Take my love, take my land, take me where I cannot stand. I don't care I'm still free, you can't take the sky from me. Take me out to the black, tell them I ain't coming back. Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me......There's no place I can be since I found my Liberty, you can't take the sky from me.


Chapter 20: A Brand New Day


The next morning Brian and Justin had breakfast with everyone, took John and Peter to the stables, saddled up their mounts, and headed out. Brian enjoyed watching his nephews' antics. They seemed to be happy, well adjusted kids and he was thankful for that. It felt like he'd been fighting a war since the day he was born; first, at the hands of his parents, and then later as a soldier fighting the control and domination of the Alliance. He was glad that he'd been able to provide a semblance of normalcy for his nephews in their younger years. At least they hadn't grown up in a home where each night was a new terror to experience.

Justin looked around at the beautiful countryside. To him, this was truly paradise. He picked up on Brian's thoughts which made him start recollecting his own childhood experiences. His father had done the best he could to provide him with a normal life, but he'd never felt like he had a home. They were always moving, always looking over their shoulders, always worried that the Alliance would catch on to their deception. He understood all this now, but as a child, all he knew was that he couldn't get too attached to any place because he knew they'd be moving on eventually. Laughter rang out as the boys galloped across the plains. Yes, he wished he'd had the same chances for normal life as those two boys. He wondered if they knew how truly lucky they were.

A sonic boom split the air causing the horses to panic and rear up in a startled reaction. Justin just barely managed to stay seated on his mount but the boys weren't so lucky. As soon as he calmed his steed, Justin jumped from his horse and ran to Peter since Brian already had John. After a quick check, Peter seemed to be fine so Justin turned and asked, "How's John?"

"A bit shaken but he'll be fine. We need to get the horses and get back to the house. That was an Alliance ship breaking atmo."

Justin nodded his head and turned to spot the boy's horses galloping over the hill. He reached out with his mind and turned the animals around drawing them back to their location.

Brian watched his partner with an amazed expression on his face. Was there anything this man couldn't do? "Justin, listen to me."

Justin looked at Brian with a hurt expression and said in a small voice, "You didn't call my Yang guang."

Brian gripped Justin's chin and forced his head up so they could make eye contact. "We need Justin. I know you said you merged, but if there is anyway you can channel Justin do it now, Yang guang."

"Brian, I don't understand. Why would you even ask me to do this?"

"Listen to me, Yang guang. This is going to be bad. I fought those bastards for years in a war that we were never going to win. I know how they think and I know how they react to things. They are planning on making an example of us. They want to be able to say, 'If you fuck with the Alliance, this is what happens to you'. I don't want you touched by this. Let Justin have full control for this one, please."

"I don't know if I can. I'm not sure what would happen to me if I even tried."

Brian looked around frantically. "Okay, then you take the boys and get to that cave. I'll go back and see if I can help fight off this ship long enough for us to evacuate Haven. If I don't make it, you take care of my nephews."

"No fucking way! I won't hide out here like some scared little schoolboy while you go fight the big bad bully. If anyone goes back, it's going to be me. You stay with the boys. I have a better shot at fighting these people than you do anyway, and you know that."

"We don't have time to argue…"

Justin cut Brian off quickly, "You are right, we don't. So stop fucking arguing and get the boys to safety. I'll be back for you."

Brian watched helplessly as Justin jumped on his horse and rode toward the homestead. He quickly got Peter and John to the cave. "Listen boys, I have to go back and see if I can help. I need you two to stay put. Don't leave this cave unless it's one of the family that comes to get you. Do you understand me?"

Both boys nodded their heads and whispered, "Yes Uncle Bri."

"Okay, John make sure to look after your brother. I'll be back as soon as I can." Brian mounted his horse and turned toward the homestead. His heart was racing faster than the horse. Why couldn't he ever catch a break? It was almost too much to bear thinking about the Alliance corrupting his perfect Haven. He kicked his horse and yelled, "Yah!" If he was going down today, he'd be damned if he'd go quietly, and he planned on taking a few of those Purple bellied bastards down with him.

