Chapter 23

December 19, 2022

Yekaterinburg, "Risen State of Rus"

Ivan entered the train station, glancing back at the busy scene behind him. The train station had plenty of civilians watching from a distance, and only he was permitted to enter thanks to his familiarity with Maria. Past the waiting rebel officials and leaders, he would wait for the four sisters.

Curious reporters and some cameramen from a few foreign nations stood together in groups along the train platform. The electric lights shone bright against the early morning gloom, never flickering. The digital displays flashed the imminent arrival time of the special train. Already the crowds were noisier, as if they knew what would arrive.

The reporters spoke through their microphones in their native languages, being taped live for the world to see. Some top rebellion officers and leaders were handed a microphone to voice their general stances. To the Russian rebels, the rising of the Romanov sisters was a genuine miracle with undeniable implications. God had delivered a miracle and a strong message according to the infamous prophecies of Revelation. The Lord would come soon to earth at long last. To those that accepted them, it was a joy like none other.

The Honor Guards allied with the rebels marched nearby to their positions along the imperial yellow carpet. Priests held hands in a brief prayer, mourning their excommunication yet also praising God for His doings. The leaders glanced at the arrival signs, almost anxious for the monumental moment.

As everyone waited with a potent mix of excitement, hope, and a bit of anxiety in their hearts, one of them thought of what to say. Ivan had wondered about this moment ever since he and Maria had spoken often by social media. The former Grand Duchess already knew that he was descended from her former crush in the Ipatiev House. She even got to understand him as a person. Sometimes he seemed a bit short on common sense, but he was loyal and reasonable whenever needed.

He also wondered if she really had feelings for him. There was the feeling that his hunches were correct, but he just wanted to know for certain.

He glanced at the flashing display again. Five minutes, it read. Already Ivan could hear the sound of helicopters flying high above, shining their spotlights onto the dimly lit ground.

"Mister Ivan?"

"Oh, Doctor Yulia! How did you get here?"

"They let me in. I saw Maria in that forensics laboratory that night, you know, before you gave her a shocking surprise."

"Okay, okay! We are getting along now. Just having a loss for words at the worst moment... Especially knowing that Maria will get here."

"Along with her sisters."

"Yes, all four of them."

"I sincerely hope that if her eldest sister discovered that you did shock her, she already forgave you. I do know that she was and is a tempered young woman."

"She's gonna kick my ass."

Yulia chuckled. "You will be fine. If she does know, you should resolve that with Maria nearby. Preferably in private."

"Hopefully."

"Stand at attention!" the Honor Guard officer ordered, and the other guards stood straight and still.

The leaders and priests excused themselves from the reporters, heading to the carpet with Ivan and Yulia. Reporters and their camera staff remained around to record the scene...

"They are here. What can I say?"

"Maybe words will be unnecessary."

"I really think they all need a hug. They did go through a war zone or two, and I am sure I would have lost my mind... I never thought Putin would go this far."

"Well, he did suppress any political opposition with the police and now the military. Ivan... Putin is a madman drunk on his lust for power. He and Dugin will not stop until either side completely loses, his or ours."

"The latter chance is what I fear the most."

"I know, my friend, but good will prevail. Even strong empires built on slavery and cruelty did not last forever."

"I hope you are right."

The two of them waited for a brief time until the familiar hum of a train engine grew louder and louder. The sound of brakes scraping on the rails resounded into the cold evening air. Right before their eyes, the train slowly ground to a halt. Some extra guards stood beside the opening doors.

Other rebel clergy members stepped out, greeting the leaders. Some men and women in military uniforms saluted their fellow rebel superiors. They greeted each other with warm friendliness and warm hugs. The personnel all glanced back to see the four Romanov sisters stepping out of their passenger car.

Their smiles faded into formal, almost poker-faced expressions, seeing their inspirational figures standing together. The only exception was Anton- the already well-known boyfriend of Olga herself. Ivan too, smiled at Maria and Anton. They widened their eyes in surprise.

"Ivan, you're here! I was worried about you, my friend!" Anton exclaimed.

Olga let go of Anton, feeling glad to see her boyfriend find his old friend again. The two men embraced in a bear hug, patting each other on the back.

"Good to see you here in one piece!"

Anton laughed for a brief moment. The two men then noticed the rebel leaders giving them awkward looks. Then the four sisters and the two men stood together. The doctor, however, had stood some distance away from the carpet. She did not want to spoil this special moment.

The leaders regained their composure, realizing their almost rude behavior to their risen figures. They lowered their heads, taking off their hats. Olga glanced around at them, nodding to excuse them.

A tall man wearing navy-blue jacket and white sweatpants stepped forward. He stepped before Anton, Ivan, and the four Romanov daughters.

"The Mayor of Yekaterinburg, Eveginy Roizman, at your service."

"I am Anton Petrovitch, a runaway Honor Guard. This is my good friend Ivan D. Skorokhodov, also a runaway guard."

"I am honored to meet you two. Your bravery in leaving familiar lives to oppose the corrupt regime is commendable. Especially Anton, who must have helped our risen ones escape from Putin."

"Yes, I have. I also cannot forget those who bled and fell for us to arrive safely here. We lost a good leader in Petrozavodsk- Father Leo..."

"Indeed, Mister Petrovitch. The loyalists were all ruthless to the stragglers. We will hold a vigil to honor Father Leo's contributions tonight."

The mayor then shook hands with the two men before he noticed the four sisters again. They, too, had gone quiet at the mention of the late priest that gave them refuge.

"Forgive my confusion, but how should I address you all?"

"I prefer our first names," Tatiana suggested, glancing at Olga.

