Epilogue

FIVE MONTHS AFTER THE END OF THE OCCUPATION

Disturbed was planning their first real tour in fifteen years, and the work that was involved was more than David remembered. Fortunately, they had Jordan doing all the PR and promotions work, so everything went without a hitch.

They recorded a new album; or rather, several albums worth of material that would be released on a two year time table. All the band had to do after that was to tour.

By the new year, the band members were on their way to their own homes; David, John, and their families were headed back to Austin, Texas; Dan was headed back to the Chicago suburb he and his family called home before the Occupation; and Mike and his family returned to Wisconsin, living on a farm with several out buildings. Mike turned one of them into a studio and rehearsal space.

"I'm out in the middle of fucking nowhere! I can play my drums as loud as I want for as long as I want and not bother anyone," he said.

----------

Julia and Ryan still continued to live in the house that she grew up in. Miri was a year old, talking a little and walking everywhere. She was pretty quick on her feet, too, her parents found out.

Jeremiah and Jasmine had their hands full with Adriana, who would soon be two years old. They learned that their daughter would soon have a little brother to play with.

Nik and KateLynn and their children remained in their house for a little while longer before they realized it was getting too small. They made plans to move into the house that the Draimans lived in, as it had more room, and KateLynn was expecting a fourth child, another boy.

Joe and Tracy remained in Maine with their family, both of them working for her father's company and raising their girls.



TWO YEARS LATER

It had been a hard road, but somehow, Christine had endured.

She got the government back on track, elections were held, and a new President had taken office. She was free to go back to Arlington and live her life as a civilian at last. At least JT and Jacob were waiting for her.

Morbus was no more. He had undergone extensive plastic surgery and his severe scaring was significantly reduced. His partial ear had been reconstructed, but he still didn't have hair, but at this point in his life, he was just blessed to still be among the living.

He had taken back his birth name of Jacob, but declined to resurrect his surname. He shortened it to Ross, and that's what he was known by.

He and Christine had married, and told the now teenaged JT about Jacob's role in his life. They were a happy family, and even had his daughter and her growing family visiting on occasion. Julia and Ryan now had two daughters, Miri and her baby sister Jameson. Jaime was a redhead like her father, and favored him strongly, though she had Julia's dark brown eyes. JT was thrilled to learn that Julia really was his sister, and that her kids were his nieces.

Jacob was still convinced that Miri was not Ryan's biological child. Ryan didn't seem to care, he loved both of his daughters equally.

Christine and Jacob's lives were spent as a happily retired couple with a teenage son. No one seemed to care that she was the interim President. She still had a Secret Service detail, as all former presidents were entitled, so she and Jacob couldn't just take a spontaneous trip out of town during the summers. That, Christine decided, was a pain in the ass, but a necessary pain in the ass... like labor.

But their happiness would be short lived.

----------

Rebekah and Chris loved the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, where Rebekah was going to school at UCLA majoring in chemistry. Chris was working as a stuntman and firearms expert in the movie industry, and found that it was something he loved doing.

Their identical twin daughters, Jessikah and Nicoletta, were the light of their lives. They had beautiful dark hair and dark eyes. Rebekah and Chris were bugged constantly about getting the girls into modeling or acting, but they always said no. "That's a decision only they can make when they're old enough to understand what it means," Chris always told people.

Neither one of them thought they'd ever find the right person for them, and then they met by chance in an unlikely place.

----------

Natasha (formerly Vixen) Vincent used her weapons skills with the government. She trained snipers recruited by the CIA, and was good at teaching female recruits to use their womanly wiles against a male (or female) adversary.

After a while, though, Natasha wanted to settle down and take life easy. She had plenty of savings to keep her satisfied for a long time. She wasn't getting any younger, and decided she wanted a child...with or without a husband. After being inseminated, she ended up having twins; a girl and a boy she named Viktoria and Nikolai. Natasha found her niche in life, and that was being a mother. She had the time and the patience to be a wonderful mother to her children.

She didn't miss being a hired assassin, and certainly didn't miss being a whore. Those are things that her children wouldn't know about until they were old enough to understand.

And maybe, not even then.

----------

Jordan didn't think she'd love Austin as much as she did. She was so glad that David decided to move the family there after all.

She laughed when she remembered all the times she got lost in that big house the first few weeks after moving in. She'd not silently curse David under her breath for building such a huge house for the six of them.

"You don't want more kids, do you?" she asked David one night after she finally found her way back to their bedroom after getting lost for the umpteenth time.

"We aren't getting any younger, my dear," David said. "And we have grandbabies now, so we really don't need any more."

"Good, because I got lost coming back from the girls' bedrooms again, and this is getting old," Jordan said. "What are we going to do with all those rooms?"

"Have family down as often as possible?" David asked sarcastically.

"You're incorrigible, David! Honestly!" Jordan laughed.

----------


FIVE YEARS LATER


He couldn't believe where he was, even after five years of marriage.

He lived on the beach, had a fantastic view, four wonderful children, and a gorgeous wife.

Granted, two of those children were his wife's from previous relationships, and they were great kids. Jayden was fourteen, tall, and had a gift for art.

Cassie was seven, and a little bit of a stinker, but she was well behaved, had wonderful manners, and was the apple of her mother's eye.

His children were still little ones; two year old David and four year old Douglas tried hard to emulate their big brother, but often fell short. He often told his older son, Dougie, "When you're Jayden's age, you can do that, too."

"When will I be Jayden's age?" the boy asked.

"A long time from now."

"But Jayden will be older, too," Dougie whined.

He just smiled at his boy's realization.

The thing that always got Josh Rockwell was the fact that Jayme Crist was interested in him. They had become friends over the years since Jayme came into her big inheritance from her former boss, but he never expected to fall in love with her. Especially since she was twelve years older than he.

He'd always worked hard, and her money meant nothing to him. He wanted to take care of her and her kids, and not rely on her money so much. He did a good job, working for a firm that does computer analysis for medical professionals.

Jayme fell for him because he was self reliant, he was good with her kids, and he believed in God just as she did. They began to attend the local church regularly, eventually being married there.

He sat on the porch and watched the children play near the water. Jayden was good at keeping the younger kids out of trouble in the water. Just then, Jayme sat down next to him, handing him some iced tea.

"Penny for your thoughts?" she asked.

"Just was thinking about how all this happened," Josh said. "It doesn't seem like we've even known each other that long, but here we are, an old married couple celebrating five years."

"I know," Jayme said. "I never, ever expected to be this happy. We must have done something right."

"We survived the Occupation," Josh said; "That alone is something."

"Indeed," agreed Jayme.

----------

He felt it when he least expected it.

That gut feeling that something wasn't right.

"Hell, I'm seventy-five years old," he muttered to himself; "I'm bound to forget some things."

He'd decided to get it checked out and he didn't like what he found out. His sister's death haunted him, even though it had been many years since she passed away. God, he thought, I don't want to die like that; not being able to remember anything.

Josiah Daniels brought his boat in and tied it to the dock. I'm getting too old for this every single day. Maybe I should let Brandon take over the business. He's the only one I trust with it.

He walked up to the house and let himself in. Maryssa and the girls were out shopping, and Brandon would be home from college any day.

The mail was waiting on the counter in the kitchen, where Maryssa had put it for years since moving into this house. He looked through it, and seeing nothing that needed his immediate attention, went and sat down on the couch.

He remembered the letter he got several months before, the one that threatened to expose his true identity to the world. It was because of this letter that he rewrote his will. He left everything to Maryssa, Brandon, and the girls. No one could touch the money he earned over the last several years shrimping.

Going to his desk in his study, where he sent out the invoices to the various restaurants he sold his catch to, he took out a sheet of paper and wrote a note. "If I'm not here, check and see if the boat is still tied up. If it's not, send out Coast Guard to find me. I'm sorry it has to be this way, but I can't live Joanna's life. I just can't."

He put it in an envelope and laid it on his desk.

He'd been telling Maryssa for months about this plan. Now it was time to put it in action.

Josiah grabbed a small bag from inside his desk, locked the drawer, and left the key on top of the envelope.

He then headed out to the boat, untied it, and headed out to deep water. Once well out in the Gulf, he killed the engine.

The boat floated aimlessly for an hour, then Josiah decided that if he was going to do it, to do it now.

He set a small fire at the stern of the boat. After it was going, he went into the pilothouse and took a bottle of pills and a bottle of whiskey. He swallowed half the pills, washing it all down with the whiskey.

Then he waited as the pills and the booze took effect.

Feeling sleepy, he lay down in the floor of the pilothouse and lapsed into unconsciousness. Whether the fire or the pills killed him first, Josiah Daniels no longer cared. He was not going to be a burden to Maryssa. This was the only was to go out with his dignity intact.

The fire reached the engine, and the boat blew up.



Back on shore, Maryssa and her twin daughters Joanna and Jenna, heard the explosion. Maryssa ran into the house and straight to Josiah's study. There, just as he'd instructed her many times, was an envelope and a key.

Maryssa knew what the key was for, so she tore open the envelope. She read the note, then called the Coast Guard.

They were too late. They had found the remains of the boat floating derelict in the Gulf. In the pilothouse, was Josiah Daniels. He was dead.

He left a wife and three children.

----------

Julia knew that day was coming.

The day that Miri asked why she didn't have red hair like her sisters and brother. Miri was just a few weeks shy of her eighth birthday.

Julia explained about what happened before Miri came into existance. Miri had a million questions, the main one being,

"Where is the man who fathered me buried?"

"I found out a few years ago," Julia explained, "and I promised you the day you were born that we'd go find it and pay our respects."

"But Daddy is still my daddy, right?" asked Miri.

"Daddy will always be your daddy," Julia said. "He loves you and treasures you just as much as he does your sisters and brother."

"When can we go see where Mr. Jack is buried?"

"We can go as soon as you like, Miri," Julia said. "Maybe on Saturday. Just the two of us."

"Okay."

That Saturday, Julia and Miri drove up to where the Great Lakes Prison once stood. It had been reclaimed by the government after the Occupation and turned back into a Naval training facility. Just outside the gates of the former prison was a cemetery where New Army personnel were buried.

The cemetery was divided into two sections; one for enlisted personnel and the other for officers. Julia got directions to the particular gave she was looking for and she and Miri went over to the Officers section to find it.

What Julia didn't know is that there was another visitor that day who was interested in seeing that particular grave.

John Christofferson came in from the other entrance and was headed down the hill when he spotted a familiar person from his past. She was accompanied by a little girl about seven or eight years old. Christofferson was sure he knew who they were.

Julia and her daughter.

The one he may have fathered.

He stopped in his tracks and tried to conceal himself as best he could; by looking down at another grave with someone else buried within.

"Miri, I found it," Julia called to her daughter. Miri came over and read the headstone, which Julia knew would prompt a lot more questions.

"She has my first name, Mama," Miri said. "And he has the same birthday as me."

"Daddy and I liked the name, so we gave it to you," Julia said. "As for the birthdate, that I had no control over. You were coming on that day whether I wanted you to or not."

"Was she in the New Army, too?"

"No, she was just married to someone in the New Army, and they get to be buried here together, just as it should be," said Julia.

"Did he love you, Mama? Did you love him?"

"I think he did love me in his own way," Julia said. "I cared for him very much. I was quite upset when I learned he had died."

"Like you were when you heard that Nana Christine died?"

"Yes, like that," Julia said.

"I was sad when Nana Christine died, too, Mama," Miri said.

"I know sweetheart, we all were upset," Julia said, "Nana Christine was loved by a lot of people."

Julia realized she didn't have the flowers she and Miri had planned to lay on Jack's grave. Julia started to run back to the car and Miri tried to keep up, but tripped on a tree root buried in the snow. She felt herself being caught before she hit the ground, and a man saying, "Whoa, princess, you almost landed face first into some rocks."

The man righted Miri and she turned around to thank him. She then remarked, "You look like Santa Claus!"

Christofferson rubbed his chin. The little girl wasn't the first to think that. He said, "Have you been a good girl this year?"

"Oh, yes, I have! Ask my mama!"

Julia came back with the flowers after realizing that Miri wasn't behind her. As she approached Miri and the elderly gentleman, she stopped.

My Lord! Julia thought; If I didn't know better, I'd swear that was Jack!

Christofferson knew Julia's face anywhere. He looked down at Miri, and saw another familiar face.

His daughter Celine's.

I'm her father, Christofferson realized with a shock. And I can't say anything!

Instead, while Miri and Julia were distracted, he disappeared into the woods near the gravesite. When Miri looked up to show her mother she was talking to someone who looked like Santa Claus, he was gone.

"He was just here, Mama, I swear!"

"I believe you, Miri," her mother said. "But Santa has special powers, so maybe that man was working for Santa. You think?"

"Yeah," Miri said. "I wish he had stayed so you could tell him how good I've been this year."

"Maybe it wasn't time for that, Mirielle."

----------

Christofferson somehow made it back to his truck. He felt like he was living in a dream.

He got in, shut the door, and closed his eyes, picturing the little girl in his mind.

A perfect blend of Julia and Celine, he thought. And Julia still believes I'm dead, or else she wouldn't have brought her little girl, our little girl, out to the cemetery.

For the first time since his wife died, John Christopher Coltrane IV, aka John Christofferson, cried for the loss of the only other woman who had conquered his heart.

----------

Chapter 40-- Triumph

Part 1--

The Disturbed Ones jet landed at the airstrip at Chicagoland that evening. They didn't call anyone to come get them, they just took transport back to their respective homes.

Julia arrived home, tired but glad the day was over. All she wanted was to see her husband and her baby girl.

She slipped the key into the lock of the backdoor. Opening the door into the kitchen, she saw that the lights were out except the one Ryan kept on when he went to bed.

Well, damn, Julia thought, they've gone to bed. She looked at her watch. It was late, after all.

Julia remembered that she hadn't eaten at all that day, so she fixed herself a sandwich. As she ate it, she thought she saw something.

"Ryan?" she called softly, but not hearing him answer, Julia dismissed it.

Until she saw it again.

She remembered a story that Kiera had told about how animal spirits protected warriors as they were about to go to war.

"I know what your animal spirit is, Julia," Kiera said.

"What?"

"You're a wolf," said Kiera. "You seek to protect those in your pack who are weak or old. You fight to the death. You mete out the punishments."

"How do you know?" asked Julia.

"Because I'm a wolf, too," Kiera said. "My grandfather told me this when I was not much younger than you are. He was a shaman, a spiritual healer. I see the same things in you that my grandfather saw in me. The Great Spirit, whom we call God, chose the wolf for your animal guide."

"How does the Great Spirit know that, Kiera?"

"That would be like trying to read God's mind, Julia," Kiera said. "It's not for us to know."

Kiera closed her eyes a moment, then said,

"One day, Julia, when Peter and I are no longer here, we will be protecting you and the boys. It's our job in the afterlife to take care of those we loved when we were still living on earth."

