The Forgiven The Fallen The Forsaken

by S. M. Armstrong

  Helen and Julie were surprised at the number of celebrities that were trying to get in to the wedding. Movie stars, rock stars, and even former professional Athletes. They had no idea how so many got there on such short notice, or even that that many were left, but it added to the perceived prestige of the day.

  In the end the campus looked more like a rock festival than a wedding. Huge flat screens were set up in different areas for those who weren't able to fit inside the dome and various bands were playing on stages throughout the campus. The estimates were that more than forty thousand people were there for the event.

  Julie wore a traditional white dress and Helen chose a dark red satin dress. They were both stunning.

  "Are you ready for this?" Helen asked.

  "When the hell did we turn into the royal family?"

  "Oh, they're here."

  "What?!"

  "So are the prime ministers of Australia and Japan, a boatload of EU leaders, and ambassadors from pretty much everywhere else, and you don't want to get me started on the list of countries sending journalists."

  Julie said, "I told you we should have done the drive through wedding in Vegas."

  "And miss out on this great dress?"

  Julie laughed and asked, "How's your plan for becoming indispensable turning out so far?"

  "They're delaying the unofficial summit until after the reception, so I guess that's something. And I think we're making a statement about how the world continues to progress and won't be turning back. You know, we're going to have to live up to all of this later or get crucified over it."

  Julie held her hand and said, "And we will. But for now, here we are living a fairytale moment and all I can think is how grateful I'll be to get through it without falling on my face."

  Helen smiled and said, "This isn't a fairytale. It's as real as it gets."

  "Stop, you're going to make me mess up my make up."

  Susan, Denise, and Emiko came in at that time. Emiko said, "You two aren't supposed to see each other before the wedding!"

  The wedding went perfectly. In the end, it was a fairytale wedding with the Chief Justice performing the ceremony and the stadium filled to the rafters. Helen and Julie were driven to the Student Union building for the reception afterward and, despite being more political event than wedding reception, the party was fantastic.

  There was a congressional delegation there led by the new Speaker of the House, Congressman Larson, from Wyoming. He walked up to them and said, "Congratulations, you two. We're all very proud of what you've been able to do for the nation and very happy for both of you." They both thanked him.

  Julie particularly enjoyed seeing Ron and Skeeter running around in tuxedos drinking out of beer cans. Watching them talk with the British Royal Family representatives was classic.

  Samantha worked her way around the room with her camera catching pictures of all the fun when Helen and Julie caught up with her. Julie told her. "We're taking off in about twenty minutes. You're coming with us. Your bags are already in the plane."

  Their limousine and security took them to the airport where they changed clothes and jumped into Helen's plane and took off after a quick preflight check.

  Helen asked Samantha, "So what did you think?"

  "You two were amazing. I don't think you have any idea how big that was, though."

  Julie said, "What do you mean?"

  "Ever since satellite TV and radio went up, the public has been following everything that gets reported on the president's extended family and their adventures. There's footage of you two making the first food drops all over the country. When something big has to be done, you're there, usually armed to the teeth, too."

  "Anyone would do that," Julie said.

  "No, you don't get it. You two are like comic book heroes. Except you're the real deal. When something's screwed up, you're right there in the middle fixing it."

  Julie said, "That's going to be a lot to live up to."

  Samantha said, "I saw an interview with Skeeter and Ron." Helen groaned. "They said that they you needed their truck on the way back from an important mission and they flew security with you the whole way back. When the reporter asked what you were hauling, Skeeter said they couldn't talk about it but it was extremely important for the good of the country."

  Helen said, "Oh, God."

  "You two obviously haven't been following your fan pages."

  "We have fan pages?" asked Helen.

  Julie said, "This is a nightmare."

  "Right now there are little girls all over the world dreaming of being you. Beyond that, your wedding just made the bold statement that things are going to be very different from here on out."

  Helen said, "Wow."

  "There are even some great pictures up of you two brutalizing Dave and Stewart back in the village."

  Julie said, "Hey, you took those pictures in the dojo."

  Samantha grinned and said, "Guilty. So where are we headed?"

  "It's supposed to be a honeymoon. We need beach pictures, so we're going to San Diego. Then we're going to San Jose to buy some tech companies. But tonight I'm flying into a little town called Yucca Valley where we bought a house on the airport. You're here to get great shots and make it look like we're actually taking a honeymoon. Sound good?"

  Samantha said, "Of course, but you know we're being followed?"

  Helen sighed and said, "That's our fighter escort. You got it right when you said that things will never be the same."

  LATER THAT EVENING

  Helen landed on the small runway and taxied to the hangar at house that they had purchased. Once the propeller had stopped, the girls stepped out of the aircraft. Julie unlocked and opened the hangar door, and then the three of them pushed the plane tail first into the hangar before closing the hangar door again. Helen and Julie opened a cabinet and pulled out gas cans filled with aviation fuel and began refueling the aircraft.

  Samantha started to pull her bag out of the plane until Helen said, "Wait." Helen opened up the door to the storage compartment and pulled out a small plastic box and set it down on the floor.

