Barely contained even prior to the release of the llhaesa triad, the release of Our Melded Minds, Our Melded Love left the Southeastern Quadrant of Arrhazon City as an area hovering on the brink of uprising. All that remained was a triggering catalyst, something that would send 2.7 million people into the streets.
That spark came with the arrest of Dlzelsa and Seja, Jesnsera’s colleagues who rescued Jahrae from homelessness and addiction. Their arrest placed Jesnsera and Dr. Elsrensia K’avahra at imminent risk of arrest.
Elsrensia and Jesnsera sat in bar having a drink and discussing their next move, when another entered and shared news of the arrest. Llhaesa’s song played in the background, the lyrics further stirring emotions among the patrons.
Jesnsera lost control, anger welling up inside. Sensing nothing left to lose, she started to scream “Free SEQ!” Within moments, the other 100 or so patrons were in full accompaniment, the crowd now moving out of the bar and into the streets.
Inside of an hour, hundreds of thousands joined in with those from the bar. Transports were moved into strategic places along every street and boulevard that connected SEQ with the other areas of Arrhazon. Others worked to block public transportation paths with any heavy items that were available to move into the pathways. By midnight, SEQ sealed itself in; no one could leave, no one could enter – unless deemed friend of the newly formed Free SEQ area.
Brellian reacted swiftly, ordering forces to the area. Heavy equipment rolled to the edge of the barricades, and upon seeing the force arrayed against them, the rebels searched out for anything that might find use as a weapon.
A fuel cell depository provided portable tanks and explosive capability, and rebels disseminated the cells to each barricade. Shortly after midnight, armoured vehicles attempted to force a breach, and with the fuel cells now fixed with makeshift fuses, rebels threw two at the armour that moved on the barricade.
The two cells exploded upon striking the armour, the crews scrambling to leave the vehicles. Rebels climbed over the barricade and extinguished the fires before they caused serious damage. The rebels – 57% of whom were women, mirroring the demographics of the area overall – now had two armoured vehicles in their possession, and turned on the two others to their rear.
Within minutes, SEQ possessed their first formidable firepower; four armoured vehicles, and they used them to good effect at other barricades. By dawn, 34 armoured vehicles were in rebel hands, largely taken by surprising government forces.
Numerous hand-fired weapons also fell into their hands.
Jahrae and Kukaeshra watched this unfold via remote video, stunned. K’shra sent more staff to cover the uprising. Jahrae made the decision to go to SEQ, to stand with those who put their lives on the line for change. K’shra would finish the documentary, the footage of which lay assembled in raw and unedited form, along with the song recorded by Jahrae that would accompany the release.
By midday, Jahrae was inside of SEQ, coordinating strategy with Jesnsera. The two were committed to avoid bloodshed, which only would come if in self-defence. Otherwise, they would defend their free area only, not project force outward. Other parts of the city would have to find their own conscience and decide where their sympathy lay.
An ultimatum arrived at three pm. Signed by Brellian, the ultimatum gave the rebels until sundown to stand down; otherwise, government troops would mercilessly overrun the area. Jahrae sent a note back, with her name clearly signed at the bottom. The note simply stated,
Brellian,
For llhaesa, for the Arrhazon people, I – we – stand against you, unmoving and unrelenting. We look forward to the day of your defeat.
Jahrae Khentavra
Jahrae called her parents, sharing where she was. Both were stunned but unsurprised. Perhaps 2 years before they would be shocked at their daughter’s activism, but after her marriage to llhaesa, after all of llhaesa’s activism, after llhaesa’s death, Jahrae’s entire outlook changed. Djellrin and Hrilleae worried for their daughter, but inside pride played through their feelings.
An hour after sunset, government forces fired upon the quadrant; levelling many buildings, others burst into flames; the shells of scores of transports were visible around the barricade areas.
The government shut off water to the area, so too sanitation and power, but the rebels held, and in fact earned more little victories. Their firepower seemingly increased with each government attack.
Twice more government forces came at them, and twice more the rebels came out ahead.
K’shra was careful of live footage shown on air; the wrong imagery might give away valuable information to government forces. Her intent was to marshal popular opinion in support of the rebels.
Just before dawn, a bomb exploded downtown in one government building, levelling the building. With Arrhka now signalling a new day, the lightening sky revealed the smoke that rose from SEQ and from downtown.
Brellian moved into a secure facility, one built underground.
A second note came at 11 am, asking once again for surrender. The response to this second note carried a reprint of Jahrae’s earlier response.
Jahrae found herself covered in soot; she could not help but laugh at her dishevelled reflection. Finding rolls of red and white cloth, Jahrae cut off a piece of sufficient size, formed a bandanna and tied it across her forehead and around the periphery of her head.
Other rebels followed suit, and this became the identifying symbol of their cause. Years later, a picture of the steadfast and defiant Jahrae taken in this moment hung across from the entryway in the Chief of Government building, displayed such that it caught the eye of every entrant into the building. This was where government found its voice; this is where government reconnected with the people. Gl’nsiel asked for the picture to remain there permanently, a reminder of the importance of always serving the best interest of the people.
From two arrests, an uprising bloomed. Still in denial, still lost in his grand schemes and dreams, Brellian refused to acknowledge his was an administration in serious trouble.
Believing no one could long stand against him, on the morning of the third day of uprising, Brellian’s special forces brought Dlzelsa and Seja, along with 22 other prisoners, into the park across from Brellian’s office tower. Government media broadcast the scene live, as if it were a glorious day in Arrhazon history.
At 8 am, Brellian gave the order. The forces assigned to this task took careful aim, while their minds searched for and connected with the worst hate they could muster in memory, as if touching this hate would legitimise what they were about to do. Coolly, drawing upon calmness no sane person viewing this incident could find within, a second order left the mouth of their commander, and twenty-four people – who wished nothing more than freedom and equality, who stood defiantly before the threatening forces, shouting as one “Free SEQ!” – were vaporised into nothingness.
