+1+
“They are fine. The girls are fine.” Adam has both hands taught on the steering wheel as we pull onto the highway. I glance over at Adam and his eyes flicker quickly to mine then back at the road. My fucking hormones. I didn’t even know I was crying. It just came out of nowhere.
“What if that agent Morris has it wrong? What if it’s a dead end? We should go back for the girls—“
“Aria”, Adam reaches over and grabs my hand, “Those ladies are tough. The girls are safe.”
I feel the baby kicking and try to calm myself down.
“So what’s your idea?” I ask trying to shake off how scared I was.
“You said that event is at Ft. Bradley?”
“Yes.”
He looks at me then back at the road like I’m missing something obvious
“Come on, Aria. Don’t know what they have there?”
“It’s just a military base”, I look over my shoulder expecting to see the girls and the emptiness feels so hollow. I feel so silly for wishing I could keep them as close and safe as the baby.
“It’s also where the U.S kept their spoils from Helios’ regime.” Adam says as If that should cheer me up.
“No way is there a stock pile of Helion valuables in America. They would have destroyed it. That’s just internet conspiracies.”
“It’s true. They had us prisoner’s help pack all the shit. I’m serious Aria.”
“So? It’s what? Some of Helios’ cars?”
“…and Kronos”, Adam saysl
“His dog?” I ask getting flashes of that vile vicious dog he would sic on the staff. I never saw the dog but I saw the scars he left behind. Adam shakes his head.
“It’s named after his dog.”
I focus on Adam.
“What is?”
“His plane.”
+++
Adam and I bounce ideas off of each other on how to steal a fucking plane as he speeds towards New Jersey. Luckily the car has a hook-up that detects police officers and speed cameras. When we cross into New Jersey Adam changes the plates back and I try to get a grip on that the fact that I’m multiple states away from my girls.
We pull up to the Doubletree hotel just outside of Ft. Bradley near New Crest City. I notice the security guards around the entrance and the row of black sedans in the parking lot.
“You got this?” Adam asks looking at the security around the hotel.
“You worry about stealing the plane, I’ll worry about getting us in.”
I clear my throat and put the SIM card back into my phone. I am flooded with messages from Aurora and several of my sisters. I send Aurora a simple text, hoping she can communicate it to the others.
I’m safe.
Then just so they know it’s me I add.
I found the white ribbon on the oak tree. I’m safe.
“Aria”, Adams says impatiently. He is all nerves at this point.
I dial Lady Bless’ personal cellphone number and put on a fake smile to get me in the right mindset.
“Aria?” Lady Bless picks up, “Where are you? Is everything okay?”
“I had some personal issues I needed to attend to.” I try not to lie, “It was all so sudden—“
“Edwin took care of your visa so you don’t have to worry about that. But if you’re in distress you sho—“
“I’m fine”, I say with fake brightness, “I really just want to work. The girls are at my Sisters and I’d really like to be there at the gala tonight. I know it is last minute but I put so much work into planning it.”
There is a calculated silence. Lady Bless is a careful woman. I’d give her that.
“Of course. We’re at the hotel getting ready for the gala. Join us when you can.”
“The Doubletree?” I ask looking up at the building
“Yes. You know what? It’ll be good to have you there. I can’t wait to see your dress.”
+++
Out of all the things I thought I’d be doing after being run out of my own house in the middle of the night, buying a formal dress from a big box store was not one of them. I just needed to look decent enough to get into the party so I picked up the first plus-sized discount prom dress I could find. It was bright red taffeta with plastic diamonds but the material flowed enough to cascade across my belly.
Adam is waiting out by the car squinting at his phone and trying to configure the map of Ft. Bradley that had been on some military conspiracy website.
“How is it going?” I ask setting the dress next to the huge bag of drugstore makeup I’d purchased.
”I only hope this map is accurate. There are two bunkers on the base that don’t seem to have a publicly known purpose. There is one about two miles from the officer’s club that has to house Kronos.”
“Why that one?”
“It’s the only one big enough for a runway.”
“I can’t believe Helios had a plane. I didn’t even know he left the city.”
“That was the point.”
“You sure know a lot about Helios’ intentions.”
Adam shrugs, “I wasn’t really in the inner circle like that. All those men were executed so I guess we’ll never know what Helios really thought.”
“Hm”, I agreed.