  Julie opened the hangar door again and they pushed the plane back out. Julie closed and locked the door. A few minutes later, they were airborne again.

  Samantha asked, "You two are nuts, you know that don't you."

  Julie put her index finger in front of her lips.

  They flew back to Arizona in silence and landed the plane on a lighted airstrip in front of an isolated house they had purchased the week before. Helen taxied the plane up to the house and parked in front of the open hangar. They pushed the plane into the hangar and refueled it before closing the doors and walking to the house.

  Samantha asked, "What the hell was that all about?"

  Julie answered, "There was a tracking and recording device that someone hid in the plane and I don't know who put it there. The military was infiltrated by the folks trying to pull a coup. Their agents are still there and we just became the biggest targets around."

  "Why did you bring me?"

  The front door opened and Matt stepped out.

  Samantha said, "Oh," and ran up to him and threw her arms around him.

  Julie and Helen looked at each other, dumbfounded. Helen said, "I didn't see that one coming."

  Julie answered, "Me either. Weird."

  They went into the kitchen and pulled wine glasses out of the freezer.

  Julie said, "We're the ones who just got married and they went straight to the bedroom! At least they went to the guest bedroom."

  Helen looked at her slyly and said, "Don't worry; you'll get your chance. I'm just glad that the master bedroom is on the other side of the house."

  "I'll drink to that!"

  "And you'll get a real honeymoon, too, as soon as we can pull it off."

  SEPTEMBER 2nd

  Matt and Samantha left in the morning before Julie and Helen got up. Julie made coffee and opened the curtains to see the morning sun o
ver the desert. Helen stepped up behind her and held her closely before noticing the note.

  Julie,

  Dad asked us to move the trailers down here to get them out of the village now that Flagstaff is getting too much attention. Most of the original crew asked us to stash their shares for safe keeping. Matt, Jamie, and I are going to get a place in San Diego. We'll take our shares with us, but Dad's are with you.

  We've left everything you should need and a lot of stuff we thought you might like. Ron and Skeeter made a video of the wedding for you. BTW, we're hiring them as drivers and whatever. They grow on you after a while.

  Congratulations you two! Love you both!

  Matt

  Helen said, "How do you like that? Your little brother stole our photographer. He probably left the room for us to clean up, too."

  Julie chuckled. "But we have the place to ourselves, finally."

  The house was beautiful, with wide open rooms that fit the views and space perfectly. It had its own well system and an indoor swimming pool and spa. The place was perfect for them.

  According to their agent, the previous owner had decided to sell it now that the crisis was over. He was quite proud of the entrance to the underground bunker in the basement and of how the food and supplies he stashed in it had gotten him through the time of the crisis. He was also very open about not ever wanting to spend that much time completely alone ever again.

  The property was in a large isolated valley that no one would never know was there if they didn't fly over or drive several miles of unpaved roads to find it.

  They had used an agent to handle the purchase for them, paying 20% over the asking price. They also paid the agent to find a decorator for them and handle furnishing the house and filling their list of supplies, including and LP refrigerator, freezer, and generators. It was a good deal all the way around. Matt had delivered their cargo trailer with their cash and supplies they wanted and had turned on the runway lights for them the night before.

  They opened the bunker and spent an hour or so carrying the supplies into the house and boxes filled with cash and marked "books" down to the bunker. There was even the large screen television in the basement with satellite TV and a huge selection of videos.

  When they finished, they took a dip in the solar heated pool and enjoyed trying out the spa. Helen asked, "How's this for a honeymoon?"

  "Perfect."

  They enjoyed the next few days of quiet thoroughly.

  LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

  SEPTEMBER 3rd

  Larson's plans were gradually coming together. Fortunately, the president was extremely competent and was doing everything right to get the country functioning at the best possible speed. I have to give credit where it's due, thought Larson. The guy is good. Fortunately, he won't be too difficult to eliminate.

  His aide, Lance Foster was back from an assignment to meet with Walker and Simmons. Larson asked, "So what's the news?"

  "Simmons' place near Portland was destroyed and I couldn't find him anywhere. I don't know if he was captured or killed, but I would think we would have heard one way or another."

  Larson thought for a moment. "Not much to be done about it now. Hopefully he died before saying anything."

  "Walker is a different story, sir. He remains in place and still wants the original plan even though there's no way to achieve it. I think he'll make a move soon."

  "These billionaires and their egos are going to be the death of me. Get Kemp to sit on him and get the missiles reprogrammed for these targets while you're at it," said Larson, handing Foster an envelope. "And if Walker won't play ball, kill him."

  "Will do, sir. I'll drive up to Montana tonight."

  "Relax, tomorrow will be fine. I don't think that idiot has anything lined up that he can hit with yet."

  "Thank you, sir."

  LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

  SEPTEMBER 5th

  With the last of the bills Jim had requested completed and signed, Jim felt a huge sense of relief. He poured a glass of scotch and lit a cigar in his home office. Samantha had told him earlier about the tracking device on the girls' plane and the girls' secret house. He wasn't thrilled about it but preferred to leave things alone for the time being.