"But that's along time from now, right?" asked Julia.

"We don't know," Kiera said; "We all hope for long life, but when it's our time, God calls us home. None of us know when our time is."

"I hope it's not for a long, long time, Kiera," Julia said.

"Me, too, Julia," Kiera replied.

Julia closed her eyes, wondering if Kiera was right, if she and Peter were watching over her and her little family.

In her mind's eye, she saw the wolf, standing tall on a rock, watching over her pack. She saw Peter and Kiera, standing in the backyard, watching over their now adult children and their families.

And sitting there, in the kitchen, Julia Summers felt a great weight being lifted from her; the weight of avenging the deaths of her guardians. Her burden, that she carried since she was twelve years old, was now just a memory, and she could live her life in peace.

Julia left the half eaten sandwich on the counter, picked up her bags and headed towards the stairs. Once upstairs, she put her bags down outside Miri's room and went in to check on her daughter.

The baby was sleeping, covered with a light blanket and her favorite stuffed toy at the opposite end of her crib.

Julia reached down and touched one of Miri's curls. "The war is over, Mirielle, and we won. We are safe now," Julia whispered. She then left the room, picked up her bags, and went to the room across the hall. Her bedroom. The one she shared with the first man she ever made love to, who accepted Miri as his daughter, and who made Julia's life complete.

Julia removed her Glock, in its case, from her bag and placed it in the gun safe in the back of biggest of the two closets in their bedroom. For the first time since she got the Glock when she was fourteen, it was not going to be within arms reach of her bed. There was no need. No one was going to try and kill her tonight or any other night. And it was not safe to have a gun within reach of a little girl who would soon be learning to walk.

Once the gun was locked in the safe. Julia readied herself for bed. It had been a long day.

"Jules? Is that you?" she heard Ryan say sleepily.

"Yes, Ry, it's me," Julia said as she slipped under the covers.

Ryan took her into his arms, kissed her forehead, and went right back to sleep.

Julia sighed. A new life.

----------

Jeremiah returned home where Jasmine and Adriana were still up. Adriana was walking and getting into everything now, and part of her antics were getting up out of bed and crusing around the house. Which what she was doing when Jasmine got up. Jeremiah walked in and Adriana screamed, "Daddy!" and ran toward him.

"Wow! I feel like a rock star!" Jeremiah laughed as he picked up his daughter and swung her around, which made her giggle. "Have you been a good girl for Mommy, Adriana?"

"Ya."

Jeremiah looked at Jasmine, "Has she, Mommy?"

"For the most part, she has," Jasmine said; "then she pulls stuff like this, and I'm up chasing after her."

"Adriana, it's time for bed," Jeremiah said. "For real."

"No, Daddy. I stay up wif Mommy."

Jeremiah took the girl to her bedroom and laid her in the bed that was converted from her old crib. "You sleep now, Adriana," Jeremiah said; "I'll see you in the morning."

"Night Daddy."

Jeremiah walked out of the girl's room and down the hall to the kitchen where Jasmine was drinking a glass of water before heading back to bed herself. She came around the bar and gave Jeremiah a hug.

"I'm so glad you're home, baby," Jasmine said. "I've missed you so much! I've been watching the TV all day for word about what was happening, and only during the late news did they say something about Lane Sizemore and Carl Parks being dead."

"Julia got to all three of them," Jeremiah said. "Sarah Kathryn is supposedly going to be arrested at 8am east coast time tomorrow."

"Good, then the war's really over, isn't it?"

"I'd say so," Jeremiah replied. "An interim government is supposed to be in place by tomorrow some time."

"I'm so proud of you, Jere," Jasmine said. "I'm proud of all of you!"

"I'm glad it's over," said Jeremiah; "I'm beat. Let's get some sleep and talk about it in the morning."

With that, Jasmine led her husband to their bedroom, but sleep wasn't on the agenda. Not yet.

----------


Nik leaned over and asked the driver to drop both he and Vixen at his house. The driver nodded and bypassed the dorms where Vixen lived.

"Why are you taking me to your place, Nik?" Vixen asked, curious.

"Because it's late, and I think you need to be with others tonight," said Nik. "You shouldn't be in the dorms tonight alone."

"I wouldn't be alone, Nik," Vixen said; "Susie and Kylee are there."

"And you'd be up all night recounting your adventures to them," Nik said. "I know how you ladies are! You need to let the adrenaline wear off and sleep the sleep of the dead if you wanted. We have a spare bedroom, and I'm insisting that you stay the night with us. Actually, it was KateLynn's idea."

"Really?" Vixen said as the transport pulled up to Nik and KateLynn's house; "That's really nice of both of you. I really am beat."

Nik got his and Vixen's bags out of the transport and they both headed toward the front door. The door opened unexpectantly and there KateLynn stood, holding her sleeping infant son.

"Welcome home, you two," KateLynn said. "I know it's been a busy day for both of you! I've been watching the news, and I can't believe the war is over!"

"It has indeed," Nik said. "Everything went pretty well. An interim government should be in place sometime tomorrow."

"That's such great news!" KateLynn said as she placed baby Peter into his crib. "The kids won't know what kind of country we had to endure until they read it in their history books in school."

"No children should have to live in the kind of country we've had for the last nineteen years," Vixen said. "I think it's why I've put off finding someone and having kids. And I'm not getting any younger."

"How old are you, Vixen?" KateLynn asked. "If you don't mind me asking. I know you're the oldest female in BlackOps."

"There's a bit of a story there about exactly how old I am," Vixen said. "I don't know if Nik has told you about any of my background, but I was kidnapped from my family when I was nine and was forced to be trained as a prostitute. By the time I was placed with the man who became my pimp, I had aged three years. I'm actually three years younger than what it says in my official paperwork."

KateLynn recalled Nik telling her that, and said, "So if you were, say thirty, you're acutally twenty seven?"

"Yes," Vixen said. "When I found out about my background, I learned that I was born in 1990, not 1987. I had always suspected I was younger than anyone said, but had no way to prove it. I'm actually twenty-nine, though my paperwork suggests that I'm thirty-two."

"That really sucks," KateLynn said. "What happened to your parents? Your siblings?"

"I'd been told that my parents were dead, and that a younger sibling might be as well," Vixen said. "Through research that I asked Dan Donegan to do for me, I found that my younger sibling was still alive."

"Wow! That's great!" said KateLynn; "Are you going to try and contact this sibling and tell them you're their sister?"

"I've already tried once," Vixen said, "and it wasn't a good time. It's not like you can waltz into someone's house and say, 'hey, I'm your long lost sister.' Because of their age when I was taken, they may not even know I exist. Maybe it's better that way."

"I'd tell them, if it were me," Nik said while putting the dishes from the dishwasher away; "They might be thrilled they have an older sibling."

Vixen was very tempted to say something at that point, but held her tongue. It's not like she could declare Hey, Nik, I'm the sister you never knew about! But then Nik asked,

"How much do you know about your family?"

"I learned a lot about my family through the research Dan did for me," Vixen said. "I found out that I had an older sister that died at a year old three years before I was born. How my parents died and a little about their background. None of this stuff I knew. I didn't even remember the name I was given at birth until Dan unearthed a copy of my original birth certificate. The only name I knew was Amanda Amador."

"That's not your birth name I take it," KateLynn said.

"No, it's the name I was given by the couple who were hired by my future pimp to train me to be a whore," Vixen said; "I hated that name. When Morbus hired me to work for him, he asked if I wanted to be called something else, and Vixen Vincent was the name I chose."

"So you've really only been Vixen since you've been at Chicagoland," Nik said. "What was your original name?"

Vixen took a deep breath. Nik and KateLynn both saw that Vixen was a little nervous about revealing something so personal. Maybe she's not really ready for this, Nik thought. He said,

"I'm sorry, Vixen, that was out of line. I know it's a personal question that you may not feel comfortable answering."

Vixen felt relieved. This wasn't the time to spill her guts that Nik was her brother. Maybe later on, after things get settled, we'll see, she thought.

"For the moment, Nik and KateLynn," she said, "I don't feel comfortable answering that question. All this information is new to me, and I need to wrap my head around it and understand it before I can talk about it to anyone other than my therapist."

KateLynn squeezed Vixen's hand gently. "It's okay, Vixen," she said; "We totally understand. There are lots of people here with names they weren't born with. Nik doesn't even remember his birthparents. He has scattered memories of them, but not enough first hand knowledge to remember them."

"That's true," Nik said. "I'd love to know more about my birthparents, because I was taken in by the San Marcos when I was four. Don't remember a lot about anything before that."

"You guys must be tired, though," KateLynn said; "Vixen, I'll show you to your room." She led Vixen down the hall to the spare bedroom.

Nik finished up putting the dishes away, then followed his wife and Vixen to the spare room.

The San Marcos bid Vixen a good night and she was alone. She changed into pajamas and got under the covers. Within a few moments, she was asleep.

----------

The news came as people were awaking for the day.

When Sarah Kathryn Hope, the former President for Life, didn't show as agreed to be arrested for crimes against the United States of America, Security Forces personnel forced their way into the Presidential living quarters.

There, laying in, and covered with, dried blood, was Sarah Kathryn. No one had to be told she was dead. Her corpse was black and blue from head to toe.

"Jesus Christ!" one of the officers that had accompanied the Security Forces exclaimed; "What happened to her that caused head to toe bruising?"

The official physician for the former New Government was summoned, and after examining Sarah Kathryn's body, determined that she died of a massive heart attack or stroke. "She had lots of pressure on her, and it caused her blood pressure to skyrocket," the doctor had said. "She was negligent in taking her medication to control the problem. I'm not surprised that this is what led to her death. Why she is completely black and blue, only an autopsy will be able to tell."

----------

Jordan turned on the television she kept on the kitchen counter, when the report came over the air:

Former President for Life Sarah Kathryn Hope failed to materialize for her arrest on charges of crimes against the United States, Security Forces personnel for the Resistance Movement gained entry to the President's living quarters.

The former President for Life was laying in the floor, having expired, by some accounts, as much as eighteen hours before. A preliminary cause of death is expected in the next twelve to twenty-four hours, but sources indicate that a heart attack or stroke may have been a cause of death. Mrs. Hope was known to have high blood pressure.

As previously reported, both the former Chairman and former Co-Chairman of the Committee had been found dead yesterday. The remaining three former members of the Committee are currently in custody, pending the filing of formal charges...

"Holy Mother of God!" Jordan exclaimed; "I can't believe it! The war is finally over!"

And Jordan Draiman danced around the kitchen of her home, which is where her daughters found her when they awoke after hearing the commotion coming from the kitchen.

"What's wrong with Mama?" Niki asked her sister.

"She looks happy," Kimber said. "Maybe she does that dancing thing all the time."

"That what she does when we're sleeping?" Niki asked. "She dances around looking silly?"

"She's a grownup, Niki," Kimber said. "They act so funny sometimes."

----------

Over.

It was finally, totally, and completely over.

Christofferson just stared at the television shaking his head. The war was over, and the side he had been a part of had been defeated.

He was glad.

"I wish I'd seen the light much, much, earlier," he said sadly.

Nothing was said about whether any of the deaths were actually hits by Resistance or Disturbed Ones assassins, but Christofferson knew that Julia had to be behind some of them, if not all of them.

"Brave, sweet Julia," he sighed. "God, I miss you!"

----------

Vixen got up later than she ever had in the entire time she had been at Chiacgoland. Not even the commotion of a new baby and two active preschoolers awoke her from her slumber.

She eventually made her way into the kitchen, where KateLynn was making breakfast.

"Good morning, Vixen," she said. "I've got waffles, oatmeal, or cold cereal on the menu today. Which will it be?"

Vixen just stared at KateLynn for a minute, then, "Do you go all out like this every morning, KateLynn?"

"Sometimes, yes, I do," said KateLynn; "Nik usually is the first one up after I get up with Peter, so I'll have something ready for him to fix. Then Matty and Sandrina get up and are starving, so oatmeal or cornflakes usually quiet their tummies."

"Wow! And I think my morning routine is tough!" Vixen said. "Usually I have a protein shake or a quick bowl of grits, then go to training. My big meal is usually lunch."

"What can I make for you, Vixen," said KateLynn. "You're our guest and you shouldn't have to lift a finger."

"Waffles sound heavenly," Vixen said; "I haven't had waffles for breakfast in a very long time."

Without a word, KateLynn put a ladle of waffle mix in the waffle iron, and in moments, it seemed to Vixen, a stack of hot waffles with butter and syrup sat before her at the breakfast bar.

"I'm going to have to work harder to work off all the calories," Vixen said as she ate, "but it'll be worth it!"

KateLynn only smiled. She liked Vixen. The woman had been through a lot in her life.

I wish I could tell you what Nik found out about you last summer, KateLynn thought. But that's Nik's job, not mine. I'll be proud to call you my sister-in-law.


----------

Part 2--

David had his usual meetings with the band and Morbus, only this one was to discuss the eventual restructuring of the Chicagoland complex.

"Personally," Dan said; "I'd like to see the Academy and the paramilitary training facilities remain intact. We've gotten a lot of praise for the quality of the graduates from the Academically Gifted Students Program from several colleges and universities, and keeping it in this location would be good. It's relatively private, we can expand it to include a separate college prep academy, and we could even include a two year college program."

"I was thinking the same thing," John said; "I know my kids enjoy going to school here. Kylie received several scholarship offers from major universities because of the work she's done here."

"What about the training facilities?" David asked; "I agree they should remain intact, but what exactly are we going to do with them other than the purpose Peter San Marco had them built for?"

"We could lease it out to the National Guard," Morbus said. "Now that we're not going to have to maintain our own police or fighting forces, may as well let the armed services have a chance to use it."

Mike had remained silent up to this point, then said,

"You guys do realize that half the land this compound sits on belonged to Peter San Marco. He purchased it on his own so that we could consider it for the compound. Shouldn't members of his family be consulted as to what we should do with it?"

The others looked at each other, then David said, "Besides Nik, who was his adopted son, are there other members of his family still in the area?"

"I can look that up once I get back to my office," Dan offered. "But Peter and Kiera considered Jeremiah, Joe, and Julia their family, too. Shouldn't they be included?"

Everyone nodded in agreement. David ended the meeting after they decided to meet weekly in regards to the future of the Chicagoland complex.

"I'll work on finding any relatives of both Peter and Kiera, and see what developes," Dan said.

"Very good," David said. "If you find anything significant, let me know. We could meet again if we need to."

And with that, everyone left David's office. He was alone.

The war was over, and the band could go back to making records and touring.

"I thought this day would never come," he said aloud. "Now I don't know what to do with myself."

He then thought of four little kids and the most patient woman in the world waiting for him at home, and he smiled.

----------

Ryan got up with Miri while Julia slept. He brought the baby into their bedroom to show Miri that Mommy was home.

