Chapter 6; Demona.
The gates to Vermillion opened and Brooklyn and what was left of his crew were met with thunderous cheers! The population of the small settlement had gathered along the main street and roared their appreciation as their liberating heroes rolled into the city.
Brooklyn and his remaining warriors tried to wave and smile, but it was hard. Their fourth had died just moments before and it was hard to shake the feeling of grief as rose petals and confetti rained from the high roofs.
Near the center of the town a podium had been set up and a man Brooklyn recognized gave a greeting.
"Vermillion would like to welcome its heroes! The front guard of the mighty Reservation Army here to save us all from the Resistance menace!"
The citizens roared a deafening cheer as Brooklyn and his warriors glanced to each other ominously, they knew very well that the army was not coming.
"Vermillion would like to welcome Congressman Brooklyn! Leading our glorious heroes in a personal crusade to rescue the world from tyranny!"
Brooklyn flushed red, he had not known he had been recognized… and that was not necessarily a good thing with the possibility of the Praetorian in the city.
The citizens of the town broke into wild celebration, music from homemade instruments played, alcohol sloshed, food was cooked.
The man Brooklyn recognized came down from his podium with his hand extended, he was fat, wore a business suit, and a badge at his chest advertised a golden "B'.
"Brooklyn my friend!" He cried. "We were just about starting to think Congress was about to let this city fall! We've been sending messengers for over a week pleading for help!"
Brooklyn took his hand, "Aaron, it's been a long time since the battle of Bismarck."
"Yes," Aaron replied, appearing suddenly confused.
"Congress did not send us," Brooklyn said. "We are not the vanguard of the army here to save you. As we speak the Reservation Army is massing near Fargo for another attack on the Hive. We did not know you were under attack until we were ambushed by Resistance thirty miles north of here. We hoofed the rest of the way."
"You did this… All by yourself," Aaron blinked.
"It would appear so," Brooklyn said.
Aaron laughed, "you have grown in skill over the last twenty years!"
"And you have grown in size," Brooklyn poked his generous belly.
Aaron laughed and hooked his arm around Brooklyn's skinny shoulders, "you are not here to rescue us, you are not with the army. What the hell are you doing here?"
"Going for a walk," Brooklyn said.
Aaron laughed, "Come my friend! I'm sure your party needs rest and medical treatment. I will give you anything you need!"
"Good!" Brooklyn exclaimed. "I need a new command squad, any volunteers from your militia, a new heavy weapons and explosives expert, a magic user specializing in healing abilities, ammo and supplies for all, and a car with good gas mileage and a reasonable warranty."
Aaron spread his arms, "how 'bout my front fucking teeth!"
"I guess you're not grateful for the save, I lost a platoon coming to your rescue," Brooklyn said.
Aaron sighed, "what are the figures."
"I lost three vehicles, weapons, ammo, twenty two MIA and one confirmed KIA," Brooklyn said. "We're not staying, we need to move out as soon as possible."
"What the hell for," Aaron asked.
"Classified," Brooklyn replied.
Aaron growled, "I'll see what I can do."
They arrived at a local bar and such a cheer rose that Brooklyn's ears rang, hands reached out and gave Brooklyn and his companions a thankful shake. Barstools had been left open for them and Brooklyn's party took 'em. Brooklyn even liked the name, The Google Search Engine Arena Bar and Grille, he doubted most the survivors of this post-apocalyptic world knew what it pertained to; it was bitterly ironic.
"How can I serve a hero?" The waitress asked.
"A big American Cheeseburger and a huge mug of beer," Brooklyn said. "Don't even think of skipping on the fries!"
The waitress smiled in a giddy, girlish, way and bumped into another curious waitress before rushing behind the bar to where the grills were working.
A second later, seemingly almost instantaneously, the burger arrived. The huge burger arrived in a red plastic basket with the fries fighting for space over greasy newspaper. The mug of beer was clunked down before him.
"Thanks," Brooklyn said and flipped the waitress a coin, old tender. "Can I get three shots of whiskey too, please?"
The waitress burst into girlish glee and rushed behind the bar.
