Semper Fidelis

A Revolution fic (Revolution AU – no Blackout): Sebastian (Bass) Monroe/Charlotte (Charlie) Matheson; Charloe. Miles, Ben, Rachael and Danny Matheson, Aaron and Priscilla Pittman, Grace Beaumont, the Nano & the Patriots, Tom, Julia and Jason Neville, Will Strausser… It is 2027, a permanent blackout was narrowly avoided in 2012, but the war with the Patriots was not. Bass and Miles are on active duty as US Marines. Bass took some hours off to go to Jasper to visit with his family for Christmas day and finds that sometimes dreams can come true...

Rating T

Author's note: thanks so much to everyone reading this, and for some very welcome and lovely comments and reviews… A special thank you to people who have favourited and followed the story – it feels like ages since I updated and I'm sorry about that... Anyway, hope you like it…and I'll try not to let it be so long before the next chapter – which will be the double wedding of course… cheers, Magpie

Prequel:

Everyone had thought that the fighting was mostly done and dusted; instead Boxing Day has brought some new challenges… Tom Neville and a group of Patriots have killed several members of the Nano team, kidnapped Grace Beaumont and taken enough prepared Nano to start another blackout – they also have one of the pendants… Charlie is safe, rescued by Bass and her family after being kidnapped by a Patriot activated Jason. Both Julia and Jason Neville are in now in US custody in Jacksonville and everyone is waiting for Tom Neville's next move.

Chapter 6: Boxing Day 2027, a little later still…

Bass saw Miles reach Aaron out of the corner of his eye and grinned… what Miles didn't know was that he had already spoken to Aaron… and Aaron had had a suggestion… Then he turned his attention back to kissing Charlie, who was currently clinging to him in a monkey hug, her arms around his neck, her strong legs wound around his waist… her body lithe and light against his, lips warm and soft and her tongue swooping in to meet his…'Mmnm…' she murmured, pulling back a little and smiling against his mouth…her blue eyes shining up at him… 'You taste like whiskey…' He chuckled… 'And you taste like sunshine and…' he licked his bottom lip…'oranges…?' she kissed him again then slid her legs down his body until she was standing tight against him… weaving her hands behind his neck…'I'm being very healthy…' he brought his hands up from her hips as she slid down and circled her slim waist, hugging her even closer… 'Oh…?' he dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose… 'Any special reason…?' she grinned up at him and shrugged…'just want to be prepared… you know…' Bass felt that lump in his throat again as he looked at this – His - gorgeous woman… 'Charlotte…you are… ' He picked her up, swung her round until her laughter rang out 'Bass, stop…. You're making me dizzy...' he put her down and kissed her until they were both breathless…'You are the best thing that has ever happened to me….' He looked down into her eyes, his so intense and deep and blue and full of love…that she thought she could fall into them and swim forever… she reached a hand up and cupped his cheek… 'Bass…'

'This is so touching…' a dry voice came from behind them… and Miles strode into view, a frown drawing his dark brows together – although there was a little twitch curving the sides of his mouth….'But when you've quite finished making googly eyes at each other I'd like a little word Bass… what looked a lot like guilt mixed with triumph passed quickly over Bass' face… and Charlie glanced between the two of them… 'What did you do Bass?' 'I got to Aaron first Charlie…' he stage whispered… she looked over at Aaron who had a bemused and slightly embarrassed look on his face… and, like everyone else in the room, was staring at the three of them…

Miles arched an eyebrow… 'Well?' Bass turned to face his oldest friend…keeping one arm around Charlie's waist… 'Miles, I'm sorry, I should have told you…' Miles broke in… 'You're a dick… but Aaron's got it all sorted… and it's fine with me…' Bass grinned and Miles frowned blackly at him… 'Although I should still deck you for making me look like an even bigger dick in front of everyone… then he winked at Charlie …'but I wouldn't want to spoil his pretty face for you, kid…'

Both he and Bass suddenly went stiff and silent…obviously listening to an update through their implants... They shared a grim smile…then turned to face everyone. Charlie chewed on her bottom lip, Aaron's face fell, Rachael's mouth did her 'worried' thing and Ben took her hand. Danny sat up straighter in his seat… Then there was a simultaneous assortment of message tones from all the tablets on the table or in bags… Danny looked down at his…'hey guys… the President's just declared Martial Law…'

Bass cleared his throat…'We've just had word…until this thing with Tom Neville and the Nano is sorted out we're all grounded… the World Council's declared a global emergency; all air traffic is grounded as of now - all powered ground and sea traffic will have speed and distance restrictions announced shortly to minimise risk… People are being advised to implement their emergency plans, avoid or limit the use of electricity wherever possible and to land wherever they can as soon as they can if they're in the air… We learned a lot from 2012…people are going to be much more prepared if it happens again…'

