Dethroned Queen

XII

Merlin finally landed in the middle of nowhere, and this nowhere was made of ice, snow and mountains. Are we visiting Santa Claus ? He helped Roxy to get ready, to put on the transa… Thing that was supposed to get in the clouds and installed two missiles beneath her.

It was cold as hell, outside, but she went out nonetheless. She wasn't going to let Roxy fly without telling her good luck. And she needed it. She tried her best to look assured, but she was scared to death. She's scared of heights. She bit her lips and looked at Merlin.

"Can't I replace her ?

- No, you can't. I need you to get into Carter's headquarters, and Arthur didn't mention Roxy. He mentioned you.

- Okay." She took Roxy's hands and smiled. "It's gonna be alright. You can do this.

- Of course she can. Listen, the higher you go, the more the balloons expand. When you reach the edge of the atmosphere, they'll explode. You'll need to deploy your missile just before that, okay ?

- Edge of the atmosphere," she whispered. "Right.

- Once you've deployed, you'll need to release for descent. Fast."

He came back in the plane and left them together. She didn't release her hands until she couldn't keep it. She smiled and watched going higher and higher. Good luck, Roxy. She got on the plane. They took off again and flied toward Arthur phone's coordinates. It wasn't far away, apparently, hardly a few minutes. Why did he locked himself in the middle of the floe ?

He asked her to sit next to him. Now it was him and her against the world. How romantic. He didn't seem stressed-out, maybe a little tensed. She knew better than that. He was still just as scared as she was.

"He's waiting for the lucky winners to join him in… Well, some kind of a bunker. You're getting in on Arthur's invitation, he apparently told Carter he was going to bring you. You're gonna need to blend in.

- Wait, why would he need to shut himself away if he has the correct genes ?

- I'm not sure those people want to see the world bleeding to death, you know," he said while taking a syringe and filling it with one of the two last antidote. "Your arm. You need it, if they test you.

- And you ? You're not immune.

- You'll inject me and I'm going to be alright."

She reached up her arms and let him inject her the antidote. She winced and looked around. From all the things she didn't really like, needles were the worst. It was probably the only reason why she wasn't a baghead. Just goes the show. She came back to him when he pulled out the needle. Injecting him was almost as difficult as getting injected but well. Still she did it. He didn't stop his taping thing on the keyboard. What a badass. He stood up to grab a suitcase and put it in front of her.

"You know why you don't have the gene ?" she hazarded. "I mean, you look like the plain rich old man to me, so…

- I guess my ancestors didn't really like inbred marriages.

- I guess… And what about you ? You're doing what ?

- I'm your pilot. I'm gonna stay here.

- And it's supposed to fit me ?

- A bespoke suit always fits. Just be grateful Harry had it made for you. Get dressed."

She nodded and obeyed. When she opened the suitcase, she smiled and recognized what she'd tried, back in Kingsman tailor. A plain black suit, slinky but handy, with those awful kitten heels. I already hate them. She put on the whole thing and turned to look at herself.

She faintly smiled. She looked like a dame. Like a Kingsman. It was perfectly fitted, she'd never worn something so fancy. She went through the suitcase and found a hair bobble. She managed to tie a bun, a little one but still, it worked. She tied her ascot, put on her glasses – fortunately it was adapted to her sight. A real Kingsman. The last thing that remained in the suitcase was a little box. The signet ring. A gentleman wears it on his left hand, but a Kingsman and a lady wears it on whichever hand happens to be dominant, Harry had said. She threaded it into her right little finger. The only thing she added was Harry's medal around her neck. She hid it, so that it couldn't be seen, and looked at herself again. I'm almost sexy.

"Roxy ?" she tried, using her glasses. "It's me. How's the view ?

- Hideous.

- Mine's pretty sweet. They made you on those fine suits yet ?

- No," she whispered. "Not yet.

- You've got something to look forward to, then.

- Max !

- We're coming up on Carter's base, gotta go. Good luck, Rox."