  Australians, Canadians, Indians, and Filipinos were flocking in on flights sponsored by the US government. The selection process was concerned with weeding out criminals, Muslims, the ill, and pretty much anyone who was more likely than not to be a problem. Those accepted were thrilled for the chance to make new lives for themselves in North America

  The country was working. The economy was starting to function and the rudiments of a banking system were coming together.

  Mexico and Central America were shaping up to be a slow success. The advantage of the longer growing season and more rain would pay off well for them.

  Jim hated to lose him, but he put Al Medina in charge of all of the entire new territory. For the first time in history, most of the people of Mexico and Central America were getting a fair shot at a decent life as Al dealt with corruption efficiently and brutally. Part of his job would be to develop local leaders to put in charge, but it would take some time to weed out the jackals and the weak.

  Rob was flying all over the country pushing rebuilding and steamrolling projects through. The man was like a one man construction company. Jim was relieved to see him functioning again.

  Denise had opted to stay at the village for a while to help with Frank and Rita's kids. Frank Jr. and Amy were doing as well as could be expected with Steward's family, but a little extra help was welcome.

  Susan came in to see how he was doing and he was happy for the interruption.

  "You know," he said, "I'm not at all sure I want to run for a second term."

  Susan laughed at him, "Like you bothered to run for a first term!"

  "You have a point there, I suppose."

  "They're going to insist on you running. Hell, I'd be surprised if anyone runs against you."

  "If George Washington could tell everyone to piss off so he could go back to banging his slaves, I think I can bail as well."

  "Jim, dear, I think that was Jefferson with the affinity for the slaves, and you don't have any anyway."

  "No, that's not my point!"

  "I'm sure we can get some for you," she teased.

  Jim grinned and said, "Only if they're really hot."

  Susan said, "I'm sure I can make a toga out of some of the sheets."

  "Now I like where this is going!" Jim's phone rang. "Not again!"

  He picked it up to hear General Whitman's voice, "Get to the bomb shelter now!"

  Jim said, "Trouble," and grabbed Susan's arm and ran her into the next room, through the hidden door, and down the stairs into one of the underground shelters. He hit the button that sealed the entrance with a twenty inch steel door.

  A moment later they heard and felt a large explosion upstairs. The phone in the bunker rang.

  Jim picked it up and said, "It's me. We're okay."

  A gravelly voice on the other end of the line said. "I'm sorry to hear that. You've fucked up a lot of plans."

  Jim answered, "I'm good at that, I hear."

  "You know I'm going to kill you and you're entire family. Then I'm going to take over anyway."

  Jim said, "The only reason you're still alive is that I didn't know you still existed. Now that I do, I'll be correcting that oversight. I'll be seeing you soon." Jim hung up.

  Susan stared at him and asked, "What the hell was that?"

  "That sounded like Hugh Walker, the billionaire. The arrogant fuck didn't think I'd recognize his voice over the phone. I'll have the spooks take the recording and confirm it."

  "How the hell can you be so calm?!"

  "There's not a choice. Look, we're not easy targets, but it would be easier than it's ever been to take out a president. These folks just took their best shot and missed. That wasn't a warning. Phone boy was trying to salvage the situation by manipulating me into
doing something. That tells me he's in a very weak position and he probably just blew his best asset. Just watch, this is going to be fun."

  Jim picked up the phone and dialed Whitman's number. "General Whitman. Thanks for the warning. I'm thinking we need to turn this around. Can we get news coverage of you guys digging us out of here? By the way, Hugh Walker called to complain that we haven't killed him yet."

  Whitman said, "Really. Well, we'll have to do something about that. Stay tight and we'll see you in a little bit."

  MONTANA

  SEPTEMBER 8th

  It had been two days since the failed assassination attempt and Hugh Walker was furious. Not only had he missed the president, he had been identified from the phone call and there was now a two hundred million dollar bounty on his head, dead or alive, with guaranteed immunity from all past crimes for whoever brought him in. It would be just a matter of time until one of his staff tried to collect the reward.

  Walker used his escape exit to leave the compound and was soon driving like a banshee to the large ranch in Fergus County he had prepared for emergencies. He should be able to run things from there by encrypted satellite phone and computer.

  Once he arrived he called Kemp, his second in command, to carry out the instructions left for him. Kemp didn't sound pleased, but Walker knew he would carry them out.

  Walker poured himself a drink, sat in a recliner, and thought about how good it would feel to take revenge on President Ambrose and his family.

  SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

  SEPTEMBER 10th

  The entire family had gotten the word to become scarce for a while. Matt, Samantha, Luke, and Jamie used and agent to purchase an ocean side mansion in San Diego with an amazing view and a large safe room and fireproof vault. It was perfect for what they needed.

  Skeeter and Ron had asked to be hired on and they were doing supply runs and shopping for food. While the two of them were out, Luke and Matt unloaded all the boxes of cash and most of the gold coins into the vault. What wouldn't fit, they placed in a storage room off of the basement and replaced the lock on the door.