I AM THE RAGING ROAD

Prologue: Call me Pantera

"Don't tell me you're actually going through with this little scheme, Louis. You don't have the cajones to face them on their home turf."

"You're always so critical. You know I'm doing this to help you, right?"

"Of course. After all, *cough* sickly old me can't handle politics when I'm this indisposed. Tell the cabinet to pray for me, will you?"

Louis stood next to his sister's hospital bed, grimacing as she kept up her almost hellenic, egotistical sense pf humor even as she sat sick on what may very well be her death bed.

"You know they don't know you exist. You're lucky they don't let press in here, otherwise I'd have to explain why I didn't inherit Mom's genetics."

"It must be hard being the ugly one."

"Yeah, alright. But I'm serious, Rosaria. Your investigation has more than just a bit of water to it, it broke open the entire dam."

"You know that sounds incredibly stupid, right?*cough*"

"That's a lot of lip from someone who can't speak without coughing."

"Coughing?
*cough*
I know nothing of that."

"Anyway, I have to at least try. Congress is one thing, cause I can dog whistle that. That's the easy part. The hard part is the finger."

"Oh, the finger. It belongs to that dead man, but it wouldn't have use without me. Lets call it Rosaria's Finger."

"Stop it. As much as I want to save you first... This is about ALL of Mars. All of it. And even the Moon. You and I have the same problem, but this chance is what will keep me alive, and if it works... This will end the epidemic."

"But how will you know if the finger will be enough? Do you need more of his body? More of Pantera? How do you know the machine is on Earth, let alone Florida?"

"Air Cams, Rosie. Air Cams. It's the way that came with your will, so chew on that."

"Pssh"

Rosaria twirled her dark green locks in her fingers. Her skin was patchy and uneven, making her resemble a sort of Frankenstein-like temptress. Despite amusing herself with the presence of her over-serious Brother, the smirk she usually wore was marred by the pain of her condition. The last of her days of smug existence were coming.

"Well... If this is the only way you can do it, then do it. If not for just me, for the world at large.
You were always going to be a great leader, Louis. I know you'll make the right choices.
All I worry is that you know that...
*cough, cough*...
Ahem...
Keep yourself on the Ofrenda... Alright?"

Louis began to walk out the door, his purple trench coat covering his face. He looked back at his darling, dying sister, gazing upon him with warmest expression your own family could give.

"... I promise, Rosie. I'll be on the Ofrenda when it's done."