The Constant Star (82)

THE STORY SO FAR

Baldr looks to the camera that is broadcasting this scene across the ship, “I love you, Sweetheart.”

The explosives connected to the window go off and it shatters, Baldr and Mars fly across the room, instantly sucked into the vacuum of space. One tries to scream his rage but cannot, the other’s eyes are wet with tears for his family, knowing he has done all he can to make them safe. His last vision is of the great stars laid before him, his last thoughts of the ones he loves.

65

“Dad…Dad…” Tears stream over trembling lips. The screens flicker and return to projecting the council-room. All are silent as they stand in awe of what just happened. Siff’s father just sacrificed his life for them. Just exposed Mars for what he has done. Siff cannot let that be for nothing. She controls her shock and remembers her mission. She has lost a lot of blood but has to connect those wires. Got to get the AI security back online. Reach, dammit. Her fingers brush against the frayed wires and she recoils back with an electric shock. The power’s still on, but how can she get those wires back together? She sees the cutting tool left beside them on the floor, the insulation on that should allow her to reconnect the wires.

Macy notices Siff from the corner of her eye, “Oh I don’t fucking think so.” She grabs Siff by the ankle and drags her away from her work, a blood trail following behind as she is dropped next to her mother. Siff is so faint from blood-loss and pain she can barely open her eyes. Exhausted, she can only lie beneath her enemy.

Pluto cowers in his seat next to Diana’s bodyguard, fear keeping his mouth silent, hopeful he will be forgotten. Saturn groans under the pain of seeing her daughter this way, “You brought her here…to convince me…to give you what you want…”

“No, you idiot. I brought her here so she can watch me kill you.” Macy smiles and grabs Siff by the shirt, kneeling over her, “Look at me, wake up, wake up, that’s it. We’re here. It’s time. Your daddy’s dead and I’m gonna kill your mommy and take over this ship. Are you watching? No, no, wake up. Don’t die yet, it’s not your turn yet.”

Siff’s eyes open weakly with tears, “Don’t Macy. Don’t. It was Mars. It was all Mars.”

“I don’t give a fuck who it was, you’re all responsible. Shut up and watch.”

“I’m sorry. Please don’t. I’m sorry for everything. Don’t.”

It is at this moment Bear’s voice comes from the doorway, “Diana, get off her. Slowly.” He is leaning against the doorframe, one hand clutching his ribs, the other pointing a gun at Siff’s attacker. The bodyguard doesn’t hesitate, he leaps across the table. Bear shoots him in mid-air but that does not stop the assault, “Shit!” They collide and Bear quickly finds himself on the ground, dragged out of range of the Needle’s security systems. Already wounded he is easily overwhelmed. The blows begin.

Macy smiles and turns her attention back to Saturn, “The whole ship may be watching, but this one’s for Siff.” She takes a deep, satisfied breath, “Time to sleep, bitch.”

Siff grits her teeth, and in a final moment of adrenaline thrusts her left arm upwards, jamming the cutting tool into the side of Macy’s head. Macy looks at Siff in shock as she slowly drops her gun, her mods fighting the inevitable. Blood running down Macy’s neck, Siff watches the life fade from her old friend’s eyes, and in her last moment catches a glimpse of the girl she once knew. Idun slowly collapses on the both of them, the weight and blood of a wounded humanity fallen on these two women. Siff hears the attack on Bear cease and her oldest friend groan, “Oh, thank god.”

With the weight of Macy on top of her, Siff can only whisper, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so…” the blood loss catches up with her and her pulse stops.

66

The streets are empty, the occasional fearful citizen peering out to see if the news is real. Murmuring and whispers among them. Is the war over? Are there any leaders left? Who controls the Needle? What happens next?

A low rumble begins. Footsteps shuffling on the quiet streets. Silent citizens shell-shocked and nervous, brave in their convictions, washing forward over the empty streets like a bedraggled tide. Lucas has arrived at the Needle.

What started as a small group has grown with word of their leader, and grown further with what all have seen transpire among the Council. Many have joined the march not even knowing its purpose, purely out of a need to see what happens next. It is silent. No-one dares speak. It is awe coupled with fear and wonder. What happens next.

The crowd of thousands slows and stops before the courtyard and the sealed doors of the Needle. Bodies of soldiers lay on the ground before them. Still no-one speaks, but a procession begins to move. Pilgrims come forward with their offerings: children’s toys, jewelry, keepsakes, mementos. The pile grows on either side of the courtyard as a bloodied and charred memorial takes shape. Once the last offering is placed, the crowd parts for a lone figure in burnt cloak to step forward. He wields a makeshift spear made with the detritus of fallen cities. A piece from each war zone he has travelled through to get here. All are silent. He slowly reaches to his hood and pulls it back, revealing his scarred face. A microphone attached to his throat. All are silent. Lucas stands in wait.

Siff jerks awake on the med-bed, adrenaline coursing through her body. The blood-transfusion has been completed, but she is still severely wounded. She cries out in pain as Bear and Saturn stand watch behind a doctor, “She’s awake. But she won’t last long outside

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