Iv (4)

[Wheller]

“last call for Mars Dome XI, last call for Mars Dome XI” came the voice of the announcer over the PA.

Elizabeth Corwin, hearing the call. Began to walk over to the transport tube, the Confederate Guard that was with her, noticing her leaving. Quickly moved to catch up.

“didn‘t think you could just walk away did you?” the guard asked her.

Elizabeth looked at him. Rather annoyed. “the courthouse is in Dome XI.”

The guard scowled at her. Grabbing her arm and leading her into the tube. It was a long ride to Dome XI from Monolith, near the base of Olympus Mons, to Dome XI in Syria Planum at least 4 hours by tube. But to Elizabeth. It seemed even longer. She was being brought from Monolith to Dome XI to face charges that had been brought up against her. Violation of Article 124, crimes against the Church of the Terran Confederacy.

“Elizabeth Corwin. You are charged with violation of Article 124 of the Articles of Confederacy. Specifically, Blasphemy and Atheism. Very serious offenses. How do you plead?” the magistrate asked her.

“Guilty.” Elizabeth answered plainly. She shuttered a little in annoyance at the various gasps from the people in the court room. “why should you all be surprised? There is no god. Just the Confederacies propaganda. Trying to control the way you think!”

“Silence woman!” the magistrate said. Banging his Gavel. “Miss Corwin this exactly the kind of talk that brought you hear in the first place. Since you do no deny your guilt. I sentence you to 3 months in prison. Take her away.” The magistrate said.

The guards grabbed Elizabeth‘s arms.

“you can‘t hid behind the Confederacies truth forever Magistrate! And neither can the rest of you! There is no god! Only what the Confederacy tells you! Its all a lie! ALL A LIE!” Elizabeth said shouting bloody murder. A guard put his hand over her mouth and she passed out.

Elizabeth woke up later in a prison cell. There was a Confederacy Doctor standing over her.

“ah. Your awake. Good tell me, do you have a child license?” the Doctor asked.

“what?” Elizabeth asked.

“do you have a child license?” the Doctor asked again.

Elizabeth looked Blankly at him.

“I‘m not going to ask again.” the doctor said.

“no.” Elizabeth said quietly.

“are you married?” The Doctor asked.

“no.” Elizabeth said.

“you realize that you have broken another article?” The Doctor asked.
“no… wait how?” Elizabeth asked.

“your pregnant. Your in a world of pain Miss Corwin.” the Doctor said and left.

Elizabeth knew she was going back to court. She had broken two more of the articles. Not that that mattered to her. She would break all 300 of them in a day if it were possible.

The Child license, Article 22, was designed for the “Clergy-caste.” they were not allowed to marry, but were able to have children, as you could only be a clergy member if your parents were clergy too. The Child license was made specifically for them. But All women are capable of obtaining one.

Marriage license, Article 24 included a Child license in it. And is easier to obtain. Only condition is you have actually be planning to be married to apply for one. And the Terran Confederacy didn’t exactly approve many of them.

The Doctor, being a State Doctor was required to report infractions of the Articles. Most enjoyed doing so as well. There minds were all warped using various brain washing drugs. This wasn’t common knowledge.

A Private Practice Doctor, was more likely to hid an illegal pregnancy. And help a patient to get a Child-license before they became visibly pregnant.

The same guards that had been with her since her first time at the court house came in and dragged her out of the cell and back to the courthouse. the Magistrates were less than pleased to see Elizabeth Corwin again. Her punishment was decided. She would wear the bands of Shame. The Crimson Arm Bands were large, Bulky, heavy, Devices fitted to her wrists. They were completely noticeable. And they were designed to be. They were designed so that every time she entered a room. They would chime and say “I am a sinner. I broke 3 of the Articles.”

And worst of all. There was no where she could go to start a new. She would be killed by people in the streets on Earth just for having them, Ganymede and Io would refuse her Identicard. And not allow her to set even a toe on the ground. As if they were afraid they would be poisoned by her touch. And Luna was already one of the least desirable places to live in the Sol System.

