Civil resistance
With Right Path shock troops terrorising Royal Woods, the town was in perpetual chaos. Police forces were overwhelmed by their sheer numbers and firepower. National Guard were hesitant to act, for fear of retributions against the mayor, as Vic threatened in his speech. The locals were being rounded up and taken at gunpoint to an unspecified location. In the midst of all this carnage, two guys in suits approached the drama club and their families.
"You lot need to come with us, now," one agent urged.
"It's obvious you're not Right Path, otherwise you wouldn't have spoken and just grabbed us instead. Who are you two?" Shannon surmised.
"Agents Smith and Jones, FBI. Come with us, now, before these crazies see you," Smith, the first of the pair, pressed. Elated to see friendlies, Ruby, Shannon, and the rest of the drama club, as well as their kids, complied. They all piled into a featureless, black van similar in size to Vanzilla, but it had no windows. Under normal circumstances, this would be seen as suspicious, but anything was better than standing in the open waiting for religious zealots to grab them. It was probably better that the van had no windows, because everyone couldn't see their town descending into hell as Smith and Jones drove them who-knows-where.
"You're probably wanting an explanation. Long story short, we've been here a while. Ever since this cult was first exposed and seemingly destroyed, we were assigned as undercover protection for targets number one and two; the Tannenbaum family," Jones explained.
"Wait, you've been watching us?" Ruby questioned.
"Covertly, yes. Our bosses always knew there were remnants left that would seek revenge. The Barsonthor incident only confirmed our fears. We never imagined they would be so bold as to commit to an all-out assault on the town," Smith answered.
"We're taking you to a designated safe house. You can hole up there while we sort this out," Jones offered.
"I can't just hide! My sister's in the town hall with Vic!" Luan objected.
"I understand, Mrs. Stein, but there's nothing you can do for her. Town Hall is where Right Path has stationed the majority of their forces. Any rescue attempt would be suicide, for the rescuers and Lola. For now, we bunker down and strategise," Smith insisted.
"Mum, what's going on? I'm scared," William confided. It was then that Luan had to think of her own family. She was immensely worried for Lola, but right now, there were two much younger people who needed her more; her son and daughter. She took both of them in her arms and hugged them tightly.
"I know, Wills. I am, too," Luan soothed. The other parents did this with their children as well, in a bid to calm everyone's fears.
Meanwhile, in the town hall, Vic was settling in the mayor's chair with a smug look on his face, while Eton continued holding Lola and Winston at gunpoint. Susan was going through Lola's desk, hoping to find something she had been searching for. After sifting through drawers for five minutes, she found what she had been looking for.
"The direct line to the Oval Office. Wonder why a small-town mayor would have this? No matter, we can use it to deliver our demands just as well, and for a national audience, too. Now that tyrant McKay will have to take notice," Susan posed.
"You have the list of demands?" Vic asked. Susan then handed him a paper with a written list on it. "You may put him on when ready," Vic indicated. Susan then used Lola's direct line to contact the Oval Office. President McKay, apparently having been in contact with Lola on a regular basis, answered the call.
"President's off- who the devil are you?!" McKay interrogated upon seeing the video feed connect to some people he had never seen before, and he dismayed to see Lola and Winston have weapons pointed at them. "Is that Mayor Lola?! Release her and Winston at once!" McKay demanded.
"All things in time, good sir. First, some introductions. I'm Vic McGillicuddy, the new mayor of this fine town, as of five minutes ago, thanks to my associates here. I am told you are familiar with them," Vic introduced himself.
"You've allied with Right Path and seized control of Royal Woods by force?! What you've done is an act of treason!" McKay asserted.
"It is a partnership of sorts. They deliver to me what was rightfully mine, and I facilitate their needs as best I can. I have been authorised to speak for them, and they wish for me to deliver a list of demands they have. Fulfil them, and this town, its people, and their ex-mayor can go free," Vic outlined.