Justin jumped from the horse as soon as he was close to Liberty. He saw the Alliance ship firing laser shots, but Liberty's shields seemed to be holding. He looked around and saw the utter devastation that surrounded him. The farmhouse was completely destroyed along with the stables and all the out buildings. Brian's home was gone and those fucking Alliance pigs had taken it away from him. Justin heard the crunching of metal and turned in time to see a laser blast break through Liberty's shield and take out part of the cargo hold. No way. There was no way these people were going to destroy the only home he'd ever known. He held his arms out and felt the wind pick up around him. He felt the tears run down his cheeks as he stared up at the Alliance ship with pure hatred in his eyes. He watched as another laser blast rocked Liberty. No, no, no, no, no! He brought his fists to his chest and screamed with all his might, "NO, you fucking won't take my home from me!" He thrust his arms forward and felt the power travel down and out sending a huge blast at the Alliance ship. Never stopping for a break, he stretched his arms out again letting the air pick before drawing his arms in and thrusting toward the Alliance ship again. "AAAAAHHHHH"

Each blast Justin sent at the Alliance ship knocked it back. The ship's shields were holding steady, but the pilot couldn't seem to stabilize the ship against the force of each blast.

Justin's entire body was humming with power. He was actually glowing. The power was growing and building as his emotions became more and more erratic. "I'm going to destroy you! If you don't leave me and my family alone, I'm going to hunt down each and every one of you, one by one." He slammed the ship over and over forcing the pilot to land. The soldier's exited the craft immediately and started firing at Justin.

Justin held a hand up stopping the laser fire before it got anywhere near him. "You never learn and you never listen! I won't let you hurt my family!" He used his free hand to gather some power and flung it at the soldiers. He watched as their bodies disintegrated much like the boulder and tree stump had the previous day. He looked around desperately searching out any other threats. When he realized it was over, he slumped to the ground sobbing.

Brian arrived just in time to see Justin kill the Alliance soldiers. He ran to his partner and hugged him in a tight embrace. "It's alright, Yang guang. It's over for now. I'm here."

"I killed them Brian. I killed them all."

"I know. You had to do it. You were protecting our family. It's going to be alright."

Justin buried his face against Brian's chest and tightened his arms around his lover. "I couldn't let them destroy Liberty."

"I know you couldn't. You did the only thing you could do. We need to see if anyone's hurt and get Liberty in the air as soon as possible." Brian stroked Justin's cheek gently. "We are going to be okay."

Justin nodded and stood up. "We need to go get the boys too."

"Captain, are you two alright?" Ben asked as he staggered from behind Liberty.

"Big Ben, what's the status of the crew?" Brian helped Ben sit down.

"Mel and I were able to get almost everyone on board. We picked up the ship on radar about three minutes before it broke atmo." Ben coughed and held his side.

"Are you alright, Ben?" Justin asked as he tried to take a look at the man's ribs. "I'm fine but we need to find Claire and Michael."

Brian felt his heart sink. He knew immediately that something really bad had happened. He took a deep breath and looked around as the rest of the crew slowly exited the ship. "Alright we have a lot to do and a short amount of time to do it. Big Ben, I need you, Justin and Mel to rip that pulse cannon off the Alliance ship and mount it on Liberty. Lindz, I need you and Em to make sure none of the internal circuits were damaged and that our bird will still fly. The rest of us will look for Claire and Michael. Let's get to it people."

Brian headed in the direction where the old house used to be shouting Claire and Michael's name. About three hundred yards past the ruins of the house, he found Michael. At first he thought his friend was dead, but he still had a pulse so he yelled for Ted.

Ted ran over and started quickly examining Michael. "He's going to be alright, Captain, but we need to get him to the infirmary."

Michael came to when they picked him up. "Claire, I couldn't find her. I'm so sorry, Bri."

"Don't talk, Mikey. Save your strength. We'll continue the search after we have you squared away."

Brian left Ted and Michael, found Craig, and informed him that he was going back for the boys. "You keep searching for Claire and I'll be back as soon as I can. I can't leave those boys out there alone any longer."

"Aye, aye, Captain," Craig replied.