She disconnected, god knows how, and went back in the passenger cell. Merlin turned toward her and slightly smiled. He nodded, apparently pleased by her looks. She smiled and crossed her arms on her chest. She felt years older, but somehow, incredibly good. It wasn't her, but still it felt familiar. It wasn't Maxime Muller, but it was something that could be. Something she hoped to be.

"Looking good, Maxime.

- Feeling good, Merlin," she said while following him in the cockpit. "Fuck me, what are those ? Missiles ?

- Hmhm. This is November-2-4-7-Charlie-Kilo, requesting permission to land." He hid the mike and activated the analytic screen. They were hundreds of guards. "You'll have to be careful inside.

- Careful's my middle name."

She left the cabin and waited for Merlin to land inside the hangar. Breath. You're doing this. She checked her hair. When the door opened, she slowly went down. She didn't really know how she was supposed to behave, but the woman who was waiting her looked satisfied. She handed her the phone.

"Maxime Muller, guest of Chester King.

- Miss Muller, welcome," she greeted her. "I'm sure you've adhered to Carter's strict no-weapons policy, but if you don't object…

- Of course.

- Thank you," she said while checking her. "Do you have any luggage ?

- Congratulations, Mycroft," she declared when she turned toward Merlin, smiling. I'm taking revenge, pal. "You just graduated from my pilot to my valet. Understood ? Good."

She winked at him. I'm going to laugh. She hid her smile and followed the woman into what looked like a… Night club. It was almost full, people were drinking, talking, smiling. Doing exactly what was expected of rich people during the end of the world. She looked around and went to the bar, asking for a martini. Gin, not vodka, stirred for ten seconds while glancing at an unopened bottle of vermouth, she remembered.

"Max, find a laptop, get me online. The clock is ticking," Merlin said in her ears. "Stay focused, please. And Lancelot, you're going great. Not much further to go."

She looked around. Someone was using a computer upstairs, some old man. Why of course. She climbed the stairs and approached him. She opened two buttons of her shirt and waited for him to see her. He didn't notice her until she cleared her throat. He blinked, looked at her face then slid to her cleavage. So easy. She smiled and leaned on the table. She heard Merlin sighing.

"Max, get me online now. Lancelot, you're approaching your altitude limit, those balloons won't last much longer. Prepare to engage missile.

- Society's dead," she told the man in a sweetish tone. "Long live society.

- Amen to that. I'm Morten Lindsterm.

- Maxime Muller." She showed him his computer. "How'd you get online ? I couldn't.

- Pre-authorized connections only.

- Oh… Well, do you have the correct time ? I think I'm still in my last time zone."

He looked at his watch, she used hers to poison-dart him. He winced and fell on the seat. She pushed him on the floor beneath the table and took the computer. She tapped the keyboard, inserted the Kingsman USB plug and sent Merlin the connection. Come on, we don't have time for computer lagging, come on…

"Max, I'm in, get your arse back to the plane now.

- On my way," she smiled. "Prepare yourself."

She closed the computer and started to stand up when she felt a knife under her chin. She froze and turned her eyes. Charlie. You fucking arsehole of… He took her shoulders and forced her to stand up. In her ears, she could hear Roxy panicking and Merlin trying to give her advises. We're fucked. Oh god.

She looked around. No one was watching, but Carter's office was right in front of her. A glass aquarium, with a view of the whole room. She raised her hands.

"Fuck are you doing here ?

- Well my family were invited, obviously," he whispered in her ear. "You thought I would be grateful ? You fucked up your test and I didn't need your pity, see ? Carter ! I've caught a fucking spy-bitch !

- You're going to regret this, you jerk."

She activated her signet ring and punched him. He convulsed and she knocked him down. No time for you, sorry mate. She jumped over the fence and began to run as fast as she could in the crowd. In her ears, Roxy was screaming. Please, please, you can do it… She tried to avoid every rich people she could, but threw some on the floor when they didn't move.

When she got into the corridors, she heard an alarm. Countdown initiated, two minutes. Two minutes ? FUCK. She turned, saw guards, turned again and ran without stopping. There were cells everywhere, and people inside but she didn't have time for this now.

