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It was a clear and sunny day in Hope County, no strong head winds and with the heat on the ground, it would be a perfect day for flying. Unfortunately for John, there was too much going on with the reaping for him to find the time to actually fly. Now that the lost Deputy was under Joseph’s watch, he had to rebuild what she had managed to so efficiently destroy. He needed to rework a plan to retake the lost outposts, and he needed to retake Fall’s End. More importantly, the last one needed to be done fast, because so far the resistance didn’t know their figurehead was no longer free and protecting them.
“Herald John, sir, Herald Jacob has captured Jess Black and is sending her to your gate under a convoy to be used with Deputy Hudson’s Confession and Atonement. She’s almost there, with maybe 30 minutes left til she arrives.” Elijah, one of John’s newer VIPs, poked his head into John’s cracked office door, excitement at the good news breaking through his voice.
“Excellent, I’ll send Jacob my thanks in a minute,” John turned around and flashed one of his smiles at Elijah, excitement breaking through. “Keep the two soulmates separated. Cells at either end of the blocks. I don’t want them to be able to plan anything together.”
“Yes, Herald,” Elijah nodded and turned when John waved his hand in a motion to dismiss him.
When Elijah left, John let out a sigh. At least something was getting progress made on it. He reached for his phone and dialed up Jacob.
“I take it you heard about my gift, Johnny?” Jacob’s gruff voice came over the phone.
“Yes! Thank you, brother.” John didn’t bother trying to hide the gratitude in his voice. Jacob wouldn’t make him regret it ever. Jacob and Joseph didn’t use things like this against John.
Apparently his pause had gone on too long. “What’s the matter, Johnny?” Jacob’s concern was sudden and apparent. “Have the townsfolk been causing problems again? I know Joe says that we need to focus on our own regions, but I just finished sniffing out Eli and his militia. I should have that problem solved by tomorrow night.” Jacob’s tone softened as he offered his help. Then it distanced as if he was talking away from the phone as he said, “Down, Peaches. Jesus, don’t choke yourself.” John could hear something in the background that sounded like Pratt was saying something. “Let me know by tonight if you need anything, Johnny. Peaches needs some more training before I settle him in the armoury before this next assault and I need to make sure everyone is prepared for the final rooting and removal of my current problem.”
John tried not to roll his eyes at Jacob’s badly disguised affection in his tone as talked about deputy Pratt. “Of course, Jacob. I’ll call you tonight to let you know what I decide.”
As John was turning back to his desk to look at the plans for the assault on Fall’s End his radio went off.
“Uhh Nick, Rook, if you guys can hear this, I need to see both of you at the airfield soon. It’s not a problem yet, but it’s gonna be one soon.” Kim Rye’s voice came out of the radio, first causing a flinch, then a curious tilt of his head.
Kim and Nick were a bit of a sore spot for him. John had spent so long waiting for his soulmates, and his excitement to meet them was unmatched by anything, even meeting his brothers again. He and Nick had flown together, he had helped decorate their nursery, and there had been a couple of fun, adult specific fun times. But then it had fallen apart. They were always a bit slow in spending close time together, all three busy with their lives and not in a rush. But then, as more and more time passed, and Nick and Kim learned more about the project, things fell apart.
“On my way, Kim,” Nick’s voice crackled through the radio, and John allowed himself a moment of contemplation, before he got up, left the room, and found his chosen.
“Josiah, Benedict, lead men out, we’re going after the Ryes again. I don’t know what’s happening, but if Kim’s in labor then the best place for her to be is with our people, in my gate. Do it gently, but fast. See if you can be stealthy in your approach. Wait until Nick is inside the house, that sort of thing.” John’s tone was as even as he could manage, as eyed two of his VIPs. Both had gotten back a month or so before from extra training with Jacob. He was concerned about the quality of men guarding his brother, and wanted to make sure that the next time John went after his soulmates it would be successful. “Jonah take Adam and prepare to rally around Fall’s End. We’ll start with soaking the area with bliss and then grab the people from inside. The time Joseph prophesied the Collapse happening is at the end of the next month, and we want to get everyone settled before then. We’ll take the town tonight, when everyone is pulling in for the night.”
A chorus of “Yes, Herald John” rang out from the room, as John watched the Carmina fly over the ranch and begin to land at the Rye’s house. He sighed as he moved forward.
“And if anyone needs me, I’m going to be at the Gate. I’ll move out when it’s time to take the town,” He called out into the room as everyone began moving out. He made his way to his bird, The Affirmation, got in, took off, and began flying to his Gate. There wasn’t a proper runway near it, but he had made sure he could use the road leading up to it as a makeshift runway whenever he needed.
While he was in the air, he thought about Joseph’s words to him.
“They will love you, John. And you will love them,” Joseph had said when he last called him. Joseph had called to let him know about Rook’s soulmate status and the plan to form a platonic bond between her and Joseph. John had to agree it was a solid plan. If Jacob’s information was correct, it would restore Joseph’s color vision which would let him be safer in color based activities and the bond it would form would keep Rook connected to Jacob.
The radio on the place kept John aware of what was going on, and so far, no one had caught on to Nick and Kim being attacked, at least so far. There was some talk about looking more into where the Deputy was, but she was off the grid enough that it was just the beginning of talks. Less of a planned thing, more of a casual plan, give her one or two weeks more of radio silence before the groups send out coordinated search parties for her. Such a shame they would never get a chance.
John landed The Affirmation and made his way into his gate, stopping to confirm things with various people as he moved through the bunker. He made a quick detour to do a visual check on both Hudson and Black, confirming they were secured in their cells, and unable to communicate in any way shape or form. Both glared at him from inside although he left before they could say anything.
John’s phone rang as he pulled it out of his pocket, Joseph calling him once before he could call him.
“Hello, Joseph,” John didn’t bother trying to keep his voice level when talking this time, Joseph always saw right through him. He walks into his office quickly to maintain a modicum of privacy for this talk.
“Will you be alright, John,” Joseph spoke, concern coloring his question, as if Joseph was staring directly into the soul of John. “They won’t take this lightly, and neither Jacob or I will have the time to be with you for a week, at minimum. Will you be alright?” Joseph sounded even more concerned as he repeated himself.
“I can hold onto myself until you and Jacob can come, Joseph.” John tried to sound reassuring, but he wasn’t sure it came through. “If not, Jacob just had Jess Black delivered to my custody, so I can distract myself by making sure they are both settled and on their way to Atonement in the waiting time.”
Joseph made a slight sigh, as if he was executing something like that. “You must love them, John. Do not take your frustrations out on them. Do not give into your sin,” he sounded a million years old as he repeated what he had told John before.
“I won’t, Joseph. If I feel myself slipping, I’ll call you or Joseph, work on something else. I promise,” The conviction John was feeling came through better this time.
The intercom on his desk came to life, interrupting what Joseph was going to say next. “Herald, we have retrieved the Ryes and are securing them in the secure medical ward. Ms. Rye is in labor, so we are retrieving the midwives right now.” Benedict’s voice was calm, but there was a rush to his words.
“Of course, I’ll be down in just a minute,” John released the intercom button and addressed Joseph again. “I have to go, it’s time for me to talk to them in person again.”
“Go with grace, John. I will see you walking through Eden’s Gate with them,” Joseph stated confidently, before hanging up.
John turned, took a deep breath, and made his way out the door and to the med ward, ready to face his soulmates again.