"This country does not negotiate with terrorists, foreign or domestic. The only negotiating you'll be doing is a plea bargain," McKay responded.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that. My associates have made it clear that any attempt to retake this hall will be met with deadly consequences for dear Lola. With that in mind, do pay attention," Vic then examined the list of demands Susan gave him. "First and foremost, the SOCASA bill will be ripped up. No more talk of church-state separation will occur in the halls of government on any level! Secondly, Right Path will be allowed to re-establish the conversion camp network that founders Jacob and Rhea worked so hard to build, and any LGBT youth will be mandated to be sent there for 'rehabilitation'. Thirdly, they demand that Ruby and Shannon Tannenbaum be handed over to Right Path arbiters to answer for their crimes against the movement. Fourthly, religion of any kind will play a role in ALL aspects of day-to-day life. That means a compulsory religious education in all schools, where students will learn from the holy scripture of their chosen faith, and mandatory Sunday services. All citizens must choose at least one religion. No-one can be atheists, and they must follow ALL religious doctrine to the letter. Fifthly, any relations outside the norm, that is between a man and a woman, are to be made illegal. Same-sex marriages are to be dissolved, and polycules forcibly broken up. Couplings of mixed race and/or faith are to dissolve as well. Sixthly, all gender re-assignment surgeries are to be cancelled immediately. Men will be men and women will be women. Any that have transitioned are to be forcibly reversed back to the gender they were assigned to at birth. Lastly, Stella Hunnicut must disband Zhau-Tech, de-activate her machines, and stand trial for cutting the people off from the Almighty. Am I missing anything?" Vic relayed. Susan then whispered in his ear. "Oh right, and they also demand the immediate release of Timothy Barsonthor and all other Right Path operatives across the country," Vic added.
"Just who do you people think you are?! You storm into a government office, take its people hostage, and make all these demands that would put us back by at least a century! It is high time you accepted that humankind is moving on from religious dependence and starting to think for itself!" McKay rebutted.
"And what about you?! You helped imprison hundreds of our compatriots across the Deep State as Attorney General, and now you seek to suppress us completely as President! You started this war against the church. We're just ending it!" Susan scoffed.
"I'm trying to save the church! Your actions and those of your comrades have alienated the people from God. This way, we can at least ensure the church has a chance to survive. You claim to do this in God's name, when all you're accomplishing is sowing hate, division, and discord! The only reason you're doing any of this is to further your homophobic, xenophobic, racist agenda, so spare me your pathetic justifications! I don't believe them, and neither does the American people! Last chance! Surrender now or face the full might of American justice!" McKay counter-demanded.
"If I were you, I'd take a more accommodating tone, Uncle Sam! You don't want to be responsible for letting us put one in between Lola's eyes, do you? That would surely hurt your re-election prospects. Call this office back within 24 hours, when you've had time to consider our proposals. Fail to do so, and…well, I hope it doesn't come to that. Ta ta," Vic threatened, and the call was terminated. "Now what?" Vic inquired.
"We demonstrate how our way is better. First things first, we 'clean house'. The people of this town have gotten away with spitting in the Lord's face for far too long. It is time they faced retribution. From the intel we've gathered about Royal Woods, we have been able to make lists of all those in the right kind of relationships and those in the wrong sort. Unfortunately, most of the people chose the latter. They're being taken to the Royal Woods Mall as we speak. We're sorting them into mixed race and faith, polyamorous, and same-gender. Arbiters have been assigned to try them accordingly," Susan explained.
"The mall? Are you sure it is big enough to hold a small town's worth of people?" Vic probed.
"It is a designated emergency shelter in the event of natural disasters. The mall is enough. Besides, we've set up overflow in the parking lot. We'll be fine," Susan assured. Vic chuckled slightly upon hearing this.
"This town will pay for spurning me," Vic menaced. Lola, who was all but helpless before Vic and his goons, spared a thought for her siblings that still resided in Royal Woods. For Lisa, who lived with her husband David, and worked at the hospital's research wing, studying cures and vaccines, while also teaching college-level Physics from home. Sure, she married a man, but her work on said vaccines might put her in Right Path's crosshairs. After all, they also hated science.
For Lynn, who ran her own gym and won gold medals across numerous events in the Olympics. Actually, maybe she should think about the thugs who would undoubtedly want a piece of her after she was open about her polyamory with both genders. They would probably limp back to their master with broken bones and missing teeth and consider her too much trouble to handle. This lot liked to pick on the weak.
Which would make her only brother Lincoln a prime target. Not only did he once practice polyamory with both genders like Lynn did, though that relationship had since dissolved when Lincoln and Clyde got married to Ronnie Anne and Sid respectively, the nature of said marriages would really earn Right Path's ire. Lincoln married a Mexican-American, and Clyde, an African-American, married a Chinese-American, and both couplings had kids together. She could only hope they evacuated to Great Lakes when the announcement Vic made was sent out on all channels.
But the siblings whose well-being Lola really feared for were Luna and Luan. After all, Luna married a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl like Sam. Luna would no doubt be seen as one of Satan's temptresses, sent from the pits of Hell to lure perfect specimens like Sam down the wrong path. Then there was their son Mickey, conceived via sperm donation. What would Right Path make of him? Living proof that women do not need to have intercourse with men to have kids anymore. That and the fact that Luna was the one who carried him, and not Sam, their ideal person.
