Thursday couldn’t come fast enough.
Over the next few days leading up to the meeting, they trained and taught every compound member who wanted to be there for the fight how to use a weapon if they didn’t know how to already. They needed to be prepared and ready, so they spent most of the remaining hours aboveground. Each night Mackenzie fell into bed exhausted.
The night before they were due to storm the meeting, Mackenzie lay with an empty space in their bed as she had since Cody put him in a cell again. She missed Ryan like a child missed its comforting rug. Being separated from him caused her to ache relentlessly.
Would Cody stay true to his word and keep Ryan safe? Could they trust her brother? So much was happening she’d barely had time to think about Cody and his sincerity.
It was mere hours before she would see Ryan again. They would be free to start a new life together. It would take a long time to get their city back to the way it was before, but it would be exciting to help rebuild with the love of her life.
Her sleep was restless and when Simmo banged on her door before dawn she felt like a tank had hit her.
“I'll be right out,” she called.
With grit determination, she put on black cargo pants and placed her spare magazines in the pockets. She then heaved on heavy black army books and a black t-shirt. It made her feel powerful, like a true rebel wearing all black. She arranged her weapons belt around her waist and took a deep breath.
35
Time for Action
The trio and their fellow compound members of around sixty arrived before the gangs made an appearance. Simmo and Mackenzie cast anxious glances towards each other. Would the gangs turn up or had they changed their minds?
“Where are they?” Ryder whispered in the hazy dawn.
“I don’t know. They’ll be here soon, they have to be.”
As though she conjured them in her mind, the gang members began to arrive in groups. Altogether they were over one hundred and fifty strong. The chance for victory, the opportunity for this to be all over, excited her. Within minutes she would be able to see Ryan again, hug him, kiss him and hold him like she didn’t want to let go. Her apprehension tickled her impatience.
With Simmo leading, they marched through the streets towards the GAP compound and the government building where the meeting was to take place.
The sun cast its first ray of light in yellow and orange as Mackenzie, Ryder and Simmo approached the facility while the rest hid a short distance away waiting for the signal. They announced themselves and the guard called through to Cody, who then came out to meet them at the gate.
“Take them to my office,” he told the guard.
As they walked towards his office the trooper surprised Mackenzie. “Are you ready for today?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” replied Mackenzie.
“I’m on your side. I’m one of the soldiers General Edwards has recruited to take down Sinclair.”
“Well, we’re glad to have you on board then.”
They entered Cody’s office together to wait for his return. Thereafter they would free Ryan and the captives, and raid the armoury.
Using the prepared signal, Cody alerted the rebels. When they came out from hiding and raced into the compound, Cody felt a surge of hope. They had the necessary manpower to take Sinclair down. His conviction was strong, much stronger than it had been when he was a government pawn.
Soon they were all crammed in his office. So far they appeared to have gone undetected.
“Can we get Ryan out of his cell now?” Mackenzie asked.
Her anticipation to see him was evident in her frown and set of lips.
“Yes, I’ll get him and bring him here. Then we can go below and release the prisoners.”
Several long, anxious minutes passed as she waited for her brother to bring the love of her life to his office.
“He’s not coming back, is he?” she whispered to Ryder.
“He will. Cody’s different. I’m sure they’ll be here any second.”
The doors opened and Cody entered followed by Ryan.
She ran to him, pushing her way through the people crammed into Cody’s office, and threw her arms around his neck, seeking his lips. Not caring that everyone watched, she poured her love for him from her mouth to his. She whispered how much she loved him in between hot kisses.
Cody clearing his throat brought them back to reality. They had no time to waste; they could catch up on missed time later.
“Attention, everyone,” Cody shouted over the buzz in the room. “How many of you aren’t armed?” There was a show of hands. Cody counted. “Looks like about a dozen or so. I’ll need a couple of people to come with me.”
“Simmo and I will come,” Ryan called out.
“No, please stay here,” Mackenzie urged, placing a hand on his arm. “I don't want you out of my sight again.”
“It’s fine, Mackenzie,” he said. “We’ll be back before you know it.”
Cody led the way through halls until they came to a large, heavy metal door. A combination lock sat to the side on the wall and Cody entered a four-digit code before opening the door.
Although they’d talked and Cody seemed on the up and up, it paid to be cautious. This man had been involved in many despicable things. He appeared to have changed, become more like his brother and sister, but it could be an act. It could be a trap. For Mackenzie's sake, Ryan hoped it wasn’t.
With his hand Cody encouraged them to follow, so they entered the large vault. The walls were lined with every type of gun one could imagine, along with cartons of laser cartridges on a bench running along the walls. It made their shed of weapons seem minuscule.
Without hesitation, they grabbed as many guns as they could carry and placed several boxes of cartridges in the pockets of their fatigues. Confidence for victory coursed through Ryan. This was it, the defining moment, the moment where they took control and got their lives back. It didn’t seem real.
