Chương 155: Part Fourteen: The Old Regime

Outside, Aegis officers spoke into radios and watched the compound. One continued to shout demands, but no one answered. More Dominion Guard soldiers came out of the embassy and took positions inside the courtyard. Louis stood among the others, trying to catch his breath. A soldier stepped toward him.

"Mr. Collins, we need to move you inside. Now."

"Yes." Louis nodded.

"And them too." He gestured toward the others.

"All of them." The soldier nodded at once.

"All of them, sir." Behind him, another Dominion Guard soldier spoke rapidly into a shoulder mic.

"Primary recovered. Repeat, primary recovered. Inside compound. Multiple companions. Alliance security at exterior gate. Lockdown protocol." At the gate, an Aegis officer shouted, "This is an unlawful seizure of criminal suspects! Open the gate and return these individuals to Alliance custody!" The Dominion Guard soldiers held their rifles low and stayed in place. Louis heard the officer, but he had trouble following the words. His legs were shaking. His lungs burned. He looked at Cherish.

"Can you stand?" She nodded and tried to stand, but her knees buckled. Donya and Angelique lifted her together. Maeve had not moved. Louis went to her and took her wrist.

"Maeve." She blinked at him.

"We're going inside."

"Inside." She repeated the word and kept staring at him. He tugged gently at her wrist. The soldiers led them through a side entrance into a security corridor. The door closed and locked behind them. Dominion personnel moved quickly through the corridor. One guard sealed the entrance from a wall panel while another waited at the corner with a carbine held low. A large portrait of Constantine Collins hung on the wall ahead. The golden seal of the Dominion of the Pacific was displayed beneath it.

Louis looked up at his father's face and swallowed. Then he kept walking. A man with a pencil mustache came toward them from the far end of the corridor. Two aides, a security captain, a doctor with a medical bag, and another guard carrying a tablet followed him. The man stopped in front of Louis. He opened his mouth, but no words came. Then he bowed his head slightly.

"Mr. Collins. I am Ambassador Clement." He spoke carefully, but his voice was not entirely steady.

"Your father has been notified."

"Thank you."

"I cannot express the relief of this moment. We feared the worst." Clement looked at the others.

"May I ask who these young women are?" Louis put his hand on Maeve's shoulder.

"These people are with me," he said.

"All of them. I vouch for every one of them." Clement looked at Maeve, then at the others, and nodded.

"Of course. We only need the names for the record, to ensure their safe passage and documentation. We already know Miss Bourbon and Miss Simington." Louis gave him the names slowly, pausing between them.

"Willa Locke. Donya Al Madani. Savannah Ellington. Cherish Nowak. And Maeve Fyres." He looked at Clement.

"All of them stay with me."

"Understood." The security captain stepped forward.

"Mr. Collins, for internal safety, we need to secure all weapons."

"No," Louis said.

"My gun stays with me." The captain hesitated and glanced at Clement before facing Louis again.

"It's protocol, sir. We cannot allow outside firearms inside a secure wing." Louis did not look away.

"You do not take my pistol." Clement spoke before the captain could answer.

"Mr. Collins, your father has ordered us to keep you safe."

"Then start by listening to me."

"Mr. Collins retains his sidearm," Clement said.

"It is not to be challenged again."

"Yes, Ambassador." The security captain nodded.

"But the others?" Louis turned toward them.

"Do it." Savannah took the Swiss knife from her pocket and drew a pistol from beneath her jacket. Gladice and Maeve each drew a pistol from their waistbands beneath their hoodies. Angelique handed over her knife. The others shook their heads. One of the aides placed each item in a labeled bag, then secured the bags in a hard case. The doctor stepped closer.

"Mr. Collins, I need to check you for injuries." Louis looked at Cherish, then at Maeve's swollen face.

"Check them first. We move together." The doctor bowed his head.

"Of course." They followed him through another set of doors into a small infirmary. The doctor motioned for them to sit. Cherish took a chair near the wall, still trembling. Maeve sat beside her and stared at the floor. Willa said, "We crossed the Southern Ohio exclusion zone before Columbus. We showered and changed after that, but our shoes and some of our gear were with us the whole way." The doctor turned immediately to an assistant.