Then there was Luan, one of the drama club, whose plans were instrumental to Right Path's first and most devastating defeat. She would be high on the target list. Lola could only hope the federal agent protection got to her and her friends and family first. It also didn't help that she married a Jewish man and had his kids without converting to the faith herself. It wouldn't matter that she partook in Jewish ceremonies or that she knew of Jewish customs through Benny. Without the conversion to the faith, Luan would always be an outsider, something these crazies wouldn't tolerate.
Leni would be alright, she hoped. After all, she married a bisexual man and had children with him. If anything, that, combined with Leni's blonde hair would make her one of Heaven's angels. A healer sent from on high to reverse the trend of increasing LGBT identity. It wouldn't matter to them that Leni was more than tolerant of their lifestyle, or that she initially tried to hook Gavin up with Miguel. To Right Path, Leni would be seen as a diamond in the rough.
Then there were the siblings outside of Royal Woods. Lucy and her husband Rocky moved to Burbank, California where Rocky could pursue his animation career while Lucy worked on her novel series. California was as good, if not better, than Royal Woods in promoting an environment where diversity and the LGBT could thrive, so Lucy would be fine. Right Path would avoid a liberal haven such as California like the plague. Lily would be fine there as well. Her art skills paid off in the long run when she became an animation YouTuber who told stories about her life to her followers. Rocky helped her out with this endeavour. It was good practice for him, and his work on Lily's show earned him attention from major animation studios. It wasn't long before he got an internship, then a full-time job as an animator. Lily, too, was approached by those same studios to be a storyboard artist and character designer. Lily accepted, though still kept her channel going.
Lola was especially thankful that her twin sister Lana and her wife Adelaide lived in Great Lakes City, where they took over the city zoo, with Lana as Head Veterinarian and Adelaide as Head Zookeeper. Though, knowing Lana, she would charge head-first into battle to save her twin. Lola wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't making plans to do so right now. It wouldn't be long before news of this siege would make national headlines. Once that happened, all bets were off.
If not Lana, then Lori would certainly be making up the battle plans. When she wasn't on the pro golf circuit, Lori was heading up her own golf club in Great Lakes City, only a 5-minute drive away from her old alma mater, Fairway University. She rented the place out for college tournaments and held classes for anyone interested in learning how to play. This made her a modest mint. Combined with Bobby running the family mercado, and they had everything they needed to look after their three kids Arthur, Hayley, and Marie.
Back to Royal Woods, Leni and Gavin were able to use their knowledge of the mall to get in through a service entrance undetected. As Lola rightly guessed, Right Path thugs left Leni, Gavin, and their two kids Sharna and Lewis alone. The latter were left with their grandparents Rita and Lynn Sr., who Right Path also let be. The former could not stand idly by while their workplace was being used as a holding pen for all the 'undesirables', as Right Path called them. The mission was simple; using disguises, they would document everything that was happening and broadcast it to the rest of the world, then let Internet outrage circulate. Gavin then saw what became of Reininger's, his and Leni's clothing store.
"I can't believe this! That store is for selling fashion, not keeping polys penned up like this!" Gavin vented.
"You think that's bad? They merged all the food courts together into one makeshift courthouse. Trials of love, indeed," Leni spat out in disgust.
"Did you find Miguel and Felix?" Gavin inquired.
"They're in overflow, so they won't be inside for a while. It'll be night soon. They'll be stuck out in the freezing cold," Leni answered, out of concern for her co-workers. Gavin then spotted two familiar faces by the home electronics section, which had been designated the holding area for same-gender couples.
"If I were you, Leni, I'd have bigger priorities," Gavin then indicated towards Luna and Sam Sharp. Leni looked, then rushed over to them. After lowering her mask to reveal herself, she embraced them in a tight hug.
"Are you two alright? Where's Mickey?" Leni inquired.
"With my parents. When the announcement came on, we told him to run there as fast as he could. Good thing he's in the track team at school," Sam revealed, much to Leni's relief.
"It broke his heart to leave us behind, but we told him we'd be fine. We've faced worse than this, right?" Luna added.
"To be fair, the rise of the Fourth Reich is starkly different from the Michigan Flu, nightmare demons, witches from another dimension, and an evil dragon that has been caged for millennia," Sam compared the previous threats the Loud family faced to their current situation.
