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It was May 2098. Stiles Stillinski was turning seventeen years old. He had a highly enjoyable day, lots of presents, a big cake, all the friends he had known his whole life. The Hale property near Utica Square was ideal for hosting big celebrations. Stiles' birthday usually was a cause for celebration, partly because he was so well liked and partly for - another reason.
Stiles had been born and raised there in Tulsa. It was for its time an out-of-the-way city that had a very sparse population. Most of the people there knew each other and had each other's comfidence. He had been out of the city on excursions into the Ozark mountains and onto the Great Plains. However, the only people he knew were the people closest to him in Tulsa, though they were a fair few. He knew his parents were alive but not in the area; it was a mystery which his surrogate uncle Peter Hale told him would someday be revealed to him. That was the biggest frustration of his young life, not knowing the whereabouts of his own flesh and blood. Otherwise, he had a fantastic life. His foster parents, James and Talia Hale had taken him in once he had outgrown being suckled by his mother. Since then, he had been well educated and well loved. He had both a genius intellect and a winning personality. Everybody adored him, kept him out of harm's way and was firm with him to help him be disciplined and resolute.
After the birthday party wound down, Stiles went for a walk down the street with Derek. Derek was James and Talia's first born, seven years Stiles' senior and one of the people that helped him excel in his education. Derek would assist Stiles every night with his reading, science and advanced mathematics. His accumulated knowledge surpassed even that of his teachers. However, they both knew at the same time that there was a deeper meaning to their relationship than foster children or between student and tutor. They just weren't sure how to address it.
"Derek, I think we need to discuss what's happening," Stiles said, "I think you can tell that I'm falling in love with you, and I suspect you feel the same for me."
"You're not mistaken, Stiles," said Derek, "I have loved you since the day Mom and Dad took you in. I might've thought it was a silly inclination, since I was only eight at the time, but I coud never shake it."
"I hope your parents and your uncle have no issue if we end up pursuing a relationship," replied Stiles.
"I have a funny feeling that the only issue they'd have is that you're only seventeen," said Derek.
"If the subject does come up beforehand, I will be sure they know I won't make a move until next year," Stiles said.
Derek smiled broadly. "That's my Stiles," he said half-jokingly, "always thinking of others first."
They both laughed, then kept walking.
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When they reached the edge of the Arkansas River, Stiles and Derek sat down on the side of the road, looking out at the water. The buildings were old and decrepid, not maintained as well as the ones where they lived inland. It was a place where Stiles liked to go to collect his thoughts when his day-to-day responsibilities were overwhelming him.
Derek looked at Stiles and said, "There's something on your mind, isn't there?"
Stiles smiled. "You definitely know me, Derek," he said, "I have got something on my mind. I try not to aggrivate your uncle with this too much, but - I want to know the truth about where I come from. I hear people say I'm no ordinary boy. Will I ever find out why?"
Derek frowned. Stiles recognized it as a sign that he wasn't inclined to brush him off but that answering Stiles involved risks.
Finally, Derek sighed and said, "I think it's about time you knew. Uncle Peter might give me grief for it later on, but - "
"Not if he doesn't find out right away, man," said Stiles reassuringly, "I can keep a secret."
"Okay," said Derek. He then took a deep breath and asked, "Stiles, do you recall the stories my mother used to tell you?"
"I do," said Stiles, "Talia and Scott's mother Melissa both told me tales about a country which was free. There was no isolation and no forced distinction. The lowest, poorest person had opportunities to turn his or her life around if they put their mind to it. And if you were not physically capable of living a regular life and earning your keep, there would be someone that could and would assist you to get what you needed. You could vote to elect your official of choice, and even if the one you voted for wasn't elected, you could still depend on the person who was chosen to speak on your behalf. It worked very well, and the land was prosperous for hundreds of years. Then - " Stiles took a deep breath and went on, " - everything stopped. Suddenly, people were forced to choose up sides for a huge, deadly wargame that stretched across the whole continent. The game began, and it never stopped. Talia - your mother - said that the game will continue being played until someone figures out a way to stop it."
Stiles," said Derek. He hesitated momentarily, then pressed on, "what Mom and Melissa told you isn't just a bedtime story. They were telling you the history of the United States of America, a country which existed right where we are now and included the city of Tulsa, and what became of it."
Stiles' mouth hit the ground. "Wow!" he said. "Please tell me more."
"Back at the house," said Derek, "there's a US History book, originally intended for students just younger than you. Most materials like it have been incinerated in the last 80 years or so, but this one has been well preserved. I'll lend it to you when we return home. It takes most people at least a semester to finish, but I imagine you would whip through it within a week."
Stiles blushed. "You flatter," he said.
"Why should I flatter the fastest reader any of us has ever known?" asked Derek. Then, he continued. "Suffice it to say, it began with the two main political parties in the United States of America, the Democrats and Republicans. When the United States Constitution was ratified, the Democrats leaned toward the right-wing end of the ideological spectrum. Roughly 60 years later when the Republican party was begun, they were the progressives whom abolished slavery, built bridges that were considered impossible, instituted reforms and promoted technological advancements. Then, during the first half of the 20th century, the parties adopted opposite ideologies to what they'd demonstrated originally. The real trouble didn't begin though until the 1980s, when a Republican president named Ronald Reagan was elected. He was capable, yet he disregarded the balance of power, instigating many operations which gave his own party a clear and indecent advantage over the Democrats or any independently-registered voters or officials. Much of it involved fundraising from major corporations, most of whom favored the Republican party."
"That's both ridiculous and easy to understand," repied Stiles, "I imagine I can deduce where this saga is going."
"I would expect nothing less of you, man," said Derek, smirking. They allowed themselves a few seconds of giggling before Derek continued.
"After the Reagan administration, the nation entered a sort of loaded period. Even when the Democrats had gained a majority in the lawmaking section of the government and the presidency, there were multiple instances where the balance of power - or lack thereof - was against them. It had become a question of the Democratic party fighting for a majority strictly to weaken the Republicans who'd obtained absolute power in the country. They also were blaming Democrats for how big and invasive the government had become, though the facts pointed to them and their actions."
"When did worst come to worst, Derek?" asked Stiles, "I can tell that something did change and not for the better."
