The Last Revolution

by Carpenter, R. T.

  Kira stood next to the craft, one hand on the hull. Her feet barely touched the floor. Alden cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for the way I acted the other night. It was incredibly rude and insensitive. You didn’t deserve that.” He struggled to look her in the eyes. He hated that the distance between them was his fault.

  “It’s okay, I know you didn’t mean it, but thank you.” She bit her lower lip slightly. “I’m surprised that you’re going through with this. After our discussion, I figured you would have sat it out.”

  “Ha. Well that had been my first thought, but I know how important this is to you. I figured it was what you wanted. Besides, it’ll help to speed up Alexander’s arrival.”

  “Yes, it will. What you’re about to do for us is incredibly brave and I appreciate it.”

  “What do you mean us?”

  Kira was silent for several moments and she stared off at the other side of the hangar. “Yeah, well you know…the resistance.”

  Alden just shook his head. “When did they start becoming us? What happened to our real reason for being here?”

  “After everything that’s happened, I’ve just never really had a place where I felt like I belonged. This is as much a home as I’ve ever really known. I’m just not sure how I feel anymore.”

  Alden lifted the suit off the ground until it floated outside the ship’s hangar door. He found it surprisingly difficult to keep his balance while he maneuvered the suit into place.

  “Here, let me help you.” Kira floated towards him. She grabbed hold of the ship’s hull and used her other hand to spin the suit’s case until it floated inside the ship. Kira ran her hand over the clear lid as it floated past. “You should give it a name, for good luck.”

  “I think it already has one.” Alden pulled himself in closer and pointed at a faded inscription that ran down the side of the suit.

  She peered down through the glass. Her dark hair fell in front of her eyes. “Sartas?”

  Alden’s heart started to beat faster, his palms became damp. Something stirred deep inside; an experience he’d never known. The distance between them had been terrible and it made the current moment so much richer. He watched her study the suit. In that moment, he knew without a doubt, she was the one. He loved her. Gabriel had known what it was like. Even though he wouldn’t have consciously admitted it to himself before, he realized now that a part of him had always been jealous.

  Alden reached out and softly put his hand on Kira’s arm. She turned to face him. Their heads slowly began to lean in…

  A siren suddenly sounded in the distance. Red lights flashed across the hangar ceiling.

  Kira pulled back and glanced at her wrist deck. “Oh God! Council soldiers have entered the city. The lower levels are under attack!”

  Alden set the suit down inside the craft and then pushed off towards the ground. He turned the artificial graviton particles back on and quickly felt the weight of the world bear down on his shoulders once more.

  No! It’s not time!

  They ran towards the exit at the back of the hangar and then down a series of tunnels. The rocky surface and strings of lights turned into a dull blur as they sprinted past. Kira slammed into one of the doors that led out into the open. Alden followed her lead and together they pressed their full weight into it, until it slowly slid out of the way. Several other people had caught up with them. They all filed out of the secret tunnel.

  Alden emerged from behind a nondescript rock formation in the lowest level of Apollo City. They moved out from behind a waterfall that fed into a small river and several little ponds. Grass and trees were all around them and the sun shone through the domed surface overhead. They were at the bottom of the canyon. Kira took off towards the next level, followed by Alden and dozens of other people.

  They sprinted up a massive staircase, taking the steps two at a time. Alden couldn’t believe the chaos exploding around him. Everywhere he turned, soldiers were arresting people. Shots rang out. A section of the city was on fire above their heads. Everyone seemed to be racing towards Level Six. Alden paused long enough for Kira to catch up and then continued on. They finally reached one of the large balconies in the market and commerce district. There were hundreds of people. Alden pressed his way through the crowd towards the front with Kira close behind.

