I, KER3NSKY: MESSIAH
A Battletech Story by RougeBaron
Note: I thought I wouldn't be posting this until summer, but given the nature of this Prologue, is there a better time to post this than Valentine's Day?
Honestly, it's a bittersweet time for me to write this part. Through the course of the story, I became more and more attached to Parker because the way I wrote him in 1st-person POV. That's why these series drew a lot of energy and took a lot of time to write. But ending I,Kerensky series doesn't mean that I'm writing Parker off. I just won't write him in 1st-person POV anymore, meaning that I will cut my bond to him by the end of this trilogy. It has been a long and emotional journey, but all good things must come to an end.
I, Ker3nsky takes place between 3073 and 3079 during the Jihad period. SulliMike23 and I chose Victoria (in FedCom, not in CapCon) because at that time the planet was not included in any of canon BattleTech major events. We wanted to have all the liberty we could have. I'm also honored to have Nebelung stars in this story. Kat Wylder had been a very supportive fellow and I am glad I can finally pay homage to Kat's work in an appropriate way. And I'm glad to have Rica and Bien Canonizado on board. They have been helping me with research and ideas to make this series an enjoyable experience.
One thing I need to point out is that some realism in this story may offend readers. The Word of Blake are zealots, we are all aware of that. But I use the fanaticism of a certain religious group (thanks, MosinM38) to depict the Blakists. Please be advised that I am not making reference to any religious group. I am making reference to their radicalism, not their beliefs. If you are still offended, send me a PM. We'll solve it quietly.
BattleTech/MechWarrior and all its components is copyright of FASA, Wizkids, ActiVision, MicroProse, and Micro$oft Entertainment.
Ridinghood Cavaliers and all its components is copyright of me, RogueBaron.
160th Davion Guards / Shooting Stars and all its components is copyright of SulliMike23.
Nebelung and all its components is copyright of Kat Wylder.
Winsome Rose and all its components is copyright of Rica and Bien Canonizado.
No characters were harmed or killed without the consent of their respective owners.
And happy V-Day for everybody.
PROLOGUE
Freedom Hall,
New St. Andrews, Periphery,
Valentine's Day, 3070
"Do you, Parker Kerensky, take Evangeline Ridinghood to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"
I had never understood wedding ceremony. I did not understand why Evee and I had to go through a mnemonic of courses, rehearsals, dinners, meetings, appointments, and a ton of other arrangements that I was too sick to remember. Evee and I knew that we were inseparable, and so did others. The idea of dressing up like clowns, walking in front of guests who already knew the fact that we were lovers, and proclaiming our vows in front of everybody still escaped me. The tedium of this process had annoyed me to the bitter end, so much I came to a point that I would throw up.
But Evee once said that a wedding was a girl's one-time show. Every girl dreamt of a perfect wedding. This was her dream. As irritated as I could be, I would not take this dream away from her. Let her bask on this glimmer. Besides, she said it was a one-time show. I would go with Evee on this one, but I would not tolerate anymore of this. Never again.
"I do," I replied, just like the rehearsal.
"Do you, Evangeline Ridinghood, take Parker Kerensky to be your wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"
Evee stood right in front of me in complete splendor. Her dress was like satin cloud, sprinkled with little gems. She wore the same hairdo as the one she had at Tecumseh: partially pulled behind her head, while the loosened half fell freely on her naked shoulder. A train of silky tulle was embedded on her hair, clamped by gem-studded tiara. She was stunning beyond belief, even more so than 7 years ago when we met at Tecumseh.
"I do," she responded eagerly, smiling.
"Ladies and gentlemen, by the power that is vested in me, I am proud to announce for the first time… Mr. and Mrs. Parker Kerensky!"
The flock stood and clapped while music blared, accentuating the bond between us. The bond that no one could supposedly interfere, until death do us part. Of course it was an absurd concept! Once again, I could bicker on and on about this ritual, but I was tired doing it. I knew that no matter how many silly things I did today, on this ceremony, I would not lose Evee again. It was the most important thing for me.
"You may kiss your bride," the official said to me.
Finally! The only thing that caught my interest. I leaned forward, but stopped inches away from her face. I just had to look at her. Dear Kerensky, Evee was magnificent. I thought 7 years ago was her highlight, but clearly I was mistaken. Her eyes, her cheeks, her lips, her scent, everything lined up in perfect harmony. Added to them the grandeur of a marrying woman, and I had the luxury of the most beautiful girl in New St. Andrews, in Inner Sphere, or in mankind's charted territory, for all its worth.
And she was mine. Mine and mine alone. All mine!
As my lips touched hers, the bells rang, the trumpets blasted, and the choir chanted in alien language, but I did not care about them anymore. Twelve years had passed since we first met at Engadine. Three years we parted, then another 4 years living separately, all because of my stubbornness. The last four years were 'miss and match', with me practically crawling on her feet. But if it was what I needed to understand that love alone was not enough, that I had to work to make it happen, then so be it.
"Hi, honey," Evee whispered amidst the cacophony. "Doing alright?"
"Tell me this is over," I whispered back. "Please, let it be over."
"Oh yeah, it's over," she smiled at my constant impatience. "Only party remains."
