“You can’t do this to me. You can’t make me into this and then leave me. It’s more cruel than the Keepers torture. You can’t show me what freedom is and then take it from me when I need it, want it, most.” She stepped back and straightened her spine.
“Stop.” He whispered.
“Is this what you saw all those tortured nights when you thought I was sleeping?” She was fierce, and her eyes were blazing, “You saw that I wasn’t your simpering slave anymore. Well, you’ll get no tearful goodbye kiss from me you insufferable prick. Go get yourself killed and if there is anything left of you to bury I will find your grave one day and piss on it.”
She slapped him hard across the face.
“Go to Hell. Alone.” She spat at him over her shoulder as she headed up the ladder to the bridge.
I am already there.
He climbed into the Warmark.
***
“Dan Sawyer, please report to launch bay twelve.” actually came over the stations Public Address System.
“Jesus, when was that last time they used the PA?” The bartender said absently said. “Hey, Dan. Are they talking about you? What’s Dan’s last name?”
The bartender pointed to a man that was in a booth leaning against the cold glass that was the only thing between him and vacuum.
“Jen, walk up Dan, will ya.” The bartender asked the tired looking waitress. It was a slow night. She poked him hard in the neck with her tray.
“Wake up, Dan. You’re being fucking paged.” Jen said. He startled her he came awake so fast.
“Sawyer, here.” He said out loud into a HUD call.
“On my way.” He slid out of the booth and as he walked along in front of the empty bar he snatch up a shot-glass of bourbon the bartender just barely finished filling. Downed it and said, “Thanks, Joe.”
Sawyer ran to launch bay twelve. They had the fast-locks. That opened and closed fast enough to kill you if you were not careful.
“Station, Sawyer here. What the fuck?” There was only one ship in launch bay twelve. An old school fighter tug. It was warmed up already. It was an obsolete design that only flew on manual.
“Hello, Dan. Are you sober?”
“When has that mattered.” He laughed.
“Dan, there is a nuke on the station, and I need you to fly it away from here. The problem is Station Security Might try to stop you.”
“And you don’t have time to explain it. Am I right?”
“You are cleared to fire upon anyone that tries to stop you. Accelerate this container out into deep space on any vector.” Station said.
“I don’t hear from you for years and Out of the blue, I’m forced into retirement. If I survive this, you owe me a good story.” Dan said, and he climbed in and buckled in.
“What about your pressure suit?” Station asked.
“Pressure suits are for pussies. Launching.” The fast launch was always a thrill. “It’s a little crowded out here sweetheart. What the fuck is happening?” Ships were launching from every spire. It was chaos; traffic control was being completely ignored.
“There is nuclear war. Millions are already dead on Earth. The container is indicated on your tactical.”
Sawyer found the box floating away from the station at a slow ten meters per second. With an easy flip and turn, he match its speed and vector. Magnetic clamps had it by the end. He hit full throttle.
It began to move away and increasing speed. In forty seconds he cleared most of the swarm of random traffic.
“How big is the bomb, Station. How far is far enough? How fast is fast enough before I detach?” Sawyer asked.
“Unknown.” Station replied, “Looks like company.”
The ball shaped transparent glass cockpit rotated and faced the rear. The four powerful engines blazed at full power. His tactical targeting systems pinpointed the two ships trailing him. They were both Station Security Idents.
They didn’t even try to hail him. Projectile rounds impacted all around him, and two even deflected off his canopy.
He fired all four plasma cannons. First at one and then the other They both went up in a flash.
A quick look at his controls told him he was already going 1500 kph.
Sawyer shut down the main engines and detached. Thrusters pushed him away. “Station, how is this vector?”
The station looked tiny from this far out.
“Perfect, Dan Sawyer.”
“Dan, are you in the market for work? Two positions in orbital security just opened.”
***
They never detected the Warmark until it landed at high speed in the center of the Chancellors private landing pad. The guards had not been ordered to hold fire, but no one wanted to be the first to open fire on the most deadly thing in the universe.
It's weapons were at rest, undeployed. It waited one minute and then two and then three.
The chest and helmet opened fully, and Barcus emerged. His head was bare, and his hair and beard were long and almost black.
The guards could see as he lightly stepped down that a Frange Carbine hung on his chest with a bandoleer of extra magazines was beneath his cloak.
Head held high he walked directly up the grand steps three at a time. He unclasped the cloak and let it fall on the steps revealing his weapons. As he entered the nave lights turned red and a chime sounded. He didn't slow as he dropped the carbine, bandoleer, two hand guns on the floor. His weapons belt followed with knives and other devices. He paused just before the next door so he could reach down and draw long boot knives out of hidden sheaths and dropped them. He even took a chain off from around his neck.
He stared at the guard before the door. He had on a tunic and tabard a simple braided and knotted leather belt. All hand made.The scanner in his hand registered no metal at all. The medical splints that were revealed told a story of pain. But no weapons.
