The Forgiven The Fallen The Forsaken

by S. M. Armstrong

  SOUTHERN UTAH

  MARCH 20th

  Luke and Jamie pulled up to the last of the caches listed on the flash drives. They found the doorway described and the mechanism to open it. Soon they were loading palates of cash onto the rollers on the floor of the trailer. The money filled most of the trailer.

  After securing the load, they parked the forklift in the vault and closed the camouflaged entrance behind it.

  "What do you think was the take this time," asked Jamie.

  Luke answered, "That's easily over a billion dollars."

  Jamie shook her head. "You realize we now have billions of dollars in cash. What the hell do we do with that much?"

  "Whatever the hell we want."

  "Seriously, though."

  "I want to push technology ahead as fast as possible. Let's fix some problems. Let's cure as much of the environment as we can. Plant trees. Stock the oceans. It's time to quit being a cancer on the planet. We can accomplish so much. Let's work to turn Central America into a paradise."

  "Someone will ask where the money came from."

  "Uncle Jim passed a bill eliminating income tax for the next five years. Until six years down the road, no one has to declare anything. He did it to keep from complicating the current mess, but it means that we don't ever have to explain where we got the money."

  "That's crazy."

  Luke laughed. "Think about it. Anyone who knows how to open a bank vault has been emptying their local banks out. In a few years, they'll have blown most of that money and the economy goes back to normal. Meanwhile, they're spending the money and putting it back into circulation. If you can't control something, you might as well let it work to your advantage."

  "That's crazy."

  "But it works. We put a good chunk of the money into our bank accounts and we start investing in good ideas. We push industries with something to offer, and we promote our agenda."

  "What's our agenda?"

  "Prevent humans from becoming extinct. And we should get married one of these days, too."

  Jamie smiled. "I was wondering when you would get around to that. Let's do it right, though."

  "No rush, but you're not getting away."

  "And neither are you. Plus you still have to meet my parents."

  Luke said, "I hear Alaska is nice this time of year."

  They kissed and Jamie said, "Perfect! Now let's get this loot back to the ranch."

  Luke chuckled. "Ready to change the world?"

  "You've got that right!"

  CATALINA ISLAND, CALIFORNIA

  MAY 2nd

  Officer Chapman fawned over his new boat. He had confiscated it from a group of tourists with drugs before he sent them packing on the next ferry home. It had taken a few weeks to work it through the system, but he managed to grease the wheels and get it into his name. He was on board, preparing to take it out when he felt a brutal pain in his left buttock. He looked over his shoulder and saw a large dart sticking out of his buttock. He reached for his pistol but passed out before he could draw it.

  Jack and Hendrick jumped on board and quickly cuffed Chapman's wrists and ankles. Jack untied the boat, and left the dock at a comfortable speed. They stopped briefly to pick up their own boat in the next harbor and Hendrick followed in it as Jack throttled up Chapman's boat and headed out to sea.

  They stopped five miles west of Catalina Island, tied the boats together with slip knots, and set up fishing poles for appearances. Jack kept watch while Hendrick put on a mask and started the video recording.

  Hendrick started by breaking some of Chapman's fingers but got bored with it after a while, though the screaming was nice. He next kicked the officer in the lower ribs, easily breaking several of them. A couple of kicks to the face shattered the officers nose and cheek bones.

  Feeling that he'd done enough for a good start, Hendrick stopped the video recording and placed the camera where it would catch Chapman's face for the second act.

  Chapman yelled, "Why are you doing this?"

  Jack said, "Haven't you ever taken a job just for the fun of it?"

  Hendrick started the generator and placed the jack hammer appropriately. Chapman was begging for mercy. Hendrick said to him, "This is some sick shit, but two million dollars is two million dollars. You must have done something pretty awful to the ladies to have earned this treatment."

  "What ladies?!"

  Hendrick said, "If you don't know, it wouldn't be right for me to tell you. Plus, I signed a nondisclosure agreement."

  Chapman screamed, "Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!"

  Jack asked Hendrick, "So what are you going to do with your million?"

  "I'm thinking about collecting stamps," answered Hendrick.

  Chapman screamed, "You're doing this so you can buy stamps! I'll buy you as many goddamn stamps as you want!"

  "Yes, you will," said Hendrick as Jack resumed the video recording.

  The soon to be dead police officer looked back over his shoulder and screamed as he figured out what was ahead for him.

  Hendrick picked up the jackhammer and placed the tip of the bit at the back of the Chapman's pants. Hendrick said, "Here goes nothing," as he pulled the trigger and pushed the jackhammer forward. Chapman screamed as it tore through the pants seam and entered the targeted orifice. Hendrick paused every couple of minutes to readjust the angle and start again. He kept it going until first the screams and then Chapman's breathing stopped.

  Hendrick turned off the camera and said, "My God, that asshole stinks."

  "You're telling me! Let's get rid of him."

  They quickly wrapped the corpse in a net with the jack hammer and threw the dead officer overboard. Finally, they set explosives on a timer in the dead officer's boat and throttled up engine, taking the craft farther out into the ocean. Jack pulled the slip knots free and they watched as the boat gradually disappeared over the horizon.

