Chapter Text
The following day, Oscar, Edward and Tommy stood together with Arthur, Shane and Johnny in front of them as Barney was loading a sniper gun, his hand was shaky but he was able to load the sniper gun.
Barney aimed and shot a bullseye at the target, Johnny and Arthur walked over, "You didn't need all them tablets, you just needed another fucking war, eh?" Tommy said and tapped his shoulder then walked off.
"Good lad, Barney. Doesn't look like you'll need a backup," Oscar said and smiled.
Barney nodded, "I feel good," He said.
"Excellent," Oscar said.
Men and women were arriving for Mosley's rally as Jewish men were arriving at Charlie's Yard, being loaded up with weapons.
As Arthur, Johnny, Shane, Aberama, Barney and Oscar arrived at the building, they got in through the back. Shane walked with his brother to where he'd be ready as a backup shooter, "I don't want to-" Shane whispered.
"I won't be needed, brother," Oscar looked at Shane, "Go. Astella needs one of us with her while that bastard speaks," Oscar whispered.
Shane hesitated, "You're closer to her," Shane whispered.
"She wants you there. Go, brother," Oscar whispered.
"Good luck," Shane whispered and patted his shoulder then walked off as Oscar looked out of the window to see the theatre filled with people.
Meanwhile, outside, Jessie Eden was being manhandled by two policemen due to her protesting Oswald Mosley's rally, "It's not against the law to protest," Jessie said.
"Out of the way. Out of the way," The officer said to the people as they tried to arrest her.
Tommy made his way through the crowd to the officers and Jessie, "Let her go," Tommy said.
"I don't need the help of a fascist!" Jessie said, angrily.
"Yes, you do. At Steelhouse Lane, they will do whatever they want to you. Let her go," The officers didn't release her, "I'm Tommy Shelby, and I'm ordering you to let her fucking go. Go on," Tommy said and the officers released her and walked off.
"Fuck you," Jessie said and started to walk away.
Tommy grabbed her by the arm, "Jessie, you can do more damage from the inside. Do you understand? You can do more damage from the inside. Come on. Come on," Tommy said and led her through the crowd, making sure she isn't harmed by the people at the protest.
Tommy led Jessie through the theatre's back corridors, checking for unlocked doors until he found one, "In here," They walked inside and Tommy handed her a cloth, "Here, for your face," Tommy said.
"At least I have only one face," She turned to the mirror, "What did you mean, 'damage from the inside'?" Jessie asked.
"I have a strategy," Tommy told her.
"You always have a strategy," Jessie countered.
"But it's dangerous, and it cannot be shared without sharing the danger," Tommy told her.
"You think I'm afraid?" Jessie questioned as she looked at him.
"No, but it's only going to put you in more danger. Jessie, before the speeches start, just go home. There's going to be lots of arrests. You have a mark against your name," Tommy told him.
"Why? What's going to happen?" Jessie asked.
Tommy walked over to her, "I'm going to do a good thing. Whenever I do a good thing, innocent people get hurt. So go home. After this evening, we can meet, discuss strategy. That beast out there, he's just a beast. It's like a horse. It's the rider that decides what direction it takes," Tommy said as he pointed to the door and then walked over to it.
"And who will be the rider?" Jessie asked.
Tommy looked at her, "Just go home," He said and walked out.
Tommy made his way back through the theatre and found Astella being led towards him by Shane, "Tom..." Astella said.
Tommy looked at Shane who nodded and walked off, Tommy led his wife towards a wall, "I need you to do exactly what Shane says tonight, no questions asked. You know the effects of tonight," Tommy whispered.
"Promise, be careful," Astella whispered and they kissed.
Shane walked over, "Okay, Astella... Come with me, we'll go into our box," Shane said.
"I'll see you at home later tonight," Tommy told her.
"Okay," Astella said and walked off with Shane.
Astella and Shane walked through the theatre, heading upstairs towards their box and they both sat in their seats looking at the seat filled with people, "This is ridiculous," Shane whispered.
Edward and Daniel walked in and Astella looked at them, "What are you two doing here?" Astella whispered.
"Here for the event," Edward sat behind her, "I wouldn't be a good bodyguard if I didn't do my job," Edward said.
Daniel sat beside Edward, "I didn't want you to go home alone," Daniel said.