“You know. I notice you also don’t really talk about the Regime.” he says tossing the phone aside and starting the car.
“I’ve literally blocked it out. I know what happened. I know what it was like but I can’t remember details. I just remember crying a lot. He used solitary confinement a punishment. Sometimes it’d be ten minutes, 4 weeks and one time even 8 months. It made me ravenous for company even his. I was so obedient so I wouldn’t be put away again.”
“That’s fucked up”
“It’s why I want my girls to experience the whole world. Not just our little portion of it'.”
Adam nods.
“I want that too. Like being in SGI I go to see what felt like everything.”
“You will again”, I say and put on Leon’s sunglasses, “Now. Let’s get you a tux.”
+++
I spend the start of the evening in Lady Bless’ suite. It wasn’t the most opulent set of suites but the top floor accommodations was enough to fit her primary staff and hairstylist. Lady Bless was a career military wife and mother of five. She’d taken a lot better to being politician’s’ wife than Sera had. She was outspoken, she fought for her environmental platform and she was beloved by the people. I was a little envious.
Lady Bless’ formal dress isa stately simple deep blue gown
that will compliment her husband formal attire. The American ambassadors’ wife
is also there with her hair and make-up team. She’d made a point of not
speaking to me the entire time.
“The speech is very well written Lady Bless”, the American ambassador’s wife says, “It’s just…don’t you think using the word ‘unify’ so much might make people think about the unification party and those awful riots.”
“Maybe…but that’s what this night is about”, Lady Bless says and I perk up, “Creating unifying relationship between America and New Aeterna. We want open communication, open borders ...maybe even open trade one day.”
I listen trying to think what New Aeterna could possibly have to trade with the rest of the world. Unify was a loaded term when it came to New Aeterna politics.
“And”, Lady Bless continues, “If my speech puts unification on the hearts and minds of more people… then so be it. I mean the Unification party went way too far in their ideology but …it would be nice for future generations to grow up in the world I did. Before all this, when—“
“When Angels were in hiding”, I finish and instantly regret it.
“Aria that’s not what I meant.” Lady Bless says and I know she means it, “I just…miss the balance is all.”
I have to bite my lip. The hairstylists share a look with each other like they have the gossip of the year. I survey the women in the room. Spouses of supposedly powerful men, wielding our own power in what ways our proximity will allow us. In a powder room. Well it was an oversimplification. But still.
“Balance”, I says thoughtfully, “Yes Lady Bless, that is much needed.”
Once the stylist have finished up the publicist file in. We are escorted downstairs and I follow Lady Bless to the lobby where she meets with Prime Minister Bless. Everyone in the lobby is crowded around him and his wife, taking photos and shaking hands.I keep back. My job was to make sure Lady Bless had everything she needed for the evening and that she stuck to her schedule for the night. We could do about fifteen more minutes of greeting people before we had to head to the event.
I almost do a double take when I see Adam at the outskirts of the crowd. The off the rack black tuxedo he’d purchased was a little small yet complimented his lean frame. He’d gotten a few hours of sleep in the hotel room and was clean shaved. The roughness was still there but his angled cheek bones and deep blue eyes made him look magnetic and swoony.
“I barley recognize you”, I say resisting the urge to touch him.
“I barley recognize myself in this getup.”
“Okay, well just stick by me”, He holds out his arm, shifting the inconspicuous oversized black camera bag we’d purchased this afternoon. It was filled with tools and clothes we’d need once we were in Mexico. If we got through this crazy plan.
“Lady Bless”, I say making my way easily through the crowd. Being six months pregnant did that, “We should head to the gala.”
She nods and the security guards lead her and Bless towards the waiting limo.
“I have a ride”, I tell her, and “I’ll see you there.”
Lady Bless’ gaze lands on Adam for the first time and she inclines he head, I can feel her watching as Adam helps me into the SUV. I’d stolen a car tag from one of the other cars so the SUV could be in the motorcade and skip the security check point.
“Boy, they really trust you”, Adam says as we sail past security and are directed to a parking lot.
“Maybe they shouldn’t.”, I say more to myself.
Adam helps me out the car and I make it to the door of the officer’s club just as Lady Bless and Prime Minister Bless are being let in. Adam has the oversized camera bag slung over his shoulder and the security guards don’t give it a second look as we reach the entrance. I feel Adam go tense next to me when we enter.
