Solaris Mortem: The New Patriots

by Rusty Henrichsen

  Austin nodded his head and wiped away the blood from his lip. “If I didn’t cooperate, he woulda killed me, man! What was I supposed to do?”

  Vince lurched at him, and Austin flinched heavily. Vince probably outweighed Austin by a factor of two.

  “What’s done is done, and we’ll get to the why later,” Terry said, “but what exactly has been done?”

  “I’ve been reporting back to Rick after meetings, okay? I didn’t have a choice.”

  “And, what have you told him?” Terry asked.

  Austin looked down at the pavement, now spotted with his blood. “Everything. I…told him….everything.”

  This was too much for Vince’s fragile sense of restraint, and he kicked Austin’s side, sending him rolling off the sidewalk and into the street. “We’re dead because of you, you piece of shit!”

  Terry pulled Vince aside, with strained effort. “Stop, man, please. We need to talk him…get to the bottom of this. We can’t do that if you keep hitting him. Okay? Why don’t you go wait in the truck? I’ll be right there.”

  “Fine,” Vince said, “but that fucker walks home. I swear to God, if he gets in the truck, I’ll break his face.”

  “Fine. He can walk. Agreed.”

  Vince shot Austin one more deadly look then skulked off to the truck.

  Terry helped Austin up, “Here, take a seat on the curb. Sit down.”

  “Thanks,” Austin managed.

  “So, you put us in a real bad way here.” Terry stopped and waited for Austin’s response. He didn’t get one. Austin just looked down at his hands, picking the gravel out. “Okay, so what happened? I mean, why are you telling us this now?”

  Austin looked up, but still he struggled with eye contact. He was either very ashamed of himself or afraid that Terry would turn him back over to Vince if he misspoke. Maybe a little of both.

  “Rick…he…he killed Charles. I think he did it so he could take over, you know?”

  “What?” Terry knew Rick was a prick, but he still couldn’t believe his ears. “When? How do know this?”

  “This morning. I walked in. He made me write the suicide note…. That’s going to be the story: Charles killed himself. But it’s not true. Rick killed him.” Austin’s lip began to quiver ever so slightly. He was terrified, and Terry couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

  “Holy shit. Wow,” Terry said. “So, does Rick still trust you? I mean, could you maybe start feeding him false information?”

  “I guess I could. He’ll kill me if he finds out, though.”

  Terry nodded his head. “Yeah. Yeah, I imagine he would. I think it’s time you start working for the good guys, though. You in?”

  Austin nodded his head. His stomach cartwheeled.

  * * *

  Terry wasn’t sure how to approach Kat. But it needed to be done. She was awfully sensitive about matters concerning Rick. Deep down, he thought she knew—there was a problem with this man. Still, she was steeped deep in her denial. He wondered briefly if he should just keep it to himself. Just until he had proof. Something she couldn’t deny, because he knew she would. However, with time being as it was, he knew he didn’t have time to waste. He had to tell her regardless of how she might receive it and he had to tell her now.

  Terry pushed the door open and held his breath for a moment before realizing he was doing so. Relax, dude. It’s just your sister. He felt silly for his nerves, but he was walking into a minefield here.

  “Hi Terry,” Kat said. “How was your day?”

  “It was—enlightening,” he replied.

  “Okay…what does that mean?”

  “Kat, listen. I know you’re not going to like this, I mean, you freak out every time I mention Rick, but—”

  “You can stop right there, Terry. I don’t want to hear it.” She turned her back and walked to the kitchen.

  Terry let out the sigh he’d been holding in. “Kat, please. Just listen to me, okay? Just listen to what I have to say.”

  Kat stopped walking but refused to turn around. “I’m listening,” she said.

  “Austin, from work, he told me today that he’s been working for Rick, so to speak. As a spy, Kat. He’s been spying on us in meetings.”

  “So? That’s kinda part of his job…isn’t it?”

  “That’s not even the main thing, Kat. He killed Charles.”