Brian found his horse and headed back to the cave. His heart was breaking because he just knew his sister was dead. He had no way to explain how he knew, but he knew. He dreaded telling his nephews that their mother was gone. What the hell was he supposed to do with two young impressionable kids? It was bad enough that Lindz was pregnant, but the thought of children on board Liberty scared him more than he wanted to admit. He was already responsible for so many lives, but to add three kids to the mix that was too much for anyone to handle.

The boys ran out as soon as they saw their Uncle approach. "Is it over, Uncle Bri?"

Brian slid off his horse and hugged his nephews tightly. "Listen boys, I have something to tell you. We can't find your mother." He felt the boys hugging him tighter and heard Peter's soft cry. "We won't give up hope boys, but I want you both to be prepared."

John looked up at his Uncle. "What happens to us, Uncle Bri?"

"You will all come with me on Liberty of course. I won't leave you guys on this planet now that the Alliance knows that it's my home base."

The boys climbed on their horses and they all headed back to the ship. Craig met Brian as he rode up to the ship. "We found your sister Brian, but she's not in good shape."

Brian took the boys on the ship and headed toward the infirmary. He saw Claire and felt the lump grow in his throat. He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Hey Sis, I got the boys here."

Claire took a shallow breath. "Bri, promise me. You have to promise to look after the boys for me."

"Don't talk like that, Claire. You are going to be fine."

"Bri, we both know that's not true. Now promise me."

"I promise to look after the boys, Claire. I promise."

"Send the boys in. I want to speak to them in private."

Brian paced back and forth outside the med lab. He didn't know how to handle this situation, but he had to do it for his sister. The door opened slowly and Peter ran out slamming into Brian's legs hugging him tightly and sobbing.

Brian looked up at John who had tears streaming down his cheeks. "She's gone, Uncle Bri."

Brian closed his eyes and swallowed hard. He had to be strong for the boys as well as his entire crew. He hugged the boys tightly murmuring into their ears that everything would be alright.

Brian took the boys to the kitchen and turned them over to Debbie. He knew she'd be able to deal with the boys a lot better than he could at the moment. "I have to go make sure we are ready to take off boys, but I'll be back."

Peter looked up at Brian. "Are you going to take care of us now, Uncle Bri?"

Brian gently ruffled the boy's hair. "You bet. Your Uncle Justin and I will always look out for you boys."

It took them well into the night to get the ship in order and ready for take off. They all worked tirelessly and as quickly as possible. Brian asked the boys if they wanted their mother to be buried on the planet or at space. They both agreed that she'd be happier buried on Haven.

At first light, they held a small ceremony in memory of Claire. The boys held tightly to their Uncles. Brian stayed behind with the boys so they could say a final farewell to their mother in private. He wished things would have been different. He only hoped that he'd be a good influence on the boys.

As soon as the got back to Liberty, Justin took the boys and showed them their new rooms. Brian took one last look around at the destruction that was his home away from home before letting the air-lock door close.

Since everyone had worked so long and hard, Brian told the entire crew to go to bed. He planned on flying Liberty off Haven and head back toward Babylon. When he reached the bridge, Justin was already there. He gave his partner a big hug and a gentle kiss. "I guess we start over somewhere else."

Justin smiled brightly. "As long as we stick together, Liberty is all the home we'll ever need."

Brian winked. "You got that right."

"I figured I'd try my hand at flying, if you don't mind."

"Knock yourself out, Yang guang," Brian replied.

Justin started up the engine and pulled back on the wheel competently setting Liberty on a course to break atmo.

"Well, you seem to know what you are doing." Brian stated.

Justin smiled and whispered, "Thanks."

Brian thought for a second and then asked, "Do you know what the first rule of flying is? Well I suppose you do since you already know what I'm going to say."

Justin looked over at Brian. "I do, but I still like to hear you say it."

Brian swallowed. "Love. You can learn all the math in the verse, but if you take a boat in the air that you don't love, she'll shake you off just as a turn in the worlds. Love keeps you in the air, when she ought to fall down, tells ya she's hurting before she keens, makes her a home."

Justin reached over, took one of Brian's hands, gave him a big smile, nodded his head, and guided Liberty up through the clouds. It was a brand new day.


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