Fighting For Your Rights

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

The warehouse door slid open and Uriah looked at the man in a raincoat and hat standing on the doorstep with the rain pouring down behind him echoing off the empty buildings and damage of the storm. “Officer Star?”

“Yes,” Uriah hesitated as he slid his hand behind his back to grasp the butt of his gun.

“Your Aunt Marian said to ‘Let your light shine before men’.”

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath of relief, he pulled his hand away from his back as he responded, “‘That they may see your good deeds and praise your Father’.”

“Your aunt isn’t doing very well. She wants to see you and has sent me to take you to her.”

Uriah nodded, allowing the man to come into the warehouse. “Does she want us to stop and get my mother.”

“No, she sent someone else to retrieve her.”

“Amaris,” Uriah called, “pack up what you can we’re going on a trip.”

Walking deeper into the warehouse, the man heard a small beep in his ear, “You have an infestation.”

“I figured as much with this old building,” Uriah replied shaking his head knowing he should have realized they would bug the warehouse as soon as they arrested Mariah. “Are you the only one here to take us to my aunt?”

The man looked at him confused, “Why?”

“Because I wanted to bring her some of the supplies in these crates.”

Before he could question, Amaris’s voice echoed through the warehouse, “Uriah.”

“Why don’t you take a look?” Uriah said pulling a crowbar off a nearby shelf, “while I deal with my wife.”

Taking the crowbar, he whispered, “The name is Dan.”

“Wish me luck, Dan.”

“What is going on?” Amaris called out as Uriah walked towards his wife’s voice.

“We need to pack up, we’re leaving,” Uriah said stepping around her in the hallway and walking towards the first room.

“When will we be back?” she asked following him.

He pulled a bag out from under one of the cots and started to pack it with clothes from desk drawers, “I don’t know.”

“What about my mother?”

“It’s being taken care of,” Uriah stated grabbing a bag from the second cot. “Please go pack up the kids.”

As soon as Amaris left the room, Uriah finished packing the second bag. Daniel stood in the doorway, “As soon as you are clear, I’ll have my people come for those items. Right now I want to see you off safe.”

Uriah nodded as he zipped up the bag and walked toward the door. He turned and saw the children slide their coats on. Uriah spoke softly, “I will make sure to set up the access for you to get back in. I really want to make sure my aunt gets those supplies.”

Dan nodded and spoke, “The repo is right next to the door.” Uriah nodded as he placed his hand on the scanner. The door opened and the children ran to the repo with their mother’s arms wrapped tightly around them. Uriah stepped outside and pushed the buttons for the door to close and securely lock. Uriah took the opportunity of the noise of the rain and his family in the repo to ask, “How is my daughter, Dan?”

Dan looked into the concerned father’s eyes and saw the etch of worry that had creased his brow, “Anxiously waiting your arrival, sir.”

XXXX

The soldier yanked out some wires on the palace’s last back up generator then checked her watch to see how much time before tunnel electricity would be cut. She motioned for her second to split off then led her group towards the rendezvous point until the power was cut.

They reached the correct hallway and right on time the power went out. The group quickly switched on their night vision glasses. With their weapons ready, the team followed the leader, as she recalled the image from CURT’s screen and the details Robyn and Owen gave to lead the team through the labyrinth of halls and tunnels.

She lifted up two fingers, and two of the soldiers stayed behind to watch the intersection of four hallways. The leader quickly waved the rest of the men on as they headed down one of the four hallways.

Upon reaching another intersection, the leader lifted two fingers again and two more stayed behind. The leader began to move forward then stopped with a raise of her hand to signal to stop, as well, since she heard two men rushing towards them at the next hallway. She motioned for them to stay put as she continued forward. She peaked around the corner and fired a stun shot at each person. The two men fell and she motioned the group to follow again.

They reached the area that Mariah was held and quickly fired stun shots at the guards. As soon as each guard fell, the leader walked up to the door and looked at the scanner. The leader grabbed the hand of a guard underneath the scanner and placed his hand on it.

As the cell door slid open, the leader walked inside and looked at the form on the floor. She stared at the face trying to recognize it. Bending over, the leader rolled the figure’s face over and spotted the outlining features that were similar to Robyn’s. The leader pulled Mariah to her feet and lifted her off the ground. She handed her to someone else in the group and quickly took the point as they walked back the way they came.

