three-section arc has ballooned into a three-seperate-chapter creation,
of which #09, which is intended to be a Mao backstory, is STILL in the
writing process... there is no intent to drop it from the project, so
please give me some time.
Besides finishing the Mao arc, I'm tightening up the third section,
which is all the Sousuke-Kaname stuff at the Canadian Consulate...
Things WILL be explained. Again, need time, so cut me some slack
Always appreciate your comments, and any suggestions you have
for plot-devel, etc.
Also, if anyone's interested in co-author / collaboration, I'm always game
to see what can happen.
Regards
* * *
"HEY, WHAT IS THIS?!"
Their cargo was struggling, but they weren't paid to worry about his comfort right now. Only that he arrive immediately and in one piece. Anything else was a non-issue.
"WHO ARE YOU?! I DEMAND TO BE SET FREE, NOW!!"
They merely dragged him harder, despite his protestations and struggle, all in vain. Finally reaching their destination, they uncerimoniously threw him on the ground.
"OW! THAT HURT! WHO ARE YOU?! I'LL HAVE YOUR HIDE FOR THIS,YOU HEAR ME?! I AM A UNITED STATES SENATOR...!!"
"Really? Well, Mr Senator, I am your friend."
That shut him up. "Who..."
"Remove the bag."
They did as they were told.
"Really, Senator. I would've thought after so long you would be used to this... method. After all, I am not an easy man to get a hold of."
"You think you could catch me at a more convenient time?! My internal clock's already screwed up enough with all this flying around..."
"My concern for your well-being is not an issue here, Senator. We have to talk... now." His voice was icily-calm, and Hinck's realized he had to back off.
"Alright, let's talk then."
"Where did you go these last few days?" No preamble. A plain shot, right out of the dark. Damn, he's hard to read!
"Out of country. Political consultations... that kind of thing."
He threw some pictures down on the ground. "Does that include taking a side-trip to a US aircraft carrier out in the South Pacific?"
Hincks was seriously nervous. The shots were clearly of him and his aide, and damning in the extreme. How the hell...?
Hincks was so easy to read. It helped that he had spent years breeding him to be an extension to his own will and desires, all without Hincks realizing it. "You can speculate all you want later on how I obtained these shots of you. What is important is what I have to say to you."
"And that is..."
"I want you to announce your candidacy for President tomorrow."
"WHAT?!"
"You heard me, Senator. I don't need to repeat myself."
"It's way past the Primaries!" Hincks snorted derisively. "You're deluding yourself! Besides, what business do I have running for President?"
"I've called in a few... favors, Senator. Just do your part and make the announcement tomorrow. I'll take care of the rest."
"You're crazy!! That breaks a shit-load of election rules, not to mention..."
"Senator, Senator..." he started, dropping his voice low. "It is alittle late to talk about rules and morals now, especially considering how deep in we are together. Face it, we've been in bed and quite inappropriately intimate for years now." Though he hid his reaction pretty well, he knew inside Hincks deflated at this revelation. "All you can do now is bend over, take it like a man, and..." He lit a cigarette, puffing as if it were the breath of life itself.
"...Enjoy it. Do I make myself clear?"
"You don't own me! No one does!"
"No one does, Senator, but you ARE responsible for your own choices. You came to me when you needed help. I provided that help, and now I'm calling in my markers."
Hincks couldn't dispute that. Years ago, a certain... youthful indiscretion nearly cost him his entire political career and he was facing ruin. Then this mysterious benefactor stepped in and in exchange for ridding Hincks of the problem, his benefactor left him with the cryptic statement that he would see "if it's worth the price you'll have to pay, eventually."
He had to sit down a moment to sort it all out.
"I'm hoping I didn't bet on the wrong horse, Senator. There's still alot of beneficial work we can do together when you become President." He took another puff of his cigarette.
"Yeah? What would that be?"
"I find the current President has lost touch with what America wants to be. He's so busy running around playing diplomant and all-round best friend internationally, while letting things slide domestically."
"Yeah, I've noticed that about him."