Miles went quiet for a moment…'Nora's ok, she's with her unit in Guatamala… They've got orders to contain any remaining Patriot operations there… 'Jeremy's already on the ground in Mexico so he can stay there… he and the guys are going to try to find and stop any reinforcements Tom's got coming here… If we're lucky Tom will think we're there with him… although if I were him I'd be getting people here so he has more back up… We're still not sure how many loyal troops he's got left – or where they are…which is a problem…'

Ben broke in…'We think his team might have had the time and resources to organise implants for at least some of their group leaders and key people…' Rachael gave everyone her tightest smile… and leaned forward on the table 'We've had people analysing Jason's implant and we think we can use it to track the others…' Ben nodded 'and if we know where the implants are…' Miles chuckled…'we'll know where most of his volunteers are…' he exchanged a glance with Bass...'Good work guys…when can we start picking them up?' Rachael was already checking her messages…'Nicole says they almost have it…' Aaron had his worried look on…'what is it Aaron?' Danny knew Aaron well enough to know that that particular look didn't mean anything good… 'Communication… we rely so much on tablets and implants – what have we got in reserve there? If Neville sets off the Nano, the implants would stop working too – as well as our tabs'. Danny sat up straight… 'I think I might be able to help out a bit there… we'll have to work out some logistics tho…'

…

Grace slumped in the chair, without the ropes she'd have fallen to the floor… she felt so woozy… She could remember question after question and that she had talked and talked…her throat was so dry. She coughed a little…

Tom Neville was sitting on one of the lounges a little distance away…he hadn't quite adapted to the full capabilities of his implant and there was the little problem of a couple of glitches in the system that his team still had to work out – particularly the glitch that allowed access to the network by demographically targeted advertising material… Constant reminders in his head in a variety of languages from advertising companies that he should organise his life insurance and funeral arrangements were disconcerting to say the least at his age…. So he was still using a tablet with keyboard and screen for most things – a basic configuration that had proven to be surprisingly durable around the world - it was practical, components were easily accessible and relatively cheap, and using a keyboard (rather than giving verbal instructions) also enabled some relative privacy in a world where there was little left.

He was impressed with the progress that Ben, Rachael and Aaron had made with the targeted Nano, and the limits they had built in to the system to minimise the possibility of a blackout although his team hadn't as yet been able to do any more than basic id on the nano packages they had. He also didn't want his scientists fiddling around with them too much in case something went wrong…

He knew that until he was ready and prepared – and had his troops in place … a possible full and lasting blackout would hurt him as much as it would anyone else… The threat of one however, because thanks to Grace he knew how to maximise their potential now - should be just as effective in achieving at least some of his goals... His intel suggested that Monroe and Miles Matheson had gone to Mexico along with most of the troops stationed at the base, but he didn't like to take any chances – they were a slippery pair. And now he knew that Julia – and Jason – were still being held in Jacksonville he could make his move…

….

'Carrier pigeons?' Aaron had a slightly owlish look of disbelief on his face as he stared across the table at Danny… 'CARRIER Pigeons…?' Danny did a little shrug thing 'Well, you guys were busy with Nano stuff, Charlie was off in the reserve or studying and Miles, Bass and Nora were off being Marines so I was on my own a lot and I wanted a hobby… so…I joined a pigeon racing club…' Rachael turned to her son, agitated, worry in her voice…'But what about your asthma Danny… you shouldn't be doing things like that…' she looked back at Ben for support… then when Ben shrugged and looked sheepish, she stared at him; shocked and angry… 'You knew about this? And you let him do it?' Ben glanced at his son… sympathy and understanding in his eyes… 'Rachael… Danny is so limited in things he can do – he needed something - and he hasn't come up against any problems that he couldn't handle himself…' Rachael's eyes were stormy… 'But what if he got sick? Birds have all kinds of diseases and parasites – and there's the dust and…'

'Mom…' Danny interrupted, sighing…'I've been doing it for years now – because believe it or not some of the rest of us just ordinary people have been thinking about what we could do in case of another blackout…' He smiled proudly… 'We've done trial runs… Its not as quick as the net but its quicker than horses or steam trains and our birds can fly over water…' he sat back in his chair smirking… 'Between us we've got most of the world covered…' There was a stunned silence…