"You're spot on, my dear," said Derek, "It happened sometime after 2021, 60 years before you were born. The Democratic party knew it would need to fight for the kind of power which the Republican party had, if there was any hope of restoring a balance of power in the country. Unfortunately, things did not go as intended. In the act of trying to consolidate power, the US military ended up splitting down the middle. Many high-ranking officers suddenly turned on each other. They began attacking installations all across the country. The soldiers that were loyal to the Republicans began putting down stakes in a section of North America known as Appalachia. They began destroying the major cities that had been democratic fixtures and driving out the populations. They made the city of Baltimore their capitol and abandoned the US' earlier world capitol of Washington DC. Those loyal to the Democrats fled to the American West Coast, fortifying the Siera Nevada mountain range and making San Francisco its capitol. Within 20 years, the factions of Appalachia and Siera grew out of the two areas of the continent."
"That explains why the teritory of Oklahoma is so sparsely populated," exclaimed Stiles, "because of the fortification at either end of the country."
"Exactly," said Derek, "and it also makes for an ideal spot for people that have disappeared from both factions to congregate here. Since the United States have quit functioning, it's also more fitting to refer to Oklahoma as a teritory than as one of the states."
"So, what exactly is the nature of Tulsa's existance?" asked Stiles, "If we aren't part of either faction, what exactly are we?"
"Tulsa houses a resistance movement, the Stalemate Resistance," said Derek, exibiting a measure of pride and honor which Stiles had not witnessed before, "and both you and I are part of it, Stiles. As are your parents."
"My parents?" exclaimed Stiules, "How?"
"You know that guy Ennis who always gives you the creeps when you see him?" asked Derek.
"Yes."
"He is our spy. His main line of work is that he's a mercenary for hire. He is not loyal to either faction, and he provides for both of them based on what they are willing to pay. I think the Apalachia always short changes him myself."
Stiles laughed.
"But below the radar, he's a spy who has provided extensive resources for our operation. We're the ones Ennis is loyal to. He was born toward the beginning of Appalachia, but he ran away from home when he was little. It's through his auspices that your mother, Claudia Farrell was spirited out of Appalachia when her parents had died and your father, Noah Stillinski was smuggled out of Siera when the same thing had happened to him. They were escorted here to Tulsa by Ennis and integrated into the Stalemate Resistance."
Now, Stiles whistled.
Derek went on. "They were both discovered by Uncle Peter and my folks to possess heightened intelligence. Peter had once read a short story by a German-American author about a genius boy who wants to overthrow his totalitarian government and had an idea. Conveniently, Noah and Claudia fell in love, married and had one child - you. You were named Genim after one of Claudia's ancestors from Ireland. Although it tormented them both, they agreed to let themselves be separated from you once you'd finished nursing and to be isolated, in case their respective factions discovered they were here and came searching for all of you. Though Ennis is the only one who knows we exist, it was in the balance that this could change. However, the factions' reach doesn't extend to the South Pacific. Peter arranged for your mother and father to be relocated with Ennis' help - " Derek hesitated, then plunged forward " - to the Big Island of Hawaii."
Stiles exclaimed, "My parents are in Hawaii?"
"Don't get too excited, kid," said Derek, "you know Peter won't let you get anywhere near there, not at least until you've turned eighteen."
"And especially after this whole mess is somehow cleaned up," conceded Stiles, "assuming it can be."
Then suddenly, he had a revelation. Everything he had learned from the Hales, Mr. Yokimura, Melissa, her subordinate Alan Deaton was leading to this moment. Nobody had said a word to him on the subject, but he knew. He had been groomed to envisage a solution to the conflict which had devistated the once-great United States of America and perverted them into a twisted and deadly standoff between extremist factions. He sat wide-eyed, staring aimlessly into the sun which was about to set, then pulled himself together and turned back to Derek. "Derek, my one true love, I think I can come up with the right plan to bring both Appalachia AND Siera to their knees and reunite the states. You mentioned a US Constitution. Is that included in that textbook?"
"It's an appendix at the end," said Derek, "I suggest you read the book from beginning to end, then tackle the Constitution."
"You've never steered me wrong up to now, sweetie," gushed Stiles.
Before they stood up to head back to Utica Square, Stiles and Derek leaned towards each other and kissed tenderly. They were both in love and hopeful for an improved future for their society.
=========================
However, there was one secret the two of them could not keep. They opened the door to the Hale house to find Derek's sisters, Laura and Cora setting the dinnertable. His mother, Talia was sitting in her favorite wingback chair in the next room. She looked up from the article she was reading and said, "Have you lovebirds set the date?"
Derek flushed and said, "Mom, dont!"
Stiles blushed and tried hiding his face, saying "Aw, Talia!"
"Aw, come on boys. I have the right to tease you. I can tell you two are in love, and I fully approve - with one quid pro quo - "
Stiles held up a hand. "Don't worry, Talia. I'll wait until after my next birthday. You have my word."
They then headed for the table, joined by James, the girls, Peter and his daughter Malia Tate. Upon taking their seats, James lifted a wine goblet and said "Happy birthday, Stiles - and may you and Derek be only good to each other."
They all laughed as the lovebirds covered their faces in embarrassment.
=========================
As per Derek's assurance, Stiles had finished the US History textbook within a week. Even with his routine studies, he kept picking up the history book and read several chapters of it each day. By the sixth day, he had already made it to the appendicies which included the US Constitution and all its amendments. When he gave the book back to Derek, Stiles whispered to him, "I think a huge, recurring issue with the GOP involved how after the Civil War, four of their presidential candidates took the Electoral College but not the Popular Vote. It's as though they depended less on the vote than they did on land mass. Why wasn't the Electoral College abolished in tandem with slavery?"
"I discussed that same question with Uncle Peter when he handed me this book," remarked Derek, "we both agreed that if the right wing voters couldn't do without the EC, they should've been willing to compromise."
"Yeah," said Stiles, "at least have it amended to contour the points among the popular vote of each state. Let's see if that can't be taken care of in the future."
His face was set, but he had a gleam in his eyes that Derek found very telling and appealing. "If he's up to something," Derek told himself, "I hope I find out about it before long"
=========================
Over the following 7 months, Stiles continued his studies with Ken Yokimura in mathematics, Talia Hale in composition & literature and James Hale in science. Near the end of the summer, Stiles noticed that Ennis had brought 2 newcomers to Tulsa for the Stalemate Resistance, Chris Argent and his daughter Alison. They announced to Peter Hale while he was in the act of vetting them for the resistance that Chris had estranged himself from his wife Victoria and escaped from Appalachia with their daughter, thus incurring the wrath of Chris' sister Kate and their own father, Gerard Argent who was the leader of the territory. Simultaneously, three teenage runaways appeared from Siera, Lydia Martin who was the same age as Stiles and his best friend Scott McCall and twins named Ethan and Aiden whom were slightly older. They were not escorted to Tulsa by Ennis, this time by another Siera resident named Jordan Parish. After he'd been vetted by the Hales, Jordan confided to Stiles and Derek that he had known Stiles' father.