As they headed down the stairs, Ryan told his daughter, "Let's make a special breakfast for Mommy, okay Miri?"

Miri only made baby sounds as he sat her down in her high chair and fed her breakfast. After that, Ryan went to work on Julia's special breakfast while Miri watched. She tried to reach stuff on the counter, but couldn't quite reach it.

While Ryan was busy making breakfast, Julia had come downstairs to see what Miri was all excited about. The baby was making excited sounds every time Ryan looked in her direction.

"What's going on here?" Julia asked sleepily as she reviewed the scene: Ryan flipping pancakes, Miri trying to reach a spoon Ryan had left almost in the baby's reach.

"Aw, baby," Ryan said in mock disappointment; "We wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed."

"How sweet of you to think of me like that," Julia said, kissing Miri on top of her dark brown curls. "You needn't have gone to such trouble for me."

"Why not?" Ryan asked. "We just wanted to do something for you now that you're home. It's ready now, Jules. Sit and have a unhurried breakfast."

Julia sat at the bar and had pancakes, turkey bacon, and scrambled eggs. It was a filling meal, and certainly better than what she usually had for breakfast (if she was lucky).

Ryan grabbed a plate and served himself and sat next to Julia at the bar so he could be close to Miri as well. He flipped on the television, where a special report was about to begin.

The news anchor was detailing the events of the last twenty-four hours; the deaths of Parks, Sizemore, and the unexpected death of the former President for Life.

"Other members of the former New Government's Committee are in custody at this hour, waiting for charges to be compiled and brought against them.

"An autopsy is being scheduled to find out the true cause of death of former President for Life Sarah Kathryn Hope. Her personal physician stated that Mrs. Hope had high blood pressure and was lax about taking her medication to control it. He isn't saying anything about what may have caused her demise, though 'with someone with the kind of out of control high blood pressure as Mrs. Hope had, death from heart attack or stroke is certainly not out of the question.'"


"Wow," Julia said; "she must've died shortly after I left. She seemed fine to me when I bid her goodbye."

"That's nothing you have to worry about," Ryan said. "She probably would have died anyway at some point if it was as serious as they're making it out to be."

"She'd have never made it to prison, and that's what she was worried about," Julia said. "She told me that she would turn herself in when I told her that the Committee was no more."

"Listen, Jules, there's more..." Ryan said.


"At this time," the anchor continued, "an interim government, based on the government that was in power before the Illegal Government takeover, has been assembled and will take office as soon as this evening. The Interim President will be Christine Collins, formerly the Director of Security Forces for the Resistance group known as the Disturbed Ones. Ms. Collins has military experience and is extremely knowledgable about the United States government. No Interim Vice President has been named, though former Circuit Judge Bryce Jackson has been approached about the position.

"Interim President Collins is expected to give a press conference sometime tomorrow outlining the plan to get a permanent government in place. She has stated in several interviews today that she expects the transistion to be smooth and swift, lasting no more than two years.

"Regions are already making plans to re-establish the states that were in place before the Illegal Government took power nineteen years ago. According to WestCoast Region Director Howard Goff, WestCoast Region states will be re-established in the next ninety days..."


"That's pretty fast!" Julia said. "They must have had a plan in place for just that occasion."

"Seems like it," Ryan said. "At last, things will finally be the way they were before Sarah Kathryn and the Committee took over. Not that I remember what it was like before..."

Julia was about to say something when Miri began to cry. "There, there, Miri," Julia said as she took the baby out of the high chair and cuddled her.

"I think she needs a change, Ryan," Julia said as she headed with Miri to the stairs.

Once upstairs in Miri's bedroom, Julia went about changing the baby. When she was done, she saw a happily smiling Miri.

"Welcome to a new world, my little flower," Julia said. "I hope the only place you hear about the way things used to be is in a history book...and that you'll forgive me for having to resort to violence to help make that happen."

Miri only babbled at her mother. Julia picked her up and brought her back downstairs so that she could babble her goodbyes to her daddy before he left for work on the other end of the compound.

"Jules, I wanted to stay home today, but duty calls," Ryan said. "I'll try and be home early."

Julia reached up to kiss him. "I don't know what I'm going to do with myself other than play with Miri all day. Maybe I'll go to Mom and David's and see what's going on there."

"If you're not here, then you'll be there, then, right?"

"Call me if you can leave early?" asked Julia.

Ryan kissed Julia, then Miri, and said, "I will."

Then, he was gone and Julia and the baby were alone.

"What shall we do today, Miss Mirielle?" she asked her daughter. Miri just babbled. "Okay, then," Julia continued, "we'll play, then you'll take a nap, and I'll try to remember what being a normal person is like. Okay?"

Miri babbled some more as Julia put her on the floor. Miri started crawling and Julia was trying to keep up. "No, no, Miri, not over there," Julia found herself saying over and over.

If this is normal for everyone else, I think I like it, she thought.

----------

Vixen came over to Julia's a couple of hours later with the computer that had the program for the video bugs that Vixen had placed in Sarah Kathryn's office.

"Miri's down for a nap, though I think I need one more!" Julia said as she let Vixen in. "That little girl can sure get around quickly by crawling!"

"I have the recorded portion of your visit with Sarah Kathryn before her, ahem, untimely demise," Vixen said. "I've only watched a little of it. Haven't seen anything freaky yet."

"Vix, it was just a weird experience," Julia said as Vixen set up the laptop on the bar. "I'm not exactly proud of how I acted towards her before I left."

"Because you, unlike her parents and unlike the Committee, have a conscience, Julia," Vixen said.

Vixen had gotten everything set up and she began the recording of Julia's visit with Sarah Kathryn.

"We're not going to watch the whole thing, are we?" Julia asked.

"No, just this first part where you're exchanging pleasantries and such," Vixen said. "Then when she gets all down in your business; finally the last part just before you leave and shortly after you leave."

Julia sighed. She had a feeling she wasn't going to like what she saw.

The first part wasn't too bad. Julia actually laughed when she told Sarah Kathryn that she wasn't Julia's President, she was Julia's bitch. "Where did that come from!" she exclaimed.

"Looks like she got the message though," Vixen said; "Because she let you do what you wanted to her."

The second part Julia had to ask Vixen to fast forward through, because it was the part where Julia's anger took over and she took it out on Sarah Kathryn.

"You got her to confess, Julia," Vixen said; "She'd have never admitted that in a trial."

"Yeah, and I'm glad of that," Julia said, "but I practically had to..."

Vixen could see that Julia was uncomfortable what she had to do to get that confession from the former President for Life.

The last part, when Julia leaves and Sarah Kathryn is alone, sitting at her desk, contemplating something on her desk. Julia realized it was Rebekah's heart attack capsules, and whether to take just the one Julia warned her to take, or take them both. Though Sarah Kathryn didn't speak before she left her office, on the recording both Vixen and Julia saw that Sarah Kathryn took both capsules out of the office with her.

"On the news, they said that Sarah Kathryn had high blood pressure," Julia said. "This is something that we didn't know."

"She probably didn't want people to think she was weak by admitting that she had medical problems," Vixen said. "I saw that report, too. I wouldn't be surprised if her doctor spilled all of Sarah Kathryn's medical secrets at some point."

"You think he was threatened by the Committee not to say anything?" asked Julia.

"The Committee threatened a lot of people," Vixen said. "Why would the President's personal doctor be exempt?"

"True..." Julia said, musing. Then, "What are we going to do with the recording?"

"I made a copy of it and it's in a safe at Nik and KateLynn's," said Vixen. "In case we ever need it."

"Speaking of Nik," Julia said; "Did you tell him what you found out about your family and that you're his sister?"

Vixen laughed. "I didn't have to! Nik was doing his own research and found the same documents I had. He told me he was my brother!"

"So you both know now!" Julia said, hugging Vixen; "That's wonderful! What did KateLynn say? Was she surprised?"

"She knew about it," Vixen said. "Nik told her everything."

"So you have two nephews and a niece now!"

"Actually," Vixen said, "I have two nephews and five nieces. I'm counting Miri and all the other kids that Jeremiah and Joe have in addition to Nik's three kids."

"So you want to be Auntie Vixen?" asked Julia.

"Auntie Natasha," Vixen said. "I'm going to change my name to Natasha Viktoria Vincent sometime in the next few months. In fact, Matty and Sandrina are already calling me Auntie Natasha."

Julia just looked at her new "sister". Changes are coming fast, she thought.

----------

Over the next several weeks, things at Chicagoland were changing.

One of the biggest changes was to the Academically Gifted Students Program; it would now be the Chicagoland Academy for the Gifted, offering students who graduated from conventional schools earlier than their peers a chance to earn college credit and work skills. There would also be an alternative school where those who have difficulties in conventional schools could earn a high school diploma. It would also have a nursery and child care facilities for teen mothers.

And a community college would be added to the site as well, which would be called San Marco Community College; offering two year degrees in everything from the arts to military sciences. It would even have its own ROTC unit affiliated with the Marine Corps.

But these changes would take a while to come to fruition.

The members of Disturbed had decided to move back to their own homes that they were forced to abandon by the New Army, though all four of them would have to be rebuilt or renovated.

The homes on the compound would remain intact, and those living there would be allowed to remain. The forested areas surrounding the compound would be left as is.

Dan had been able to find several relatives of both Peter and Kiera San Marco, and a meeting was called for them all to decide what would become of the land on which the compound sat, since half of it belonged to Peter San Marco. Neither he nor Kiera made provisions for who would inherit the property in their wills.

One of the first to arrive knocked on Nik and KateLynn's front door one afternoon about two months after Interim President Collins took office. KateLynn answered the door with little Peter in her arms, and, upon seeing the elderly Native American man, asked,

"May I help you sir?"

In a strong voice that belied his looks, the man said, "I'm looking for Nikolai San Marco. Is he here?"

"He is," KateLynn said; "Won't you come in?"

As the man came inside and sat in the living room, Matty and Sandrina came in to see the visitor. "Hi!" Sandrina said.

"Hello," said the visitor. "What is your name?" he asked Sandrina.

"Sandrina Kiera San Marco," the little blonde girl said.

The visitor was taken aback at first, then KateLynn said, "She just learned her full name, and she's been dying for someone to ask her."

"Oh, I see," said the visitor. "I was just surprised. Her middle name is the same as my daughter's first name."

"Can I tell Nik who you are?" asked KateLynn; "He's tinkering in the shed out back and can't hear anything going on in here."

"My name is Daniel White Feather," the visitor said. "I'm Kiera San Marco's father."

KateLynn's eyes grew wide. To Matty she said, "Go get Daddy and tell him he has a visitor."

The boy ran out of the room, out into the backyard, and got Nik. Once he was inside and saw the man sitting in the living room, he knew who he was.

"Are you Nikolai?" White Feather asked.

"I am," Nik said; "Just call me Nik. You're Kiera's father, aren't you?"

"I am indeed," White Feather said.

"I recognized you from pictures she showed us as we were growing up," Nik said. "Kiera thought you and her mother had died."

"We made it through the hell that the New Army put us through," White Feather said; "But my wife died two summers ago. We knew that Kiera and Peter were killed, so we didn't want to risk your life or the lives of the kids you grew up with by returning, so we settled in the Minneapolis Sector."

"Please forgive me for asking," Nik said; "but why have you come here to Chicagoland?"

"Peter apparently owned most of the land that the Chicagoland compound sits on, and he didn't make any provision for it in his will, nor did Kiera," White Feather said; "So I was contacted along with Peter's brother, David, and his sister, Natalie, to decide what should happen to Peter's portion of the land."

"Peter's brother and sister were in hiding, and so I've never met them," Nik said. "But I am glad that you came by to meet us..." Nik paused, not sure how White Feather wanted to be addressed. White Feather picked up on this.

"Call me Daniel," White Feather said; "After all, it is my name."

----------

Part 3--

He was trying to resist the urge to travel to Chicago, just to see how Julia was doing.

Christofferson had toyed with the idea for a couple of months. But each time, he felt that Julia should be allowed to live her life and not be made to choose between him and her husband.

He had heard that Julia had a little girl who, ironically enough, shared Christofferson's birthday. He wondered if he was the father of the little girl Julia had given the same name as his late wife.

How presumptuous of me to think that, Christofferson thought; Ryan Summers may have gotten her pregnant before her arrest last year. Quit being such a dirty old man, Jack!

In the end, he decided, again, not to go to Chicago. Let her think I'm dead like everyone else does.

He went into his bedroom and pulled out the picture and the note she left him. He was just happy to know that she felt for him as he had for her. But it was her life now, let her be, he thought.

But that didn't stop him from wondering...

----------

People were leaving by the dozens in the months leading up to the holiday season. The members of the BlackOps and Ghost Squad were all finding new ways to use their skills.

Rebekah and Chris had married and found that they were expecting twins. Both of them were happy beyond belief. However, there was only one thing Rebekah wanted to do now that the war was over; that was to take her new husband to Vermont to meet her family and tell them that Jessikah didn't die in the car accident nearly a decade before.

This made Rebekah nervous. What if her father, sister and brother didn't believe her? Especially with the way she looked.

Rebekah worried about it on the cab ride to her father's house. Chris reassured her that everything would be okay.

Rebekah had a file full of paperwork proving her identity and her name change in her bag.

Chris asked the cabbie to wait for a few moments, then went to join Rebekah at the front door.

The door opened and Luke, Sr. answered the door. Rebekah looked at him and thought, he's gotten so grey.

"May I help you?" he asked pleasantly.

"My name is Rebekah Mannion," she began; "this is my husband Chris Patrick. I have some information for you that you will be interested in."

"I've heard the name Rebekah Mannion before, from my niece," Luke said; "Won't you please come in?"

While Chris ran out to pay the cabbie, Rebekah stepped inside the foyer and saw the picture of herself with her sister on the table. Chris soon returned and Luke led them into the living room. Rebekah got the feeling that Luke was the only one home.

"Are you son and daughter here? This would be of interest to them as well," Rebekah asked.

"Luke, Jr. isn't due home until later in the week, and my daughter Jordana is working out in town," Luke said. "But I'm curious, are you related to my late wife somehow? Her maiden name was Mannion."

"Yes, I am," Rebekah said, "and I'll get to that in a moment. But first I wanted to ask about Jessikah."

"Jessikah eight years ago in a car accident," Luke said. "I don't know why you'd want to ask about her."

"Because," Rebekah said, "I have some papers to show you. If I told you Jessikah didn't die in that accident, but Angela Pearce did, would you believe me?"

"Frankly, no," Luke said; "I buried my daughter in a closed casket service. I only got a brief look at her before then. I'm sure it was her."

Rebekah handed Luke the document that Dan Donegan found detailing the switch between the Pearce's deceased daughter, and Jessikah Terranova. Luke read it over carefully several times, asking himself, is this true?