“Are you okay?”
“Don’t like all the uniforms. Guys like that didn’t like guys like me when I was at Riker’s Island”
“It’s okay”, I say and the mother in me starts gently rubbing his back.
Once inside I’m too on edge to appreciate how Lady Bless and the ambassador’s wife’s teams have transformed the ho-hum officer’s club into high-end event space with a lot of red, white and blue. The pro-American feel has distinct Unification Party intentions.
“Do you think they know what I am?” Adams asks inclining his head towards tonight’s host.
“It shouldn’t matter”, I say still not over the theme for tonight.
“We need to get to the bunker as soon as possible”, He says, “If we leave now---
“I…I just need to talk to Lady Bless.”
“Aria.”
I’ve already disentangled from him and head straight for the guest of honor’s table. The security guards have worked with Leon enough to know who I am and let me through.
“Lady Bless”, I say pulling her away from a conversation with her senior staffer.
“Aria”, she seems uncomfortable with me being near the head table, “Why don’t you help with the front door? We can get you a chair?”
“What is this about?” I ask her earnestly.
“What do you mean? You know it’s a peace gala.”
“I also know a dog whistle when I hear one. I trust what you and your husband are doing for New Aeterna but…I’m afraid your plans for the future might not be the same for Angels and humans... I know to humans New Aeterna is a 15 year nuisance and horror story. But to us it’s what we’ve waited hundreds of years for.”
“Aria”, Prime Minister Bless speaks, “There is a lot you don’t understand. We can’t make decisions based on a small minority of people.”
“So you are planning to reunify with the states?”
The Bless’ look at one another and I knew this wasn’t something they could speak freely about.
“…I don’t think I can work for you anymore”, I tell Lady bless.
“No. Aria. Please. We need your voice. I know things might not be ideal but Edwin is trying to do what’s best for all. I mean that Paris Prince made a real mess of things for humans and Angels.”
“If you really need my voice… I just ask you forgive me for anything that might happen next. “
Before she can ask for a follow up I’m halfway across the room. I find Adam near the back of the ballroom uncomfortably caged in by two women telling him what celebrity he looks like. I wrap my arm around him and give the women a look that sends then scattering.
“Lets go”, I say heading towards the back door.
“You okay, Aria?” he asks
“I will be.”
Once we are out the backdoor we hurry through the parking lot and into the woods that separates the officer’s club from the rest of the base. We stop long enough for me to ditch my high heels and put on a pair of flats I’d stuck in the camera bag slung on Adam’s arm. With the flashlight on his phone Adam leads me through the woods, mapping his way to the bunker from memory.
“You sure you are okay”, he says once it’s clear we are alone.
“I’m just angry. I let Anne control my life for centuries, then Helios and now the Blesses. I’m just tired of it.”
He nods in agreement
We get turned around a few times before coming across an isolated military bunker that is constructed on a short tarmac. The entrance to the bunker is brightly lit and there is a watch tower and fence between us and the bunker.
Adam flips open the camera bag and pulls out a circuit to reroute the electricity in the fence and a pair of plastic tipped pliers. He clips the circuit to the fence and a low buzz I hadn’t even noticed goes silent. He smiles to himself and begins cutting into the fence. He cuts until there is a whole just big enough for me to fit.
“You got this”, he says.
“Yes”, I smear a little dirt on myself then step through. I make sure to let my dress catch a little on the barbs. I take a deep breath, waive my arms and hobble to the front of the watch tower hoping the people inside look before shooting.
“Help!” I shout, “Help me ! Please!”
A spotlight turns on and I pretend to collapse to the ground. I hear a rush of footsteps as two military guards run to my aide. They are young and sound more afraid than I do.
“Ma’am what’s wrong? How did you get --”
“I…I …someone chased me. I think I broke my ankle. Help me.”
I lift my dress a little and they notice the skin isn’t broken or swollen
“Ma’am—“
Adam throws a bag over one man’s head cinches it tight before turning and doing the same to the second. They reach in the dark for their weapons but Adam swiftly knocks them both out. I help him tie their arms back and Adam heaves the unconscious men back into the control tower.
“Delta Five. What was that? Delta Five”, a radio in the watch tower cackles.
Adam pushes a button to respond.
“All clear. Just false alarm.”
Adam removes the bags from the men’s heads and set the unconscious men up in the corner of the room.