As Angela and Katana watched, Brooklyn took a huge bite of his burger. He leaned back and sloppily ate it. "You know, a few days ago there was a cow in a pasture less than twenty miles outside of this city. The farmer decided that cow had served its purpose and a gun and a knife later it is on my plate and the most delicious thing that has ever caressed my taste buds."
Katana had not asked for food, nor had Angela. "What is our next move, Brooklyn? We lost Val and we are no closer in asking the Resistance for an alliance. In fact, I think we are much farther away."
The shots of whiskey arrived and Brooklyn scooped his up, held it. "To Val and all the real heroes," He drank it.
Katana instantly picked hers up and downed it, Angela tried and spat the stuff back out.
Brooklyn chuckled and set his shot glass down, "well, right now we are going to rest and recover. So I would appreciate it if you ordered something to eat."
"I don't think I can," Katana said.
"Starving yourself won't bring Val back," Brooklyn said.
Katana gave Brooklyn a long look before saying to the bartender, "one American Cheeseburger."
Brooklyn smiled as the sandwich was placed before her and she took a demure bite. "You're right, it is good."
Suddenly the music that had been made by violins and guitars fell silent, as did the crowds. The crowd parted and loud clumping boots could be heard echoing around the cottage themed rafters.
Brooklyn did not stop eating, instead he greedily tore into the burger and began working on the fries. Katana put a hand a hand on the hilt of her sword and Angela stood.
The boots that sounded as if they belonged to big men stopped and settled behind Brooklyn. "Brooklyn, you are under arrest by order of Congress."
"Praetorian Officer Dark Sky," Brooklyn wiped his lips. "You are a good soldier and a better cop, but you never had good timing."
"Get out of my bar, you son of a bitch," the bartender roared. "You snuck into the city like the cowards you are while Brooklyn saved us!"
"Yeah!" People cried from the crowd.
Dark Sky just gave them a sideways look and said to Brooklyn, "you stole my Humvee."
Brooklyn could see the squad of Praetorian going for their guns and the intense look of the people around them; he knew a bloodbath was about to take place, unless he gave up; so he stood. "Alright, I'll go with you. Everyone just calm down."
"Like hell you will," Katana said and with the speed that made her infamous amongst the Resistance, she had her blade to Dark Sky's neck.
The remaining squad of Praetorians drew their weapons and the crowd around them began to pick up anything that could be used to injure.
"You will leave this bar," Katana said to Dark Sky. "Either on your feet or on the flat of your back, you choose."
Dark Sky was a large Gargoyle, his big eyes rolled from Katana to Brooklyn to the people in the bar. "We will meet again." He turned and snapped his fingers so that his squad would follow him and left the bar.
The music slowly rolled back to life and conversation filled the room once again. Brooklyn and Katana sat again and the red Gargoyle began to eat once more.
"I'm going to the hotel," Katana said to Brooklyn and angrily sheathed her sword. "Please don't surrender yourself to anyone before I see you again."
Brooklyn sighed and watched her go.
In Vermillion power could only be on for a few hours at a time. After power was shut off for the rest of the city Brooklyn wandered to the Best Western to find his room and Katana. At the hotel the power was still on, and would remain so for the city's valuable guests.
Near the lobby a few people sat around the bar, they all waved when Brooklyn passed by. He went upstairs and checked on Angela before going to his room where Katana waited.
Katana had something Brooklyn hadn't seen for a while, a laptop computer on her lap. Next to her hip was a pile of folded papers, one of which was spattered with blood, and she typed purposefully.
"Are you writing Val's family," Brooklyn asked.
Katana was silent for a moment, "a lot of women have had their hearts broken by you."
"Why is this important now," Brooklyn demanded.
"So many knew they could not have you and left in tears," Katana continued. "I've stayed, it hasn't been easy, but I've stood by you because I love you and what you stand for."
"What are you going on about," Brooklyn demanded.
"Val loved you too, more than you know," Katana said. "Today she sacrificed her life for you, not for the Reservation, but you."
"Katana, please," Brooklyn put his hand to his forehead.
"The Praetorians will be back, probably tonight," Katana said. "Do not betray Val or Angela or myself by going with them alive. You are so much more than a man, politician, or warrior, Brooklyn; I pray every night that you would see that for yourself."
