Sal stood smiling at the crowded room in front of her, watching as the people within it turned and reaffirmed their love for each other. It was a large room, easily able to hold three hundred people comfortably, but it was packed full with members of the Church of Unity, as the movement had come to be called.
And this was only a small fraction of those she had just been speaking to. Video feeds of her talking had been carried to other locations within the Spindrift and beamed out to other ships in the fleet. That was now a regular occurrence. Every time she spoke to those who’d joined the Church more people tuned in.
Not everyone was happy with that. Initially efforts had been made to prevent people attending, but the numbers involved had made that difficult and many members of the Church found ways around the blockades. Those that couldn’t get through had asked for a video feed… and so an idea was born, one that allowed the Church to quickly spread beyond the Spindrift. Those seeking to block the Church had simply helped it take a large leap forward.
When it was clear the meetings couldn’t be stopped those opposed to the Church turned their attention to blocking the videos, but too many clever people were working on the Church’s side for that to work. Soon the only way to block the videos would be to lock down a ship completely, and even then a few of the Church had plans on how to bypass any blocks.
Sal was certain they wouldn’t be needed. She knew from talking with Dash just how fragile the fleet’s coherence was. Blocking all communications would just about guarantee the fleet would fragment quickly, and quite possibly bloodily.
Sal looked to the side to where Dash stood. He smiled when their eyes met and gave her a nod. She smiled back as his smile warmed her heart. She was so glad that Dash was happy to be involved in the Church. At first she’d worried he’d be against it, but he was here with her whenever he could be.
Then she turned her gaze back to the crowd before her, raising her arms in blessing and waiting for their attention to return to her. She had more to say, much more, and she knew they wanted to hear it.
Dash watched Sal as she spoke, struck once again by how much happier she seemed since the Church of Unity had taken off. This was the woman he’d fallen in love with, a woman with fire and love in her heart.
He only listened to what she was saying with half an ear. He had no issue with what Sal was preaching, in fact it was having a hugely positive affect on those who accepted the idea, but he personally felt no need to take part.
He was there for Sal, partly to be with her and partly for reasons he hadn’t told her. He was worried for her safety and wanted to protect her. There was a strong risk some of those who didn’t like her message would seek to stop what she was doing, possibly even to silence her permanently.
He doubted that was the greatest risk, though. The movement was growing quickly, very quickly, and was gaining power as it did. Power always attracted those who wished to use it for their own ends. Dash was sure it wouldn’t be any different with the Church.
When he’d tried to warn Sal she’d refused to accept it. She’d insisted the movement was different, that its purpose couldn’t be diverted. Dash couldn’t convince her otherwise but he could protect her, and he would. With his life if necessary.
Admiral North was well aware of the movement’s growth, of course, and on several occasions had asked Dash to report on what was happening and who was involved. Dash had always refused. Sal and the movement hadn’t done anything wrong or illegal, why should they be treated as if they had?
Besides, Dash was certain the Admiral had other people monitoring what was happening. That meant the request was for information only Dash could learn. Admiral North was asking Dash to spy on Sal herself! Nothing could make Dash betray that trust.
Sudden shouts erupted from the centre of the group. Dash was moving toward Sal before he even realised it, pushing people aside, but he was too far away. Glancing to the disturbance he saw a woman lifting a pistol, aiming toward Sal.
Dash surged forward but knew he wouldn’t be able to reach Sal in time. He was already yelling for her to get down but she wasn’t responding, she was just standing still, looking shocked.
Dash looked back at the armed attacker, at the widening circle of shocked people, and then heard the loud crack of the gun firing. His heart was bursting as he turned back to Sal, knowing he’d find her wounded or worse, but that wasn’t what he saw. Three people were standing between Sal and the armed attacker, shielding her.
A fourth was kneeling, clutching at a wound in her shoulder which was bleeding nastily. Despite being hurt she forced herself back upright again, just in time for another shot to take her in the chest.
Dash nearly slowed down in confusion but he forced himself forward. Three more shots rang out before he reached Sal, putting his own body between her and the shooter. He swept her legs out and half lowered, half dropped her to the floor.
