The Final Revolution

by Anthony Thackston

  The sword men get closer and Aja holds Sahel tightly to her, spinning her back to the floor. Takeda places his cane in front of him, hoping to block any sword strikes. Danny places his hands on the ceiling, trying to right himself feet toward the floor and ready to kick anyone who gets close enough. The others brace for a final blow or position themselves to fight back.

  Alan throws the bolt.

  “Isn’t that adorable,” Jada says. She reaches up to grab the tiny fastener but Alan’s focus is too sharp. The bolt flies up above her reach then straight down at the gravity lever to turn the artificial gravity back on.

  The lower deckers that land on their feet, move toward the masked men. With no magnetic adhesion, they’re able to move much faster than the masked men.

  Alan vaults over one of the soldiers who’s bent over to turn off his magnetic boots. Don and the axe woman join the fray. Alan ducks her axe swing and knocks down a masked man. His target is almost in reach. Jada frantically reaches for the door controls but is unable to hit the right one.

  Takeda cracks a soldier across the face with his cane. For a man with a bad leg, he moves surprisingly fast. The rest of the group finds their own opponents and just as before, some make it through, others don’t. Both sides continue to lose members of their own.

  Danny takes out two who still struggle to deactivate their boots before the axe woman knocks his sword from his grasp. She flips her axe to the flat butt side and swings it down at Danny’s leg. The heavy, hammer like flat end hits his leg, sending him crashing to the floor. He cries out in pain.

  Alan turns to see his friend on the ground. The axe woman lifts him up from behind, placing the blade of the axe at his throat. He looks back toward Jada just in time for Don to fill his field of vision. Don raises his arms, preparing to bring his fists down on Alan. It is wasted effort as. Alan, instantly, jabs Don in the throat forcing the man’s arms to fall as the rest of him keels forward. Alan finishes the job by slamming Don’s head into his knee, breaking his nose and making it that much harder to take in air. The man falls to the floor and Alan continues his advance toward Jada. Another masked man swings at him. Alan ducks and grabs the man’s arm. He, again, uses his knee to hit the man’s sword hand, knocking the blade to the floor. Alan releases the man and picks up the blade, bringing it back up as he stands, right through the soldier’s side, dropping him to the floor. Another sword swipes at Alan. He blocks the attack and takes out the masked man, taking his sword in the process.

  He then risks another glance at Danny who is still held captive by the axe woman. Her eyes burn holes into Alan, daring him to move forward again.

  “You see?” Jada says. “You see what happens when you break Hallet’s law.

  Alan begins to walk back toward Danny but his friend shakes his head. Alan narrows his eyes, a subtle protest. He turns back to Jada who smiles, giddily. He takes another look at his friend who smiles back, knowing what’s most important. He watches the others continue to fight the masked men. Some win, some lose. Even wounded, Takeda retains his ferocity. They have to take the ship. If only this could have been done without violence. Without bloodshed. But it’s too late, now.

  Alan rears back one of the swords and with a primal yell throws it at Jada. His throw combines with telekinesis, giving it more power, and jabs the sword into the steel wall right next to Jada’s head. She flinches, the shock of the throw freezing her to her spot. Before she has time to recover, Alan is right in front of her. The other sword is at her throat.

  “No. No. Wait, please.” Jada holds her hands up. “Just think this over. If you kill me, what will happen to your friend over there.” She points at Danny.

  Alan turns and sees his friend drop to his knees, blood spilling out of his neck.

  “Well, that makes a mess of all this,” Jada says, her leverage lost.

  Alan slowly turns back to her, the sight of his friend and the other dead members of the lower deck starts to put him in a blind rage.

  “Just. One moment. We can. We can…” Jada tries to find some words to spare her life.

  “We need her,” Takeda says, putting down another masked man.

  “Yes. Yes, of course. I can—Hallet, yes? You’d like to speak with Hallet. Have another vote, yes? I can—”

  Alan eases the sword tip into her throat. A small dot of blood forms and trails down to her shirt.