  Hendrick steered the boat back toward Long Beach while Jack took the data storage card out of the camera and put it in to the laptop he had brought with them. He encrypted the data and uploaded it via satellite to the drop box he'd prepared. The women would be able to watch the video tonight and then delete it.

  When the video was done uploading he deleted the card and threw the computer and card overboard. He wasn't comfortable with video recording a killing, but it was worth the risk for the extra million.

  Jack asked, "Are you really going to collect stamps?"

  "No. I was just fucking with him. But you have to admit that was funny."

  "Yeah. It was pretty good." Jack handed Hendrick a cold beer, and they toasted to the easiest two million ever made.

  BRAZIL ISLAND

  LATER THAT EVENING

  All five of the women gathered to watch the video of the hit on Chapman. Maria said, "It's really him!"

  When the video finished, they watched it two more times before deleting it.

  "Now that's what I call closure," said Pam.

  "Best damn two million I ever spent," said Sonya. The other four agreed wholeheartedly.

  Sandy said, "Kemp doesn't need to know about this. Agreed?"

  "Agreed," said the other four women in unison.

  FLAGSTAFF

  MAY 23rd

  The entire village met back at the Paradise Village site, which was now mostly a large crater, except for one large tent a hundred meters away from where they stood. There was no sign that anyone had ever lived there. Even the runways were pulverized. Zach was filming the event.

  "Thank you for coming," said Jim. "I wanted the chance to say goodbye to those we've lost. I miss Jake, Angie, Frank, Rita, Stewart, and Kathy deeply and keep waiting for them to show up at a meeting one of these mornings. I would give anything to hear Rita telling me how far up my ass my head is today." Many of them laughed remembering Rita's obnoxious wit.

  "I can't stand that half the children of the village perished at the hands of the most evil of the fallen because we couldn't identify him in ti
me, even when he was right under our noses." He waved to Zach to stop filming.

  "Rob is bringing around photos that we will be burning after everyone who wishes gets a chance to see them. These show the man who killed our friends and family. Understand that you can never discuss this after today."

  Rob passed around one set of pictures of Larson in the hospital bed and the group was silent until all of them saw the pictures. Rob then lit a match to the pictures and let them burn completely.

  "As you see, justice has been done and will continue for some time."

  Once the pictures were burned, Samantha started snapping away with her camera and Zach resumed filming. It was strangely comforting.

  "All of you have been on the front line at the most important of times. You have changed the entire course of human history. You've made me proud and you've served your country well. Our friends were part of that fight and they deserve to rest with honor.

  "There will never be another Paradise Village. Today we mourn our own. They gave everything to the cause of rebuilding, just as all of us have, yet somehow did not survive to stand with us today. Part of us died here as well, and part of our souls will always remain here. Sometimes I suspect that the best of us did not leave here."

  There were tears all around. Even Julio was crying. Pia and Rebecca hugged each other. Julie hugged Dave, who was crying silently. Angie had remained in the village only because he always came back there and he knew that was the only reason she was there that day.

  "We couldn't mourn properly when it happened, but I felt that our absent companions deserved the best."

  From behind the bus that had brought them came the sound of drums as the Marine Corps band marched out. They began playing Amazing Grace and anyone who was not already tearing up started. Several were sobbing.

  Busses pulled up behind them and began unloading congressmen, senators, VIP's, and everyday citizens.

  Jim said, "I'm afraid that our private ceremony is over and the groundbreaking on the new Whitehouse is beginning. I can't think of a more fitting beginning for the new capitol. This is for Angie, Jake, Frank, Rita, Stewart, Kathy, and the children of the village, Frank Jr., Cynthia, Sue, and Barbara."

  The band began playing The Battle Hymn of the Republic. "Welcome to the new America. Welcome to the return to the origin of America. Thank you for everything you have done," said Jim, "and never forget what we have lost."

  The first shovelful of dirt removed from the new Whitehouse site was removed by Ann. Rob insisted because, "Justin Wang is the only one not mentioned today, and he's the one who not only provided the vaccine, he discovered the plot to release the virus in the first place."

  The choice of Ann for that honor was never publicly explained and would be debated by historians for centuries, but everyone who knew the story understood it had been the only choice.

  LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZONA

  JUNE 1st

  Rob sat in a private room at the officer's club, sipping scotch and enjoying cigars with General Whitman. "Well, the country is on its way. I think we've done it, Rob. I have to ask, did you really think you could pull it off back in the beginning?"

  Rob looked up from his drink and said, "Not a chance in hell."

  Whitman laughed loudly for a long time. Once he stopped and caught his breath, he said, "You know that everyone has bought your bullshit that I was the mastermind of this operation? You set up almost every play from the beginning to the end and I'm the one going into the history books as a genius while you duck pretty much all of the limelight. Now that's ironic."

  Rob half smiled and said, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

  "I'm just glad Jim stuck you with the VP slot so you didn't get away scot free." Whitman took another drink out of the tumbler. "Do you ever think he'll figure it all out?"

