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East Room
White House
25 March
1400 Local Time
The room erupted in applause as President Clifton walked onto the East Room stage in front of the six honorees standing behind the podium. As she reached the podium, she asked everyone to take their seats. The room fell silent except for the clicks of digital cameras as the honorees and audience took their seats.
Decker squeezed Spectre’s hand as they sat down. They were seated directly behind the President in front of a gold curtain. They had been invited along with the rest of the survivors of the Midway Island attack to be honored by the President. Decker was squeezing his hand to take his attention off Vice President Johnson and his wife in the front row. She could tell it was eating at him to see the vile man so close to them.
“Hello everyone and welcome to the White House,” President Clifton began. “I would like to thank you all for coming because today is a very special day for me. I would like to honor the heroes of Midway Island,” Clifton said as she paused for effect.
“As we all know, a month ago was a very dark day in our nation’s history. A group of very evil people were able to take control of Air Force One after a series of terror attacks on our nation’s interests in the Pacific. The death toll on that day was staggering, and we as a nation witnessed horrific examples of brutality and barbarism. The worst of humanity was displayed on the world’s stage.
“But through these terrible times, we also saw extreme acts of heroism and selflessness. Through the darkness emerged a glowing light of bravery, patriotism, and the American spirit. Today, we are here to honor those heroes of Midway Island.
“The historical significance of Midway is worth noting. After all, the Battle of Midway was a turning point in the South Pacific during World War II, and a place where many Americans bravely fought and died to defend the American way of life. Much like that battle, the people behind me persevered in the face of overwhelming odds, giving no regard to their own personal safety.
“I was able to personally witness their heroism. This was something that wasn’t easy for me. The office of the President can sometimes be bigger than one person, and what I saw was a life-changing example of this for me. At any time, any one of these heroes could have sought to save themselves, but they didn’t. Instead, they worked together to save the President.
“Notice, I said the President and not me. They each knew what it meant for the country, and put the needs of America over their own. It truly was a remarkable act, and it is an inspiration for me personally to take the lessons that they’ve taught me. So, before we get to the presentations, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she said as she turned to look at the honorees and the audience began to applaud.
Spectre wasn’t sure how much of her speech was genuine and how much was just political grandstanding. Her approval ratings had skyrocketed in the aftermath of the assassination attempt. She had taken a hard-line stance on terror and forged new relations with the Chinese in rooting out the terrorists responsible. She had even been able to get Chinese backing for a sovereign Taiwan and get the Chinese to support her climate change initiative. Both sides of the aisle seemed to be thrilled with her.
Spectre had initially turned down the request to be recognized for his acts on Midway Island, but Senator Wilson had talked him into it after showing him the smear campaign Spectre had been subjected to during the Midway siege. A public ceremony lauding him as a hero by a popular president was the best way to clear his name for good.
He had talked to Kruger again after he returned to the states. Kruger and some of the former Project Archangel members had joined another secret paramilitary group. Kruger had been vague on the details, but he had mentioned their operations in Vietnam and Manila. He had asked Spectre if he wanted to join them, but Spectre politely declined. For the time being, he was done playing commando.
As the applause died down, the President had Colonel Sullivan stand as she read the citation from his award. He was receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism in helping to rescue her from captivity and flying her off the island. Spectre was glad he had been able to step up and take the jet. He knew there was no way he would have flown the President off the island instead of Decker – not after almost losing her. The President would have died on the island instead for all he cared.
After placing the medal around Sullivan’s neck, Sullivan returned to his seat and MSgt Graves stepped up. The President read his citation as he stood at attention. Spectre watched Graves’s family, seated in the second row, smile proudly. Although Graves had turned on them, Spectre felt he deserved the award. Spectre knew what it was like to have to make tough choices affecting the people he loved, and Graves had eventually done the right thing in the end. He couldn’t fault the guy for making a mistake. At the end of the day, he still did the right thing in pulling Spectre and Decker to safety.