"Dark Sky represents our boss, Congress…" Brooklyn said.
"If you cannot recognize that Congress and the Reservation as an extinct relic, our enemy, then I have wasted my love on the wrong man," Katana said.
"Who do we serve if not the Reservation," Brooklyn asked.
"Each other and every person, free or enslaved, who is worth saving," Katana said. "The next time I see Dark Sky threaten you, I'm going to kill him. Don't try to stop me."
Brooklyn looked at her and left the room.
He went back downstairs to the bar where the keep happily poured him a drink.
"Thanks for saving our collective asses," a young woman hailed from across the bar. Brooklyn smiled and raised his glass to her in thanks.
He was glad that most of the rest at the bar seemed to be tired from too much fighting and too much partying to raise much of a conversation, kind of like he was. He finally had a chance to think, to reflect on how much life had changed and how much it had stayed the same. It gave him a chance to think of what he was going to do next.
There were no easy decisions from this point on.
The people at the bar suddenly fell silent, slowly put down their drinks, and stared at what was coming in through the door. Brooklyn saw them and continued drinking and thinking.
"I don't want any trouble here," the barkeeper said.
"You're still under arrest," Dark Sky said when he and his men stood behind Brooklyn. "Come with me quietly and I'll forget about the Humvee you stole and our earlier confrontation."
Brooklyn didn't answer, instead he sat and continued thinking. He remembered all he had gone through from the first war and his retreat from New York, the peace accords and the split amongst the Sentients, forming the Reservation and Resistance. All the family and friends he had lost in that time, Val was just the latest in a long line of many friends who had lost their lives in his service.
He wondered, had they died for the Reservation or had they died for him?
"The Brooklyn I know would not protest, he is loyal and always follows orders," Dark Sky said.
"What exactly are the charges against myself and my friends," Brooklyn asked.
"You know that's not important," Dark Sky said. "Congress orders and I do what they say, right?"
"Is that what you're going to say when the Hive exterminates the rest of the Sentient peoples?" Brooklyn asked. "When protesters like myself are arrested and thrown deep into prison so no one can argue when Congress throws the Army away on another useless war against the Hive? And when that war fails, so Congress can launch the remaining stockpiles of nukes? Poisoning our planet for the next ten thousand years! When you meet with your maker and he asks, 'why?' You'll say, 'it's okay, I was just following orders.'"
Dark Sky cocked his head in confusion, he was a grunt, a German Shepard, a War Horse, as strong and powerful as he was he would only know what he was told.
Brooklyn swooped and grabbed a chair, smashing it over Dark Sky's head. He was able to get a drop on the rest and tackled them in a collective group, but it was too much. They were elite warriors and were able to reverse the battle in a moment; Dark Sky drew his gun and put it to Brooklyn's temple.
An arrow came from nowhere and imbedded in Dark Sky's back; he growled and stumbled back. All turned toward the darkened stairwell and could see Katana slowly walking down the stairs, methodically knocking another arrow into her bow.
"Do you have any idea what you have done!" Dark Sky's face had gone a shade of crimson, he kept trying to reach the arrow imbedded in his back but couldn't. Normally, Katana was a surgeon with any bladed weapon, Brooklyn couldn't tell if Dark Sky was such an ox that the arrow had come imbedded in his muscles, or if that had been a warning shot. "You have betrayed the Reservation! It will be shoot to kill from here on!" Dark Sky bellowed.
"From you I'll take that as a compliment," Katana let another arrow go and it slammed into Dark Sky's massive thigh. He bellowed and fell to the floor. She then aimed the bow at the remaining Praetorian. "There are six of you. I can kill two before you raise your weapons and start firing and let loose a third arrow before I topple. Or, we can promise to meet again under better circumstances. What's it going to be?"
Then came a sound that none of them had heard in a decade, some of the Praetorian dropped their weapons, Katana's bow quivered in her normally steady hands; even Brooklyn found that his knees were like rubber.
It was an air raid siren, once used to warn of severe weather now it warned of certain annihilation from the Hive or another attacking enemy.
"Come on," Brooklyn squeaked. "Come on!" He cried more forcefully, grabbing the Praetorians and pushing them toward the door. One of the agents stood, shaking so violently that the working parts of his weapon clicked, his pants were wet.