“There might be others,” he said, leaning over her. “Stay down!”
He straightened and pulled his own gun out. He really didn’t want to return fire with so many innocent people around, but it might be the only way to stop the attack and to stop more innocent people being hurt. He was a pretty good shot, but these were far from ideal conditions.
Two more shots rang out in quick succession, then no more. He struggled to see the attacker past those who’d put themselves between Sal and harms way. He edged to the left and managed to see into the crowd, but where the attacker had been there was now a bundle of people. Dash was pretty sure he could see blood, though he had no idea who’s it was.
He stayed by Sal, not letting his guard down even when it seemed that everything was over. There had been one attacker. There could be more.
It wasn’t long before Sal insisted on standing up, despite Dash’s warnings. She just smiled at him when he told her it wasn’t safe.
As soon as she stood there was a huge cheer, which she quieted with a gesture. She looked around the room, at those who were being treated for wounds and those who were beyond such care, tears in her eyes. Dash took that in during the brief moments he looked at her rather than scanning the room for the next threat.
“This cannot be allowed to happen!” Sal said, her voice much stronger than Dash had expected. “We must have trust between us, must know if one who means us harm tries to invade the sanctity of our missions again.”
She started to take off the heavy top she wore, then slipped out of her trousers, letting both fall to the floor. Dash wasn’t the only one looking on in confusion as she stood there in her underwear.
“There,” she said. “You can see I have no weapons. I know removing your clothes feels strange, but we are all family here. You can do so without embarrassment.”
For a moment no-one moved, then a few people started to remove their clothes. Soon more followed, then everyone was doing it. Almost everyone. Dash saw one man slipping away, moving toward the back of the room, and noticed a slight lump in the man’s clothing.
Dash glanced at Sal, trying to decide whether to chase the man or stay and protect her. He chose to stay but watched the man closely. The man paused and glanced back towards Sal, his hand moving toward the bulge. Dash lifted his own gun higher, sighting toward the man and glaring down the barrel. The man held Dash’s stare for a few moments then let his hand fall away again. Dash gave a small nod.
The man glanced to Sal once more, then turned and fled from the room. Dash was about to ask that someone secure the door when two of the crowd, both dressed in just their underwear, stepped to the door and locked it with two bolts. One of them looked back at Dash, then nodded. Dash nodded in return. He wasn’t the only one watching the crowd. That was good.
Then he became aware that Sal was saying something to him. He turned back to her.
“Sorry,” he said. “I was distracted.”
Sal beamed at him. “Always my protector. I was saying we know you have a gun but you are the only person who hasn’t shed their clothes.”
Dash stared at her, trying to find his voice.
“Me? But I’m… I was…”
She chuckled. “Come on Roberto, don’t be shy. You’re one of us, we all know that. There’s no need to worry.”
Dash stared from her to the crowd and back again, trying very hard to forget that the video was being sent around the ship and the fleet. Sal was right, he was the only one left wearing more than underwear.
Stripping down with everyone else he could have handled, but to do it in front of everyone… that was much harder. He fought down a chuckle at the thought that putting himself between Sal and a bullet had been easier, then shook his head.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he said.
He put his gun down on a table, where he could reach it easily, then started to remove his clothes. He was aware of the crowd smiling as he did so, offering support, but his eyes were fixed on Sal’s smile. He quickly removed his clothes other than his underwear, and as the last dropped to the floor the crowd cheered and clapped. He couldn’t help laughing at that… he’d never imagined being cheered by a crowd as he stripped his clothes off!
Sal walked quietly beside Dash as they made their way back to their cabin. He suspected a crash was coming as the attempt on her life truly sank in, but it looked as if she’d be able to hold it together until they were alone. That would be for the best. He wouldn’t be able focus on consoling her while still watching for threats.
Several of the Church members that Dash trusted the most walked ahead and behind them. More had wanted to come but Dash had put his foot down. He didn’t want to be watching their protectors as much as anyone they met. These were people he knew well, people who had joined the Church at the beginning, and who he trusted.