  Now, Kat turned around. “What are you talking about, Terry? My God, I know you can’t stand him, but this is really low. How could you even say such a thing?”

  “Charles is dead, Kat. Rick killed him, and he did it to assume power.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “I’m just telling you what Austin told me today. And he’s telling the truth. If you would’ve seen him, you’d know he was telling the truth.”

  “You know what?” Kat said. “Sometimes I think you can’t face the fact that I’m a grown woman. That someone out there could make me happy. That I don’t need you hanging around and protecting me all the time.”

  “Kat, c’mon, you know that’s not fair.”

  “No, Terry—what’s not fair is you trying me to control me and trying to push every guy I might possibly like out of my life!”

  Terry had taken a seat on the couch, but now he took to his feet. “That’s a crock of shit if I’ve ever heard one! The only thing I’ve ever done is look out for you, and you know it! Don’t try and pretend that your lousy taste in men is my fault! I’m only trying to look out for you—and for the kids. Somebody has to.”

  He immediately regretted his last utterance, but it was already out. The damage was already done.

  Kat stormed off to her bedroom. She was in tears.

  Jonathan and Tabitha came out of their room where they had been playing. “What’s the matter, Uncle Terry?” Jonathan asked. “What did you say to my mom?”

  “Probably something I should have said a long time ago.”

  Jonathan didn’t like that too well. “C’mon Tabby,” he said. He corralled her back into the room and slammed the door.

  Terry was left standing alone in the living room. It had gone even worse than he thought it would. “I’m going out,” he said to an empty room.

  * * *

  The cool, night air blew up Terry’s jacket at the waist. He didn’t mind and lifted his jacket to let more in. He was still running a little hot from the argument. How dare she? After all he had done for her. He could see her point—to a point. Sometimes he did act like he was her father. Well, guess what? Sometimes that’s how it felt. Who finished raising her after all? I did, that’s who. For Chrissakes, she still lived with him, before all of this. He had a right to be concerned. And he was right about what he’d said. Let’s face it, kid. You’re just not qualified to run your life. Not yet.

  Terry didn’t notice that he had company.

  “Terry?” a voice said behind him.

  It was Alisia. He felt a slight lightening of his spirit. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly. He wondered if she noticed. If she felt something, too.

  “Hi, Alisia. What are you doing out here tonight? It’s so cold.”

  “I had to get out—I...just needed some air.”

  Terry chuckled. “Yeah. I hear that.”

  “Have you seen Charles anywhere?” Alisia asked.

  “Uh…no. I expect we won’t be seeing him.”

  “What do you mean? did something happen?”

  Terry clasped his hands and pressed his tongue in his upper lip. “Charles is dead.” He wanted to finish with, ‘Rick killed him,’ but he wasn’t certain which way Alisia leaned in political matters yet.

  “Oh my God. Was it Rick? Did Rick kill him?”

  Still, Terry wondered how much he should say; how much he could say.

  “He worries me,” Alisia said. “He came to the clinic earlier this week, and he had all these questions, and he was just acting—strange.”

  “What kind of questions?” Terry asked.

  “He wanted to kn
ow about the chip flasher. He wanted to know about the protocol on using it and he was talking about keeping it in his office to be used only with administrative oversight.”

  “Okay…. Why?”

  “He said, ‘we don’t want it falling into the wrong hands,’ or something along those lines.”

  Yeah, funny you should mention that…. “And what did you think about that?” Terry said.

  “I think I’m about ready to turn it over to those wrong hands if what you say is true. It’s probably the only way to get out of this place if things turn bad without losing your head.”

  This was a great relief. “It’s true. Rick killed him,” Terry said. “They’re going to say it was a suicide, but I’ve got a…guy…(friend, felt like a stretch) a guy who was there. He knows what really happened.”

  Alisia put her hand to her mouth and shook her head. Fear registered in those green eyes of hers. “What are we going to do? I’m starting to freak out here.”