The door slid open, and he moved through with no alarms, no alarms on the next door either. Without a pause he made the last right turn and pushed the double doors open with guards behind him, scrambling to keep up. They didn't cross the threshold. The double doors closed by themselves with an ominous thunk.
Barcus said nothing.
“So this is Roland Barcus. Maintenance guy number 42. Of the Ventura. I never expected anyone from that sad vessel to be any problem at all. High Keeper Atish was a bad geneticist, leader, and visionary. You on the other hand. Loose ends.” Dalton pressed a control on the console he stood behind. A great flash in the sky above illuminated to room through the high stained glass Windows above.
“Freedom Station. Gone. Blamed on you. Just Like the Ventura, just like Sri Lanka, Mexico City, New York City, and now Freedom Station. After today, I will control the moon, Mars and all of Sol. Tomorrow annihilation ships will fly to scrap the filthy humanity of all other 88 human Colonies.”
He paused waiting for Barcus to say something.
“You made one mistake.”
“Oh, really? Do tell.”
“You let Chen die in my arms. I swore to her I'd find you.”
Massive weapons fire erupted outside. It came from the landing pad. That Warmark has started firing in automatous mode destroying the Residence.
“Kill him.” The chancellor said in a bored tone.
The four hulks closed in and reached for him. The Chancellor could not see what happened. He only saw the their four heads tumble off at nearly the same instant. When the bodies fell, he was holding a dripping curved blade.
“Stop or I will kill another City.”
“I don't care.”
“What?”
“You see Chancellor; Turkot got it all wrong. I am not the monster; I am the witness.”
“Turkot could see the future!”
“I want you to stand right there, Fucker.”
The stained glass roof shattered and DS-05 landed directly in the center of the room. It’s red painted face was a frozen scream.
“I thought I told you to
stay on the ship,” Barcus said.
A shoulder cannon deployed and aimed at Dalton.
“You also told me never to use this in atmosphere.”
“Wait…” Dalton begged.
“Is this the asswipe that killed all your friends on the Ventura?”
Barcus only nodded.
“I am free; I do what I like.” She fired, and the top half of Dalton simply disappeared along with all the walls behind him.
She turned and opened fire with dual projectile machine cannons. The end of the room with the entrance began to collapse.
Po said over the suit’s PA, “Besides, I thought you might need a ride.” Another Warmark Crashed through the remains of the roof as weapons fire increased from Barcus's Warmark on the front landing pad. DS-Happy Face opened, and Barcus claimed in.
“Ascend 1000 meter and come to a full stop.”
“You see that landing field over there?” Just above Calf was the Isle of Man and the Chancellors Base.
“Yes,”
“There are eighty eight ships on that line. Modified, prepped and ready.”
“The ships he was about to use?”
“Yes.” He set the weapon to max and used his targeting package to control the area of impact.
There was a clap of thunder.
Before they ascended to space, the entire space port was leveled.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE:
Evidence
“We made assumptions. Took evidence for granted. We didn’t want to think that we were the villains. That we were all blindly following another Liberal Fascist Hitler. The story was covered up and Barcus scape goated. If the colonies had discovered the truth, then it may have been war.”
--Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: General Patricia Chase, senior member of the Earth Defense Coalition.
<<<>>>
When they reached one thousand kilometers, Barcus hailed Stu, and he swallowed then from the sky. Barcus noticed before they even locked in that the starboard hatch was missing.
“Stu, what happened to the starboard hatch?” Barcus asked.
“That’s my fault. After you left, I asked Stu to give me access to the med bay because I hurt my hand.” Po said, “He saw how hard I hit you, and allowed it. I got right in the Warmark.”
“She said if I didn’t return to the area over Calf she would kill all the passengers,” Stu said. “She activated one of the big cannons and aimed it at the bridge. So I returned. You said to keep them safe no matter what.”
“I was about to blast open the ramp when Stu said the starboard hatch would be easier to repair. So I shot it. Stu sent the second one out on remote. I shadow controlled at the end.”
“When did you learn to control Warmarks?” Stu asked.
“On the way down,” Po answered.
“You know we can’t exit the Warmarks until we get to the station,” Barcus said.
“You’ll have to wait to punish me until then,” Po said.
Barcus could hear the smile in her voice.
***
“Station, this is Barcus. Is there a nice quiet hangar where we can land? We need to do some repairs, and then we will be gone.”
“Barcus, are you aware of what has been happening? The station is on full lockdown.” Station sounded angry.
“It’s over; Freedom Station is now safe,” Barcus said as the coordinates of the hangar came in. “Buy Dan Sawyer a beer on me.”
“How did you know about Sawyer? I have redacted all information regarding his involvement in this event. There are likely opposition assets still on the station.” Station asked.
Stu flew the ship into a private hangar, and the massive door closed behind them. The STU took up half of the bay as it settled to one side.
When pressure equalized, the Warmarks opened at the same time as the ladder hatch.
Everyone was mute as they came down the ladder. They followed Barcus and Po out into the hangar. They had walked around the side to look at the exterior damage. It was worse out here but repairable.