"Jordan must've seen Ennis and learned from him about the resistance," Stiles whispered to Derek later that evening.
"My uncle thinks he escaped of his own volition and took the three kids with him," Derek whispered back, "Ennis has shaped up to be a modern-day Harriet Tubman."
Stiles had to stuff a fist in his mouth to prevent his laughter from carrying out into the corridor. He had read in the history book about the Underground Railroad helping runaway slaves to reach free states & territories to the north and immediately understood the parallel. During his mrecenary activities for both factions, Ennis was singling out people from both sides to be smuggled to a peaceful environment.
"He can't bring huge groups of defectors across the country, because it'd make him and them too easy to track," said Derek.
"Here's hoping he's covered those tracks carefully," said Stiles, "because the two Argents being gone won't be inconspicuous. The chances that Deucelion of Siera will notice the absence of Jordan, Lydia, Ethan and Aiden are much lower, since they're not high up."
Derek nodded his agreement.
The Argents had also provided the resistance with a measure of intelligence which Jordan confirmed. The leadership and militaries of both factions had become dependent on weaponry and tactical display systems which were all electronically controlled; none of the personel were making use of traditional firearms or explosives. Each of their personel counts, reserves included, comprised roughly 500,000 people. Nobody knew other than Derek, but this information was vital to Stiles' secret plans.
=========================
One day shortly after the beginning of 2099, Scott cornered Stiles. "What have we been assembling for you?" he asked.
Stiles had tasked Scott, the twins, Lydia, Allison, Jackson Whittemore, Isaac Lahey and Liam Dunbar (the last three of which had been brought up in Tulsa like Scott & Stiles) over the previous 2 months with spending their spare time in a disused factory near the river, putting together a bunch of devices acording to a design schematic Stiles had drawn and with parts that Derek had secretly sourced from Ennis. Only Stiles and Derek knew what the teens were building. He had a major surprise in store for everyone, and he had done his best to keep it under wraps.
"I know this must be frustrating for you, Scott," said Stiles, "but you'll find out what I've had the eight of you building real soon. I'm keeping it as a surprise, and you guys have been incredible with helping to make it a reality."
In spite of his frustration with Stiles' response, Scott swelled with pride. Stiles was the only one who could coax that reaction in Scott.
"I can tell you that you'll get the goods around the time of my next birthday," Stiles continued. To himself, he said "Everyone in the Stalemate Resistance will get the goods."
That same day, two more newcomers appeared at the Hale property to be vetted into the resistance, a woman from Siera named Erica Reyes and a man from Appalachia named Vernon Boyd. (While Erica had been escorted by Ennis, Boyd had left home on his own and followed his nose to Oklahoma.) They were Derek's age, and the first thing the others noticed as they were being vetted was that they couldn't keep their eyes off each other. James told Derek and Stiles that it reminded him of how Stiles' parents had met.
=========================
At the end of April 2099, a message materialized at both the Siera control center in San Francisco and the Appalachia control center in Baltimore. It stated that there was a young man located on the Great Plains whose intelligence was neigh superhuman, one who could prove beneficial to whichever faction took custody of him and indoctrinated him into their hierarchy as a weapon against the other. This information had been covertly snuck into both locations by Ennis, without being noticed by either Serge Deucellion in San Francisco or Gerard Argent in Baltimore. Neither leader knew where the intel had come from; they never considered that Ennis would have provided it, since they only noted him for his hired help.
"Suckers," Ennis whispered to himself, as he watched Theo Raekeen laboring after Gerard like the lapdog he had always been.
=========================
Aided by Jordan and James, Stiles worked up two innovative aides for his secret plan. One of them was a new form of netting which was indestructable.The other was a device emitting a pulse wave which could neutralize electrical signals. The former was something which he had immediately set to work devising while he was reading the textbook. The latter was an idea he had when Chris had informed the resistance about Appalachia's strict usage of electronically-operated weapons. As time passed, everyone close to Stiles was becoming increasingly intrigued with what he could possibly have in mind. However, he remained tight lipped and had only confided the plans to Derek. Even Scott was kept in the dark.
=========================
Finally, it was May 1, 2099, Stiles' eighteenth birthday. He dressed at 7 AM and went downstairs for breakfast - only to be met with a tidal wave of cheers. Standing in the foyer at the foot of the stairwell were Derek, Laura, Cora, James, Talia, Peter, Malia, Scott, Melissa, Jackson, Isaac, Ennis, Ken Yokimura and several of the refugees that had recently joined the resistance. They all shouted "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STILES!" as one and reached out to embrace him as he raced down the stairs. Derek hugged him tightly and gave him a deep kiss. Everyone crowed and went "Oooooh," at the sight. Stiles was too overwhelmed by this outpouring of love, affection and pride even to be embarassed.
Later that evening when all the guests had left for the day and everyone was cleaning up the dinner dishes, James and Talia took Stiles and Derek aside.
"Stiles," Talia began, "Let me explain why James and I didn't get you a birthday gift."
"Aw Talia, you guys have already given me everything," said Stiles, now blushing deeply.
"Almost," said both adults in unison.
"Derek has told us that he would like you to share his room from now on, if you want to. You're an adult now, and you have our permission to be with the one you love," said James.
Stiles beamed and glowed. "You know something," he said, his eyes twinkling at Derek, "the answer is a big, resounding YES."
Derek embraced him tightly, while his parents cheered.
Less than an hour later, they were already in Derek's room, Stiles having carried most of his clothes and toiletries in and found places for all of it. They both undressed and beheld each other's forms.
"Genim Stiles Stillinski," said Derek, "I always thought you were beautiful, but I didn't know how much."
"Wow," said Stiles, glowing again, "I was just about to say the exact same thing about you, Derek Alexander Hale."
They fell into bed, kissing, hugging, licking each other's ears and tweaking each other's nipples. Stiles leaned forward and took Derek's long penis into his mouth, sucking on it until Derek cried out, "YES STILES! YES!" and climaxed.