"Anyway, you should get out of here. Vic placed all members of the Loud family on priority one. Seems he's holding a grudge. Linc and RA are due to go to the Arbiter any second now and…..oh great, they finally got Lynn," Luna then pointed out a large, metallic, cage-like structure with someone strapped to a gurney like Hannibal Lector. They were struggling wildly and banging against the walls like a hungry animal. Leni figured that that couldn't be anyone else but Lynn.
"It took ten squads to bring her down. I have seven guys in the Infirmary! One of them is missing a chunk of his arm after she sank her teeth into it!" Leni heard one guard inform his superior.
"Put her in solitary, under armed guard," the superior ordered, and Lynn's escorts wheeled her down to the little jail Leni knew the mall had, but never once visited. Leni then showed Luna her phone.
"Gavin and I are getting all this on camera. Soon, the whole world will know what's happening here," Leni assured.
"Be sure to get Lincoln's sham trial in there as well," Luna advised.
"Gavin's on that. Once that's finished, we'll get the rest of the people out through the service entrance, and I have just the distraction in mind," Leni instructed.
"They've sealed off every road in and out of Royal Woods. Even if we did escape, where would we go?" Luna asked.
"They haven't touched the forests yet. We can gather everyone there and hunker down until things get sorted out. We could probably even start a rebellion if our numbers are high enough," Sam suggested.
"Don't do anything too drastic. We don't want Lola getting hurt, or worse," Leni cautioned.
"I don't think they'll kill her. Most likely Vic is bluffing. He kills Lola, he loses his leverage, and the National Guard would be on him like a blow-out sale at the brick store. Hostages are only worth something when they're alive," Sam theorised.
"Even so, I am not playing Russian Roulette with my sister's life on the line. Hide in the trees, sure, but come up with another plan to save the town, or better yet, leave it to the trained professionals," Luna countered.
"Luna's right. For now, we raise awareness and look out for each other, but we do not engage Right Path directly. I'll set Lynn free and she'll do what she does best. The guards will be too focused on her to give you guys a second look. Lead everyone to the service exit and do not look back. We'll catch up when we can," Leni gave her marching orders and set off for the mall jail. Meanwhile, Gavin was playing guard at the 'courthouse' where two Right Path thugs were 'escorting' Lincoln and Ronalda Loud to the defendant's box. The Arbiter, dressed in judge's robes and looking very hate-filled, took his place on the bench.
"OK, let's see what we have here. Lincoln and Ronalda Loud. Charges are inter-racial relations, producing hybrids, polyamory with both genders, and foregoing religion. Arbiter J.P. Rance presiding," Rance kicked off the proceedings.
"Don't you dare call our kids hybrids, mister! Take that back or I'll climb up there and make you!" Ronnie Anne threatened.
"Add 'threatening a court official' to her rap sheet, bailiff. Mrs. Loud, the mixing of American blood with outside impurities is something this court has zero tolerance for. Combine that with your past…..dalliances….with same-gender partners, and you two are in a world of trouble, both in this life and afterwards. The Almighty does not like deviations from His vision," Rance scolded.
"You mean *your* vision for what humanity should be like! If me having sex with Clyde offends you, I'd all too happily suck his thing and let him take me up the ass for old time's sake just to piss you off! We ended that part of ourselves when we had kids! Rose and Luke take priority now!" Lincoln stood up for himself, referring to his daughter and son respectively.
"Interesting, and did you seek salvation in confessionals after this ended?" Rance queried.
"We shouldn't have to! We're not of that persuasion! And besides, it's not illegal and we weren't hurting anyone! What we did together back then wasn't a crime! In fact, it saved Sid from going down an even darker path, so I have no regrets whatsoever, and I'll happily take that to my grave!" Ronnie Anne affirmed.
"I'll take that as a guilty plea, then. Lincoln, you will be taken from this place to a re-education centre where you will be taught true family values and will not be allowed to leave until you have passed our course to our satisfaction. Maybe there, you will learn the value of having skin as white as your hair (seriously, what's up with that?) and not to taint that trait with…foreign genes. Ronalda, we will arrange to have you removed forthwith from this country back to Tijuana or wherever it is you came from and banished from this Caucasian paradise on pain of death. You can take the hybrids with you. Once there, your marriage will be dissolved. You will be free to take up a partner of your own race and live a life there, so long as you do not set foot in America again!" Rance concluded the sham trial and had Lincoln and Ronnie Anne forcibly separated. Gavin got what he needed, even Lincoln's defiant statement about his past polyamory with Clyde. Gavin couldn't help but admire Lincoln's bravery, and his sass. No wonder Leni and her sisters held him in high regard. He was unashamedly himself, no matter what life presented him with.
