Paragon
Page 17
Kepp looked on as Morian, whose struggles were becoming feeble, coughed a few times. He sprayed a few flecks of blood into the air, and then put on his best taunting grin.
"I...had...her..." he whispered with effort, the blood gurgling as it rose in his throat, "It...was...good..."
Kepp closed his eyes slowly, the image of Julia coming to his mind one more time. She shook her head angrily, her eyes narrowed.
I know, Julia. I know...
Morian's struggles had ceased now, and he lay still, with death slowly tightening its hold over him.
Kepp opened his eyes, watching without expression until the life had utterly drained from Morian.
"Now it's over," he whispered, standing.
He stared at the ceiling, gazing into an emergency light mounted above him. He closed his eyes again; he saw Julia's face. She smiled at him, her eyes curving upwards in that delicate fashion that he had loved, and then waved.
She began to drift away from him, into the darkness.
He felt no compulsion to reach out or try to catch her; instead, a primal realization flooded his being: this is my past - now I can put it to rest.
It felt like waves of relief, and a bittersweet joy. He opened his eyes, tears rolling freely down his blood stained cheeks.
A message came over his commlink.
"We've set the grenades. Ten minutes," said Haur.
Kepp wiped the tears away roughly.
"Roger that," he replied, his voice a little shaky. "I'm all done up here. Rendezvous at the Deck C pods."
Wait...
"Actually, belay that," said Kepp, suddenly remembering something, "I need you to come to the bridge - there might still be people on board."
The escape pod, big enough for twenty five occupants, held only thirteen members this time. Small explosive charges blasted the pod free from the ship, and then the rockets ignited, propelling it towards the Earth. They had searched the Bridge, and found the remaining Founders, who had all had their throats slit.
Hill and his men weren't letting that get them down though. They exchanged high fives, and there was plenty of back slapping and the miming of some particularly good kills. Their raucous conversation and laughs of relief filled the inside of the cylindrical pod.
"You should have seen those poor bastards," Haur said to Kepp, who sat quietly to one side staring into space. "We caught them as they were trying to come back from the other ship; it was lambs to the slaughter. They never had a chance."
"Good," replied Kepp simply. He felt completely empty inside; it was as if by letting go of his past. It now felt like Julia was truly gone.
"Hey," Haur said, shaking Kepp slightly by the shoulder, "Not thinking about those old men were you? There was nothing we couldn't have done."
Kepp didn't reply.
"Hey," Haur said again, slightly more insistent, Kepp glanced at him briefly. "You okay?"
Kepp thought about that for a few seconds, his chin resting on some fingers.
"Yeah..."
As the pod streaked away, beginning its atmospheric re-entry, the grenades went off, triggering a chain reaction of explosions. The now derelict battleships went up in a flash, like a mini-supernova. The emitted waves of pure light poured over the world, to be seen by any who happened to be looking, and those that saw it knew - just knew - that something momentous had just happened.
Chapter 17 – Epilogue
The clear brown whiskey was decanted into a glass, sloshing around and making itself at home with the two ice cubes already present in its new container.
Saro set the glass down in front of Kepp, who had cleaned himself up and was now dressed in his civvies - a black t-shirt and a set of cream chinos. He reached for the glass and took a sip.
"Single malt scotch. This is an excellent brand," said Saro.
"Maybe," replied Kepp, finding as he always did that whiskey looked better than it tasted.
"Jess will be on her way from the Nevada base tomorrow."
Kepp smiled. "Good, thanks for that, sir."
Saro chuckled. "That was one hell of a mission you accomplished up there."
He continued before Kepp could interrupt, walking around the large mahogany desk that dominated the center of the small office which Saro was using in London. He swirled his whiskey with one hand.
"I have to say, the Earth space defense was completely useless, a few hits from the railguns tore those poor frigates apart. Then there was nothing left to do but to wait and worry," he paused, and looked at Kepp. "I hope you realize what you and the others have done here today."
Kepp nodded. "I saved the world," he said.
And avenged Julia.
"Yes," said Saro, "You, Haur and Hill's squad - you're all heroes now."
"Who'd have figured, eh?" Kepp said, staring at his whiskey.
"I hear there are celebrations in the bar taking place. You should go," said Saro.
Kepp downed his whiskey, the smoky flavor stung his throat. "How about you?"
"I'm debriefing Haur next, I might join you later," he replied.
"I'll hold you to that, sir," said Kepp, standing.
He left the room, and saw Haur stood outside.
The two Paragons exchanged a mutual nod of respect. No words were said.
The bar on the first floor of the London military base had never been so packed before. It was filled with as many people as could humanly fit in, and Hill's men, who by now were merrily drunk, had decided that standing on the tables was a good way to make room. Hill was busy making a slurred speech, tipping his pint left and right, when he saw Kepp making his way into the room.
"So, what happens is I nail a bunch of guys in the head, The End. Right, everyone, that there is Paragon Kepp. He is the mean motherfucking badass who offed Morian, mano- a -mano, in a knife fight. Get the man a drink!" he bellowed, the usual SAS restraint replaced with an uninhibited enthusiasm.
People pressed towards Kepp, faces who he didn't even know, shouting at him to be the one who could buy him a pint. Kepp carefully picked his way through to the bar.
"What would you like?" asked the bartender, a rather pretty brunette who had been getting no end of attention from the men this evening. "And fellas, this one's on the house, so put your wallets away. I know you're all eager to get into his pants here, but trust me, you aren't as sexy as you think."
