The Resistance

“Tatarians the self-proclaimed Empire of the world.” Rees said to himself looking over the ledge into the Tatarians 9th Regiment’s Eastern Fortress. Eli had made his way down the hill, behind the guard post.

“Should we be sending your little brother to knock it out.” James, crouched behind the trees to remain unseen. “Tony scouted the area yesterday and this guard post is cut off from the rest of Regiments view. Its their only blind spot. No one asked for Eli to come, he just came. His size comes does help us here. He can stay unseen.”

“Yeah, all he has to do is throw the sleeping gas in and let it work.” Tony stated coming from behind. He had just finished placing the charges along the western wall, the explosion would allow them to escape while they escape the eastern gate.

“Exactly,” Rees continued to watch as Eli carefully crawled around the bottom of the post, lobbing the sleeping gas in. He waited several seconds before placing a gas mask on and entering. Once the smoke cleared, he waved the rest forward. Eli had already removed the soldier’s uniforms allowing Rees, Tony, and James to put them on. Rees’ plan was working, and hopefully by tomorrow they will have all the information they need to make a new home for the rest of the resistance.

“Good job, Eli. You were useful after all. Keep watch here, shoot this flare if we need to get out fast. Guys we have forty-five minutes before these three soldiers wake up and sound the alarm. Eli, if we are late do whatever you have to do to make sure that does not happen, okay? We can’t be seen.”

They all nodded understanding what was at stake, after all it was four against an entire Regiment. Rees handed Eli his heart shaped locket, “keep this on you, okay? I want it back after the mission.”

Eli took it and smiled, “Its safe with me.” He proceeded to open the gate for them to move through. The 9th’s fortress was an abandoned Airport; planes still scattered the runway and left at the terminals. They had to move through the scattered planes and across the runway to get the main entrance.

Tony looking up at the communications tower, “that’s where we are going?”

“Yes, now let’s keep going, we have to make it to the elevator by the east terminal.” Luckily, Rees convinced his friends to learn everything they could about Tatarian Structure and lingo. If not, they would have never made it to the elevator, they were largely unaware that they would be questioned about their purpose every few feet. As an officer said, “Most people of your rank are not allowed in this terminal besides communicators.” As they made their way to the elevator, a picture on the wall of a large city caught James’ eye.

“Wow, what is that place.” He asked passing by trying to examine it.

“That, Private is a picture of New York. Didn’t you learn in the Academy about the Great Rest?” Behind them stood Commander Eric Everson. The loudest, biggest, and proudest Commander in the Tatarian Empire. Almost as powerful as the Emperor John Tatarian, who self-proclaimed himself after the American government fell. So, they call The Flash, the Great Rest, Rees thought to himself.

They nodded in response. “So, Emperor Tatarian saw that the world was running out of resources. To save it he gave it a rest. Leaving a third of the world’s population. The Emperor Tatarian caused a signal flash to vanish cities, countries, and populations in a single night.”

“Yes, we know.” Rees said a little more aggravated than he intended. Rees knew the real reason. Rees and his parents watched as rockets like shooting stars fell on the earth. The Resistance only calls it the Great Flash, because in a flash was all you saw when they hit. It wiped out populations in a flash those who did not die from the flash, they died soon after from the contamination it caused. John Tatarian came as the Savior shortly after to help restore the world. In the end he only wanted power and self-proclaimed himself as the emperor.

The commander looked back at the picture on the wall. “So, are you new transplants? You cannot be too sure; we are having issues with the Resistance trying to take resources. I understand why, we have the most impressive self-sustaining compound.” The Commander stated proudly.

Seeing Rees’s face James spoke up, “We have heard of your greatness and everything you have done here. We requested to be sent here right after the academy to sit under your command. We are transplants for your data and communications division.”

“Very well, up the elevator to the right is where you will report. But I find it interesting you are coming without papers, and without notice. I will keep my eye on you and kill you if I must, understand?” He roared sending chills down their spines.

They let out a high pitched, “Yes sir!”

The commander left leaving them shaken, with a sigh of relief. Rees looked at his watch, “We have to hurry. Eli will be waiting; we have twenty minutes left.”

They made it into the communication tower with little trouble, they walked in explaining, they were there to start their new post. The captain on deck pulled a gun not believing their story, “You come with no papers, no proof of transfer. You thought you could walk in and just take the communications tower. You’re with the resistance!”

“You couldn’t be anymore. Right!” James lunged at the officer over taking him. He was grateful he took Commander Kurt’s advice and learned defensive combat from Prowler, their combat instructor, who spent several years in the Special Forces before the Great Flash. After they had handled the communication soldiers with more difficulty than expected, Reese began working to retrieve the data. Tony set the communications system to crash.

