Chapter 20 – Dawn of a New Éire
Dublin Docklands – Horizon HQ, 07:00
The sun rose crimson over Dublin, bathing the shattered Horizon complex in molten light. Salty stood on the balcony overlooking the roaring crowd, his tattered tricolour scarf fluttering in the morning breeze.
Karen appeared beside him, her face pale and grim. “It’s done. Patel has been handed to local dockers. Brussels issued a Level 4 condemnation, but… they’re powerless now.”
Sarah emerged from inside, tablet in hand. “The livestream reached nearly a billion viewers worldwide. The people see the truth.”
Salty nodded, watching workers, farmers, students, and veterans flood the quayside. Homemade banners flapped in the breeze:
“NO MORE HORIZON.”
“IRELAND RISES.”
“SALTY FOR TAOISEACH.”
He chuckled softly. “God help them if that ever happens.”
☠️ Brussels – EU Command Centre
Commissioner Voight screamed at his advisors.
“Sanction them! Block food exports! Cut off financial flows!”
A trembling aide whispered, “Sir… they’ve already replaced suppliers. China and Brazil are recognising Irish sovereignty. Our embassies are under siege.”
Voight collapsed into his chair, defeated.
⚔️ Back in Dublin
Ruairí O’Donnell approached Salty on the balcony, immaculate in his charcoal suit despite the dust and smoke.
“You did it, Seán. Horizon is gone. Brussels is on its knees. Ireland is yours.”
Salty turned, his deep brown eyes fierce beneath heavy brows. “No. Ireland belongs to her people. Remember that, O’Donnell. No more kings. No more EU puppets. Just us… rebuilding what they tried to take.”
O’Donnell nodded with a tight smile. “As you wish.”
💔 Karen’s Sacrifice
Below, Karen finished uploading the final data caches, fingers flying across her wrist implant. Suddenly her comms lit up with a red warning:
“INCOMING KILL DRONE STRIKE.”
She looked up, eyes widening as a silent drone emerged from the dawn mist, its sleek frame glinting like a metal hawk.
“GET DOWN!” she shouted, sprinting forward. The drone fired a hypersonic microburst, striking her square in the chest. Her body was thrown backwards onto the stone steps.
“NO!” Salty roared, leaping down as the drone was shredded by a dozen resistance rifles.
He cradled Karen’s head in his lap, tears streaming into his beard. Blood bubbled from her lips, but she smiled faintly.
“Tell… tell them… we did it, boss,” she whispered.
“You tell them yourself, Karen!” he choked out. “Stay with me!”
But her green eyes faded to glassy stillness as the morning sun blazed gold across her lifeless face.
🌅 One Week Later – Malahide Castle
Tens of thousands gathered on the castle grounds, waving tricolours under towering oak trees. A stage had been erected where Horizon executives once held their exclusive galas.
Sarah took the podium first, her voice cracking with emotion as she spoke of Karen’s bravery, the lives saved, and the end of Horizon’s tyranny.
Finally, Salty stepped forward. Silence fell over the fields as he raised his hand.
“We stand here free because ordinary people became extraordinary. Because one woman gave everything so that a nation could rise.
No more Horizon. No more Brussels chains. This land belongs to its people again.
So go home tonight. Hold your children close. And tomorrow, we rebuild Éire… brick by brick, farm by farm, dock by dock. Not as slaves to corporations or bureaucrats, but as Irish men and women.
This is our dawn. Let no one take it again.”
Thunderous cheers erupted across the castle grounds, echoing out to Dublin Bay and beyond.
🇮🇪 Final Scene
That evening, Salty walked alone through the empty battlements of Malahide Castle, the sea breeze ruffling his hair. He raised a battered tin mug of black coffee to the stars.
“To you, Karen,” he whispered. “Slán go fóill, girl.”
In the silence of the ancient stone walls, the future of Ireland felt bright once again.
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