"Come on," Brooklyn cried to him.
"I can't!" The Elite soldier cried back.
"Whoever is coming is going to kill everyone in this city, which means: we're allies!" Brooklyn grabbed him and shoved him to the door. "Anyone feels like fighting, come with me now!"
As the sirens howled they ran to the city walls where the watch on duty already stood and watched the approaching enemy; Brooklyn joined them.
"My god," Aaron muttered when he stood at Brooklyn's side. Coming north on the Interstate was the entire Resistance Army, complete with armored men and vehicles. "If we run up the white flag now they may spare us."
"Is that what they're supposed to tell the people of Cheyenne when that army is burning the capitol and murdering every able bodied person they can get their hands on," Brooklyn demanded.
"We can't stand up to that and live," Aaron said.
"We have the chance to destroy their army, right here, right now," Brooklyn said. "We even have the chance to kill or capture Demona and Xanatos, if we show some BALLS! We could end this war," Brooklyn remembered that such words and sentiment had cost Val her life not eight hours before, he looked to Katana.
What he saw surprised him, his mate's eyes glowed with such love and admiration that he had not seen since they had turned the ruins of Kansas City into their Honeymoon suite. She took his hand and held it and said, "no matter what happens, I'm so proud of you, Val would be too."
They kissed, long and passionately.
The mythical Resistance Army did not attack immediately, instead it took its sweet time in rolling up to siege positions. They had no problem in showing off their tanks and armored personnel and artillery for the defenders trapped behind the city wall. Demona was there, she sat on her throne on the back of a Ford truck, watching the battle as the queen herself.
The Resistance was kind enough to send an envoy asking the city to surrender. Brooklyn in turn offered a ceasefire in return for a meeting with Demona. Ironically, Brooklyn still had to convince the Resistance to join him and the Hive for an attack on Avalon to destroy the UnZ, or to capture the UnZ's ability to free Minions from slavery, or something like that. Looking down on the Resistance army now, an alliance seemed far out of question.
The Envoy refused the offer and Demona just sat on her throne, the battle would begin momentarily.
The party began with artillery, stationary, old fashioned, and very effective. They lobbed heavy shells at the city walls that had repelled the smaller Resistance attack earlier. Demona smiled maliciously as she sat at her throne and watched the fireworks show, her generals stood nearby awaiting orders.
"Artillery, bringing dignity to an otherwise vulgar battlefield," Demona commented, and her generals chuckled. "I think we should save the HE for when we burn Congress alive. Send in the troops."
"Ma'am? The city walls still stand," one of the Generals said.
"Let the troops play for a while, then we'll give the defenders our little surprise," Demona smiled. "Do not be worried, we will have plenty of troops left for when we tear the heart out of the Reservation.
"Yes, ma'am."
"What have you brought down on us," Aaron cried to Brooklyn.
There was no doubt, after an hour long artillery bombardment the enemy troops were coming in their hundreds and thousands.
"It's a good day to die," Brooklyn replied. "Let's bring plenty of them with us."
Reminding Brooklyn of the attack on Castle Wyvern, the enemy horde charged in to be stopped by the city wall. Vermillion was surrounded in moments on land and in the air. Grappling hooks were thrown and troops began to climb the walls while supported by tank cannons and machineguns, along with Resistance Gargoyles in the sky.
Brooklyn, Katana, and the pitiful city militia fought back valiantly, and it seemed to be working. As many Resistance troopers as there were, they were not holding sections of the city wall for long. They came and they went, ebbing and flowing, conquering to always be repelled.
It was going so well that Brooklyn had the audacity to hope, to hope that maybe he would survive that day and see the Resistance Army return the way they had come. That was until he heard the thunderclap of an airship outracing the speed of sound.
He saw it then, the black cylinder shape of a cutting edge flight vehicle racing overhead. Brooklyn watched in stunned silence, knowing it was the Redemption Squad.
The squad had spent the last twenty years much the same as they had spent time before the infection, travelling and doing heroic good deeds. They were now celebrated paramilitary fighters who destroyed Hive Nodes and facilities. The small mixture of Gargoyles, Mutates, and humans, had never declared a 'side,' at least until now, and it seemed they had joined the Resistance.