At the end of her incarceration. She returned to Monolith. And found her house ransacked. And most of her positions were either Gone or destroyed. Seeing that there was nothing left for her in Monolith, she left. Heading northward for the City of Dome I. near the Polar Ice Cap., she settled in, and made a living as a fabricator. Making everything that was possible for her to make. She tried as much as she could to stay away from the main area’s of town. So she wouldn’t have to put up with the gawks and stares that her arm bands attracted. Her pregnancy progressed and she gave birth to a son. Arthur. Who was an immediate cause of trouble. To make matters worse. When Arthur was 3 Elizabeth’s Father showed up.

David Corwin was a man in his late 60’s a native of Earth, he was one of the first colonists on Io. Elizabeth, and her father had never gotten along. Elizabeth was always headstrong and independent. The kind of person to not conform with the Repressive Articles. David Corwin was the exact opposite of his daughter. And by the way they lived their lives no one would have been able to guess that they were related.

Elizabeth had not spoken with her father in 6 years.

“ELIZABETH MARIA CORWIN!” David shouted at his daughter. “what were you thinking? Did you even have your licenses?”

“no father. I don‘t. the confederacy has no right to tell ME how to live, how to love and who to love.” Elizabeth said. “you were born before the founding of the Confederacy. How can you blindly except them when you‘ve tasted how life was before them?”
“I was 6 years old when the confederacy was founded. I hardly remember time before the Articles. My parents made an attempt to resist the articles and the Confederacy came and put them in there place. I was taught to accept the articles and so were you. But you defiant little child. Your refused to listen. And look where it got you.” David said. “who is the Father of this child?”

“and let the Confederacy do the same to him? NEVER!.” Elizabeth said. Arthur began to cry. Elizabeth looked at her Father. “I want you out! Now!”

“Elizabeth…” David began to protest.

“GET OUT NOW!” Elizabeth shouted at him. And David left without further argument.

4 years had passed since that day David Corwin had barged into his daughters house and tried to force her to conform. 4 long years. Of reticule and distrust of her simply because of the Bands she had around her wrists. Elizabeth had seen scarce of her father. Since then, Elizabeth knew he was hunting for the truth, but being the confederate he was. He would not find it. Regular Visits from Governor Bishop Fleming, leader of Dome I, had tried to convince her to tell the Truth. But the defiant Elizabeth Corwin refused to answer Fleming’s questions. She continued to live her lonely life with only Arthur at her side. Until one day. Everything changed.

“MISS CORWIN!” Came the sound of a loud voice, accompanied by several banging sounds on her door.

Elizabeth got up and answered her door. Seeing who it was. She quickly pulled the man inside.

“John!” she said throwing her Arms around him.

“not John. Not anymore. Jack Sinclair, now. I‘ve been living under an assumed name” Jack said.

“John… Jack. How did you find me? I didn‘t tell you where I was going before I left Monolith. I didn‘t even think to say anything to you until I was already half way there.” Elizabeth said.

“it wasn‘t hard actually.” Jack said with a smile. “I‘ve known you were here for 6 years. I would have come sooner. But our… ‘Activities’ kept me busy.”

“the greater Goal is, and always was more important.” Elizabeth said. “we will have plenty of time with each other after we achieve the greatest of goals.”

“you assume were not going to fail?” Jack said.

“we can‘t. the Tyranny of the Confederacy has been allowed to run far to long.” Elizabeth said.

Arthur walked into the room. “mommy, who are you…” Arthur stopped in mid sentence when he looked at Jack.

“This is him then?” Jack said.

“yes. It is. This is Arthur. I named him after you. Fitting isn‘t it?” Elizabeth said.

“you know I hated the name Arthur, why do you think I had you call me John?” Jack asked.

“why do you think I named him Arthur?.” Elizabeth said.

“anyway. My time is short here. I have to be gone soon. I want to tell you its happening in this week. 12:00 noon, Earth Standard time. 7 days from now. You don‘t have to be here when it happens.”
“where would I go?” Elizabeth asked. “Jack its going to be happening through out the confederacy. There is no place to hide. No where safer.”