  “There’s a meeting tomorrow, and we’ll be talking about what to do,” Terry said. “Would you be interested in something like that? I mean…it kinda puts you at odds with the State, and all.”

  Alisia didn’t hesitate. “Yes. Count me in. When and where?”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Austin was driving the truck today while Vince and Terry worked the bodies. Austin had to be kept separate from Vince to avoid spontaneous outbursts of blood. Things were going okay until the silence was shattered.

  “Attention citizens. Please report to Command at 1800 hours for an important announcement concerning all. Attendance is mandatory.” The announcement filled the streets from the overhead bullhorns that had been rigged up after the transfer station was brought back to life. The speakers crackled and screeched and then were silent again.

  Terry had a bad feeling about this. He looked to Vince, who was shaking his head. “And it begins,” Terry said.

  Vince still couldn’t look at him. He just stood there, shaking his head, tying up the strings on a bodybag. “Yeah,” he said.

  “What do you think this is?” Terry said.

  Vince looked up from his grisly chore. “I would guess it’s a meeting announcing the new leadership—the Fourth Reich.”

  Terry agreed. They’d all known things were going to get worse before they got better. The only question there had ever been was when? The timeline for exodus had just been accelerated.

  “We need to get ahold of Duncan. That’s the same time as our meeting,” Terry said. “We’ll have to meet afterward. There’s going to be plenty to talk about.”

  “Yep,” was all Vince had to say.

  Just then, Austin walked up from behind, giving Vince a wide berth. He was probably about as tired of getting hit as a man could be. “Guys, I’d like to help if I can.”

  Vince lurched, giving him a look that could kill and Austin cowered.

  “If you wanna hit me, go ahead,” Austin said. “I probably deserve it.”

  “Probably?” Vince said. “And as far as your help goes, seems to me you’ve done enough already.”

  Austin kept his eyes downcast while still trying to keep an eye out to see if it was time to run. “I know, I know, And I’m sorry. But I want to help now.”

  Terry placed his hand on Vince’s shoulder. Easy, boy…. “Let’s just hear him out, ” Terry said. He’d already coached Austin for this.

  “Well,” Austin began, “you know how there’s still people at the meetings who are on the fence?” Vince nodded but the scowl never left his face. “Maybe if I were to talk to them, like at the meeting tonight…maybe it would help…get them off the fence.”

  Vince looked away slightly. Whether Austin was right or not, he couldn’t bear the thought of aid from a traitor.

  “You know, he might be right,” Terry said. “It could help.”

  Vince hoisted the body up and over his shoulder. “Why don’t you go back to the truck, Austin? The grown-ups need to talk.”

  Austin obliged and turned slowly, weighed down by a heavy cloak of guilt.

  “You think that’s a good idea, Terry?”

  “I do. Like he said, we could get some of the fence-sitters over to our side.”

  “Yeah,” Vince said, “or, maybe this is just Act Two.”

  * * *

  1800 hours came and the good citizens of New Seattle sat waiting for the announcement. Rick took the stage, a makeshift platform and podium in the center of the auditorium surrounded by folding chairs. Refugees, still in quarantine, looked on from behind a thick plastic curtain. “Citizens. I know you’re all wondering why I’ve brought you here tonight. It is with a heavy heart that I tell you, we have lost our leader.”

  He paused for an appropriate period to allow the gasps from the crowd, and for dramatic effect.

  “Yesterday, Charles took his own life.”

  More gasps and a murmur went through the crowd.

  “I know this may come as a shock to many of you. It certainly did to me, but when I look back now, was it really so hard to see coming? I’m going to let Charles’s own words tell us what led up to this horrible tragedy.” Rick held up the note.

  Terry was beside himself and struggled to sit still, to keep his face from showing his revolt. “He’s lying, Kat,” Terry said.

  “Shut up, Terry,” Kat said in the harshest of whispers.