  ***

  Arakiel stood with his arms folded, and watched as the riots spiraled out of control below. He was obscured by the shadows and his presence had gone unnoticed. Soldiers had taken several colonists hostage. Bright red bandanas had been tied around their eyes and wrists. One by one they’d been marched over and lined up in front of a concrete wall. A dozen soldiers stood between the prisoners and the chaotic crowd. They pointed their assault rifles at the mob to create a barrier between the two groups. Whether or not they knew it yet, this situation had only one possible outcome.

  He studied every face in the crowd as he looked for his target. There he was! He’d prayed after the events in New Tranquility that he’d see Alden again. The Guardian had been good to him. Alden was surrounded by dozens of other resistance fighters that had just arrived. His heart surged and blood coursed through his veins. He could feel the cold tip of his blade hidden from sight. Everything was under his control.

  He watched Alden press his way through the crowd towards the soldiers in the front. Was it possible that he’d be the one to incite the revolt? Or would he just be left to shoulder the burden for the lesser men who started it? The crowd acted as a single entity with a rhythm that resembled the ebb and flow of a wave. They would push forward in an attempt to bypass the soldiers, but when the rifles were pointed at them, the surge would subside and people would fall back.

  A Council lieutenant paced back and forth between the soldiers and the hostages. He waved his pistol in the air as he yelled at the crowd. Arakiel studied his movements, the intensity of his walk, the pitch of his voice and the look in his eyes. He was ready to kill, and appeared reckless enough to fire on an unarmed crowd. There were already hundreds of people and their numbers were ballooning by the second.

  He didn’t have much time left. Arakiel flung his legs over the railing and jumped. The air whipped at his face as he made the fifteen-meter drop. He landed with grace and then immediately blended into the crowd before anyone noticed him. Moving through the masses, he closed in behind Alden. The blade he kept hidden under his sleeve begged to be used, it was so warm.

  Alden was with the woman he’d seen him with in New Tranquility. They watched as the events unfolded around them, still unaware of what was about to happen. Arakiel pulled a small note out of his vest, and dropped it in to Alden’s pocket. With that, he faded back into the crowd and disappeared.

  ***

  “Every time you attack a soldier we’ll execute someone. Every prisoner you release we’ll execute ten. And for every base you attack, we’ll burn a city down! These attacks will not go unpunished!” Alden watched the officer in charge wave his gun at the crowd, and then back at the hostages behind him. “We’ll execute one criminal every ten minutes until the coward Jacob Stone surrenders. Anyone that tries to intervene will be dealt with most severely!”

  Alden started when he realized that Naiad was one of the people lined up. None of them appeared to be over the age of 15. “What happened?” Alden asked one of the older colonists next to him. “How’d they get hold of these kids?”

  Blood had drained from the man’s face and he appeared on the verge of tears. “The soldiers were attacking civilians, indiscriminately beating anyone that got in their way. Several of the kids rallied together and tried to stop them, but they never had a chance. They’re just kids,” he choked. “My niece is up there.”

  Out of nowhere Thereon grabbed hold of Alden’s shoulder and pulled himself through the crowd, “Naiad! I’m coming!”

  Alden caught his sleeve as he tried to move past and pulled him back.

  “Get off of me! I have to get up there!”

  “There
are a dozen armed soldiers up there. If you attempt to rush the line, you’ll be shot. Just wait a minute, I’ll do something.”

  Time slowed. Naiad stood pressed up against the wall, his hands tied behind his back. He didn’t shrink from the moment, his chest was puffed out and he stood in defiance of the terror that gripped his companions. The crowd’s fear and anger had reached a fevered pitch.

  He needed to act before it was too late. Looking around the area, he wracked his brain for any opportunity to diffuse the situation. He still had his sidearm beneath his shirt, but there was no way he could take on all the soldiers at once. What he needed was a distraction. Anything less and the soldiers would inflict an incredible amount of damage. This was not how things were supposed to go.

  “Let me make things even easier for you!” their leader shouted at the crowd. “If the enemy combatants that attacked Traterous do not come forward, we will have no choice but to punish these criminals in their place!”

  Alden grabbed Kira’s arm. “Do you have your weapon?”