The Redemption Squad, Demona's little surprise, raced around the region before returning. It strafed a large section of standing wall with a bright red laser, eliminating it in a towering column of fire and smoke. The sonic boom was deafening as the craft raced away.
Brooklyn looked to the huge hole that had been created in their defenses, already hundreds of Resistance were pouring in, fanning out into the streets and neighborhoods.
"You can get that white flag," Brooklyn said. "This city is about to fold."
The Resistance was herding their prisoners into the town park. Brooklyn was rudely shoved against a table where plastic gloved hands violated his body. He was then taken to what was left of the town population and made to sit with them, where they would languish, waiting for what was to come next.
"Anyone caught standing without permission will be shot without warning," a PA broadcasted.
"I am so glad you are okay," a very familiar voice whispered.
Brooklyn jumped in explosive glee, he turned to see Katana rapidly crawling toward him.
He clawed the ground to get to his love, they reached each other through the crowds of people and embraced, kissing.
"I thought I lost you," Brooklyn whispered, hugging her as tightly as he could.
"And I you," Katana said.
"If only it were under better circumstances," Brooklyn said while looking around.
The town's population had been herded into the city park while guards stood at a band shell and at nearby rooftops. In the rest of the city the Resistance Army was tearing the buildings apart for anything valuable.
The Resistance Army practiced 'Green' warfare and would take and recycle anything they found useful from the captured city.
"And then things got worse," Brooklyn said as a Ford pulled up to the bandstand, a smiling Demona sitting in its bed with all the grandeur of a post-apocalyptic queen.
Brooklyn felt Katana trying to separate from him, possibly to attempt to hide in the crowd. "It doesn't matter, my love. She will discover us."
Katana sighed and relaxed, "have you seen Angela?"
"No," Brooklyn answered. "We were cut off during the fighting. Hopefully she got a chance to escape."
"I hope so," Katana replied.
Brooklyn watched as Demona climbed to the deck of the bandstand and stood behind a microphone. He was not terribly surprised to see Skull Face join her there.
Skull Face leveled a devastating finger at the crowd, "I saw him there!"
A moment later Resistance Fighters were tracing through the crowd toward Brooklyn.
Brooklyn and Katana held each other, possibly the last moments they had on this world.
But Brooklyn was surprised when the troops raced past himself and his lady love and a moment later were dragging Dark Sky to the podium.
Dark Sky was left to stand there for a moment, appearing strangely uncertain until a boy with an AK stepped up and shot him in the back.
Demona chuckled and stepped up to the Mic, "I understand there are those amongst you who wish to join us, but are afraid. Those who join us today will be spared."
Some in the crowd began to stand and walk toward Demona, they would join the Resistance and an uncertain future. Brooklyn and Katana watched them, still holding each other; it was hard to feel betrayed.
On stage Dark Sky began to move, slowly sliding around the boards, his hands looking for purchase, as if he were trying to get up. The boy who had been assigned as his executioner paced around the big Gargoyle as if unsure of what to do next.
"Did you try to kill Dark Sky when you shot him? Or was it a warning shot," Brooklyn asked Katana as they watched on.
"You know I would never break a promise," she responded.
"I knew Dark Sky was tough, but I never imagined he was that tough," Brooklyn said while shrugging off her arms.
"What are you doing," Katana asked as he stood.
"Something you're not going to like… Man, Dark Sky owes me for this," Brooklyn said before raising his hands and calling out, "Demona!"
Demona appeared momentarily startled, but recovered quickly, "bring him up here! There are two women who usually travel with him! I want them found!"
Skull Face and a line of resistance Fighters rushed to drag Brooklyn to the stage. "You shouldn't be doing this," Skull Face whispered to Brooklyn before forcing him to face Demona.
Demona gave a huge smile, she wore a golden chest plate now to hide the scars her daughter gave her, "and some of my generals doubted the success of this attack."
"Demona, I've traveled far to meet you…" Brooklyn began to be interrupted.
"There is a blue gargess who carries a sword, and a red one with big boobs with a machine gun," Demona said. "They won't be far. Find them."
"I'm right here."
"Katana," Brooklyn sighed.