  “I can take you to him. Get you an audience,” she says quickly.

  “Call your men off,” Alan orders her.

  “Right away,” Jada says. “Put your weapons down. Surrender to these…These fine people.”

  The masked men don’t even hesitate. Even those in the middle of a strike, simply drop their swords where they stand. Those lower deckers who are still alive keep their weapons held high, unsure of what happens next.

  “They stay here. You come with us,” Alan tells her. He is almost shaking with anger and grief.

  “Of course. An excellent strategy. Everyone say goodbye to these fine passengers,” Jada gives a final order.

  “Have a great day,” the masked men say to each of their former opponents. The words are genuine. They really want the lower deckers to have a great day.

  Aja steps behind Alan. “I am sorry about your friend. I will get this door open—”

  “She’ll do it,” Alan doesn’t take his eyes off of Jada.

  “But our deal—“

  “I don’t need you to open this door. So you don’t get the power cell in it.” Alan glares at Aja. “You’re just going to have to suffer without your fix on this one.” His tone is angry. Understandably so. The losses suffered are too great. As much as she wants the power cell, Aja knows it’s better to let this one slide.

  “What next?” Jada asks. “What are your orders., Captain?”

  “I”m not the Captain,” Alan tells her.

  Takeda limps up behind Alan, his hand holding a wound on his shoulder. “Ah, Takeda.” Jada starts. “You’re here too. Well then, Captain Takeda—”

  “Do not call me that,” Takeda orders her.

  “Of course. What would—”

  “We’re going in the place to be,” Alan tells her.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Jada falls on the floor in a small storage closet. Only Alan and Takeda stand in the cramped space with her. The others stay outside of it, keeping watch.

  “How much do you think you’re worth to Hallet?” Takeda asks.

  Jada stares at them both. Afraid of giving the wrong answer. “I’m really just a humble servant of the Captain.”

  “You are his voice amongst the other decks,” Takeda tells her, reminding her of her placement in the ranks.

  “Well, yes, that is a duty of mine. But certainly not my most important one. I also…” She searches for an addition that may be used as an advantage. “Serve as an advisor. Yes. The Captain values my input.”

  “Was it your input that keeps it cold in the lower deck?” Alan asks. “Your input that has us getting so little water? Yours that has Hallet taking children?”

  “Me? That sounds terrible. Cruel. I don’t know the heartless animal that would suggest such a thing. But I—I will see to it that they are jettisoned. We can’t treat passengers in such a way.” Alan looks at Takeda while Jada continues her babbling. He brings the sword up to her throat. “It wasn’t me. I had nothing to do with it,” she says.

  “You’d better be telling the truth,” Alan tells her.

  “You will call Hallet and tell him we control the water now,” Takeda tells her, reaching for an intercom button. “He will give into our demand for a new vote or the upper decks will no longer have access to the water,”

  Jada begins to snicker. It’s an annoying sound. Small spit strands fall from her lips as she tries to keep them together.

  “Something funny about this?” Alan asks.

  “Absolutely not,” Jada looks at both of them as her hand moves up to cover her mo
uth.

  “What do you know?” Alan raises the sword, pointing it right at her face.

  Jada, lightly touches the sword’s edge and pushes it away from her. “Forgive me. It is merely that…You see, the water below is for you.”

  Alan and Takeda share puzzled expressions. “Explain,” Takeda tells her.

  “It is your water. It belongs to those on the lower decks. And only to those on the lower decks.”

  “That is the potable water for the entire ship,” Takeda says. “Everyone receives rations from the same source.

  “Rations?” Jada stifles another laugh. “Rations. Yes. Well, no. You see, after the vote a new water system was put in place. Separate from the lower deck. Only the lower decks were separated. The upper decks must maintain a sort of appearance. A specific lifestyle. I’m sure you noticed the scuff marks on the floor, down there.”

