Swan Song (Book Three of the Icarus Trilogy) (41 page)

"I'm going to help you today, and if we don't all die and turn into martyrs, I'm going to be the best damned father I can be.  I'm
claiming
it, even if Jess is going to be stubborn for a few months," Norris said with a slight smile, knowing that Jenkins would appreciate the lesson learned.  "This is my redemption, Ryan.  I've made my mistakes and now I want to make up for them.  You understand, I think."

There was silence as Jenkins considered Edward's words.  Norris hoped that his desperate gamble would pay off; he didn't want to fight Ryan when the messiah was all hopped up on adrenaline and ready to head off to war.  For a few moments it seemed like he might have to, Ryan's eyes were full of fury as the silence stretched on, but soon the young Crow's expression broke and he sighed.

"You," Ryan said before looking up at the sniper and shaking his head, "goddamnit, why do you know exactly how to make me stop being angry?  Do you know how much I wanted to wring your neck earlier?" Jenkins asked as he brought his hand behind his head and scratched the back of his neck.

"It's a trade secret, mate," Norris said as his face broke into a mischievous grin.  "So I have your blessing?"  Jenkins scoffed at that and then nodded to the woman behind Norris.

"For fatherhood you're gonna have to square that away with her.  As far as the assault goes, well," he said as he looked back at the Englishman, a weary look on his face.

"I never really had the authority to stop you."

-

James Kaspar found it difficult to breathe in his helmet.  He had spent years wearing helmets just like this, going into dangerous situations just like this, but this time around he was afraid.  Kaspar was the last Lion left, all the others had died in the failed peace summit, and as such he was given a position of honor in the assault, even though he didn't deserve it.  Ahead of him, Templeton, Jenkins and Carver were walking in step with each other, their helmets gleaming in the light of the midday sun.  He felt honored that he was walking next to the three of them.

Kaspar wondered if they felt nervous.

There was no way that James would allow himself to stay behind that day.  He owed it to Urlov, Oliver and all the other soldiers who had given themselves to the EFI.  Kaspar had made sure that he would be in Jenkins' unit.  He had made sure that he would represent all of his fallen brothers.  And then, when the revolution was over and if he was still alive....

That's when he could return to Elizabeth.

For now he would walk down Rose Street to almost-certain doom.  He didn't know if Homer's last plea meant anything to the general populace; he didn't know how courageous they would be after the failed riots after Atlas' execution.  It was a brazen act for the Earth Freedom Initiative, marching through the streets like this.  The rational part of Jim's mind knew that this was probably suicide, but the idealistic part of him knew that it was entirely poetic.  This was their final act of rebellion, coming into the light.

Jonathon Carver marched along with his surrogate son and all the men who followed behind.  He knew from Ryan's speech that he didn't want followers, but that's all these people really were.  Carver would respect whatever sacrifices they made, whatever heroic acts they accomplished, but Jonathon knew that none of them would be there without Ryan Jenkins.  Carver had never felt so proud of anyone.  That he was able to help this young man achieve something like this was more than he could have ever hoped for.

At the same time, Carver was ready for this all to end.  He knew that this was practically a suicide mission and he was thankful for it.  He knew that Ryan wouldn't want him to throw himself into danger like this just so that he could die in battle, but Carver had been ready for years now.  Jonathon wanted to die.  To a degree, he wished he could have died on Eris so that he wouldn't have had to see the terrible things that had happened on Earth over these last four months. 

The old Crow shook himself from the thought and felt ashamed.  Carver didn't belong as a corpse up there on Eris; he belonged by Ryan's side.  He needed to protect this boy and make sure the dream still existed after today.  It didn't matter if the odds were against them; they needed to succeed.

Carver was about to fall into despair again when he noticed men and women along the sides of Rose Street.  He hadn't expected a crowd like this, especially after the failed riots, but it warmed his heart to see the common people coming out to see their probable death march.  That by itself was enough to cause a warm tear to fall down the Carver's face, but he was shocked by what came afterwards.

The people were joining them.

It started with just a few people, some kids here and there; some grown men as they walked down a few blocks.  But as more people came to join their march it seemed that the floodgates had opened.  Normal people, armed with nothing more than pots and pans or maybe a baseball bat, were joining them on their way to Babylon Tower.

"Do you fucking see this?" Darius asked under his breath, his face hidden beneath the mask of his armor.  However, Carver knew that Templeton's face was filled with wonder, because that's exactly what was happening underneath his own mask.

"I almost don't believe it," Ryan said, choking up from the sentiment.  "Seems Finnegan has a way with words."

"I'm sure he does, kid," Carver said, his voice as gravelly as always.  "But, Hell, they're here for you," he stated before turning to the messiah figure to his left.

"Jesus," Ryan said under his breath, which brought a chuckle from the black man to his left.

"Not just yet, Jenkins.  Some of us still think you're a man," Templeton said while shaking his head.

"God, I hope so," Jenkins said as they continued down Rose Street.

As they passed by each side street, the EFI gathered more and more supporters.  Jenkins knew that there were other deployments walking through the other districts and wondered if this was happening with them.  He wondered if an entire city was rising up against the Trade Union and the tower that stood in the middle of the city.  When Ryan arrived at the center of the city, he was able to see for himself.

The masses were there, calling for Jasper's head.  The only thing stopping them was the barrier of formidable soldiers blocking every route.  It seems that the bloody results of the previous day's riots were just more fuel for the fire.  From his vantage point at the end of Rose Street, Ryan was able to see thousands, perhaps millions of people pushing against the barricades and holding up signs crying for the end of Jasper Montgomery.