They took a few seconds to catch their breath. Then, they switched postures so Derek could do the exact same thing to Stile,s. Within 5 minutes, Derek had aroused Stiles to the point where Stiles shouted, "OH DEREK! YES! YES MY LOVE!" and also climaxed.
They both lay in bed, panting, hugging, taking in the afterglow. This was what each of them wanted for the rest of their lives, to be in each other's arms through thick and thin.
"I love you Derek," said Stiles.
"I love you Stiles," replied Derek.
They then turned off the lights and fell asleep in each other's arms.
=========================
The following day, Stiles and Derek sought out Derek's uncle Peter, their leader. They had decided it was about time that they notified Peter of Stiles' big plan. They were slightly apprehensive, since they had spent over a year keeping it concealed from Peter that Stiles had learned the truth about his birth and the makeup of the outside world. "However, I think he'd be a major idiot if he cracks down on us. Peter may be very firm, but I think he'll have an open mind," Stiles reasoned. Derek had to agree.
They found Peter in his office, talking to Melissa McCall. She was updating him on everyone's medical stats. Melissa smiled when she saw Stiles and Derek approaching.
"Good morning, Melissa," said Stiles when they entered the office.
"Hello, boys," she responded, winking at them. Melissa wasn't their parent, but she had become like a sister to Talia, James and Peter, not to mention that her son was Stiles' best friend. Add being a doctor to the fold, so Stiles' and Derek's well-being mattered to her, and the feeling was mutual.
"As soon as you're finished, Melissa, we'd like to talk to Uncle Peter," said Derek.
"I'm already on my way out," she responded, "Have a good day, gentlemen."
"Thanks," all three men responded as she exited the office.
Once Melissa shut the door, Stiles and Derek took seats opposite to Peter's desk. The resistance leader could tell there was something serious on their minds, so he waited for them to speak first. At first, it felt to Stiles as though they were confessing a major breach of discipline, which was only partly true. Finally, he said, "Peter - I think I've found a way to neutralize the Appalachia and Siera factions of America."
Peter's mouth hit the floor. "You what?" he gasped.
"Please let me explain," said Stiles, holding up one hand, "I've known about the state of this continent for over a year now. I know about the factions and their decades-long dispute, about who my parents are and about being part of the Stalemate Resistance."
Peter's face was first set, as though he was teetering on the point of yelling at his nephew and surrogate nephew. Then, he threw back his head and began laughing maniacally. The two boys looked at each other, both a little bemused. Finally, the hardened resistance leader pulled himself together, looked Stiles in the eye and said, "Harrison Bergeron has struck gold."
Derek's eyes popped. "Is that the short story you remembered before, Peter?" he asked, "I think I read it too. So has Stiles."
"Go on Stiles," said Peter evenly.
Stiles proceeded to divulge a plan which was already in progress. He had given Derek written messages which Derek passed to Ennis, messages which were discretely left under the noses of both Gerard Argent in Baltimore and Serge Deucellion in San Francisco about a young man of superhuman intellect living on the Great Plains who could function as a "perfect weapon" if either faction took custody of him. The message included no specifics and was left anonymously; neither faction leader would know the precise location of this person.
Peter whistled. "Right now, each of them is trying to prepare a collection-and-extraction operation but not deploying it, since they cannot comb the whole Great Plains region looking for their target. What's your plan, Stiles?"
Stiles proceeded. "I plan on sending my own anonymous message to let them know my whereabouts - approximately 175 miles from here near the remains of Wichita. There with the help of Jordan, Erica and Boyd, I've assembled a bandstand-like installation equipped with repurposed computer equipment that the resistance had decomissioned but that I'd been saving. Scott and seven of our peers have been building mines which have been concealed in the ground at a radius of 300 meters. Your brother has helped me to create a new form of domed netting now embedded in the ground at that perimeter that repels all methods of puncturing it, including bullets, explosives, blades, all methods. Thirdly, we've also installed electromagnetic pulse emiters among the mines which will serve a vital function."
Peter was bug-eyed. "At a radius of 300 meters, that'll be a big-enough circle to capture the whole million soldiers in both factions' military personel (reserfes included) in the netting, disable their weapons and place them at risk for injury!"
"That's the idea," said Stiles, "considering what Jordan and Chris have told us about their respective leaders' tactics, they are brutal yet one-dimensional. Gerard and Deucellion give all their attention to the hard jab but don't think about the left cross. Not to mention, Gerard is bound to place his spoiled daughter-in-law at the head of the Appalachia forces out of foolish pride."
"We think Deucellion will do the same with Matt Dahler," interjected Derek.
"Your intention is to lure all the troops to your location near Wichita and ensnare them," said Peter, "It is definitely probable and predictable, since the leaders are both one-dimensional and so drunk with power, they're bound to send their whole compliment to come after you. But, what about the air support? Their hover planes won't be caught in the domed netting."
"We've thought of that too," said Stiles, "You see, there will be only three of us in this encampment, Scott, Derek and myself. Derek has been teaching Scott how to operate a special set of software which will override the hovercraft's guidance systems and door locks, trapping the pilots and remaining personel inside them, unable to break loose without non-electrical tools. They'll be landed safely outside the dome, where additional EMP emiters and mines will be activated. All the military personel will be sitting ducks."
"Just the three of you?" asked Peter, "What'll happen once you've put this neutralization system into effect?"
"Our encampment will not be affected by the EMPs," said Stiles, "we'll be able to operate our computers and coms equipment. I intend on broadcasting to both sides at once, divulging to them the existance of the Stalemate Reistance and specifying that their military personel have been captured and are being held indefinitely. That encampment is well stocked with provisions for over a year, but we anticipate the faction leaders will do what it takes to free their precious generals within a matter of days. I'll insist on a ceasefire and armistice carried out henceforth here in Tulsa - under armed guard, of course - not only consisting of a peace treaty to terminate the hostility between the factions but also a plan to reinstate the United States Constitution."
"There'll eventually be one exception," Derek threw in, "Stiles and I agree with you about one amendment; the presidential election system should be changed so that the Electoral College isn't totally abolished - but that Winner-Take-All will be. The Electoral College Points would be distributed within each of the 50 states according to the vote of the people."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, boys," said Peter, holding up a hand to stop his nephew, "Let's first focus on this neo-revolution you have mapped out. You're lucky I'm not thinking of punishing you for having gone over my head and informed Stiles of his roots before his eighteenth birthday."