“Are you seeing what they are saying on the nets?” Hagan stepped up and said. The others were standing behind them in shock. “They say there are seventy million dead.”
Barcus turned toward them. “All told, in the end, the count will be Just over one hundred twelve million dead. All three of the main space ports destroyed. We saved Freedom Station and hundreds of other cities where the Chancellor had bombs hidden. Zimmerman, Krieger, Hudson, Cook, Muir, and Beary are all dead. The Memphis, the Sarista, Echo, and Ben are also gone.” Barcus paused, “and they will blame us. They will blame me.”
“But…” Kuss began.
“And we will let them. Because if we don’t, and the Colonies hear that the Earth came within a day of extinguishing them all it will mean war. 300-billion murders, just because Dalton could not control them.
“I’m sorry, but we are all fugitives now. They have Stu on various security cams speeding away from M-City. They will track Krieger’s dropship to the Ventura and the Memphis. They identified the Memphis in Sri Lanka before it was destroyed. They know I killed the Chancellor and destroyed the base on the Isle of Man.” Barcus paused as the door to the hangar opened.
Worthington entered with Bobbie, the kids, Rand, Hume, Pho Pete and Dan Sawyer. Pete and Dan were helping Rand and Hume walk.
Worthington stepped up and said, “Krieger is dead.”
“We know,” Hagan said.
“When he was officially pronounced dead, classified orders were automatically issued to me and many others.” Barcus was nodding as if he already knew.
Kuss stepped up, “They erase all knowledge of Baytirus. We must flee.”
“Yes. Plus I am to establish a Forward Operations Base and await additional orders.” Worthington said.
“Tell them the rest, Jimbo,” Bobbie said.
They already knew, because his HUD already told the story.
“I have received another temporary field promotion.”
“Rear Admiral? Might have to sex you now.” Kuss said.
“You get all your promotions by getting your commanding officers killed in the field?” Hagan said. Trying to jest.
No one laughed this time.
***
“I always wondered how you got a Renalo class luxury Yacht,” Turkot said absently.
Wex raised an eyebrow. “I recall telling you all about it after we get back to the Iosin.” She smiled very wide. “My good Turkot, you are in a long white. How does it feel to be human, to know only the past.” She sat in the main pilot chair. Turkot took the freshly cleaned engineers station. “I find it quite restful. I sleep so well then. And as the white eventually fades I enjoy the surprises of the new future.”
“It is very restful. I am glad we finished this chapter first. I confess that Iosin told me this outcome just before our last parting. I confess my patience for High Keeper Atish was wearing thin.”
The Sedna lifted off lightly as they exited the hangar.
“Just a bit of housekeeping before we go,” Wex said as they bore down on a small two man escape shuttle. There was a great WHOMP, as the EMP cannon disabled the shuttle.
“Enjoy freezing to death you bastards.” Turkot waved at them as they peeled away.
Turkot looked at the status board as Wex programmed in the course. The status board remained green.
She sighed as she intentionally entered the course. The board remained green as she checked it again. Then she closed her eyes and flew the Sedna directly into the sun.
***
They put Rand and Hume through Stu’s auto-doc first. Po announced she was staying right here with Stu like they might leave without her.
“We leave in four hours. They are not looking for us yet, and Station will give credit if you want to get anything.”
Barcus watched them file out one at a time. Rand, Hume, Kuss, and Hagan went together, Jude andCine sat on the hangar floor and cleaned their flutes and beg
an to play. Jimbo, Bobbie, and the girls went to gather what was left of their things.
Dr. Shaw came up to Barcus and said, “Station tells me there is a longevity serum synthesizer still in the crate in one of the cargo holds.” She looked at his dark face. “We can talk as we go.”
“Thanks but no. There is someone I need to talk to.” Barcus looked over his shoulder at Po.
Dr. Shaw left the hanger alone.
He turned and faced Po.
“I need to do one more thing before we go.” He added the last part to reassure her. It was the right thing to say.
“Barcus, this wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry for what I said to you…”
Barcus gently touched his fingers to her lips in an intimate gesture. “You once begged for forgiveness at the beginning of every sentence.” He remembered her, thin and weak and impossibly tiny. She was standing close to him now. She tucked her hair behind her ears with both hands as she looked up to him.
“You let me sleep in your lap, more than once. Just to be kind. Did you know that half the time I wasn’t asleep?”
“I wanted you even then.” He said.
“But I wasn’t strong enough.” It was her time to stop him from talking. “When you almost died and killed that Telis Raptor … It changed me. ”
“You’re still changing.”
“So are you.”
“Would you like some soup?”
***
Pho Pete already had his apron on when they arrived. An old Asian woman was yelling at him in a language he didn’t understand. Pete didn’t allow them to order he knew what was the best in the house to eat.
The crowd was thick. And it was loud. Speculation was rampant. All the public monitors in the promenade were on Net News channels. All the space ports with catapults had been destroyed. Speculation held that there was an attack on Freedom Station as well, and it was stopped by two heroic security crews that went out and intercepted it.
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