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Lowell's right, I thought back to when he told me at the Maverick Hotel. This is exciting!

The Defiant were making progress in the days leading up to the Independence Day festivities. Not only had my and Lowell's 'errands' been causing decent chaos (FaithTV called the library hacking I helped out with 'an immoral message of seduction and hate towards God'), but I was slowly learning the ins and outs of how to be a proper rebel.

Just yesterday, I vandalized public property for the first time. I spray painted resistance fists and the words 'free your mind, join the Defiant' on a brick wall outside the D.S.A. post office, all while this creeping fear gripped me. As I did this, that lingering doubt inside simmered a bit, only to fade away at the familiar thrill running up my tail, especially as me and an impressed Lowell booked it before an officer could spot us.

They'd been distributing wanted posters to civilians and onto billboards. Thankfully, none of them included a picture of a twenty-three-year-old tabby cat, though one of them included a picture of a hooded wolf, but not his face. And for every officer handing them, I noticed pedestrian furs keeping their distances, like locking eyes with an authority figure guaranteed arrest. There existed another hidden emotion besides fear amongst the civilian population: antipathy.

As we were preparing for tomorrow, Lowell claimed this was progress.

"Wait," I asked, packing up my backpack again, "isn't it bad that they're angry?"

"Only if they're angry at the government," the wolf reassured me. "Johanna wants us to disrupt public order in a way that won't get the public angry at us."

"...I'm still confused." My feline ears fell slightly.

"Well, think of it this way," Lowell cleared his throat and zipped up his bag, turning to my direction. "If you live in a huge family, and one cub gets into massive trouble for say...spray painting the walls, then that cub will get grounded. Then say he does it again, but Dad suddenly gets the idea to restrict what that cub and the rest of his siblings can and can't do. The more trouble the punk causes, the more Dad decides to tighten his grip on the house, even if the problem cub does something as slight as interrupt him. Now, you can't even do anything without him knowing or asking for permission. Who would you be mad at in the end? The cub or Dad?"

"...the Dad," I concluded.

"Exactly! So long as we do things that mostly inconvenience the government, who then place restrictions that inconvenience the public, this will allow the seeds of dissent to grow. And when the Devout civilians realize how tyrannical this government is...voila!" Lowell clapped his paws together. "We have a revolution in the mix!"

Knock! Knock! Knock! "Boys? Can you come see me and my husband down in his office, please? We need...to discuss something?"

Lowell and I exchanged confused glances, the wolf more so. "Okay."

Minutes later, after putting our phones in the basket beside the door, we found the couple standing in Kevin's office. Behind Mary's soft smile was this melancholy I'd noticed in her this past day. I didn't know if it was something personal or not, but I could see the same hidden emotion behind her husband's façade also.

"We...need to talk...to Johanna."

"Why?" Lowell asked.

"I just...need to ask her something."

"Why?" Lowell asked again.

"It's really important kid."

"I will say it again," the wolf stared. "Why?"

"For God's sake, Kevin..." Mary muttered, then announced, "We want to join the Defiant."

Lowell and I couldn't stop ourselves from staring incredulously at them like each feline suddenly grew two heads. My own tail wagged at the thought of Mary meeting Abigail back at the Maverick Hotel, and the wonderful things she could learn about the Western Republic and the rest of the world.

"Wait, wait, wait," Lowell uttered to Kevin, "Are you seriously asking to join us?"

"Yes, we are," Mary nodded.

"But I'm still on the fence about it all," Kevin grumbled, staring down at the various knick knacks strewn across his work desk. He exhaled. "I want to be sure that Johanna can protect us. Keep us safe from the Archangels."

"Would you both really pledge yourself to fight against the government?" Lowell asked them in an unnaturally serious manner. "Ya know that the moment you make this decision, there's no going back. You'll both be criminals and tried if caught."

"Simply housing you here is no different, sonny," Mary pointed out. "Kevin and I have been talking about this for a while, even before the first time you came here. Now that the Archangels are becoming suspicious of our activities...we have no choice."

"But first," Kevin further argued, "I must speak with him."

"Her!" Lowell growled at the male cougar. "If yaw anna get on Johanna's good side, remember that she goes by 'her'. Not 'him' or 'it'."