"For instance, this certain... pet project of his. What was it called again? Oh yes... MITHRIL."
Hincks was properly shocked now. "How the hell... Jesus Christ, I didn't even know about that until a few months ago...!"
"Senator, you'd be surprised how much under-the-table information I possess." He hadn't intended that comment as a brag, more as a sop to Hinck's pride. He had to keep him focused, a weakness he noted the good Senator had, to be distracted by irrelevance and trivia.
"If you've got such good sources, you should have shared them with me! I've been digging for the last 5 Goddamn months on MITHRIL, and..."
"...and only now beginning to understand it's true purpose? Senator, this goes back to what I told you about choices. YOU decided to go off on your own to dig up the facts about MITHRIL. YOU decided to instigate the inquiry into the attack on the cruiser. YOU decided those things yourself... WITHOUT consulting me, and you dare tell me I'm OBLIGATED to reveal my information to you? You are more deluded that I give you credit for!"
"All I'm saying is that you could've saved me a shitload of leg work! The secrecy forms I've had to sign, the favors I've had to call in...Goddamnit! You said we're in together too deep, already! What've it hurt to tell me?!"
He had to take a breath. They were getting off topic again, and he'd revealed more than he'd intended already. "So we both know about MITHRIL. And we both know about it's purpose... it's TRUE purpose."
"Yeah, found out right quick! Dumb bitch of a captain left it right out in the open. I read her perfectly... the timing couldn't've been better! She practically gave me that information!" Hincks relished in that memory, he could see.
"Anything I should be worried about here?"
"Huh? Nahh... she's in no condition to do anything. I fixed her good before I left."
He shook his head. Never mind. I don't even want to know. "Senator, I think we're in agreement that what MITHRIL represents is not an alternative, but the single greatest threat to America in a long time. Forget the publicity that it's an international taskforce, is on the side of justice, or anything like that. The point is whoever set it up lied! They lied to the UN! They lied to the world! They lied to America! Given this, MITHRIL should not be entrusted with such a responsibility that is their main charter."
"America First, huh? That's your pitch?" Hincks fought back the urge to smile.
"What do you want for America, Senator?"
I want America to be strong again. I want the world to respect us. I want our friends to fear us, and our enemies to dread us.
"There's still one thing I'm not sure of."
"And that is..."
"My past..."
"No worries, Senator. When I took care of your little... problem back then, I did take care of it. Never question the quality of my work."
"I'm not questioning that... I'm more worried about..."
"...such information getting into the wrong hands? Already taken care of."
"You don't understand! The press has a marvelous way of getting a hold of anything these days. Especially those sharks around Washington. They can smell scandal a mile away!"
He turned away a moment to think, taking another long puff on his cigarette. He had to allow for that possibility, that someone could dig up something damaging about Senator Hincks during his campaign. A minimum of eight months between the opening of the campaigning to the time people went to the voting booths...
"I'll take care of it, Senator."
"But..."
"I said I'll take care of it. You just worry about making that announcement tomorrow. That is your only concern, understand?"
He finished off his cigarette, throwing it onto the ground and stubbing it out with his shoe. "Is there any other... problems that I should be made aware of?"
"Yeah... the Consul General."
"Him? He's of no concern to anyone."
"He is to me! He's caused me enough grief as it is, always getting in my way! Add to the fact he's respected in the international community! What he has to say, people will listen! Believe me, he CAN cause me problems!"
"It'll be taken care of."
"You didn't hear me right! He can cause me problems!"
"Don't worry, Senator. Things are already in motion to take the Consul out of the picture... permanently. Anyone else?"
"The President..."
"THAT is your problem, Senator. Make the announcement tomorrow, and we'll have taken the first step towards our goal of making America strong and respected again." He turned to leave, gesturing his subordinates to follow. Hincks was left feeling like a fish out of water. "One more thing, Senator. Just how much information did you glean from your little... trip?"
"Why the hell do you ask?"
"While we're in this heart-to-heart moment..."
"America will be strong again... strong, respected and feared! Mithril's little secret's the key. Always was!"
"Now you're talking like a politician, Senator."
* * *
