I clasped Leon to my side, crushing him against me.
Linc walked to his father and kneeled down. “You will never take anything from me again.”
He removed the fat silver ring with the Rice family crest from Cutler’s finger. When he stood, Liz was there. Kissing the palm of his hand, she finally rested the Freelander signet home on her husband’s finger where it belonged.
“He wanted to be embalmed to lie in state.” Denver shifted his long black braid over his shoulder as he joined Sebastian, piling the dead.
“No one needs to mourn him or make pilgrimages to him.” Nathaniel closed his father’s eyelids. “You reap what you sow.”
A fresh wave of troops burst into the room. Far smarter than their predecessors, they took one look and dropped their weapons with metallic clatters to the floor. They held their hands high while their unblinking eyes took in the scene: Thirteen Revolutionaries standing over crumpled bodies of soldiers and one man laid out alone—the way he’d lived his life was how he’d go into the afterlife.
Linc marched up to the group. “Tell your comrades the CEO is dead. The antivirus serum is viable. It will be distributed immediately. There’s a New Order. It’s called democracy.”
“Commander Linc Cutler?” One brave soul strutted through the throng of dark blue Corps uniforms. She saluted with crisp movements.
“Lieutenant…” He inspected her badge. “Alexia.” Returning her salute, he regarded her curiously.
When she removed her cap, she revealed a bright stripe of white hair that would possibly be styled into a Mohawk. “My sister, Moxie, has spoken highly of you. It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”
Linc nodded. “Moxie is one in a million. Welcome to the Reformed Corps, people.”
Turning, he addressed us. “All right. Let’s get the word out! We need to distribute the serum, round up the last of Father’s cronies, and start to work on our new InterNations government.”
Cannon gave a grumble. “Thought we’d have a little downtime first.”
“I’m a little hungry, myself.” Liz winked at her former commander and then beamed a grin at her husband, who squinted in response.
“Not to mention tired.” Nathaniel yawned wide.
“And bleedin’ out over here,” Farrow shouted through clenched teeth. She was being attended to by Darwin. Val had been stabilized. Both women were lucky. All major organs and arteries missed by the smallest fractions.
Denver stepped forward. “How do you stand such insubordination?”
“It’s not insubordination when we’re all brothers and sisters in arms and at heart, my friend.”
Sebastian linked his fingers through Denver’s with a wide smile.
“This will take some getting used to.” Denver touched Sebastian’s cheek.
Beside me, Leon hummed as he always did when he was happy.
“Je t’aime, Leon Cheramie.” I drew him into my arms, turning my back on the room. Wrapped around him, my body shook as relief gusted through me.
After the all-too-brief interlude, it was down to business. Each of our crew was inoculated first. With Farrow and Val’s wounds dressed, the doctor gave directions to Darwin, Sebastian, and Linc to the stores of serum within the med building. She asked them to break into her office to retrieve the formula. It would be handed to Denver so he could broadcast the solution over the D-P as the Voice.
Denver wasted no time sending out a victory call.
“The war is over. CEO Cutler is dead. Triumph is ours! Democracy is taking root as I speak, and the antidote to the virus is in hand. We will be distributing it to the early infectees first. Instructions for replicating the serum will follow shortly and all citizens will be inoculated, the strain destroyed. Know this, citizens of the InterNations: The Revolution is won! We will love freely! We will not die!”
I’d never seen the man so impassioned. His lively speech raised cheers from our squad and a thrill to my heart.
As we hobbled from the medical building, the dazzling scene outside was like nothing I’d ever witnessed. Our shoulders straightened and our strides lengthened as the thousands-strong throng parted for us.
They chanted as one voice:
“Live in Freedom! Love at Will!”
InterNations flags were being replaced by Freelander colors already. Soon there would be one standard for all of mankind.
And that was just within the walls of the Delta Quadrangle.
I shook from the tidal wave of triumph hitting me from all quarters. This time I let the vibrant emotion wash over me, cleanse me, carry me along.
Out on the streets, the celebration amplified. News had spread at the speed of light during the dawn hours.
I wiped tears from my eyes, locking my arm around Leon’s waist. The building-wide D-Ps glowed with updated images from the last Territories to topple the CO government. VICTORY! LIFE! CURE! EQUALITY! FREEDOM! The words unfurled across the screens and resounded from the massive crowd lining the streets of S-1, S-2, and all the Territories and all the communes from continent to continent.
Music began beneath the swell of the chants. It started with a single, shockingly clear female voice. The song of victory gathered volume, leaping from person to person. Instruments joined the mix—trumpets and tambourines, flutes and finger cymbals.
The scene on the D-P cut into six equal squares where the same musical outpouring flooded back at us from InterNations Territories far and wide. The sounds we heard weren’t those of Old History heralding a change of arms but a boisterous chorus of people using any noisemaker on hand to signal the dawn of a new era.
My steps faltered from the sheer majesty of it.
“Let’s go home.” Leon tugged my hand.
“There’s just one thing I’ve got to do first.” I cupped his face. “I love you, you foolish, sweet, beautiful man.”
“I know.” His chin rose. His eyes sparkled. Defiant. Stubborn. Sexy. All mine.
I dipped my head to meet his lips, pulling him to my deep kiss. His arms wound around my shoulders. He moaned as cheers exploded from the rooftops to the roadside. And I knew the image of us kissing was being broadcast all over the world.
Two men in love, at the end of a war.
With no fear of reprisal.
For the first time in our New History.