"Right, right, sorry..." he nodded at the younger wolf's outburst. "Can I...speak with her then? Please?"

Lowell silently exchanged silent looks with me. I could not tell what he was thinking, or wanting to tell me, but the emotions could be felt on his expressions. In how his tail curled against the bookshelf beside us. In how his right footpaw brushed nervously against his left heel. And by the way Lowell glanced between me and his burner phone in his paw.

"Let me talk to her first." The wolf flipped it open and dialed a random number. Placing it to his twitching, half-folded right ear, Lowell smiled slightly. "Johanna, this is L--I mean Benjamin...Yeah, we're doing okay. We'll be ready for tomorrow...I just...Just need to call you. We might have ourselves some volunteers...Mr. and Mrs. Lange...Uh huh...Yes, they're serious. Mr. Lange wants to talk this over with ya...No, I don't think it's a trick..."

Me, Mary and Kevin anxiously looked at each other while eavesdropping this one-sided conversation.

"Alright, alright, here he is..." Lowell handed the phone to the male cougar. "It's her."

For the next several minutes, we waited and listened to Kevin explain his and Mary's situation, and how they wanted to abandon their lives to help the Defiant's cause. To replace the Devout government with one that didn't spy on its citizens or make you afraid for your very lives. He recapped the doe of his son's death during active combat, which forced me to comfort Mary as she teared up at some memories, of his pregnant daughter they helped get across the border into the Western Republic. As Kevin replied to various questions Johanna would ask, reminding me of when she asked me those very same questions not so long ago, the cougar became more open. More confident and honest the further they talked.

At one point, Kevin's eyes darted immediately to me and Lowell. It startled us at first before the mountain lion continued talking to Johanna. It was when he finished telling her what he could offer the Defiant--building plans, infrastructure secrets and the like--when we heard the two furs finishing an exchange.

"Thank you...Thank you! We'll...We'll be sure to pay you back for this however you want. If...Okay, that's fair...That'd be perfect...Okay...Good night, Mrs. Cardinal." He smiled in immense relief before handing the flip phone to Lowell again. "She wants to talk to you two."

Taking it from Kevin, the wolf held the burner phone between us before setting it on speaker. "You sure we can bring them with us to the safehouse, Johanna? It'll be a narrow window after tonight...It could be too risky."

"I'm very well-aware, Lowell. But we can't just turn them away. Not with the Archangels practically waiting for them to say or do the wrong thing at any moment."

"Wait, Johanna," I butted in after realizing, "Did you just call him by his name?"

"Sure did, Adam. Don't worry, Mr. Lange knows who you are now."

"What the fuck, why'd you tell them?" Lowell growled in alarm.

"Because, Low," she clarified, "if they want to help us reunite them with their daughter back in the Western Republic, as well as get the Devout out of Canada beforehand, we'll need to establish trust. However, boys, until we extract you back to headquarters, don't even think about telling them about our cell location. Got it?"

Hurtful looks momentarily flashed across Mary's face. Kevin's less so.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied.

"...understood, ma'am," Lowell nodded. "We'll keep our muzzles shut."

"Kevin, Mary," she questioned aloud, "You both still in the room?"

The male mountain feline cleared his throat. "Still am, Mrs. Cardinal."

"It-It is an honor to finally hear you in person, Mr--I mean, Mrs. Cardinal..." Mary laughed nervously, then meekly asked the firm, resilient voice, "Pardon the question, but if we're officially joining the Defiant, why can't you tell us where we're going to stay?"

"Don't take it personal, Mrs. Lange," Johanna answered for her, "but while the Defiant is willing to take in new members, we cannot exactly advertise where we're stationed. After tomorrow night, we're gonna need to be even more precautious. If one of you changed your mind or were captured, it would...complicate things."

"Understandable," Mary twitched her nose with relief.

"Speaking of tomorrow night..." her voice raised itself behind a faint static. "Lowell, Adam, you two should get going to bed now. The plan doesn't change. Mr. and Mrs. Lange, after our announcement at the 4th of July, these two boys will be hitching a ride with an ally. I highly suggest travelling light, so only one bag with essentials and a few priceless mementos. I suggest you also destroy anything that may connect you to friends, neighbors or coworkers."

