The Suns of Liberty (Book 1): Legion

by Michael Ivan Lowell

  Crustac darted from tree to tree, dodging the raging fire, fighting the steep incline, and moving ever closer to the drone, giving cover to the remainder of his fleeing men as they raced down the burning hill to what they hoped would be safety.

  “Go! Go!” he yelled at them as they ran past him.

  The glowing object zoomed over Crustac and fired its own energy blasts into the drone. Soon, the sky filled with terrifying flashes of light. Thunderous booms echoed from every direction. Peeking over the vehicles, the men at the bottom of the hill could see the red-haired woman pointing toward the drone, almost reaching out to it. Her eyes seemed to be closed as if she were in great concentration, but they were just too far away to be sure. The whole thing just looked wrong.

  Crustac was getting closer to the Pod, still dodging from tree to tree.

  He could see it now.

  He could also see the drone.

  As Crustac looked on, the Pterodactyl-Prime blasted an energy burst that slammed into the Pod in a flash of light and a thunder clap of power. The ground shook under his feet. He could hear the men inside scream. They would not be able to hold out much longer.

  Above him, the glowing object and the drone were having a titanic battle. Each blow sent tremors blasting throughout the forest. Concussions that nearly toppled the commander as he tried desperately to get to his men. He’d called in the Legion to help, but they’d been busy doing rescue work inside Trenton itself. Something else had responded. Something better.

  He kept darting from tree to tree, letting the object’s battle with the machine provide cover. Crustac swore he saw the object blink out from one spot in the sky and reappear at another, always right behind the drone. But the drone was so fast, the object could never catch it. He couldn’t make out what the object was. It was a good deal smaller than the drone. He knew only one thing for certain. He had to get to his men.

  Finally, he reached them. He’d not had training on the Pod itself. He had no idea how to force the thing open, assuming it was even possible. The outside of the craft was perfectly smooth and round. It was basically a big steel ball. The windows that circled the Pod had been covered by protective titanium shields as soon as the Pod had gone down. His men couldn’t even see him from inside. They could probably have told him how to open it, but if he yelled to them, he risked drawing the attention of the drone and getting himself and his men killed. He’d just have to wing it.

  He tried to feel around the underside of the craft, but it was buried solidly in the ground. That was where the rotors and engines were located. Maybe there would be a way in from there if he could just get to it.

  It would be the last thought Michael Crustac would have before his world went dark.

  The commander didn’t see it so much as he heard it. Like an oncoming train. Instinctively, he leaped for cover, and the explosive power of the drone’s energy ray ripped into the ground just below his feet. It was like a grenade had exploded. Earth, trees, rocks, and the commander himself were flung into the air. Thousands of pieces of flying shrapnel ripped into Crustac’s body at unimaginable speed. The last thing he would see before he lost consciousness was the sight of his own blood splashing cruelly into his own eyes before a mountain of earth and rock buried him.

  The giant drone unleashed a torrent of power. It fired the powerful red lasers at no target in particular. They simply seared out over the horizon. A ripple of red energy erupted from the drone’s center.

  The men at the bottom of the hill heard the red-haired woman shout in frustration, dropping her arms as she cursed. Almost as if she had caused the red ripple of energy herself.

  A wave of the drone’s energy slammed into the glowing object, and it was blasted across the sky, out of sight. The men hiding behind the jeeps could hear the woman’s small voice scream out in response.

  The woman continued to cry out as if she were calling to someone, but the men could not make out what she said. She seemed to be searching the sky for the object. They still had not been able to tell what the hell it was.

  The woman fell quiet and turned toward the drone. She refocused, raising her arms again at the giant machine. And just like that, the drone simply fell silent.

  And fell from the sky.

  It crashed, splintering the trees as it fell, gashing a deep gully in the emerald forest floor, and a gout of earthen mud spewed into the air.

  Had the woman done that somehow?

