The Last Revolution (34 page)

“I’ve got the chute.” Mary yanked the fabric off and rolled it up.

The three men each grabbed a rope that hung from a corner of the box. The sides landed in a thump in the soft snow. Inside was a small launch pad with a bullet-shaped missile pointed at the sky. Wings that had been tucked in against the side sprang out into place. Towards the top of the missile was a long canopy window, with just enough room for four people to sit inside.

“Wait!” Daniel stopped them. “The launch controls aren’t coming online. I think it was damaged in the drop.” At that very moment the silence was broken by the sounds of engines, dogs, and raised voices.

“What’s it going to take to fix it?” Alden yelled. “We need to leave now!”

“Just give me a few minutes. I should be able to bring it back online. Just cover me.”

“You heard him,” Alden said. “Mary, over on that hill, provide us sniper cover and act as our eyes and ears.” Alden dropped his shoulder and let the bag slip off. It came to rest at his feet. “Gabriel, you’re with me. Weapons hot!”

Gunfire erupted all around them as yellow streaks cut through the darkness. Tree limbs exploded and little tufts of snow popped up in every direction.

“Contact!” Mary yelled.

Alden reached the edge of the open space. He threw his body against an ancient fir tree for cover. He dropped the magazine of darts from his rifle, and slammed in a new magazine with live rounds. He bent around the tree and fired into the woods. Bullets flew at him and he quickly pulled back into safety. A few meters away, Gabriel cursed the enemy as he unloaded his weapon.

Alden pulled a grenade off his vest, clicked the button, counted to three, and then chucked it as far into the woods as he could. There was a loud explosion, followed by screams of pain as it went off. He squeezed the trigger of his rifle. Vibrations shook his muscles as the bullets ripped through everything in their path.

“It’s fixed!” Daniel yelled.

Behind them,their escape craft was all lit up, including light inside the cockpit. Now it was his turn to work. “Daniel, grab your weapon and take my position.”

Daniel sprinted over. Alden sucked in a few chilled breaths and then ran towards the craft. Bullets ricocheted off its sides. They had to get out of here now.

As he got closer, he pressed a button on his wrist deck and watched the canopy slide back into the body of the craft. He grabbed the reactor on the way up the ladder and jumped inside. He tucked the bag securely under his seat. Alden turned the engines on and checked the gauges. After a few tenacious moments, they were ready to go.

“Get back here, it’s time to go!” Alden looked up just in time to see a mortar round hit the tree near Mary’s position. It exploded against the trunk. The giant structure split in half.

“Mary, get out of there!” Alden yelled.

She was already on the move. Mary rolledout of the way just before it crashed down on top of her. She jumped up and dashed down the hill. Gabriel fell back halfway to the craft before he stopped to lay down some cover fire for Daniel.

Terror surged through his veins as he heard a mortar round sail through the air. Daniel galloped through the snow moving as fast as he could. It was already over. The only thing he could do was watch with horror as the round made contact next to Daniel. A fiery cloud of blood and debris burst into the air.

Gabriel screamed and sprayed his gun across the tree line. Mary stopped outside the craft, loaded another clip into her sniper rifle, and fired on the soldiers that rushed at them through the trees. Gabriel sprinted back towards them. Just as he reached Mary, a series of bullets ripped through her chest and slammed her back against the metal. A blood trail followed her as she slid down and slumped to the ground.

Gabriel let out a startled cry and dove to her side. He bent over, and placed his hands on the wounds to stop the bleeding. He screamed at her to move. Alden jumped out of the cockpit; they had to go. With tears in his eyes, Gabriel leaned over and kissed her lips. Alden slid into her side and put a hand on Gabriel’s. “We have to go now.” They lifted her into the back seat. Gabriel pulled himself into the middle and tried to administer first aid.

Alden’s hand flew over the controls. The launcher geared up just as the canopy closed and locked out all noise. The SRF soldiers sprinted across the field towards their position. Dozens of assault rifles could be seen firing at the launcher. Bullets bounced off everything. The engine roared to life and before Alden could strap in, they rocketed away from the surface. He turned enough to see a red crater where Daniel had been standing. He’d failed him, left him behind; it was all over.