After a few moments Rees completed the file transfers for the blueprints. “Where is James,” Rees asked as he was setting the timer for the charges along the western wall.

“Um," he said, "He wanted to go get us an escape ride,” Tony replied unsure of what he meant.

At that moment sirens began going off, and rifle fire was sounding off. Tony and Rees made their way down the tower to meet James in a Roadster. “What did you do James,” Tony yelled.

“Well, I went to get us a ride, and I couldn’t help it, I love roadsters.” James cracked.

“Well can you drive while they shoot at us!” Rees furiously yelled at Tony to get on the gun, and for James to drive toward the guard post which had been on fire. Eli was running toward them shooting the flares in the air.

“Eli, jump in!” Tony helped Eli in the roadster and began shooting again as the regiment pursued them. “Eli, why did you set the guard post on fire?!”

“I didn’t mean to! The soldiers woke up and scared me! Where were ya’ll? Ya’ll are late!”

Rees yelled, “It doesn’t matter, we are here now.” The charges along the western wall blew leaving smoke and rocks soaring in the air. Hoping that would slow them down, but it was the 9ths on Commander leading the charge. He must have realized they had come for the blueprints. Commander Eric Everson was too proud of man to let anyone steal from him. With rage he launched a rocket towards them.

“Turn into the housing development and jump out of the roadster!” Rees demanded.

They all jumped out as the rocket hit the roadster sending it flying into a ball of fire. The Commander yelled into the distance. “Fire at will.” Rockets fell for what seemed like eternity. The smoke began to fade, fire raged around them as the rumble from the onslaught of rockets and mortars ceased. Another soldier off in the distance could be heard yelling, “Cease fire!”

“Do you think we got them,” one asked, “should we send someone to look for the bodies.”

Rees had found himself hiding in a metal trash container, he held his breath sliding a dagger out from his belt hoping they would think they were dead. Maybe the rest were.

“No,” The commander roared, “no one could live through that. Death awaits everyone, hopefully it greeted them with a smile. Go back to the fortress, we must repair!”

Each commanding officer echoing the last, “Move out!” The sound of soldier’s marching and tanks rolling faded into the distance. Reese gave a long sigh of relief and jumped from hiding. James and Tony followed along coughing from the thick clouds of smoke filling the air. The coolness of winter had begun to set in making it harder to breath.

Rees put a hand on his companions, “Thank God you’re okay James, Tony. We made it. Where is Eli! I thought he was with you two.” Rees placed his hands on his head, worried. He could be hurt, or worse. Rees did not want to consider the worse. Just before their father was taken out, he made Rees swear that he would look after Eli.

“Jeez, I’m sorry Rees, I guess we lost him after we jumped to hide from the mortars and rockets.”

“God, I knew he shouldn’t have come!” frantic the three began to look for Eli. Suddenly a faint call for help came from a demolished house.

“Do you hear that Rees,” James yelled, “Its Eli!” James ran to the rubble Eli was trapped under. They rushed through the debris and violently began discarding the remains of what was one someone’s home.

“Eli, Eli! Can you hear me?” Rees cried pulling the rubble away.

“Eli, hold on we will get you out! I’m sorry Eli. I should’a had you with me.”

After what seemed like eternity, Eli burst out from the rubble creating a cloud of dust flying into the air.

“Yeah, you should have, who does that to their brother. Just leaves them and hides. You coward.”

“My God Eli, I thought I lost you! And you suddenly have jokes.” Rees coughed; the lingering of smolder was infesting their lungs with every breath. He sighed, “Are you hurt?”

Eli stumbled out of the rumble “No, I have a bruise or two but nothing too bad.”

Rees studied the scene before them. The destruction went as far as the eye could see. The whole world looked like this unless the empire controlled it.

“Rees, Rees” Commander Kurt radioed in. “Did we get the blueprints.”

“Yes, Commander Kurt. We have the blueprints.”

Commander Kurt sighed with relief, cheers were heard over the radio, “Good job boys, come home. There is more work to do. This is a victory for the Resistance today. There are enough resources in the fortress for everyone, its self-sustaining. Now we can survive and keep fighting for a new day to build a better world free of the Tatarians.”

“Let’s get back to camp boys,” Rees grinned proud of what they accomplished. As stealthy as they could they walked through the remnants of old towns and home. Abandoned now. The homeless, or sick stayed among the ruins. This was who they were fighting for now, the old world was lost, but a new one was in reach. Now with the blueprint’s life will be a little more barrable. At least once they occupy the fortress, in a few weeks they will take the fortress. It will not be easy. However, they had hope; Rees knew only hope was needed for a better world. For the first time since he could remember Rees’ twelve-year-old brother smiled. Hope was in their hearts again. They spent the rest of the journey talking about the old days, they days before the Great Flash. Eli listened and began to live with a dream.