In fact, all my groomsmen — Michael, Samuel, and Julian — were wearing the same uniform as I was: we found the military clothing in the dresser aboard Perseus. Michael was my best man. I would have been happy with any of them, really, but Michael had done so much to help out that he deserved the spot.
The uniforms were dusty and wrinkled from lack of use, but Augustus put some of his party staff on the job, and had them crisp and clean in a matter of minutes. The uniforms were Air Force blue, both the pants and the three-buttoned jacket, and with a matching dark blue tie. Ashton said the Air Force uniforms were fitting, given how much we had flown around, though he also said real airmen wouldn’t have lost over sixty percent of the United States Space Fleet.
Michael and I got dressed, and I felt nothing but uncomfortable in the uniform. I figured, though, if Anna was wearing a dress, I’d look a little off if I didn’t dress up as well. Apparently, Augustus had given her an amazing white dress, so people probably wouldn’t be looking at me much, anyway.
Finally, Michael handed me some shiny, black shoes. I slipped them on.
“Alright, stand up straight,” Michael said.
I stood off my stool. Michael held out a small mirror, where I looked at my reflection again.
“You’ve come a long way, kid.”
I turned to see Char standing in the cabin’s doorway.
“Everyone’s made it?” I asked.
Char nodded. “Yeah. People are getting seated right now. Me…” He smiled. “I get the honor of escorting the bride.”
“Have you seen her?”
Char chuckled. “That’s bad luck, kid. Did no one tell you that?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Think I may have heard that somewhere. What about Samuel? Julian?”
Samuel and Julian appeared behind Char, dressed and looking snazzy.
“So, we ready?” Michael asked.
Samuel and Julian nodded, but they were watching me.
“You have the ring?” I asked.
Michael nodded. “Yeah. Still in my pocket.”
“Let me see it.”
I didn’t know why, but I wanted to make sure it was really there. The ring was also a gift from Augustus, which he got from one of the best jewelers in Nova Roma. Augustus had gone through so much trouble and had given so much that I had no idea how to thank the man.
The ring itself was probably the fanciest and most beautiful piece of jewelry I’d ever seen. It was a product of the Old World. It was hard to imagine anyone having the ability to craft such a magnificent piece, even in the Empire. The band was platinum, twisting and swirling intricately, and the top had a large diamond, which must have cost a fortune. Smaller diamonds were set in the platinum swirls.
“It looks incredible,” Julian said. “So shiny.”
I felt like the wedding expenditures had gotten out of proportion, but it had all been others’ idea. Anna and I loved each other, and that was what mattered. If all of our friends wanted to celebrate in style, who were we to stop them?
“Alright,” I said, handing the ring back to Michael. “I’m ready.”
I waited on the constructed wooden stage. Behind me, the waves crashed against the shoreline. We were set up in the exact location where we had rested all those months ago. Down the beach, at water’s edge, a huge cliff rose, against which waves crashed. Two sections of seating faced toward me, a lane of sand running in-between them. Ashton and I were the only ones standing here above. He would be conducting the ceremony, since he was the closest thing we had to a preacher. Which was a scary thought, if you thought about it.
Familiar faces filled the crowd: there were Marcus, Grudge, and several other Raiders and Exiles I recognized. Augustus was sitting up front, as we had promised, along with his wife, the Empress, and his youngest son, who was probably ten years old. The Empress was a beautiful woman, tall, regal, with long, dark hair, and dressed in a flowing, green gown.
The fact that such a diversity of people had gathered was a symboclass="underline" we were no longer divided. We were all on the same side, and we were going to celebrate together, fight together, and even die together.
The sky was a perfect blue, like out of a storybook, and puffs of white clouds trailed above. The air was slightly cool, but perfect. I wasn’t too hot in my uniform, which had been my fear.
My heart began to race when, at long last, a stream of people exited a large pavilion set up on the green hill rising above the beach. That line flowed downward, including all my friends. First came Callie, with a basket of flowers, followed by the groomsmen and bridesmaids, set in two lines, after which came a beautiful girl in a white dress that dazzled in the sunlight, still too distant to make out the details. Next to Anna walked a man who must have been Char, also in an airman’s uniform.
The line advanced slowly toward the seating. My eyes kept trying to find Anna, but she was mostly hidden behind the others. Julian was escorting Makara, Samuel was escorting Ruth, while Michael escorted Lauren. Makara, of course, was Anna’s maid-of-honor. Their first encounter, three months ago, had consisted of Anna’s placing a blade at Makara’s throat. It was funny how things had worked out.
Standing in front of everyone, with a basket filled with white and yellow rosebuds, was Callie. When the two guitar players from New America began to play, one strumming and one picking, she walked forward, flowers streaming and falling in the wind. When she reached the end of the lane, she was grabbed by Ada before she could cause any trouble, as six-year-olds were wont to do. Ada pulled Callie close, sitting next to Deborah and some of the other former Community women.
As the music continued, Julian and Makara walked forward, arm-in-arm. Makara wore a light blue dress that shimmered like deep sapphire. Augustus had taken pains to provide all the women in the wedding these beautiful blue dresses, chosen to reflect the color of the Pacific Ocean. Makara was striking in her dress, and until this day, I could have never imagined her wearing one. She looked radiant.
As Makara and Julian fanned out, each taking their place on either side of the stage, Samuel and Ruth walked up next. Samuel looked strong and handsome in his uniform. Ruth, also, was striking in her blue dress, and her wavy blonde hair tumbled downward and her blue eyes shone brightly.
Last of all came Michael, escorting Lauren. They both smiled up at me. As they parted, Michael winked before taking his place beside me.
Everyone in the wedding party now stood on the stage — everyone but Anna. With Michael and Lauren now on stage, Anna was revealed. She was so beautiful that my heart nearly stopped. Her dress shimmered, almost silvery in the sunlight. Everyone drew their breath at how lovely she was. The dress itself was bedecked with colorful sequins that gave contrast to the brilliant white. Augustus, clearly, had spared no expense, and this wedding dress would have been fitting for an Empress.
But the true beauty was Anna herself, and everyone knew it. Her green eyes found mine, and she gave a small smile. There was nothing in the world but that face, those eyes looking into mine.
The guitar players transitioned into a new song — one which I could not name, but was instantly familiar to me. I’d heard it in movies I’d watched back in Bunker 108. I only knew it was the wedding song.
As the music started, Anna strode forward. My eyes were so focused on her that I didn’t even notice Char escorting her. Unlike the others, he wore his typical Raider garb, but it suited him. His blue eyes dazzled as I shifted my focus to him. As with Michael, he gave a sly wink.