As they streaked across the sky, dots appeared on their radar—fighter jets. There was no way they could catch them. And as they broke the sound barrier, everything sank away, including the surface. A crater began to form in the distance. The reactor had detonated. Streaks of bullets from the fighter jets followed their path but they were already beyond reach. A moment later, they had reached the apex of their journey. They would splash down close to the Island soon. They’d be home.

Alden struggled to hold his head up.
Too fast, just dizzy, will be okay
. He realized he was covered in blood. His head was too heavy to move; pressed back against the chair he stared out at the sky. For just a moment, the sky faded away. All he could see was the blackness of space, filled with billions of stars. It was just so peaceful; he closed his eyes and faded into oblivion.

“I’m so sorry.” Kira leaned in and hugged Alden. “I had no idea.”

He felt numb.

“Did everyone die?”

Alden shook his head. “Gabriel survived, although he never forgave me for what happened to Mary and Daniel.”

“I’m sure he’ll come around at some point,” Kira responded.

“He was on the Island when we were attacked. He’d been sent to secure one of the facilities, but the area was compromised. He’d never let that happen while he still lived. He was killed in action. I’m the only one left now.”

“What happened to them wasn’t your…”

“Please, don’t. I’ve been told a hundred times to honor their memory, feel proud and that my actions were heroic.”

Kira was silent for several moments. She didn’t deserve to be snapped at, but he hadn’t wanted to tell her in the first place. Now that she knew, her reaction was just like everyone else’s. He didn’t want their pity or sadness; he didn’t deserve it. Just once, he wanted someone to tell him that it was his fault.

“Is that how you ended up with this?” She ran her fingers over his shoulder and the location of the bullet wound from when they’d first arrived in Apollo City.

“We weren’t expected to survive. They put us in stasis and sent us to Hyperion. Apparently the Council had been researching biological enhancements for decades.”

“Isn’t that illegal?”

“Not if you’re using it to help people. The Council is a peacekeeping force, they need as much help as they can get.”

“Okay...”

“Regardless, the procedure is so intense that most candidates don’t survive, or at least they didn’t use to. Gabriel and I were the first. The augmentation process fundamentally changes your body, your very DNA.”

“It seems almost inhumane. Is that when the headaches started?”

Alden nodded. “But we’re better for it. No one else can match our speed or strength. We’re the ultimate weapons. Exactly what the Council wanted…and needs.”

“How can you still feel that way after the things we’ve seen?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Nothing’s changed.”

“Nothing’s changed? Everything’s changed! Open your eyes, they’re abducting and killing people in broad daylight!”

Alden shook his head. “They’re not. They’re doing what they have to in order to maintain peace. There are other elements at play that we can’t even comprehend. Remember we’re not here to join the resistance, we’re here to kill Alexander!”

Kira stood up. “After everything you’ve seen and done, that’s the only thing you care about, isn’t it?!”

“Yes.”

“These are good people and they need your help!”

“I will avenge the death of Father McKinley.”

Kira shook her head in frustration and stormed off.

How could she be so blind? He walked off to the work area and the suits. The resistance may have been well intentioned at first, but that didn’t give them the right to bomb buildings and kill soldiers. Did she even care that her father had been punished because of Alexander’s actions? The situation underscored his concern. Whose side was she really on? The park hadn’t been the quiet place he’d been looking for after all.

The next morning Alden was back in the shop when Naiad entered the room.

“Where’s Kira?”

“I don’t know.” Alden tightened the last few screws on the suit.

“I figured she’d want to be here for this.”

Alden shrugged. Liam walked to his side from another part of the shop. “Here’s the deck. It’s calibrated and ready to go.”

“Thanks. Have you seen the motivator?”

“Callisto’s working on it now. He’ll bring it over in a second.”

“Great, we should be ready to go as soon as we get that installed.”

“Is there anything I can do to help out?” Naiad asked.

“There are some screws on the bench near you. Could you bring those to me?”