"You'll find Val in the hospital morgue," Katana said. "She was killed yesterday."
"Very good," Demona said. "Restrain them against the wall and form execution squads amongst our new 'recruits.'"
"Demona," Skull Face said. "Brooklyn has shown great honor…"
"I'm not interested in your opinion of honor," Demona answered. "Restrain them against the wall, form and arm the squads, I want to see their bullet riddled corpses on the floor in less than ten minutes. You have your orders."
"In twenty years of war your Resistance has never executed a prisoner," Brooklyn said as he and Katana were locked against the bandshell wall.
Demona gave a sharkish grin, "thing's change, Brooklyn."
"How 'bout a change for the better," Brooklyn asked. "I've traveled from Cheyenne to find you…"
"Oh, you came to find me," Demona chided.
"The Hive has contacted me, asking to form an alliance against the UnZ…" Brooklyn began.
"Oh Brooklyn," Demona said. "Our relationship has never changed, has it? You are always polishing the brass on the Titanic, you have for a thousand years. You allied with the humans, and they have fallen. Now you have allied with the Hive, I never thought you would sink so low."
"Hear me out," Brooklyn said.
"I think we've spoken enough," Demona answered hotly. "I'm going to have you shot before your people as an example, and stick your head on a pike as a reminder. Then I will kill the other members of your congress when I burn your capitol city. Your people can submit, or they can die."
Brooklyn sighed, "Demona, I know you hate the Hive with all the passion which you resisted the humans. Your opinion that we are in league with the Hive is wrong. In fact, we have found a way to defeat the Hive, to free every minion from slavery. We will join the Hive in their attack, but only to find the key to the defeat of all Minions. This is why I came here from Cheyenne, this is why I am in your mercy."
Conversation erupted between the conquered and the conqueror, Demona cast a sharp look at them, knowing she was losing control. She rushed to the edge of the podium and grabbed Skull Face, "bring up your squads, now!"
"Yes, ma'am," Skull Face responded, forcing the newly made group of riflemen to stand before Katana and Brooklyn, these had been good townsfolk and survivors moments earlier, now they stood while wielding their guns uncertainly; Demona jumped from their path. "Any who miss will not be allowed in the organization and will know my wrath! Fire!"
The would be executioners just stood and none fired.
Muttering obscenities, Demona grabbed the nearest man's AK. "I always have to do everything myself!"
"Mother! Stop!" Angela cried as she landed at the podium.
Demona glanced over her shoulder, "so, the rumors were true. You have been freed from the Hive!"
"Yes. And Brooklyn speaks the truth. If we join forces we can defeat the Hive and free all it has enslaved," Angela cried.
"Fine!" Demona roared as she aimed the rifle in at Brooklyn's heart. "We will defeat the Hive. But we do not need help from the Reservation pigs to do it!"
Just as Demona was to fire a laser bolt came seemingly from nowhere, knocking the weapon from her hands.
"Who!" Demona cried and whirled around.
A familiar sight landed behind her, the crimson armor in the image of Goliath. "I don't know, Demona. Maybe the Reservation can be of service." Xanatos said as he removed his helmet.
"You would join the traitors as well!" Demona bellowed.
"Ah!" Xanatos raised a finger. "We've been over this before. Our mission, our alliance, is based on ending the menace of the Hive. If Brooklyn knows how, then…"
"If you value our alliance you will not finish your statement," Demona said.
"If you value ours, you will not kill Brooklyn until he has said what he has to say," Xanatos replied.
Demona grumbled and dropped the AK's magazine to the planks with a thud, she then yanked the action which popped the round. She rushed forward and hit Brooklyn across the shoulders, dropping him. On the ground she beat him the butt of the rifle until he laid bleeding and groaning on the floor of the bandshell.
"You hit like a girl," Brooklyn groaned and Demona kicked him in the face before marching off, off the podium and possibly out of town.
"Are you okay," Xanatos asked, extending a hand sheathed in metal.
Brooklyn was battered and bleeding, half his face already swelling, "she only hurt my pride," he said before taking the hand. "So, will you accept the deal?"
Twenty years had treated Xanatos well, the aging only serving to make him appear more distinguished. "I'd like to hear your plan first."