Whilst this was happening, Leni was down in the mall jail, where she saw a single guard watch over Lynn in her cell. To her advantage, the guard looked scared to be in Lynn's presence. No doubt he had heard horror stories about what it took to contain her. Leni, trying hard to mask sisterly pride, approached the holding area.
"I am to relieve you, soldier," Leni lied. Not sure what to make of this development, but happy to get out of there, the guard rushed out of the jail.
"She's your problem now. Don't make eye contact, whatever you do," the guard counselled and bailed for the exit. Lynn took one look at Leni's disguised get-up and growled angrily. Leni realised that Right Path were not kidding when they said they struggled to contain her, and readily believed that she bit a chunk out of one of them. She then lowered her mask, and Lynn saw that it was Leni, and changed her stance.
"Leni? How did you get in here?" Lynn questioned.
"Same way we're getting everyone else out, but we need a distraction. I'm setting you loose. Go out there and kick some Right Path tail for us," Leni encouraged.
"You don't need to tell me twice," Lynn eagerly agreed. Once the cell door was unlocked, Leni picked Lynn's restraints with her hairpin. Still as easy as ever, Lynn was suddenly free to wreak as much havoc as she pleased. Even though Leni was an accomplished lockpick, she swore to herself never to teach Sharna or Lewis how to do it, and she also forbade Luan or Lynn from teaching them as well. She didn't want them getting into any mischief. Back at the courthouse, just as guards were about to take Lincoln and Ronnie Anne who-knows-where, their walkie-talkies came to life.
"We've got a disturbance in sector four. Requesting additional back-up-oh shit! She's loose! Send back-up! Send back-AAARRRRRGHHHHH!" was all the reporting guard got in before comms were cut.
"All available units converge on solitary immediately!" the tannoy system announced, and thugs ceased watching the prisoners and instead tried, in vain, to deal with Lynn. Using her ninja skills, Lynn kept to the shadows, using darkness to mask herself, and when they least expected it, the guards were picked off one by one. What Right Path cronies weren't rendered comatose by Lynn's savagery ran away in fear. Lincoln could swear he saw one guy crying in the foetal position over in the corner.
"I swear, she could be a horror movie villain," Lincoln remarked.
"Never mind that. Come on, we have to get out of here," Ronnie Anne urged. She then saw Leni and Gavin leading people through the service entrance and followed them. Lincoln stopped to talk to Leni.
"What about Lynn?" Lincoln inquired out of concern for his sister. He then saw a guard try to leave, but Lynn dragged her through the open door by his feet back to where he was trying to get out from.
"I think she'll be fine," Leni stated, as the guard's anguished screams rang throughout the mall. Arbiter Rance chose to abandon his post and run for the hills rather than deal with that deranged monster.
"Try to get some answers out of them. We wanna know how they got into Town Hall without anyone noticing," Lincoln called out.
"What level of torture am I allowed to use?" Lynn replied.
"A sibling's life is at stake. No holds barred," Lincoln answered. Lynn laughed menacingly.
"With pleasure," Lynn complied. Lincoln then ran for the exit alongside the other townspeople. Once they were out, they were met by an unknown group of people. At their head was Chandler McCann, Lincoln's childhood nemesis.
"Oh great, what do you want? Here to sell us out to Right Path?" Lincoln groaned.
"This way, hurry, before any patrols spot you," Chandler gestured in a direction far away from the town. Lincoln was surprised at this development. Chandler was the last person he expected to be getting help from. Given his attitude in the past, he fully expected Chandler to be on Right Path's side. Yet here he was, aiding them in their time of need. Not one to turn away an offer of assistance, Lincoln let Chandler lead the people away to a manor in the woods, tucked away where no-one could see. Chandler led them inside, where Lincoln, Leni, and Luna were elated to find Luan, her old drama club, and their kids.
"Sis! Oh, thank goodness you're OK! We were sure Right Path made an example of you and your friends, considering you're on the top spot on their enemies list!" Luna cried out in sheer relief at seeing her old room-mate alive and well.
"The Feds led us here when the chaos started. I can't tell you what it's been like, worrying about all of you and being powerless to do anything about it. I thought the worst for a second," Luan responded.
"This is my parents' summer retreat. Since they moved down South to retire, it's been sitting empty, so I lent it to the Feds to use as a safe house for anyone Right Path has their sights on. If need be, it can house all of Royal Woods," Chandler explained.
"Don't you live here?" Lincoln asked.
