-Arcadia, Presidential Arc-
"President Harris?"
"Yes, Armando?"
"Your wife is on the intercom, Mr. President."
"Exceptional!"
President David Alexander Harris rubbed his head as he leaned over his desk. He pressed the hologram button and looked to his butler. "Yo, Armando! My main man!"
"Sir?"
"Eh, go ahead and take the night off. The wife will take over for you."
"Thank you, Mr. President, but are you sure?"
"How about this? If you don't go and spend the rest of the day with your family, then you are fired."
Armando laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I guess I have no choice in the matter, sir."
"That's right. You don't. Now get the hell out of here."
"Yes, sir." Armando left the room, and closed the double doors of the presidential office behind him. David leaned back in his seat as the holoscreen rose from his desk. David leaned forward, and stretched out the holoscreen with his fingers, so it was large enough for his viewing pleasure. His wife, and three children, waved to him as they stood by the elevator at the bottom of the Arc.
His wife held their youngest daughter in her arms and she gave a wide smile with only a few teeth to the camera.
"Hi, daddy!"
"Hey, buttercup! It is so cute to see those big girl teeth finally growing in. Ah, and I see that the camera does add a few pounds."
"Did you just call our daughter fat, babe?"
"Actually, I was talking to you, my perfectly well-rounded wifey. Very well-rounded. Ha-ha!" David's wife laughed as his kids began jumping up to the camera while his youngest made faces at him. David proceeded to stick his tongue out.
"Very cute."
"You're the most beautiful woman in all of Eden, baby, everyone knows that."
"Nice save, dear." Thomas began tugging on his mother's dress.
"When are we going to see, daddy!"
"As soon as the elevator gets here, Tommy."
"Daddy, I miss you!"
"I miss you too, sonny boy. How was the park?"
"These three had a blast parading their mother around."
"You didn't have fun with our brats?"
"No, it was fun, just a tad bit tedious, babe. Is someone using our elevator?"
"Ah, yeah, I gave Armando the rest of the night off. He should be down shortly."
"Expecting me to be your butler, huh?"
"No, you will be getting in the bath with me, after we hand the brats off to General Valon. He ain't doing anything today anyway."
"I'm not a brat!" his youngest daughter said.
"Yeah-huh."
"Nuh-uh."
"Uh, yeah-huh."
"Don't encourage them, David. They'll grow up to be just like you."
"You're saying that like it's a bad thing."
"Only if you want our kids to grow up to be goofier than holy hell."
"Oh, you got jokes, huh?"
"Yes, I do. Oh, the elevator is here. I'll see you soon, babe."
"All right, pretty lady."
President Harris swiped the holoscreen away and closed the interface. He leaned back in his chair and stared out the window at the beautiful sunset that just began to cover Arcadia. The sun glimmered off the cityscape that lay several hundred meters below the presidential arch. A view, a beautiful view that expressed what a triumphant accomplishment the city of Arcadia was. The sky's outstanding image reflected off the tops of the skyscrapers. It looked like a glimmering lake, filled with orange, velvet, and indigo gems that stretched for as far as the eye could see. David closed his eyes and let out a sigh.
"I could really use a bath, and some sex that's always good."
A burst from the doors being swung open caused David to fall backwards, over his seat, and onto the floor.
"Damn it! You know something? Normal people knock when a door is closed!"
General Valon rushed into the room followed by several Arcadian knights. He leaned down to David and helped him to his feet. David pushed him away.
"Get off of me, Ben! What is the meaning of this?"
"Mr. President, we have a code zero on our hands."
David looked to his general and his cheery disposition changed instantly.
"What? Impossible!"
"Sir, the entire Crusader fleet is approaching Gannon as we speak. We have to get you out of here!"
"I am not going anywhere without my family!" David said as he stormed out of his office, and began to head down the main hall to the elevator. General Valon and the other Arcadian knights followed.
"Apparently our peace treaty with Salaras has been broken," David said to General Valon as his presidential staff began rushing in, packing up important technology and documents.
"It would seem that way, sir."
