Sit The Throne

You flinch as your eyes adjust to the morning light filtering through the window. From under the covers you feel a warm hand on your chest. Could it be morning already?

As your mind clears you become aware of the person attached to the hand you've presently taken in yours. Leaning in you give her a good morning kiss. She stirs, smiling, and runs her free hand through your hair.

It's Elizabeth, your wife. Gray hair tumbles freely down to her shoulders. Her vibrant blue eyes watch you lovingly. She's 79 now, but in your eye she hasn't aged a day since you first met.

"Good morning beautiful." You say, leaning in for another kiss. Elizabeth draws you closer. "Good morning anon."

With a start she looks at the clock. "Anon, look at the time." Your grin widens. "I rescheduled. You deserve to sleep in every now and then. We both do."

She kisses you again, but you can tell she's distracted. It's no wonder. Today is the culmination of so much that she's worked for. So much that Columbia has worked for.

"Anon, we can't stay in bed forever." Elizabeth says, withdrawing from your embrace. "Can't we?" You ask. "No, not today." She replies with a teasing look in her eye.

With a heavy sigh you heave yourself out of bed to go get dressed. As you clothe yourself you can hear Elizabeth humming a tune to herself. It's not something you recognize. It must be one of Fink's new tunes. Now, where is your damn tie?

"Elizabeth, have you seen my brown tie?" As if oblivious to your question Elizabeth calls to you from her privacy screen. "Anon, would you mind helping me with this?" Of course you will, but you still feel a tinge of annoyance at her ignoring your question.

You slide open to privacy screen to find Elizabeth toying with a small box. Before you can ask any questions she pushes the box into your hand and smiles. "Open it."

Inside the box is a bright red tie of exceptional material. Beaming, Elizabeth explains. "You always wear the same stuff brown tie. So I thought I'd get you something new."

You look down at the tie and back to her. "Elizabeth, this is great. But I didn't get you anything." Taking the tie from your hands Elizabeth begins to fasten it for you. "I know. I was making my way home last night and I just had to get it for you." Your heart swells. How many could claim to have such a love in their life?

As the two of you head down to the dining room you make a note to get her some flowers. Pushing open the door you can hear several familiar voices conversing. Stepping into the room you see two well-dressed gentlemen, with one sandy blonde hair and the other with hair much like your own. The two of them are talking to a young woman with dark brown hair tied in a loose ponytail. The conversation stops as soon as they notice your presence. "Mother, father!" The brown-haired woman exclaims.

The woman sweeps you up in a hug. "It's so good to see you." You pause a moment to take her in. Her features are so much like her mother's. She even has the same beautiful eyes. "It's good to see you too Jessica."

While Jessica exchanges greetings with Elizabeth you shake hands with your son. "I'm glad you came." He responds by dragging you into a hug and patting you on the back. The gesture is surprising, but not unwelcome. Mark had always been a bit more reserved than Jessica. Not one to express himself like that often.

"Shall we?" Jessica asks, drawing everyone's attention to the table. A meal had been quietly laid out for us while we were greeting each other. Of course that's the kind of quality you could expect from the personal staff to the daughter of the prophet.

The meal was traditional fare, suiting the occasion. Scrambled eggs, hashed brown potatoes, bacon, and several slices of wheat bread. All cooked to perfection.

"So, will you three be joining us today?" David, Jessica's husband, smiled and held her hand. "Of course. This is a momentous occasion for Columbia." Elizabeth turned to Mark. "And you?"

"I'm afraid I won't be able to join you. There are too many important details to leave to the others." Elizabeth smiles to hide her disappointment. "I understand."

You petition him with your eyes as your gaze locks with his. "Surely they won't need you once things have started." Mark chews on his bread thoughtfully before continuing. "I can't make any promises."

"I'm sure you'll try your best." Jessica responds in a cheerful tone.

The rest of the meal proceeds with uneventful small-talk. It's not that you aren't interested with what's happening in Jessica and David's life, but you can't help but notice how distracted Elizabeth seems. Nobody could blame her, of course. Anyone would be. But as much as this means for everyone, for you, you can't help but wish that it would just be over with.

With breakfast finished your children excuse themselves. One of the downsides to being the most important family in Columbia is how little it feels like you get to see each other. But hopefully that will be changing after today.