"If I understand this correctly," Luke said. "It was Angela who died, and Jessikah was essentially stolen from me to be raised as Angela by her parents. Is that correct?"

"Yes, unfortunately it is," Rebekah said. "Angela's parents were very cruel and abusive people, and Jessikah found that out first hand."

"I had a feeling the Pearces were doing something to their daughter, but I couldn't prove it," Luke said; "Angela was here all the time in the months leading up to the accident."

"She had been beaten and raped repeatedly," Rebekah said. "And Jessikah got that same treatment when the Pearces claimed her as their child."

"So how do you know about all this?" Luke asked, briefly wondering if the young woman in front of him was Jessikah. He then brushed it aside. No, it's obsurd, he thought.

"When Jessikah escaped from the Pearces, she ended up in Arlington, Virginia, or what was then known as the Arlington Sector," Rebekah said. "She fell into a bad crowd, hooked up with a man who got her addicted to drugs, impregnated her, then abandoned her. At her lowest point, she was recruited by Christine Collins to work for her.

"There were conditions. Angela, as she was known, had to give up her child at birth and go through rehab before Collins would train her to be a sniper. Angela did all that, though giving up her son was the hardest thing she'd ever done, but it was for his own good.

"After three years, Rebekah had gotten good enough to be recommended to Morbus for training with BlackOps in Chicagoland. At that point, Angela changed her name again."

"To what?" Luke asked.

"Rebekah Mannion," Rebekah said, and waited for Luke's reaction. It didn't take long.

"You're Jessikah?" he asked, not believing his eyes. This girl did look like Jessikah, even with the scarring on the side of her face, he thought.

"Yes, Daddy," Rebekah said. "I'm Jessikah."`

Before she knew it, her father had taken Rebekah into a huge hug. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?" he asked.

"I was told not to, because it would put you, Jordana and Luke in danger," Rebekah said. "Christine Collins, Morbus, and David Draiman thought that if my true identity were known, the New Army would come after you in retaliation for anything that the Disturbed Ones did."

"That seems reasonable," Luke said; "I can't wait for your sister to see you!"

"I can't wait to see her and Luke," Rebekah said. "But I have to ask one favor of you."

"What is it?"

"That you call me Rebekah," she said. "The Jessikah you knew is dead, if you think about it. Everything I've done to get away from the lie I was forced to live has been as Rebekah. In fact, when Chris and I got married three months ago, I legally changed my name to Rebekah Mannion. I didn't take Chris' name."

"She's too much of a rebel to conform to convention that easily," Chris said. "Bekah, tell your father the other news."

"What other news?" asked Luke.

"We're expecting twins," Rebekah said; "Identical twins. We just don't know if they're boys or girls yet."

"Wow! I didn't see that coming," Luke said; "but I shouldn't be surprised. But what of the son you had to give up?"

"His name is Jared, and he's being raised by a nice family in Arlington," Rebekah said; "he's six years old now. He knows about me, but I've chosen not to interfere in his life until he can make that decision for himself."

"Your mother would be so proud of you," Luke said. "That you thought of him before yourself."

Just then, a car door slammed outside. "That's Jordana," Luke said; "I'll let you tell the story, Rebekah."

"Okay," said Rebekah. Chris hugged her, saying,

"See, Bekah, it wasn't that bad."

----------

Chapter 39-- We are Disturbed Ones. We do not fail.

Part 1--


Vixen slipped out of the hotel dressed in all black, even though it was still very humid outside that July night.

She took advantage of good looks to get where she wanted to go, even if she had to give the cabbie a blow job to get a free ride.

Once on the grounds of the Executive Mansion, getting inside was easy. Even Nik's daughter could do it and she's only two and a half, Vixen thought.

It wasn't hard to find Sarah Kathryn's office. Once inside, Vixen placed the video bugs in strategic places that would get a good view of the goings on inside. Vixen hid them so well that the new President, whoever that would be, wouldn't even know where they are.

And that's how Vixen liked it.

As easily as she slipped into the Mansion, she slipped out of it undetected.

She then walked a few blocks, in her heels, to catch another cab. The way she was dressed, like the hooker she used to be, she'd be able to find out some things about the Committee that people don't want known. Like who ran the underage hooker operation.

The second cabbie also gave her a free ride, but didn't ask for any sexual favors. Just her phone number. Vixen gave him the phone number all of the female operatives gave out: to a phone sex hotline where there were girls named Vixen, Julia, Susie, Rebekah and Kylee taking calls. But they weren't the girls in BlackOps, just trained operators who read from a script.

Vixen went into the first nightclub she saw. The bouncer immediately let her in. She knew who she was looking for, and how she would deal with them if they were there. She knew they hung out in places like this, looking for new talent.

"Why hello, darlin', what's pretty young thing doing in a place like this?" she heard more than once. Vixen was glad, for once, that her hair was black instead of the natural light blonde color she was born with. A lot of these people look familiar, she thought, so I know the bastard's here somewhere.

"Excuse me," Vixen said to the waitress at the bar; "I'm looking for Corbin Grey. Is he here by chance?"

"Sure is, sweetie," the waitress said; "He's in the back room. I'll take you there."

Vixen followed the waitress to the back room, where, as the waitress said, sat Vixen's former pimp. He was in the middle of getting a blowjob when she walked in. Corbin saw Vixen, but didn't register any indication that he recognized her. As soon as the girl servicing him was done, he asked her to leave. The girl looked at Vixen with hate in her eyes.

"Bitch," the girl whispered.

"Whore," Vixen shot back.

Corbin then approached Vixen, and even up close, Vixen noticed he didn't know who she was.

"When someone asks for me by name, my curiosity is piqued," he said. "But I don't know who you are, darlin'."

"Come on Corbin, take a good look at me," Vixen said, daring the pimp to recognize her. "Or is eleven years too long to remember with your coked out brains?"

"Where have we met before?" Corbin asked. "I can't say I've ever seen you before."

Before he knew it, his head was being pulled back violently and a blade of some kind was being held at his throat. "Try, Corbin, try to remember where you've seen me before?" she taunted.

"Do you work for someone I owe money to?" he asked, trying not to let his fear show.

"No, Corbin," Vixen said. "I wish I did, because apparently, you owe a lot of people a lot of money."

"Then who the fuck are you and why are you holding a knife on me?"

"Let me ask you something," Vixen said; "Does the name Amanda Amador ring any bells?"

"Amanda Amador?" Corbin said, surprised. "I heard she was dead. Good riddance, too. The bitch beat me to a pulp, handcuffed me to a hot radiator, and stole thousands of dollars of my money. I still have scars on my back because of her. I'm glad she got what she had coming to her."

"You got handcuffed to a hot radiator because that was your form of punishment for the girls who didn't perform well enough, or for the ones who pissed you off by threatening to leave," Vixen said. "And that girl who was here when I came in...she couldn't be more than fifteen. Still sending jailbait out on the stroll, aren't you?"

"I like 'em young," Corbin said; "then I can train 'em to do things my way. Amanda was 14 when I got her. Blonde, pretty, big blue eyes, nice tits. She was good at her job, what can I say? Then she tried to fucking burn me alive."

"You deserved it," Vixen said. "And by the way, Amanda was eleven when you got her from the people you paid to find you a very young blonde girl. They lied about her age so she could be put out there sooner."

"I had a copy of her birth certificate," Corbin said, getting scared. Was this chick a cop looking into his underage hooker setup? "Her handlers assured me she was born in 1987, and in 2001, that would have made her fourteen."

"She was born in 1990, which would have made her eleven in 2001," Vixen said.

"How do you know all this information about one whore?" Corbin asked. "You a vice cop?"

Vixen pressed the blade closer to Corbin's jugular. "No, not a vice cop, Corbin, dear. A vice cop would just arrest you and one of your whores would post your bail and you'd be out on the street again in twenty-four hours. You've never served a moment of jail time for running an underage prostitute ring."

"Then why are you here?" asked Corbin.

"Because, my dear Corbin," Vixen said; "I'm Amanda, all grown up with a score to settle."

"You're Amanda? But she's dead! Isn't she?"

"To me, Amanda's been dead for eleven years," Vixen said. "Now it's your turn. Have a nice trip to hell Corbin Grey."

"What the..."

He never finished his sentence because Vixen slit his throat. Then she turned Corbin's body on its side and stuck the knife in Corbin's spine. Vixen then broke off the handle, put it in her pocket, and walked out into the alley behind the club. She kept walking until she was half way to the Watergate.

Stashed behind a dumpster was a bag. Inside the bag was a dress identical to the one she wore, which was covered in Corbin Grey's blood.

She changed dresses, removed her thigh high stockings and her shoes and threw everything into the dumpster. Vixen then put on new stockings and shoes that had been in the bag with the dress.

Finally, she took out a light blonde wig. She coiled her black hair up so that it would allow her to put on the wig. When she was done with that, and had adjusted everything, she walked away from the dumpster and headed back to the Watergate.

Meanwhile, Corbin's body had just been found by the waitress who showed Vixen back there. She just left him.

She wasn't really a cocktail waitress in some trashy club on the bad side of the Capitol Sector. She was a Disturbed Ones operative who knew that Vixen Vincent was coming to get her revenge on the pimp who contracted with the people who stole her childhood. She was glad the fucker was dead.

----------

It took all of an hour and a half to do everything that Vixen wanted to do that night. When she got back to her room at the Watergate, Julia was still up watching a movie on the TV. She looked bored.

"Hey, Jules," Vixen said. "The video bugs are planted in Sarah Kathryn's office. You wouldn't believe the set up she's got in there! It was too easy to find places to hide the bugs. The next president won't even know they're there."

Julia looked up. She saw Vixen in her blonde wig and did a doubletake.

"Please tell me that's a wig, and you didn't just change your appearance for shits and giggles," said Julia.

"It's a wig, Jules," Vixen said; "but this is my natural hair color, or as close to it as I could find."

"You look like a grown up version of Nik's daughter," Julia said. "It's weird how much you look like..." Julia stopped. Then, "That talk we had when we were discussing yours and Rebekah's pasts, and you mentioned that you had a younger brother you were told was dead. That younger brother... isn't Nik, is it?"

"Julia, I'm not going to lie," Vixen said. "When I got my DNA markers back, it wasn't just because they weren't on file with Morbus. I started having the blank outs when I tried to remember my life before I was kidnapped, and I remembered a picture I had with me. It was a picture of my family about a year before I was kidnapped. The little boy in the picture looked like Nik's older son. I asked Dan to research my past. What he found convinced me that Nik was my long lost little brother. That's why I had the DNA test done. If the markers didn't match I'd forget all about it."

"But they did, didn't they?" asked Julia.

"Yes, they did," replied Vixen. "Nik is my brother."

"He doesn't know, does he?" Julia asked.

"I was going to tell him last summer, shortly after you were arrested and taken to Great Lakes," Vixen said. "But KateLynn had just had her miscarriage, and I knew I couldn't tell him then. I haven't tried since."

"But," Julia said, "I'm the only sister Nik knows."

"I know, Julia, and I don't want to mess up that relationship you have with him," Vixen said. "I'd rather leave Chicagoland than to cause any hurt."

"He vaguely remembers his parents," Julia said; "His mother was from Russia or someplace. His father was German. He never mentioned a sister...not that I'm doubting you, Vixen."

"He was two when I was kidnapped. I was nine," Vixen said. "I don't remember anything from when I was two, do you?"

"No..."

"So you see the problem," Vixen said. "As far as he's concerned, Nik didn't have a sister. And our mother was from Belarus, not Russia. She went to college in Germany. That's where she and my father met. My father's family was from Ukraine, but he was born in Germany. His grandfather defected from the Soviet Union when he was a young man and settled in Germany."

"I had no idea," Julia said. "I don't even know what Nik's surname was before Peter and Kiera adopted him when he was six. All I've known is that his name is Nikolai Gunter San Marco."

"Our original surname was Belov," Vixen said. "The males were Belov, and the females were Belova. My birthname is Veronika Natasha Belova. I didn't even remember that! All I remembered was Amanda Amador."

"Wow, Vixen," Julia said; "Dan found all this out for you?"

"He found my parents death certificates," said Vixen; "Along with those, they found a document that listed all their children. Apparently, before I was born, there was another girl who died when she was a year old. Her name was Viktoria. I had an aunt by that name, and I took the idea for my current name from the pet name my grandfather called her as a child."

"She was called Vixen?" asked Julia.

"Yep," Vixen said. "You know a vixen is a female fox, right?"

"Of course," Julia said. "But it has another meaning, too."

"Mine is after the fox, though."

Julia nodded, then Vixen continued,

"You can't tell Nik any of this, Julia. I think I should be the one who tells Nik I'm his sister, and the history I was able to find out about our family."

"I agree," Julia said, "that it should be you who tells him. So I won't say anything."

"I'm hoping that you could be my sister, too, since you're Nik's sister," Vixen said.

"I have a sister in Jere and Joe's sister Amber," Julia said, "and I've always considered you an older sister anyway."

"Oh," Vixen said, "you might be interested to know that I don't think I'll be having many more blank outs."

"Really? That's great, Vixen!" Julia said. "How do you know this, though?"

"I took care of a personal matter while I was out this evening," said Vixen.

"What was that?"

"I found my former pimp and paid him back for all the misery he caused me," Vixen said. "Unless they've haven't found him yet, which I doubt, he's laying dead on the floor of a sleezy club in the bad part of the Sector."

"Good job, Vix!"

"Yeah, I thought so, too."

----------

The next morning, Julia, Vixen, Nik and Jeremiah met and scoped out their positions.

"Nik will be on the roof of Blair House, ready to pick off Sarah Kathryn if she is stupid enough to make a break for it after her meeting with Julia," Jeremiah said. "That gun he got recently can kill at 15,000 feet. It's the most powerful sniper rifle in existance."

"Nice!" Julia said. "I wish I could use it to off Carl Parks. But what I have planned for him isn't going to take a super high powered rifle to accomplish."

"It's a nice piece of weaponry," Nik said. "Morbus trained me on it for two days. That's all it took. I know this gun almost as intimately as I know my wife's body."

"Perhaps," Jeremiah said. "But KateLynn has a killer figure for a woman who's had three kids in four years, too. That gun can't do what your wife can do, I'm sure."

"My wife just about kills me in bed!" Nik exclaimed, his customary goofball grin on his face.

"Eww, Nik," Julia said; "I could have lived another day without knowing that!"

Vixen laughed, "Me, too, Nik. Too much info for my liking, thanks!"

"Getting back to the mission, you guys, the plans have changed some," said Jeremiah; "I'll go with Julia as far as the gate after she takes care of Sizemore and Parks, then I'll turn off and accompany the Security Forces to the homes of the other Committee members and arrest them. Rick Sasser will be first since he's apparently the mole working for us.