  "With all the politicians we had to eliminate to clear the path for him? Jesus, I hope not."

  "Here's to him," said Whitman, holding his glass up high.

  "May the gullible son of a bitch always steer the moral path," answered Rob as the clinked glasses. "And God help us if he does figure it out."

  "He'll never hear it from me," said Whitman.

  "That's good, because we'd both have to move to another continent, and I'm crazy about my daughter in law."

  Whitman toasted, "To our daughter in laws."

  Rob raised his glass. "How the hell did we ever get so lucky?"

  "Lord knows it wasn't good breeding," said Whitman.

  This time Rob was the one laughing uncontrollably.

  When Rob regained control, the general commented, "You know, I'm kind of surprised the conspiracy didn't try to recruit you."

  "I would have just used it as an opportunity to manipulate things so we could kill off all of their leadership and put our own people in place."

  Whitman sat back with his mouth open and a look of shock on his face as the pieces came together for him. "You son of a bitch…"

  Rob peered into his glass and said, "I just wish I had been able to do something to actually prepare the nation and save more lives. It didn't need to be as bad as it was, but I couldn't do more in the early days without getting myself killed."

  "You knew!"

  "Not about Walker and Larson and the missiles. I wish I'd have uncovered that sooner. The Organization was too compartmentalized and I never got anyone into that section."

  "Jesus, Rob!"

  "At least I was able to give the future a fighting chance." He held up his glass and said, "To the future."

  After a moment Whitman shook his head and lifted his glass. "To the most manipulative forsaken son of a bitch I've ever met."

  Rob smiled. "I'll drink to that."

  BRAZIL ISLAND

  JUNE 2nd

  Kemp steered the trawler yacht into the island's harbor and docked her next to The Slippery Slope. It was raining cats and dogs, but it was a smooth docking just the same.

  He was never in his life so happy as to see his women running to the dock in the rain, waving and yelling. They were safe and they were happy. Nothing in the world could please him more.

  They hugged and laughed and cried. It was exactly the homecoming he had dreamed about since he had left. He didn't deserve them, but he would treasure all of them just the same.

  His life had become something that he never could have imagined, yet it was far better than anything he would have believed. This was a life worth living and he would live it to the fullest, no matter what difficulties the future brought.

  EPILOG

  Jim wasn't thrilled with the prospect of serving four more years, but had been left with little choice as no one sensible was willing to run if he refused. Rob had ducked out of the VP office saying, "Not only no, but hell no!" Jim told him he was grateful for the two years he had put into the office and thanked him.

  Jim pulled his vice president from Helen's recommendation of a politician from a small town in Costa Rica who was extremely popular in the new southern states. Decades later, historians would mark it as a turning point in world history. It was the beginning of the power of a continent being channeled for the good of the entire planet.

  Throughout the nation, control of sacred Indian lands was being given back to the tribes. All of the tribes together were grouped into a piecemeal state that had its own seats in the senate and congress. Jim rammed it through congress with the help of the new southern states. He was convinced that it was the right thing to do, even if it did cost him politically.

  Jim told all of those who had been with him from the beginning that the start of the second term would complete the transition to rule of law and that any unfinished business would have to be wrapped up prior to that.

  The inner circle took it to heart, and Ann took great pleasure in dumping a now blind, deaf, dumb, and unrecognizable Senator Larson in a private hospital they had set up for him in Thailand. The doctors and nurses were given a solid understanding that they would be paid very well for as lon
g as their patient remained alive and all measures were to be taken to keep him that way, short of transferring him elsewhere. He would live that way for over a decade and a half.

  On the day of the start of Jim's new term, Helen and Julie turned almost all of their shares of stock in most of their Kunoichi companies over to be evenly divided among the workers, with the condition that the stock could only be sold back to the individual companies themselves. They kept only one share apiece in most of their companies, though they kept all of their shares in Kunoichi Import/Export, and Kunoichi Technologies. Richards told them they both were nuts, but kept them on as permanent consultants to Kunoichi Corporation.

  Central America was anything but calm, but things were gradually falling into place. The only thing that the people of the new states agreed on was adoration of Julie and Helen. The two carried on with their work to make the new territories completely functional without completely losing the many cultures that made the region interesting. Most of all, they genuinely cared about the people and the people understood.

  Luke and Jamie continued their private education and never bothered to officially attend a university. They invested much of their fortune in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, using their investments to drive new, more sustainable technologies and to improve the lives of people throughout the world, always more interested in average people than in the elites. They also invested heavily in Native American communities, never forgetting their friends there.

  They continued to do runs for Kunoichi Shipping from time to time. Eventually, etiquette developed without any formal policy. The dispatchers would write them in as a corporate inspection team and would double up a couple of drivers so no one lost pay. The drivers considered it a blessing to be in a convoy with Luke and Jamie and it was a matter of pride to have been treated as an equal by the pair.

  They decided not to marry until the press was no longer watching. It took a while.

  Most important to Luke, he never killed again. Of all of his accomplishments, this was the one of which he was the most proud.