The reality of it all seemed to hit the married couple like a freight train, from what Lowell and I saw as the wolf continued holding the flip phone in his paw.

"Is that understood? Only the essentials. Please don't drag a fancy China cabinet with you." Johanna sighed on her end, her voice carrying over the signaling static. "Listen, Kevin. Believe me when I say...I know what the feeling is like. You're abandoning all you've worked for and achieved. We've all had to make sacrifices, but it isn't until you sacrifice everything that you realize you can do anything.

"When we topple the Revenant Party and their Devout government--not if, but when, mind you--we will all need to pitch in to rebuild what will be lost. And I believe that there's gonna be a frenzy in hiring experienced architects and engineers after the revolution. Would you be willing to lend your services for us, Mr. Lange? For the United States of America when it's restored?"

"I...I would be immensely honored, Mrs. Cardinal," Kevin genuinely smiled. "Thank you."

"Thank you for doing this, Mrs. Cardinal," Mary said. "My husband and I are glad you will do this for us."

The doe simply laughed. "Traitors and deviants need to stick together. And call me Johanna."

***

When we were twelve, Stephen was allowed to come with me to see the fireworks one 4thof July weekend. My parents chaperoned us across town to see the celebrations at Navy Pier, back in 2008, a year after the Caribbean Conflict ended and our troops were allowed back home to commemorate another victory for Devout America.

So many loyal furs watched the annual military parade march and stride through the streets of Chicago, in awe of the uniforms and weapons our armed forces used in order to claim Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and especially Cuba. Mom even joked to Dad one point about bringing me and Stephen on a vacation to visit (what was left of) Havana one future summer. We would never go on that trip abroad, but that certainly excited me and the fox when we overheard it. Whatever this 'Havana' was, it sounded like a fun place to spend Spring Break in. And we still grew ever distracted by how cool all the soldiers looked as they marched by us.

I remembered seeing Stephen proudly wave a small flag in our paws, praising God and encouraging me to jump higher to see the tank rolling down the street. I also recalled seeing him smile widely after we stood atop one sidewalk statue to see it all, and the awe that spread across our muzzles later that night, when the fox and I observed the fireworks.

Most of all though, the clearest memory of that day was during the flashing lights and musically chorused booms surrounding us; the fox smiling back at me. Happy to be here, with me. It was a good day. One of many I thought we could share together forever.

Wherever you are, Stephen...I hope you're okay, I thought. If only you could see me now.

_ _ The festivities commemorating 4th of July 2019 was already underway in Chicago. As planned, the military parade was rescheduled to be in Irving Park following an 'error' in scheduling. The soldiers, even if their guns were loaded, wouldn't be close enough to Navy Pier--now a crowded, laughing hive of all ages--for the big event at sunset.

"Hey, Adam, I keep telling you not to look over the ledge!"

I suddenly grew wheezy when I immediately noticed how far from the ground I was, and hurriedly backed away, only for Lowell's next instruction to be drowned out by some wind.

"What?" I repeated, "What did you say there?"

"I said we don't want anyone to see us," the wolf said a little louder, then raised an eyebrow in my direction. "I was asking what got you so distracted all of a sudden?"

My eyes swept to the sounds of the patriotic music and bands echoing down below.

"Well," I felt my tail curl against my right leg, and Lowell noticed, "it's...nothing. Just feeling nostalgic, that's all."

"Let me tell ya," he replied after a moment, his gaze glancing down at Navy Pier to the east as it lit up against a descending sun, and the dozens of boats and yachts floating into Lake Michigan, "if there weren't soldiers or the corn dogs actually tasted good, I'd definitely see what you mean. It looks fun down there. Maybe perfect for a date or something..."

A fleeting blush tinted under my cheekfur.

"Me and Stephen once came to Navy Pier for the Fourth of July," I commented. "We had so much fun, but now all I can think about is how naïve I was back then. I mean, even back then I knew I was...different, but this side of still firmly believed in how great this country was. Now I feel like my memories and..." I sighed with deep resentment, flicking my tail at the ground, "Well, emotions I felt back then were just big lies..."

"You can't blame yourself for thinking that way, Adam..."

