Drone

11 Sharderin Council.

Vidder stood behind Father, wearing his drone mask. He was not trying to attract attention, which was ironic considering the Sharderin council was in session and no one else wore their masks. Even the guards wore no masks. The council was a place of transparency, no deception, and no treachery. No one questioned him, however, as he accompanied Father.

Three main sets of bleachers sat facing each other, each occupied by the heads of each political platform. In the head platform, Grandmaster Skar presided over the zealots.

"Why are we here?" Grandmaster Skar demanded with no small degree of outrage. "Council sessions out of season are reserved for emergencies only!"

High Priest Hagen stood from his seat of presidency in the priest's bleachers. "Grandmaster Skar, it is now common consensus that we must discuss your removal from the head platform."

"Is that so?" Grandmaster Skar asked more cautiously. "So you have been having private conferences without us? What does the law say about that?"

"Tell us what the law says about your abuse of authority, and then we'll discuss the legality of our private gatherings," Chief Elder Jorgensen said.

"Our activities have been well within our right," Grandmaster Skar said. "But bring forth your complaints; we will settle them now."

The High Priest and Chief Elder glanced at each other, and Vidder wondered which one would speak out openly against the zealots first.

Neither one broke the silence, each waiting for the other, and Grandmaster Skar took advantage of the hesitation. "No spokesman for you? And what say you, Arbiter?" He turned to address Father, who had a unique spot on the council – not a whole bleacher, as he represented no party but a private box.

Father rose to his feet to address the council. Vidder felt a rush of admiration for the figure. He had single-handedly changed the course of Sharderin life and had granted him a second chance, a rebirth.

"My friends," Father said, his powerful voice carrying across the room. "Let me remind you, I have held a spot on this council for many years and have never sought the head platform. My interests are strictly for the benefit of our people. I hold no other ambitions."

Zealots, priests, and elders alike nodded in affirmation of his words.

"Historically, I have sided with the zealots in such disputes." He looked at Grandmaster Skar, who gave him a slight smile.

"But this time, I'm afraid I must say I have had enough from your people! You have stepped beyond your authority time and time again. You have stepped on our toes and tripped us in our progress!"

"What?" Skar cried. "What are you talking about?"

"You have made laws in other platforms' operating procedures. You have executed judgment without trial on the underlings of platforms other than your own, and your ungodly obsession with purity has severely limited our ability to collect intelligence on the enemy. We are all done tolerating these practices, and it must change!"

"Never! Our purity is what makes us strong!" Skar snarled.

The council room broke into an uproar. Priests and elders cried protests at the zealots, but the zealots stood stoic by their word.

Father held up his hand, silencing the council room. "It doesn't matter what you think anymore, my old friend. You may hold two votes because you hold the head platform, but with the voice of the priests, the elders, and my voice sided with them, it's three against two."

"You want to unseat us?" Skar spat at the Arbiter. Then he turned to the other platforms. "And which of you will fill the vacancy?"

Father interjected before the other platforms could respond. "No, I will not impeach you, Grandmaster."