The Last Revolution (39 page)

Alexander stretched out his wrist deck, and clicked a few buttons on his keypad.

Seconds later Alden’s deck lit up with a new message.
It was me.

“You’re the one that’s been helping us? Helping us to kill…you?” Despite his confusion, he felt a bit embarrassed.

“I had certainly hoped it would not come to that. Everything that has occurred so far was so that I could bring you to this moment with the skills and experiences you now possess. Alden, you may have been looking forward to this for several weeks now, but I can assure you I have been looking forward to this for decades. I know that you have a lot of questions, but if you would permit me, I’d like to tell you a story.”

“You mean more lies,” Alden shot back.

“All I can do is give you my word that it’s the truth. As I’m sure that doesn’t carry much weight right now, I’ll leave the final decision up to you.” Alexander placed his hands behind his back, and then slowly paced back and forth.

Gabriel should have been here by now. Had the attack on Apollo City spread to the tunnels? Something was wrong.

“Twenty-nine years ago the Council rose to significant prominence when they negotiated the famous Three Nations Treaty. Prior to that, they had just been a loose collection of prominent religious leaders. They simply could not allow the Democratic Alliance and Sino-Russian Federation to plunge the world into war over the oil reserves outside of Helsinki. It took them years of intense negotiations to create an agreement that each group could tolerate. As a reward, they were granted significant control over the areas that the Three Nations simply couldn’t agree to.

“This included border control, mediation, the lunar territories, outer solar system and of course, helium-3 distribution. At the time, it was believed the only way to keep the peace was to isolate each nation within their borders. They each stopped international travel and built bigger fences. Colonies that had existed for decades on Mars, Enceladus, and Europa were slowly wound down and then abandoned altogether.

“In 2099, another brilliant young researcher named Nathan Connors and I returned to the deserted base on Europa to finish the work they’d started. Our goal was to find life in the frozen ocean that existed beneath Europa’s frozen crust. Our work was groundbreaking. We were so certain that we’d find life down there that we willfully violated international law to make the trip. Sadly, we had no idea how painful the repercussions would be.

Alexander stared off into the distance for a moment before he continued. “Our work and the crime we committed were never a risk to the security of the Three Nations. Ultimately the Council was threatened by our research and what we hoped to discover. If we had found life—I mean real life, not bacteria on Mars—it would have raised more questions than they were prepared to answer. They wanted power, just like everyone else. The Council was not interested in risking that control because of two researchers a million miles away.

“Unfortunately for us, at the same time we undertook our mission, the Council had also planned a mission of their own.” Alexander paused for a moment; sadness was evident just beneath the surface. “Nathan gave his life so I could escape Europa. The only thing he’d asked was that I protect his family. From that day forward, they’ve never stopped hunting me. It’s the reason they refer to me as
enemy number one
. I swore to seek revenge for my friend, and the world that had been robbed of its potential.

“When I returned to the Colonies, I tried desperately to find and protect Nathan’s family… but I was too late. The Council’s retribution was swift. His wife was tried and executed as a conspirator and his infant son taken. In my anger, I conspired with General Stone and the Wests to create the resistance and oppose the Council’s increased authority. We felt like we were at war for the soul of humanity.

“The first ones to go were Constantine and Stefan West. At first we thought their deaths might have been an accident, but it wasn’t long until Jacob was arrested and his men executed. It was only then, when it was too late, that I knew we’d been defeated. It was only a matter of time until they found and eliminated me as well. Kira was sent to live with family friends and I disappeared from society until the time was right for my return.

“Not long after my departure, I received the first bit of good news I’d had in a long time. Nathan’s son had survived. He’d been drafted into a special school started by the Council. Their goal was to create the most advanced and sophisticated military force on Earth. His son would be part of that elite group. They would be located on an unremarkable island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Alden felt the pain welling in his eyes. Now he knew why his parents had never come for him. Why they would never come. “My father’s name was Nathan…”

“Yes. And he was the best friend I ever could have had. He loved you immensely. You were the only thing he ever talked about. Nathan made me promise to look after you if anything ever happened to him. Every day since then, I feel like I failed him. The best I could do was send Father McKinley to watch over you.”