Ryan cradled his rifle closer to his chest as he approached the dozens of EOSF officers standing at the edge of Rose Street.  There was so much open ground between the end of the street and Babylon Tower, which caused Ryan to worry, but he wondered how much time he had before he had to open fire on these men standing guard.  The crowds ahead of him parted as the EFI made its approach, and soon Ryan Jenkins was standing only meters away from twenty men who were paid to kill him on sight.

"Get out of the way and we won't kill you," Ryan commanded, hoping that he could avoid violence.  He knew that Norris and the rest of the snipers were watching the confrontation, but he still felt anxious about all the potential death that laid before him. 

He was greeted with silence.  The officers at the barricade did almost nothing when he commanded them to move; only one of the armored men moved his hand to his ear, clearly communicating with a superior officer.  After a few tense moments, the EOSF officers started to dismantle the barricades.  Ryan's brow furrowed at that, but when the EOSF stood to the side and allowed for them to pass, he had to walk forward.

"Don't!  This has to be a trap," Templeton said to his left, but Ryan shook his head.

"It's not," one of the EOSF said as he walked around the corner.  Jenkins could see that the man had a blue insignia painted onto his chest plate.  "Order from on high.  You guys get Montgomery on a silver platter," he said as he stopped within a few meters of the revolutionaries.

"This easy?" Carver asked, already looking through the sight of his rifle.  He was ready to fire at a moment's notice.

"Yeah, the old bastard went too far.  Eris left a bitter taste in our collective mouth, and these last few months have been Hell on everyone, but Jones was the last straw.  Bastard committed murder on television.  Why would anybody respect a military that would defend a murderer?"

"But, he owns the EOSF..." Templeton said, but the officer scoffed at that.

"He doesn't own us, Crow, he just paid our salaries.  I have a fair share of blood on my hands, but there's a point when money just doesn't matter anymore.  What he's done, what he did, it wasn't right.  The EOSF is washing its hands of him; we're just here to make sure the civilians don't get hurt."

"That's awfully nice of you," Darius said, suspicious of every word.

"Believe it or not a lot of us are just looking out for you people.  Hell, I got family in this city, same as many of these soldiers.  Ain't no fucking way I'm gonna shoot my nephews if they come against me.  This war's over, guys.  It's just cleanup," the officer said as he turned and walked over to the barricade.

"So Montgomery's unguarded?" Jenkins asked, but when the officer reached the barricade he turned and laughed.

"Hah, no, didn't say that at all.  He's got a metric shit-ton of private guard up there.  He's definitely bought those fuckers' souls, all right.  Still gonna be a bitch and a half to get to the bastard," the officer said as he undid the clasps of his helmet.

"Well, are you going to help?" Carver asked as the officer removed the black helmet and set it underneath his arm.  The man's face was old and weathered, scars marking the sides of his face and a well-trimmed moustache covering his upper lip.

"Hell no.  If your resistance can't take care of some private guard then I'm sure as hell not gonna surrender to you, but, well.... Old bastard has his finger on the button.  Threatening to gas the other asteroids like he did to Eris.  We ain't gonna help him anymore, but we can't go in like you can.  You guys have, what they call, a flair for this kind of thing," the old soldier said before taking a cigar out of the satchel at his side.

"He's going to do it again?  Are you kidding?" Kaspar asked from Templeton's side, but the EOSF officer sniffed loudly before nodding sullenly.

"'Fraid not," he said before looking into the featureless mask of Ryan Jenkins.

"Surrender to us?" Jenkins asked as he neared the officer, focusing on just the previous statement.  "Just who are you?"  The man sighed as he rummaged around the satchel to bring out a lighter.  He chewed the end off of the cigar and then took his time lighting the roll of tobacco.  After a few puffs of smoke he withdrew the cigar and grunted.

"Lancaster.  General Lancaster.  Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Jenkins.  This is our official surrender," he said before bringing the cigar between his teeth.

"Get in there and topple the goddamned thing already.  You insurgents are sneaky enough for it," he said as he pointed at the tower with his thumb.  Ryan watched him skeptically and squeezed the handle of his rifle.

"How do you know I'm Jenkins?" he asked, but the general just shook his head at that.

"You fucking idiots were marching down main streets.  Had a few scouts look for Crows and here you are.  You idealists and your grand statements.  Seriously," he said as he looked at Jenkins out of the corner of his eye.  "Get it over with.  The others might change their minds right quick if you fart around like this."

Jenkins looked at the older man in the EOSF armor and wondered if he could trust him.  He looked to his left and knew what Templeton was thinking without asking; the revolutionary wanted to go in guns blazing.  He looked to his right and realized that Carver had already lowered his weapon.

"It's good, kid.  They might as well be mercenaries, but the EOSF has always been upfront about policy."

"You sure?" Ryan asked as he looked at the man in the cloud of cigar smoke.

"Certain."

"Well ....alright," he said as he started forward, his troops following behind him.

"'Atta boy," Lancaster said as the messiah figure passed.  "Tell you what," he stated before reaching into his satchel and retrieving another cigar, offering it to Jenkins.

"For after you put a bullet into the bastard.  Wish I could be there."

-

Jenkins and his comrades sprinted towards Babylon Tower, leaving most of the civilians and new recruits behind to manage the crowd in the square.  The men inside Montgomery's tower were going to be elite guards, the kind of people that would mow down hopeful revolutionaries.  Only the veterans that had been fighting for most of the revolution would have the training to fight properly.