"Merlin ?!

- Max, take a left. Two guards, up ahead.

- If I die I promise I fucking haunt your sleep !"

She turned and dodged the bullets they shot. Thank God I was watchful during the tests. She jumped on the floor and made them fall to steal one of their gun. She shot on the two guards and managed to take down two others. Lancelot, release now ! She couldn't care about Roxy now, it was hard enough to survive this. She thanked Harry for the bulletproof suit and ran again, shooting on whoever crossed her path, jumping over bodies and trying to follow Merlin's order. Her heart was pounding, her blood, boiling. In the main room, Carter was announcing the last minute countdown. No, no it can't be, for God's sake Merlin !

She found another gun, emptied it on the guards, found another one and ran, ran, ran, jumped on guys, snapped their neck, blew their head. She didn't really understand what she was doing, but she was surviving and applying what Harry, Merlin and the others had taught her. Ten ! She rolled on the floor, hid behind a wall. Nine, eight !

Merlin was screaming at Roxy. She was falling. Please, Roxy ! She dodged bullets, shot some. Seven, six ! Guards were becoming numerous and numerous, and they were all against her. Five, four ! She used one of them as a shield, used his weapon against his colleagues. Three, two, one ! Nothing. Just Merlin congratulating them. I'm going to have a heart attack.

"Well done, Roxy ! You did it !" She ran again and saw the plane. She tried to shoot. Empty magazine. Oh no. The guards turned toward her. "Fuck, Merlin !"

He emptied his own magazine and ordered her to come. She did when all the guards were dead. She slumped on a chair and tried to compose herself, to catch her breath back. Oh my god I did it, I survived them. She almost wanted to laugh. One time at the time. Now they had to actually save the world.

"Let's get the fuck out of here !

- We can't. I can't get into Carter's machine, he's got biometric security," Merlin said, tapping on his keyboard. "You're gonna have to get in there and make sure his hand never touches that desk.

- Are you… Fucking kidding me ?

- I'm afraid not.

- You…" She closed her eyes and sighed. "Let's have that then.

- This is mine," Merlin retorted. "Take yours."

He took his gun away from her and led into the small room she'd gotten changed. He slightly turned a frame and the wall in front of them slid. A little version of what fitting room three was, in the taylor shop. She smiled and rolled her eyes. Why of course. There were a sniper, knives, handguns and the infamous umbrella. Not the sniper… She tilted her head and chose not to choose. She put a handgun in her pocket, a knife at her belt and the umbrella. Normally, I can survive. Normally.

"Good choice," Merlin said. "Now we gotta get moving.

- I gotta get moving." She deplaned, her umbrella in hand, and ran all the way back to the main room. Or at least she tried. "What's the path again ?

- Max, Carter's using someone else's satellite. He's going to reconnect the chain and it's going to take him no time at all.

- Perfect. Really perfect.

- And it seems he's got a present for you. Get a move on, quick !"

She sighed and opened her umbrella. A dozen of guards came and shot on her. I love this fucking umbrella. She loaded it and shot. It exploded, making those who were not blasted off fall. It worked quite well until one of them came with a sniper. Oh shit. She tried to ran, holding the umbrella behind her back to protect herself, and almost took the bullet. It went through the fabric. I hate this fucking umbrella, she corrected while taking her lighter-grenade and igniting it.

She took advantage of the explosion to abandon the umbrella and run toward the nearest corridor. Guards were already there, waiting for her. She shot some of them with her handgun, but had to double back when they got even more numerous. She shot on a fire extinguisher to run again and hide in a dead-end, protected by a small wall. She looked around. They were coming from everywhere and it wouldn't take long before they found her. Oh no.

"Merlin, I'm fucked.

- As I am," she heard Merlin say. "Fucking hell.

- They're coming at me from both sides. I'm out of option, I can't move."

She closed her eyes. She could hear their footsteps, revolving around her. They didn't know where she was but it wouldn't last. It can't end like this, I don't want to die like this, chased like a rabbit ! She bit her lips. No complaint. No tears. One thing at the time.