They reached their cabin without incident. Dash insisted on checking the room and the bathroom for any threats before letting Sal in, then he thanked the others. Two of them offered to wait outside as guards, and after a moment Dash agreed. They weren’t armed as far as he knew, but they could raise the alarm if something happened.
The door had barely closed before Sal sank to the bed, her face in her hands. Dash moved to sit beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders. He could feel her body shaking.
“They died for me!” she said, voice hoarse. “Why? Why did they do that? Why would they all risk their lives to save mine? I’m nothing special. That’s the whole point! All of us are special, and none of us are more than the others!”
Dash struggled to answer as his mind was forced to switch tracks. He’d expected Sal to be upset by the threat on her life, not by the choices others had made to protect her.
“They did what they felt was right,” he finally managed to say.
“But it’s not right! I shouldn’t be singled out! I shouldn’t be given special treatment! They should have… they should have…”
“They should have done nothing and let you die?”
“Yes! I don’t want people throwing their lives away to protect me!”
“They didn’t throw anything away. They gave their lives for you!”
That came out sharper than Dash had meant it to. Sal stiffened against his arm, though she didn’t pull away.
“They had no right to! I didn’t ask them to!”
“I know. I know, Sal.” He softened his voice again. “The thing is… how can I explain it… you’re right that no one person should be in charge of the Church or have power over it, but you are still special. You represent a link back to Unity. You are a symbol of what they could have again. Without you things would fall apart.”
“That’s not why I started this! That’s not what I want! The Church needs to keep going without me!”
“It will! I’m sure of it. But only if it gets well enough established. At the moment it’s growing quickly but it’s fragile. If it takes the wrong type of blow it will shatter and never recover. Your death would be one of those blows.”
Sal sat quietly for a long time. When she finally spoke her voice was tired.
“How long, Roberto? How long will I have to be the figurehead?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. It depends on how it grows. I’d say that once it’s well established outside of the fleet, out where your presence would only be possible through recordings, that you’ll be able to ease back. It depends so much on what happens though. It’s even possible that today…”
He trailed off, cursing himself.
“That today what?” she asked.
Dash grimaced, then let out a deep sigh. He knew Sal. He knew he wasn’t going to get away with that slip.
“It’s even possible that today could have been the making of the Church, that if you’d been killed you might have become a martyr.”
“Really? Isn’t that another reason no one should have given their life to save mine?”
“Not really. It’s almost certain the Church would become focused on you if that happened, more than on what you’ve been preaching, and it would be much easier for someone to take control and steer the Church in ways you’d never have approved of.”
“You keep saying someone will try to take the Church, to bring it under their control.”
“I know. I’m sorry I keep going on about it, but I really think it’s a risk.”
“After today I think maybe you’re right. I always thought you were being too paranoid.”
“I hope I am! But I’d rather be prepared in case I’m not. Hell, today might even have been an attempt to remove you and take control of the Church rather than to destroy it. I doubt we’ll ever know for sure. Whatever poison the shooter swallowed saw to that.”
“I don’t like it, Roberto. I don’t like the thought of people trying to corrupt what we’re doing, or others dying to stop them.”
“I know. You… you could stop you know. You could…” He paused and shook his head, then smiled slightly. “You won’t, though, will you? You’ll keep on going and fight every step of the way to keep the Church pure.”
“Am I that predictable?”
“You’re that wonderful! I’ll admit I’m not sure the Church will turn out how you hope, but you’re trying. You’re giving hope and purpose to thousands of people, tens of thousands of people. That matters!
“A lot of them would have just curled up and waited to die if you weren’t doing this. I’ve seen that from talking with them, even though I still don’t really understand it myself. You’ve given them a future again, something to work towards. What you’re doing is amazing and if someone tries to interfere with that… well you also have me at your side.”
“There whenever I need you! Thank you Roberto. For today and all the other times. Will you always be there?”
He smiled, and pulled her in closer.
“Always!” he promised.