"I like her suggestion," Olga added, her tone quieter.

"Then I, the Mayor Of Yekaterinburg, welcome our risen ones to our city, our movement!"

The other leaders and guards voiced their assent.

"Ura, Ura, Ura!"

(Line Break)

Moscow, Russian Federation

Putin and Dugin strode down the hallways of the Kremlin. Past painted and gilded walls of the former Romanov palace. Past the loyalist Honor Guards who either stood aside or saluted them yet trembled inside.

The leaders slammed aside another pair of doors without looking at the pair of startled Honor Guards...

"Dugin, we will discuss with the military leaders about our next actions for the rebellion."

"We must crush it swiftly and brutally. The heretics, the traitors, will not rest easy for their wrongdoings against the true, Orthodox Russia."

"I fully understand. I am quite sure that our greater forces will make quick work of theirs."

"Would you consider tactical nuclear strikes?"

"Not yet, not as long as the rebels commandeer their own nuclear arsenal. That will be discussed with the generals as well."

"Good, do what must be done against the foes of the Motherland."

The two men turned right again down another shorter corridor. They took the elevator down into the underground levels. There they would be well protected with lead and super-strength concrete. It was dead silent, but their minds were racing with thoughts of what on earth they would do about the crisis facing their Russia. Nothing could be compared to this scale of a threat. Not since the devastating Russian Civil War after the fall of the old Tsardom.

The two men finished their journey to the conference room, heading down a corridor with crimson painted walls, red and yellow carpeted floors, and silvery Russian-Byzantine Eagle figurines mounted above. Fluorescent lights glared down with a harsh luminance beating around the interiors.

They reached a set of doors and a few heavily armed guards. Their fingerprints, palms, and their identifications were checked thoroughly in case. Even the guards had pocket searched their suits...

"All clear. Welcome, President of All Russia, Mister Dugin."

Both men entered the conference room. This time they were first, and all they had to do was wait.

Protests were growing in the Far East districts already, and pro-NATO informants had been executed... Which only exacerbated the forceful protests and riots. Now the rebellion had their inspirational, yet fraudulent, figures. Putin did not expect or enjoy this unfortunate turn of events for his end. Neither could Dugin, the notorious "Rasputin of Putin", fathom how quickly Russia had split apart and fallen to chaos.

Operation Okhrana had failed, but there were plenty of secret plans and military projects in case more drastic measures needed to be taken. A couple dozen secret, experimental stealth drones for aerial usage were ready. Unlike other drones, they were guided by distant human operators and their plasma blasters had enough heat to burn through tank armor like butter. Even a few railgun-armed tanks were ready for combat.

Though there was the question of what to do with the other Romanov descendants who had stayed behind. Not all of them supported the four sisters, and some had even rescinded their recognition under the criticism that the true Romanov sisters would not split their holy Motherland.

Especially Prince Rotislav, who had first been reluctant to deny the four women. He, however, decided to side with the original Orthodox church upon his disappointment to see them flee loyalist territory in Russia. To him, it was a painful betrayal of family and homeland.

Maria Vladimirovna, however, had fled. Despite being a descendant of a rival family branch to the Nikolaevich one, she had made her own surprising choice. She supported the claim of their resurrection and identity being legitimate.

Putin clenched his fist briefly as the top generals of his forces entered the room. They all addressed their leader, hoping that he too had a plan. When all of them had taken seats, the current army general asked the Russian President...

"What will we do?"

Dugin interlocked his wrinkled fingers on the cold, hard table. "We crush the rebellion, preferably by military confrontation. The use of our ballistic missiles is our last resort."

"I say the same, and I would add that we consider the risk of NATO intervening," Putin spoke.

"What of our Chinese allies? Now that we have lost territories to the rebels, their aid would be very helpful for us to regain our rightful lands," Dugin asked the President.

"They have kept some distance from us ever since our stalemate in Ukraine. I suspect that they no longer see us as beneficial to their interests. A blockade of the rebel coastline would be helpful alongside infiltration and sabotage. They are a ragtag movement with hardly a difference from the late White Army."

"Then we smear their cause and create divisions within their movement?" a general asked.

Putin nodded.

"Precisely. It is an age-old tactic that has served various parties very well."

"Good, would anyone else like to elaborate on this approach?"

All other generals raised their hands.

(Line Break)

Rosenhöhe Park, Darmstadt, Germany

Elisabeth looked to the starry skies, already turning a dim orange from the rising sun on the horizon. She had been troubled by the lessening of communications by her dear cousin Olga and her sisters. She still knew that they lived, but this was surprising to see. She never expected Russia to descend into the very beginnings of a civil war.

She sat before her former tomb, glowing with a gentle lilac aura...

"Bart... Do you hear me?"

"Yes, Ella. I have seen it all from above, but do not worry. It has been expected."

"But what of their original mission?"

"To establish a foothold of God in the world is part of their mission. As long as there is a haven, a stronghold, there will be the origin of spreading the truth of God."

"I am awfully worried about my cousins, especially Olga. Should I head over to the rebel areas of Russia?"

"You could. But if you do, you must find another route preferably through the Arctic. Western Asia is risky with plenty of pro-Putin supporters and regimes."

"I see. I also know that I cannot cast myself along such distances. Merely, well, one-hundred kilometers or so."

"True... But remember, Ella, the Lord our God will always keep us company and guide us. You even have me to talk to, you know..."

"Thank you, I truly appreciate it, Bart."

The warm, tingling sensation went away, and Elisabeth was left alone in thought. She stood up, thinking of what to do next...

How on earth would she reunite with her cousins?