  A red and green streak of light flashed in their peripheral vision, back from over the horizon. The glowing object, apparently undamaged, had landed on the far side of the Pod.

  They could see the object’s glow and hear the Pod’s door whir to life and slide open. The men tumbled out, gasping for breath, crawling away from the Pod, coming into view of their comrades. The glowing object rocketed high into the sky from behind the Pod and was well out of view in seconds.

  Whatever it was, it was gone now.

  The men leaped out from behind the jeeps and sprinted to help their friends and recover their fallen commander.

  “The commander’s still alive!” one of them called out as two of them pulled Michael Crustac’s broken body from the dirt and mud. Crustac was covered in blood.

  Emergency vehicles were pulling up to the area, and the medics leaped out and attended to the commander immediately. As they put his body on a stretcher, one of Crustac’s men asked them, “He is still alive, isn’t he?”

  The paramedic put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “Technically.”

  The men wanted to thank the strange woman in the jeep, but when they looked up she was being driven away. None of them had spoken a word to her.

  Chairman Howke was informed of the commander’s condition shortly after. Crustac’s name was on a very short list. A list of volunteers who had been paid a hefty fee just to join the roll, with a promise to be paid even more if they were ever activated. A list whose importance necessitated a personal call to the chairman immediately upon activation.

  It was the same list Veronica Soto’s name had been on.

  The report was devastating.

  “We’ve been getting reports all night of a fireball in the sky and of a crashed aircraft just outside of the city of Trenton, New Jersey. Our own Dan Albert is on the scene there, and, Dan, we’re now being told that this was a military aircraft of some kind?” said Cynthia Roberts, the glamorous blonde anchorwoman for Trenton’s Action 5 News, the local Media Corp station that was broadcasting nationally in the face of Hurricane Ana’s devastating impact.

  “That’s right, Cynthia. Sources have confirmed that this was a military aircraft that exploded and then went down in a field outside of Trenton. A classified military aircraft that had been brought in by the Council to bring emergency assistance to storm-torn New York City and surrounding areas. And most surprisingly, Cynthia, we are being told that the craft was brought down by members of the Suns of Liberty, including...including, the Revolution himself.”

  “Astounding, Dan. Do we know if the Revolution knew that the aircraft was being used for rescue operations?”

  “That is something that we don’t know at this point, but it begs the question—what were they doing in the area anyway and not helping out in the storm? We’ve been seeing the footage all evening of the Legion assisting in the storm’s aftermath. One has to wonder about the motives here.”

  “Yes, indeed. I think people are going to be asking questions for some time about this. We are still waiting for any word from the Suns of Liberty.”

  “Right you are. So, the question now is, what did the Revolution know about the contents of the ship and when did he know it? Reporting live from Trenton, New Jersey, Dan Albert, Action Five News.”

  “Thank you, Dan.”

  Bannister Tarleton was beaming. “I told you, devastating.”

  “No,” Chairman Howke replied.

  “No, it’s not devastating?”

  “No, don’t air it. I don’t want anyone to know that the
Suns of Liberty had anything to do with the Delaware going down. The hurricane did it, is that clear?”

  “But, Bill, this will destroy their reputation, just like you wanted. And the Legion look like greater heroes than the Suns could ever be!”

  “They look like heroes because they were. Leave the Suns out of it. It gets out that they took down the Delaware, we’ll see fallout in the markets that we don’t need right now. Only the Council members themselves and those Guards who were actually there are to know. You make sure of it. Pay them if you need to. Get...creative if you have to, just don’t let me know about it. But you kill that report and make sure no one knows I gave the order.”

  “No one will know. No one but us,” Tarleton said. As he turned to go, a smirk crossed his lips that Chairman Howke did not see.

  The entire city of Trenton had turned out to celebrate the Legion, it seemed. It felt like all ninety thousand of them. As Arbor and the rest of them basked in the televised glory, a chant from thousands of grateful citizens rose up above the rooftops of Liberty Street. Le-gion! Le-gion! Le-gion!