"Screen them anyway." He gestured toward the group.

"Radiological sweep. Now." Clement looked at Louis.

"While they are being examined, we should have a private conversation about what happened. Your father will call soon."

"We can discuss everything here." Louis sat on one of the beds.

"They all stay." Clement paused, then nodded.

"As you wish." A medical officer entered carrying a portable radiation scanner. She scanned each of them from head to foot, then checked their bags and equipment. The scanner stayed quiet over their clothes and skin. It clicked over several pairs of shoes, then again near Louis's pistol and one of the bags.

"Nothing on skin or hair," the medical officer said.

"Clothes are clean. Trace particulate on shoes and equipment. Low level. Not an immediate danger."

"Bag all the shoes after examination," the doctor said.

"Wipe the weapons and hard items. Anything soft that came through the zone goes into sealed storage." Two assistants collected every pair of shoes in separate bags and gave them plain slippers to wear. Another staff member confirmed each person's shoe size. Gladice looked down at the slippers.

"I just got those shoes broken in."

"You can break in new ones," the doctor said. Gladice smirked.

"That an embassy order?"

"Yes," the doctor said without looking amused. Cherish gave a tired laugh. Maeve watched the assistants seal the contaminated shoes and equipment. Louis kept his attention on the doctor until he moved toward Maeve first. Maeve flinched when he touched the swelling around her eye.

"I'm fine," she said.

"You are not," Donya said. Stolen novel; please report. Maeve frowned at her. Donya did not back down. The doctor checked Maeve's eyes and examined the swelling around her face.

"Facial bruising and exhaustion," he said.

"Nothing immediately dangerous."

"Will she be okay?" Louis asked.

"She will. She needs rest and painkillers." Maeve stared at the wall.

"I don't need your drugs."

"Too bad," the doctor said.

"You will take them anyway." Savannah gave a short laugh.

"You are in a Dominion embassy," Angelique said.

"Let them spend the money." She turned to the doctor.

"What about her face?"

"Cold compress, antibiotics. We can manage the swelling." The doctor moved to Savannah next. She extended her wrist without being asked. He cut away the old bandage and cleaned the wound. Savannah did not move, but she hissed when he touched it. He covered the wound with a fresh dressing.

"Not infected," the doctor said.

"Needs rest." Savannah gave a short laugh.

"Good luck with that." The doctor examined Cherish in the chair. He gave her water first, and she took the cup with both hands.

"Any pain?" he asked. She looked at Louis before answering.

"I am fine." The doctor checked her for injuries. She sat still and kept looking at Louis. When he finished, he wrote on his tablet and stood.

"She's exhausted and under a great deal of stress. Nothing acute." Willa, Donya, Angelique, and Gladice were checked in turn. None of them needed immediate treatment. Louis went last.

"When did you last sleep properly?"

"Yesterday. For a few hours."

"When did you last eat?"

"Last night."

"Any loss of consciousness?"

"Maybe." The doctor stopped writing and looked up from the tablet.

"Maybe?"

"I've had a long week."

"Sir, you were missing for twenty days."

"Feels longer." The doctor watched him for a moment.

"Right," he said quietly.

"We will do a full examination after immediate stabilization."

"Not separated," Louis said. Clement stepped forward.

"Mr. Collins, we have secure rooms prepared. You and Miss Bourbon can be placed in principal protection suites. Your companions can be accommodated—""No."

"Sir, for comfort and security—""One room." Clement hesitated before answering.

"That may not be ideal."

"We were separated too many times," Louis said.

"Not again." Angelique stepped beside him.

"He is right." Gladice leaned against the wall with her arms crossed.

"Try splitting us up. I dare you." Clement looked over the women. Louis kept his voice low.

"Do what you have to do. But we stay together." Clement nodded.

"A secure conference room can be converted immediately."

"Good."

"And your father is requesting secure video as soon as possible."

"Set it up in that room."

"Sir, the Supreme President may wish to speak privately."

"He can ask me himself."