  She nodded. “Are you sure you want to do this? There’s no going back if you do.”

  “I know.” They eased their weapons out of the holsters. “Take the right side, I’ve got the left.”

  The commander scanned the crowd. “So, none of you are willing to take responsibility for your actions? I didn’t want to have to do this… but you’ve left me no choice.” He pointed his side arm at Naiad’s chest.

  “No!” Thereon yelled. There was a uniform gasp from the crowd as Alden raised his weapon and pushed forward.

  The lieutenant pulled the trigger. Alden watched in horror as the bullet exploded into a bright red mess against the wall behind Naiad. He dipped forward slightly and then dropped back as his knees buckled and his body crumpled to the floor.

  Thereon let out the most painful, bloodcurdling scream Alden had ever heard. The crowd burst through their self-imposed barriers and rushed the soldiers. They opened fire and cut through the dozens of colonists that stood in front of them. Their leader loaded another round into the chamber. Thereon shoved through several people that had been hit by the automatic weapon fire, leveled his gun and then squeezed the trigger. The force of the bullet slammed the commander against the concrete wall and into a heap on the ground.

  Alden and Kira opened fire. Soldiers crumpled to the floor in rapid succession and the rest were overwhelmed on all sides. Dozens of people tackled each guard and dragged them to the ground. It only lasted a few moments before all of the gunfire ceased, replaced by the eerie sounds of breaking bones. Screams of anger and pain came from everywhere. The sound of gunfire exchanges erupted on the levels above and below.

  Alden raised his head. Flames could be seen leaping out at the abyss from the floors above. Pieces of burned debris slowly floated down around them. It had started.

  Kira grabbed Alden. “This city will tear itself apart if we don’t act now!”

  Alden’s deck came to life as the shouts of resistance fighters pinned down across the city flooded in. “Is anybody out there? We need help on level three. Reinforcements have arrived at the external space dock. We won’t be able to hold them back much longer. They’ve got two small mech’s with them! If anybody is out there, please help us!”

  Then another voice came on, “We’ve been overrun on level seven…heavy casualties...”

  “Attention, any available fighters report to quadrant 8411 and prepare to fight in the counter offensive.” It was Callisto’s voice.

  “Alden, come in,” Solana said over the communicator on his deck.

  “I’m here,” Alden responded.

  “An invasion force is being prepped on Hyperion. Reinforcements and heavy artillery are inbound from the Council Military base. We’ve also received unconfirmed reports that representatives from the Three Nations and the Council Archon are meeting aboard the battleship ADNV Testament to vote on a unilateral resolution to begin military operations against—” The line went dead.

  “Solana, come in Solana!” Alden yelled.

  “What’s happened?” Kira asked.

  “I don’t know, the transmission was cut.”

  Alden looked up from his wrist deck. “Regroup with Stone. I have to get back to my transport ship and make a run for Prebeo. If the Council military base is mobilized, this will all be for naught.”

  Kira touched his arm. “Be careful.”

  He pulled her in close to his chest, leaned down and kissed her. Small explosions were breaking out around them. People ran frantically from one place to the next, but in that instant, time froze and for a moment it was just the two of them.

  They pulled back and she looked up with eyes that seemed to hide knowledge and pain. Alden brushed the stray strands of hair from her face. “Go.”

  Kira squeezed his hand and then disappeared into the crowds behind them.

  He had to get back to the hangar as fast as possible.Upon his arrival, he pulled himself into the cockpit of the small transport. The blue suit was still secure in the back cargo hold. His flight training came back to him as his hands flew over the dashboard and brought the engines to life. The autopilot maneuvered the craft into the launch tunnel. Alden pulled the controls back and the familiar pressure exerted itself on his chest as he accelerated.

  He hurtled out of an obscure tunnel several kilometers down the canyon wall. Alden pushed the controls to the side in order to bank the ship and avoid the other side of the canyon. It felt so good to be back in the saddle. Compared to the dog fight and hurricane over the Pacific, this felt like a walk in the park. He pulled the yolk back even further, and ascended out of the canyon towards space. The movement caused a small piece of paper to fall from his pocket and float to the floor. He picked it up.