"Vixen, you'll have Julia's back in case anything goes wrong with Sizemore, Parks or Madame President. You'll need to charm the socks off Doug Frey so Julia can get to Sizemore. He, like Sizemore, plays for both teams. Then kill him, as he will find out what Julia's done to Sizemore and call for help.

"Julia, you pretty much know what you're going to do. You've been planning this since you were twelve years old. This is for Peter and Kiera."

"And revenge will be sweet," Julia said as the other three watched her transformation from a nineteen year old new mother to the killer they all knew. "The people who ordered the killing of Peter and Kiera will die this day. I will be victorious over our enemies and help return this country to its former glory. We are Disturbed Ones. We do not fail."

"We are BlackOps and Ghosts," Nik said; "We are brothers and sisters of the resistance. We are Disturbed Ones. We do NOT fail!"

"We are Disturbed Ones," Jeremiah and Vixen said together; "WE DO NOT FAIL!"

----------

Part 2--

Tomorrow, Sarah Kathryn thought to herself, tomorrow Julia Summers will be here.

She couldn't wait to play with the Disturbed Ones top assassin. The idea of having that young woman in her office, naked and loving on her made Sarah Kathryn almost giddy with desire.

"I'll bet she has a killer body to go with that killer's mind of hers," Sarah Kathryn said aloud. "Even after having a baby, I'll bet she bounced right back. I can't wait to get my hands on her titties." She rubbed herself, imagining Julia's body on hers.

Soon, she was on the couch in her office, her skirt hiked up over her waist and her stockings and panties around her ankles. The President of the Republic was pleasuring herself in what she thought was an empty office. No one could get in. The door was locked.

Unknown to her, she had an audience.

----------

"Hey, Jules, come here and take a look at this shit!" Vixen called to Julia while checking the feed on the video bugs she'd placed a couple of nights before.

"What is it?"

"It's a preview of what you might be getting tomorrow during your audience with the President," Vixen said.

"Do I have to look, Vix?" asked Julia.

"This shit's funny, girl!"

Julia came over while Vixen was resetting the record feature.

"Okay, this is the live feed," Vixen said; "See Sarah Kathryn at her desk, shuffling papers around. She looks a bit disheveled, right?"

"Yeah, like she'd been out in the wind," Julia agreed.

"I can record what goes on," Vixen said. "Check this out. This is five minutes ago. There's sound, so you'll hear what she's saying."

Vixen and Julia watched the recorded video of the President masturbating and having an orgasm, crying out Julia's name.

"Oh, my God, that's funny!" Julia said, laughing so hard she could barely talk. "I have to go fuck this bitch tomorrow? Is she fucking serious?"

Vixen was laughing as well. "Stupid ass bitch doesn't realize she's being watched. Doesn't even cross her mind that she could be bugged!"

"We've had her phone bugged forever," Julia said. "We know everything she's ever said to anyone on the Committee, to her staff, to her son, to her poor dead husband, to the detectives the bitch hired to find her husband..."

"She's not the brightest crayon in the box, that's for damn sure!" exclaimed Vixen. "Should we show the guys?"

"No!" Julia said, laughing again when she thought she had composed herself; "It's like watching a fuckin' train wreck! It's funny and disgusting all at the same time. Just do me one favor, Vix."

"What?"

"Record everything that happens in that office from the moment I get there until I leave," Julia said. "Can the record function be set to start at a certain time?"

"Yeah, I think it can," Vixen said. "But someone will have to monitor it to shut it off when you leave, or it'll keep recording until someone comes back to the computer to turn it off."

"Start it at 1400 hours and let it record as much as it can," Julia said. "We might get to see something we don't expect."

"Like what?"

"Like her deciding if prison or death is her best option," Julia said.

----------


Rebekah was still doing work in the lab on her heart attach capsules. She had given Julia some to take to the Capitol Sector in case she wanted to used them, but they still needed to be tested.

In another part of the lab was the morgue, where people had donated their remains to the Cause to find new ways to cure diseases or new ways to kill people. All of the corpses were declared legally deceased, so restarting their hearts to test the new formula Rebekah had refined would stop them. Rebekah worried about it from an ethical standpoint, but it had to be tested on human corpses since the capsules would be used on humans.

The morgue assistant and a doctor chose a corpse for the test, then introduced the formula into the bloodstream. The "blood" in this case was an artifical formula made to simulate actual blood flow.

After a few moments, the doctor, the attendant and Rebekah heard a popping sound. They looked at the corpse and it was turning purplish black.

"The heart and veins ruptured!" the doctor said. "We just put in one capsules worth of the formula. Rebekah, it's too strong."

"The heart stopped, didn't it?" the attendant asked.

The doctor looked over the corpse, and indeed, its artificially started heart had stopped.

"I didn't do anything different to the formula," Rebekah said. "The components are still the same. Are you sure you only used one capsules worth?"

"15cc's is one capsule."

"No, it's one and a half," Rebekah said. "One would have just stopped the heart. Five extra cc's causes it to rupture along with the veins. I hate to think what two capsules, or 20 cc's, would do to someone."

"Whatever it is, it's going to be a very painful way to die," the doctor said.

----------

Julia was with the others when her secure phone rang. She saw it was the lab back at Chicagoland, so it had to be Rebekah.

"Hello?" said Julia when she answered.

"Julia, it's Rebekah. I have something to tell you about the capsules I gave you," said Rebekah.

"What about them?"

"Whomever is the unfortunate soul that gets them is, only give them one," Rebekah said. "We just did a test here with a corpse, and anything over one will rupture the heart and veins during the heart attack. It will be a very prolonged and painful way to die."

"What if that's the point?" asked Julia.

"The point of what? Giving them more than one?" Rebekah asked.

"Yes," Julia said; "What if I want the person I give them to to die a 'prolonged and painful' death? Would the drug still be untraceable?"

"Yes, the drug is untraceable in any concentration, that's the beauty of it," Rebekah said. "Are you going to watch this person die?"

"No, I'll just give them a choice between prison for the rest of their life, or death," Julia said.

"You're talking about Sarah Kathryn?" asked Rebekah.

"Maybe," Julia said; "But Rebekah, I'll keep what you said in mind about the dosage."

"Okay, I just wanted to give you a heads up," said Rebekah.

"Thanks, Rebekah," Julia said.

"No problem, cuz."

"I like that!" Julia said. "But just between us, okay?"

"Got it," Rebekah said. "Good luck with Sarah Kathryn tomorrow. You're a Disturbed One. You will succeed."

Julia closed the connection.

"What just between you two?" Nik asked.

"Kind of a private joke, Nik," Julia said. "You kinda had to be there."



----------



Part 3--


Back at Chicagoland, Jordan was pacing nervously.

This was the most dangerous assignment that Julia ever had, and her mother was worried sick about it, and her.

"Mama, what wrong?" Johnny asked her.

Jordan looked down at her youngest child. He and Sammy were almost two. She couldn't get over how much Johnny looked like the baby pictures she'd seen of her brother, John, when he was that age. And Sammy looked just like David's brother Ben. David even called the boy Ben when he wasn't paying attention (and the boy always said, "Daddy. I Sammy. Not Ben.").

But Jordan hadn't answered Johnny's question, and like his sister Kimber, waiting impatiently for an answer.

"Julia's working. It's the first time she's been away from Miri since she was born," Jordan said.

"Miri sleeping, Mama," Johnny said. "She okay."

"You didn't wake her up, did you?" asked Jordan. "She'll be crabby when Ryan gets her after work if you did."

"I jus' peeked at her, Mama. Pwomise."

A cry erupted from the girls bedroom, so Jordan went down the hall to see what Miri needed. What she found was Kimber trying to change the baby's diapers.

"Kimberlin Michelle Draiman, what do you think you're doing, young lady?" her mother asked.

"Miri's wet, Mama," Kimber said, "I was changing her diapers. I can do it you know."

"But what did Julia tell you before she left, Kimber?" asked Jordan.

The girl looked at the floor; "Not to unless you or Daddy or Ryne were watching," she said.

"And when you started, was Daddy, Ryan or I there to watch you?"

"No, Mama."

Jordan took over, calming the six month old down. Miri had a clean diaper, and Jordan was rocking her in the same rocking chair she'd rocked the other babies in.

"Auntie Kimber was just trying to help, Miri," Jordan said. "But she didn't wait for Nonna, or David, or Daddy to watch her. But it's okay, Miri. You're all clean and dry now."

Miri was busy playing with the buttons on Jordan's sleeves to worry about Auntie Kimber's gaffe. Soon, all the kids were in the bedroom where their mother was rocking their niece. This is where David found his entire family when he came home from work. He took the children out of the bedroom so that Jordan could rock Miri back to sleep. When the baby was sleeping, Jordan placed her in the travel crib, covered her with a blanket, and left the room.

"What was going on in there, Jordan? The greatest show on earth?" asked David when Jordan appeared in the kitchen.

"I don't know, but they all seem to be fascinated by one little girl," Jordan said. "It's weird how Julia and I have children around the same age. I never in a million years ever thought that would happen. Then again, I was hoping she and Ryan would wait a while before having babies, but Miri's here now, so we do what we can."

David started getting things ready to fix dinner; "Julia's always been ahead of the curve on everything," he said. "Why should this be any different?"

"Because I keep hoping that having a child would temper her desire to go out and kill people," Jordan said.

David looked at his wife. "You're worried about her, aren't you?"

"Of course I am, David," Jordan said. "Miri might be Julia's little girl, but Julia is my little girl, and I worry about her."

"I can't believe I'm going to say this to you again, Jordan," David said; "but have a little faith in your daughter, okay? The war could end because of what she's doing."

Jordan looked at David and sighed. "I know, baby," she said; "and that's what scares me the most. This could be the time that Julia doesn't come home, or comes home less than whole."

"She's a Disturbed Ones assassin, Jord," David said. "She's the best one anywhere. Don't let that 'little' girl fool you. I've seen what she can do, and we both know what she's capable of. She's never been shot, never been stabbed, and has never failed a mission. I have every confidence in her that she'll do what she went there to do. Then the war will end. All because of your daughter, Jord. You should be proud."

"I am, David," Jordan said. "But I lost her once. Losing her again scares me to my soul."

David took Jordan into his arms. Fuck dinner, he thought. Jordan needs me more.

----------

Julia was reading a book in bed when Vixen came back from the restaurant with their dinner.

"What are you reading, Jules?" Vixen asked.

"Timeline by Michael Crichton," Julia said. "I found it on my mom's bookshelf while I was pregnant and never got to finish reading it. It's about time travel to and from the Middle Ages. It's really fascinating. It also mentions King Edward the Second of England and how he supposedly died."

"I'm almost afraid to ask how the King died," said Vixen.

She saw Julia crack an evil smile; Julia said, "He was supposedly killed by having a red hot fireplace poker shoved up his ass so far that it literally cooked him alive from the inside out."

"Someone's going to die that way tomorrow, aren't they, Julia?" asked Vixen.

"Damn right," Julia said.

"Who?"

Julia said, "Someone. One of those three."

"You're an evil, twisted, sadistic bitch, Julia," Vixen said, laughing. "I knew there was something I liked about you."

"I got a lot of ideas just by reading Morbus' reports," Julia said. "I don't think I could behead someone, or torture them like Morbus himself was."

"Oh, but shoving a hot poker up someone's butt is nothing," said Vixen.

"You suggest maybe that I just take one of my pistols and shove the barrel in their ass and fire? Morbus already did that. To Black Jack's predecessor, no less," Julia said.

"Shit!" Vixen exclaimed; "You might look like your mother, but you got your father's taste for blood."

"Maybe, but I sat in a closet for three hours and watched the New Army murder the only parents I knew until I met my mom when I was seven," Julia said. "They had done nothing wrong. It made me angry. It changed me, just as sure as you being kidnapped for sex at nine changed you, Vixen."

She saw Julia reach into her bag, which was by the bed and took out a small box. "Vixen," she said, "this is why I became an assassin."

Julia opened the box and handed it to Vixen.

"It's a crucifix pendant with a broken chain, covered in," Vixen paused, then, "blood?"

"It was Kiera San Marco's," Julia said. "When the New Army slit her throat, the chain broke and the pendant fell to the floor. I found it days later and put it in my pocket. That same day I killed five New Army troops because they threatened my brothers."

"Wow, Julia," Vixen said. "I never knew the real story behind how they died. I'd always heard they were taken from the house and killed. I didn't know they were killed in the house. Your house, where you live with your family!"

"It's always been about revenge with me, Vix," Julia said; "And it's still about revenge, but now, it's for my little girl's future as well. One where she and any future siblings won't have to live in fear."

Vixen handed the box back to Julia, who closed it and replaced it back in the bag.

"Well, come on, Jules," Vixen said; "I brought dinner from downstairs. You'll need every ounce of your strength tomorrow."

"Thanks, Vix, for listening," Julia said.

"Anytime, little sister," said Vixen.

----------


Part 4--

Early the next morning, Nik and Jeremiah were up finalizing the plans for the day. The Security Forces, BlackOps, and the Ghost Squad were to meet them, and Julia and Vixen, at a given location in two hours.

Nik and Jeremiah looked at each other. "Is this really going to happen, Jere?" Nik asked his brother; "Is the war really going to be over today?"

"We've waited a long time for this day to arrive," Jeremiah said; "It's been seven years since Peter and Kiera were murdered. It's time to allow Julia to mete out the punishment she's been planning for since then."

"I wish Joe could be here to help us," Nik said; "But I know he's on guard in the New England Region if any of the Illegals leadership should try to escape into Canada to avoid arrest."

"Joe does his part for the Cause from where he is," Jeremiah said. "His family comes first. He doesn't want his kids to grow up like we had to, and I know you don't want your kids to, either, Nik. And I know I don't want Adriana to have to watch her back because she's my daughter. Between the four of us who were part of Peter and Kiera's family, we have seven children under the age of four. This is for their futures, like Julia said."

"If I were Sarah Kathryn, I'd be very afraid," Nik said; "She must have some idea of what's about to happen."

"If what I'm hearing from Dan back in Chicagoland is accurate," Jeremiah said; "then she's just carrying with business as usual. Except, of course, her meeting with Julia at two this afternoon. By that time, of course, her Committee will either be dead or in jail. And she'll have no clue because she's not due to meet with them until tomorrow. She won't be President tomorrow if all goes according to plan."

"Who will be President tomorrow?" asked Nik. "I know it won't be David, because he doesn't want the job."

"I don't know, Nik. There have been names thrown around," Jeremiah said; "If I weren't too young, I'd do it on a temporary basis."

"Hmmm, President Donovan..." Nik said. "Has a nice ring to it. Maybe in thirteen years, when we're thirty-five, we can think about you running for office."

"A lot can change in that time, Nik," Jeremiah said. "Jasmine would kill me if I even thought about a political career! I just want to be the journalist I trained to be at Northwestern and get on with my life."