"Yes, sir." The guards led them deeper into the embassy to a windowless conference room. Staff had pushed the long conference table against one wall. As the group entered, embassy personnel carried in folding cots and arranged blankets, water, food, and medical supplies along the other side of the room. A Dominion Guard remained outside the door. Cherish sat on the nearest cot and pulled a blanket around her shoulders. Donya stayed beside her.

Willa crossed to the controls beneath the wall screen and lifted one hand, then stopped before touching them. Savannah took the chair closest to the door. Gladice picked up a sandwich and ate quickly. Angelique remained beside Louis with her arms folded. Maeve sat on the edge of another cot with her hands on her knees.

"Are we safe?" Cherish asked. Louis looked around the windowless room, then toward the guarded door. He nodded.

"Yes. We are safe." Cherish's shoulders relaxed a little.

"Okay." Louis called.

"Guard! Get in here!" The door opened. A Dominion Guard entered.

"Sir?"

"We will have breakfast. Notify the kitchen." He turned toward the others.

"Steaks and eggs?"

"Yes!" Gladice's face lit up.

"Steaks?" Willa raised an eyebrow.

"For breakfast? And here I thought you were a health-conscious dictator's son." Louis laughed.

"I am. But this is an emergency."

"I want pancakes," Cherish said.

"Okay. Extra pancakes." Louis looked at the guard.

"With orange juice, lemonade, and coffee. For all of us."

"Right away, sir." The guard left. Maeve watched him go.

"Does everyone listen to you like that?"

"Most of the time." Louis smiled at her.

"When they know who I am."

"I guess they do." An aide entered the room.

"Mr. Collins, your father is ready for the call."

"Of course." Louis looked at the blank wall.

"Turn it on then." The aide adjusted the controls. The wall screen lit up with the Dominion crest. Louis straightened. The women stood behind him and watched the wall screen. It flickered and connected to an aircraft cabin. Constantine Collins sat before the camera in a dark jacket over a white shirt, without a tie. A communications officer stepped aside. Constantine looked at Louis.

"Louis." Louis swallowed.

"Dad." Constantine studied him without changing expression.

"You look alive," Constantine said.

"I am glad of that." Louis breathed out.

"So am I." Judith leaned into view beside Constantine. Her hair was pulled back. She stared at Louis without blinking, and his throat tightened.

"Louis," she said softly.

"Mom," he said, his voice hoarse.

"Look at me." He did. She looked him over slowly.

"You are coming home. We are coming to get you home."

"Okay." Judith looked at the women behind him and paused briefly on Maeve.

"All of you stay with him," Judith said.

"Do not let him pretend he is fine." Gladice stopped chewing. Judith turned to her at once.

"Glad to see you survived, Sergeant Simington." Gladice swallowed.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good," Judith said. Philip Bourbon appeared beside Constantine. He looked more tired than Louis remembered from New Orleans. Maria stood behind him with one hand on the back of his seat and looked straight at Angelique. Philip said, "Angelique." Angelique took a sharp breath.

"Dad," she whispered.

"Your mother is here," Philip said.

"We are coming." Maria leaned closer to the camera.

"Hold yourself together a little longer." Angelique nodded once.

"I am." Maria turned to Louis.

"We owe you, Louis." He shook his head.

"No."

"Yes." Maria did not look away.

"Take care of her until we land."

"I will." Robin McCarthy, Field Marshal of the Dominion Guard, stepped into view behind Judith. His red hair and full beard were unchanged. He looked at Louis for a moment, then nodded.

"Good to see you alive, Louis."

"You too, Robin." Constantine raised one hand, and the others fell silent.

"My aircraft departed ten minutes ago," Constantine said.

"We will be in Chicago in five hours. Until then, you remain inside the embassy. You speak only to Dominion staff. Do not speak to the press. Do not answer Alliance requests unless the ambassador clears it. Is that clear?" Louis nodded.

"Yes."

"Good. Now tell me what I do not know." Constantine looked over the group, then turned to Maeve.

"Who's this?" Maeve raised her head. Her voice was rough.

"Maeve Fyres. Former mechanic of the People's Army of West Virginia."

"She saved us," Louis said.

"Former?" Constantine asked. Maeve nodded.

"I am not going back."

"Good choice," Constantine said.