“But you were the one responsible for his death…” Alden stammered.

“Most of what happens on Earth is blamed on me. My last trip to Terra was three decades ago, long before you were even born. You have been tormented by his loss for so very long, but I’m here to tell you that you need not suffer any longer. Father McKinley was not some random priest stationed on the Island because he had nothing better to do. He was a soldier.” Alden looked up into Alexander’s eyes. “My soldier.”

“That’s not possible.”

“He’s been with us since the beginning. We sent him to the Island to watch over you. It was the only way I could guarantee your protection. Why do you think he gave you more attention than the other students?”

“I-I figured it was because he cared about me.”

“He did, he often told me how close he felt to you. It gave him great pains to see you struggle, but he knew there was great purpose in what you were being prepared for.”

“Lies!” Alden hollered back. “How dare you desecrate his memory!”

“I am not lying to you. The truth is often harder to hear than a lie. I do not know who killed him. What I do know is that whoever took the reactor had help from inside the Council.”

“Why would someone inside the Council help the resistance destroy the ADNV Testament… with the Archon onboard?”

“You’re smart enough to know the answer to that question.”

He could feel Alexander studying his every move.

“Alden, I have spent a great portion of my life and resources to bring you to this moment with the skills you now possess. If you want the truth, then here it is. Over the past several decades I’ve been working on something that is incredibly powerful. It is not an overstatement to say that it will reshape the balance of power. It will guarantee our freedom forever, but it’s not ready yet. We need the Cronus Contingency to succeed so that we can buy enough time to finish the project.”

Kira and the tall robot stood behind Alexander; they followed his every word.

“We need your help to protect the colonies until the time is right. The device is securely hidden.” He insinuated towards the large robot behind him. “Primus is the only other one that knows where the device is located. Alden, you are faced with the most important decision of your life. You can return to the Council and serve an organization that murdered your parents and worked to destroy everything they stood for. Or you can return to the place of your birth, fight for your people, and help me finish the work I started with your father.”

Alden looked for something sturdy to hold onto. Everything he still held dear had been completely ripped out from underneath of him. So many secrets, so many lies!

“How do I know that any of this is true and that you really knew my father?”

“You don’t. As you’ve said, people have made decisions for you your entire life. I’m giving you the gift of freedom, no matter what decision you make your future will be your own. Just know that the choices you make will affect countless generations to come.”

Great, no pressure, thanks.
How could he possibly have an effect on that many people? Even before Father McKinley’s death he’d been programmed to hate Alexander, to use every ounce of his capability to hunt him down and kill him. Had it all been an elaborate ruse by the Polemarch? Given Alexander’s perceived connection, it wasn’t out of the question that he could eventually be used to turn on Alexander once he’d gained his trust. Had his entire existence been a lie? If his father had truly been that close with Alexander, Alden could’ve easily been in Kira’s place.

“Alexander, are you there?” General Stone’s voice cut through Alden’s thought process.

“I’m here,” Alexander responded.

“The Council just declared martial law. I’m in New Tranquility and I’ve got Richardson with me. Demetrius and Li Tao are on the line with us as well.”

“Why are you out there? I thought Viktor was supposed to handle Senate security.”

“It’s a long story. The Three Nations have already started to place the blame on the lunar colonists for the attack on the Testament. I’ve received unconfirmed reports that the Three Nations are preparing to send an additional 100,000 troops…each. They’re ready for war.”

There were several moments of silence and then Richardson came on, “We must initiate the Cronus Contingency. It’s now or never.”

“What’s our operational status?”

Richardson cut in, “The colonies are in the process of arming their citizens. They await our orders to attack and arrest the provincial governors.”