She looked around. They'd gone too far, they'd apparently missed her. One move and she would be spotted. She took a deep breath and sat on the floor. Harry died standing up. She would die sitting, more confortable. Less heroic but, well. The world was coming to its end anyway. No one would be talking about her. A gentleman's name should appear in the newspaper only three times. When he's born, when he marries and when he dies. Her wouldn't even have appeared two times.

"Roxy, I need a favour. Take care of you, okay ? Help those you can. And… Survive this."

She didn't say anything, but she could imagine her nodding. That's what mattered. Her being alive. And the world being in her hands. Maybe she would manage to do better than her. Than them. Knowing that Merlin was going to die too saddened her. Roxy would never know about his feelings for her, and she knew it wasn't just her being stupidly romantic. The way he was screaming at her, when she was falling, the way he'd trusted her to go in the strastos-thing. The way he'd apparently never doubted her during the tests. Maybe it's better that way, she thought. She knew nothing. It would be easier to survive all this without knowing how much they both loved her, Maxime like the sister she never had, Merlin…

To be honest, the only reason why she wasn't so scared or sad was because of Harry. Maybe it was better like this. She didn't have to go far without him. She wasn't sure she could do anything more than saving the world, anyway. I would've collapsed. She would've lost her mind.

"Well, Merlin. That really looks like the end.

- I'm afraid it does.

- It's been an honour," she said, smiling. "And I'm glad we've been colleagues. Or sort of.

- I'm glad too, Maxime. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.

- I'm no Kingsman. You didn't have to babysit me anyway."

She sighed and shook her head. Every time she'd imagined her death, it never seemed this calm. She was never this calm. She was fighting, maybe bleeding to death. But here she was, waiting for death to come. Peacefully.

Truth be told, she was tired. Harry was no more. Soon, Merlin would be gone too. Roxy was far away. She was alone and she didn't want it anymore. She wanted to sleep a little bit. To forget everything. It would be confortable, to just lay here and forget the world.

But then, as she was dropping her empty gun, she heard detonations and firings at the distance. She opened back her eyes and looked around. Already ? She felt her heart tightening. Ready, but not so much. I don't want to die. She didn't have the choice. No, I have one choice. She'd never decided for anything in her life. Her parents' death, her wandering, Kingsman, her failure, it had always been decided by everyone but her. She was going to die, but for once she was going to do it on her own. I didn't succeed in life, at least I'm going to succeed in death. She sighed. Again.

"Merlin, if you have time, can you activate the personal bombs ? Maybe it will save you and blow off their fucking heads. Professor Arnold shouldn't be the only one to have a scattered brain." She brushed her hair. Her bun had fallen. "I think it's too late for me, someone's heading right to me.

- Maxime, find a way, it'll take me a couple of…

- It's too late for me. I can't move or they'll see me. Do me a favour, and tell Roxy, please.

- Max…

- And try to find me a fancy burial place. I'm taking off the glasses now, you don't have to see it." She paused, hands softly shaking. "Farewell."

She took off her glasses and put them on the floor, turned toward the wall. She could hear the firings getting closer and closer. Be still, my heart. It was almost over. She remembered she was more scared, back when Harry and the Kingsmen had killed her parents. Scared of death, of pain. She didn't want to die, but she wasn't scared. I'm going to join him, what's to be scared about it ?

Somehow, it was very quiet around her, except for the steps that were getting closer. The firings had stopped, momentarily. Maybe it's Carter himself. What a honour it would be, to get shot by someone like him. Sad that I don't have any spare bullet for his head. It would have been a honour to shoot someone like him. What a fancy legacy. It wouldn't change the humanity's fate but he would not be some fucked up hero. Maybe it was enough.

The steps were now just behind the wall. Oxford's heels. She frowned. Carter didn't know anything about shoes, and he was wearing sneakers anyway. When she raised her head to look at death in the eyes, she froze and whispered a single word. A name.