“true there is one place though. A sanctuary on Luna, in 3 days the Starliner Asimov will depart for it. And take as many children as possible out of the firing zone. Cells from Earth and Io will be doing similar. Io‘s ship will be getting people from Ganymede too. At least let Arthur get out of the fire.” Jack said.

Elizabeth looked at him, “its really happening then?” she asked.

Jack smiled. “By this time next week. The Terran Confederacy will be no more.”

3 days later. The Starliner Asimov Berthed itself in the Dome I Star port. Elizabeth, Jack and Arthur went to it. Arthur was not happy about leaving his mother. But Elizabeth was able to convice him that he would be safer on the Asimov. so Arthur reluctantly boarded the Asimov. and set out for the stars.

“The Asimov. isn‘t going to Luna is it Jack?” Elizabeth asked.

“no that’s just the Cover story, incase the Confederacy found out what we were doing.” Jack said, “she‘s going to make for the Neptune Border line. Exit the System and wait the conflict out.”

At that moment. David Corwin came in to Elizabeth’s view. “oh no.”

“Elizabeth?” David asked. “what are you… who is this?”

David looked at Jack for a moment. Then said “yes… you are Arthur’s Father.”

“and what if I am? It is no business of yours.” Jack said.

“no business of mine? I‘ll have you know…” David was interrupted by the sound of a large explosion from outside the dome.

“****! Its starting early! The Ships haven‘t had enough time to get away. We must have been compromised.” Jack said. More explosions could be heard from out side. And Confederacy marines rushed into the dome.

Meanwhile the Starliner Asimov was having problem’s of its own. Being racked by weapons fire.

Over the loudspeakers came the voice of her attackers. “this is the CSS Valiant to the Starliner Asimov. surrender. And we will not destroy you.”

The Asimov’s response was to push her Engines harder to make a long burn and use the inertia to get herself away from the Valiant. the Confederacy Battle Cruiser was not about to let this happen. And pushed her Engines as well to try to close the Gap. The Asimov wasn’t capable of putting up a fight with a Battle cruiser. The Starliner only had two rail gun turrets for defensive purposes.

The Asimov’s crew were certain that this was the end for them. Until the sight of another Battle cruiser, jumping out of Hyperspace and opening fire on the Valiant.

Over the loudspeakers the new Battle cruiser’s captain spoke “this is the CSS Phalanx to Starliner Asimov. we are here to protect you.” the Children all cheered.

Back in the Dome. A fire fight broke out between Dissidents and the Marines. Jack leading the fight against them. Elizabeth and David were caught in the middle.

“see what you have done Elizabeth?” David said.

“Father the Confederacy has killed many that were uninvolved. Look at the bodies!” Elizabeth said, pointing to the pile of 50 Plasma burn marked bodies.

“your… your right. I was blinded. But I see the truth now. You… Jack hand me one of your PPG‘s.” David said. Jack did. And David pointed it at the Marines and started to fire on them.

“Take that you monsters! And that! AND THAT!” David shouted.

One of the Marines took aim at David. Jack quickly push him out of the way, but the Plasma Bolt from the Marine’s PPG Rifle hit Jack dead on.

“NO!” Both Elizabeth and David said at the same time. David fired at the marine who shot Jack hitting him square in the chest.

“that bolt was meant for me. And if it wasn‘t for me. He would be alive.” David said. After Checking Jacks pulse. And finding none.

David fired at the last marine still attacking them. Hitting him, and putting a stop to there warrant less attack.

“I‘m sorry Daughter. That I did not listen.” David said. Before turning the PPG in his hand on him self.
“NO!” Elizabeth shouted trying to stop her father. But she was unable to. Her father took his own life. Because he could not live with the things he had seen that day.

5 years later. After the Fall of the Terran Confederacy. The Dome I star port was turned into a memorial for those who had died to over throw the unjust confederacy. Jack and David were buried there. Jack was buried under his assumed name. Jack Sinclair. No one knew his real name. only Elizabeth did. The New Government, the Earth Systems Alliance set out to undo all of the Wrongs of the Confederacy. It would be a long rebuild. But it would happen. And this time. It would happen right.