“Let’s head back. The quicker we go to the conference room the better. If we are discovered, I don’t know what will happen,” Cody said before leaving the room and then closing the door behind them.
“What about the prisoners?” Ryan asked.
“They are being released as we speak,” Cody informed.
A sigh of relief fell from her lips when the door to Cody’s office opened again. The group handed out guns and ammunition to anyone unarmed. The buzz in the air was electrifying, the excitement palpable.
Anxiety filled Mackenzie's chest. This was it. The time had come. Not knowing what they faced tightened her chest. It all came down to Cody. Was he setting them up? No, she shook her head; he wouldn’t arm all of these people, including the rebels from below now joining them, if it was a trap. She had to trust her brother. The brother she’d known growing up.
Those volunteering to disarm the guards included Cody, Simmo, Ryan and some gang members, and they exited the room first. The rest followed with Mackenzie at the front.
She ran the plan over in her head. Twenty were to storm in and disarm the guards. The troops on duty during their conferences didn’t wear armour or helmets. Cody had informed them that troops didn’t feel the need while at the barracks. This was a lucky break for them.
Mackenzie pondered why they even had guards present within the conference room if they weren’t properly armed. Maybe the councillors preferred the security of having them there. The reason didn’t matter; the point was this would work to their advantage. She almost giggled aloud; they were in for one hell of a shock within mere minutes.
When they reached a set of double doors, Cody halted everyone with his hand.
“These are rear entry doors that open up behind the horseshoe-shaped table they sit at. The guards are spread out around the table. If we go in this door with our guns out, we can hopefully catch them unawares before they have a chance to draw their weapons.”
Each of the group involved in the first step nodd
ed in turn. Mackenzie’s heart beat so fast she could feel the pulse at her neck. This could go horribly wrong. It could be a trap, it could be suicide, but she had to believe in Cody. She reached forward and squeezed Ryan’s hand. He turned to her, gave her his boyish, crooked smile and squeezed her hand in return.
Cody opened the doors slowly, peering in as he did so. Then he shoved them open fully and took off inside; the rest followed and disappeared into the room.
Without thought, Mackenzie stepped forward and watched the proceedings from the doorway. The startled faces of the troops and government members were priceless.
“Don’t move,” Ryan ordered.
All heads turned to him as the group filled the room and surrounded them. The troops held up their arms. There was no time to reach for their weapons. Their surprised faces indicated they understood they wouldn’t be able to draw their weapons and survive it. The plan had begun the way they hoped.
“What’s the meaning of this?" said Sinclair, standing up from his position in the middle of the long horseshoe-shaped table that filled the room.
“Take out your weapons and put them on the floor,” Cody commanded.
Once the soldiers did so, it was time for the rest of their group to join in. With a hand gesture, Mackenzie signalled and they joined everyone in the room.
“I repeat,” yelled Sinclair. “What is the meaning of this?”
“You are to stand down, Sinclair. You are to surrender and disband the government. The citizens of Artinean are taking back their city,” Cody said.
“You can’t do this!”
“Watch us,” Ryan smirked.
Then dozens of heavy footfalls sounded and chaos ensued as GAPs stormed the chamber. Gunfire and shouts resonated.
Mackenzie stood back and watched, shock filling every pore until goosebumps covered her body. Somehow they must have alerted the rest of the troops. This could turn into a bloodbath.
Without further thought she started shooting at unarmoured troops and watched each one in turn go down. Everywhere people fell from both sides. Across the room Cody fought hand to hand with a soldier while Ryan fired shots at GAPs around him.
In the corner, Sinclair was surrounded by his government officials and GAPs. Gunfire took the troops down one after the other. Mackenzie glanced across when she heard a whoop and realised Simmo had been the one to take them all down.
Sinclair and his government were vulnerable. Simmo, with a small team, led the government officials from the room. A shout from Ryan to turn around had her spinning on her heels. A soldier with a gun aimed at her chest ordered her to drop her weapon. She simply pulled the trigger and took him down.
Government was in custody and a large GAP contingent was dead. The remainder began to lower their weapons after a command from Ryan. They surrendered and a huge cheer rang out from those who had survived.
A solitary shout bounced around the room. “No!”
It sounded like Cody. In horror, Mackenzie watched as he leapt in front of Ryan and took a bullet to the chest. A lone soldier had taken a shot as he lay dying on the floor. Her brother went down hard.
“Cody!”
Racing over to her brother, she dropped to her knees and pressed her hands against the wound on his chest.
“Cody, you can’t die. You hear me!”
“I don’t think I have much choice,” he said with a smirk. “It is worth it. What I did to his family, he deserves to live free with you.”
“Cody, please don’t give up.”
“I’m dying, Mac. Please live a happy life.”
“I will, I promise.” Tears streamed down her face. She took his head and rested it on her knees while running a hand over his hair. “I love you.”
“I love you more than you will ever know,” he gasped out between dying breaths. Holding his hands, she sobbed. “Don’t cry,” he murmured. “This is what I deserve.”