"You have a point, Peter," admitted Stiles, "but we're still human beings with a right to dream or fantasize once in a while. Not to mention, I am exerting all my effort to avoid lashing out at you for keeping me in the dark about where my parents are."
"That was necessary, Stiles," said Peter, "Nobody knew or predicted how special or important you would be when your parents were married and had you, but we hoped. It was a form of duty to make sure you didn't know the particulars or most of the details. If you knew you were born into a covert resistance trying to stay free without attracting attention or that your parents were located in Hawaii, there's no telling what you might've done. Your discipline and focus have been downright outstanding, and the three of us didn't want to risk jeopardizing it."
"I think both of you have a point, Uncle," said Derek, "and if you're going to discipline anybody here, discipline me. I was the one who let him in on all these secrets so he could come up with secrets of his own."
Peter softened immediately. "I think not. You buth have demonstrated better discipline than I would've imagined from guys your ages or younger. You've both learned every lesson well. Besides, if I were to have you grounded, Stiles would have a vital piece missing from the puzzle of bringing the factions to their knees."
"Whoa!" both boys exclaimed.
"I mean it," said Peter, "I've been leading this rag tag bunch for most of my adult life, and I can tell you that all of us adults together couldn't fashion a more fitting plan."
Stiles blushed crimson and covered his face with his right hand.
"I don't flatter, boy, you are a certified genius and clearly your parents' son. They'll be so proud of you when this is over," Peter said, "This is a plan that can only succeed if all of you do your jobs. I understand both leaders. Neither of them will survive without their armed forces, and Gerard Argent wouldn't leave his spoiled General Daughter-in-law in the trenches to starve. Nor would Deucellion leave Matt that way, since he'll never have children of his own. Your plan has the full sanction and support of the commander of the Stalemate Resistance."
Stiles stood up, followed by Derek and Peter. He said, "Let the stalemated, interminable wargame finally end and the zero-sum game for 'we the people' get underway!"
All three of them grinned mischeviously at each other
==========================
The following day, Stiles and Derek travelled up to his Wichita installation by hover car, accompanied by Scott, Melissa, Derek's parents and Peter. Scott and the four adults were dumbfounded by what they saw when Stiles and Derek tested out the netting. After successfully raising and retracting the dome three times from inside of the encampment, Derek projected a display onto the surrounding grounds, detailing the spacing of each active mine and EMP emiter. He then showed Scott the terminal from which he would override the guidance systems of the armies' aircraft to land them safely and seal the occupants inside.
"Did you choose this location because it was 175 miles north of Tulsa?" asked Melissa.
"You bet, Doc," said Stiles, "it's well-enough removed from Tulsa that the rest of the resistance will be out of harm's way."
"Stiles, I'm not sure I deserve to be your best friend," said Scott, "imagine being best buddies with the Kwisatz Hadarach from Dune!"
"That's funny," said Stiles, "Uncle Peter here thinks I'm like Harrison Bergeron, and knock that off. The whole point of being in a group like the Stalemate Resistance is that what you do in life is way more important than what you are."
A deep silence followed Stiles' last sentence, broken only by the mechanical noises of the repurposed computer equipment and the sound of a bald eagle in flight drifting through the open door. Everybody was thinking at once about both the upcoming neutralization effort and the validity of Stiles' statement. The factions had placed their blind attempts to accumulate power ahead of trying to encourage freedom and living.
"When do we ignite this plan?" asked Scott, "I need time to prepare for my part."
"I plan on annonymously notifying the faction leaders that I'm in this place tomorrow night," said Stiles.
Everyone gasped.
"It'll be a short message, simply saying 'He's south of Wichita.' After I send it, I anticipate both sides will immediately deploy their armed forces, all million of them together, and it'll take them roughly 10 hours to get here. Ennis and Chris have provided Derek with intel about how to monitor the progress of the troops. I anticipate they'll all arrive at 4:30 AM on the 5th. This building will be illuminated. Deucellion and Argent will probably get the false impression that I'm a simple, little kid or something."
"You're anything but," the rest of them said together. Then, they all began laughing.
"We'll need to keep our eyes peeled for when the deployed troops are all within the 300-meter radius of the netting, which is a 10:1 probability. Then, we strike. Scott will activate the netting, Derek will activate the electromagnetic pulse emiters and I will charge the mines. Then, Scott will immediately get to the override sequence."
"Yes sir," they both said. Stiles grinned.
"I wish one of us could fill in for Scott," said Melissa, "If only we had learned to operate that computer software - "
"Mom, don't," Scott insisted, "I'm eighteen now myself, and I think both you, Talia, James and these guys have taught me pretty well. I may not have Stiles' intellect, but I can hold my own. It's my resistance too."
Melissa momentarily teared up, then she reached out for her baby. "I love you, Scott," she said.
"I love you too Mom," said Scott.
"Don't worry, Melissa," said Derek, "We'll make sure your son comes to no harm while he's here. It'll be like a big, 3-day sleepover."
"Three days?" she responded, "Is that all the time you think you'll need to hold these monsters at bay, after nearly 60 years of fighting?"
"Trust me Melissa, the Duke and Gerard will see to it," said Stiles, "they won't desert their generals to die with their troops. They will rise to my demands for an armistice as quickly as possible, so they can get their little babies back home."
"You know these blaggards better than they know themselves, Stiles," said James, "I guess that's what happens when you observe people you can see right through like plate glass."
"Let's go home and finish planning," said Stiles, "the day after tomorrow is the extradition of the ages."
=========================
The message arrived in Serge Deucellion's email inbox at 4:30 PM on May 4th, 2099, reading, "He's south of Wichita." Within 15 minutes, Deucellion had issued the command to General Matt Dahler: "All troops are to deploy at a point south of Wichita immediately. You have twelve hours to reach your destination. That boy is ours, and you're going to bring him to me. Move it."
At the exact same moment but at 7:30 Eastern Saving Time, Gerard Argent had received the same annonymous message reading, "He's south of Wichita." Within the same 15 minutes, he had instructed his daughter-in-law, Victoria Argent with similar orders: "Take all troops and reserves to a point marked south of Wichita, and deploy them. You have nine hours to arrive there. You are not to come back without this boy. Go."
