Chapter 6: The Final Salute
The ascent was quick.
Elias sat in the belly of the Black Hawk, Leo strapped into the seat next to him. The boy was looking out the window as the Oak Ridge Plaza shrank into a miniature model of itself.
General Vance sat across from them. “”The President is waiting for the briefing, Elias. We’ve missed you.””
“”I missed the peace,”” Elias said, looking at his hands. They were clean, but they felt heavy.
“”Peace is a luxury we provide for others, sir,”” Vance said. “”You know that better than anyone.””
Elias looked at Leo. The boy was holding the broken plastic airplane Elias had managed to slip into his pocket.
“”We’ll fix it, Leo,”” Elias said. “”When we get to the city, we’ll fix everything.””
Leo looked up at him. “”Are you a King now, Elias?””
Elias smiled—a real, weary smile. He reached out and ruffled the boy’s hair.
“”No, Leo. I’m just a soldier who’s going back to work.””
As the helicopter banked toward Washington D.C., Elias looked down one last time. He saw the tiny specks of the soldiers below, the line of black vehicles, and the crowd of people who would spend the rest of their lives talking about the day the world changed in the middle of their shopping trip.
He realized then that his shirt hadn’t been ripped. It had been shed. The disguise was gone, and while the weight of the stars on his shoulders was immense, he felt a strange, new lightness.
He had protected the boy. He had honored the mother. And he had shown a small, selfish town that the greatest power doesn’t come from what you own, but from what you’re willing to sacrifice.
The last thing he saw before the clouds swallowed them was the sun reflecting off the fountain in the square—a bright, flickering light in a world that was always trying to go dark.
He tightened his grip on Leo’s hand.
The war was waiting, but for the first time in years, Elias Thorne knew exactly what he was fighting for.
True honor isn’t found in the medals you wear, but in the scars you’re willing to hide until the world needs a hero.”