"Easy for you to say," I snorted with my ears folded down slightly. "From what I gathered, you never had to live as a citizen of this damned country. You never had to grow up believing Devout America was the greatest nation in the world, and that we deserved to bring God to every border we invaded...You never needed to realize one day that you were cheering for the wrong side this entire time."

A crowd of furs cheered for a new band playing at the open concert stage on the pier, swelling into a chorus as they played their next (government-approved) song for all their adoring fans in attendance. To me, it now sounded like the rest of the music I'd listened to across the years. Simply a clone of the same message and theme.

"You can't say that. Look, Adam...I used to believe in some stupid things too," Lowell gently patted my shoulder as we keenly watched the sun beginning to fall halfway down the horizon. "Now I only believe in one thing. Two things, actually! "He chuckled. "But the main thing I believe in is that we can have a future. Furs like us deserve a future."

A small smile curved upward on my shorter muzzle. "Definitely..."

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

Lowell turned off his watch alarm. He grinned happily, looking back at the massive banner another team of Defiant members (somehow) managed to sneak up here overnight. When tossed over the ledge, the magnets on the end would connect it to the building to prevent it from swaying in the wind.

Everybody in Navy pier would read its message: FREE CANADA NOW!!!

"It's time."

I couldn't resist from grinning either.

Ten minutes later, Lowell and I hurried down the flights of stairs after the task was done, tearing off our hoodies and tossing them into the garbage. We were huffing and laughing once I found enough bravery to pull a fire alarm, then Lowell did the same for another around the corner. Commotion suddenly erupted into a loud frenzy as everyone in the entire Lake Point Tower began fleeing down the emergency stairs.

My heart never pounded as hard before, but I never felt more alive.

As planned, we split up amid the panic and disorder and would reunite on the other side of Lake Shore Drive. While the tower residents and the local fire department were confused and disoriented by what was going on, Nick the Taxi Driver would drive us back to Lincoln Park and have us pick the Langes up from their home. Kevin and Mary, already having packed bags and either destroyed/hid their contacts and assets, would join us in riding to the safehouse. Mission accomplished.

As this occurred, the banner would continue hanging over the side of Lake Point Tower, and a voice message would erupt on loudspeakers throughout downtown Chicago. Actually, not just downtown Chicago, but throughout the two largest cities of every Devout State.

"If the Founding Fathers of America saw their nation today...they would be ashamed at what's become of their nation," the voice, scripted and traded amongst the cells to broadcast in their own turn to avoid knowing who lived where, would announce, "Oppressed citizens and corrupt leaders of the Devout States of America, before you rejoice in tonight's so-called Independence Day celebrations, allow the Defiant to speak a historic truth: U.S. President Thomas Jefferson once wrote in the Declaration of Independence that, 'When a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government'.

"In layman's terms, he meant 'When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty'. And as the Defiant, it is our sword duty to rebel against such tyranny. The same tyranny that turns a blind eye to atrocities committed by soldiers, committed by our leaders and the National Church! The same tyranny that brutally forces its own citizens to behave or be imprisoned! The same tyranny who boast humble forgiveness, only to destroy its enemies without the mercy it loves to preach about! Have you all forgotten what the definition of tyrant is? On this day of all holidays?

_ _ "Here we stand today, celebrating the independence of a comatose nation, celebrating the annexation of another now in chains. President Sara Nessen and her Farthing family supporters may claim the Devout government liberated Canada from secular oppressors, but isn't it a sin to lie? If Canada was not oppressed before, it is now! And on this momentous of holidays, the Defiant ask you to stand for what is right! For too long, we have lingered in the shadows, afraid to speak out or make a stand, but no more! And until the Devout government brings back its troops from the Canadian territories it illegally occupies, brings back freedom to the Canadian people, to the Haitian people, the Dominican people, the Mexican people, the Jamaican people, and to the citizens of the true United States of America, we will not relent in our actions!

_ _ "We the Defiant will give the Canadian citizens a voice as they struggle to stay alive under Devout tyranny. We the Defiant will support the Canadian resistance as they fight in the streets. And we the Defiant are everywhere. Supporters of the Revenant Party, members of the Farthing family, if you are listening to this, then beware us. We are Defiant. We are Free. And we are coming for you...because the war for freedom has officially begun!"