The group made their way back to the first two they left standing guard. When they reached the intersection, the leader suddenly stopped as she saw the two soldiers lying on the ground. Through the night vision glasses the leader saw the blood running across their faces and chests. The leader kept looking around the area motioning the others to stay back. Looking at her wrist, she tapped a button on her sleeve and viewed the feed from the glasses on the two dead soldiers. As soon as she spotted the people around the soldiers and out of her line of sight, she pulled out a cylindrical case. Taking a deep breath, the leader slid the case across the floor towards the area the two soldiers were. The flash went off and wild gun shots were fired from the area of the flash. The leader motioned the soldiers forward and towards the only way out.

XXXX

Robyn paced back and forth, “They are late. Something happened.”

“Everything is fine,” Owen reassured her.

“My family’s lives are in danger and if anything happened to them, I would never forgive myself.”

Shaking his head, Owen tired of trying to convince her that it would have happened whether she escaped or not. “They will be here.”

She looked at him then turned away. Crossing her arms, she tried to hold back the tears. Owen walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Turning around in his arms, she laid her head on his chest and encircled her arms around his waist. “I’m just scared.”

Jack stepped into the small room where they were waiting, “My daughter will bring them back safely.”

Pulling her head away from Owen’s chest, she stated, “Tell me, how good is your daughter?”

Jack smiled slightly, “Do you want the perspective of a father or a leader?”

“Whichever will give me the truth.”

“My daughter is the best rescue operative leader that we have. Your grandma is being led out of the palace by the best.”

Robyn was about to open her mouth when the door to the entrance began to open. Uriah stepped into the entry room with the family right behind him. Running towards them, Robyn threw her arms around her father and then pulled her mother into the hug. “You made it.”

“Thanks to you and our leader, Mr. Minead.”

Minead shook his outstretched hand, “As soon as Director Masda arrives, I will be looking for you for the answer.”

Uriah smiled, “I will be awaiting your presence.” Minead nodded and quickly led his two team members out of the room.

“So, when do I get to know what is going on?” Amaris asked as Robyn hugged her sister and brother.

Robyn slowly stood, “We are going to wait for Grandma to get here.”

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Honey, but Grandma has been imprisoned in the palace.”

“Actually,” Jack replied stepping forward, “she should have been rescued by now and on her way here.”

“What?” Amaris inquired looking at the stranger.

“Director Masda has been rescued from the prison.”

“Who are you talking about?”

Robyn looked at Jack and shook her head, she looked back at her mother, “Things will be answered when Grandma arrives, which shouldn’t be too long. She was rescued from the palace and they have until 1300 to return here or send a message stating otherwise.”

“I’m sure you are all exhausted from the trip,” Jack replied walking toward the door where Minead had exited. “We have rooms prepared for you and…”

“Wait a minute, Jack,” Robyn stated smiling slightly. “Mom, Dad, there is someone I would like you to meet.” Leading her parents to Owen, Robyn began, “This is Owen Dored. Owen, this is my mother, Amaris, and my father, Uriah, this is my little sister, Kay, and brother, Chance.” Her father shook his hand and as her mother took a hold of his hand, she stated, “He’s my husband.”

Amaris froze, just holding onto Owen’s hand and looked back and forth between the two of them in surprise and happiness. “He really is your husband or just for a cover to be safe?”

“We were officially married a few days ago by Sheriff Jack Falcon,” she answered pointing to Jack.

Releasing his hand, Amaris quickly hugged her daughter as Uriah shook Owen’s hand once more. “Congratulations,” Uriah said then released his hand to hug his daughter.

As soon as Amaris released their daughter, Uriah pulled her into his arms not wanting to let go of the chance to show her affection that he had been holding onto for years.

Jack pressed the button and as the door slid open, Owen offered his arm to Amaris and she smiled as she slid her arm into his. Chance offered his arm to his middle sister and she playfully slid it into his arm. Uriah kept his arms around his daughter as they followed behind them.

Robyn looked at the smiling faces, but was unable to shake the thoughts running through her head. Grandma would decide what they need to know, but soon that would be her responsibility. She wished she had not heard the conversation between Al and Owen knowing her true future. All she wanted to do was see the picture of her Grandma and read the letter from the informant, but she had to overhear the conversation. Questions kept running through her head of why she was chosen and how she was supposed to know how to help the world begin again. She took a breath as another question formed in her mind. Looking straight ahead at the family before her, her mind played with the thought, What if Grandma doesn’t make it?

Uriah looked down and saw the worry across her daughter’s face, he kissed the top of her head, “I will help you through this.”

Looking up, she smiled and she turned away with another thought running through her head of whether her father knew the truth. Is that why he taught me so much about weaponry and self defense? Was it for the knowledge and the ability to take care of the revolutionaires, or did he just want to make sure his daughter was able to take care of herself?

She was afraid of not being able to lead even with the knowledge her Grandma and father had given her, Could she really give this world the new beginning it deserves?