"No. Claire and I found a place a lot smaller than this. That reminds me, I should make some introductions," Chandler then saw Claire McCann come down the stairs with a toddler in her arms. "This my wife Claire, and our beautiful little girl Olivia," Chandler presented his wife and daughter. Lincoln was very surprised at this. Back during his childhood, and from what he had heard from others, Chandler didn't strike him as the type to settle down, get married and have children. Yet here he was, not only a husband, but a father as well. This day has been full of surprises, and the way Chandler presented himself was vastly different to what he remembered. The difference was so night-and-day that Lincoln could've sworn this Chandler and the one from his youth were two different people.
"That's Lincoln Loud? Your old target?" Claire inquired.
"Yeah, I never thought I'd run into him again. I was content to leave that past self where he belongs; in the dust," Chandler said remorsefully. It was then that Shannon, one of Luan's friends, stepped forward.
"It is OK. Lincoln has changed a lot since then as well," Shannon assured.
"So I heard. Lincoln, I…." but Chandler was stopped from making his apology speech by Lincoln raising his hand.
"I know what you're going to say, Chandler, and I forgive you. We're both very different to how we were as kids. If this invasion has taught us anything, it is that the past should stay buried, and the future embraced with open arms," Lincoln accepted Chandler's apology, which greatly delighted him.
"Yeah, since I got 'Christmas Carolled' I've been seeing Royal Woods' favoured family counsellor with my folks, and things have been a lot better," Chandler relayed.
"I wouldn't call myself Royal Woods' favoured counsellor. I'm just doing my job, something I'd like to get back to when this is all over," Shannon rebuffed. Lincoln had asked himself why Chandler was so different to his past self, then he got his answers. If Chandler had been visited by the three ghosts of Christmas, it would explain a lot. Leni then came up to Shannon with a proposition.
"Shannon, can I borrow you for a few minutes? I want to add something special to the video we're about to upload," Leni requested. Unsure of what she had in mind, Shannon agreed.
Meanwhile, at the White House, President McKay was in a meeting with his security staff that he had called to discuss the Royal Woods crisis. Chief among them were his Vice President Alexander Cortez, his appointed US Attorney General Elizabeth Chance, Homeland Security Secretary Paul Quinn, and the Director of Intelligence Alena Kinnegan.
"Thank you for coming on short notice, everyone, but as you have heard, urgency was required," McKay started the meeting.
"Before we start, Mister President, I want to know just how the hell the world's most informed intelligence agencies missed a plot by an armed religious cult to besiege one of our flagship towns!" Chance demanded to know.
"I want to know this, too! I've got guardsmen asking questions as to how this flew under the radar of the FBI and the CIA!" Sean Tolt, Head of the National Guard in Michigan, added over video call.
"All valid questions, but pointing fingers at each other won't solve this dilemma, nor will it free the citizens of Royal Woods any faster," McKay called for calm.
"You fought these crazies. How do we deal with them?" Quinn inquired.
"By not giving in to their demands. We've achieved too much to let a loud minority of fanatics destroy it all," Cortez responded.
"This whole thing screams of toddlers having a tantrum because they couldn't get their own way, only these toddlers have weapons and no compunction about using them," Kinnegan observed.
"Agreed. I will not surrender American freedom to those zealots. I would die first," McKay declared.
"Every man and woman under my command would give their life to keep that from happening," Quinn affirmed.
"The question stands, then; how do we free Royal Woods from their grasp? They have the Mayor hostage," Tolt posed.
"By finding out how they got in un-noticed in the first place. You don't march a battalion of troops down Town Hall's front door without attracting attention. Either they were let in, which I doubt, or they snuck in via a back door. Quinn, did your federal agents extract the priority targets?" McKay surmised.
"They did, sir. Agents Smith and Jones reported a successful extraction of the Tannenbaums and this so-called 'drama club'," Quinn reported.
"Good. I want additional agents deployed on a covert fact-finding mission. I want to know just how Right Path were able to seize control of the town so quickly. I would also like to know the status of the populace. What is going on in there? Has anyone been hurt, or worse? Can you do that?" McKay ordered.
"I will make it a first priority, Mister President. I have just the people for the…." But an interruption by an intelligence operative put a hold on Quinn's reply. The operative whispered in Quinn's ear. "Are you sure this is from Royal Woods?" Quinn asked the operative, who nodded in response. "Good job. I'll pass it along," Quinn said and the operative left without a word. "Apologies, Mister President, but there is something you should see. Social media footage from Royal Woods has been circulating online," Quinn informed. McKay viewed the footage and was horrified by what he saw.
"My God! Is this genuine? How many people have seen this?!" McKay interrogated.