'Wow…! Danny, that's absolutely brilliant…!' Charlie walked quickly over to her brother; hugged him from behind his chair and kissed his cheek… then she slapped him – gently - on the cheek… 'That's for not telling me…' Danny grinned 'Thanks sis…' Bass and Miles were still looking at this young man… so quiet, always in the background, always Danny who was sick and had to be taken care of… and yet today he had proven his intelligence and forethought to all of them… The two men shared a glance… Bass nodded… 'Danny, we'd like to put you to work with our communications people – you can fill them in on your group and preparations…' as Rachael looked up in alarm, Miles turned to her 'It's ok Rachael, he'll be nowhere near any action…' Ben hugged her 'It'll be ok Rach… He's a sensible kid, have faith in him…' Rachael didn't look happy about it but gave a small nod… 'Alright I guess… ' She looked hard at all three men in turn…'So long as he's nowhere near any fighting…'Danny's smile spread from ear to ear and he let out a whoop…his delight infectious…

Bass grinned and went over to join Charlie, clapping Danny on his shoulder 'I've got someone on their way now to pick you up…' he chuckled... 'That's if you're happy to go straight away of course… I'd like to get this in place as soon as we can…?' Danny took a deep breath in, grabbed his tablet and stood up… 'Oh yes…Sir…' Bass gave him a look… 'Danny… I might have known you since you were smaller than a peanut… but please don't call me sir again…' Danny 's face was flushed with excitement and he could hardly stand still… 'Ok Bass…' Ben gave him a wide, proud smile although he knew he'd have some explaining to do later as he caught a glimpse of Rachael's face…

Aaron shook his head…'Carrier pigeons…' the only pigeons he knew about were the flying rats that dropped their crap on everything…everywhere… still it was good to see Danny finally get a look in…and if it worked – well… He couldn't wait to tell Priscilla and the girls… Priscilla thought the world of Danny… she was always saying that people underestimated him. He watched the boy – no the young man – as he spoke confidently to the Soldier who had arrived to escort him…and waved back as Danny gave a happy salute to the room and left…

Rachael checked her tablet and smiled with satisfaction… 'Nicole says they've found them, she's sending the coordinates of all the implants they've located through to you and Bass now Miles…' She paled…'Nicci says that there are several near here… two or three… its hard to tell because they're so close together - at Jacksonville Beach – in the sea?' she looked confused…' Miles was already in the corner of the room, busy organising response teams to follow up once they had coordinates… but Bass came over to her…'I'm getting a team together now Rachael… we knew Tom had to be here as well as Strausser so they'll be two of the signals – though I'm not sure why they're in the sea… the other, well once we have the location we'll go get them. Aaron called Priscilla and filled her in, warning her to stay inside with the kids until things were sorted out.

…..

Tom had arranged himself so that Grace, looking tired and sad and obviously uncomfortable tied to her chair and Strausser, standing behind her with his medical bag looking enough like a doctor to fool anyone who didn't know him, together with himself at the front of course, would all be in frame using the curtains of the Penthouse as a backdrop. His camera crew had the lighting set up and were ready to go. He had decided to make it a general announcement, although had ensured that there was no way to trace the image back to the hotel… Tom had felt that the 'I'm only doing this to save my wife and son and I've been too busy and worried to shave…' look would suit his purposes best, although his preference would have been to have appeared in front of the world looking more like a potential world leader. But, whatever it takes…

He signalled for the crew to start filming….

…

Danny had gone, more excited than Charlie could ever remember seeing him… She had walked him out the door – just to tell him how proud she was - she honestly hadn't realised quite how badly he felt about always being left out of everything… As she came back into the room she heard her mother reporting that they'd managed to locate the Patriot implants… and realised that this was it… Bass and Miles would be going to find Tom and rescue Grace; she took a deep breath and went to see what she could do to help.

Ben, Rachael and Aaron were at one end of the table, deep in conversation about how best to protect the nano packages from release, well she couldn't do a lot there… She turned to Bass, he and Miles were pacing near the door deep in planning mode – organising their guys…nothing she could really do there either… although both stopped pacing and started heading towards the door and her… Then Bass got to her – his face set and determined, his eyes the intense blue that they got when he was totally focused on something… he caught her up in a hug and she could feel the tension and readiness for action thrumming through every part of his (lovely) body… 'Charlotte…?' she smiled up at him…'I promise Bass…I'll stay with Mom and Dad' he nodded… 'Good…that's good…' he kissed her quickly 'we'll be back as soon as we can ok? Just hang tight…' he let her go and was gone…Miles patted her shoulder, gave her a grin and was gone too…

The others had briefly lifted their heads to wave at Bass and Miles then went back to their discussion…

Charlie sighed… then went to check her tablet for news. As she opened it up to her feed and flipped to new posts the first thing she saw was Tom Neville – Grace behind him, sitting tied up to a chair, with another guy standing behind her… preparing to make some sort of speech… a text overlay gave his name and that he had an urgent message for the US Government and the World Council – it was a live feed...