Stiles sent the message from the bandstand-like encampment at the point marked south of the ghost town that was Wichita. He and his two compatriots had just arrived there and powered up their system. Again, they had been accompanied by Melissa, James, Talia and Peter.
"Is there anything more that we can do before we return home?" Peter asked after Stiles sent the message.
"Not here, but thank you very much, Uncle Peter," said Derek.
"You and the rest of the resistance should be able to moitor our activities from back in Tulsa," said Stiles, "What we know, you'll know. Right James?"
James, their science teacher nodded confidently. "Good luck boys," he said. "We love you."
"We love you too," the boys responded. Everybody hugged tightly, and the adults departed for Peter's hover car.
Two hours later, the three young men were holed up alone in their little building with the lights dimmed, Derek keeping watch and the other two trying to sleep. Scott kept stirring in his sleeping bag. Finally, Derek sat down next to him.
"I don't blame you for having trouble sleeping, Scott," he said.
Scott smiled guiltily. "I'm sorry," he said, "but it's not the same as the nerves the night before one of Mr. Yokimura's math exams."
They all laughed. Derek responded, "There's a lot more on the line here than a couple of grade levels."
"You don't say," said Scott, "Stiles here is on the line, dangling like a worm for two huge codfish."
They laughed again. Stiles reassured his lifelong friend, saying, "When this is over, both fish will end up walking on their fins." They laughed some more. Having something to laugh about did wonders to keep their spirits up when the atmosphere was so tense. They were suddenly much more relaxed and at ease. Scott managed to doze for a couple of hours. The time he was asleep afforded Stiles and Derek to hold each other without being disturbed.
"I love you Stiles," said Derek.
"I love you Derek," said Stiles.
"I'm so proud of you for what you've set in place," said Derek.
"Thank you for having been in my life and helped me reach this point," said Stiles.
"What do you anticipate for an outcome?" asked Derek.
"Hopefully, there'll be few-to-no casualties on either side, and both leaders will work together to reverse everything from the last 60 years. I hope - " he stopped and took a deep breath " - that Peter Hale will end up being the next President of the United States of America."
"If he wants that, I think he will be."
=========================
The time was 4:15 AM Central Savings Time. The tracking software on Scott's computer showed the inbound aircraft and ground vehicles carrying the entirity of both armed forces approaching the southern vicinity of Wichita. Stiles immediately activated the external illumination, making sure their location was perfectly visible in the pre-dawn mist.
As the intelligence of Stiles' precise whereabouts was coming in at the headquarters in Appalachia, Theo Raekeen asked Gerard Argent if this boy was really so smart, to paint a target on himself in such a fashion. Argent replied that they would ascertain what that boy was capable of. Across the continent in San Francisco, the same exchange took place between Serge Deucellion and Bobby Finstock, his own lackey.
Finally, it was 4:30 AM, and the troops were being deployed on the ground. Within 10 minutes, nearly all 1,000,000 soldiers, including Generals Dahler and Argent, had entered the 300-meter radius of Stiles' entanglement range. Just when both generals were 25 feet from the building - the netting went up and all their wepons had become inoperative. At the same moment, both generals lost contact with their transportation vehicles, as their guidance and communication systems had been overridden from inside the installation.
Chaos momentarily insued. The troops couldn't open fire. Dahler and Argent couldn't reach their pilots or their superiors on either coast. The two armies couldn't reach each other either, since the netting also included a wall between them. Then, Stiles' voice immediately became audible over both a public address system and broadcast over the internet for a listening and viewing audience consisting of the populations in both factions and - though they didn't know it - the sparse population of Tulsa.
"Attention, this is the voice of Genim Stillinski, also called Stiles Stillinski. I'm the one that the military forces of both Appalachia and Siera have come for. As of now, all your armed forces have been waylaid. The netting surrounding them is completely impenitrable. No bullets, no explosives, no flames, no blades, nothing but air can get through. Your weapons are now non-functional, since electromagnetic pulses have been deployed. Finally, none of your troops will be able to move more than a foot in any direction, since the ground they're standing on is lined with live mines. If a single one of you comes any closer to this building, four of you will be badly injured - possibly fatally."
There was a huge intake of breath across the field they were in, as everybody in both armies gasped together.
One of Victoria Argent's lieutenants spoke up, saying he thought Stiles was bluffing. General Argent ordered him to hold still and shut up.
Stiles pressed on. "Nobody will be at liberty to move a muscle, other than to assume a sitting position - including the personel still in your hover planes which have been sealed up and grounded - until the EMPs and mines have been deactivated and the net has been retracted. None of those things will take place until the following has occurred. For nearly sixty years, this continent has been crippled by a needless power struggle, brother fighting brother, which was a diseased and pitiful outgrowth of a true, functioning country with both real freedom and real laws. It's high time we return to that state of existance and end all hostilities, if possible and probable.
"Here are my terms: Gerard Argent, Serge Deucellion and their respective assistants are to immediately set out for the location of Tulsa Promenade. There, you shall be met by my people and escorted inside under armed guard to talk to my superior. The subject: pursuing a complete ceasefire between the Siera and Appalachia factions of America and an armistice to terminate the hostilities and completely dissolve both factions. The eventual endgoal at hand will be a reactivation of the United States Constitution and a full restoration of the central government, complete with an elected president, vice president and representitives in both houses of Congress, along with the appointment of Supreme Court Justices by the first two branches. The state governments will then follow. It all begins with the faction leaders acquiescing to my demand and going to Tulsa to hammer out an armistice, so they can reunite with their precious generals once more.
"The last 3 generations have been spent in a stalemate. Now - the Stalemate Resistance has spoken. End of transmission."
Derek cut the transmission. Outside the netting, the power systems aboard the hover planes went down completely, just like the weapons and coms systems of the soldiers on the field.
"Now, all we can do is watch and wait," said Derek. The three young men sat down in their desk chairs.
=========================
In San Francisco, Deucellion was met with no backlash from any of his subordinates. In Baltimore, however -
"Father, you cannot be thinking of giving in to that little brat, can you?" asked Kate Argent, Gerard's daughter and Chris' sister.
They were standing in the master bedroom of Gerard's house. As soon as Stiles had cut the transmission from Wichita, Gerard had stormed into the bedroom, grabbed a suitcase and begun packing it. He thought of just going in his shirtsleeves, but he decided that wearing a tweed suit with a necktie was more appropriate. He packed his casual duds in the case with his toiletries though. He was about to zip it shut when his daughter blew in.