“No, you don’t. Please don’t leave me, medical help is coming.”
“It’s too late. This is my karma … the things I’ve done, Mac. This is what I deserve.”
“NO!” she cried, her tears running off her face and dripping onto her lap. “No, you don’t, you were like us and you were brainwashed. It was dad who was the evil one in this family, not you.”
“I love you, cuddle pie,” he whispered her childhood name.
His use of the endearment from a brother who looked after her for so long tore sobs from her chest. Ripping apart the last of what was left of her heart. She hated this world. This place and everything they stood for.
“See ya, kid,” he murmured.
As he took his last breath his eyes closed. Her head went to his chest, hoping his breath wasn’t really gone. An anguished cry flew from her mouth. The stab to her heart was so acute she thought she would drown in sorrow.
She turned to look at the corpse that was the soldier who had fired the shot to kill her brother. She wanted to spit her hatred onto his body. Contempt wasn’t a familiar emotion. Mackenzie couldn’t remember hating anyone before, but her rage for Sinclair turning a father bad and then losing him, and now losing her beloved big brother, was terrible. She wished he was dead like his troops littering the floor.
Ryan!
Her brother had saved Ryan, but she couldn’t see him close by. She swung left and then right. Where was he? She was torn between holding her brother for a little longer and looking for her sweetheart. Torment dragged another scream from her throat. Gently she lowered her brother’s head to the floor and kissed his cold forehead.
“Goodbye, my darling big brother.”
“Mac, are you okay?” Ryder asked, startling her.
“Oh, Ryder, yes,” she said, getting to her feet.
“Cody?”
“He died saving Ryan.” Her tone was flat, her body numb.
A quivering sigh preceded his words. “He died doing the right thing, Mac. He died to change this world and to give you love. I’m glad he didn’t die on their side.” He held out his hand and she took it. He pulled her to her feet. “Let’s get out of here. Our people are going to bring out the injured …”
“Have you seen Ryan?”
Ryder looked back and forth. “No, not for a bit.”
“Let’s go outside. I need some fresh air. I have to get out of here.”
36
The Aftermath
Confusion compelled Ryan to leave the building. Everything overwhelmed him and he found it all hard to believe. They had defeated the government. The city would return to its former glory and he would be able to live aboveground again.
He should be elated. He should be eager to start a new life with the love of his life, but all he felt was fear and loathing. Could he go back to a normal life? Had he changed so much that he wouldn’t be able to adjust to the new world?
Would Mackenzie still want him now he wasn’t a renegade, a rebel, thrilling and exciting? Her brother had saved his life. Would she forgive him for losing her brother? That he made the sacrifice of his life for Ryan. He couldn’t get his head around anything; it was all surreal.
They had suffered many causalities, but not as many as he had feared. All around people grinned, hugged, jumped around, and showed ecstasy over their victory. Ecstasy at being free to live a life they wanted to live without a tyrant or a corrupt government controlling every aspect of their lives.
Ryan was well aware he was being a coward hiding from her, but he needed fresh air. He needed to get everything straight in his mind.
He should wait for her or go and find her. She was okay; he’d seen her with Cody when it was all over. She was safe and that was all that mattered right now, but even out in the fresh air he couldn’t breathe. His chest so tight he could barely take in a breath. He had to get out of here.
After searching the barracks and the grounds outside Mackenzie realised he’d gone. Why did he leave? She had to know he was okay. She needed him. To feel his arms around her and tell her everything was all right,
that they didn’t have to hide anymore.
Ryan was nowhere to be seen. His guilt over Cody would have compelled him to leave. She understood it would be too much for him, but where would he go?
She located Simmo and asked him if he had seen where Ryan went, but he hadn’t. She then looked for Ryder to tell him she was going back to the compound to see if he’d gone there. It would be his comfort zone until he sorted through what had happened. It was going to be a huge adjustment for him living aboveground again.
Leaving the group to clean up, she started walking to the compound. As though sensing something had happened, or seeing more people on the streets than usual, families came out of their houses and stood around chatting to each other. The laser walls had been disarmed and everyone seemed to relish standing outside safely.
Some of the gangs that fought at the barracks wandered around and people she recognised from their compound were entering dilapidated houses. They were returning home. Someone must have given them the news it was safe to return to their old homes.
Ryan.
He must have gone back there to let everyone know it was safe.
As she walked across the desert, she passed families from the compound carrying their possessions. Smiles lit up every face as they breathed in the air and headed towards home.
There was a lot of rebuilding to be done and a new government to be elected. As only Sinclair’s government benefited from retail establishments, there would be enough funding from government scams to rebuild the city and all the houses left abandoned when everyone went underground and squatted in old buildings. People would have a real home again.
After an encouraging walk across the plains, Mackenzie reached the compound and headed down the ladder, hopefully for the last time. Weaving her way through the tunnels also for the last time, feeling dirty for the last time, she made it to their quarters.
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