"We'll be back at 1:00." Jessica affirms as she and David leave arm-in-arm. Watching them leave you feel Elizabeth entwine her fingers in yours. They remind you so much of Elizabeth and yourself when you were younger. Elizabeth must have been thinking the same thing.

You look up from your book as the clock strikes noon. It's nearly time. Glancing across the room you notice that Elizabeth has set down her book and reading glasses. Now she stands by the window, looking out into the clouds.

Setting your own book down you step over to the window and wrap your arms around Elizabeth's waist. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Elizabeth sighs. "Sometimes I just wish I could give this all away."

"It's a burden, to be sure. But you were born to carry it." you reply, kissing her neck. "And you've done it magnificently, I might add. Columbia has never been more prosperous, more powerful, or safer for it's people."

"Father would be proud, wouldn't he?" Elizabeth seemed to state this more than ask it.

When the appointed time arrives you and Elizabeth make your way to the roof. There are you are greeted by several high-ranking military officers and a sizeable cadre of bodyguards. More for show at this point than anything.

A cry rings out from across the roof. "Mom! Dad!" It takes you a few seconds to realize that Jessica is calling you from all the way over by the airship. You exchange a private look of amusement with Elizabeth, and even a few of the soldiers chuckle.

Arms interlocked with Elizabeth's the two of you stride across the rooftop. The wind kicks up every now and then, but the weather is otherwise perfect. It's as if God himself has graced Columbia with a fraction of his glory for this day.

As you board the airship you notice that Mark is among the men gathered to see the you off. "Come to see us off, I see."

"I've come to join you." He replies, taking leave of his men and stepping aboard the airship. "I made time."

"We're glad you did." Elizabeth says, giving him a hug.

With everyone on board the airship's engines stir to life with an almost inaudible roar. Presently the reassuring green light of several Mosquitos let's you know that you are close to your destination. Sure enough the massive bulk of the Hand of the Prophet can be seen against the incoming cloud bank. Cutting through the clouds the airship ascends to make contact with the Hand. With practiced quickness the crew safely docks the airship, allowing everyone to safely depart.

"It's almost time." Elizabeth's tone is harried as she steps on board the Hand of the Prophet. Her advisers inform Elizabeth of minor last minute details as the cadre hurries up through the engineering bay and up to the main bridge. Passing crewmembers kneel respectfully as Elizabeth passes them by. Finally with a wave of her hand Elizabeth dismisses her prattling advisers. "Enough, we've almost arrived."

The main bridge had long since been converted into a more utilitarian station than when Elizabeth's father had commanded The Hand. Gone were the ornate but inefficient designs and gone were the unnecessary glorifications to Columbia and the Prophet. The Hand of the Prophet was an outward symbol of Columbia's might, but on the inside it was a warship first and foremost. Which was just as well to you. You never could quite get used to those motorized patriots and their faces. It seemed downright eerie the way they all resembled the prophet.

The cadre of guards and officials file into the bridge before you and Elizabeth. Several take up stations and perform security checks, while others prepare the communications equipment. Once everyone has stepped into the bridge Elizabeth is given the OK. The time has come.

Elizabeth looks over to you and then back to the microphone. After taking a deep breath she begins. Her voices thunders through the sky as speakers from all over the city relay her speech. The effect is very much like a message from the heavens themselves.

"Citizens of Columbia! Long have we waited for this day. Long have we fought for this day. When the Vox Populi sought to rise up and take from us what is our rightful destiny we stood our ground. When America, our fallen homeland, took up arms against us we stood our ground. When the foreign hordes tried to pluck us from the sky we stood our ground. And each time we triumphed. And why is this? Because we are rightous in our cause? Surely. But also because the Columbian people are strong, vigilant, and unwavering in our pursuit of my father's vision. A vision that we see realized today. With this strike the last major resistance against us will be crushed! So let us not tarry on this last step. Let us go fourth and finally fulfill the prophecy we have so long awaited!

"Beautiful speech." Jessica says, wiping a tear from her eye.

The soldiers in attendance clap respectfully as Elizabeth shifts to face you. You smile and she takes your hand and hers, guiding you to the gilded viewport. With her head resting on your shoulder you stare out onto the sodom below and watch as Columbia airships move into position. The command is given and the mountains of man are drowned in flames.