  Rick continued holding up the note, turning slowly around the room. He made sure all had the chance to see it. “I’m going to read this now. Just be warned, there are things in here that will be hard to hear, to digest. But I think he’s right.” Rick cleared his throat and began:

  Citizens,

  Though it may be difficult to accept, we have come to a crossroads. And I can’t take you any further. There are some very tough decisions ahead, and I’m afraid that I am just not the one to make them. Or, I’m not willing to make them. I wasn’t made for this world, the one we now find ourselves in.

  You see, we are being overrun by outsiders. We simply do not have the resources to take care of all that come to us. This is where those hard decisions come in. We have to take care of our own first and foremost, and I fear that my leadership puts us all at risk. I don’t have what it takes to turn people away, to let people starve, to refuse treatment for the sick or the wounded….

  For better or for worse, my second in command, Rick Verdin, has the very quality I lack. He can do what I never could. He can make those hard decisions. It is in that spirit that I turn over leadership to him.

  Thank you all, Charles

  Terry stifled the guffaw that threatened to surface and betray him. The man was clearly insane if he expected people to buy into that steaming load of shit. It would never fly. Would it? “Kat…please tell me you’re not buying that.”

  Oh, she looks pissed.

  “Are you even being serious right now? Give it a rest, Terry.”

  An empathic murmur passed through the room like a wave and then Rick asked for the crowds’ attention once more. He wiped away a tear that was never there and faked a sniffle for the mic. Terry hoped he wasn’t in the minority of being able to see through this haze of deception and bullshit.

  “It is a great tragedy that we have lost our leader,” Rick said, “but let us not forget his message, his final message.” He waved the note again, and Terry felt his stomach sink. Rick was a pretty decent actor.

  “While I am deeply saddened at the loss of the Chancellor’s leadership, I am honored that he has entrusted me to lead you. To lead you all to a better future. Together we will rise above this and give birth to a new nation, a stronger nation.

  “I agree with Charles about taking care of our own first. If we don’t take care of us first, then how can we possibly take care of others?” He paused, allowing his words to sink in. “It is my position that we cannot. We have to take care of our own first.

  “There are some changes to come which we will talk more about in the coming days, but for tonight, let us honor the man b
y banding together—renewing our resolve and persevering on the course laid out before us.

  “We can only do this if we work together. Collectively, we are much more than we can ever be separately. As individuals, we are nothing. But together—we are everything. Long live the New Patriots!” He held his index and middle finger knuckles to his forehead and stood at attention like some kind of amazing victory had just been won.

  It looked like some sort of ridiculous salute and to Terry’s horror, it started to spread through the crowd. The good and dutiful citizens of New Seattle returned the salute to their new leader.

  * * *

  Following Rick’s performance, the Anti-Movement members convened at the SIFF Theater. It was easy to see their numbers were shrinking. Fear had taken hold and killed the resolve of some.

  Terry was happy to see, however, that Alisia had come. They would need Alisia’s help to get out. There was nothing more effective than the chip flasher to get out in one piece. He looked around and didn’t see Otis.

  Duncan stood at the front of the room wringing his hands, looking rather solemn. “Well,” Duncan said. “Things are starting to happen people. We don’t have a lot more time. As you can see, Rick has already scared about half of us off.

  “The time is now that we begin to ramp up our preparations. We need food. We need ammunition, guns, medicine. We need temporary shelter, tarps, rope, tools. We need shovels, axes, the list goes on. But the point is: we’ve got to get ready, and we’ve got to get ready now. We need transportation. At least to get us away from Seattle. I’m thinking an old van or maybe better yet, an old Suburban, something with four wheel drive. It’s October now, and soon there will be snow on the Pass.

  “So, I’m asking you all to ramp up your efforts. We are running out of time. If you have friends, someone you can trust, that might be interested in what we’re about, draw them in. We’ve got a lot of work to do, and we need all the help we can get. When you see some of the people around tomorrow, the ones who are not here tonight, talk to them. Try to get a sense of whether they’re still in this thing or not. We have to be careful about it, though. Now, more than ever.