Nik saw Julia and Vixen walking toward them. Julia carried a small duffle bag, which Nik knew held all she'd need to accomplish her goals that day.

"Ready to get this party started, Jules?" Nik asked.

"I've been ready, Nik," Julia said. "I've been ready since I was twelve years old."

----------

After getting their final instuctions, all the players went to their separate assignments and began what would later be called the "end of the occupation".

Julia was on her way to Lane Sizemore's house in Georgetown. Vixen was tasked with keeping Sizemore's "friend" Doug Frey occupied until Julia did what she had to do to make Sizemore pay for his crimes.

Keeping Frey occupied was easy for Vixen. Frey had seen Vixen walk into the cigar bar looking like a million bucks. He knew he had to chat up the darkhaired beauty.

She sat down at the bar and ordered a screwdriver. Vixen sat in such a way that more than just Doug Frey noticed. He walked over to her and sat next to her. "There's no way someone as fine looking as you can look that good at nine in the morning," Frey said.

"All lies," Vixen said. "I just haven't been back to my hotel yet. I'm surprised I still look good. I feel like hell."

"Where are you staying?" asked Frey.

"The Watergate," she said.

"Oh, there's history there, you know."

"Honey, I don't know how old you think I am," Vixen said; "But I know about the history of the place. I've read plenty of now outlawed history books to know about the scandal, the threats of impeachment to the President, that he left office before that."

"How old are you, darlin'?" asked Frey.

"Thirty."

"Really? You seem older," Frey said; "You know, more mature than the thirty year old women who work around here."

"Thanks," Vixen said. "I hope you mean girls who work in offices and not 'working girls'." Vixen laughed and Frey was charmed.

"You're too well put together, too polished, too professional to be a working girl, my dear," Frey said. "I'm Doug, by the way. Doug Frey."

"I'm Natasha," Vixen said. "Natasha Belova. Nice to meet you, Doug."

"Natasha," Frey said; "very pretty name. Very Russian sounding."

"My grandparents were from Belarus and Ukraine, so I come by that name honestly," said Vixen. "My mother was raised in Belarus, and met my father in Germany. He's Ukrainian and German."

"Ah, so you do come by it honestly," Frey said. "You wouldn't believe the lies I've heard women tell about themselves. Like they're sleeping with this celebrity or that one; or they're from a rich family when they're the rich family's poor relations; or the best one I heard is some chick said she was doing lapdances on the side for outlawed musicians and their bands. She even mentioned the Resistance leader David Draiman as one of her clients."

"He's married with three or four children," Vixen said; "I don't think he's going to risk his marriage and family on some whore, do you?"

"I didn't believe her," Frey said; "And I told her so. She left in a huff."

"I guess even outlawed rock stars are fair game," Vixen said, trying hard not to burst out laughing. "Would you believe me if I told you I used to be a working girl in college?"

Frey looked at her. She had the body and the looks for it, he thought.

"Maybe," he said; "Why'd you turn to that?"

"Being a broke college girl is no fun," Vixen said; "It was quick cash and it was too easy. When I got my degree, I left that life behind and did legitimate work."

"I guess my next question is," Doug said, with a devious grin, "Can you prove it to me?"

"I could," Vixen said; "if you really want to find out."

"I'm in the mood for a little foolin' around, Natasha," Frey said; "but I have a doctor's appointment at 11:30, so it'd have to be quick."

Vixen looked at her watch. It was nine-thirty now. I can pull it off, she thought.

"Your place or mine?" Vixen asked.

"How about my place, Natasha," Frey said. "I don't live far from here."

"Lead on, Doug," Vixen said.

-----------

Julia walked right up to Sizemore's house and rang the doorbell. And waited.

When Sizemore finally did answer the door, he looked at Julia and said,

"Can I help you, young lady?"

"Yes, Mr. Co-Chairman, I think you can," Julia said as she pushed the door, and Sizemore, aside and walked inside.

"Who the fuck do you think you are, just walking in here like that!" Sizemore said. "You know I could have you arrested."

"But you won't," Julia said, "because there aren't enough New Army troops to cover the entire Capitol Sector. And I know that enlisteds are deserting ranks in droves to go to the other side in this conflict."

"How do you know that?" Sizemore said. "That's information that not just anyone can get!"

"It's my job to know shit like that, Sizemore," Julia said. "That's what they pay me for."

"Well, look, you're going to have to leave," Sizemore said. "I have business to attend to."

"I'll bet," Julia said, pulling out her Glock and pointing it at Sizemore's head. "But I'm not leaving."

"Who are you?!"

"Someone you and Carl Parks want so badly that you'd do anything to get me, including taking me by force from the prison I was in for three months last year," Julia said. "Ring any bells, Sizemore?"

Just then, a teenage girl came down the stairs, saying, "Lane, darlin', who you talkin' to. It's gettin' lonely up there in that big bed of yours..."

Without missing a beat, Julia aimed her Glock at the girl and fired. The girl didn't even have time to scream. The bullet hit its mark right between the eyes and the girl dropped to the stairs and slid to the bottom, all while Sizemore watched, not believing what he just saw.

"What did she ever do to you?" was all Sizemore could come up with.

"No one's going to miss a teenage whore," Julia said, the assassin in her was in total control of the situation. "Still like 'em young, don'tcha?"

Sizemore realized who this crazy girl was, and he was trying not to freak out. It wasn't working.

"You're Julia Terranova!"

"Indeed I am," said Julia; "or you could just call me the Grim Reaper, because you're going to take a little trip to hell on my dime."

"Look, I'll do anything you want," Sizemore said, getting more and more agitated; "Just don't kill me."

Julia knew that she could mark Sizemore off her list, because he was freaking out more by the second.

"Take off all your clothes, turn on the fireplace gas jets, then get on your knees," Julia ordered. "Now!"

Sizemore was afraid NOT to do what Julia said. Once he had taken off his clothes, and turned on the gas jets and lit the fire, he kneeled before her. What he didn't see was Julia take one of the fireplace tools and put the handle of it in the fire.

"Now, Sizemore," Julia said, "tell me what Parks and you were going to do to me had I not killed Parks' aide last summer?"

"We-we were g-g-going to ask you to defect from the Disturbed Ones and train our snipers," Sizemore said. It was the first thing he thought of to say.

Julia slapped him so hard that he nearly passed out. The added heat in the house didn't help.

"Liar!" she said angrily. "You and Parks were going to sexually abuse me to the point of death. As if what Coltrane at Great Lakes did to me wasn't enough for your sadistic lust! Now, tell me the truth!"

"Yes," Sizemore said; "Parks was going to do that. He wanted you to stop killing our agents, and thought that if you were raped enough times, that you'd beg him to stop. He got off on that sort of shit!"

"No one makes me beg!" Julia said; "No fucking one! Got that?"

"Y-y-yes," Sizemore said, feeling as though he were about to vomit from the heat in the room.

"I'm done with you, Sizemore," Julia said. "Stand up, turn away from me, get on your hands and knees like you're about to get fucked!" When Sizemore didn't do it fast enough, Julia forced him to get into the position she wanted him in.

"What are you going to do to me?" Sizemore said, scared out of his mind.

"You scared yet?"

"Yes!"

"Good," Julia said. "You and Parks made up the law as you went along. You arrested people on the flimsiest pretexts. Your so called laws cost many women the ability to bear children, including my mother. Your laws damn near cost me my father; Your laws made it illegal for mixed race and mixed faith couples to marry and have children together; your laws forced Undesirables into relying on any mercy your government decided to show, which most times, was none. For those things and many more, I will not show you any mercy, either."

"Please don't kill me!" Sizemore said, crying. "I'd rather spend the rest of my life in prison than die at your hands."

"Sorry, Sizemore," Julia said, "it's a little too late for that!"

Julia took a speculum out of her bag and greased the end of it. She then inserted it into Sizemore's rectum, forcing it open.

She then took the shirt Sizemore was wearing, and, using it like an oven mitt, took the now red hot fireplace tool out of the fire.

Julia then shoved it through the opening the speculum created and into Sizemore's rectum as far as it would go. Sizemore screamed as the hot metal made its way into his body. He then passed out.

Julia removed the speculum from his rectum, and took it off the metal that protruded from Sizemore's body and placed it back in her bag.

The rest of his clothing was used to set the house on fire. Julia took another fireplace tool and put the pants and shirt into the flames to catch fire, then placed the burning clothing on the couch. It went up in flames almost immediately.

Julia then made her way to the back door and left the house. Jeremiah was there waiting for her.

"How'd it go?" Jeremiah asked.

"He's dead, Jere. I set the house on fire. Let's get out of here," Julia said.

----------


"You sure didn't forget your moves, Natashaaaaa!" Frey cried out as Vixen rode him.

"My ex husband didn't complain," she said as Frey reached up to fondle Vixen's breasts.

"Then why's he your ex?"

"Because he liked hookers a little too much," Vixen said. "And I wasn't going to compete with paid whores."

"God, I could fuck you all day, Natasha," Frey said; "I could postpone my appointment."

"I have to be on a shuttle back to the Boston Sector at 2pm," Vixen said. "This bitch needs to earn her commission this week."

"What do you do, Natasha?" Frey asked as he watched Vixen's breasts move with the rhythm the two of them were creating.

"I sell ad time to big corporations for the television networks."

"Your degree is in...what?"

"It's in Psychology," Vixen said, lying through her teeth; "I'm trying to get into grad school now."

Her explanation was interrupted by her orgasm. Damn, this man was good! she thought.

"Baby, you need to come," Vixen said. So Frey turned her over and took her from behind. Figures, Vixen thought. He can only come from that position because he does guys, too.

He was a few thrusts in when he groaned as if in pain. Next thing Vixen felt was his entire weight falling on her. Vixen collapsed to her stomach and Frey rolled off her and onto the floor.

Vixen got up and looked down at him. She knew what had happened.

Damn bastard had a heart attack, she thought. He's dead!

She checked him over and there was no heartbeat nor a pulse. Thank you for not making me kill you, Doug, she said to herself. You were a great fuck til you died on me.

Vixen got dressed and was just putting on her shoes when she saw Frey's wallet sticking out of the pocket of his slacks. He'd thrown a hundred dollar bill on the bar when they left to come to his house.

She pulled the wallet out of the pocket and opened it up. Inside was the usual stuff: driver's licence, ID card, credit cars, pictures...

And a wad of cash nearly three-quarters of an inch thick, all of it one hundred dollar bills.

There must be ten grand here! Vixen thought. She knew what she was going to do with it.

"Doug Frey, thank you for contributing to the Peter and Kiera San Marco College Fund. Their seven grandbabies thank you!" Vixen said as she walked out of Frey's bedroom, down the stairs and out the back door.

----------

Jeremiah's phone made the sound assigned to text messages. He looked over at the phone and saw that it was Vixen.

I'm headed back towards cigar bar. Doug Frey unexpectedly expired. Pick me up there. VV

Julia took the phone and read the message. "Unexpectedly expired?" she asked. "Wasn't that the idea?"

"We'll have to wait til we get Vixen and find out what happened," Jeremiah said.

Soon they drove up to the cigar bar and Vixen stood out front. She saw Jeremiah's car and got in when it approached her.

"What's this 'unexpectedly expired' shit, Vix?" Julia asked before Vixen could even get her seat belt on.

"He took me back to his place to have sex, and he died while fucking me, Jules, that's what that means," Vixen said. "I didn't have time to explain, I thought you guys would get that."

"I did," Jeremiah said, "but there's always an explanation as to what happened."

"How did he die?" Julia asked.

"Heart attack brought on by too much Vixen," Vixen said. "I didn't have to kill him. He was a walking time bomb."

Jeremiah laughed. Vixen didn't think it was funny.

"He died in the act of fucking," Jeremiah said. "That's priceless!"

"It's not funny," Vixen said. "Had I known he was going to die like that, I might have suggested something else. He was a good fuck, though. Taught me a thing or two."

"Didn't he also do guys, Vix," Julia said. "I hope one of you thought of protection."

"He did," Vixen said. "Dude had a whole nightstand drawer full of condoms!"

"Well at least the view was nice," Jeremiah said. "I wouldn't mind dying like that."

"His view, Jeremiah, was of my back," Vixen said.

"Oh," was all Jeremiah said. Then, "Julia, where are you going to take care of Parks?"

"He has an office about six blocks from the Capitol," Julia said. "I made an appointment under the name 'Julie White Feather' for eleven-thirty. It's eleven-ten now, so let's hurry it up!"

"White Feather was Kiera's maiden name," Jeremiah said. "Whatever possessed you to do that?"

"Revenge for the death of the woman who took me in when I was two weeks old," Julia said.

"You still carry her necklace with you?" Jeremiah asked.

"Yes," Julia said. "To remind me why I became an assassin. I showed it to Vixen last night."

"She did indeed, Jeremiah," Vixen said. "And the story to go with it."

Jeremiah parked the car about a block from where Parks' office was located and Julia got out.

"Unlike the dearly departed Mr. Sizemore," Julia said; "Mr. Parks will probably know who I am. And maybe not. I won't give him much time to get acquainted with me before I end his miserable, evil, sick life."

"I'll be back for you in an hour. If you're not here, I'll wait thirty minutes. If you're still not there, I'm coming in after you," Jeremiah said.

"It will take me less time than that, Jeremiah," Julia said. Jeremiah and Vixen heard her voice change. Then her demeanor changed as soon as she got out of the car. "I am a Disturbed One. I will not fail."

Jeremiah nodded. He and Vixen then drove off to meet up with the Ghost Squad.

----------

Julia entered the building and went up to where Parks' office was. There was no receptionist at the front desk when she arrived. When a man in his forties appeared, he asked Julia for her name.

"Julie White Feather," she said; "I have an eleven-thirty with Mr. Parks."

"I can show you back to his office," the man said.

"I've been here before," Julia lied; "I'll see myself back. And if I were you, I'd leave the building."

Before the man could ask why, he saw Julia's gun. "You call New Army, I'll hunt you down. That's a promise," she warned him. "You never saw me."

"Yes, ma'am," the man said, backing up toward the office door and went out of it.

Julia went back to Parks' office, and the Committee Chairman was sitting at his desk reading and never saw her come in.

She stood there behind the chair in the office that she was to sit in and waited for him to acknowledge her. When he still didn't, Julia went behind his chair and cocked her gun in his ear.

That got his attention.

"Who are you?" he asked in a calm voice.

"Look at me, Mr. Chairman," Julia said. When Parks turned around, he saw a young woman he did not recognize.

"Do I, or am I supposed to know you?" he asked.

"You should," Julia said; "You've been trying to kill, capture or torture me sexually since I was fifteen years old."

"What are you talking about?" Parks asked. "I don't operate that way."