"This footage has been viewed three million times in the last half-hour. It has, as the kids say, gone viral," Quinn relayed.
"Prepare an emergency press conference. I will address the people," McKay instructed, and with that, the meeting was adjourned.
At Great Lakes City Zoo, Lana Chang and her wife Adelaide were in the zookeeper's lounge getting ready to clock off for the day. Lana was exhausted because it was vaccination day, and rounding up some of those animals to get their shots took some doing, especially the monkeys that just hated needles. Some had to be administered via dart gun, and even that was a challenge, as they were smart enough to know the zoo schedule and hang out in their favourite hiding spots. Adelaide had to feign going away before she shot them. She even resorted to camouflage. The less said about that, the better. After sending the zookeepers home early, Lana and Adelaide were enjoying each other's company for a while, cuddled up on the couch.
"After wrestling with animals, it's nice to have a human touch," Lana gushed.
"Same here. After what I've been through, I could use a shower, a rather long one if you get my drift," Adelaide flirted. This was the pair's favourite after-work activity; taking a long one in the washroom when it was just them.
"I'll be along in a second. I just gotta record the last episode of 'Penguin Pageants'," Lana indicated. She then turned on the TV, but to her surprise, it was the national news instead. Not wanting to ruin the moment, Lana flicked the channel, but it was the same thing on every station. The President was about to give an address. Lana found this very worrying. This only happened during an emergency. In Lana's memory, the last time this happened was the Michigan Flu outbreak some twenty-five years back, which she came down with. Lana considered herself lucky to be alive after that. A six-year-old girl catching a disease that powerful should've killed her. Thank goodness her sister Lisa found a cure in time.
"My fellow Americans. Today, I have been informed of a most disturbing development. Two hours ago, armed thugs belonging to the group known as Right Path have laid siege to the south-eastern Michigan town of Royal Woods, where they have taken Mayor Lola hostage and have round up the locals to stand trial for 'crimes against the Almighty'. They contacted my office not long after, making demands of my administration that would set our progress back by a hundred years. I say this to you all. This administration will not be bullied or threatened by religious zealots that seek to take away the liberties that the American people fought for and rightfully enjoy! My cabinet will work round the clock to free the people of Royal Woods and bring this cult to justice! Half an hour ago, footage of Right Path's activities was uploaded to every social media site. I warn you, the footage you're about to see is most distressing," McKay notified everyone watching. The footage then cut to locals being forced from their homes and taken to a makeshift courthouse in the mall, where arbiters were pronouncing unfair judgment. Lana was panicking internally. Did he say they had her twin sister hostage? Has Lola been hurt? Worse, has she been killed? If so, Lana would pay them back a hundred-fold. The footage also showed Lincoln's defiant statement to Arbiter Rance about his past polyamory. If anything happened to Lincoln or his family because of this, Lana would pay Right Path back a thousand-fold. The scene then cut to Sam sitting on a stool.
"My name is Samantha Sharp. Wife to Luna Sharp. Mother to Mickey Sharp. I am a music teacher at Royal Woods High School. Today, Right Path thugs broke down our door and forced us to face sham charges which include deviancy and grooming. I have never touched kids inappropriately. Nor would I dream of it. However, I have been called a 'groomer' and 'wayward' by these cultists simply for being myself. My wife has also been called a 'temptress' for luring a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman from her 'ordained goal' of fostering 'the perfect race'. If loving my wife is a crime, then I am guilty. I am Samantha Sharp, and I am me," Sam testified. The scene then showed a woman, Lola's former pageant judge, appear in the same spot Sam once occupied.
"My name is Dana Dufrene. I was once Donnie Dufrene, but I transitioned because I did not feel comfortable in a male body. I have never regretted doing so. Since my transition, my mental health has strongly improved. Where depression once stood, conviction and affirmation has taken its place. However, like Sam, I have also been labelled horrible things by these thugs simply because I choose to exist as I am. My colleagues accept me. The girls I judge accept me. Their parents accept me. Everyone in this town accepts me for what I am. I proudly declare that my name is Dana Dufrene. I am female, and I am me," Dana declared. The scene then showed Harold McBride in Dana's place.