"I want my transport ready in five minutes."
"Already done, sir."
"Excellent. Sound the sirens, and evacuate the citizens to the sublevels. I want every single planetary battery aimed in the first quadrant."
"They will come from the third quadrant, sir."
David double backed to his room as an Arcadian knight handed him a bulletproof vest, which he proceeded to strap on. "Well then, aim them towards the third quadrant! Their ships will not enter this city! Hey, Sergeant!" David shouted to an Arcadian knight that was packing up personal belongings in David's bedroom.
"Yes, Mr. President?"
"Did you grab my wife's wedding dress? She would kill me if we left without it. Sentimental value, you know?"
David walked away from his room as the Arcadian knights were continuing to rush around the home. They were fiercely packing up important documents, and the presidential family's belongings. David and General Valon made their way to the main foyer, and waited by the elevator.
"You tell the soldiers on the space platforms to fire as soon as they get into range," Valon said to the squad leader.
"Yes, sir."
General Valon tapped the transmitter in his temple, and relayed the order as he scrolled through reports on his holoband.
"Sir, our primary fleet is stationed in the outer Salaran sector awaiting the remainder of the Remoran fleet, but they haven't shown yet. They are several hours late."
"No matter. Tell Admiral Simone to get here as soon as possible. We are going to need all the help we can get. The assault on Salaras will begin after we destroy them here."
General Valon again relayed the order and nodded to President Harris. "They will arrive here in seven hours, sir," Valon said. David then had a thought. He knew Arcoh, and he knew Salaran tactics, and to him it all seemed very strange.
"Why would Arcoh attack the capital of the GDR without addressing the galactic consulate? He is going to be slaughtered! His whole fleet wiped out for nothing!"
The doors of the elevator opened and David smiled, until he saw his wife. She was crying hysterically, with a gun pressed against her head, along with a sufficient group of men that crowded the elevator. The Arcadians raised their weapons, until the contents of the elevator spilled out. The first being the lifeless body of Armando the butler.
CHAPTER 18 – CONVICTION
David dropped to his knees as a man stepped out of the shadow and began to laugh mildly. "The range of the details concerning your defense network is truly amazing. I can even tap into it when your private elevator is in use, and when someone is about to enter it," Arcoh said as Silas pushed David's wife out of the elevator. She crawled over to him and he cradled her in his arms. David looked over to his children, who were crying and were being held back by Silas. David shouted in fury as tears filled his eyes.
"STAND DOWN!"
As the Arcadian knights dropped their weapons, Arcoh and Legate Ivan walked up to David. The giant legate carried Mark and Helena at his side, as the giant Silas, with his new exoskeleton, held the president's children close. Then Mark spoke, feeling only sorrow, and absolute failure. It was a feeling, I'm sure, he had hard
ly ever felt in his life.
"I'm so sorry, old friend. We were betrayed."
"I don't think he wants to hear your sympathies, Commander Wyman. It is so good to finally see you again—the famous President David Alexander Harris. On behalf of the Kingdom of Salaras, I would like to say it is an honor."
Arcoh extended his hand to David as he shook in anger, continuing to stare at Silas, who smiled as he held his children back.
"You know it is very rude, not to mention unprofessional, not to shake the hand of a fellow leader of Eden when it is offered so graciously."
"You will burn in hell forever for what you have done to the people of Eden, Arcoh."
"Enough. Now here's how this is going to work. You are going to call off your fleet and surrender to my legions."
"Arcoh, you are truly the arrogant fool Eden makes you out to be. Commander Wyman only knows the guilt I've had in my conscience. Insulting you ask me that, you sick bastard. I will cut your throat, Arcoh. You hear me! I will slaughter you! And feed you to your children!"
"Why do you defend a man such as this, Mark? His fear dictates his actions. That is a truly terrible quality, hardly anything less respectable."
"He's a good man, Arcoh. He would do anything for his people," Mark said.
"You think so, Commander?"
"I know so."
"I will prove you wrong, Mark. I want to show you something. I want to show all of Eden something, right now."