There was laughter and groaning.
She winked at Kepp as she poured his drink.
The jukebox then started to play a heavy metal track, apparently one of Hill and his squad’s favorites, and they began to dance around on the tables, grabbing all the attention again.
Kepp took a long sip of his pint; he couldn't remember the last time he had had any alcohol to drink.
You've earned it, he thought. He felt happy.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder - it was Curtis.
"Good call on the bridge there, Kepp."
"Cheers, Commander," replied Kepp, raising his glass.
"You are one crazy little sister," offered Jenson finally, after they had received the good news from Saro, and had finished jumping around the office, screaming in joy.
"I do what I can," said Jess, giving Jenson a sassy wink.
Her face fell suddenly though, "I...I feel guilty for being so happy. I mean, Mr. Danuwa just died a few hours ago."
Tenzen rolled up behind her and gave her a quick jab in the mid-section with his finger.
"Hey!" exclaimed Jess, jumping in surprise.
"Life is precious. Don't be sad that he died. You should celebrate the fact that he lived. He was a good man. If he is up there, he sure as hell wouldn't want you to be sad now," said Tenzen, with a half-smile.
Jess smiled, guilt somewhat assuaged. "You're right, thanks. I'll try."
It was nearing four in the morning now, and the celebrations were somewhat dying down. Lieutenant Hill and most of his squad had been carried off, unable as they were to walk. Kepp was outside on the balcony, catc
hing some fresh air, beer glass in hand.
He'd lost track of how many he'd had - maybe this was the ninth?
Ah, who gives a shit.
"You reckon you'll be able to sleep tonight?" asked Haur, coming up beside him.
"Couple more of these and that ought to do it," replied Kepp, who was feeling the effects of the alcohol swirling through his normally clean system.
Haur chuckled.
"It all seems a bit like a dream now, don't it?" asked Kepp.
"Yeah, hell, would have been barely believable as a dream," replied Haur, taking a swig of his own beer, and then burped.
"So how's the wife?" asked Kepp.
Haur chuckled.
"Absolutely livid. She wants me to quit."
"Are you?"
Haur rubbed his chin, which was now rough with stubble.
"I'll have to sleep on it, but I think so, yeah."
"Whipped," commented Kepp, good-naturedly.
Haur chuckled, "You know it."
There was a pause as the two of them drank.
"So what about you, eh? Still got that urge to go out there?"
Kepp sighed, "I don't know, but it's probably what I'm destined to do."
"Destiny? Ha!" snorted Haur. "I'll tell you what my old man told me: a man's true destiny doesn't lie in battle, or war, or any of that crap. It lies in well tilled earth, a well-kept family, and well raised children."
He burped again, "Scuse me, gotta pee."
"Hey," said Kepp, turning to face his departing back, "You really believe that?"
"Well, it's the option less likely to get you killed. But...if you think about it, it makes sense, doesn't it?" Haur stumbled off towards the toilets.
Kepp faced the stars with his half-full pint of beer.
Well, I guess it makes a little sense.
The next hour went by in a bit of a blur; the remaining groups of people each took their time to come up to him to wish him well and bid him goodnight; some also requested photos. A cloudy eyed Kepp obliged them. Before he knew it, it had come to five a.m. and he stared out across the broad plaza of the military base which was enshrouded in darkness, chin resting on his folded arms. The sky had not yet begun to lighten, so beyond the base, he could still see the stars, twinkling.
He began thinking about the past, and the times with Julia on Mars, those memories which were so tainted with pain and remorse, now seemed to be clear, like it had been rinsed with the fresh water from a mountain spring. He could enjoy the other emotions founds in those moments now. There were some special ones in there; Jess' birthdays were always good, the proposal, several of the new year’s celebrations. Kepp sighed, and finally shelved the memories; that was all in the past now. It was sad, but now, when he looked forward, he no longer saw a future that was closed.
He heard some footsteps; there was the distinct click of a pair of heels.
"So, what are we looking at?" asked a female voice.
Kepp turned his head. It was Liza, her short blonde hair carefully styled in a quirky asymmetric style. She wore small silver earrings and a green dress, which accentuated a rather petite figure. Kepp was taken aback for an instant.
"You?" he blurted, his alcohol fogged brain finding no better immediate response.
She laughed, seemingly pleased. Kepp was too tired to provide an excuse for his blunder.
"So, I never got to thank you for saving me, and now, I guess I have to thank you twice, since you went and saved the world too."
"Oh, don't mention it," replied Kepp, he turned his gaze back across the plaza.
Liza put her head down on her arms too, imitating him.
"The stars are pretty tonight," she said.
Afterword
Rob RodenParker is a full-time information technology professional and a full-spare-time author and independent publisher. He enjoys reading, movies, spending hot days around the pool, beer can pyramid building, fantasy football, and an occasional video game when he has a few minutes to spare.
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Table of Contents
Foreword
Chapter 1 - Servitude
Chapter 2 - Charity
Chapter 3 - Humanity
Chapter 4 – Fortitude
Chapter 5 – Fortitude II
Chapter 6 – Reasons
Chapter 7 – Reasons II
Chapter 8 – Veils
Chapter 9 – Predation
Chapter 10 – Caged
Chapter 11 – The Chase
Chapter 12 – The Chase II
Chapter 13 – The Dragon’s Maw
Chapter 14 – The Knight
Chapter 15 – Desperate Measures
Chapter 16 – Scores
Chapter 17 – Epilogue
Afterword