  Arbor was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Sixty-five miles away, so was William Howke.

  CHAPTER 29

  LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA

  Becky opened the oven and pulled out the roasted veggies. Fiona’s favorites. She’d been pretty hard on the girl the last few weeks and she’d clearly gotten nowhere. It was time for a different tact.

  The sweet aroma of garlic and parmesan wafted toward the teenager, and Fiona was finding it hard not to drool. Becky knew she was famished.

  Becky laid the cooking tray on the hot pads and slipped off her mittens. She drew in a deep breath as she opened the cabinet, reached for the plates, and asked the big question. “So, is New York in your travel plans now?”

  Fiona cocked her head and scrunched her nose. “New York?”

  “The Council. They obviously wanted to hurt you,” Becky said, wishing now she’d never asked. From the girl’s reaction it appeared Fiona hadn’t even considered going to New York.

  Fiona rose from her chair and grabbed one of the plates. “Oh, that. No.” Fiona sighed. “I can protect us.”

  “Some people did get hurt, though.” Some people had actually gotten killed. But Becky hadn’t broached the topic since that day, even though she knew she had to. Fiona simply had too much power to not carefully consider every move she made.

  “I was stupid,” Fiona said, frowning. “Thinking they wouldn’t dare. I didn’t take precautions. I thought, hey, it’s just a little missile. It’ll just burn up.” Fiona took a fork and scooped up a pile of the veggies. “I can’t know everything.”

  “You sure you weren’t punishing Elders and just let it get out of hand?”

  “Do you think I would do that?” Fiona looked guilty.

  “Not on purpose.” Becky scooped the rest of the veggies onto her plate, and the two women took seats across from each other. Becky’s cabin was small, but nice. It had large bathrooms and a cozy kitchen that she’d always found romantic. She tended to have her most important talks there, even if they were just with herself.

  “Look,” Becky said, trying again, “I get that you don’t want to be a part of this, but you are part of it. You have been from the very start, honey.”

  Fiona took a bite of the veggies, which melted in her mouth. She almost forgot what she was going to say, but then it came back to her. “I know. But I didn’t ask to be. I didn’t ask for all this to happen. For all these powers. I just want to be a normal eighteen-year-old girl. I want to go to college. I want to go out on weekends.”

  “No, you don’t.” Becky grinned playfully. “You just want it all on your own terms, and you’re not going to get that, Fiona. No matter how powerful you are, you can’t always control what other people do. Not even the Fire Fly can do that, honey.”

  Fiona shrugged and said nothing but dove into the veggies with gusto. So Becky joined her. After a good first round, with the veggies mostly losing, Fiona rose and went to the fridge, pulling out a glass container of sun tea. “You want some?” she asked Becky.

  She did.

  Fiona poured sparkling liquid into glasses and returned with them to the table. She shrugged. “So, what are you saying? Should I go level Freedom Rise? Or kidnap the chairman and force the Council to disband? What?”

  “I don’t know what you should do,” Becky said honestly.

  “I don’t want him to win.”

  Who was him? “The Revolution?” Becky asked.

  Fiona nodded.

  Becky grinned. “But you don’t want him to lose either, do you?”

  “No, that would mean the Council would win—and they can’t win.”

  “So, what happens the first time one of those girls asks you to take out the Council for her? A lot of people think you’re part of the Suns of Liberty,” Becky pointed out.

  “Each case is different,” Fiona said, staring down at the table, shaking her head. “I’ll deal with it if it comes up. I just think if I leave the Council alone, maybe they’ll leave me alone. Leave you alone.”

  Ignore it and it will go away. The logic of a child. Becky’s eyes narrowed. “And if they try to rebuild that chamber?”

  “I’ll take care of it, again.”

  Becky nodded.

  “I just don’t want to piss them off if I don’t have to. I mean, what if I’m not around to protect you next time?”