  “You moved the other water storage tanks to another part of the ship? Takeda asks, hardly believing it.

  “We’re nothing but trash to them.” Alan looks at Takeda. He moves the sword back in Jada’s face.

  “But it wasn’t my idea. I—I advised against it.”

  Neither Alan or Takeda can tell if she’s lying or not. The threat of death or injury can make some people say anything to save themselves.

  “My friend died over all of this.” Alan says, frustrated at the new revelation.

  “I am deeply sorry for your loss,” Jada lowers her head. The motions are all there but the feeling behind them is as hollow as her courage. “We have all suffered so many losses. Perhaps it would be best if you turned around, yes? Forget about all of this fighting and re-voting. After all, what better place than the place to—”

  “We’re going to the place to be,” Alan interrupts. “Once we’re there you’ll advise Hallet to step down as Captain and Takeda will retake his place on the bridge. Then things on this ship are going to change,”

  “Of course,” Jada says. “A wonderful plan.”

  “No,” Takeda says. “I had my time as Captain. You will take my place on the bridge.”

  “I can’t be Captain,” Alan says.

  “Well, someone must be Captain. I would do it myself, except—”

  “Shut up,” Alan tells Jada. “I’m only supposed to get us to the bridge. After that—”

  “You must become Captain of the Grand Marshall. It is your destiny. The very thing you were born to do. It is why you were created.”

  “Created?” Jada asks. Her eyes grow wide. “Of course. That explains why you’re able to…You’re one of them. You’re—”

  “I said shut up.” Alan glares at her. “What if I don’t want it?”

  “You take up the mantle of your own volition or Hallet places you in the chair and you take your place on the bridge, anyway,” Takeda tells him. “Better to choose it while control remains in your hands.”

  Alan stares at Jada, trying to decide if she’s worth dragging along. “You could give me one of those weapons, yes?” she says. “I would make an excellent warrior in your group.”

  “Doubtful,” Takeda says.

  “The leisure deck is next, right?” Alan asks.

  “That’s correct,” Jada tells him. “We have many wonderful amenities you could all take full advantage of.”

  “I have a better idea. Get up.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Alan shoves Jada through the doorway. Aja makes sure the door closes behind them while Sahel runs ahead and sticks his hand under a small, running water fall. “What is this, place?” Alan asks.

  “Welcome to our little resort. Of course it doesn’t have a proper name, yet. Resort is a fine fit, don’t you think?” Jada turns to Alan. She meets his expression of betrayal, with little notice. “Here you can find all the pleasantries you could ever want.”

  Alan watches the waterfall. On top of it, a few people peer over the side, watching the lower deckers and Jada. “Walk,” Alan orders.

  The group slowly walks through the resort deck. Past small swimming pools where people splash around. A section of well manicured grass and trees rests on the other side of an artificial beach. The resort deck is massive compared to the others they’ve been through , so far. Aja watches as a woman in a white button up shirt and black skirt carries a glass of clear liquid to a woman lounging in a chair. The woman takes the glass and sips from it. She scrunches his face as though something is wrong and sends the drink back.

  “Where does all this come from?” Alan asks.

  “Do you like it?” Jada asks. “Captain Hallet worked very hard to make this all possible.”

  “There’s so much space,” one of the lower deckers mentions.

  “Of course. For an area such as this to exist, it must be extremely large. This used to be the processing deck where all of our passengers boarded to flee the planet below.”

  “I want to swim in it,” another lower decker says before running toward the artificial beach.

  “Wait,.” Alan calls out.

  “Me too,” a second lower decker followed the first.

  “We can’t split up,” Alan says.

  “You might consider going for a swim yourself, Alan,” Jada tells him.

  Alan stops. He grabs Jada’s shoulder and pulls her back. “You know me?”

  “Of course. Twice you have tried to take the bridge. Twice you have failed.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything before?”