“They might be up soon. We gotta go”, Adam says
We dash across the tarmac to the bunker. Adam pulls a bolt cutter, his last tool from the camera bag, and wrenches the door open. The lights flicker on in succession and I feel like I’m standing in a museum. The room is neatly organized with Regime era military uniforms, technology, books, watches, cars and artwork I recognized from Helios’s citadel. There is even a funny looking timepiece that looks oddly familiar.
“Fuck yeah”, Adam says clapping has hands
I follow his gaze to where a white and gray jet is perched at the end of the hangar
+2+
Kronos is sleek and modern. The tiny sporty looking jet is so unlike Helios’ usual 80’s iron curtain aesthetic. It’s rounded and smooth to the touch with sharp futuristic wings. It looks like it could just cut through the air. It’s a small jet but it’s just what we need.
I take a few turns around the hangar while Adam gets his bearings inside. This hangar is like a morbid museum to the past. It’s more than disturbing to see some of the items have price tags on them. My curiosity pulls me towards a book Helios had handwritten about his ideologies. It was utter madness.
I was glad when the small jet starts to roar and set of stairs lowers. Adam is waiting for me at the entrance.
“Okay, Baby”, I say holding my belly while climbing the stairs. This was going to be an adventure for both of us.
The inside of the jet is compact with just two small slim seats in the back. I peek into the cockpit where Adam familiarizes himself with the controls.
“Is flying going to be hard?” I ask as he presses a button that opens up the hangar
“Flying is easy”, he says, “its faking control tower shit that’s hard. Leon used to handle all of that. He always knew what to say when we were in stealth.”
“Leon flew planes?” That was a story I couldn’t wait to tell the girls. Adam picks up a pre-check list and scans over it.
“He never told you about the old days”, Adam say checking off the list, “Leon was like…the man you know? Fucking super solider.”
“Helios’ solider.”
Adam taps the pencil and looks unfocused at the page
“Yeah, but. If you fucked up or got the shit knocked out of you by Helios…Leon would be there. Put a good word in for you with the boss. Cover for you. There was a time when we though Leon should lead us instead of Helios but…”
“Leon wouldn’t turn on him.”
“He was so fucking loyal.” Adam says.
“That’s why it was so strange that he went AWOL during the regime...We never got over it. Centuries of loyalty and he chooses Paris Prince over us.”
The baby kicks a little and I rub my belly in small circles to comfort her.
“He didn’t chose Paris Prince”, I tell Adam, and “He choose her. And he left me behind.”
Adam looks up briefly then awkwardly back down. I want to take back what I said. Or take back that I’d said it aloud.
“Come be my co-pilot”, he says gesturing me into the cockpit.
“Is it safe?” I ask considering the baby.
“Sure”, he says
I adjust and slide into the co-pilot seat not daring to touch a single gear or button. The plane lurches then careens down the runway. The velocity hits me and I brace myself as we begin to ascend. “Holy shit”, slips out.
“Okay?”
I was more than okay as the base below becomes a smattering of lights in the darkness. It was sublime. It was unreal. I’d never imagined the world from this perspective. God, we were all so small in the scale of things. I wrap my arms around the baby glad we are experiencing this together. I’d have to take the other girl on a plane ASAP.
“You know …I’ve never flown before.”
“Me neither”, he says.
“What?”
“Oh,” he blushes, “I thought you meant. I--”
He braces the control.
“I’ve never flown flown before, either”, I tell him, and “None of my sisters have.”
“I didn’t get much airtime having one wing and all”, he says with faux causality, “but I bet this is pretty damn close.”
I nod. My only focus now on finding Leon
“How much fuel do we have?”
“Enough to get us there. We’ll make passes over the valley. We might have to land and talk to locals. But we’ll find them. I promise.”
Author’s Note
This chapter was the last chapter I wrote. For so long this chapter was blank with a note that said
(IDK, Aria and Adam maybe attend a party and steal a plane)
That line where Aria says she's never flown and Adam think she means flying with her wings was stolen from my Lux Aeterna III story that I could never write. Leon is flashing back to when he first talked to Sera and she says she's never flown before...or maybe I put it in a serial. I can't remember.
Muse : Lils, were you just setting up for that YA spin-off
you want to write in the future?
Lils : I mean not really, but I have ideas and I let them leak a bit. But not in the way you think