  Becky smiled, letting her off the hook for now. “How could you not be?”

  “I always will,” Fiona said in a husky voice that caught Becky by surprise. Fiona rose from her seat and slid across the table’s edge, her fingers tracing trails across its surface, to stand inches from Becky.

  “Hi,” Becky said, suddenly nervous. She could feel her face flush with heat.

  Fiona smiled, swept her delicate hand across Becky’s blushing cheek, parted her lips, and kissed her.

  NEW YORK CITY

  FREEDOM RISE

  They sat at the large table in the large room with large and expensive art hanging everywhere. Solid gold furnishings surrounded them. The finest of everything.

  In a meeting room.

  Chairman Howke had laid it out for the other members. Tried to put the best face on it he could.

  “We have to continue to think long term. Despite some short-term losses, we’re still on track. So far,” he said, “our change in tactics has worked. But not without cost.”

  Across the table from him, a proud Southerner named Sonny “Tex” Riley, the CEO of Imperial Petroleum, snorted. “That’s as much hot air as a sack full of farts, Bill! Our stock prices all tanked after they took down the Delaware. And we lost how much inventory in the Trenton facility? We can’t afford that.” Riley peered about at the rest of the members. “Let’s not forget, we created this council to protect our interests, not the other way ‘round.” He glared back at Howke. “Your own shareholders are calling for your head. Read today in the Journal that there’s even talk of Media Corp splitting up. And everybody at this table knows that the real reason is because you interfered with that news report on the Suns bringing down that ship! Got your whole staff in rebellion!

  “Not the whole staff,” Howke interjected.

  “How in the hell did you let that get out? I thought you controlled the goddamn media?” Riley barked.

  “We have kept it out of the media,” Howke stated, fighting to keep his cool. “Someone on staff leaked it to a few big shareholders, that’s all.” Howke shared a smirk with Tarleton. “We’ll find out who it was.”

  Out of Howke’s eyesight, Tarleton flashed a self-satisfied grin. And then returned to glaring at Riley.

  “Shit! That talk hurts all of us. We’re all just a buncha dominoes!” Riley pounded his fist on the table. “Now, son, what are you gonna do about this?”

  Howke was prepared for the question. He was getting better at this. He turned to glare back at Riley, leaning forward, staring the old man down. “Two thi
ngs,” he said robotically. “Our original strategy stays in place, and Mr. Ray gets us the information we need. The Delaware’s loss bore an unexpected positive externality. We now have a test subject for Project Krill, so our more extreme option is going to be unnecessary.”

  That caused a flourish of excitement across the table. Riley grumbled something about the “price tag,” but his protest was quickly drowned out.

  Tarleton waved his hand, and his assistant passed out folders to the others that included Commander Michael Crustac’s picture, a short bio, and the medical report of his injuries.

  “Second,” Howke peered over at Tarleton, “we now know that the Suns have added a new member to their team. So...” Howke paused for effect. And then he dropped it on them. His eyes sparkled. “It’s time to bring in the girl and her toy.”

  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

  RESISTANCE HQ

  “Looks like an attack,” Lantern said as he glanced around the table. Only Ward was missing. “No way to know for certain.”

  “What is certain, however, is the increase in their coded messages and searches of this area, as you can see from Lantern’s data,” Leslie added. Images of data appeared on the video screens that lined the walls of the Situation Room.

  “With the element of surprise, the Legion has already shown that they are at least a match for us. A direct attack on this facility would be the most logical next step,” the Revolution said.

  “I can get inside Freedom Rise again,” Rachel said, adjusting the white gauze bandage on her wrist. She pointed at Lantern. “If Hot Pants over there works up some kind of bug, I can place it anywhere you need. We find out once and for all.”

  Sophia scowled. “Didn’t work so well last time.”

  Rachel ignored her.

  “No, I’m not going to risk you again. They know about you now, Rachel. Von Cyprus should not be underestimated. For now, we have to assume that you have been neutralized.”