The award for MSgt Lee was very similar. He exhibited courage under fire, helping to save the President while under heavy fire. The President read the award, placed the award around his neck, and then thanked him for his service before moving on to the civilian awards.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom was the civilian equivalent of the Medal of Honor. It was the highest civilian honor, given to those who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States. Since the final three honorees were all civilians, it was the highest award for which they were eligible.
Spectre rolled his eyes as Salvo was called up to stand next to the President. He might have been present during the event and even fired a few bullets, but Spectre was almost positive the reporter hadn’t hit anyone. All he had really done was not die, but Spectre knew that politically it wouldn’t fly. The President was awarding the reporter to keep the media on her side. It was laughable to Spectre.
After the applause died down from Salvo’s award presentation, Decker was called up next. Although he was biased, Spectre thought she deserved the award more than anyone. It had been Decker that had saved the President almost single-handedly. It had been Decker that had prioritized the President’s life above all else.
Spectre watched the woman he loved in her blue dress and long blonde hair stand stoically as the President read the citation. He admired everything about her. She made him want to be a better man. He was so thankful that they had survived together. He felt like the luckiest guy in the room.
“Calvin Martin,” the President said as Decker turned to walk back with the medal around her neck.
Decker smiled at Spectre as he slowly stood. “You’ve earned this,” she said as she touched his shoulder before sitting back down. “You’re my hero.”
Spectre walked up next to the President. She smiled and said, “Before I read the citation, I want to go off script a bit to talk about Mr. Martin. You see, there were some reports that have since been corrected that seemed to point to him as a suspect. It bears repeating that Cal Martin is a hero, and this citation is proof of that.”
Spectre saw Johnson smirk. He tuned out the President as she began reading the citation. His hatred for the man sitting just a few feet in front of him burned deeply. He wanted to kill him. The man had been responsible for the death of his best friends. He had tried to have Spectre killed. He was pure evil.
The two made brief eye contact, but Johnson quickly looked away and back at the President. Spectre calculated the risk of lunging toward him. He could easily jab the pen sitting in his pocket in the man’s neck before the Secret Service could get to him. He would go to jail and never see Decker again. That was the only thing keeping him on that stage.
Spectre was startled as the President moved her hands around his neck. He had completely tuned her out and forgotten about the award. He couldn’t shake the tunnel vision he had focused on the crooked nosed man.
The President withdrew slightly as Spectre jumped and then continued to put the medal on him. Johnson made eye contact with Spectre as the applause began. He winked at Spectre, causing a rage inside Spectre as the President hugged him.
“Let’s give these heroes another round of applause,” the President said as she stepped back to the podium and motioned for the other awardees to step up behind her for a photo op. Everyone in the room stood and clapped as the honorees stood behind the President. “Thank you all for coming.”
“Are you ok?” Decker whispered as she stepped up next to Spectre.
“I’ll be fine,” Spectre said as he clenched his jaw.
As the ceremony ended, the Vice President stood and went down the line congratulating the honorees. He stopped as he reached Spectre and hesitated before extending his hand and flashing a fake smile.
“Congratulations, son,” Johnson said while smiling for the flashing cameras. “You’ve earned it.”
Spectre took the man’s hand and squeezed. He watched Johnson’s smile vanish as Spectre’s grip clamped down on the man’s slender hands. He could think of a hundred ways to break Johnson’s wrist and elbow and crush his trachea. The fear in Johnson’s eyes was starting to show.
“What’s your problem?” Johnson asked feebly as Spectre held his crushing grip. Spectre could see a Secret Service agent eyeing him as he leaned in close toward Johnson.
“I don’t have one,” Spectre growled. “But you do.”
Johnson smiled as he withdrew and flexed his hand. “Is that so?”
“Brick by brick, I’m going to tear down your castle,” Spectre said in a low growl so no one else could hear them. “And when I get to you, I’m going to bury you in the rubble.”