"The hell you don't, asshole!" Julia cried out as she held her Glock at Parks' throat. "Does the name Julia Terranova sound at all familiar?"

She saw the blood run out of his face at the mention of her name.

"You're Julia Terranova?" he asked in a shocked voice. "You're the SpineSplitter?"

"I am."

"You're not what I was expecting at all," Parks said. "You're a little girl!"

"I'm nineteen, married and have a child, Mr. Chairman," Julia said, angry that he was playing dumb. "I'm the one you bugged Jack Coltrane to send to you when I was incarcerated at Great Lakes Prison last summer. So he sent me, but I traded places with a gal who resembles me and she killed your aide."

"Yes, I remember that," Parks said with a hint of evil in his voice. So this is the holy grail, the SpineSplitter, he thought. And she came to me.

"Do you know why I'm here, Mr. Chairman?"

"Should I?"

"If you don't, let me remind you," Julia spun Parks' chair around so that he faced away from her. She then removed the blade from its sheath on her thigh and stabbed Parks in the neck, then tore open his jugular vein. His blood spurted out of the wound. It took him three minutes to bleed out.

"And since you're so afraid of the SpineSplitter, let me leave you with this," Julia said as she took her blade, let Parks' body slump forward on the desk, then plunged it into his spine between his shoulder blades. She then broke off the handle and put it in her bag.

"That, Mr. Chairman," Julia said cruelly, "was for Jack Coltrane, and my guardians, the San Marcos. You had them killed. Now you repay."

Twenty minutes after entering Carl Parks' office, Julia was back at the same spot where Jeremiah dropped her off. He was there waiting. Julia got in the back seat.

"Parks is dead. The Puppetmaster is no more," Julia said, still in her assassin mode. "In two hours, I'm going to make the President of the Republic my bitch. And there will be no Committee to back her up."

"The other three are in custody," Jeremiah said. "And Nik is leading the Ghosts to New Army headquarters to offer them surrender. It's either surrender or die."

"Sarah Kathryn won't be President after today, Jere," Julia said, "because I'm going to give her two choices. Let's see which one she chooses."

----------

The New Army troops were giving Nik and the Ghost Squad no problems about giving up, when given the choice between prison and death. It was the higher ups that were the most trouble, and Ghosts only had to kill two of them before the others also gave up, given the same choices as the enlisted before them.

The only one who was not there was General Pitt, and his secretary, Colonel Franks.

"Secure all national borders," Nik ordered; "No planes, boats, buses or trains are to leave the borders of the Republic. Check all IDs, vehicles, baggage, anything that can hide anything." Nik was getting his orders from Valerie Cooper in Tidewater. She called Nik and asked how things were going.

"Most everyone is cooperating," Nik said. "We had to shoot a couple of officers, but the big dog, Pitt, and his secretary, Franks, are AWOL. Thanks for giving me the authority to have the borders shut."

"My orders are coming from Christine Collins, who will probably be the interim president when this is over. Mom doesn't want the job, and Draiman's not interested. The rest of us aren't old enough to serve in Congress, much less the Presidency."

"True," Nik said.

"How's Julia doing with her assignments?" Val asked.

"She's got two of the three. The prize is at two this afternoon, so roughly ninety minutes from now," Nik said. "Julia has warned me that this may take a while, but she will be triumphant."

"I have no doubt of that," Val said, laughing; "Julia may be a petite little thing, but don't ever cross her! Even more so with a little one to protect."

"That little girl means everything to her," Nik said. "I suspect she will take time off to take care of her once this is all over. I know a couple of marriages on hold until the war is over."

"Yeah, but babies don't wait," Val said. "My brother and his fiancee are expecting a little one. They just found out yesterday."

"Congrats to them," Nik said; "It's not an easy job, but it is the most rewarding."

"Back to the project at hand," Val said; "Once Julia is done with the prize, have her get in touch with me, okay?"

"I'll pass that along to Jeremiah, Valerie," Nik said.

"It's almost over," Val said. "Just a few more hours."

"I was only three when this all started," Nik said, "but I'm ready to live in a world where I don't have to worry about who wants to kill me."

"Amen, brother," Val said; "Amen!"

----------

Part 5--


"Well, check this shit out would ya!" Dan said, looking at his computer screen at some new intel that just came through.

"What, Danny?" David asked, although he had a gut feeling what Dan was going to say.

"Seems that our little assassin girl is making good on the promises she made herself after witnessing the deaths of Peter and Kiera San Marco," Dan said.

"Who did she kill?" David said, resignedly.

"There was a fire at Lane Sizemore's house in Georgetown," Dan said. "When the fire was put out, they found two bodies. One was a teenage girl who was about fifteen. There was enough of her to identify her as a known runaway and prostitute. She'd been shot between the eyes."

"Sounds like Julia's M.O. so far," David said. "What about Sizemore?"

"This is the good part," Dan said; "Kinda sick, but good. Sizemore was found, or at least they think it's him. Burned beyond recognition, he was. But the most interesting thing is that 'the corpse of a male approximately sixty plus years of age was found with a piece of metal protruding from his anus.' Where in the hell did Julia learn that?"

"Sounds like Julia's reading while she was on bedrest during her pregnancy paid off," David said. "Supposedly, King Edward the Second was murdered by having a hot fireplace poker rammed up his ass because he was a homosexual. Man, that had to be painful, for both the King and for Sizemore. I don't know of the King had it coming, but Sizemore sure did."

"It's kinda sick and twisted, even for Julia," Dan said. "But she did ask Morbus if she could read his files on all the assassinations he did. Maybe she got ideas from that, too. By the way, where is Morbus?"

"He's in Arlington trying to talk Christine Collins out of accepting the interim Presidency," David said.

"What on earth for?" Dan asked; "Christine would make a great interim president."

"I agree," David said. "But Morbus was shocked when she told him she was thinking about it."

----------

Christine was watching her computer for any news of the Resistance takeback, and found that both the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Committee were dead. Neither one of those men's death were easy, Christine thought. Julia made them suffer, she was certain.

It was the surprise visit at home from Morbus the night before that caught Christine off guard, however. He was angry that she was considering accepting the Interim Presidency when Sarah Kathryn was either forced from office or killed. Christine assured Morbus that it was temporary.

"Christine, why do you want to put yourself in the spotlight like that," Morbus said. "That isn't an easy job. I mean, look at the current President. She's an old hag now."

"It's just long enough to get a new President, Congress and Senate into place; to abolish the Regional system and put the state borders back in place," Christine said. "To reacquaint those who grew to majority during the Illegals occupation with what laws are. I fear our jails and prisons will be filled to overflowing."

"But why take this on now, Chris?" asked Morbus; "I know the country will need a new leader. Why does that leader have to be you?"

"Because no one else wants the job, Jacob!" Christine said. "David doesn't want it; Judge Jackson wants to retire to some little fishing village in Maine; and your sister absolutely refused to consider it. Any others who are qualified are not old enough to serve as president."

"But, Chris..." Morbus said softly; "we had a future together planned as well."

"Are you asking me to not take the job, Jacob? To not help our country recover from the Occupation? Is that what I'm hearing from you?" asked Christine.

Morbus hung his head. He knew Christine was right, and that she was old enough and qualified enough to serve as the Interim President.

"Chris," he began; "I love you. You make my life make sense. But I also know when to admit I'm wrong. You are the best qualified. You know how the government worked before the Committee took over. I just fear I will never see you."

Christine leaned up and kissed Morbus' cheek. "Dear, sweet Jacob," she said; "Everything will work out fine, you'll see. We'll find ways to be together. I'm not moving into the White House. I'll still be here in Arlington. I'll still be here for you, my love."

"Christine, my beautiful, brave butterfly..." Morbus said as he leaned in to kiss her. She met him part way and responded to him. She felt his hands on her body and knew they'd be making love that night. His touch was so gentle, his kisses so soft, so passionate. "I love you, Jacob," she sighed as he carried her into her bedroom.

But now, in her office, Christine was monitoring everything going on with the Resistance's attempts to take back their country. So far, all was going well.

She realized that she may be the Interim President by nightfall. But when she got home that night, her Jacob would be there hold her and calm all her fears.

----------


It was one-thirty when Jeremiah dropped Julia off at the Executive Mansion's front gate. After she was cleared by a guard that she indeed have an appointment to see the president that afternoon, she was taken into a waiting room to await the arrival of President for Life Sarah Kathryn Hope.

Julia reviewed her plans for Sarah Kathryn in her head. Put her at ease, let her come on to me, Julia thought; then turn the tables on her, take control of everything, then tell Sarah Kathryn that her days as President for Life are over; give her two choices: arrest or death.

She didn't get nervous much when about to do a job, but this assignment had everything riding on it. Because of what Julia accomplished here, the war would end. It was an amazing burden to have placed on a nineteen year old's shoulders. But Julia didn't plan to fail. I'm a Disturbed One. I will not fail! she thought to herself.

Then Julia thought of the surveillance tape she and Vixen watched the night before and tried not to giggle. I hope that the taping of our meeting goes well, she thought. We might not need to have evidence that the President is a closet Undesirable, but it's better to have it and not need it...

The night before, Vixen showed Julia some tricks to get her prey going. Julia wasn't thrilled at the fact that Vixen actually had to perform them on her, but it wasn't that bad.

I might actually get through this without having to wretch, Julia thought.

Julia knew she wasn't wired that way, but people who were didn't bother Julia. She had many as friends. Even people who worked both side of the fence, as her mother called it, were okay with Julia. It was just she who didn't. She knew that when she was eleven years old and figured out how to take care of her own needs. All her fantasies were about guys. It wasn't until she made love to Ryan for the first time that she experienced a true orgasm. And they were still like that for her. But, just with Ryan.

Before she knew it, the President's aide came to the waiting room. "Mrs. Summers," he said, "the President will see you now."

Julia got up out of her chair and followed the aide.

Showtime, she thought.

----------

David was bombarded by his children the minute he walked in the door. David loved it when all four of his kids were waiting for him to come home. This is what he dreamed about for years what being a father would be like.

Today, though, Sammy and Johnny had been in time out for fighting over a toy. They blamed each other, and they tried to plead their case to their father before he'd gotten the full story from Jordan.

"Daddy, Johnny took my toy!" Sammy said.

"You took it from me first!" Johnny replied hotly.

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did NOT!"

Oy, David thought, they're me in duplicate!


"Um, Mama," David called out to Jordan; "What's the story with the boys and a toy?"

"Johnny had a toy," Jordan said. "When Johnny got up to do something else, Sammy took the toy and started playing with it. They both have the same toy. But Sammy wanted Johnny's and wouldn't give it back when Johnny came back for it. It then turned into a boxing match and I put the boys in time out in separate coners."

"Well, then, we'll have to take both toys and put them into time out," David said.

"Nooooo!" Johnny cried. "Daddy cant do that!"

David looked at Johnny, and the boy was in tears.

"Daddy can, and Daddy will," David said. "Both of you bring me the toys."

They boys brought their toys to their father, and he took them out of the living room to a "secret" location (a box under David and Jordan's bed).

When David returned, he told the boys that they had to share, and be nice about it. They would get their toys in one week on the calendar.

Meanwhile, Niki and Kimber were helping their mother make lunch. Jordan was teaching them how to make tuna salad sandwiches. David brought the boys into the kitchen, Johnny still whimpering about losing his toy for a whole week.

Sammy climbed up into a chair and said, "What you doing NikiandKimber?" He'd always said his sisters names together as one word.

"We're helping Mama make lunch, Sammy," Niki said.

"We're having tuna sandwiches," said Kimber.

"Is Baby coming over today, Mama?" Johnny asked.

"No, Miri is with her daddy today," Jordan said. "Julia should be home soon, right Daddy?" She looked at David.

"I think she's almost done with her work out of town," David said, "So Miri will spend time with her mother instead of coming over here."

"Poo," Kimber said. "Why can't Julia bring Miri here anyway?"

"Because, Kimberlin," her mother said, "Julia should get to spend more time with Miri than we do."

"Oh," was all that Kimber said.

----------


After lunch all the children went down for naps. This left David and Jordan alone to talk.

"Is Julia really going to be home soon?" Jordan asked.

"She's already killed Parks and Sizemore, and the other Committee members are in jail," David said. "She's due to visit Madame President," he paused to look at his watch; then, "Right about now."

"I hope Julia makes the stupid bitch suffer," Jordan said, practically spitting it out. "After all her regime put us through, it would serve her right that Julia tortures her, makes her plead for her life, like I did so many times in prison. Maybe if Madame President had to live the life I did in prison, she wouldn't be so cruel."

"Jordan!" David said. "I've never heard you talk like this! You want another human being to suffer because you suffered because of them?"

"You can see where I'm coming from, David," Jordan said; "This is the same woman who ordered all Undesirables to be arrested for things no one else would have paid attention to; who authorized rape and torture and beatings. This is the same heartless bitch who wanted to kill you because you dared stand up to her Committee."

"Death would be too good for her," David said. "But Julia... she has other plans. She has scores to settle."

"It's not really up to us, or to her, is it?" Jordan asked. "It's up to one nineteen year old girl with some heavy grudges, all in the name of taking our country back. She blames them for everything. Sarah Kathryn was the face, Parks was the brains, and Sizemore was the buffer between the two. And I'm sure if Jed McClayne were still alive, Julia would kill him, too."

"Essentially, Jord, that's it," David said. "I hope Sarah Kathryn knows what she's asked for by inviting Julia for a visit. This won't end well for her, I fear."

----------

Part 6--


Julia was led into Sarah Kathryn's office and the President came over and shook Julia's hand. "It's so nice to finally meet you, Julia. Your reputation precedes you."

"Pleasure's all mine, Madame President," Julia said as she shook Sarah Kathryn's hand. "I've been curious as to why you wanted to see me. Certainly you know I'm your government's enemy, and that reputation you spoke of is not one that just any young woman my age would have."

"Please, Julia, call me Sarah Kathryn," the President said; "and the reason why I invited you was to get to know you as a person, not as the Disturbed One's top assassin."

Sarah Kathryn invited Julia to sit on the couch at the other end of the room. Julia managed to keep a straight face as she sat down on the very couch Julia had seen her host pleasuring herself on the day before via video bug.

Sarah Kathryn continued, "I understand you had a baby girl some months back."

"Yes, ma'am," Julia said; "She was born at the end of December about a month early, but she's caught up with other babies her age. She's almost seven months old."

"They're so adorable at that age, aren't they?" Sarah Kathryn said, thinking of when her son was that young.

"Miri surprises both me and my husband everyday," Julia said.

"You don't have any pictures of her with you by chance, do you?" Sarah Kathryn asked, trying to stall as long as possible so that her desire for the young woman sitting next to her on the couch didn't go off the deep end.