  “It didn’t seem pertinent at the time. I didn’t think you would make it this far. But now that you have, we can drop all pretense. I know who you are. More importantly, I know what you are.”

  Alan pokes the sword in her back, threatening to impale her.

  “With so many witnesses?”

  “You think I care who sees me?

  “Not to worry, Alan. I will get you to the bridge. Perhaps I may even be of some use to you as an advisor, yes?”

  “Keep moving.” Alan pushes Jada ahead, continuing through the resort.

  Kids and adults play games on the beach. None of them appear to have a care or concern. Alan watches them knowing they’re unaware of struggle or rationing. Their lives are steeped in comfort. All necessities are taken care of. A little girl runs up to Sahel and, lightly, punches him in the shoulder before running off, giggling.

  “Isn’t that adorable?” Jada says. Alan only pushes her farther.

  A fully stocked bar is busy with passengers ordering drinks. Many of them are laughing, not a care in all the ship. Oblivious to the lower deckers passing through. “Do they even know about us?” Alan asks Takeda.

  “They are kept very much in the dark on matters that occur below.” Takeda looks at Jada. “An irrational fear, from those closest to Hallet, of sympathizers who may demand a new vote.”

  “No one knows what goes on at the bottom of the ship?”

  “Everyone is in the place to be,” Jada explains.

  “You mean their place,” Alan retorts.

  “The place. Their place. It’s all the same, really.”

  Alan stops and spins Jada around. “All the same? It’s not all the same. Look around you.”

  Jada turns toward a couple throwing a frisbee. “Yes, it’s all quite nice isn’t it?”

  “Yeah it is. It’s all very nice. Not like the lower deck. Remember that place? Would you call it very nice?”

  “Alan,” Jada’s tone is soothing but empty of sympathy. “I’m on your side. All of this is…Well, in the right perspective, I agree, it is all very wasteful. Swimming in water while you all had to ration your own. It’s quite ridiculous when you think about it.”

  “I don’t have to think about it. I lived through it.”

  “Well here you are.” Jada extends her arms out, presenting the resort. “You can live in this now. What if you did? What if you just stopped right here. No more forward, no more back. Just here, in the resort. Plenty of water. Any type of beverage you could w
ant.” She points to the bar. “Hot showers. As many as you like. No more once a month rationing.”

  “I could use a hot shower,” Aja says.

  “What of the others, below? Those who stayed,” Takeda says.

  “Well, I don’t know that we have enough room for all—” Jada is cut off by Alan ’s sword at her stomach.

  “They all come up. All of them.”

  Jada nods her head, affirmatively, knowing this is not up for debate. “I am certain they would all be welcome.”

  Alan watches her, trying to get any hint of honesty. An idea forms. “A shower does sound good. Where are they?”

  “They’re just over this way.” Jada leads the group, far smaller than what they started with, into another area of the resort.

  Jada stops at a blue wall lined with shower heads. Under each are two knobs. Aja runs to one of the showers and turns the knob marked [ H ]. Clean water sprays from the shower head. The water takes a few seconds to heat up. When it does, steam rises from the floor and out into the open resort space. Aja turns the cold knob, adjusting the temperature. She, quickly removes her clothes and gets under the spray of water.

  “Oh, no my dear, those are more for rinsing with one’s clothes on.”

  “Let her have it,” Alan tells Jada.

  “Of course.” Jada smiles. “This is your home now.”

  Alan looks Jada up and down. “You know, Minister, you’re looking a little dirty yourself.”

  Jada looks down at her clothes, a little wrinkled from being her pushed around but no signs of dirt anywhere? “Really? I haven’t noticed anything.” She looks up at Alan and sees his arm outstretched, presenting a shower. “Oh, no. No thank you. That won’t be necessary.”

  “I insist,” Alan says, sword raised.

  Jada stares at the sharp weapon. “Well I suppose I may be a little ripe.” Jada walks to the shower and reaches for the hot water knob.