"Stravag! Four more hours!" I sighed, to which Evee giggled. She knew how cantankerous I was regarding wedding ceremony, and I could not count how many times she yelled at me, but for some reason she thought I was cute when I was doing it. I swore I was not trying to, and I wished I could wipe that self-righteous smile off her face. But there was something in her face that I had never seen before, something divine. Seeing her in pure joy like this, I thought everything was worth the trouble.
"Then let's get this thing out of our way," she hooked her right arm on my left. "We've waited twelve years for this day. We can always endure four more hours."
I huffed, but there was nothing else I could do. We walked on the aisle toward the reception hall. It was a wide room, enough to host 2000 men, but Evee wanted the guests to be as comfortable as possible, so she arranged tables to hold only 500 guests. The decoration that she chose was exemplary. She did not mind doing all of these. In fact, she was happy arranging seats, decorations, food, music, servers, wines, and all the little details that would make her perfect wedding perfect, without my help.
My contribution? To shut up and do everything she said.
As we entered the hall, servers scrambled us with hors d'oeuvres, and the band played music that got everybody in the mood. We initiated the toast and then walked around to greet our guests while they were filled up with culinary perfection that Evee prepared with the best cooks in New St. Andrews. First the MacGregor's family, my current employer who had been thrilled to have an ex-Clansman working in their army.
Then Evee's battalion, members of Ridinghood Cavaliers in whom I served as the CO of the battlemech company. Alison was the maid-of-honor, some sort of lance commander of the bridesmaids. Kangpae was the best man, a clear misnomer because he was not the best man in the room. Wedding terminologies were absurd. Then the ex Kuritans, who still snapped a begrudging stare at me from time to time. I did not know why they still saw me as an outcast. I thought marrying Evee would soften their attitude toward me. I was wrong, especially about Yamada.
Then some Davion representatives, in which the Garret family belonged. Evee's past collaboration with 160th Davion Guards earned her a special place in Davion's list of liaisons. She exchanged banters with Kyle and gave him a warm hug, then did the same to Natalie, and kissed their son Thomas. Then it was my turn to meet Kyle. I knew he was going to make fun of me, so I braced myself while I offered him a handshake.
"You look great in tuxedo," he chimed, wild smile on his face.
"I always keep my promise," I replied. "You wanted to see me in a tuxedo, so here I am, making a fool of myself just for you. And congratulation on your victory over the Steiners. It is long overdue, but it is better than never."
"The FedCom Civil War is over," Kyle mentioned. "We have a new breed of war. A zealous splinter of ComStar waged this sordid Jihad against the entire Inner Sphere. They already played it dirty with nukes and bio-chemical weapons. The Shooting Stars are transferred to Victoria. Lyran Intelligence Corp agents reported an unusual amount of activity. After this wedding, we're going straight to Victoria."
"The Word of Blake," I heard news about them. "What do they want to achieve with their holy war?"
"Fanatics never cease to amaze me," Kyle quipped, but I sensed a serious overtone. "To liberate Inner Sphere from corruption. To return humanity to Jerome Blake's teaching. To conquer and lead Inner Sphere under their banner. Who knows, Parker? They can claim myriad holiness as their motives, but they're all the same to me. It's always about greed."
"So you will fight them," I mused. "They do not play fair, and it is the fact. They initiated illegal weapons. I think it is easier to nuke Victoria than going on world and fight them head on. The Word of Blake is not an honorable adversary. They do not deserve respectable death."
"I agree, but then what makes us different than them? Even if we win, nothing is left but emptiness. You know how it is, Parker. You learnt it on Solaris."
I knew Kyle did not mean to bring back painful memories of Solaris, but his last comment stung a barb wire in my mind. The gauntlet of Solaris misfortunes flashed quickly, enough to stun me for a moment. He was right. I could not go through that again. Victory was not a destination. It was a journey.
"Hey, hey, hey!" suddenly Evee interrupted, tugging my arm. "What are you doing, Garret? This is my wedding! No talking politics in my wedding!"
"My apologies," Kyle grinned and nodded. "Off you dance then."
Just then, the music changed to something familiar. It took me a while to recognize that it was the same song that Evee and I had our first dance 7 years ago at Tecumseh. The one when we ascertained our temporary closure, and when we thought we would never see each other again. Evee towed me to the dance floor, beaming with delight.
"You remember," I said while I grabbed her arms. "You remember this music."
"How can't I?" she replied in a sweet mirth. "Our first dance."
"I danced like a robot back then."
"What do you mean 'back then'? You still dance like a robot, you twerp!" she shoved my shoulder.
"Then why do you insist on dancing with me? I will only embarrass you."
"Embarrass?" she leaned her head toward me. "God, no. You make me happy."
As we swayed in rhythm, I wondered what she saw in me. I hurt her, I made her miserable, I offered her nothing. No life, no future, nothing. She could have married a prince and lived off unending wealth and joy. But whatever it was, I made her happy. No matter how dark my past was, I made her happy. I could ask her what it was that made her happy, but I did not want to spoil her evening. I could ask her tomorrow. Or perhaps... never. Some things were better left unsaid.
I made her happy. That was what really mattered.