troops now.”
“No, you’re not.” Nora shut the door behind her. “We’re going to consolidate our forces. They’re clearly coming here.”
The general rolled his eyes. “I don’t think you can make that assumption. And with all due respect, this isn’t your call to make.”
Adon ignored the man and focused on Nora. “Why do you say that?”
Nora pulled a cigarette from the tray he kept on his desk and lit it, inhaling deeply. “They aren’t going to make a show of force unless they already have a plan. Factor in this, along with the Phoenix, and I think it’s pretty clear what they’re doing.”
“Women aren’t supposed to smoke,” the general said, straightening his back.
She tapped the side of the cigarette on the ashtray. “And we aren’t supposed to lose soldiers to disloyal hacks who have no military training, but here we are.”
The general took a step forward. “It’s unwise of you to question our capabilities. It’s only us that stands in the way of them overthrowing your regime.”
Adon felt contempt roll through his belly. “You speak of protection as if you’re doing something to stop this, yet I’ve seen no results from you or anyone in your position. Perhaps, it would be better for Eden if Nora took control of the military forces.”