“The problemis that we still don’t have control of the anti-meteorite batteries and we haven’t knocked out the Council Military base yet. Even if we purge each of the colonies and take control of the command structure, we’ll never be able to fight off 300,000 soldiers,” Stone responded.

“Leave the military base to me,” Demetrius said. “The bomb is here. I’ll get it done.”

“It’s too big of a risk for you to go,” Richardson said. “Can’t you send someone else?”

“No. Too important, I’ll make sure this is done.”

“Okay, what about the anti-meteorite batteries then?” Alexander asked. “We’ll never be able to take over their controls with anything less than a full assault on the control room and Level Two.”

“I’ve got an entire company of soldiers stationed outside the city. They’re just waiting for my orders to attack,” Stone responded. “I haven’t been able to reach Thereon and we need someone to lead that assault.”

Alexander scoffed, “I’m a scientist, not a soldier.”

Alden could feel Alexander and Kira both turn to look at him. Even the military robots that still surrounded him seemed to implore him to make the decision. But they were just piles of metal configured a certain way, toasters. How could they be so aware of the moment?

Alexander stared at Alden for a few more moments, and then said, “We need someone who can lead these men into battle, Alden. The war games, missions, travel to the surface—this is what you were born to do. It’s your destiny and we need you now more than anything.”

Kira’s eyes pleaded with him to say yes. This is what she’d been preparing him for all along. For the first time in a long time, everything fell into place and made sense.

Alexander must have read his thoughts because he pressed his deck. “We’re a go.”

“I’m initiating the Cronus Contingency. Demetrius, Lee, you know what you have to do.” Stone commanded. “Richardson, contact your people, make sure they understand what’s about to happen. The moment they’re called upon, we need them to take action and ratify our secession from the Three Nations.” Muffled applause broke out in the background. “You must go now. There are a dozen transport ships on the way from Hyperion as we speak. We have to gain control of those batteries or everything else will be a waste. I don’t need to tell anyone that all of our lives are on the—”

“Not again!” Alexander yelled. “Primus, get Stone back on the line!”

Deafening gunfire erupted around them as a hail of bullets rained down on them. Gabriel leapt from a secret perch above, followed by twenty elite Council soldiers.

The robot soldiers around Alden retreated behind cover and then fired back at the soldiers. Bullets ricocheted off Gabriel’s armor. Alden was shocked to see that he was no longer wearing the normal Council space gear he’d last seen him in, but a freshly polished red zero-grav combat suit. It had to be one of the two that had gone missing from the resistance’s military vault.

Several rappelling soldiers were hit with bullets and they tumbled the rest of the way to the floor. Alden rolled towards Kira and helped protect her from the incoming fire. Despite the casualties they had already sustained, the soldiers’ advantage point allowed them to pick the robots off one at a time. A bullet pierced the head of the one of the robots and he thudded to the ground, as dead as the human soldiers around it.

By the time Gabriel’s feet touched the ground, the last of the robotic fighters had been eliminated. Gabriel’s men pointed their weapons at Alexander, Primus and Kira. Gabriel walked over and helped Alden up. He pulled the sidearm off his suit and handed it to Alden.

“Thanks for the distraction.”

Gabriel turned to Alexander, raised his weapon and pointed it at him. He motioned for his soldiers to apprehend Primus. They grabbed the robot and placed his hands behind his back, and then handcuffed them together.

“This will make the Archon
very
happy.”

“Haven’t you heard?” Kira asked. “The Archon has been killed.”

“Unfortunately, the previous Archon has passed away. The Thesmothetai, or sitting Council members, are voting on a new leader as we speak. You can be assured that Kalligan Vasentus will be sworn in as the new Megas Archon before the day is out.”

“Vasentus!” The name spat off Alexander’s tongue like acid. Alden had never witnessed so much hatred packed into a single word before.

Gabriel looked over at his men. “Load the prisoner into the ship. Make sure he is fully contained, then lock him in the cargo hold like the piece of equipment that he is.”