"I have no choice, Kate," he now said to her, "Would you prefer I leave your sister-in-law to rot?"
"I would prefer you keep your head, Gerard Argent. After everything we've achieved, why give up now?"
Gerard started shouting, something he had not done in years. "We've achieved NOTHING, girl! We've LOST our heads! And, I CANNOT and WILL NOT leave Victoria to languish in the trenches! Don't you understand? I love her, the same way I love you, Christopher - " he stopped short, hyperventilated momentarily and moved on, no longer shouting " - and my granddaughter. I love all of you. I just didn't relize how much until right now."
Gerard sat on his bed, his head in his hands and tears streaming down his face. Even Kate Argent, the only harder person in Appalachia than her father, had softened. She sat down beside him and put her arm around his shoulders. He grabbed her hand and pulled it against his heart.
"Stiles is right, daughter," he said when he'd regained his composure, "this was a proud nation of proud people. And, we blew it. My own father was born the year Ronald Reagan was elected the first time. He wasn't paying attention to what came in his wake, but it led us here. Look at me. Look at Deucellion. We're on opposite sides and opposite coasts, but we're the same. If Victoria dies, I would deserve it. But, I couldn't let her go any sooner than I could let you go. I have to save her, even if it means that it's the end of Appalachia and Siera." He stopped briefly, then finished, "Who knows? We might get Chris and Allison back."
"Do you think they're part of this Stalemate Resistance? Do you think they're in Tulsa?" asked Kate.
"Chances are," said Gerard.
"Daddy, don't take Theo. Let me come with you," Kate implored.
"I can't, Kate," said Gerard, "Theo might be a tagalong, but he's my tagalong. You're my daughter. That was why I didn't appoint you my general. I hate to leave you hanging this way, but you have to stay here. As soon as possible, I'll either return or send for you there."
Kate sighed, then she hugged her father in resigned farewell.
Theo was dutifully waiting at the front door of the house. A long-distance hover plane was already waiting. Gerard flew the two of them to Tulsa, while Bobby Finstock flew Serge Deucellion and himself from San Francisco. Both planes chose flight paths which took them over Texas, so as to avoid scraping the airspace over Wichita and coming within the range of the rebels' EMPs. Both aircraft touched down next to each other outside the outer shell of Tulsa Promenade. Gerard, Theo, the Duke and Matt were met by Jordan Parish and Gerard's son, each of whom was armed with an AK47 and a 45-caliber pistol, in case anything took a turn for the worst during this accord.
"Hello Chris," Gerard said to his son, noting the weapons he was carrying but wanting to keep it light.
"Hello Dad," Chris said stiffly. He would be polite, but he kept his own council about being too welcoming to his estranged father - for the time being.
Afterwards, Gerard and the Duke turned to each other and shook hands. "We've given each other a true run for our money, haven't we Duke?" Gerard said ironically.
"That cannot be denied, Gerard," said Deucellion, "but it looks like the game is over."
"Apparently."
"Gentlemen," came a voice from next to them, and they both turned to see the leader of the Stalemate Resistance approaching.
"Peter Hale!" both faction leaders exclaimed when they faced him.
"You lived in northern California with your brother," said Deucellion, "You guys went off the grid when the factions rose up. Is this where you've been all these years?"
"I saw you once in Washington," interjected Gerard, "you and your brother were part of a demonstration asking for Justice Crenshaw to step down."
"Even though we were teenagers back then," said Peter, "we still felt we had a right to speak up. Power is a temptation and just as bad as drugs and alcohol. That's what I saw when the factions took shape. So, James and I came here with his wife, and we built both a family and a way to stay alive and free."
Then, Gerard spotted Ennis who was also armed. If he hadn't already been shocked to find that his son and the Hales were there, Gearard would've exploded at the sight of the mercenary. Ennis winked mischeviously at both faction leaders. Then, Peter led the whole party inside, to where a temporary comference room had been assembled.
Incredibly, it didn't even take 3 days to finalize the armistice. Not only being frightened for Generals Dahler and Argent, the faction leaders and their subordinates all agreed that the fight had gone on too long and that the time was ripe to pick up where they'd left off in 2021. Peter agreed to asist in the consolidation of both armed forces into a unified military, while Gerard and the Duke agreed to step aside as leaders and work with the adult members of the Stalemate group toward reassembling the government.
They were joined on the second day by James and Talia, as well as a slightly-nervous Allison who hugged her grandfather tightly before retreating into a corner of the makeshift conference room. She timidly said, "Granddad, Mr. Deucellion, Stiles has suggested that one amendment might be made to the United States Constitution. It regards the presidential election process."
The two elderly men faced the girl. James took over for her. "What Allison means is the following: the Electoral College has been squabbled over since the 1876 Centenial election, when Rutherford B. Hayes was selected to be the president over the popular selection of Samuel Tilden. The Republican party most frequently benefited from instances when the two votes diverged, and it was mainly Democrats calling to abolish it. What Stiles has proposed is a compromise. Instead of leaving it alone or totally scrapping it, one piece of it should be removed: the part containing Winner-take-all. The electoral college points would be preserved, only they would be contoured for each presidential election to the outcome of the popular vote within each of the 50 states."
The faction leaders both smiled at each other. They apparently liked the sound of what Allison and James had proposed.
"I think that can wait until we have a functioning country again," said Serge Deucellion.
"However, it does sound appealing for the long term," stated Gerard Argent.
Peter produced a document on a mobile device w/ touchscreen, the finalization of the armistice. All three of Gerard Argent, Serge Deucellion and Peter Hale fingered in their signatures, and the document was sealed.
=========================
Back in the Wichita encampment, the three youngsters were observing the soldiers on the field. They had gone from being frightfully scared to being frightfully hungry - to sitting still and singing together of all things. The same lieutenant of Victora Argent who almost broke ranks suddenly started singing a song he'd learned from his grandparents, "Wichita Lineman." Soon, others were singing along. Before anyone knew it, all million soldiers were joining in, including the generals. In the little building, Stiles, Derek and Scott also found themselves singing the song. It was a tonic for the way things had played out.
By then, it was the morning of the 7th. The boys had prepared themselves against having to hold out longer.
Stiles' computer console began blinking like a strobelight and beeping like an arcade game. He was receiving a transmission from Tulsa. All three of the boys stood up and took notice. Scott and Derek reactivated the public address system, as Stiles received the incoming transmission.