"I will nuke my own palace to see the color of blood that courses through that black heart! Let go of my family, or we will all burn together!"
Arcoh then laughed slightly as he let the silence build in the room. It would be a minute before Arcoh would show them what power really was.
"How poetic. You . . . you are a liar! LIAR! SILAS!"
Silas grabbed David's daughter, the youngest child at three years old. She was just learning to speak. Silas snatched her arm and pulled her in close, while he unholstered his sidearm.
"So do you think I should start with the youngest, or the oldest? Your choice, Mr. President." David stood up on his knees and shouted at the top of his lungs. His wife was crying hysterically, staring at her children, and begging for their lives under her breath. She was completely shattered, as she lay on the floor in front of her beloved husband.
"GET THAT GUN AWAY FROM MY CHILD, YOU FUCKING PYSCHOPATH!"
Silas pulled David's daughter in close and pressed the gun against her head. The helpless toddler began to cry like her mother, desperately trying to escape Silas's firm grip.
"Daddy! Mommy!"
"YOU DON'T THINK I'LL DO IT! TRY ME! TRY ME! I DARE YOU!" Silas shouted to David as Arcoh lifted up his head, and glared into David's bloodshot eyes.
"I wonder. Will you betray your beloved family? Or will you betray the people who elected you to be their leader. Allow me to test your conviction."
David began to sweat profusely as he trembled inches away from Arcoh's evil smile. "I . . . I . . . I CAN'T! PLEASE, ARCOH! SHOW MERCY!"
"SILAS!" Arcoh turned quickly to Silas; he had successfully triggered a reaction from David in the moment of extreme emotional intensity he was experiencing.
"STOP IT! JUST STOP IT! Please just stop it, for the love of god," David said as he fell to the floor, over his wife, and began to sob heavily.
"I'm still waiting for an answer, Mr. President," Arcoh said as he looked down at David. David spoke softly under his somber tone.
"I'll do it. I'll surrender. Just please don't hurt my family. General Valon, relay the order."
"But . . . , sir."
"DO IT, GENERAL! THAT IS AN ORDER!"
General Valon lowered his handgun, and activated his transmitter. "This is General Valon. President Harris has issued an order." He paused and stared into David's eyes. A feeling of great desperation could be felt through the air, for the leaders of the GDR.
Ivan dropped Mark and Helena and began to move towards Valon, who sighed and spoke lightly in disgust into his transmitter. "The unconditional surrender of the GDR, to the Kingdom of Salaras," Valon said with anger and frustration in his voice.
Ivan subdued General Valon, and the additional crusader soldiers began to bind the wills of the Arcadian knights around them; disarming, and leading them towards the elevator. Arcoh laughed and began to clap his hands.
"Ha-ha! Excellent job, gentlemen! Excellent job! All right, Silas, grab her."
Silas pushed the kids behind him, who were then dragged to the elevator, along with the rest of the Arcadian knights—including General Valon.
"NOW WHERE ARE YOU TAKING THEM!" David shouted as Silas grabbed his wife by her hair, and began to pull her away. She held onto her husband's arm for dear life. David stood up and was desperately trying to hold her back.
"DAVID!"
"AMANDA, NO! LET GO OF HER!"
One of the Crusader soldiers took the stock of his rifle and smashed it into David's head, knocking him on his back, and nearly rendering him unconscious. David clutched his head in agony, as he saw Silas throw his wife and children into the elevator. A soldier closed the door to the large elevator, and his family was gone from his sight. He crawled across the hard floor over to Arcoh and pulled on his pant leg. He was now begging for mercy.
"Please don't hurt them. I'll do anything."
"You have already given me everything I could have wanted, Mr. President. They will not be harmed as long as they behave themselves," Arcoh said as he squatted down next to David. He wiped some blood away from David's bleeding forehead, and he began to smear the blood around, with his white-gloved fingertips.
Helena finally broke her silence, feeling concern for the children given her motherly sincerity. "Where are you taking them?"