He did as he was asked. Alden was astonished at how much he’d grown. Since General Stone had returned it was like the entire colony had come to life. People buzzed about with an energy he hadn’t felt since the Island.

The change had been most evident in Naiad. He’d gone from hiding out, to actively trying to help with the suit. Even his demeanor had changed. He stood up straight, and spoke with conviction—something Thereon said he’d never done before.

He liked the kid and appreciated the additional support. “Thanks.” Alden set the screws down and fastened them into the chest plate one at a time. “I saw you with some other kids yesterday.”

Naiad held the metal in place for Alden as he worked. “They’re not my friends.”

“Really? Why not?”

“We just want to help. We’re too young to do much.”

“You’re helping now.”

“I know, but we want to do more.”

“There will be plenty of time for that later. Don’t be in a hurry to throw your life away.”

“We want to help now.” He got quiet for a moment and then leaned in. “The older kids assign us missions.”

“Really, what kind of things have they asked you to do?”

“We’re tracking soldier movements. It’s easy enough for us to get around without causing much of a disturbance. Plus we can fit through places that most others can’t.”

Alden understood; he’d hate to be left out too. “Well, that is an important job. Just be careful while you’re out there. Don’t let them catch you.”

“Thanks.”

“Hey, Alden.” He turned and saw Callisto walk up. “Here’s the motivator for the suit.”

“Thanks. That should just about do it.” He dropped it into the chest plate, swung the cover closed, and put the final screws into it.

A slight commotion rose up behind him. Callisto and Liam had joined Naiad. So had Solana and Thereon, along with someone he hadn’t expected.

Alden gave a slight nod towards General Stone. He received an understanding nod and the non-verbal go-ahead.

He took a deep breath. They’d all put a ton of work into the suits. He felt like he’d done everything right, but after he finished a project and it came time to turn it on, there was always a moment of nerves.

Alden instructed everyone to stand back. He typed a few commands on his wrist deck and pressed the ignition. The overhead crane lifted the suit off the workbench, moved it out over the floor, and slowly lowered it until it was just above the ground.

Pushing another button, the suit popped open and Alden stepped inside. The metal casing closed around him, and then dropped ever so slightly until the feet came to rest on the floor.
Here goes nothing.

He looked out into the audience to see if anyone else would join, but no one showed up. Guess she wouldn’t come after all. He pressed the final button on his wrist deck. The onboard computer sprang to life, along with the heads-up display and anti-matter generator. The suit’s strength took over and he pressed the release button. The suit was now under his control.

Everyone in the audience cheered. Even Stone gave a slow clap. He knew in the depths of his soul, this suit had been built for him.

***

The Jindomas bowed before Arakiel. “Follow me.”

He was escorted through a remote part of Hyperion, closely followed by fifteen fully-armed Council soldiers. Giant windows ran along the wall. The local markets buzzed with activity beneath them.

His cape flapped at his feet as they moved. Arakiel pulled up his hood, and then dropped it down over his head. Although they were far above the masses, he didn’t like the idea that he could be seen. He’d made that mistake already, and he wouldn’t repeat it. The element of surprise was his and he didn’t want to give up the advantage until he had to.

They took a left and moved farther into the station. They were on the hydroponic deck. Hundreds of varieties of trees, plants and bushes grew all around them. It was large and open. Random service members from other parts of the ship strolled between the rows.

“It’s just back here.” The Jindomas stepped off the path and into a grassy area between several trees. They walked through the foliage to a blank metal wall. He pressed a specific spot and a wisp of pressure escaped from the edges of the door. It dropped back into the black space and then slid out of the way.

They stepped through into a small empty room. The soldier touched his deck and the back wall descended into the floor. It exposed a solitary tube that was lit up from the inside. It displayed the most incredible thing he’d ever seen: a zero-gravity combat suit. It was a deep red color with small swaths of black painted across the body.

Arakiel stepped forward. His reflection appeared on the glass just above the surface of the suit. That was exactly what he’d need to complete his mission. The Guardian had been kind to him; he would not fail.