"My name is Harold McBride. Husband to Howard McBride. Father to Clyde McBride. Grand-father to James and Julie McBride. Like the previous two entries, I too found acceptance in Royal Woods. I loved and was loved in return, and not just by my spouse or my child or my grandchildren, but from everyone I have ever known in this town. I have also accepted my son's choice of lifestyle. Yet, because of these acts of acceptance and love, I, along with my family, have been labelled 'deviants' and 'aberrations' by those who believe they are on the side of righteousness, but instead espouse hate and evil wherever they go. It is saddening that an atheistic, white-haired boy I have known for years is more Christian, Jewish, or whatever faith these zealots claim to act in the name of, than they are. No God would ever approve of this. Also, because I married a Caucasian man, I have been labelled one of 'Satan's agents of temptation' for steering the 'perfect man' down a sinful path. If they want to take my life for that, then I would go to the grave with no regrets. I am Harold McBride, and I am me," Harold affirmed. Then Shannon Tannenbaum took the stage.
"I am Shannon Tannenbaum. Wife to Ruby Tannenbaum. Mother to Henry Tannenbaum. By all rights, I shouldn't be speaking. My grandparents founded this movement without anyone in our family knowing. I earned a medal for exposing and decimating the movement when my grandparents deceived me into a conversion camp when I revealed my relationship with Ruby to them. My wife won our son in a court battle that would've seen Henry handed over to Right Path when he was just six months old had she not intervened. There are multiple stories like the ones you just heard happening right now in our town. But I say this to all who watch. Right Path can be defeated if we stand together. We outnumber them. Right Path pick on the weak and helpless. Show them you are anything but. Be proud of what you are and let no-one take that strength away from you. Look out for your neighbours, your friends, your colleagues. Fight today. Fight tomorrow. Fight for however long it takes until this evil is vanquished forever. Like any storm, this is temporary, and the sun will shine brightest after we have weathered it. Above all else, never let go of hope, for it is the brightest light. I am Shannon Tannenbaum, and I am me," Shannon concluded the testimonials.
"I implore all American citizens to keep the people of Royal Woods in your hearts. This evil has been fought and defeated before. It will be again. Until then, stay strong, Royal Woods. This office is behind you all the way. When this is over, whatever you need will be yours, on my honour," McKay then terminated the emergency press conference. Lana was in shock. Her old home taken over. Her twin sister held captive. Her friends, her family, everyone she'd ever known there, put on trial for being themselves. She felt like crying. She was so mad she wanted to break everything in the room. Adelaide then stepped out with only a towel covering her.
"Oh, Lana. What's keeping…you?" Adelaide saw that her wife was in distress and realised now was not the time for flirtations. "Are you OK?" Adelaide asked out of concern. Lana then rushed over and hugged Adelaide tightly while crying her eyes out. "Hey hey hey, I got you. Let it out. Tell me everything," Adelaide soothed her wife as best she could. Meanwhile, back in town hall, Vic, Susan, Eton, Lola, and Winston just saw the broadcast. Lola and Winston sported gloated smiles at McKay's rebuttal to their demands, while Vic, Susan, and Eton were enraged.
"We are being condemned on a global scale! We're saving this town, and this is how they thank us!" Susan raved.
"Saving this town? You're in the streets! You're in their homes! You've got their kids! Of course they're going to fight!" Lola retorted.
"If it's a fight they want, it's a fight they'll get!" Eton asserted.
"You were meant to get *every* deviant family!" Vic rounded on Eton.
"My men did their job! Heterosexual, Caucasian marriages were left alone! It's not our fault one of the Louds was in such! Rest assured, we'll make Leni pay for this insolence!" Susan vowed.
"She was only showing the world what you are. Isn't that what you wanted?" Winston probed.
"She's making us out to be monsters. We're saving these lost souls," Vic countered.
"By breaking into their homes, dragging them before sham courts, forcing their families apart and calling them vile names. Real saviour-like," Lola sassed. Vic then back-handed Lola across the face. "And you wonder why people don't like you," Lola added.
"Enough. McKay wants Royal Woods to be an example, let him. Eton, have your guys prepare the Hellfire. Let this town burn!" Susan seethed.
"It'll take at least a few days," Eton informed.
"Do it! The people brought this on themselves!" Susan replied. Lola's demeanour shifted from smug defiance to sheer terror.
"What's the Hellfire?" Lola inquired. Susan grinned from ear to ear.
"Our final solution," Susan gleefully answered.
Author's note: I think going forward, I should have a content warning placed on the description of this story. I will freely admit, Right Path is based on MAGA. I don't think it's a secret that I absolutely despise them and what they're doing to the US right now. This is exactly what they would do, given the chance. I suppose you can look at this as an instruction manual on how to fight back against them. Internet outrage certainly is a useful tool, when used correctly. Hopefully, MAGA don't have a Hellfire up their sleeve, but I wouldn't put it past them. The usual disclaimers, I own nothing. All properties belong to their respective owners. Enjoy, while you can.