"Ah! And she speaks! Well, unlike you, Miss Roland, the Good Commander, and the president here in this room. They do not possess certain requirements it takes to become my personal hostages. So like all of my captives, my people, that fail to meet that requirement, I have sent them to a camp. They will correct certain opinions they may have concerning my new world order. As for the citizens of the GDR, their wills will be easier to bend, for they already fear the power of their government. They hear stories about what occurs underneath the surface of this great city. Now politicians and soldiers . . . well, let's just say loyalty is a hard value to correct."
"You are brainwashing them."
"Yes, Miss Roland, to better serve their future governing body." Arcoh bent down to David, who began to crawl away from him as he attempted to wipe the blood from his face.
"So you were saying I am a fool, when it is you, David. You have just sold out the most diverse and beloved civilization in the solar system for the price of a single child. Because of your decision, fifty billion GDR citizens are now at the whims of an alleged ruthless and inhumane sociopath. Me."
David continued to crawl away from Arcoh while he continued to speak. Arcoh would not have this. So he readjusted his squat, and lifted David's head so that he stared directly into his eyes that burned with desire.
"It is people like you that inspire me to change humanity. Your selfish actions have cost your great nation untold accounts of misery, my friend. Through your arrogance you will witness the fall of a nation, and the rise of something completely unprecedented. A new flag, a new symbol, with new ideas, and new ways of thinking. I will humiliate you in front of your very own people. They will learn of the coward that you are. This is the price you will pay, the price you knew you would have to pay for your personal independence. I will show this to everyone in Eden, and everyone will cast you aside."
"Just kill me. Why don't you just kill me? Are you even human!"
"I will kill you. I will kill everything that you are. When I am done, everything that makes you, you, will be destroyed. The only thing that will be left of you will be an empty shell of a man."
David clutched his hands in extreme anger, as Arcoh continued to tower over him, and inform him of his intents and
resolve.
"Then, I will divide your people—but I will reconstruct them. In time they will be begging for order, but most importantly change. And I will give this change to them by removing their freedom, creating dependence, and establishing my sovereignty."
Mark spoke for the speechless leader of the GDR, as he squirmed around on the marble floor of the foyer. "Humanity will never change as long as there are people like you, Arcoh! And traitors like you, Silas!"
"How dare you address the king!" Silas shouted to Mark.
"That's enough, Silas." Arcoh walked over to Mark, and clutched his head while Mark continued to speak.
"You cannot change the nature of an entire species with indescribable acts of violence, and retribution. This is madness! You will never attain the change you believe we deserve! HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THOSE KINDS OF DECISIONS FOR US!"
Arcoh lost his temper, and he began to shake Mark's head with fury. "I HAVE TO! I HAVE TO CONTROL EVERYTHING! Because only then! ONLY THEN! Will Eden understand when I say this."
Arcoh then laughed as he released Mark, stood back to his feet, and backed up towards Ivan.
"The next step in human evolution will be its last."
Ivan rested his hands on Arcoh's shoulders, as banter could be heard through his holoband transmitter. "Sir. The gravity weapon is in position over Remora."
"What! No!" Mark responded in complete shock.
"Yes, Mark. Yes." Arcoh looked out at the city of Arcadia, as the Crusader fleet began to fill up its skies, pouring in from high above the clouds.
"I will destroy your precious Remora, along with the so-called greatest freethinking individuals of the human race. You are learning, Mark. Societies as a whole should not have the right to think for themselves, that is a privilege. Choice is a privilege that can only be obtained through absolute power."
"Choice is a right, Arcoh!"
"No, Mark. Choice must be earned. It is a privilege. It is an award, and it always should be."
"We command the skies, sir," Ivan said as Arcoh began to pace around, and observe his surroundings. "Very good, Ivan. Position the Hammer two hundred kilometers over the bay. Let's also have a fleet of seven starcarriers, and sixty warcruisers on a constant patrol around the city, with, let's say, six regiments of gunships, and we'll get four standing field armies of infantry, and two other armored corps down on the city streets." Arcoh stared into the presidential office as Silas walked up behind him.
A New Divide (Science Fiction) Page 24