  Alexander will arrive in Hyperion shortly. A friend.

  Alden read the message over and over. This had to be a mistake. How long had this been in his pocket? Could it have been there since this morning? No, he definitely didn’t have anything in his pocket when he left the hangar. Who would list themselves as his friend? He didn’t feel like there were many of those left. Except—he checked his wrist deck—was it possible? He typed into his deck: did you leave me a message? Where on Hyperion?

  The resistance needed help, but Alexander would be alone in hostile territory. It would be so easy to take him down with no other lunar fighters around to assist him. The Hyperion station was run by the Council. Alden could easily hand the body over, and then return to the lunar surface. If he moved quickly, there would be enough time to return to the colonies before the riots destabilized any other cities.

  The canyon disappeared beneath him. He could continue his ascent towards Hyperion, or turn and fly to Prebeo. Dozens of small troop carriers descended around him. They attached themselves to the various docking platforms along the canyon wall. Sustained weapon fire could be seen through the glass domes.

  Terra suddenly peeked over the distant lunar horizon. Billions of little lights flickered across the dark side of the planet. They stretched from one coast to the other. Hyperion came into view as well. The massive station was a thriving city and acted as the central hub between the lunar colonies and the transport routes back to Terra.

  Dozens of Council fighters buzzed around the space station in tight squadrons. In another life he would have been leading one of those teams. It seemed to be a massive amount of activity and preparation for one city. What were they up to? Had the riots spread to the other lunar colonies already? These ships couldn’t all be destined for just Apollo City. There were too many of them. His long range scanners picked up two different Battlecarriers en route to the station. They were preparing an invasion of the lunar colonies.

  He was out of time and needed to make a decision. With Alexander gone, Stone would have no choice but to surrender. The resistance would perish with Alexander on Hyperion. Several of the launch doors stood open along the side of the space station. Ships streamed out through the blue force fields and into t
he blackness of space. Autopilot took over and they sailed right into the middle of it all. The inside was in a state of chaos. Soldiers were lined up in their battalions as they prepared to board one of several giant troop transports.

  No one paid attention to him as he quickly disembarked his transport ship. He moved out of the launch area and into the heart of the station. His wrist deck buzzed. He couldn’t believe what he read. I didn’t leave you a message. Where are you?

  ***

  Arakiel stood inside the large space station. He’d only arrived a few minutes before Alden. He’d known the bait was too hard for him to pass up. As he leaned against the outside wall, he watched Alden walk through the large atrium. Small tents filled with items for sale lined the outer edges of the area. The middle was filled with a swarm of shoppers. Arakiel didn’t want to risk being seen. He pulled out a fighter pilot mask and placed it over his head, then pulled his hood down. He searched for any sign that Alden had been followed. Nothing.

  Alden wandered between the vendors as he made his way to the other end of the room. Arakiel sauntered along the outer edge, keeping an eye on Alden. It would be so easy to end it all right here. Alden wouldn’t know what hit him until it was over. He turned the corner at the other end. Arakiel headed towards the center, right for Alden.

  He came to a halt at the end of the atrium. Alden took another step forward, then stopped as he laid eyes on Arakiel. The two just stared at each other for several moments; neither attempted to move or make contact. After several moments, Arakiel dipped his head in recognition, and then ever so slightly indicated for Alden to follow.

  Arakiel strode down one of the empty corridors that were under construction. He ducked under the warning sign and moved between piles of supplies that waited to be unpacked. Alden had followed at a safe distance. Good.

  “Who are you?” Alden asked.

  Arakiel didn’t bother to acknowledge the question. You’ll find out soon enough.

  “Where are we going?” The intensity of the question had risen. He wouldn’t be able to ignore him for much longer. He had to hurry. “Are you the one who left the message?”