Charlie switched to screen projection and aimed at the blank wall opposite the door 'Mom, Dad, Aaron…'she said loudly… 'You need to see this…'

As they studied the vid – Neville was saying pretty well what they expected…ie that unless his lovely and much maligned wife and sick son were released in the next 2 hours he would have no choice but to release the nano and destroy the world… Aaron suddenly sat forward…'I know that place…' he said his voice confident…. 'Its one of my hotels - Priscilla chose the curtains for all the Penthouses and they're her curtains… and if Neville and Strausser are in Jacksonville Beach then I know exactly where they are…' Rachael was puzzled… 'Nicole said they were at sea Aaron, not in a hotel…' He nodded 'Nicci's right…' he shrugged…'well sort of… the hotel was built right on the beach, we redecorated in 2014 and I remember Pris choosing the curtains for the Penthouses – it was a special colour – she said it matched the colour of the sky at sunset on the beach…' Rachael was getting impatient 'Aaron…enough about the curtains… how can they be in the hotel and at sea - where are they…?' He got up and went for his tablet…punching numbers in 'I've got Bass' direct line…' he looked up at the others…a jubilant smile on his face…'the bottom two or three stories are underwater Rachael… It was built a bit back from the beach and lasted longer than a lot of other hotels but we had to abandon it in 2023… we salvaged what we could but..' he laughed…'we left the curtains because Priscilla was worried about the sea birds crashing into the windows if they could see through them…' he held a hand up for quiet 'Hi Bass? Yes… it's me… Listen do you remember that hotel where we had your birthday party in 2022? Where you and that blonde did a…' he broke off and looked around the room…

Charlie was studying him closely, her eyes narrowed… and Rachael was looking suspiciously at Ben – who was looking anywhere but at her… Aaron took a deep breath… 'Where you and that blonde… danced a lot…remember…? Yes… that blonde…' he cleared his throat…' have you seen Neville's vid? Ok, well he's in that hotel and I think it's the Penthouse on the southern side nearest the beach…' he listened then frowned 'Well I do remember it…you might have some trouble…but believe me it's that hotel…' he made an apologetic face at Charlie, who raised an eyebrow and gave him a very tight smile… 'No problem Bass… good luck ok?' Charlie and Rachael were both looking at him accusingly… Ben was trying not to laugh… 'It was his birthday…' two pairs of blue eyes turned as one to fix on him like twin terminators… 'And it was five years ago…' the eyes stayed fixed… Aaron was glad to have their combined attention on anyone else but him but he had to tell them… 'Bass said to keep watching… if the feed goes long enough we might even see the action…he said now they know they're in a building they can use gas to knock them out…they're going to do a short hop in a transport – should be safe enough for that short a distance… and Tom has given us two hours…' He checked the vid 'and it doesn't look as though he suspects that anything's coming…'

They watched and listened – Ben was shaking his head…Tom Neville had always liked an audience and would have relished the idea that possibly millions of people were watching and listening to him telling them why the Patriots should be running the country – if not the world - although the sight of Grace behind him, tied to a chair, looking increasingly unwell and apparently forgotten by the man telling the world why he should be taken seriously, did take away from his shine a little…

Suddenly there was a series of 'pops', several of the curtains over the open windows blew in, pushed open by projectiles that landed on the tiled and carpeted floors… Tom Neville, startled, tried to take a gun from a holster at his belt but as pink coloured smoke billowed rapidly in large pastel clouds throughout the room... he wavered and fell to the ground…Strausser had moved to pick up his doctors case but fell on top of it instead, Grace simply slumped more deeply in her bonds… and although the camera crew were not visible, there were several thumps in the background that seemed to imply that they were in the same state as the others. The camera was obviously on a stand as it kept running…

Figures in gasmasks and US Marine Corp uniforms started appearing, coming through the windows and doors, they rapidly secured the wrists and ankles of the Patriots in the room, with two working at untying Grace, taking her out of there on a stretcher… several of the figures went around pulling back curtains and opening windows and as the pink smoke cleared the sunlight started streaming in…

…..

AN: This was always intended to be a story with touches of sadness and tension, a little darkness (but nothing too much) and a lot of happiness… So I've kept the action quite a lot behind the scenes… Our heroes win and the bad guys don't – and wouldn't it be lovely if the world was that simple. But there are real life heroes who make us feel proud and who give us heart when things seem dark; and I believe in them. This story started out as a Christmas present with the theme of faithfulness – to family, friends and ideals and I've tried to carry that theme throughout the story… I really hope you liked it

There wasn't a lot of Bass and Charlie time in this chapter; we did need to sort out Tom and the Patriots though… The next and final chapter is the Wedding (or rather, Weddings - plural) so lots and lots of romantic stuff there - and a tidying up of a few loose ends….and maybe a few of Danny's pigeons… cheers, Magpie