Peter's face materialized on the monitor, and he was grinning from ear to ear. He spoke, and his announcement was broadcast over the outside speaker system. "Eureka! The armistice has been sealed. Both faction leaders have a command for their armed forces."
"Listening," replied Stiles.
Out on the field, everybody stopped singing and held still to listen.
Gerard and the Duke appeared on the monitor on either side of Peter. In unison, the two of them said, "Generals - cease and desist. Return to base for further instructions immediately."
All the soldiers on the field began to cheer. Stiles, Scott and Derek reversed the commands on their computers. The mines were disarmed, the electromagnetic pulse emiters were deactivated and the netting was retracted. Each of the generals ordered their troops to return to their transports. They all obeyed, after which Dahler and Argent approached each other at the side of Stiles' encampment. They stood stiffly for 30 seconds, only staring at each other. They didn't notice that both of them were being observed by the trio in the building. Finally, Victoria reached out and shook Matt's hand. They nodded at each other in acknowledgement, then turned to rejoin their respective troops.
Two hours later, Peter's hover car appeared to round up his nephew, Scott and Stiles and bring them back to Tulsa, where they were met with fanfare from the Stalemate Resistance and cordial greetings from the faction leaders. Erica Reyes and Vernon Boyd had come in a second hover car to fetch the computers and mines, in case anyone had half a mind to try getting hold of them. The netting and EMPs could wait for the following day. The building would subsequently serve as an historic monument similar to the Liberty Bell and various war memorials; it soon bore a brass plaque which read "May 5, 2099, the Day the Stalemate Ended".
=========================
It was six weeks later, the summer solstice. As soon as the armistice had taken effect and the leaders agreed to dissolve the factions, Stiles announced his intention to relocate out of Tulsa. He wished to reunite with his own parents on the Big Island of Hawaii. Ennis had informed the boy that his parents had grown to love living out there way more than they had enjoyed living on North America, that the only thing missing was him. And, Stiles wished to be where they were, at least for the moment. When asked by his own family what he chose to do, Derek was hard pressed. He had spent his whole life devoted to his family, but he did not want to be without Stiles.
Talia stood up and faced her son. "Derek Alexander Hale," she said, "you'll always be our son. That will not change, only because you wish to live in Hawaii instead of staying here. If you want to go with Stiles, I promise you that none of us will try to stop you."
Peter seconded his sister-in-law. "The only reason you'd be bound here would be if you still had work to do for the resistance, but the resistance is over. The way of life we strived for is on its way to becoming a reality. Both of you have earned the right to live. Go do it, boy."
Everybody was crying. All eight of them stood up and embraced.
"I can't thank you all for everything you've given me," Stiles sobbed into Talia's shoulder. "If I couldn't be brought up by my own parents, I wouldn't have chosen anybody other than you. I promise, we'll be back."
Ennis escorted Stiles and Derek overseas to the Big Island. When the hover plane touched down on the street overlooking the beach, Stiles immediately spotted his parents. He had seen photos of them and instantly recognized his brown curls on his father's head and his eyes, nose and mouth on his mother. As they saw him exit the aircraft, both they and Stiles began running towards each other in sheer ecstacy.
"MOM! DAD!" cried the boy as he sprinted into his parents' arms.
"STILES!" both of them yelled as they approached each other. They fell on the pavement, hugging each other so tightly that they almost couldn't breathe, laughing and crying at the same time at having been reunited after over 17 years.
When they had composed themselves and stood back up, Stiles looked at their generous pilot, informant, benefactor and friend. "Ennis, I wish to thank you for everything you've given all of us. I hope you'll forgive me for having been distant with you."
"I always knew that I 'gave you the creeps', Genim Stillinski," smirked the spy, "so I begrudge you nothing. You saved us all, and I'm proud to be your friend."
They shook hands. Finally, Stiles gestured his true love to approach from behind them.
"Mom, Dad, I think you've met Derek Alexander Hale, even though you haven't seen him since I was a year old and he was eight," Stiles said.
Noah shook Derek's hand. Claudia planted a kiss on the side of his face, as she said, "Thank you for having been there for Stiles through all of this, Derek."
"It was my pleasure, Mrs. Stillinski - " Derek began.
"Boy, we'll have none of that," interrupted Noah, "to you, we're Noah and Claudia, especially if my intuition about the two of you is true."
Stiles blushed and laughed. "They're definitely my parents," he thought. Aloud, he said, "It's interesting you should put it that way, Dad. I've been sitting on something - almost literally - since we got on the plane to fly here."
After 10 seconds of anticipation, Stiles reached into his back pocket for a small box. Opening it, he looked Derek in the face and said, "Derek Alexander Hale - will you please marry me?"
Derek's smile was so wide and bright, it was like he became luminescant. As Stiles removed the engagement ring from the box to place it on Derek's finger, Derek said just loud enough for all five of them to hear, "Absolutely, Genim Stiles Stillinski."
They waited until the end of August for the wedding ceremony, giving the lovebirds time to settle into life in Hawaii and find a place of their own. Their guests included most of the former resistance members (Alan Deaton remaining in Tulsa to organize everyone's medical files) and - as a gesture of good faith - Gerard Argent and Serge Deucellion. Though Gerard struggled briefly with his acceptance of two men tying the knott, Allison reminded him how one of the wedges between the factions had been discrimination. Gerard not only obliged; he sent the soon-to-be newlyweds their wedding rings himself. James, Talia and Peter arrived, carrying news confirming Stiles' deduction that Peter would be the forthcoming president of the United States once the government was reactivated.
"I can tell you most of my people will vote for him, and nobody is putting up an opponent," said Gerard, "Neither are any of the Duke's people." Deucellion nodded in confirmation.
"The election time is next November, Peter," said Stiles, "What do you think?"
"I'll do it," said Peter, "but just for one term to get the original machine back up and going." Everyone laughed.
The wedding ceremony was overseen by Claudia's cousin Selina Mcguire, a baked goods saleswoman and Justice of the Peace. Stiles and Derek had written their own vows and recited them to each other and the guests. During the following reception, Scott, their Best Man, had pulled out an acoustic guitar and, joined by Allison, played Stiles' and Derek's first dance, "Up Where We Belong."
Stiles and Derek could now get to enjoy living, now that their task of helping to end a lenghty, stalemated wargame which had crippled their country was completed - and Stiles had rejoined the two who'd given him life.
THE END