"For now, Miss Fyres, you are under Dominion protection." Maeve stared at him for several seconds before answering.

"What does that mean?"

"It means you are ours now." Constantine spoke more quietly.

"And we take care of what is ours."

"Okay," Maeve said. Constantine turned back to Louis.

"Start with the convoy. Short version first. Details later." Louis nodded.

"Our escort was ambushed by four choppers of the People's Army. Two Apaches and two Black Hawks. We were taken prisoners and brought to their capital in Beckley. They put us into forced labor and political instruction. Then the Road Authority bombed Beckley. Maeve helped us survive in the tunnels and she was punished for helping us. We fought our way out at night, took her with us and stole a chopper. We had to land in the exclusion zone when we ran low on fuel.

After that we got out of the zone and made it into Columbus. Then we took a bus here. The rest you saw." Constantine listened without interrupting. When Louis finished, he waited a moment before speaking.

"You stole a helicopter?"

"We did. Thanks to Maeve." Maeve blinked but said nothing. Constantine turned to her.

"Well done." Maeve nodded. Judith leaned forward.

"Did they hurt you, Louis?"

"Mentally." He gave a brief laugh.

"They called me a dynastic bourgeois parasite." Judith pressed her lips together. Constantine smiled briefly.

"Typical." He sounded almost amused.

"They always say the same things." Judith kept watching Louis.

"And physically?"

"They didn't beat us." He shook his head.

"They wanted to break us in another way. With words and labor and hopelessness." Judith turned to Maeve.

"And what did they do to you?" Maeve stared back.

"They beat me. Obviously." She touched her face.

"Louis saved me." Judith nodded.

"Good." Louis kept his attention on Constantine.

"Speaking of the Road Authority. What did you give Calloway?" Constantine turned back to him.

"A deposit. Nothing more."

"How much?" Louis asked.

"Enough to get his attention." Constantine tilted his head.

"But since he failed to deliver you to safety, the remaining terms are void."

"Good." Louis exhaled. Constantine studied him.

"You were worried I traded state interest for you."

"I was worried you had to."

"I would have," Constantine said.

"But I didn't need to. You got yourself out." Louis shook his head.

"I had help."

"I know." Constantine looked toward the others.

"All of you did well. Thank you." Gladice straightened slightly. Maeve shifted her weight.

"There is another question," Louis said.

"About their status." Constantine nodded.

"Ask." Louis gestured toward the women behind him.

"Can they all join the Dominion as citizens?" Cherish looked up at once. Maeve turned toward him. Constantine answered at once.

"Yes." Louis exhaled. Cherish covered her mouth with both hands. Maeve stared at the screen without moving.

"Fast track," Constantine continued.

"I will let Ambassador Clement handle the processing."

"Thank you," Louis said.

"No." His father shook his head.

"Thank them. They kept you alive. They brought you home. They earned this." Louis turned to them. Cherish began to cry. Donya wiped her eyes and smiled, and Gladice gave Constantine a quick salute. Maeve remained still.

"There is one more thing." Constantine leaned forward.

"I need names. The people who took you. The ones who hurt you. The ones who gave the orders. I want their names."

"Many people did," Louis said. Constantine went still.

"Remember everything you can," he said.

"We will sort through it together with Robin."

"I will." Louis looked at the others.

"We will."

"Good." Constantine sat back.

"Now rest. I will see you all in a few hours."

"See you, Dad." The Dominion seal replaced the video. Angelique covered her face and began to cry. Savannah pulled her close while Cherish leaned into Donya. Maeve looked at Louis.

"Did he mean what he said? That I can stay?"

"Yes." Louis went to her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"You can stay." She looked up at him.

"I don't have to go back."

"You never have to go back." Her shoulders shook once as she breathed out. She said nothing else. Louis sat beside her on the cot, and the others gathered around them. Cherish lifted her head from Donya's shoulder. Her eyes were red when she spoke.

"Is it really over?" Louis looked at her.

"The hard part is over." Angelique laughed through her tears.

"Until the next one." Gladice snorted.

"I don't care. I'm alive." Savannah smiled.

"For now." Louis put his arm around Maeve, and she leaned against him.