"No, I don't, I'm sorry," Julia said. Are you fucking serious, lady? You want to talk to me about my child, when it was your policies via the Committee that separated me from my mother for seven years? Julia continued,

"I thought this was going to be a professional type meeting, Sarah Kathryn, so I left personal things at home."

"Maybe it's just the mother in me, interested in other people's little ones," Sarah Kathryn said sweetly. Julia wanted to gag.

"With all due respect, Sarah Kathryn," Julia said, "let's cut the bullshit. You did not invite me here to talk about babies, I know. What is it that you want from me, Madame President?"

Sarah Kathryn knew she'd been found out. Julia was too smart for all the Southern charm, she thought. She was trained from childhood to use weapons and had the ability to survive anywhere. She also knew a lie when she heard one.

"Okay, you found me out, Julia," Sarah Kathryn said; "I didn't bring you all this way for that. The reason I did invite you here is that you are a very pretty girl, and I'd been following your exploits for a couple of years. But even pretty girls need a little time to relax. Don't you agree?"

"What are you getting at, Sarah Kathryn?" Julia asked, though she knew what Sarah Kathryn was going to say.

"Let me tell you a story, Julia," Sarah Kathryn said. "When I was in college, not much older than you are, I felt attracted to other girls. I was an abused child, and I just wanted someone, anyone to love me and not hurt me. During my sophomore year at school, a girl was assigned to be my roommate. She was one of those girls who liked both, but preferred girls. One night while we were studying, she kissed me and I kissed her back. I liked the attention she gave me over that semester, and she taught me new things. So I sought out like minded women, but it had to be secret because others thought that girls having sex with one another was wrong. I grew up in the south and that just wasn't done in 'good' families like mine.

"Then I met Neil, and he had no idea of my secret life. We were in Law School, and I had the same feelings for him that I had for that first girl I had a relationship with. I told him about my abusive parents and how I never wanted to see them again, and he took care of me. So I suppressed those desires for other women and gave all my love to Neil. It wasn't enough. He still had dalliances with hookers and call girls and strippers, even after I was made President for Life.

"He brought his secretary over to the house one night to work on a case, and when I saw her, those old feelings creeped up on me. I couldn't stop thinking about what it would be like to play with her, just like when I was in college. So I called her up and asked her to come over to my quarters every week for some 'playtime'. That lasted until she got attacked at the law firm while she was working after hours. It was that attack on her that caused Neil's mind to snap. He was the one who found her half dead in a pool of blood and arranged for her to get care."

Julia wondered why Sarah Kathryn was telling her all this, if all she wanted from Julia was a roll on the couch. "And how does this concern me?" she asked.

"Julia, please don't take this wrong, okay?" asked Sarah Kathryn as she leaned in to kiss Julia.

Julia remembered Vixen's advice about surprising Sarah Kathryn, so Julia met her half way until their lips met.

Next thing Julia realized is that Sarah Kathryn's hand was fondling her breasts. They were still kissing and Julia felt Sarah Kathryn's hand between her legs, making its way to Julia's crotch.

Julia broke the kiss to ask the older woman, "What are you doing?"

"Pleasure, Julia," Sarah Kathryn said. "Tell me what you like, sweetheart..."

Oh, this is getting too fucking weird, Julia thought; but she was in the middle of it now, so she'd find a way to take control of the situation.

"Pleasure...pleasure my clit..." Julia gasped as she felt a finger on her hot button.

"Anything you desire, Julia, my dearest..."

"How bad do you want it, Sarah Kathryn?" Julia asked. "How bad do you want to pleasure me? Enough to be my bitch?"

"Yes, Julia...Sarah Kathryn sighed.

Julia had her in. "Make me come! You'll do what I say. You can't take exception to whatever comes out of my mouth. Understand?"

"Yes, Julia..."

Julia stripped to her bra and garterbelt, sat back down on the couch and spread her legs. Soon, Sarah Kathryn was pleasuring her.

Julia let her mind wander... pretend it's Ryan and let it happen... So that's what Julia did. It wasn't an old woman playing between her legs, it was the man she loved more than life itself.

As she got closer to release, Julia thought of some things to tell Sarah Kathryn. The first thing that came out of Julia's mouth was,

"You're doin' a good job there, gettin me all excited. But you're not my President, and never have been. You're a whore, speading your legs for the Committee so they can get you to do their bidding. You're not MY President, Sarah Kathryn Hope, YOU'RE MY BITCH! GOT THAT WHORE? YOU'RE. MY. BITCH!"

Then Julia had her orgasm, still spitting out obscenties and insults to Sarah Kathryn. When she was done, she commanded that Sarah Kathryn stand up. She did. "You liked it, bitch, didn't you?" Julia asked her in her assassin voice.

"Yes, I did, Julia," Sarah Kathryn said. "Can I love on ya for a while?"

"No!" Julia said; "You gave me control when you told me you wanted it bad enough to be my bitch. So you're my bitch, and I'm gonna treat you like one."

Sarah Kathryn liked Julia's forceful approach. It turned her on even more.

"Do to me what you will," Sarah Kathryn said.

It took two seconds for Julia to decide. She was sure that Sarah Kathryn wouldn't complain. Not when she had one of two choices to make.

Julia had Sarah Kathryn brace herself against the desk. Then, taking a dildo from her bag, shoved it into Sarah Kathryn's vagina and fucked her with it. All the while spewing insults and obscenities. Julia was not gentle.

Sarah Kathryn was loving what Julia was doing. At least until Julia started saying,

"This is what happens to female inmates in your prisons, bitch! Your guards rape them repeatedly hoping they will break and tell whatever nonsense your guards needed to know, then they're killed. Or if they don't talk, their reproductive organs are so damaged that they can no longer bear children. This is what happened to my mother, bitch. At thirty years old, she had to have a hysterectomy because of the repeated rapes your prison guards subjected her to."

"That's not true!" Sarah Kathryn was saying; "If that what was going on, I never knew about it!"

"LIAR!" spat Julia as she replaced the dildo with her fist. "You knew it would work because that's what happened to you when you were a girl, wasn't it? You and your sister. How does this feel, bitch?"

"You're hurting me, Julia!"

"Good, because this is what my mother went through; what my guardian Kiera San Marco went through; what countless other Undesirables women and girls went through. How does it feel, Madame President?"

"No! Please, you're hurting me!"

"Then admit that prison guards raping female prisoners was your idea, bitch!"

Julia then withdrew her fist and pulled Sarah Kathryn off the desk and threw her to the floor. Julia wiped the fluid off her arm with Sarah Kathryn's dress.

"It was...my idea..." Sarah Kathryn said, gasping for breath. "My father raped me and my sister Kathy for years. We'd tell him anything to get him to stop. When we got old enough, we ran away and never came back. When we were working out punishments for the prisoners, that was one I came up with. Yes, Julia, that was my idea. I'm so sorry that your mother had to go through that. I had no idea that it was that severe."

Julia kicked her in the side. "You're only sorry you got caught."

"No, Julia, please listen," Sarah Kathryn said; "I really had no idea the guards were abusing that particular punishment. I meant it to be used against women who weren't cooperating, not against all female prisoners."

"You forgot to tell your guards that," Julia said. "And male guards were raping their female coworkers, too. I met one such woman when I was in Great Lakes Prison last summer."

Oh, God, Sarah Kathryn thought. This was another of Carl Parks' insane ideas. Take my idea and turn it into the worst thing a woman could go through. Julia's done her homework and I have nothing to say to deny it.

"And I remember your father, Sarah Kathryn," Julia said. "Bill Riley. My brothers and I were placed with him and your mother after our guardians were murdered. They'd somehow concealed their past so that they could get young girls again. Bill Riley tried to rape me the night before my brothers and I went to live with my mother. Your sister was my therapist. She was known to me as Dr. Kimberlin Corwin, but her real name was Kathy. And yours was Katie."

"How do you know so much about me and my sister?" Sarah Kathryn asked.

"Because that what I get paid to do," Julia said. "Find out everything about my adversary before I take them down."

"Are you going to 'take me down'?"

"No, I'm not."

"What if I asked you to?" asked Sarah Kathryn. "Please, just put me out of my misery, Julia."

"The answer is still no, Sarah Kathryn."

"Then I'm stuck in this office til I die."

"Too bad," Julia said. "But there's no Committee. All the members are either in jail or in the morgue. And the moment you walk out of the Mansion, you'll be arrested by Security Forces troops because the New Army is no more. Either way, this is your last day as President."

"Just kill me, Julia," Sarah Kathryn practically begged. "I can't live in a prison."

"You expected all those other people to, why not you?"

"Because they'll do to me everyday what you did to me here," Sarah Kathryn said, sounding like a lost child. "I'd be reliving my childhood all over again."

"Again, Sarah Kathryn, what happens in those prisons is partly your fault," Julia said. "You used your childhood horror to punish people. I used it against you. And you tell me you can't live in a prison? Please forgive me if you think I'm cold and calculating, but too fucking bad...Katie."

Julia placed a couple of Rebekah's capsules on Sarah Kathryn's desk.

"What are those?" she asked.

"Your out," Julia said. "I won't kill you, because I think you need to be some kind of facility, be that a prison or a mental ward; If you decide that death is the only way, take ONE of those capsules. It'll dissolve in any potable liquid, so if you want an easy way out, drop just one, NOT both, in your tea, coffee, water; drink it and go to bed. You'll die in your sleep."

"How do you know this?" asked Sarah Kathryn.

"My cousin is the chemist who came up with this," Julia said. "She's tried it on corpses with artificially restarted hearts and it causes them to stop."

"What would happen if I did take both? Would I die sooner?"

"I really don't know," Julia lied. "All I was told is that one would do the trick."

"If that's what I decide," Sarah Kathryn said as Julia got dressed, "then I'll only take one."

Julia took the second capsule, and Sarah Kathryn said,

"No, leave it. I'll find some use for it."

Julia took her leave without even bidding Sarah Kathryn as much as a goodbye. She then headed to the main entrance, where a guard showed her out to where Jeremiah was waiting.

"What the fucking hell took you so long, Jules?" asked Jeremiah. "Were you trading recipes for cranberry sauce, for God's sakes?"

"I told you it might take a while, but I got a lot of good information," Julia said.

"You didn't kill Sarah Kathryn?"

"Nope. She begged me to, though," Julia said.

"Then she's chosen to be arrested?"

"I left her one of Rebekah's calling cards and gave her an out," Julia said. "We should know something about what choice she made later."

Jeremiah drove onto the road leading away from the Executive Mansion. He said,

"Julia, sometimes I wonder what goes on in that mind of yours."

"After today, Jere, the only thing going on in my mind is playing with my daughter. I've been away from her long enough."

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Part 7--

Jeremiah and Julia met up with Nik, Vixen, BlackOps, and the Ghost Squad. Most of the Illegals in government positions had been arrested.

The General and the Colonel who escaped were caught at the airport in Boston trying to get on a flight to Europe. When they were told that there were no flights leaving the Republic, they made a break for it, trying to get back to a car to drive to the Canadian border, but were intercepted and arrested by Security Forces personnel.

Julia was pleased to hear this news. Because she had her own scores to settle, she was not in the loop about what was going on elsewhere.

"Julia, in effect, the war is over," Nik said; "There are troops going to the Mansion now to arrest Sarah Kathryn. There is an interim government that will be in place by tomorrow morning. Christine Collins will be the Interim President until such time as Presidential candidates can be found and elections held. By the way, Christine wants you to call her."

Julia got out her secure phone and called Christine's private line. She was surprised when Morbus answered.

"Morbus?" Julia asked, taken aback; "Why are you answering Christine's private line?"

"She's been expecting your call, Julia," Morbus said. "She's taking care of another matter and asked me to let her know the moment I had you on the phone. Ah, here she comes now."

Julia then heard Christine's voice; "Julia, thanks so much for calling. I just heard that Sarah Kathryn Hope has decided to surrender at 8am tomorrow morning. I don't know what you did to convince her, and I'm not sure I want to, but you've done a great job for your country. Go on home to your little girl. I'll call you in a few days."

"Thank you Christine," Julia said; "and congratulations on your new position. If I can be of any assistance, please let me know."

"I intend to, Julia," Christine said. "You're dismissed, young lady. Give Miri a kiss for me."

"Yes, Madame Director, er, Madame President," Julia said. She then closed the connection.

"Well?" Vixen asked; "What did she say?"

"That I can go home. That I've done a great job."

"What about the rest of us?" Jeremiah asked.

Nik looked over at Vixen and Jeremiah. "Since I seem to still have some authority left, I'm ordering Vixen Vincent and Jeremiah Donovan to go back to Chicagoland immediately."

"What about you, Nik?" asked Vixen.

"Whenever I find the person who takes over for me, I'll ask them to dismiss me," he said.

Nik's secure phone rang at that moment, as if on cue.

"Hello?" Nik said.

"Nik, it's Christine. You, Vixen and Jeremiah are all dismissed to go home. I should have told Julia that when I had her on the phone," Christine said.

"Yes, ma'am," Nik said. "Who is replacing me here?"

"He's already got his orders and will be meeting with you shortly."

Christine closed the connection. Nik looked up and saw the Commander of the Security Forces walking toward him.

"Nikolai San Marco, I am officially relieving you as of this moment," the Commander said. "You and the others from Chicagoland are free to leave. Oh, and Nik..."

"Yes, Commander," Nik said.

"You really should consider a military career. You're quite good at it from what I've heard."

"Thank you for the compliment, Commander," Nik said; "and I'll give it some thought. It's something I'd have to discuss with my wife first."

"Of course, Nik," the Commander said. "Now get the hell outta my face and go the fuck home!"

"Yes, sir!" Nik said, he and the others laughing.

"You heard the man," Julia said; "let's get home. I know a little girl who will be thrilled to see her mommy."

"I know a guy who will be thrilled to have his wife all to himself, too!" Jeremiah said.

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Sarah Kathryn looked at the two capsules that Julia had left behind as her way out.

She had agreed to be taken into custody at eight the following morning, but the longer she thought about it, the less appealing it became. The thought of being arrested and sent to prison horrified her.

She then saw the two capsules on her desk. She remembered what Julia told her about them; that she could put them in your tea, coffee, water; drink it and go to bed. You'll die in your sleep.

Taking them off the desk, Sarah Kathryn took them to her living quarters. She went to the kitchen and made a pot of tea. When the tea was through steeping, she poured tea into the large mug she always used, then dropped both of the capsules into the liquid.

"Two would make me die faster," Sarah Kathryn said; "I don't care what they do to me."

She sipped the tea on the way to her bedroom. About halfway down the hall, she collapsed in the worst pain she'd ever felt. She clutched her chest and prayed that the pain would go away.

This is what you wanted, Katie, she heard her sister say.

Sarah Kathryn knew she was dying. She could feel popping inside her body. She opened her mouth and blood vomited out of her. She then became unconscious.

The last thing Sarah Kathryn Hope ever heard was Neil, laughing.

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