"Thank you," Astella said and looked at the stage as the poster of Mosley was dropped over the curtains for the rally, she reached over and grabbed her brother's hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Oswald Mosley," The announcer said.
The crowd cheered as Oswald and Tommy walked down the ground floor of seats towards the stage, Astella watched her husband to see that he wasn't taking the stance everyone else was as they chanted, "Perish Judah."
Tommy and Oswald walked onto the stage, Oswald walked over to the stand as Tommy glanced up at his wife and stood by Oswald who was at the microphone. Oswald tapped on the microphone gaining everyone's attention and they all quietened down, "Welcome, men and women of Birmingham. Thank you for coming here on this cold, dark night, in spite of the obstruction and provocation of our enemies. Our enemies deal in bricks and stones and bottles. We deal in reasoned principle, argument and fact," Oswald said and the crowd applauded.
Astella glanced at Shane who rubbed her hand, "Among those enemies, we can number Mr Winston Churchill, who last night condemned me in the House as a threat to democracy," The crowd jeered and Oswald raised his hand to silence them, "But then Mr Churchill has never been a friend of the common people. Faced with the alternative of saying goodbye to the gold standard, and therefore to his own employment, he characteristically selected the latter, but of course... Not all attending tonight will be convinced of our cause. Some will have come here tonight to find out for themselves what we stand for. So here are our guiding principles. Every citizen shall serve the state. Not the banks, not factions...Not the Jews!" Oswald declared and the crowd cheered.
Oscar was ready with his sniper rifle, "Come on Tom..." He muttered and looked towards where Barney was also ready with his sniper rifle.
"The barriers of class will be abolished and a greater Britain will be born of the National Socialist and fascist creed," The crowd cheered, "It is useless to hide from ourselves the fact that ever since 1918, when our heroes returned from France, our empire has shown all the signs of disintegration, and our people are threat by gathering disaster," Oswald said and the men cheered.
Tommy looked up towards Barney as the Jews marched into the rally, he looked towards Astella as she was watching him then he took out his pocketwatch and looked at Barney, "Ten... Nine... Eight... Seven... Six... Five... Four... Three... Two..." Tommy whispered.
Oscar was also counting down, he looked towards Barney to see he was gone from the window, "Shit," He muttered and placed his finger on the trigger when he heard someone behind him, he ducked as a gun was fired, and he turned around and kicked the man back, "Fucking hell," Oscar cursed, then whacked the man over the head with his sniper rifle. He heard shouting and took off running down the corridor.
In the box, Shane stood up and took his sister's hand, "Come on, it's time," Shane said and they left the box as Daniel and Edward followed after them.
The four of them hurried into a back corridor to see Oscar running over to them, "The other way," He said.
"What the fuck is going on?" Astella asked.
"Come on, just move, we need to get you two," Oscar glanced at Daniel, "Out of here. Now. It's all gone to shit," Oscar said.
"Go, Astella, Daniel, we'll cover you two," Edward said as they heard the riot from downstairs, with the Jews and Oswald's followers fighting.
"Okay," Astella said and rushed off with Daniel.
"What happened?" Shane asked.
"I was nearly fucking shot, that's what happened, brother. Fucking Barney disappeared, I think I know why now," Oscar turned around, handed Edward the rifle then took out his pistol, cocking it and aiming it at the three men ran over to them, "Say your fucking prayers!" Oscar said and fired the pistol three times, hitting each of the men in the middle of their heads.
"Remind me never to piss you off," Edward said as Oscar put the pistol away and took the rifle from him and they hurried off, in hopes to catch up with Astella and Daniel but they couldn't see them.
Elsewhere, Astella took off her shawl and wrapped it around her fist, "Let me do that, mum," Daniel said.
"No, I have more anger than you right now," Astella said and broke the window, knocking glass out of the way.
They heard shouting, "You can't be serious about us escaping through the window?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, I am," She looked at him, "Out you go," Astella said.
"No, you first," Daniel said.
"Daniel," Astella said.
"I know your secret, mum," Astella's eyes widened, "Maggie told me who you called, the number is never the same but the person is. And so, we both know... You need to get out first compared to me," Daniel said.
"Bloody hell," She sighed, "Keep your lips zipped," Astella said and climbed out of the window, standing on a ledge then carefully climbed over to the fire escape.
Daniel climbed out of the window, "Why didn't you tell us?" Daniel asked.
"Can we do this later?" Astella asked as she helped her son onto the fire escape.
"Mum..." Daniel said.
"Just trust me, okay? Trust me," Astella said.
Daniel looked at her and nodded, "Alright, let's go," Daniel said and they climbed down the fire escape.
Back inside, Tommy was still on the stage, looking for Barney and Oscar when he noticed Arthur fighting someone and he watched as the men on the ground floor continued fighting. Tommy looked up at the box to see it was empty and Oswald walked over to him, "I think it's about time we got off the stage, old man, until this thing is sorted," Oswald said and Tommy nodded then they left the stage.
Whistles were blown from the police and Shane rushed over to Arthur, "The coppers are here, Arthur," He tried pulling Arthur from the man he was attacking, "You gotta get away from the body," Shane said and pulled Arthur up.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Arthur asked as he looked at Oscar.
"Our plan was leaked," Oscar said, they saw Aberama dead on the ground in a puddle of blood and the three men ran from the scene.
Meanwhile, Tommy was rushing through the back corridors and cocked his gun then he walked into the room where Jessie still was, "What the fuck are you doing here?" He asked.
"What happened?" Jessie asked.
"-I don't know what happened. I don't know what fucking happened. It doesn't make any fucking sense," Tommy said as he paced around.
Arthur, Oscar, Shane and Johnny walked in and he aimed at them, "Wait, fuck!" Johnny said.
"It's us. Aberama's dead, he's gone. He's gone, and they came for me, too," Arthur said as he breathed heavily.
"Just as I was about to shoot the fucker, almost got shot myself," Oscar said.
Edward walked in and closed the door, "Stella and Daniel, they've got away," He noticed Jessie, "What the fuck is she doing here?" Edward asked.
"Oi," They all looked at Oscar, "They got to Barney," Oscar said.
"They knew everything. They knew fucking everything," Tommy said.
"Who? Who knew, Tom?" Arthur asked.
"Johnny, get this woman out of here," Tommy said.
Johnny walked over to Jessie and took her by the arm, "No. I want to know," Jessie said.
"Yeah. Get her out of here. Get her out!" Johnny led Jessie out of the room and Tommy started pacing, "It doesn't make sense. Doesn't make fucking sense," He looked at his brother and brother's-in-law, "Who? Who? Who? The Chinese, the Italians... The Branch, Intelligence, McCavern, Mosley..." He walked over to Arthur, "Mosley knew nothing! He knew nothing! WHO?!" He yelled and started walking around, knocking over a chair.
"Jesus fucking Christ. You're fucking frightening me, Tom," Arthur said and Shane patted his shoulder.
"It doesn't make sense. Who? Who? Who? Who? Who," Tommy said as he ignored the phantom breathing of Astella in his mind.
"Who. You know, Tom, you must know," Edward said.
"You're fucking scaring me," Arthur said worriedly.
"Tom... What are you doing?" Edward asked.
"Not here... Let's go, Tom. Your wife needs you," Oscar said and Tommy looked at him and nodded.
The men arrived at Arrow House and Tommy was staring at the fountain, "Talk to us," Oscar said.
"Maybe I've found him, boys, the man I can't defeat," Tommy told them.
"Mosley?" Shane asked.
"I don't know. I don't fucking know. Doesn't make sense," Tommy said.
"Let's... Let's go inside," Tommy shook his head, "We'll work it out... Have a drink," Arthur said.
"I need to walk," Tommy said and started to walk away.
Daniel, Cecilia and Natasha walked out of the house, "Dad!" Daniel called out.
"He needs to walk," Edward said.
"Needs to walk my fucking ass!" Daniel said.
"Come inside, boys," Cecilia said and the men headed inside.
Arthur stood beside Daniel and grabbed his arm, "Come on, Daniel, leave him to it. Let's go inside," Arthur said.
"Alright," Daniel said and walked inside with Arthur.
Tommy made his way onto the field in front of his home, fog surrounded him, and he removed his peaky cap as he hallucinated younger Astella and a black horse behind her, "The work's all done, Tommy. It's all done. We can walk away from all of this. It's so easy. It's so soft. Such a small change," The vision of Astella said and Tommy screamed pointing his pistol at his head.
To Be Continued...